Your Sabres are really doing it in Boston!

So here's the deal, everybody's talking about the Sabres right now, oh for sure, but there's something else that hit me this morning, and I'm not even kidding. Remember how we've been hearing about all these businesses around Buffalo that just can't find workers? Well, a new report just laid it all out: the Buffalo Niagara region's labor force is *still* smaller than it was before the pandemic. That's not just a number, you know? That's our neighbors, our storefronts on Hertel, our local spots on Elmwood.

It's wild because you see new places opening up, especially downtown around Canalside, or even out in Kaisertown where they're always trying to keep things going. But then you hear about places cutting hours or even closing on certain days because they just don't have enough people to staff up. It's like, where did everyone go? Are they all down in the snow belt south of the city, just chilling? Because we need them up here!

### What This Means for Buffalo

* **Local businesses are feeling the pinch:** From the delis in the Old First Ward to the places serving up beef on weck in West Seneca, finding staff is a real struggle.

* **Economic growth could slow down:** If we don't have the workers, it's hard to keep expanding, even with all the good things happening with new investments.

* **Our community vibe changes:** Fewer workers means longer lines, less convenient hours, and just a different feel in the neighborhoods we love.

This isn't just some big economic theory; this is about our daily life. It's about whether that new bakery on Delaware Avenue can stay open or if your favorite spot for wings can seat everyone who shows up on a Sunday game day. We're a city that shows up for each other, and right now, it feels like we need people to show up for work, too. Bills by a billion—and yeah, the city too.

You know Keith and the crew are always talking about this stuff on the Morning Wire, you gotta check 'em out live at mornings.live.