iBrattleboro.com | ESchwartz | Activity

ESchwartz wrote a new post, SNAP & Healthcare Info Hours

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 19:53:03 +0000

The Vermont Workers’ Center is hosting drop-in hours at the Brooks Memorial Library Community Meeting Room on Friday, March 27 from 2:00-4:30 PM to help people understand and navigate changes to SNAP, Medicaid a […]

ESchwartz wrote a new post, 3Squares & Healthcare Info Hours

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 12:57:59 +0000

Do you have questions about the new SNAP (3Squares) requirements?
Have you been cut off SNAP or Medicaid or had benefits reduced?
Do you need help signing up for SNAP or Medicaid?
Do you need help paying for […]

ESchwartz wrote a new post, SNAP & Healthcare Open Hours on Friday

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 13:11:27 +0000

Are you confused about the new SNAP requirements?
Do you need help signing up for SNAP or Medicaid?
Have you been cut off SNAP or Medicaid or had benefits reduced?
Do you need help paying for Medicare premiums […]

ESchwartz wrote a new post, Healthcare & SNAP Info Hours

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 13:29:47 +0000

The Vermont Workers’ Center is hosting drop-in hours at the Brooks Memorial Library Community Meeting Room on Jan. 23 and Feb. 6 from 2:00-4:30 PM to help people understand and navigate changes to SNAP, Medicaid a […]

ESchwartz commented on the post, Brattleboro Parking Zones To Be Updated Starting Sept. 3

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 15:32:33 +0000

Reminds me of Tom Lehrer’s song, “New Math”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6OaYPVueW4

ESchwartz wrote a new post, Medicaid Monday Speak-out

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 19:51:28 +0000

The Vermont Workers’ Center / Nonviolent Medicaid Army is holding a speak-out on Monday, June 16 at 5 p.m. in front of the Brattleboro Post Office, 204 Main Street. The budget reconciliation bill currently in the […]

ESchwartz commented on the post, Selectboard Meeting Notes Redux- Board Approves 12% Property Tax Increase; Won't Tax Cats

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 05:01:03 +0000

I don’t often agree with Dick DeGray but I think his comment about property not being reflective of wealth is accurate. The underlying problem, which I know the town can’t solve, is that the town is reliant on […]

ESchwartz commented on the post, Selectboard Meeting Notes Redux- Board Approves 12% Property Tax Increase; Won't Tax Cats

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 04:50:15 +0000

Apparently there are hard-working cats and lazy cats, and the cats with jobs shouldn’t have to support the moochers.

ESchwartz commented on the post, Brattleboro Property Tax - Proposed Increase of 14%, Plus Maybe 5-8% More for Solid Waste

Sun, 03 Nov 2024 00:22:04 +0000

I agree with the four points above, and would add: encourage businesses to locate in town that have things we actually need at prices we can afford–though I’m aware that it may be too late for that.

Spending […]

ESchwartz commented on the post, Tinkering Around The Edges

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 17:25:28 +0000

I went to the community meeting in Townshend and agree 100% with this analysis.

If we leave the system intact and try to engineer the kinds of changes the consultant is suggesting we won’t succeed in […]

ESchwartz commented on the post, Medicare Advantage Fraud In Plain Sight

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 18:41:39 +0000

Thanks, Richard. This information is SO important. I appreciate your spelling it out in understandable language.

ESchwartz commented on the post, Medicare Advantage Fraud In Plain Sight

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 18:40:29 +0000

SHIP might also be able to give you information about this. In VT they are run through Senior Solutions. My understanding is that in all but 4 states–and Vermont isn’t one of them–insurers can deny you a […]

ESchwartz wrote a new post, Workers' Center Hosts Health Justice Jam

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 21:47:08 +0000

Have you been cut off of Medicaid?
Are you at risk of losing it?
Is your healthcare unaffordable?
Are you dealing with medical debt?
Are you unable to access the care you need?

Join local members of the […]

ESchwartz commented on the post, The Perils of For-Profit Health Care

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 20:53:07 +0000

While it is true that Vermont has some protections because our hospitals are non-profits, that doesn’t keep profiteers, especially those with private equity financing, from making inroads where they can. Nursing […]

ESchwartz wrote a new post, Medicaid & Health Resource Drop-in Hours

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 14:53:05 +0000

Have you been cut off of Medicaid, or are you concerned that you may become ineligible? Are you on Medicare and unable to afford a supplement? Are you concerned about going into medical debt?

The Vermont […]

ESchwartz commented on the post, Selectboard Meeting Notes - Brattleboro Discusses Big Issues with State Delegation

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 02:06:11 +0000

Private equity is investing in more and more of our healthcare delivery–basically anywhere they think they can make money by skimping on staff and provision of care, or separate the property from the provision of […]

ESchwartz commented on the post, Selectboard Meeting Notes - Brattleboro Discusses Big Issues with State Delegation

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 04:26:49 +0000

Buried in this is this comment by Emilie K: There are more private equity firms who aren’t collaborating but are accessing the money. ”
I assume she means public money (Medicaid & Medicare dollars or state f […]

ESchwartz commented on the post, Is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Trustworthy?

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 02:31:24 +0000

I found this article to be informational:

ESchwartz commented on the post, COVID Update Are We Too Complacent?

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 20:55:41 +0000

I have been following a blog (substack) and FB site called Your Local Epidemiologist, written by Katelyn Jetelina, who’s an honest-to-god epidemiologist. Mostly she writes about COVID–which is what led her to […]

ESchwartz commented on the post, COVID Update Are We Too Complacent?

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 19:06:32 +0000

Thank you for this article, Richard. I am probably one of the very few people who never stopped masking in indoor spaces. The UN has said that COVID is no longer a public health emergency, but that it is still a […]

ESchwartz wrote a new post, Public Forum: Fair & Impartial Policing in Windham County with Discussion of Proposed Changes around Immigration

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 19:53:33 +0000

Join the Windham County Sheriff’s Office and the Windham County No Más Polimigra Campaign for a public discussion about proposed reforms to the Sheriff’s Fair and Impartial Policing Policy (FIPP) related to immi […]

ESchwartz wrote a new post, Huge Health Insurance Rate Hikes: Public Comment through 7/24

Sat, 22 Jul 2023 15:43:43 +0000

Blue Cross and MVP Health Care want to raise rates by an average of 15.5% and 12.8% for individuals and 14.5% and 12.5% for small businesses. The affected plans are the ones people buy through Vermont Health […]

ESchwartz commented on the post, A Helpless Hostage of the Dental System

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 17:11:18 +0000

I have also heard great things about this practice. However, I believe they have a VERY long waiting list for new patients–which speaks to how great the need is for the services they provide.

ESchwartz commented on the post, RAD Just Cause To Create Permanent Homeless Under-class

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 15:38:56 +0000

Homelessness is indeed a serious problem in our community and many others. However, this proposal will not create a permanent “class” of homeless people. That would only be the case if there were adequate […]

ESchwartz wrote a new post, Medicaid & Health Resource Drop-In Hours

Sun, 19 Feb 2023 15:05:48 +0000

In Dec. 2022, Congress voted to eliminate the extra federal funding and requirement that states keep people on Medicaid. Vermont will be starting Medicaid redeterminations on April 1. According to the Urban […]

ESchwartz wrote a new post, Medicaid & Health Resource Info--Drop-in Hours

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 13:46:12 +0000

ESchwartz wrote a new post, Healthcare Resource Info Hours

Sat, 21 Jan 2023 14:46:57 +0000

In Dec. 2022, Congress voted to eliminate the extra federal funding and requirement that states keep people on Medicaid. States will be able to start Medicaid redeterminations on April 1. According to the Urban […]

ESchwartz commented on the post, A Weak Effort At Medicare Dental Coverage

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 15:15:29 +0000

Thank you for posting this. It is outrageous that our teeth are considered a different “commodity” from the rest of our bodies. As you point out, it’s all about the money. The fact that people go to the ED for […]

ESchwartz commented on the post, Ban On No Cause Evictions In Brattleboro Would Hurt Good Tenants

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 15:05:37 +0000

Just Cause Eviction is not designed to remediate the housing shortage–which is definitely a problem in Brattleboro and elsewhere. Its intent is to protect people from being evicted without cause–just because the […]

ESchwartz commented on the post, Why Are Fuel Prices So High?

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 01:39:01 +0000

What the U.S. Energy Information Administration doesn’t include in its list of factors is that oil companies are posting massive profits. They could produce more, which would drive prices down, that that isn’t […]

ESchwartz commented on the post, The Pandemic is Not Over

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 01:19:07 +0000

So sorry you and your wife are going through this, and I hope you both feel better soon. I’m another one of those people who still masks up, even when I am close to people outdoors. But no protection is 100% and […]

ESchwartz commented on the post, Did Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Make A Mistake Raising Selectboard Stipends?

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 22:34:26 +0000

I am wondering if anyone has undertaken to survey people who have considered running but not run to find out what held them back. This wouldn’t be a scientific survey, but it still could provide some useful […]

ESchwartz commented on the post, The Continuing Threat To Medicare

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 02:44:26 +0000

Thank you for publishing this, Richard. You nailed it: it’s all about profits, not human life. I am on traditional Medicare and am furious that I could be forced into a Direct Contracting Entity and ultimately […]

ESchwartz wrote a new post, National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day Vigil

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 22:09:25 +0000

Dec. 21, the Winter Solstice, is National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day. The Vermont Workers’ Center, in solidarity with the National Union of the Homeless, will be holding a vigil on the Brattleboro Common sta […]

ESchwartz commented on the post, Privatizing Medicare A New Threat Beyond Medicare Advantage

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 15:20:07 +0000

Thank you, Richard, for this very informative look behind the curtain of the latest effort to privatize Medicare. I couldn’t agree more that the DCE model needs to be stopped in its tracks.

It’s probably true […]

ESchwartz wrote a new post, Keeping Windham County Safe for Immigrant Communities

Sat, 28 Aug 2021 13:51:49 +0000

Join the Windham County No Más Polimigra campaign and Migrant Justice for an on-line information session on loopholes in the county’s Fair and Impartial Policing Policy that allow the Sheriff’s Department to […]

ESchwartz wrote a new post, March for Medicaid

Mon, 28 Sep 2020 14:23:08 +0000

On October 3 the Vermont Workers’ Center will hold a March for Medicaid in Bellows Falls. This is part of a national week of action coordinated by the Workers’ Center and the Nonviolent Medicaid Army, a gro […]

ESchwartz commented on the post, The Maze of One Care

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 05:36:04 +0000

Thanks for this informative post. I have a lot to say on this subject, maybe more than people here want to read. To answer Lise’s question, it’s not clear what they mean by “accountable.” Maybe it’s just a […]

ESchwartz wrote a new post, People's Forum on Healthcare

Mon, 07 Oct 2019 13:26:20 +0000

Do you and your family rely on Medicaid (Green Mountain Care) or Dr. Dynasaur? Do you have to buy private insurance, and worry about the rising costs? Do you have health insurance but avoid getting care because y […]

ESchwartz wrote a new post, Vermont Workers' Center Get Involved Meeting

Mon, 23 Sep 2019 18:57:17 +0000

Join us on September 25, 1-2:30 PM at Brooks Memorial Library Meeting Room, 224 Main St.
to learn more about the Workers’ Center, the Healthcare Is A Human Right campaign, and ways to be involved. We’ll share bas […]

ESchwartz wrote a new post, Strength of the Storm Film & Discussion

Mon, 23 Sep 2019 18:56:29 +0000

As part of the week of climate action, the Vermont Workers’ Center and Extinction Rebellion of Southern VT are sponsoring a screening of the film, “Strength of the Storm,” directed by Rob Koier. The screening will […]

ESchwartz wrote a new post, Healthcare Jamboree in Brattleboro

Thu, 09 May 2019 13:42:06 +0000

On May 9 the Vermont Workers’ Center will host a Healthcare Jamboree. The event will take place from 5:30-8:00 p.m. at the Brattleboro Savings & Loan Community Room, 221 Main St., Brattleboro (rear entrance). P […]

ESchwartz wrote a new post, Effects of Government Shutdown on 3SquaresVT Benefits

Sun, 13 Jan 2019 14:25:49 +0000

Hunger Free Vermont has issued this information. If you are applying or recertifying, documentation has to be in by Jan. 15 in order to get February benefits.

Here’s the full release from Hunger Free […]

ESchwartz wrote a new post, Windham County Legislative Candidates' Forum Tonight!

Wed, 10 Oct 2018 14:50:11 +0000

Windham County Legislative Candidates’ Forum on Health Care & Human Rights is happening tonight at the Centre Congregational Church parlor, 193 Main St., Brattleboro. Forum from 7-9 p.m. Doors open at 6:15. All […]

ESchwartz wrote a new post, Meeting About Medicaid

Mon, 21 May 2018 13:02:43 +0000

Anyone concerned about changes to Medicaid is invited to a meeting on May 22 to learn about ways that Medicaid is under attack and what we can do to preserve and expand it. The meeting will take place from […]

ESchwartz wrote a new post, Community Meal, Health Fair & Healthcare Meeting

Thu, 05 Apr 2018 22:40:10 +0000

On April 13, the Vermont Workers’ Center will host a health fair and community meeting on health care issues accompanied by a free community meal. This event will take place from 5:15-8:00 pm at the Centre C […]