SPONSOR
In support of the goal of the Hudson Fulton Champlain Quadricentennial Commission to advance a vision and practical agenda for the Hudson Valley, this project is sponsored by the Hudson River Watershed Alliance, a regional coalition of stakeholders working to protect, restore, and conserve the water resources of the Hudson and its tributaries, through information sharing and collaborative networking.
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OVERVIEW:
On November 5, 24 people participated in the Yonkers listening workshop. The group included stakeholding interests representing a variety of agencies and nonprofit organizations, as well as several small businesses. Participants noted that the audience was not fully representative of the region’s demography or organizational/civic composition. In particular, the group encouraged future representation from: the private business sector (esp. financial services, agriculture and river-based businesses); students; infrastructure-related agencies (e.g. railroads, utilities); County and municipal government; and land preservation groups.
DISCUSSION:
The discussion focused on the need to create a new awareness and consciousness among residents about a more “human” scale for living in the Valley. In this context, people would seek out alternatives to a consumption oriented, hustle bustle lifestyle, especially in terms of supporting smaller scale local retail establishments; pedestrian travel (walking, biking); living “green”; and paying more attention to the sustainable access and use of the region’s natural landscapes (in terms of beauty/aesthetics, natural habitats, agricultural production, etc.). One extended thread of conversation focused on a new consumer awareness and appreciation of product “value” and “lastingness”, as well as a willingness to live a “sufficiency” lifestyle (not needing to accumulate beyond one’s needs, being satisfied with less, seeking ways to minimize environmental impacts, etc.).
PRIORITY THEMES:
33 ideas were generated by the group to address the concerns raised in their discussion. The participants then selected those ideas they felt to be most promising. Priority themes that emerged included:
• More responsible policymaking and legislation to create and enforce guidelines for sustainable access and use of the river.
• A focused and proactive campaign to promote “green business” development in the region.
• Recreational and educational programming to bring people to the river’s edge and onto the water.
• More attention to the agricultural resources of the region as a source of food and good nutrition for the region’s population.