Mark Goldman

Mark Goldman is one of Buffalo’s biggest fans. While he could tell you with precision and accuracy what has contributed to the cities economic and urban decline, he would also speak with a hope of what the city can be and what it was at its best. He is a city planner full of ideas and an entrepreneur. He is also the author of three books about the city’s history, High Hopes: The Rise and Decline of Buffalo, New York (1983), City on the Lake: The Challenge of Buffalo, New York (1990) and more recently, City on the Edge: Buffalo, New York, 1900-present.

City on the Edge spans Buffalo’s history from the Pan-American Exposition in 1901 to the 2006 October storm.  Amazon.com says the book “unflinchingly documents and describes how Buffalo has been battered by the tides of history. It also describes the unique characteristics that have encouraged an innovative cultural climate, including Buffalo’s dynamic survival instinct that continues to lead to a surprisingly and inspiringly high quality of community of life…Finally it offers a roadmap, which—if followed—could point the way to a new and exciting future for this long-troubled city.”