MyHometownOhio, as one of the voices for Ohio’s non-profit preservation, revitalization and sustainable growth communities, has remained scrupulously non-partisan during the recent campaign and election process.  Now that Americans have chosen their next President, however, it is interesting to reflect on what directions the Obama administration will take in these areas.

Its obviously a bit early to answer that question.  There are some possible clues, however, in the information and links provided by the website “Historic Preservation for Obama,” which can be accessed here.  The site analyzes the policy statements and publications of the winning campaign, and looks to how those directions interface with historic preservation in all of its forms, particularly in the area of urban revitalization.

Senator Obama chose Ohio as a backdrop for one of those policy statements - a speech on urban issues that he gave in Toledo this past August.  Obama said, “"We've got to get past the notion that we can leave the cities to rot,” according to this coverage in the Plain Dealer.

The maxim obviously still holds true that all -- or at least most -- preservation is “local,” and whatever the new President's intent, Congress still holds the key to enacting important urban and rural preservation-friendly legislation.  Nevertheless, the paradigm shift that America is waking up to this morning is bound to have a profound impact on preservation possibilities over the coming years.