Following a celebration of our glorious past it’s time to focus on the future.

What became apparent during the hoopla of the 2009 Quadricentennial is that there is a real opportunity now to bring focus to the Hudson River Valley’s long-spoken of but yet to be fully-realized potential. Despite the recession, citizens up and down the Hudson are determined to restore the economic vitality of our riverfront towns while improving the health of the river and protecting our valley’s world-renowned scenic beauty.

Most elected officials and prospective candidates say they are ready to help. But what exactly do we want them to do?

The river needs a practical agenda, not platitudes.

Towards that goal, last fall we started asking valley citizens what matters most. “Listening Tour” workshops were held in Hudson, Kingston, Manhattan, Newburgh, Troy, and Yonkers. Several big themes emerged including ideas about creating jobs, improving transportation, reviving downtowns, strengthening local agriculture, protecting environmental and scenic resources, and increasing the role of the river as a central feature in education and the experience of kids growing up along the Hudson.

Now, these priority issues are getting a hard-nosed look by task forces whose members have expertise in these domains. These task forces will be posting draft agendas on OurHudson.org for you to comment upon. Through this website — redesigned to align more directly with the work of these task forces – you also have the opportunity to post original ideas about the future of our beloved valley, and to comment upon the ideas of others.

Yes, you.

This is your opportunity to help shape a platform that makes sense to you, your family, and your community so that this once-in-a-century opportunity doesn’t drift away like the fireworks and Dutch ships of last year’s Quadricentennial celebration.

So, please join with us!

Post your ideas, photos, video, and other content that describes your hopes for the future of our region. And check back regularly to help shape draft proposals as they emerge, learn of conferences, workshops and articles on related topics, and join in the debate on significant issues.

If we do our work well, there will be a clear picture of explicit next steps to capitalize on our celebrated assets and to get past some of our challenges. A real Agenda for the Hudson with goals and milestones will be a good guide for elected leaders now in office and candidates aspiring to replace them. By the autumn elections it will be one way to help figure out who you are voting for so when candidates call, you can tell them this year you’re voting for the Hudson River Valley!

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