Just Who is Moving from Big Cities to Places Like Wenatchee?
A posting by David Brewster in Crosscut claims that it is a reverse flow from the big coastal cities to the inland boomtowns bringing newcomers with a different culture and politics to inland cities. The phenomenon is not only creating growth but friction between the independent, mostly conservative natives and the more liberal transplants. Apparently the frustration is high enough in towns like Walla Walla that stickers lamenting “Don’t Bend Walla Walla” are common.
Of course, Bend is issuing twice as many building permits as Portland recently. Many folks from Walla Walla are concerned about the culture and politics of the newcomers who are more “Arugala Cafe” than “Cowboy Bar.” The posting is worth reading and here’s an excerpt:
As celebrities and other rich folks build big spreads and exclusive enclaves, most Montanans pay them little heed. Missoulans told me that the ultra rich mostly keep to themselves, importing friends for the weekend rather than mingling with the locals. But everyone complains about how (now-troubled) posh resorts are driving up property taxes (and providing lots of construction jobs). Real estate development is now the big industry in Montana, far surpassing the old mainstays of ranching and mining.
You don’t have to go all the way to Montana to find these tensions and trends. Washington state House Speaker Frank Chopp is busy recruiting moderate Democrats in Eastern Washington, hoping to pad his lopsided majority in the House. Okanagan rancher Peter Goldmark, running for the statewide post of lands commissioner, is another sign of the growing appeal of rural Democrats. In turn, these moderate Democrats exert a conservative influence on the Democratic caucus, where complaining about Seattle is the main glue that binds. - Crosscut
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