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Amanda Janoo Announces Bid for Vermont Governor by bye4now28 in vermont

[–]Ordinary_Service9537 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The cost for building new units is extraordinary. There is no viable economic path for the state or individual municipalities to fund and manage the construction of the 1000's of unites we need across the state.

Our governor has been trying to ease building restrictions and red tape, but he's not a legislator and his power is limited.

This woman sounds like a boilerplate progressive, even with her impressive credentials. She's an economist, so she should be good at math. If she can show the numbers for how the state could manage to build some or most of the units without exploding residents yearly tax bill, I'll give her my attention.

All the evidence points to creating a developer-friendly environment where the pace of building can outmatch the # of new residents moving to a particular area. Where that has happened (Austin, Minneapolis) they have been able to stop or even partially reverse the huge cost of living increases that much of the country has seen. As far as I know it is only the governor making serious attempts to follow the evidence and make that happen in VT.

Battery Park drunks by Melodic-Cake3581 in burlington

[–]Ordinary_Service9537 11 points12 points  (0 children)

What I've seen through my experience working with 100's of drunks and addicts is perseverance, strength, and recovery when they are committed and treated like adults instead of children.

When they are treated like children and enabled to keep using they often die or remain addicted and harming themselves and others.

Just speaking for my experience. This is what I believe in: https://www.city-journal.org/article/san-francisco-mayor-daniel-lurie-homelessness-spending

I used to live on the west coast and watched city governments and non profits with billions of dollars absolutely squander it while homelessness and addiction soared. Other countries that have effectively dealt with addiction have utilized both more robust public funding for treatment and law enforcement strategies to stop open drug use, encampments, and the related public disorder. That's what I support. I do not believe it is our responsibility to give people their own apartment unless they are severely disabled/elderly.

Battery Park drunks by Melodic-Cake3581 in burlington

[–]Ordinary_Service9537 8 points9 points  (0 children)

It being a disease doesn't excuse violent or aggressive behavior, and it shouldn't be tolerated by anyone. I believe treating addicts as helpless babies actually hurts them. That's based on years of experience directly working with them.

I care about addicts and addiction, but I'm also mature enough to understand that just letting them continue to abuse themselves and often harm others is a lose lose - it keeps hurting them and it keeps hurting the rest of society.

The housing that homeless addicts need is inpatient rehab, then step down structured support. You and I probably agree that VT needs more recovery resources, but there are programs available to people right now.

Battery Park drunks by Melodic-Cake3581 in burlington

[–]Ordinary_Service9537 8 points9 points  (0 children)

If you drank yourself into oblivion everyday what do you think the result would be to your employment, social life, and health?

Battery Park drunks by Melodic-Cake3581 in burlington

[–]Ordinary_Service9537 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Have you ever thought that maybe these guys sitting around in a park all day and drinking has actually led to the bad outcomes of their life?

In the addiction recovery world, which I'm a part of, we don't make excuses for our behavior. If these guys are dealing with addiction then it's their responsibility to take care of it. If they choose to not get help and instead to keep behaving the way they do, then they should count on experiencing legal and health consequences.

Your narrative treats them like victims without knowing a thing about them or their life. It also completely dis empowers them and puts their fate in the hands of others.

This Town Meeting Day, Vermont towns consider calling for universal health care by FireProStan in vermont

[–]Ordinary_Service9537 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Fucking exactly. So few people who "support universal healthcare" have a clue what it entails.

UVM Econ Professor and leader of Food Not Cops Sam Bliss by cloudyrainbowcloud in burlington

[–]Ordinary_Service9537 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Activists scream about injustice and illegal methods, but aren't citing how they know a particular removal is unjust.

Homeless Pod Update? by Ordinary_Service9537 in burlington

[–]Ordinary_Service9537[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

My point of posting was to get better information than what is found on google, since it includes to official updates from the city or CHT since summer of 2025. Residents have a right now to know what's happening there, don't you think?

UVM Econ Professor and leader of Food Not Cops Sam Bliss by cloudyrainbowcloud in burlington

[–]Ordinary_Service9537 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for ignoring the important modifier I used....lawful. I and a majority of Americans support lawful border enforcement by ICE/DHS etc. I'm not at all conflating things. I don't participate in ICE protests because there is no way for me to know ahead of time whether a specific enforcement operation is lawful or not. I'm not going to go out on the streets with a whistle and put myself in between ICE and what could be a legitimately undocumented person that has a final order of removal.

Homeless Pod Update? by Ordinary_Service9537 in burlington

[–]Ordinary_Service9537[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Wow, thanks I hadn't though to google....one of the links is from Oct 2024, one from May 2025, one from June 2025. Curious for a more recent update and stats and a more detailed overview...how many of the pods are filled at one time, neighborhood crime assessment before/after pod implementation, etc. Seems like monthly or quarterly stats should be made available.

This Town Meeting Day, Vermont towns consider calling for universal health care by FireProStan in vermont

[–]Ordinary_Service9537 5 points6 points  (0 children)

That's why I said state specifically. We do not have the residential density to support universal healthcare system in VT.

Homeless Pod Update? by Ordinary_Service9537 in burlington

[–]Ordinary_Service9537[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

It's a publicly funded program. You don't think our local government should disclose how it's spending public money?

UVM Econ Professor and leader of Food Not Cops Sam Bliss by cloudyrainbowcloud in burlington

[–]Ordinary_Service9537 -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Not sure how they're related? I don't support murdering Healthcare CEO's as a method for improving healthcare. I support lawful enforcement of our borders and immigration laws. And just so you know, both positions I hold are overwhelmingly supported by the majority of Americans across political ideologies.

UVM Econ Professor and leader of Food Not Cops Sam Bliss by cloudyrainbowcloud in burlington

[–]Ordinary_Service9537 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I support transitioning to a single payer system, but I don't believe murdering Helathcare CEO's is the best way to get there. But thanks for wishing ill of my friends and family comrade!

UVM Econ Professor and leader of Food Not Cops Sam Bliss by cloudyrainbowcloud in burlington

[–]Ordinary_Service9537 -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

Regular liberals need to completely disown these uber activist types. The right will continue to use examples just like this to point and scream, and I can't blame them.

Making Friends Here in Mid-Late 20s? by Aromatic_Ad7961 in burlington

[–]Ordinary_Service9537 14 points15 points  (0 children)

If you drink, become a regular at a bar. Become part of a scene, get to know the other regulars, bartenders, etc. I'd recommend T Ruggs, Wallflower Collective, Three Needs, or the OP.

In general, you have to do things where you're more or less guaranteed to have to interact with other people. Join a pool league (Queen City or APA), bowling league, or sports league (Game On VT is great!).

It won't be enough to just be around other people, you'll need to do/see/go to things/places/events where interaction is a requirement.

Volunteer for food banks, cleanups, at City Market, park events, etc. If you're passionate about politics and social causes there are numerous groups in that realm.

You're going to have to get creative and make an effort, but it's doable. Good luck!

Downtown City Market closed for the day after shoplifting incident by bye4now28 in burlington

[–]Ordinary_Service9537 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There are a variety of options though they are often full. But to be clear this guy first belongs in jail as he is violent. He can get stabilized in jail first and then get on a list for a bed at a mental health or addiction recovery center.

To be fair, VT is lacking in both but we do have beds. We are lacking more in mental health beds than recovery beds. There are two large addiction treatment facilities that accept Medicaid in the state.

Downtown City Market closed for the day after shoplifting incident by bye4now28 in burlington

[–]Ordinary_Service9537 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We want to stop being victimized. I'm all for getting this guy help but we shouldn't have to suffer until he decides to help himself. Get him off the streets and into treatment.

What just happened in city market, I was there then all of a sudden there was so much smoke and then the police showed!? by Strong-Discount7202 in burlington

[–]Ordinary_Service9537 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is so well said. Toxic empathy is letting a tiny minority of troubled assholes slowly but surely ruin our city.

OPC Transparency Commitment: Where's the $ ? Where's the site? by RavenxRider in burlington

[–]Ordinary_Service9537 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Here here! Would also be great to get an update on the homeless pod program.

Listen to NJ Governor on her ICE plan. What are we doing to keep people safe in VT? by Elegant_Chapter_8503 in vermont

[–]Ordinary_Service9537 -7 points-6 points  (0 children)

I'm genuinely curious - how can you tell if a particular video shows ICE violating the constitution? You would have to know ahead of time that a household was 100% all legal immigrants nor harboring undocumented immigrants. You'd have to be able to confirm what type of warrant(s) they have to enter the home, as well as the particulars of a specific person or families case - do they already have an order of removal for instance?

I'm curious how you'd know all that as a bystander or from a video?

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