Concerned about the looming loss of adequate early morning police patrol coverage due to “defund the police” measures, Tom Licata of Burlington recently wrote two letters to Burlington City Council and city officials. Receiving no response, he shared them with Vermont Daily.
Sent February 10:
Dear Mayor Weinberger & Burlington City Councilors: Should the Burlington City Council and the City of Burlington knowingly and with intent understaff its Police Department; and should a death or tragic accident occur that is linked to this known and intentional understaffing; and should the City of Burlington then be sued for millions if not tens of millions of dollars for its negligence; would Burlington’s insurance coverage for such events be denied – for Burlington’s knowing and intentional act of putting itself and others in harms way – and hence would the City of Burlington’s taxpayers ultimately have to cover this expense? Thank you, Tom Licata
Sent February 14:
Dear Mayor Weinberger & Burlington City Councilors: Not even a peep. So much for “representative” government. At least there’ll be this paper trail for future victims – and their attorneys – to hold you accountable for your gross negligence. The children are now in charge – that includes you [Progressive councilor and mayoral candidate] Max [Tracy] and your band of comrades – with their cancerous form of postmodern, illiberal and authoritarian Social Justice Theory. You may get your “equality” but it will be of the Churchillian kind, marinated in ignorance and envy to produce misery, which I suspect many of you would be just fine with. Tom Licata, Burlington
Asked by Vermont Daily to explain the “Churchillian” reference, Licata provided the following quote by former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill: “Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.”