An Important Ideological Difference Between Portland and the Hudson Valley

First of all, I miss Portland.

Peter Cannavo’s example of Portland as the ideal of federated regionalism provides a remarkable success story that may be difficult to transpire to the Hudson Valley. In my experience, I have always benefited from the strict development laws just by driving beyond the city limits into an expansive region of forests, mountains and clean beaches with little evidence of development. By restricting the production of subdivisions and strip malls growing further and further from the city, Metro has forced the citizens of Portland to live within close proximity to one another, enhancing the sense of community and creating a greener and bike-friendly environment. This effort has by no means solved racial divisions, as the gorgeous Willamette River splits the city into an “East” and “West” side with their own characteristics. Suburbs have sprouted further out along highways, yet my experience in other cities makes Beaverton and Gresham seem like integrated parts of the Portland area. Driving just thirty minutes from Portland’s city center brings about endless possibilities from year-round skiing at Timberline Lodge to wind-surfing in the Columbia River Gorge to camping in the Tillamook State Forest. Few major cities around America can say the same.

The Hudson Valley has been labeled the “backyard” for New Yorkers, a place of striking beauty in need of preservation and even a symbol for American freedom due to its importance in the Revolutionary War. Unfortunately, many people living in the Hudson Valley that experienced economic collapse with the fall of industrialization do not hold the same values. The socioeconomic diversity that exists along the Hudson makes its situation unique and much more difficult to resolve. Once the Catskill cement plant falls, what will become of the individuals whose families have lived and worked for generations? It seems ridiculous to force them out with higher property values and the prohibition of jobs which provide them with the greatest opportunities. The difference between the Hudson and Portland is the reliance on developments that have taken place. When Metro adopted its policies, few major corporations or citizens opposed the plans. The ideology behind the establishment of a regional governing body that addresses land use issues has succeeded because Portlanders generally have the same liberal mindset and they were handed the political power.

The same restrictions and preservationist policies may occur in the Hudson Valley if power is handed to Manhattan residents who own cabins they travel to for the weekend. The biggest concern in establishing a regional governing body is the representation that "old-timers" receive. As primary residents, they play a crucial role in the founding and preservation debate that should not be ignored.