[eugenekolo]

Confused by his portrayal of Massena, NY. I don't live there and have never driven through, but looking on Google Maps it doesn't seem that bad or depressing as the author (and I guess commentators) make it out to be.

It has a Walmart, Home Depot, BJs (similar to Costco), a main street with several businesses. A walkable grid with sidewalks in that main town area....

Feels like reaching that this place is so desolate and depressing.

[loeber]

Agreed! I'm randomly Google Street View-ing through town, and it looks... modest but actually quite nice?

Check out these pleasant-looking houses in the summer: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Massena,+NY+13662/@44.9264...

Edit: I've spent a few more minutes on Street View. This is not at all the podunk backwater that the author makes it out to be. They've got plenty of commercial streets, and big blocks of houses with nicely trimmed lawns.

I suppose this actually makes the author's point more strongly -- even if you have very little money, you can live pretty nicely in Massena!

[aqrit]

Alcoa (Aluminum Smelter, *cheap electricity*) was the major industry in the area. Massena plant now produces 85% less aluminum compared to ~15 years ago (AFAICT), leading to something of a ghost town (and cheap housing).

[fullStackOasis]

Also what I was thinking! I saw the Home Depot on the map, and an International Airport (with daily flights to Boston no less), and thought, "Wait a sec, is this guy pulling our collective legs?". https://flymassena.com/

[firesteelrain]

It’s got three elementary schools, one junior high and one high school. My hometown had two public elementary schools, few pre K options, two religious options for K-8, one middle school and one high school at 25k residents. And we don’t have an international airport (we do one hour away and in the same county though)

Massena is small but not that desolate/small