Many Mid-Hudson Valley residents consider environmental issues such as protecting open space, improving the quality of drinking water, increasing the number of public areas, and balancing growth with the environment as important concerns. However, when posed against a number of other issues such as jobs, taxes, the economy, health care, education, and crime, most residents do not rank environmental concerns as high a priority for the region.
The preservation of open space is the only environmental issue to rank among Mid-Hudson Valley residents’ top ten priorities for the region. In fact, the other environmental concerns presented in this study all rank toward the bottom of residents’ priorities for the region. These issues include improving the quality of water that is supplied to homes, increasing the number of public areas such as parks and playgrounds, and slowing growth and development.
