Vermont Megathread

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Burlington's police cuts have been enough of a disaster to attract national coverage:

Other cities with similar profiles — majority-white college towns — “defunded” their police. Norman, Oklahoma, diverted 4 percent of the police budget to community services. Northampton, Massachusetts, cut 10 percent from the police budget.

Burlington, however, decided to slash almost 30 percent of its police force by attrition. Since then, city leaders have been forced to reckon with the unintended consequences of that decision, including problems with public safety and quality of life, police and residents say.

[...]

The unintended consequences appeared quickly. Slashing the police force through attrition, which some councilors assumed would take years, instead took months.

Police officers began to leave in droves. Before defunding, Burlington averaged about 95 effective, or active-duty, police officers. Today, the department hovers around 64. Often only five officers are available to patrol at night, said Murad, the police chief. Overtime costs have soared.

Not named in this article, but deserving of infamy: Chittenden County State's Attorney Sarah George. Would love to see a national outfit that still does investigative reporting look into her role in these trends and some of the most disturbing incidents over this past year, like the hammer attack in the downtown parking garage.

I know you intended this to be a nail in the coffin for “defund the police” but you left out

”We can’t defund without refunding. The whole point is to fund something else,” [Councillor] Hightower said. “And we didn’t do anything for a very long time.”

… Councilor Zoraya Hightower, a member of the Progressive Party, introduced the resolution to defund the Burlington Police Department.

If anything it’s an indictment against the city council trying to use defund for a cheap political point and not following up on the actual point of it

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Which Dems might run against Scott?

Probably no one of note. Again, running against him would be suicide.

Democrats have a big enough field in the state they can find somebody. They won’t win, but it’s looks good to but someone out there.

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https://mobile.twitter.com/progparty/status/1507094482730242059?cxt=HHwWlsCy4c6c...

This is how you kill a party

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This is how you kill a party

By running the trust-fund farmer with statewide name recognition for an office with little power aside from its holders' visibility? Anyone who can put up a few thousand dollars of his own money and not come across as a complete joke is a decent enough candidate. The alternative to Zuckerman running isn't a better candidate; it's running no one or someone irrelevant.

Zuckerman is a vaccine skeptic and lost by an absolute landslide in his last gubernatorial election. He was bound to loose, but damn he barely carried a town. He is more well known, but he’ll do more harm then good

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https://twitter.com/SKrowinski/status/1530256294686466048

Big news. Phil Scott signs the legislature's statewide child tax credit and disability benefits package. See thread.


In other news the race for Congress was totally changed today, Senator Ram Hinsdale endorses Balint. Lt. Gov Gray in trouble....

Let’s go Becca!

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Bernie endorsed Becca, Gray campaign in critical condition

Becca Bros rise up

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https://twitter.com/BeccaBalintVT/status/1552052810564378627?s=20&t=UZkuIYrD...

WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT

We stan

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Other numbers from the UNH(/WCAX?) Survey Center Poll

https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/wcax/docs/UNH%20Poll.pdf

Christina Nolan, the center-right lesbian former state attorney handpicked by the VTGOP and the NRSC is DOWN 30/24 in her primary against a total fringe type. Extremely high undecideds (42%), but Nolan has remarkably high disapproval, so the right wing of the VTGOP has it out for her. If she loses, it would be extraordinarily embarrassing for the Republican establishment. I still think she will win. However, if the far right of the party is performing this well, it could bode poorly for moderate State Senator Joe Benning in his bid against far right Gregory Thayer in the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor. A victory for Thayer would be the utter ruination of the mainstream conservative and liberal conservative wings of the VTGOP. Could even mean Phil Scott might have a closer than expected contest with his no name challengers. Seems like the VTGOP far right is mobilized to vote against the entire not-far right slate.

If Nolan looses it will further cement that nationally,  Republican Party is firmly anti-gay people

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Is there any talk or movement to lengthen VT gubernatorial terms?

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I just want to thank @KaiserDave for your incredible analysis. I love reading it

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Two towns, Richmond and Marshfield, have passed resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. No word yet from Newfane, where a similar resolution is also up for a vote.

Resolutions passed in at least three other towns: Newfane, Thetford, and Dummerston.

I heard it passed in Shelburne? Is this true?

Yes, it looks like the final tally is eleven:

https://vtdigger.org/2024/03/07/resolutions-condemning-the-israel-hamas-war-cleared-at-least-11-vermont-municipalities-on-town-meeting-day/

The following municipalities passed nonbinding resolutions opposing the war, according to town clerks and local media reports:

    Bradford
    Dummerston
    Marshfield
    Newfane
    Putney
    Richmond
    Sharon
    Shelburne
    Thetford
    West Windsor
    Woodbury

I have an aunt in shelburne