November 2015 Issue #5
Pipeline Protests Rise to Civil Disobedience RisingTideVT, 350 Vermont Call for PSB to Pull Approval Hundreds of protesters from 350 Vermont and Rising Tide Vermont stepped up their years-long campaign against the Vermont Gas Pipeline over the weekend by occupying State Street in Montpelier and erecting a 25 foot tall “fracking rig� in front of the Public Service Board's building on
Saturday afternoon.
The escalation began midday Saturday when a large parade wound its way through downtown Montpelier to emphatically call for the PSB to rescind the pipeline's Certificate of Public Good and effectively kill the massively over-budget natural gas infrastructure project. When the crowd, some 300 strong, arrived in front of the Public Service building they quickly erected a tall derrick upon the street's center line to great applause from fellow marchers and onlookers. Climbing atop the wooden
structure, one dapper protester began to mockingly impersonate PSB Commissioner Chris Recchia and begged the gathered crowd to look favorably upon the bitterly resisted pipeline. Before a bit of street theater and mural making, Rising Tide VT and 350 Vermont took a moment to remember longtime Vermont Social Justice champion Nina Swaim who died of a stroke on October 15th, just weeks after participating in a blockade of the Vermont Gas pipe-yard in Williston in September. In honor of Swaim, the demonstrators vowed to hold their location on State Street at least until the upcoming PSB meeting on Monday and beyond if the pipeline project is not canceled. Holding their position through Saturday and Sunday nights, the protests ramped up to a
conclusion on Monday morning as they blockaded any entry into the Public Service Building, ultimately resulting in the arrest of three demonstrators: Crystal Zevon of West Barnett, David Przepioski of Craftsbury Commons, and Johann Kulsic of Burlington. They were later charged with disorderly conduct are scheduled to appear in a Barre court on December 3rd. Both Rising Tide VT and 350 Vermont are accepting donations for the legal defense of the blockade's arrestees. H.
South End Alliance: My Turn
Genese Grill, Amey Radcliffe, Ibnar Avilix, C.W. Norris Brown ofThe South End Alliance The Arts and Enterprise District community was thrilled on Friday to read the Mayor’s announcement that he would be removing the proposed zoning change in this 4%
industrial area from the draft Plan BTV South End. We have worked full time over the last 11 months to encourage discourse about the threats posed by the proposed change to allow mixed use/housing into the industrial zone. Although we are relieved by the mayor’s decision, we’d like to offer thoughts and clarification regarding his explanation for why he has changed directions. When the mayor says that he has decided to remove the zoning change because it has been a “distraction” from the rest of the plan, when he says (7 Days OffMessage) that he is frustrated because we have “simplified” and “distorted” the issues, he demonstrates a lack of full understanding of our concerns about both the idea of housing in the Enterprise District and the process by which it came to be such a prominent and controversial part of the plan.
The South End Alliance is a diverse group that has sought to become educated and share information on the challenges, issues, and implications of a zoning change in the South End Enterprise District. The public did not receive an in-depth analysis of the issues from the planning team or its hired consultants despite much money spent. The process, which looked more like a promotion of one viewpoint rather than a true public conversation, left many community members feeling disappointed. Every option presented by the planning team included housing in the Enterprise District without entertaining or discussing an alternative option. This, the public engagement, was the real distraction. Much credible analysis, including a market analysis conducted by some of the City’s own advisors, demonstrates that changing zoning in industrial/arts area has been
proven to cause the demise of naturally occurring cultural districts like ours. Our position that housing was not a good fit for the Enterprise District was supported by many prominent voices, including Bruce Seifer (former CEDO chief/ author of Sustainable Communities); Michael Monte (Champlain Housing Trust); Steve Conant (long time creative business owner); Mannie Lionni (local architect), as well as by area manufacturers, countless local experts on ecological design, transportation, city planning, artists, educators, critical thinkers, sociologists, writers, voters. Despite the Plan’s persistent promotion of a zoning change, this expanding group continued to believe in the preservation of the Enterprise District, the industry, artistry, jobs, manufacturing, innovation and making that happen in the District and the importance of not chipping away at the area with competing land uses.
We ask the mayor to respect the efforts of the well-informed and engaged citizenry of Burlington. Members of our group have expressed viewpoints creatively and perhaps unconventionally which is what artists do when faced with the need to shine a light on important issues. We know that our message reaches beyond just the issues of the South End. Let it be known that citizens all over Burlington would like to see an end to the dismantling of public processes and a return to participatory engagement in the Vermont tradition. We believe an educated constituency, given an opportunity to participate in a truly public and transparent process, will bring the best outcomes for our City. Now, let’s let the Enterprise District visioning truly begin. H.
TIME'S UP. RISE UP.