A ‘Love Letter’ to the city of Little Falls

Dear Little Falls,

I am one of your newest citizens and I just adore you.  I do. I love you. Your strong sense of community, the beauty of the canal, the power of the Mohawk River, your breathtaking architecture and a treasure trove of history have captured my heart. The smiles from passersby, the sound of church bells, the laughter of children outside my window makes my heart sing.  My neighbors are hardy folk who have earned respect by working on the railroad or in local industry. In a world of so much chaos, they know what matters—family, home and community and I fear that is what is most at risk—a far greater risk than you may realize because you don’t seem to realize how unique you are, Little Falls.

I have not known the luxury of a single home like Little Falls. Whatever is in my gypsy stars has carried me across the world.  I have worked as a journalist in Asia, the South Pacific, Europe and America.  Much of my work has focused on historic preservation, human rights as well as development and the environment. I lived in Westchester County for 21 years where I sat in on countless town board meetings, planning and zoning meetings.  I worked with NYSERDA and Steven Winters Associates to build the smallest “green” building in New York.  “Green” being energy efficient and healthy. 

In 1987 I wrote a long 1988 economic projection article for Hudson Valley magazine.  Then the markets tanked. Economists I had interviewed the day before were speechless with horror.  Hudson Valley communities hemorrhaged economically.  Businesses folded everywhere.  Then I noticed that the worst hit were the strip development towns; towns that had protected their architectural heritage recovered faster and did not suffer financially as much.  Architectural heritage is money in the bank for everyone. People want to live, visit and do business in a beautiful place.  Saving a treasure like Overlook Mansion will more than pay for itself in the future.

The housing boom has sent home prices to unprecedented levels along the East Coast. Many people cannot afford to live with these prices.  Suburbia seems soulless.  The Hudson Valley is on its way to becoming an urban/suburban corridor to Albany.  The Port Authority is eyeing Stewart Airport for a purchase and, perhaps, a new JFK or La Guardia. Albany is expanding rapidly with new businesses and industries popping up daily.  The new folks may see a commute from Little Falls to Albany as a delight after the crowded southern routes, especially if they can find an affordable home in a place as lovely as Little Falls.  BUT, the big ugly beast in the picture is the hand of the almighty multinationals.

Years ago, Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s, is said to have asked a group of students, “What business is McDonald’s in?’  “Food.” They cried.  “Wrong,” he answered, “ McDonald’s is in the real estate business.”  When you look at their locations, you know it’s true.

Little Falls, you now have McDonald’s, Bank America and Lowes in your city and on your doorstep. These companies don’t make their business decisions lightly.  They plan with infinite detail for many years, even decades ahead. You have been discovered.

Change is coming: change as dramatic as in the past during the canal days.  Different, but dramatic and powerful. Since the 1950s, the world has transformed radically, but, with the advent of the Internet, change has just gone into hyper-drive. None of us even begin to comprehend fully the magnitude and speed of change in the world around us. If you value your community, it is time to take control of your city and your future. 

It is time to make sure that your local government is ready to involve as many local voices as possible.  It is time to truly reflect and protect the community’s wishes.  This means education, foresight and long term planning.  Many communities have hashed out powerful plans for the future.  They gather to learn and to share their dreams and visions of the future.  Then, they map and survey their communities to see what assets are really at stake. Then they make laws and ordinances that by defining the future will set clear boundaries for greedy developers or faceless multinationals. 

Your local businesses have stood by this community for generations.  They have not pulled up stakes and headed for Mexico and China. (In fact, one of them ships to China!)  You can protect them and create new jobs.  Other communities have done it.  Take time to visit similar communities and draw inspiration from others who have successfully protected their heritage and their economy.

Yet, one thing baffles me.  I read that the mayor of Little Falls wishes to reduce the size of the town council.  Of course, this may reduce friction for him. Yet, democracy is a messy process. As it should be. 

I documented countless torture cases of people who dreamed of standing in a town meeting and speaking freely.  I wrote of their sorrows and the unspeakable horrors of their deaths until I woke screaming in the night.  Democracy starts in the town council halls where many voices should be heard, not fewer.  Therein lie the very foundations of freedom; the roots of democracy stretching deep, building power. We take the privileges of democracy so much for granted.  We allow frustration to become cynicism at a terrible cost. Our soldiers are bleeding and dying in the scorching sands of the Middle East.  To me, reducing the number of voices in a town council or failing to vote are travesties that betray those fine soldiers and the countless forgotten millions who have died fighting for liberty and democracy. 

You must speak. Vote! You should go to every town meeting you can.  Your thoughts, your dreams and vision matter so much.  Get involved. Listen to others with an open heart.  When tensions rise and tempers flare, always remember you are all there because you love your wonderful city.  Respecting our differences opens new doors and the doors of democracy must be always open.  It’s your democracy; it’s your city, it’s your future. 

I hope my words are of some measurable value close to the joy you, Little Falls, have given me.  To my chagrin, medical treatments will keep me in Seattle for most of the year so I will not see the first snows fall or hear the Christmas Carols.  I am by nature and by necessity destined to be bi-coastal.  My childhood on the West Coast makes it easy to be there, but then the endless strip development wears me down.  I develop severe ADS (Architectural Deprivation Syndrome) and must return to your exquisite streets.  So if I am giddy, gushing with excitement on my return, or stand outside your home simply marveling at its beauty, I hope you can forgive me.  I hope you can love me back as much as I love you, beautiful Little Falls and the glorious, history-rich Mohawk River Valley.

Yours truly,

Sue Morrow Flanagan,

Little Falls