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by Rep. Rob North
When the people rise up in unity over an issue and are not driven by deep-pocketed activist organizations, but by their own recognition that their rights are being trampled, the legislature had best take notice. We’re in such a time.
The uprising over Act 181 is enabling, even forcing, tri-partisan collaboration to occur that will directly benefit Vermonters. Thank you for making your united voices heard. Constituent engagement is forcing many legislators to face a reality that is different than what they had believed, to get out of their silos, and truly collaborate. This is how democracy is supposed to work for the benefit of the people. I am thankful for this result and welcome the newly inspired collaboration.
The respectful, peaceful, and well attended Act 181 rally, the honest, factual and compelling stories in emails, letters, phone messages, and personal live testimony before our House Environment committee, from every walk of life and all political persuasions, has overwhelmingly pleaded for repealing the Act 181 Road Rule and Tier 3. If you want to listen to some of the best of that testimony check out Neil Ryan HERE, Todd Heyman HERE, and Samantha and Josh from Vermont League of Cities and Towns HERE. Very interesting.
Debate within our committee will continue into next week and I am hopeful that the weight of testimony will be heeded and that both the rights and benefits of Vermonters as well as our environmental resources will be protected by repealing the Road Rule and Tier 3 and starting over with a more inclusive process to determine the best methods to protect what is really necessary to protect. I and many other legislators are actively working together to bring about this result. Please continue your engagement to encourage both the House and Senate to adopt it.
I am also hoping that this spirit of collaboration within the Statehouse will spill over into other equally important topics before us, especially Education. There continues to be gridlock on that topic with members not willing to budge from entrenched positions. Part of the difficulty here is the lack of consensus from the constituency. Across Vermont, from small rural schools to larger city schools, from public only areas to highly successful independent school choice areas, from opportunity inequities to exorbitant property taxes, it is challenging to find a one-plan-fits-all solution. Maybe that’s a hint as to where we ought to go? For an excellent analysis of the situation, watch this week’s Governor’s press conference HERE.
Stay tuned and stay engaged.
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Categories: Commentary, Legislator Perspectives
The key to affordable housing lies in the Tier 2 and 3 land that Act 181 has effectively removed from development. Most Vermont homes built since the 70’s when Act 250 was adopted were built on reasonably priced land that was zoned “farming and rural residential” or similar and allowed homes on minimum 2 acre lots so that a drilled well and primary and replacement leach fields could be sited. The vast majority of the subdivisions that created these building lots did not need Act 250 permits.
There is still plenty of such land that could support single family homes for young families that want the Vermont heritage lifestyle of a house, room for the kids to play, a garden plot, an accessory building for a customary home industry (such as home building) and broadband access. But Act 250 is a showstopper. It will make reasonably priced land unavailable because it will deter land owners from even considering going through the approval process, which has neither predictable cost, timelines or outcomes.
Repeal Act 181 if you want young people to come to or stay in Vermont. Allow towns to determine their own futures. Then citizens will have a reason to serve on their local planning, zoning and select boards.
Peasants have no voice in the first colony of the United Nations! The do not set the course for their state! The ruling structure is of NGO’s , non profits and lobbyists.
The voting is a ruse, to keep the populace at bay, the propaganda is to keep them stupid, mad, divided and easily controlled, they send out emails saying protest at rafts corners and the populace gleefully responds with anger and vitriol, same thing on line!
Families can no longer gather at Thanksgiving because they are politically divided, they have put their political position higher than everything else. They identify as a political party, the highest calling they have. If you go against the position of the day you are excommunicated, you are shunned. You are cancelled. You lose you job and standing in society.
Tell me what are these actions signs of?
Their plan works and is working as designed, please don’t be fooled.
They own the game board, you can not win if you play their game, it’s like trying to get rich at the casino, the house always wins.
We need to stop playing their games and play our own game, one we were intended to play. There is a better way, much better.