Opinion

For opinion pieces on any topic.

Brattleboro Selectboard Candidate Interview – Oscar Heller

by cgrotke | Politics
oscar heller

Oscar Heller is running for a one-year seat on the Brattleboro Selectboard.

Tell everyone a bit about yourself… who are you?

My name is Oscar Heller. I’m a programmer and graphic designer with my own web design business called 10F Design. I serve on the energy committee and the finance committee, and I’m a town meeting rep for District 3. The energy committee played a big role in successfully convincing the Selectboard to create the new sustainability coordinator position, and I also served on the hiring committee for the position.

The Power of Incumbency

by tomaidh | Politics

Before the 2018 midterm elections, President Trump cited reports of a migrant caravan traveling to the U.S. from Central America to claim that the southern border was facing a national-security crisis.

Trump warned of a coming “invasion” and claimed that the caravan had been infiltrated by gang members.

David Schoales – Easy Choice for Selectboard

by Not Signed In | Op/Ed

Many endorsements for the Brattleboro selectboard tout the candidate’s open-mindedness, integrity, intelligence and compassion. If you have heard David Schoales’ positions on the board over the years, or if you read the long list of issues that he has championed, you know that he is all these things plus much more.  If you’re a public employee you may remember that David led the board in support of a successful effort to negotiate a much better health insurance plan for town workers.  More recently, he supported the successful effort for the town to hire a Sustainability Coordinator, a position critically to address the challenges ahead that go well beyond climate change.  David also spent many cold days with others campaigning for the ban on distribution of single use plastic bags in Brattleboro. By any measure, he is a true champion of the environment, local businesses, and fiscal responsibility.

Endorsement Letter for Candidate Daniel Quipp

by Wendy M. Levy | Politics

I am writing to express my endorsement of Daniel Quipp, who is running for a one-year seat on the Brattleboro Selectboard.

Our town is lucky to have Daniel.

Daniel’s work with SEVCA, helping local people make sure their homes stay warm, and as a community organizer with Vermont Interfaith Action, point to his dedication to making sure our neighbors’ basic needs are being met. When someone works on behalf of people who are struggling, and demonstrates a drive to be helpful to others, I take notice.

Brattleboro Early Voting and Absentee Ballots Available

by Not Signed In | Politics

Early/absentee ballots for the Presidential Primary and Brattleboro Annual Town Meeting to be held March 3, are now available in the Brattleboro Municipal Center, first floor.  Anyone wishing to vote prior to March 3 may apply for an early/absentee ballot until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 2.

Early/absentee ballots may be voted in person at the Municipal Center, mailed to the voter by the Clerk’s office, picked up by the voter, or if a voter is in need can be delivered to the voter’s residence by two Justices of the Peace.  All voted ballots must be received by the Clerk before the polls close on election day in order to be counted.  For more information or to request an early/absentee ballot call 251-8157.

Brattleboro’s Social Media Policy Is Ignored, And It Is Causing Problems

by cgrotke | Op/Ed

At the last two meetings of the Brattleboro Selectboard, members of the board and the Chief of Police implored people NOT to use social media for official business, such as reporting crimes.

“Don’t rely on social media,” said board member Tim Wessel. “Social media has never been a form of reporting things,” added Chair Brandie Starr.

Where could the public have gotten such a crazy idea as to use social media for town business? Perhaps from members of the Selectboard?

Brattleboro Selectboard Candidate Interview – Daniel Quipp

by cgrotke | Politics
daniel quipp

Daniel Quipp, and incumbent,  is running for a a one year seat on the selectboard.

Tell everyone a bit about yourself… who are you?

Like many people around here, I wear a few different hats. Obviously, one of these is my Selectboard hat. I hope to earn the voters’ trust to wear it for another year. I have two jobs – I work for SEVCA and help people keep their lights on and homes heated through our crisis fuel program and I work as a community organizer in southern Vermont for Vermont Interfaith Action. I also wear my community radio hat. I’m currently the president of the WVEW 107.7 FM board and also host a weekly show playing new alternative music called ‘Brand Spanking New’ (Thurs, 6 to 8 pm). When I’m not doing one of those things I’m probably either hanging out with my wife, eating sandwiches at Amy’s, playing tennis or reading and drinking warm beverages.

Brattleboro Selectboard Candidate Interview – Elizabeth McLoughlin

by cgrotke | Politics
Elizabeth McLoughlin

Elizabeth McLoughlin is a current member of the Brattleboro Selectboard and is running for a three-year seat.

Tell everyone a bit about yourself… who are you?

About a dozen years ago, I chose Brattleboro, together with my family, my Mother-in-Law, our jobs, and our whole lives– we moved to Brattleboro, where our youngest daughter attended BUHS. This move, after many years of visiting family in Brattleboro, was a happy choice. My husband and I both started small businesses. I own a planning and environmental consultancy business. I volunteered for a number of Town and civic committees, most notably: the Planning Commission, The RTM Finance Committee, BASIC, the Skatepark Committee, and the Empty Bowls Dinner Committee.

My Selectboard service is an outgrowth of the understanding I gained participating and contributing to these civic committees.

The Week That Was

by Lise | Opinion, Politics

How did we fix it so all these things happened at the same time? What were we thinking when we scheduled Brexit, Impeachment wrap-up, Iowa Caucus debacle, and Trump’s State of the Union address within 5 days of each other? Are we insane? Do we want our heads to explode?

Ok, I know no one planned to make all these events coincide, but the fact that they did gives it that aura of fatedness. Clearly the gods are angry. The natives are getting restless. And as is typically the case, the overlords (clueless neocons and neolibs alike) are burying their heads ever deeper in the sand.

Just Say “No” to a Mayor in Brattleboro

by Wendy M. Levy | Op/Ed

On Election Day in March, Brattleboro voters will have the opportunity to tell the Selectboard to consider replacing the five-member Selectboard with one mayor.

The complete wording of the article which will appear on the ballot: “Shall the voters of the Town of Brattleboro advise the Select Board to amend the Brattleboro Town Charter to replace the Select Board form of governance with that of a mayoral form of governance?”

I encourage voters to reject this proposal for a number of reasons.

3 Ideas for Solutions to Money for Education, Money for Health Care and Climate Change!

by Cris Ericson | Politics

These are my personal opinions, (Cris Ericson, Chester, VT) and I think I’m right on these issues. People have
been complaining about these political issues for many years now, so why not take a moment and consider my ideas for solutions to these problems, you have nothing to lose. Or, you can just go back to your whining and complaining if you aren’t willing to listen to new and different ideas. Go ahead and stagnate. Stagnation is what happens when the Democrats and Republicans are not inclusive and refuse to allow other candidates in debates.

Petitions for March Elections – Deadline Monday 1/27

by Not Signed In | Politics

Can you please post a reminder that petitions for Brattleboro Town Officers, Windham Southeast School District (WSESD) Board Members, and Town Meeting Members are available at the Town Clerk’s office.  Town elections will be Tuesday, March 3 at the American Legion, and the Annual Representative Town Meeting, Saturday, March 21 at the Brattleboro Area Middle School.

Democratic Primary Open Thread

by cgrotke | Politics

Anyone have any thoughts or observations about the Democratic primary? It’s almost a four-way tie going into Iowa and NH. Some opinions must be solidifying…

My most recent thoughts have been about specific reasons I dislike Biden. I don’t enjoy his “angry old man” act, whereby he raises his voice and points fingers at almost every debate question.  But this I can live with – it is theater.

Brattleboro Democracy Forum at the Brooks Library

by Not Signed In | Politics

Drug-running has been fundamental to CIA operations, strategy and funding throughout its history. The US Senate Kerry Committee Report of 1989 detailed CIA drug-running through the 1980s to fund terrorist wars in Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador. Professor Alfred McCoy, University of Wisconsin, and Professor Peter Dale Scott, Emeritus University of California, have written extensive histories of CIA drug-running from its inception in 1947 to the present. The facts are known and so little regarded. This presentation will review CIA drug operations to ponder why the facts matter and are simultaneously ignored.

Could the 2020 Elections Be More Fair Than Previous Elections? Debate Exclusion

by Cris Ericson | Politics

How many Democratic Party candidates for President of the United States of America are now complaining about being excluded from political candidate debates which are partly funded by PBS, which receives federal tax dollars, and therefore should not exclude any candidate from debates?

I want all Democratic Party candidates for President of the United States of America to sit up and pay attention because you know that PBS is constantly asking for viewer donations, and you know that PBS contributes to the manipulation of the criteria for debate participation, so ask yourselves, how many of their donations are from foreigners, and how much influence do the foreigners have in the manipulation of criteria for debate participation? Isn’t that foreign influence in our elections if that is what is going on, even if it is a small part?

Three More-Important Questions For Presidential Candidates To Debate

by jay janson | Politics

During presidential debates, as in criminal mainstream media there is effusive praising of veterans as heroes. How do these ‘heroes’ feel when the wars in which they risked life and limb while killing an enormous amount people are intensely labelled mistakes? Huh? Vietnam, Iraq, Libya, Somalia – just mistakes? All the death and horror experienced was for a mistake? Vietnam is still communist. Heroic for what? Worth some debate?

Another Attack On America

by RDavis | Op/Ed

Millions of Americans have been under attack since Trump and his thugs took power. The list of inhumane, racist and xenophobic actions is long and most of the people who have been targeted are low income, vulnerable because of their health or socio-economic status or because they live in fear of having their families torn apart.

The vulnerable among us are experiencing a type of bullying never before seen in this country, but this kind of cowardly action has become the norm for our rogue government. One of the more recent assaults on Americans who are working hard and trying to get ahead is a proposed rule change that would cut food stamp (commonly referred to as SNAP) benefits to about three million people.

WWAC To Offer Talk On Southeast Asia

by Rosalyn Shaoul | Politics

On Friday, Nov. 22, at 7:30 pm, in the parlor of the Centre Congregational Church, 193 Main St. in Brattleboro, Windham World Affairs Council will present “Movement Of People: Trafficking and Migrating in Southeast Asia Today.” The Speaker will be Braema Mathi, a Singapore-based human rights activist who is currently in the Global Fellows program at Keene State College, sponsored by the Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation.

The talk will be free and open to the public. There will be coffee, tea and conversation from 7:00 and the talk will begin at 7:30.