FREEBOOTERS

About the Book

Between the years 1950 and 2000, the City of Buffalo NY suffered the loss of almost half it's population, almost all of it's industrial base, and most of it's 'reason for being'.

Over those fifty years, the earnest endeavors of thousands of intelligent, hardworking businessmen and public servants were incapable of halting the slide of this great city into an abysmal pool of poverty, obsolescence and decadence.

Yet, at the same time, a few men grew rich and wielded great power and authority for a time, without contributing even a 'Buffalo nickel' of their own money.

These are the "FREEBOOTERS", who recognized the knock of opportunity and seized the moment to carry away all that they could carry!!

Proposals and programs to construct 'affordable' housing; to invigorate the commercial real estate market; to build a domed stadium; to create an entertainment district; and to construct a suburban college campus are described and dissected.

What benefits did Buffalo citizens derive from these efforts?

About the Author

THOMAS J MURPHY served in administrative capacities for the City of Buffalo NY, under the auspices of three mayors,?Sedita, Makowski, and Griffin?until his retirement in 1992.

Murphy now lives in Cove Cay, a golfing community in Clearwater FL.