Wake Up, Dems
[Re Feedback: “Rodgers Rules,” February 5]: Reading all the letters to the editor about the cover story “Man at Work” [January 22], I’m a little more than disgusted by the reaction of my fellow Democrats who are still incredulous at the man’s win. How about a little introspection? Using all the usual claptrap buzzwords the Dems use, like “ignorant” and “racist” and “guns” in any type of sentence, they show exactly why he won. His voters are absolutely sick of being made out to be some type of common moron and looked down upon by a now-aggrieved party (and its supporters) who formerly could swing the sword of power at will.
Unfortunately, we all found out that the constituency has limits to its ability to absorb abuse and fiscally tolerate some of these snot-nosed, holier-than-thou politicians. John Rodgers’ election wasn’t the only one; many Dems went down, all with hearing issues, apparently. They never listened to all the people they represented. And some rebelled.
I voted for Mr. Rodgers. I had had enough of my concerns being ignored, too. I’m a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat, but some of these goings-on were flat-out undemocratic. Forcing policy upon the population just because you can jam it down everyone’s throat makes a mockery of the whole process. And the population gave Democrats a taste of their own medicine.
Hopefully the remaining Democrats in the House and Senate are less recalcitrant this season.
Christopher Maloney
Washington
Learn From Plattsburgh
Your excellent article on Shelburne’s controversial proposed large housing development [Nest: “HOME Stretch,” January 22] perhaps downplayed one major drawback of the project: more traffic on the already-congested — and dangerous — Shelburne Road, aka Route 7.
The City of Plattsburgh, N.Y., addressed this budding situation several years ago by persuading the state to build Route 374 parallel with the already-commercially overdeveloped Route 3 west from Plattsburgh for about 12 miles. It’s a wide two-lane semi-limited access highway with long sight lines and no development of any kind, not unlike a parkway. It’s a pleasant, open-space alternative to the crowded, stop-and-go Route 3 with its malls, motels, big-box stores, chain restaurants, gas stations, endless traffic lights, fender benders and so on.
If this has not already been thought of, a similar road east of and paralleling Route 7 from near its Interstate 189 intersection to the south of Shelburne should be considered. The difficulty is that while Plattsburgh took on the problem before there was much construction along the right-of-way, it may be too late for Shelburne — the extent of property condemnation would be a political nonstarter.
Thus, the cost of not thinking ahead.
Neal Burdick
Shelburne
Editor’s note: Shelburne has since approved the O’Brien Brothers development referenced above. For details, read our January 28 online story, “Shelburne Selectboard Approves Housing Project Agreement.”
‘Phenomenal Writing’
[“Year of the Dogs,” January 29], about the winning University of Vermont soccer team, is absolutely phenomenal writing. I graduated from UVM back in 1986 and played for then-coach Ron McEachen his first season in 1985, my senior year. I spent some time with coach Rob Dow over the past few weeks, and I actually played soccer with Maxi Kissel’s father in New York City back in the 1990s.
There are really no words to explain the past few months, but you have done a damn good job of coming close to making it as understandable as possible. The whole season has a book in it.
Once again, great job!
Scott Wood
Lagrangeville, N.Y.
Sports Illustrated Quality
The quality of “Year of the Dogs” [January 29] reminds me of what I used to find in the stories of Sports Illustrated. Such reading enjoyment!
Peter Rowan
Winooski
‘Can’t Afford to Live Here’
It’s not just retirees feeling the squeeze [“Green Mountain Stakes: Taxes and a High Cost of Living Make Vermont an Expensive Place to Grow Old,” January 22]. We have lived in Vermont since 2003 and are active community members. I have a good-paying job (two-thirds remote, which enables me to live here) and should not have an issue buying a home and living in Vermont.
Yet our family has been looking for a home to purchase on and off for many years now. Each time we find one of interest, we calculate the property taxes against the value of the home (and the home’s likely accrual as an investment against the tax loss each year), and the number is astronomically bad. I already pay a relatively hefty amount of state income taxes, and buying a home would effectively double my tax burden to a level that we cannot afford.
I have a son who is headed to college shortly, and we cannot afford to pay for that as well. The same tax burden for a similar living situation (with home purchase) in New Hampshire or Massachusetts amounts to approximately $10,000 less in taxes.
Unfortunately, we have recently determined we will be moving away from the state we love. We can’t afford to live here even on a relatively good income.
Bob Kalill
Putney
Afghans Betrayed
I am deeply ashamed of the actions of President Donald Trump suspending admission of refugees into the U.S. and the immediate impact upon Afghans here in Vermont who have families waiting to join them [“Vermont Afghan Group Condemns Trump Refugee Order,” January 22]. This is indeed a betrayal of the promise we gave them. Why would anyone ever trust us again? This is not the country my father fought the Nazis for in World War II. He was the son of Irish immigrants. His parents were born in Ireland. We are a nation of immigrants, and unless one’s heritage is Native American, we all came from somewhere else or our people did.
I welcome refugees. They come here for a better life. We need the Hispanic people who do the work on our farms, apple orchards, etc. People here don’t want those jobs. Illegal or not, these people work. Have we become a nation that just uses people until they don’t suit our purposes or our political leaders? Yes, this is betrayal, and I am ashamed!
Sheila Ryan
Essex Junction
Case for Indoor Cats
[Re “Reining Cats and Dogs: Roaming Burlington at Will, Cats Fight, Poop and Kill Songbirds. Councilors Are Considering a Leash Law,” January 29]: I would point out that cats are considerably safer indoors, not only due to the risk of traffic accidents (the leading cause of death in cats) and a number of diseases, (toxoplasmosis, rabies and feline immunodeficiency virus, to name a few) but also a new threat of avian influenza or Type A H5N1, which has been reported in dozens of cats since March 2024, when it was first confirmed in dairy cattle.
Cats appear to be particularly susceptible to severe illness from bird flu, often resulting in death. This virus can be transmitted in raw food and raw milk as well as wild birds, so avoid unpasteurized milk and raw food. I agree that licensing and leash laws will be challenging for any municipality to enforce. However, owners who keep their cats indoors or confined to their yard in an exercise pen or other means are more likely to see their cats live to a healthy old age.
Barbara Huibregtse, DVM
Danville
Homeless Cats
[Re “Reining Cats and Dogs: Roaming Burlington at Will, Cats Fight, Poop and Kill Songbirds. Councilors Are Considering a Leash Law,” January 29]: Burlington certainly has a feral cat problem, but people are vilifying so-called feral cats when really we’re talking about homeless cats. Cat owners wanting to absolve themselves from their own cat’s behavior is abhorrent. Just because they don’t see their cat kill birds or use their neighbors’ house as a litter box doesn’t mean they don’t shit in the woods. Where do they think homeless cats came from? Often, they are lost because they were free-roaming, are abandoned by their people or were born on the streets from unneutered free-roaming cats. Cats don’t have a choice; people do.
John Zelig
Burlington
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This article appears in Love & Marriage Issue 2025.
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