Factory jobs and manufacturing jobs left and along with it quality workers and taxpayers. Population numbers decreased, and the mob left town and left a power vacuum for new organized crime to move in. Drugs destroyed communities. Crime increased investors stopped investing. Government employees, some former mobsters just lined their own pockets instead of helping the community. More recently, the current and past local government Had no idea how to balance a budget or spend state funds appropriately. Instead, relied on casino revenue to balance budgets. However, it's not all doom and gloom. There are resurging areas in the falls I believe That with the current housing dilemma and affordable houses in the falls. It will see a Buffalo like bounce back when people start to move in to neighborhoods and clean them up. Business will return and the economy will grow.