A newbie’s view on greater Riverdale

I’ve been settling into our Riverdale office for a few good months now, meeting so many of the people who give our work purpose by reading and responding to it. One of the first questions I often get at these initial meetings is “Where are you from?” The answer, as anyone who has asked me that question now knows, is somewhat complicated.

I grew up in the Washington, D.C. area, before shipping up to Vermont for college, where I got my first true reporting clips in the books. Journalism then brought me to Massachusetts for a time, and then all the way down to South Carolina before finally calling me to Riverdale. The question that naturally seems to follow that explanation is almost invariably “So, what do you think of Riverdale?” The answer to that question is far less complex.

Moving rather quickly from state to state throughout your career can certainly be destabilizing, and I’m thrilled to be putting those years behind me. But it was also, in many ways, a privilege. That privilege has offered a unique dose of perspective at each stop along the road to Riverdale, which has led me to appreciate this community with a particular fondness. One I have not felt anywhere else.

You’ve likely heard it said before, but it bears repeating: greater Riverdale is special. Take it from an area newbie who’s recently had a crash course in so much of what this community has to offer.

As a newspaper editor, I would be remiss not to touch on the fact that this is a community which truly values local news. Of course, we at The Press are personally grateful for this fact — it gives our jobs meaning, and fills us with a wonderful sense of purpose. Throughout my career, there have been many hard-fought stories published under my byline that were only read by handfuls of people. Even fewer would actually make it to the end of the article. But aside from making your friendly neighborhood reporters and editors happy, engagement with local news is one of the surest ways to safeguard democracy and maintain the sense of community that makes this one so great. The residents of greater Riverdale clearly do not take this for granted.

Like any place, the Riverdale area has its struggles. Take, for example, recently raised concerns about local infrastructure such as postal service and grocery availability. But what sets this place apart is that residents’ eyes are open to such issues. There is a palpable passion here to make this community the best it can be by addressing shortcomings, lending a helping hand and holding those wielding the levers of power accountable.

There is also an inquisitive quality to this community that appears to be increasingly rare. When something happens here, people ask questions. They rightfully demand answers about what is happening in their neighborhood. And when neighbors are divided over certain issues, rather than allowing that division to sow deep polarization, so many people here instead seek nuance and understanding.

So to those local residents who have lived here their whole lives — or at least those who have been here much longer than I have — let this serve as a reminder, if you need it, to not take this community for granted. There are many places we could have all ended up. There is only one Riverdale.

The writer is editor-in-chief of The Riverdale Press.