Letters to the Editor (10/23/24)

Deadly Connection

Thank you so much for [“The Straw Man,” October 16]. I have struggled for so long to understand the stance regarding guns in Vermont. I have also struggled to understand the large homeless population in a rural state. It all became so clear when I read this story. The die-hard gun advocates either don’t have a clue or just don’t care to know the facts. It’s like the sun came out on a cloudy day. Gov. Phil Scott saw it for what it was and signed a bill that people just crucified him over. The citizens of Vermont have got to open their eyes and realize that the huge homeless population, drugs and gun control are incestuously related, and nothing will get better until everyone wants to fix the problem. Seven Days has taught me so much in such a short time.

Virginia Small

Clarendon

Something About Mary

[Re “The Ballad of Tom Banjo: From Folk Songs to Cranky Shows, Tom Azarian Is Vermont’s ‘Vagabond’ Storyteller,” October 2]: Mary Azarian, celebrated artist-printmaker and illustrator, has defined Vermont’s rural landscape and lifestyle for decades. A warm and welcoming person, Mary is modest in her accomplishments. Her many posters, calendars, cards and books depicting children, animals and Vermont’s seasons reveal her passion for simplicity of life. We are fortunate that Tom Banjo Azarian and Mary settled in Calais. Their unique passions and talents have given us much.

Ruth Furman

Jericho

Who’s Voting?

In the article “Democracy 101” [October 9], Ken Picard tells us how schools are preparing students to vote responsibly in the November 5 election.

Compare this to the announcement the City of Burlington has published on voting: “Full-time residents of Burlington who legally reside here, regardless of citizenship status, can vote on these local ballot items. Free interpreters are available for both early voting and at the polls. For early voting interpretation help, come to the Clerk-Treasurer’s office. For interpretation help at the polls, ask the election official at the polling place.”

In other words, Burlington does not care if you can speak English, let alone have some familiarity with American history and civics.

How can we expect fair and effective voting on the issues of the day when we are opening the polls to anyone who simply happens to be housed in Burlington?

Jack Scully

Burlington

Editor’s note: Winooski, Montpelier and Burlington allow noncitizen residents to vote on local matters. They can weigh in on ballot questions, as well as on races for mayor, city council and school board members. They do not receive ballots for statewide or federal contests.

‘Excellent Introduction’

I was fortunate to be able to attend the first viewing of this three-actor performance at the Burlington Friends Meeting House and met the play writer, Crystal Zevon, in person [“One Family in Gaza Recounts a War Through a Father’s Texts,” October 2]. Ken Picard’s article in Seven Days was an excellent introduction, which I have saved to share with friends.

I hope to be able to bring the actors together again where I live at Burlington Cohousing for another performance in our Common Room. Crystal Zevon wants to share the story widely and says you can use each updated copy of it for any three actors who want to perform it.

I will say there are a lot of emotions shared in the play, which tells of actual events going on in Gaza. Hopefully Seven Days will be able to advertise future performances, which will encourage people to help put an end to this war.

Jean Hopkins

Burlington

Editor’s note: Event listings are free in our community calendar. Find the submission form under “events” at sevendaysvt.com.

Antisemitic Shorthand

I am disappointed in Ken Picard’s description of the reasons for campus strife [“Democracy 101,” October 9]. He states: “Several of these programs were borne from the strife that roiled college campuses nationwide earlier this year after Israel’s invasion of Gaza,” while entirely missing the point that the reason for the invasion was a terrorist attack that murdered 1,200 people. I look forward to seeing peace in the region but must call out the underlying antisemitism that is taking hold in this country and our state.

Nancy Kaplan

Burlington

Good Coverage of Housing Crisis

Thank you, Seven Days, for the breadth of information you keep providing on housing. Vermont has an unprecedented housing crisis. It’s helpful to know the details. From the wonderful Local Deeds program in Woodstock that assists with down payments to own houses in the local community [“Home Run: A Program That Helps Local Workers Buy Houses in Woodstock Is a Hit,” October 9] to the “Buyout Blues” story in the same issue on homeowners who are victims of flooding, where town leaders get to determine if they’ll be allowed to get a FEMA buyout so they don’t have to go through rebuilding time after time in the same location. Previously, you have run stories on the plight of the homeless.

I’ve lived in Vermont since 1965. I remember a time when people left their keys in their cars and the doors to their homes unlocked. When you could charge food at the local grocery store and people helped others in trouble. Now we have leaders in some communities that put the tax base above the health and freedom of their neighbor who lives in a high-risk zone so they can move on with their lives. We have a governor and legislature who have abandoned seniors, children and disabled people who are homeless and living in cars or tents in the cold. Right now.

It’s shameful that we have leaders who put money and “the greater good” above the health and welfare of the most vulnerable. In this election, vote for leaders who put people first.

Joe Patrissi

South Burlington