10 Things That Should be Free in Western New York

We asked people around the Buffalo area what they think should be free, and these things made a lot of sense for a multitude of reasons. From common sense, and everyday things to bigger issues that could help a lot of families, these were the most intriguing answers we received.

Things That Are Not Free in Buffalo

Like pretty much every city in the United States, very little is free. That's not to say it's all expensive, though. Parking, public transit, housing, rent, utilities, and the general cost of living here vs. a place like New York City is night and day: that is to say, it is MUCH cheaper in Buffalo. Still, there are fees. Public parking, buses, metro rail, parks, bridge tolls, utilities, and everyday services all come with a fee.

Nothing Can Be Free, But Where Does It Go?

It's understood that these fees and taxes support programs to better our communities and lives. The problem becomes when it is hard for people to see where those improvements are happening with that money. Take, for example, the roads in the City of Buffalo. For all of the parking fees and taxes people pay, the roads are filled with potholes and are widely considered to be terrible. This is one example, but a widely complained about one that has merit, not only in the city but throughout the region.

High Taxes

New York State, let alone the Western New York region, is one of the highest-taxed areas in all of the United States. From property taxes to sales tax, it's a lot for people to shoulder. The good news is the cost of living in WNY is much lower than in other parts of the country. The bad news is economic growth in the region has been on a continued decline for decades, with cities in New York State, Buffalo included, seeing huge losses in jobs and thus population. While taxes can be a good thing in providing services, schools, protection, and many other things, it's a hard sell to many New Yorkers who have seen a lot of corruption in State government. Add mixed feelings about how the high tax dollars are spent and it's always a sour conversation to have with people living here.

Simple Fixes That Could Make WNY Better

It's easy to go down a rabbit hole of big fixes. Things like universal healthcare, or no taxes at all. These quickly lead to political fights and disagreements. The purpose of this article is to try and find practical, everyday things that just make a lot of sense. They would help a lot of people, and/or if nothing else just be a lot less annoying.

Ground Rules for This List

We asked people on Facebook and in the public what they feel should be free of charge in the Buffalo and WNY area then subjectively made this list. Because taxes are very high, and we all pay a lot for things already, we're not tackling the larger issue of literally making these things free and HOW to do so in this article. This is an informal, water cooler conversation about it. We hope it will lead to more discourse about making any of these things free, because it would make a lot of sense. Point is, for those who love picking a fight and analyzing the details, that's completely fine but this list isn't really about that. We would love your ideas, though, for how to get these things for free!

With all that being said, we hope you enjoy the list and it gets you talking with your friends and neighbors about the possibilities. Here are...