For opinion pieces on any topic.
At Thursday’s Brattleboro Selectboard meeting, I joined Amanda Thurber in voting against the proposed 27 million dollar budget because Brattleboro municipal taxes have far outpaced wage growth. At selectboard meetings, in the street, and Thursday at the Senior Center, I kept hearing, “Enough.”
We need to stick up for everyday folks who are working for a living, trying to save for the future, and wanting to give their children a better future.
There are a hundred news reports this morning, January 15, 2026, about President Trump Threatening to use the Insurrection Act. The allegations come from an alleged Truth Social post.
I don’t use Truth Social, my cellphone number was permanently banned. (Applause!) But this is going around, apparently President Trump is threatening to use the Insurrection Act.
The protests against ICE Immigration raids have escalated into destructive behaviour by protesters as evidenced last night in “LIVE” coverage by independent journalists I follow on Youtube.
The Brattleboro Selectboard, where I’ve served as clerk since last spring, has repeatedly committed to prioritize fiscal responsibility. Now the rubber meets the road — We have an opportunity to align our actions with our words.
The selectboard has tough decisions to make. At our meeting Tuesday night we prioritized honest budgeting for a more realistic picture of expected revenue and expenses. We restored funding for critical infrastructure for our bridges, retaining walls and bicycles. And we unanimously passed my motion to restore the finance director position. If we can stick with these decisions, we will set the town up for better financial health and stability.
The Town of Brattleboro has received two petitions signed by 5% of the legal voters of the Town of Brattleboro to amend the Town Charter as follows:
Petition #1:
Article 1: Shall Brattleboro discontinue the representative form of annual meeting?
Article 2: In the event that the vote on Article 1 is in the affirmative, shall Brattleboro vote by Australian ballot at any annual or special Town meeting on the following:
News reports that U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator Peter Welch and U.S. Representative to Congress Becca Balint are all opposed to President Trump’s action of Capturing Dictator/President Maduro of Venezuela.
The outrage never ends. Just when you hope Trump will be reined in and not be allowed to bolster his cred as dictator, he tells the world to go **** themselves. It seems like the worst possible situation is now unfolding in the Caribbean and Pacific as the U.S. military kills people wantonly.
The U.S. is killing what they believe are drug dealers, without proof. They are targeting boats that they think are carrying drugs. Why is no one in the international community outraged about this illegal activity? Where are the international organizations such as the International Criminal Court? Why is no one trying to stop Trump’s murderous rampage as he pushes the U.S. closer to a war with Venezuela? The whole situation makes me physically sick because I feel so helpless to stop the killing.
CRIS ERICSON’s TAX REVOLT
alternate title: VERMONT TAX REVOLUTIONARY SNOW JOB CONGRESS IS PULLING ON US
I finally found the specific statute that I believe is the cause of the rich getting richer, and Bernie Sanders claiming he doesn’t take corporate donations!
How many times has U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, and other politicians,said that they do not take political campaign contributions from corporations?
Thursday, January 15 Last day (5:00 P. M.) to file petition requesting that an article be placed on the Warning for Annual Town Meeting and Unified School District (47 days preceding election). Approx. 469 (5%) signatures of registered Brattleboro voters required. 17 VSA 2642
Thursday, January 22 First day to post Warning for Annual Town Meeting and Unified School District (not more than 40 days preceding election) 17 VSA 2641 (a)
Petitions for Brattleboro Town Officers, Windham Southeast School District (WSESD) Board Members, and Town Meeting Members are now available at the Town Clerk’s Office. Petitions are available in the Town Clerk’s Office Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Please note the following exception: From Friday, Dec. 5 through Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, petitions will only be available between the hours of 9 a.m. through 12 p.m.
Town elections will be held on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at the American Legion, located at 32 Linden St., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
Dear FOF (Friend or Family), Co-Creator of our future,
As I write, the world of politics is falling apart. We (will) see our country at 250 years, torn apart at the seams and then restitched. As if all the seams of a tailored suit, tailored around the Constitution began to undeniably fail over a hundred years ago. In 1913 the zipper stuck on the fly of the pants, and to keep going a belt was fashioned that hid behind the jacket and the coat, that belt was the Federal Reserve.
I’m shocked.
I sent a message to relatives telling them to just come here to Vermont until President Trump gets impeached, which may be soon.
I have a 15 year old niece with tan skin in the Mecklenburg school system, otherwise known as Charlotte-Mecklenburg, NC.
An eye opener for me
My name is kendall lucy i work for brattleboro common sense (bcs)
I recently attended an announcement at 69a i found that there is more people that have a voice and are willing to use it to shine light on the emergency need for safe shelter from the freezing temps for the homeless i would like to say i am making a difference out here but i cant do it alone i need the help of other homeless and supporters of the cause to rally together and speak at the next select board meeting this coming tuesday 11/18/25 please contact me via email at lucy3robert@gmail.com to voice your thoughts and opinions on the homelessness emergency
I’m a below poverty level living senior citizen, age 73, and the bank says my food stamps SNAP program benefits have not been depoisited today as of 2:25 PM and the bank manager is aware that other people are calling and have not received the SNAP program food stamp benefits that they expected to be deposited into their accounts. Apparently there are senior citizens and disabled persons, like me,who do not use EBT cards. Benefits are deposited directly. I shop online and have groceries delivered. Potatoes are tasting better and better every day now, even without butter.
October 1, 2025 may go down in history as the date that the United States form of government officially collapsed. As I write this, we are almost six weeks into the government shutdown. People are already beginning to suffer and things will only get worse if this does not end soon.
The Republicans (Trump) are saying that there is nothing to negotiate. House Speaker Mike Johnson has shut down the House and he shows no sign of being eager to do anything to help the American people. The Democrats are holding fast until the Republicans are willing to talk about health insurance and Medicaid cuts.
I am guessing the government shutdown will continue all day on Wednesday Nov. 5, 2025. The problem is that news sources say some people will not get food stamps SNAP program benefits until Nov. 7th, and they will only get half their usual amount.
Hmmm, that means some children will be whining and some babies will be crying and some adults will have reached their personal frustration limit. This is not a good time for a big ol’ full moon, but we have no control over our solar system.
Here is the link to the court ruling regarding SNAP food stamps benefits October 31, 2025.
The last time I checked U.S. military murderers had killed about 40 or so presumed Venezuelan drug dealers. It is not only a shocking escalation of Trump’s mania for power, but it is also one of the more immoral and illegal actions he has taken so far.
No proof has been provided by the U.S. government of what has been in these boats they have blown up. Trump wants to play with his military toys and his lust for power knows no end. Never mind the rule of any law. Never mind due process. Who needs evidence when you are building a dictatorship and flaunting domestic and international law with abandon?
How many hard working people in Vermont will be laid off from their jobs November 1st because the Democrats won’t vote in favor of a Bill in the U.S. Congress that continues food stamps SNAP program benefits for the poor, but raises insurance premiums for middle class people? It’s not just people who work inside grocery stores and big box stores, truck drivers are also at risk.
I received a letter in the mail from the VT Department of Motor Vehicles, “Vehicle Registration Renewal Notice”.
“The registration for your 1999 CHEV SUB expires on November 30, 2025. So, I filled out all the online forms and paid for two years, $167.00 Then it instructed me to download a temporary registration.
The temporary registration cheats me out of 2 years and 3 weeks because the temporary registration says I paid up until Nov. 6, 2025.
What is the risk of our Vermont Congressional politicians and all of those across the United States of American voting in the United States Congress to protect the rights of the “middle class”?
The risk is that the poor could revolt.
After being a student at Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont and University of Massachusetts, I wandered westward and experienced some formative years in Los Angeles.
