A pox on all their houses and on our political system, through which the privileged are able to build generational wealth on the backs of the poor, who, as a result, suffer generational poverty and all of its consequences, including homelessness, poor health, malnutrition, and often early deaths.
If you have the stomach to read media accounts of what has already begun to happen to nearly 3000 homeless Vermonters as a result of the actions, inactions, and purposeful distractions by Vermont politicians, here are links to how this was covered for the last month by VTDigger:
23 state legislators: Abrupt end to motel program, with no transition plan, will be devastating (VTDigger, 5/28/23)
Phil Scott Vetoes Vermont’s $8.5B state budget, House Speaker calls for a state of emergency(VTDigger, 5/27/23)
State announces 28-day extension for some in motels (VTDigger, 5/26/23)
As motel program winds down for unhoused, Vermonters state looks to out-of-state contractors for solutions (VTDigger, 5/25/23)
Lawmakers approves $8.5B state budget-- and braces for a messy override vote (VTDigger 5/13/23)
Budget negotiators hold firm to ending the motel program, offer 12.5 million to service providers (VTDigger, 5/10/23)
Group of legislators threatens to uphold a potential veto if motel program isn’t extended (VTDigger, 5/5/23)
Final Reading: Scott administration defends plan to end motel program (VTDigger, 5/3/23)
On their hands, about to lose shelter a mother urges officials to reconsider winding down motel program (VTDigger, 5/1/23)
Group of legislators threatens to uphold a potential veto if motel program isn’t extended (VTDigger 5/5/23)
But, if you want to understand how and why this is happening, here are some links to the truth of the matter:
Everybody’s Breaking Down the Doors of the Emergency Hall of Shame (Vermont Political Observer, 5/28/23,)
Hey, Here’s an Idea: Let’s Attack Phil Scott and Then Ask Him to Save Our Bacon (Vermont Political Observer, 5/25/23)
Dignity, A Modest Proposal (Vermont Political Observer, 5/23/23)
In Burlington the Theme was “Hope.” in Montpelier the Theme was “Nope.” (Vermont Political Observer 5/14/23)
Objects In Mirror May Be Larger, Or Smaller, Than They Appear (Vermont Political Observer 5/13/23)
This is Not the End. (Updated) (Vermont Political Observer 5/13/23)
Montpelier Public Engagement Newsletter (PEN): Issue #14 The Homeless Emergency in Vermont (Montpelier PEN, 5/21/23)
Montpelier PEN Special Issue: The Homelessness Emergency (Montpelier PEN, 5/14/23)
And finally, in case you missed this, a consciousness-raising interview for us all
Vermont Conversation: Who benefits from poverty? Matthew Desmond says many of us do. (VTDigger, 4/28/23)
RELEVANT CONTACT INFORMATION
Legislators:
Rep. Conor Casey CCasey@leg.state.vt.us
Rep. Kate McCann kmccann@leg.state.vt.us
Sen. Anne Watson AWatson@leg.state.vt.us
Sen. Ann Cummings acummings@leg.state.vt.us
Sen. Andy Perchlik aperchlik@leg.state.vt.us
House Speaker Jill Krowinski jkrowinski@leg.state.vt.us and https://speaker.vermont.gov/content/contact)
President Pro Tempore of the Vermont Senate Phil Baruth pbaruth@leg.state.vt.us
Vermont State Officials
Gov. Phil Scott https://vermontce.my.vermont.gov/s/governor-office-ce
or call: 802 828-3333
Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman https://ltgov.vermont.gov/form/contact
Or call: (802) 828-2226
Chris Winters, Commissioner, Dept. of Children & Families (802) 241-0927
Sarah Phillips, Director Dept. of Children & Families: OEO (802) 585-9218
Some Key Allies
Brenda Siegel brendalynnsiegel@gmail.com
Ken Russell ken@anotherwayvt.org
Rick DeAngelis rdeangelis@goodsamaritanhaven.org
Sue Minter, Executive Director Capstone Community Action sminter@capstonevt.org
Morgan Brown morganbrown@gmail.com
Carolyn Ridpath carolyn_ridpath@yahoo.com
Page Guertin pguertin2021@gmail.com
Zack Hughes PeerPlus9820@outlook.com
Montpelier Government officials
Mayor Jack McCullough jmccullough@montpelier-vt.org
Sal Alfano (District 2 City Council member) salfano@montpelier-vt.org
Pelin Kohn (District 2 City Council member) pkohn@montpelier-vt.org
Lauren Hierl (District 1 City Council member) lhierl@montpelier-vt.org
Dona Bate (District 1 City Council member) dbate@montpelier-vt.org
Cary Brown (District 3 City Council member) cbrown@montpelier-vt.org
Tim Heney (District 3 City Council member) theney@montpelier-vt.org
William Fraser City Manager WFraser@montpelier-vt.org
Kelly Murphy Asst. City Manager kmurphy@montpelier-vt.org
ANNOUNCEMENT: PEN TO GO ON HIATUS
As for me, the events of the last month in Vermont and around the country have left me disheartened.
As a result and because I will turn 80 on June 5, I am going to take a break from publishing PEN. I want to spend the next few months (maybe more) literally and figuratively “tending my own garden” rather than trying to fix “a world” that doesn’t seem to be fixable even at the local level.
For those of you who have the time, energy, and inclination to “fight the good fight,” I have a few recommendations for upcoming public engagement opportunities in Montpelier, beginning with a timely presentation, entitled: Building an Emergency Shelter Community to Address Homelessness to be held at the Kellogg-Hubbard LIbrary on June 7 at 6:30pm.
Please join us to learn how the City of Burlington developed the 30-unit Elmwood Emergency Shelter Community, which is located in downtown Burlington and is part of the Mayor’s 10-Point Plan to Fulfill the Promise of Housing as a Human Right. Representatives from the project team will provide details on timeline, permitting, costs, and construction, as well as an account of the first three months of shelter operations: their guest selection process, services provided, early challenges, and successes to date. This will also be live streamed and filmed by ORCA.
Looking ahead to this summer, I would suggest that Montpelier residents keep their eyes on what the City Council decides to do (or not do) about homelessness in our community, water/sewer issues, and the next stage of the Country Club Road Site planning
And I’d strongly encourage you to read and attend the July hearings on the new City Plan, which the Planning Commission and the Planning and Community Development Department have been working on off and on for the past 4+ years, largely unnoticed by members of the public and even by most members of the City Council.
If you have not yet opted-in to receive PEN in your email, please let us know at peterhkelman@yahoo.com that you wish to continue to receive it.
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