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Does its band of six-figure salaried bureaucrats actually do anything?
by Rob Roper
In my last article, “Equity Advisory Committee Members Souring on Clean Heat Standard,” I noted that back in February 2023 Vermont’s Director of Racial Equity, Xusana Davis, warned in testimony that the Clean Heat Standard in its then current form was not an equitable piece of legislation, listed a number of problems with the bill, and hasn’t been heard from since. Weirdly so. This got me wondering, where IS Davis and her Office in all this mess? Bueller?… Bueller?….
Here we have a law that is supposed to change how our entire economy works and our very way of life – with lots of so-called “social justice” and “equity” issues at stake not to mention the accompanying tornado of politically correct, social justice warrior lingo, official and unofficial — and the Office of Racial Equity (which its website insists is “not exclusively focused on only certain racial and ethnic groups—we support equity for all of Vermont’s residents and visitors,” so we all have a stake in its ostensible mission of fairness) has absolutely nothing to say about it? Again, I say, weird.
The Climate Council has nine members from the Administration on it, plus five more non-member appointees to subcommittees – NONE from the Office of Racial (But Not Really Racial!) Equity. Not even on the Council’s Just Transitions subcommittee for which, one would think, it would be a natural if not critical fit.
The Public Utilities Commission’s Equity Advisory Group on the Clean Heat Standard has three Administration members on it representing the Department of Public Service, the Department of Children and Families, and the Vermont State Housing Authority. But NO ONE from the Office of Racial (But Not Really Racial!) Equity Office. The two entities have the same operative word in their title for crying out loud, but… no? Weird.
Are Davis and her Office being ironically discriminated against? Intentionally silenced on this issue? If so, they don’t seem to care. About that, this, or apparently anything. It turns out my mystification about the Office’s disinterested silence on climate policy isn’t limited to just climate policy.
According to the Racial Equity Office’s state website, the last public meeting it held took place July 26, 2023. The one before that on March 15, 2023. There are currently no events listed on its calendar.
As far as I can tell, neither Davis nor anyone in her office has ever issued a press release on any policy, anything of substance, or really anything at all. Every press release posted on its webpage is a reprint of something put out by the Governor’s office recognizing one day of recognition or another, the last one being a boilerplate hat tip to Black History Month last February signed by Governor Scott.
Even when this year the Vermont legislature moved forward a proposed Constitutional Amendment adding an “equal protection” clause, PR.4, the Office of Racial (But Not Really Racial) Equity didn’t even release a public statement as concise as, “Yippee!” That’s weird.
A Google search of “Xusana Davis VT/news” comes up with less than a page-worth of hits, the latest dated an October 2023 article on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to supply translation services in emergency situations in which she is quoted. Interesting, but more important than an energy policy that will likely impact low income and other economically vulnerable Vermonters’ ability to survive winter and/or afford to stay in their homes? I don’t think so!
It’s almost as if this whole office is just an expensive, taxpayer funded, BS façade that is intended to be seen (as a “social justice” fig leaf to distract and placate the masses of low-information Leftist drones) but not heard, certainly not in any meaningful way on any policy of substance. And its members seem okay with that role.
The near total lack of documented activity by the Office after early 2023 led me to wonder if the thing had been quietly shut down, just as Burlington recently defunded its not particularly useful Racial Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity department to help curb out of control spending. But no. There in the state budget was listed the salary and benefits package for the “Exec. Dir. Of Racial Equity” at $167,143, plus two more additions to the team, an Education and Outreach Associate and an Equity Policy and Research Analyst at $103,123 and $95,553 respectively, bringing the office’ complement up to five members.
All doing what and to what end, one asks.
When the highly touted equity goals in arguably the most far reaching economically disruptive policy in our state are being overtly and aggressively tossed out the window… (Quote: “We’re taxing the poor so that the rich can benefit,” Christopher Trombly, Equity Advisory Group. Quote: “We don’t do things based on helping poor people. We do things based on saving the world,” Sen. Mark MacDonald on the Clean Heat Standard. Quote: “The whole Clean Heat Standard… was a boondoggle that really is designed to support entrenched interests,” Pike Porter, Equity Advisory Group.)… and the Office of Racial Equity has nothing to say, what good is it? And why should we taxpayers continue to fund it?
Rob Roper is a freelance writer who has been involved with Vermont politics and policy for over 20 years. This article reprinted with permission from Behind the Lines: Rob Roper on Vermont Politics, robertroper.substack.com
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Categories: Commentary, Race and Division, State Government
I’ve been saying this since Dei inception; what do they do eight hours a day, 40 hours a week? State DEI, city DEI, school district DEI, college/university DEI…..so many employees doing absolutely nothing for big money, taxpayer money and zero measurable product. Basically this is a bipoc jobs program where nobody works.
On May 9 of this year I emailed Xusana and I received the following automated message:
“Thank you for your message. I am on extended leave and will not be checking e-mails. Yes, everything’s fine. Consider routing your inquiry to another staff person using the lists below. Xusana “
So, we now know “everything’s fine”!
And, the other staff to rout inquiries to consisted of one “they” and two “she’s”.
Mystery solved 😉
“They” must be their “Research Analyst”, “Jay”:
From http://racialequity.vermont.gov/about-us/executive-director-racial-equity
“[Mx.] Jay lives in central Vermont, with their cat Honey. They enjoy listening to audiobooks, biking, and doing needlepoint in their spare time.
*Mx. is a gender neutral honorific title, pronounced “mix.” Jay identifies themselves as transmasculine/nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns. For more information on the correct use of they/them pronouns, see: https://www.mypronouns.org/. ”
How do these people write this utter twaddle with a straight face?! Do they have absolutely no shame? 🤔
Just let it wither away. Better she get paid to do nothing for a few years than to ruin the state.
Boy! I can’t wait for the follow up commentary! Who does she report to and what do they have to say? In her absence who does her staff report to? What is their work product and is it measureable? $167,000+ annual salary! That’s over $3,000 per week! She must be good at her job! Whatever that is. Everything’s fine.
As a government assigned definition Hispanic person, I’m highly offended being categorized as a special group of people who need extra special help from the government. These people are ruining my brand and labeling me as a victim. I don’t want their victim group, and I don’t want to pay them any money. They are offering services I can’t refuse.
The government is blatantly racist, and this is no different than the “separate but equal” crap we had in the 60’s that we already “learned from”.
Obvious money grabbing sham. Obvious excuse to further enslave humanity. Obvious political power grab. Obvious virtue signaling.
The government doesn’t care about colored or cultured people. The government hates all people, especially people that are different. They want you a poor slave, or dead. The proof is in the pudding.
OK, VermonterVermonter, who are “they” and define “government”. All too vague and didn’t prove facts to substantiate: “Obvious money grabbing sham. Obvious excuse to further enslave humanity. Obvious political power grab. Obvious virtue signaling.”
If you were well informed and paying attention, you’d know exactly what I’m talking about. Tune in and drop out man. Not enough real estate here for this conversation. Divide et impera!
Not to belabor the point, Mr. McCormick, but being well informed is a choice you must make for yourself instead of diverting attention with the usual ploy of demanding ‘proof’ – while it’s as plain as the nose on your face.
This is who they are.
“Xusana Davis serves as the State of Vermont’s Executive Director of Racial Equity. She was appointed to the position in June 2019 by Governor Phil Scott.”
And if there’s something about the reality of excessive taxation ‘enslaving’ taxpayers (i.e., ‘enslaving humanity’) that you don’t understand, explain what actually confuses you about the prospect of bankruptcy and losing one’s home, and the following ‘virtue signaling’ being cited to justify this ‘political power grab’.
Explain, for example, why there was no legislative bruhaha when Xusana Davis was appointed by Governor Scott, as opposed to the Governor being recently sued for appointing ‘an interim’ VT Education Secretary.
VDC readers: Mr. McCormick is the poster child for virtue signaling diversionary tactics. This slight-of-hand demand for ‘proof’ is nothing more than pure sophistry, when actual evidence is redefined as something other than evidence (i.e.’ admissible or inadmissible) or the evidence is ignored altogether. Hear no evil. See no evil. Ignorance is bliss.
I believe “they” would be the defendents named in a number of Federal and State lawsuits – pending and decided – violations of the Civil Rights Act as well as numerous criminal charges. As well as the testimony in State and Federal hearings. There is much evidence filed proving fraud, money laundering, plagarism, and assorted criminal conduct perpetrated by “they” aka named defendents.
In the past, there was a group known as the weather underground. They regrouped, and resurfaced with a rebranded, unbridled mission. “”We are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America.” So declared Barack Obama in Columbia, Missouri, on Oct. 30, 2008, on the cusp of his historic presidential election.” We have come to know this as the “change” we all pay for, dearly. At no other time, has civility and civil rights (social “norms”) been thrown back to Babylon days as it is now – all to manipulate and demoralize those who think they are being “progressive” and fighting for “equality.”
How can one be equal if they demand a label and demand special treatment, special protections, and special accomodations? The only segment of society that had such considerations were the handicapped and disabled. I guess that proves what they really are in reality. With carefully crafted word salad, mind control tactics, and lots of blood money – anyone can be coerced into criminal conduct and be complicit to such conduct these days. Only in Vermont can this dog and pony show go on because our “government” is too ashamed and guilty to disband it and outlaw it. They will be forced to soon – much to all their chagrins and earned shame.
Thank you, Rob, for the continued scrutiny of Vermont’s governmental workforce. But as long as we’re dealing with ‘equity’, consider that with more than 56,000 Vermont government employees (one for every twelve citizens), 37,000 Agency of Education employees (two for every K thru 12 public school student), and many NGO non-profit governmental service providers paying their executives six figure salaries too, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to recognize the scam when it’s so blatant.
At least they’ll be able to pay their property taxes.
Re: ” (two for every K thru 12 public school students)” – should say (one for every two K thru 12 public school students).
A travesty none the less.
Can we say “government astroturfing”?
SOT: We can say anything we like, until we can’t.
I guess all this explains why Vermont needs an $8.6 billion dollar budget for 650,000 people. How many more at this salary level are we not seeing? I also often wondered what Vermont Supreme Court Justices do all day. It seems like issues for the court take a lo——-ng time being addressed. Especially those issues that tread on the rights of Vermont’s law-abiding citizens. IE Illegal gun control laws as an example
Rhetorical. Give me some of the titles, news sources and periodicals you read and hear.
Mr. McCormick: To whom are you addressing your question? Or are you just throwing your own rhetoric against the wall hoping some of it sticks.
Now that I think about it… what is your question?
Perhaps those who can’t research court cases or utilize a search engine for facts over fiction are terrified of the Truth or simply locked into the matrix and can’t get out. There are some who directly benefit from the blood money and criminal conduct – hence the squeaky, dirty wheels get the grease and if their grift dries up, so goes their bank accounts.
These kind of DIE jobs are usually just set up for grifters. I dunno, maybe it’s “reparations,” or something. In any case, as has been said, it’s probably better if we don’t make them actually do something. They’ll just scapegoat some poor autist for making a “micro-aggression,” and wreck their lives for fun.
You’re right. It’s better for them not to do anything at all for a few years, and then eliminate the position down the road.
Not surprised, the whole office was made up for liberals to milk the taxpayers for being Caucasian. How dare you not support and pay for racial justice.
More evidence that the ever expanding roster of government employees is draining the resources of the constituency. Shouldn’t we be listing the government functions that could serve the public as private enterprises? Shouldn’t we be alarmed that we’ve created a class of constituents who vote to to keep our veins open to maintain their dependency? Is this the society our forebears envisioned?
Reminds me of an old Johnny Carson skit from the 70’s where he tells a black gentleman after the Civil War ends, “Right! You’re a free man now!” whereupon the black gentleman answers “No sir! I’m gonna be pretty damn expensive going forward!”..Don’t you folks get it yet? In Vermont “Racial Equity” means granting high paying, do nothing “jobs” to certain folks who can “check the box” due to the melanin content of their skin. Nice “work” if you can find it! When I was a kid my heroes were MLK, Malcolm X, and Mohammad Ali, all they wanted was “equality” and NOT be judged by their color. My how things have changed..SM.
I received this reply from the State of Vermont Office of Racial Equity about S. 5.
Jay’s reply:
Good morning,
Thank you for reaching out. The Office of Racial Equity does not have a comment on the Equity Advisory Group’s work regarding the Clean Heat Act at this time.
Best,
Jay
PS. As a person who uses the gender-neutral title Mx., I prefer not to be called “sir” or “ma’am”. I understand that you were being polite by addressing me as sir, but I wanted to make you aware that I ask others not to use gendered forms of greetings for me. Other non-binary people may have different preferences.
Point of clarification: If anyone is confused by ‘run-on’ first name use, as I was confused, Mr. McCormick’s comment appears to be directed to Jon Lynch’s reference to Office of Racial Equity analyst, Jay Greene.
I, for one, have no idea what the Clean Heat Act has to do with the Office of Racial Equity.
My two cents: Is it any wonder that confusion reigns over our government and the non-profit NGOs doing its bidding? Be it ‘Acts’ or ‘Offices’, first names, or gender preferences, …. I stand by what I said above. “Mr. McCormick is the poster child for virtue signaling diversionary tactics.”
“Who’s on first”?