Liberal Place: Columbia, MD

The goal of racial integration was largely achieved; Columbia is 20% African-American, and is generally considered to have one of the largest populations of interracial marriages in the country. The oldest neighborhood, Wilde Lake, now has a large immigrant population. (I live in the second oldest, Harper's Choice.) The low-income housing is stable, and crime is minimal there. Bill Clinton got about 2/3rds of the vote all over the city, and became the first Democrat since Carter to carry Howard County (the county that contains the city) largely because of its vote. (The rest of Howard is heavily Republican, and is usually enough to swing it into the Republican column, unfortunately; Ellen Sauerbrey, the annoying 1994 Republican candidate for Governor, got the county, although it was very close because the Columbia vote was solid for Parris Glendening.) Dukakis and Mondale also won the city solidly, as do Sens. Sarbanes and Mikulski every time they get re-elected (Mikulski usually wins about 75% of the vote). In 1988, when Maryland had a statewide referendum on the banning of certain assault weapons, the ban won in all but the most rural parts of the state--and got 80% of the vote in Columbia. The abortion referendum in 1992 wasn't even that close!

Howard is one of two Maryland counties that has an antidiscrimination ordinance for gays and lesbians (the other is Montgomery, in the DC suburbs) mainly because of the pressures of Columbians dating all the way back to the 70's. The town has 80,000 residents and 57,000 businesses, and has been successful in attracting high-tech companies.

None of this is meant to suggest that my hometown is a paradise! There is an element of "victim-of-its-own-success" to the city; housing is beginning to get rather pricey here. The Columbia Association, the huge homeowners association that does the day-to-day maintenance, has too much power and is not accountable enough to the people (although the townsfolk are beginning to wake up). The Rouse company did a great job of designing the neighborhoods with trees, paths and open spaces in mind, and it's a terrific place to take a relaxing walk. However, the small shopping centers at the centers of the neighborhoods, which were intended for walking, are driven to much more (except when it snows). There is a great bus system, but plans for a DC-like Metro never got off the ground.

...and another comment...

Columbia, Maryland has more of what I like to term of what I term "yuppie scum" liberals. They may have something resembling a social conscience, but they only vote liberal when the conservatives are nominating borderline fascists. A moderate Republican like Colin Powell could pull 90% in Columbia -- as long as he doesn't threaten their property values.

Columbia also has draconian homeowner's associations. Havign never actually owned a home there, I really can't fairly comment. But two stories I've heard comment on just how tough there homeowner's associations are:

1) Requirement to get permission to widen your driveway one foot.
2) A condo association that asked residents not to put out birdfeeders, because (surprise surprise) they attracted birds. It seems that someone didn't want to hear birds sing.

Columbia's approach to religion is also curious. Ultra-strict zoning laws prohibit many churches from being built. Instead, they have "Interfaith Centers", which contain several meeting rooms that churches share. Basically, a mall of churches. While this de-emphasis on religion may appeal to some liberals, I find it dreary.