|
|
 |
|
|
New burlington mayor favors f-35s, limits on occupy, plannedparenthood protests by efwegbe erergeer
|
|
|
New burlington mayor favors f-35s, limits on occupy, plannedparenthood protests |
|
|
|
|
|
Business,Business News,Business Opportunities
|
|
Turnout has been high and dialogue heated at a series of publicmeetings held lately in Burlington and environs. On Monday, dozens of people both in favor and opposed to a proposedhealth access buffer zone at Burlington reproductive health carecenters brought their arguments and deeply-held beliefs to the CityCouncil. Meanwhile, 40 Vermonters showed up just to watch the SouthBurlington City Council, in a 4-1 vote, reject a plan to base F-35fighter jets at the airport. Last week more than 300 people turned out in South Burlington for aUS Air Force public hearing on the environmental impacts of themulti-purpose aircraft, the military s most expensive pet projectyet. Only days before more than 100 residents showed up at BurlingtonHigh School to speak their minds about racial inequality andharassment in the schools.
Some people called for Superintendent of Schools Jeanne Collins toresign. Collins recently issued a public apology, but added thatshe does not intend to step down. To those of you who believe action has taken too long, shewrote, and particularly to students in our district who havesuffered from the racism which I know continues, I say that I amsorry. Progressive Vince Brennan, one of the first to call for Collins replacement, suggested on Monday that safety and other race-relatedproblems are being swept under the rug. Mayor Miro Weinberger is about to release a statement about Collinsand the school.
Mayor says noise a limited factor for F-35s On Tuesday, the mayor defended his most controversial decision todate: support for basing 18 to 24 F-35s at the airport. Last week,Weinberger opted not to send a statement to the environmentalimpact hearing. Instead, he issued his decision in the days thatfollowed in a rolling response to media inquiries. Weinberger aide Mike Kanerick acknowledged that there was no pressrelease, but insisted that it wasn t a calculated move. The period for public comment on the F-35 s impacts has beenextended until June 20, according to the Air Force.
This is mainlydue to a request from Maine for a hearing. A number of Vermontpublic officials, including Gov. Peter Shumlin and Lt. Gov. PhilScott, haven t waited and are already on board, mainly toutingeconomic benefits and the need to protect National Guard.
Althoughthere is no official link between where F-35s are based and thefuture of the Vermont Guard, many backers assume that cutbacks aremore likely if Vermont is not chosen, or even seems less thanenthusiastic. Vermont s congressional delegation has expressed pride in the pastabout being considered for the F-35s. More recently, they haveissued careful statements about balancing legitimate concerns with the value, services and excellence of the Guard. Little hasbeen said about the aircraft itself. Weinberger, a leading member of the Airport Commission before hiselection as mayor, said he decided to wait until after the hearingjust in case anything new emerged in the discussion.
That said,he feels the benefits of the Guard to the city and region areobvious and enormous, while the environmental impacts have beenlimited." Having reviewed the Environmental Impact Statement and listenedclosely to the public reactions to it, I do not believe that thisbalance will substantially change, his statement says. Isupport the Air Guard in its efforts to base the F-35As here. In response to VTDigger, Weinberger acknowledged that some peoplewill be more impacted than others, and said he respected theconcerns and views offered during the hearing, and at other stagesof the process. He bristled, however, at the suggestion thathousing will be lost as a consequence of accepting the aircraft.
Not a single person will lose housing because of this, heinsisted. The airport s decision to purchase nearby residentialproperties is not linked to the F-35s, he added. These propertiesare impacted not only by takes offs and landings, but also by avariety of impacts on the ground." "The most significant F-35 impact is potentially increasednoise, he added. I m not ignoring that, but it is a limitedimpact.
On Monday, the City Council authorized Weinberger and airportofficials to purchase up to 14 properties near the airport for anticipated growth, environmental compatibility (noise), and inthe interest of public benefit. Reimbursement is anticipatedthrough FAA grants. The F-35 environmental impact statement (EIS) says that up to 1,300properties will be affected adversely by the noise, to some extendand depending on how many fighter jets ultimately arrive. Thenature and intensity of the impacts, plus the fact thatlower-income areas will disproportionately feel the effects, are atthe heart of the debate. In Winooski on Monday night the City Council officially asked theAir Force to "clearly identify the potential impact on theeconomic health" of Winooski.
They also want to know whyBurlington s airport is a preferred alternative to areas thatmay have fewer adverse impacts." A controversial ordinance to fine protesters Although the Burlington council also heard briefly from the AirForce, the focus in Contois Auditorium was on the healthcare bufferzone proposal, sparking debate over another question of balance between free speech and access to health services. Ultimately, the Council voted 13-1 to send the proposal on to theOrdinance Committee for review before its expected passage. Thetopic nevertheless dominated an intense, extended but civil PublicForum period. If the measure passes protesters could be finedbetween $50 and $500 for violating a 35-foot sphere ofprotection extending in all directions around reproductive healthfacilities in the city.
Planned Parenthood supporters said protests have been a biggerproblem since the regional headquarters for the women'shealth clinics moved from Mansfield Avenue to a downtown location. Anti-abortion activists insist that the protests are notobstructive. They say they want to pray, grieve and offer adifferent choice. Weinberger calls the Public Forum period, which often covers arange of topics, democracy in action. In this case, however, hedidn t need more input before taking a stand.
I took a public position early in favor of the ordinance, henoted, and he agrees with the basic findings as explained in thedraft: the exercise of a person s right to protest or counselagainst certain medical procedures is a First Amendment activitythat must be balanced against another person s right to obtainmedical counseling and treatment in an unobstructed manner. During the forum several speakers criticized what they described aslimitations on speech rights and preferential treatment.Comparisons were drawn with the Occupy encampment that was brieflypermitted in City Hall Park last fall, and more recent picketingoutside the door of the Citizens Bank. Paul Decelles, a Republican councilor who has emerged as a majorcritic of liberal stances since the departure of his counterpartKurt Wright, took up the comparison and ran with it. What wouldwe do if banks felt intimidated and wanted a buffer zone? He called the proposal a form of unnecessary spot zoning.
Democrat Norm Blais objected to the comparison. In an April 29, 2012 statement Occupy Burlington announced plans todevelop a permanent picket line outside the Citizens Bank until itcloses and leaves. Since then activists with signs and handoutshave gathered each weekend to talk with bank patrons and get theword out. Ultimately, our goal is for there to never be a time when someonecan bank at Citizens Bank without first crossing a picket line, says the groups Resolution for the Ejection of Citizens Bankfrom Burlington, Vermont. Bram Kranichfeld argued that existing legal tools mainlytrespass and disorderly conduct statutes are not adequate todeal with the main problem.
Anti-abortion protests he said couldhave a chilling effect on people facing difficult life choices. Progressives Rachel Siegel and Max Tracy support the buffer zone.Vince Brennan, the third progressive, looked for a way to reconcilehis belief that protest is positive with an equally strongsense that health care is a human right. I m not an anarchist, Brennan said, but we need a placewhere that voice can be heard. Occupy movement wants new encampment The Occupy Burlington movement is also looking to expand itsprotests. In addition to picketing outside the Citizens Bank theOccupy movement wants to establish a new encampment this year.
Anattempt in early May to set up tents at Pomeroy Park in the OldNorth End was interrupted by the police. The group continues tohold General Assemblies, and uses social networks to organizeevents and show solidarity. Members of Occupy, often with signs,have been present recently whenever people gather to addressofficials. Even though I have sympathy toward goals of the Occupy movement,the events of last fall brought it home that that we as a communityneed to be clear, Weinberger explained. Although he expressedsupport for free speech and free assembly, and those rights needto be respected, I intend to enforce regulations for all groups.
That means an encampment will not be allowed in City Hall Park orother public locations where overnight camping is prohibited. However, Weinberger also mentioned that the rules and ordinances oncamping are not uniform throughout the city. Asked whether thereare circumstances or places under which a permanent presence mightbe legally possible, he suggested that interested parties consultthe statutes. So far, however, Weinberger said no one has come to me aboutcamping on public lands. I am a professional writer from Automobiles & Motorcycles, which contains a great deal of information about caterpillar used parts , worn brake pads, welcome to visit!
Related Articles -
caterpillar used parts, worn brake pads,
|
Rate This Article  |
|
|
|
|
|
Do you Agree or Disagree? Have a Comment? POST IT!
| Reader Opinions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Author Login |
|
|
 |
Advertiser Login
ADVERTISE HERE NOW!
Limited Time $60 Offer!
90 Days-1.5 Million Views
|
|
ALEX BELSEY
I am the editor of QUAY Magazine, a B2B publication based in the South West of the UK. I am also the...more
|
|
|
|
|
STEPHEN BYE
Stephen Bye is a fiction writer. His most recent novels are a 5-book “The Developer” series which be...more
|
|
|
|
|
PAUL PHILIPS
For more articles, blog messages & videos and a free e-book download go to www.NewParadigm.ws your p...more
|
|
|
|
|
TIM FAY
After 60-plus years of living, I am just trying to pass down some of the information that I have lea...more
|
|
|
|
|
LAURA JEEVES
At LeadGenerators, we specialise in content-led Online Marketing Strategies for our clients in the t...more
|
|
|
|
|
LEVAL AINAH
I am an internet marketer and also an educator. My goal is to help others who are looking to improve...more
|
|
|
|
|
GENE MYERS
Author of four books and two screenplays; frequent magazine contributor. I have four other books "in...more
|
|
|
|
|
ADRIAN JOELE
I have been involved in nutrition and weight management for over 12 years and I like to share my kn...more
|
|
|
|
|
MICHAEL BRESCIANI
Rev Bresciani is the author of two Christian books. One book is an important and concisely written b...more
|
|
|
|
