The current recession, although I wouldn't call it a good thing for country, hasn't actually been all that bad for Buffalo. The bottom line is that now days no job market is safe. Some may be more stable than others (NYC, LA, Dallas, Washington, Houston etc.) but for the most part the price of living is now a serious aspect of a region's success. And for cities like Buffalo who are beginning to realize that their potential lies in the universities and health care buisnesses, the low taxes in the region I'm sure will help keep Buffalo as a viable metro area.