Cities as the new heartland...and the new environmentalists well. I have never been to NY, prefer the west, but we have great cities too...SF may be the best of them all, but Vancouver BC is real close. Each is a microcosm of real America -- even Canada can offer us the best of America, North America, as can Mexico, by the way. Each is liberal in its ideals. Each pays its way, for most things, and supports the economies of the surrounding communities. Portland is the best hub city, surrounded by small towns; it's the center of the urban world. So think new city, recreate/reconstruct a new urbanism.