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Michael Long
Member since Jun 29, 2016
Recent Comments
Re: “Group Urges Ward 4 Voters to 'Write-In Wright' on March Ballot”
I suspect that the equal opportunity section (315) of the Communications Act of 1934 — or the equal time rule — still applies.
It should not matter whether Wright promotes his candidacy on-air or campaigns actively in other venues. So long as he expects to serve if elected as a write-in, he is a candidate.
I understand the effort to violate the spirit of the law while complying with the letter of it, but if the responsible authorities are paying any attention, this won't work.
Other candidates are entitled under the law to equal airtime and would be wise to utilize the “equal opportunity.”
Posted by
Michael Long
on 01/26/2020 at 9:21 PM
Re: “Vermont Supreme Court Denies Challenge of Burlington Telecom Sale”
The biggest and most costly mistake -- a betrayal even -- was to privatize what ultimately would have been a solvent and valuable public asset/utility.
The previous administration misappropriated public funds to rescue the company. The current administration sold it off at a pittance for tax payers but with a sweet deal for the rest. Even Citibank did better than tax payers who were lied to and told they would bear no risk.
The Schurz sale was a travesty, not a triumph.
Posted by
Michael Long
on 01/20/2020 at 11:06 PM
Re: “CityPlace Burlington Developers Countersue Project Opponents”
While it's true that lawsuits can be used to delay and stymie projects -- the suit to block the Costco gas station comes to mind -- this was not the case with the suits challenging City Place.
The settlement agreement mediated by Peter Clavelle -- who supported the project -- was reached in about 90 days. This allowed the project to proceed and demolition followed promptly. The subsequent construction that everyone expected did not happen because no financing had been secured.
It was as if you had torn out your bathroom for a remodel but had neglected to get a home improvement loan.
Oops!
Even an inept homeowner would be unlikely to make such an error, but the developer and our elected representatives were comfortable demolishing the bulk of the mall without assurance that it would be replaced in a timely fashion.
I've even heard office holders claim they prefer City Hole to the "failing" mall. Can't say I agree.
Posted by
Michael Long
on 01/12/2020 at 5:16 PM
Re: “At House Impeachment Inquiry, Welch Invites Trump to Testify”
Peter Welch's questioning was brilliant, bringing into even sharper focus the pathetic nature of Trump Forever defenders like Jordan and their arguments.
It's the laughter he generated at Jordan's expense that has been most frequently noted. But getting Jordan laughed out of the room is nothing compared with reminding us that Trump -- strictly to serve himself -- put in jeopardy a seventy year peace following a war that cost over 400,000 American lives "and that threatened each and every one of us up here and the constituents we represent." Robert Taylor, whose credibility is as good as it gets, confirmed: "That's a fair statement."
Posted by
Michael Long
on 11/14/2019 at 5:17 PM
Re: “Developer: CityPlace Burlington Project Will Be Redesigned”
A little too ambitious, indeed! And the mayor is "frustrated and disappointed"?
With whom I wonder? With Brookfield perhaps, a firm that appears mercifully willing to save Burlington from itself?
The disaster embodied now in City Hole was brought to us by Miro Weinberger, his compliant councilors, and the BBA. They have no one to blame but themselves.
And now, in this dark hour, the mayor hopes that Brookfield, of all entities, will address some of the size and scale criticisms of the project.
Where was he and where were those councilors when Burlington needed them? They were wedded to Don Sinex and "leading" Burlington astray.
Posted by
Michael Long
on 07/19/2019 at 12:00 PM
Re: “Despite Lawsuit, Burlington Preps City Hall Park for Construction”
Take a closer look at the claim that the park is losing only three trees and you will find that dozens of mature trees are being chopped down and "replaced" by saplings with a fraction of their girth, canopy, or presence. These are not even trades.
Furthermore, this high priced plan -- more than $100,000 before the first chainsaw is fired up -- emphasizes hardscape over green space and disregards the park's historic character. Maybe people --certainly some people -- will love it, but it looks more like a corporate plaza than a city park to me.
Posted by
Michael Long
on 07/10/2019 at 7:20 PM
Re: “All Eyes on Vermont House After Senate Overrides Minimum Wage Veto”
The minimum wage is a starvation wage and if the override flies it will still be. A buck and a half over two years -- and that's too much for the gentry to offer the peasantry?