>> VERMONT HAS JOINED A NATIONAL BATTLE AGAINST A SOCIAL MEDIA GIANT.
ATTORNEY GENERAL CHARITY CLARK SAYS INSTAGRAM IS FUELING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AMONG TEENAGERS AND IT KNOWS IT.
>> WE'RE SUING TO HOLD THESE CORPORATIONS ACCOUNTABLE FOR INSTAGRAM'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS THAT IS GRIPPING TEENS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
META KNOWS COMPULSIVE AND EXCESSIVE USE IS HARMFUL TO YOUNG PEOPLE'S MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH AND IT DESIGNED THE PLATFORM THE WAY IT DID ANYWAY.
>> MEANWHILE CHITTENDEN COUNTY HAS MADE SOME PROGRESS ON ADDING MORE HOUSING BUT STILL FALLING FAR SHORT OF ITS GOALS.
PHIL SCOTT HAS BIG PLANS TO MAYOR BARRE MORE FLOOD RECESS ATTENDANT BUT SOME ARE ALREADY WARY.
>> THE F-35 CONTROVERSY JUST WON'T GO AWAY.
ALL THAT AND MORE AHEAD ON "VERMONT THIS WEEK."
>> FROM THE VERMONT PUBLIC STUDIO IN WINOOSKI, THIS IS "VERMONT THIS WEEK," MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE LINTILHAC FOUNDATION AND MILNE TRAVEL.
>> WELCOME BACK.
I'M MARK DAVIS, EDITOR AT VERMONT PUBLIC.
IT'S FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27.
WE HAVE QUITE AN A RAY OF STORIES TO GET TO.
JOINING US TODAY WE HAVE SARAH MEARHOFF, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR VTDIGGER, KEVIN McCAM LULL POLITICAL REPORTER FOR SEVEN DAYS AND CARLY BERLIN FOR VERMONT PUBLIC AND VTDIGGER.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
WE BEGIN WITH THE JUDICIAL BRANCH.
42 STATES HAVE SUED META, THE PARENT COMPANY OF INSTAGRAM, AND VERMONT IS ONE.
ATTORNEYS GENERAL ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE LEVYING HEFTY ALLEGATIONS, SARAH.
THEY SAY INSTAGRAM IS DESIGNED TO BE ADDICTIVE, IT'S CAUSING ALARMING MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT DOZENS OF STATES ARE ALLEGING IN A VERY LARGE SCALE FEDERAL LAWSUIT THAT WAS FILED IN CALIFORNIA THIS WEEK.
BUT ALSO AT THE SAME TIME SEVERAL STATES INCLUDING VERMONT HAD THEIR OWN SEPARATE AND DISTINCT BUT COORDINATED STATE LAWSUITS IN STATE COURT.
THAT'S WHAT VERMONT DID.
ATTORNEY GENERAL CHARITY CLARK, HER OFFICE, HAS BEEN WORKING ON AN INVESTIGATION OF META AND THE IMPACTS THAT THIS PLATFORM INSTAGRAM SPECIFICALLY HAS ON YOUNG USERS PRIMARILY THOSE AGED BETWEEN 13 AND 17 YEARS OLD.
I THINK ANY OF US ON THE APP OF INSTAGRAM CAN KIND OF RELATE TO THE DOOM SCROLLING PHENOMENA.
THAT'S REALLY DANGEROUS FOR KIDS.
I THINK IT'S BEEN A WIDELY RECOGNIZED FACT FOR A WHILE NOW, BUT ATTORNEY GENERAL CHARITY CLARK IN THIS BIG, 117 PAGE LONG LAWSUIT, IS ANING THAT META, KNEW THAT IN DESIGNING THE APP AND PURPOSELY DESIGNED IT TO OPERATE THAT WAY AND IT HAS PARTICULARLY DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS ON YOUNG PEOPLE, BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, SLEEP PATTERNS.
IT CAN LEAD TO SOME OF THE CONTENT ON THERE IS SEXUALLY EXPLICIT OR CAN LEAD TO BODY DISMORPHIA.
ALL THESE THINGS.
IT'S QUITE A LARGE LAWSUIT THAT SHE IS LAUNCHING AGAINST THE COMPANY.
>> THE LISTED HARMS ARE THERE'S ALARMING IS PROBABLY UNDERSELLING IT.
LONELINESS, THE DESIRE FOR SELF-HARM, POOR SELF-IMAGE, SLEEP DEPRIVATION.
SO STRIKING TO READ A LAWSUIT THAT ALSO REFERENCES A SURGEON GENERAL'S ROBERT WITH ECHOS OF THE TOBACCO LAWMAKERS, ECHOS OF THE OPIATE LAWSUITS.
THOSE ARE REFERENCED IN THE LAWSUIT AT THE BEGINNING THERE WERE PARALLELS DRAWN.
>> I THINK THERE IS THIS -- THE BIG TOBACCO LAWSUITS AND ALSO BIG TOBACCO HEARINGS IN CONGRESS ARE KIND OF THE POSTER CHILD OF THE PHENOMENA OF GOVERNMENT TAKING ON THESE LARGE ALMOST LARGER THAN LIFE CORPORATIONS.
META I THINK HAS ABSOLUTELY RISEN TO THAT LEVEL OF PROMINENCE IN SOCIETY.
I DON'T THINK I KNOW ANYONE IN MY PERSONAL LIFE WHO IS NOT ON SOME FORM OF A META APP, WHETHER IT'S INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
IT'S PART OF THE ZEITGEIST AT THIS POINT.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT STATISTICS BUT I THINK IT'S OVER 80% OF PEOPLE HAVE A FACEBOOK ACCOUNT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
I BELIEVE THEY REFE REFERENCED F 17-YEAR-OLDS ARE USING INSTAGRAM.
IT'S PART OF DAILY LIFE HERE.
HOW DOES THIS PLAY OUT?
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
>> REALLY DEPENDS HOW FACEBOOK -- META WANTS TO RESPOND.
I'M USED TO CALLING THEM FACEBOOK.
THEY COULD SETTLE NEXT WEEK IF THEY REALLY WANTED TO.
GOD KNOWS THEY HAVE THE MONEY TO CELTS.
MAYBE A COUPLE OF LAWSUITS.
THIS ONE MIGHT BE PRETTY BIG.
CONSIDERING THE ENACT SO MANY STATES ARE INVOLVED IN IT BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE SIDE, COULD BE REALLY EXPENSIVE FOR META.
THEY COULD SETTLE.
IT COULD GO TO TRIAL EVEN.
WE COULD HAVE THAT SITUATION ARISE.
BUT IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHAT HAPPENS NEXT I THINK THE BALL IS IN META'S COURT.
>> THE MARKER THEY PUT DOWN, THE EARLY 10,000 FOR EVERY TIME IT'S BEEN ACCESSED IN VERMONT WHICH WOULD OBVIOUSLY ADD UP UP TO A SUM I'M NOT ALLOWED TO QUANTIFY HERE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL PROBABLY PLAY OUT FOR YEARS IF THE OPIATE ADDICTION, LITIGATION AND TOBACCO LITIGATION IS A PRECEDENT.
WE'LL PROBABLY TALK A LOT MORE ABOUT THIS ON THE SHOW GOING FORWARD.
>> IN OTHER NURSE THE BURLINGTON CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A 25 YEARS LEASE EXTENSION FOR THE GUARD.
IT RUNS UNTIL 2073 AND UNLOCKED A LOT OF FEDERAL MONEY FOR THE BURLINGTON AIRPORT AND THE REGION.
KEVIN, THIS EXTENSION WAS NOT UNANIMOUS AND THE DEBATE WAS PREDICTABLE.
>> IT WAS.
THE OPPONENTS OF THE F-35 USED THE DEBATE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO POUNCE AND TELL THE CITY COUNCIL ALL THE REASONS THAT THEY THOUGHT THAT THE F-35 WAS BAD FOR BURLINGTON, BAD FORT REGION, AND THEY DID SO EVEN THOUGH MEMBERS OF THE GUARD SAID THE BASE EXTENSION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE F-35.
THEY ARE SEPARATE ISSUE.
THE MAYOR TRIED TO KEEP THEM SEPARATE.
THE WING COMMANDER SAID THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO, ONE DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE OTHER, BUT THE OPPONENTS OF THE F-35 FEEL SO STRONGLY THAT THAT AIRPLANE IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR THIS AREA THAT THEY LATCHED ON TO THE EXTENSION, THE LEASE EXTENSION, AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST POUND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR EXTENDING THE LEASE.
HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO US?
HOW COULD YOU EXTEND THE LEASE FOR ANOTHER 25 YEARS KNOWING WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE DAMAGE TO CHILDREN AND PEOPLE'S HEALTH FROM THE NOISE IMPACTS OF THESE JETS, WHICH EVERYONE KNOWS ARE FEROCIOUSLY LOUD WHEN YOU'RE RIGHT UNDERNEATH THEM.
IT WAS A FASCINATING DEBATE.
THE PROGRESSIVES ON THE COUNCIL WERE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT THE EXTENSION.
NOT ONLY WERE THEY WORRIED ABOUT THE LENGTH OF THE EXTENSION WHICH THEY SAID DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO THEM, WE ALREADY HAVE A LEASE WITH THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD ALL THE WAY UNTIL 2048.
WHY DO WE NEED TO EXTEND IT PAST THEN?
GUARD OFFICIALS MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT GOING TO INVEST THE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT IT WANTS TO IN THIS BASE IF THE LEASE PERIOD IS LESS THAN 25 YEARS.
WE JUST PASSED THAT MARK SO THEY SAID WE NED TO EXTEND IT ANOTHER 25 YEARS.
PROGRESSIVES SAID YOU CAN'T JUST DROP THIS ON US IN TWO WEEKS AND EXPECT US TO MAKE UP OUR MINDS AND THE PUBLIC IS GOING TO WEIGH IN ON THIS.
VERY FRUSTRATED.
>> 51 MILLION ESTIMATED IN FEDERAL SPENDING, FIREFIGHTING CAPACITY AT THE AIRPORT, ET CETERA.
THAT'S THE TRADE OFF HERE.
>> IT'S A BIG TRADEOFF.
YOU HEARD THAT NUMBER OVER AND OVER AT THE MEETING.
IT'S HARD TO WALK AWAY FROM $51 MILLION IN FEDERAL MONEY EVEN IF IT'S ALL GOING TO BE SPEND AT THE BASE IT'S A LOT OF MONEY COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY.
A MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL WAS LOATHE TO SAY NO TO 51 MILLION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THAT ARGUMENT CARRIED THE DAY AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT THE GUARD SPENDS A LOT OF MONEY PROTECTING THE AIRPORT INCLUDING THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND THE MILLION PEOPLE THAT GO THROUGH THAT EVERY YEAR FROM FIRE AND FROM MEDICAL EMERGENCIES.
THEY SPENT A LOT OF MONEY KEEPING THAT AIRPORT SAFE AS WELL.
>> THERE WAS SOME OTHER AIRPORT NEWS.
AT JET BLUE ANNOUNCED IT'S SHUTTING DOWN ITS POPULAR SERVICE TO JFK IN NEW YORK.
THOSE FLIGHTS NOW RUN TWICE A DAY FROM BURLINGTON AND JFK.
THEY MAKE UP 10% OF THE AIRPORT'S DISTRICT ATTORNEYING TRAFFIC BUT THE NEW YORK AIRPORTS ARE SUFRPG FROM A SHORTAGE OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS AND AIRLINES ARE SHUTTING DOWN ROUTES AS A RESULT.
STAYING IN TKHEUT INDEN COUNTY STAY CHITTENDEN COUNTY FOR AMOME THIS WEEK ON THE PROGRESS.
NOT TERRIBLY ENCOURAGING.
>> IT'S NOT.
THIS IS A TARGET SET BY THE BUILDING HOMES TOGETHER CAMPAIGN MADE UP OF CHAMPLAIN HOUSING TRUST, CHITTENDEN REGIONAL HOUSING AND THE NONPROFIT DEVELOPER.
THEY SET A GOAL OF 5,000 HOMES IN FIVE YEARS OR A THOUSAND A YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS.
THIS YEAR, THIS PAST YEAR IN 2022 THE COUNTY ONLY ADDED 600 AND 100 ARE PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE.
FALLING FAR SHORT OF THAT GOAL THAT THEY HAVE SET.
>> WE HAVE SOME EXPLANATIONS AS TO WHY.
LET'S HEAR FROM MICHEAL MONTE.
>> A LOT OF COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH CONSTRUCTION AND INTEREST RATES HAVE CREATED CONDITIONS WHICH MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT.
THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN VERY GENEROUS THE LAST FEW YEARS.
TO ACHIEVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN CHITTENDEN COUNTY WE NEED THAT GENEROSITY TO CONTINUE.
>> SO WE HEARD INFLATION, CONSTRUCTION COSTS, WE NEED MORE STATE FUNDING.
WE HAVE HEARD THIS BEFORE.
>> RIGHT.
OF COURSE.
THE LEADERS AT THIS PRESS CONFERENCE MONDAY WHERE THEY WERE RELEASING THIS REPORT USED IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BOTH MAKE THEIR CASE FOR CONTINUED STATE FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND ALSO FOR THE LOOSENING OF REGULATIONS LIKE VERMONT'S LAND USE LAW ACT 250 TO THEY SAY CREATE THE CONDITIONS TO BE ABLE TO BUILD HOUSING MORE EASILY GOING FORWARD.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
WE HEARD THE PAST WEEK LOCAL REGULATIONS ARE ADDRESSED BUT THE BIG STATEWIDE ACT 250 DEBATE RAGES ON.
WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT IN THE SESSION COMING UP PROBABLY.
>> IT'S ESTIMATE THR-D ARE ROUGHLY 2,000 FARM WORKERS IN VERMONT WHO LIVE ON THE FARMS, MANY OF THEM ARE MIGRANTS.
THERE HAVE LONG BEEN CONCERNS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THEIR HOUSING.
CARLY, THIS WEEK THERE WAS SOME NEWS ON AN EFFORT TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE SAFETY CONCERNS.
>> CHAMPLAIN TRUST HAS HAD A PROGRAM FOR ABOUT A YEAR TO PROVIDE LOW INTEREST LOANS FOR REPAIRING OR REPLACING FARM WORKER HOUSING.
THEY GOT A NEW INFLUX OF MONEY FROM THE VERMONT HOUSING CONSERVATION BOARD, ABOUT $2.5 MILLION, TO ALLOW MORE FARMS TO GET IN ON THIS HOUSING REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT LOAN MONEY.
>> HOUSING BEAT NEVER AN DULL MOMENT.
>> IN THE DAYS AFTER THE FLOODING THERE WAS TALK ABOUT HOW WE NEED TO BE SMARTER ABOUT REBUILDING AND THE IDEA WE CAN'T NECESSARILY REBUILD EVERY HOUSE AND EVERY COMMERCIAL PROPERTY EXACTLY WHERE IT WAS BEFORE.
A GENERAL STATEMENT.
BARRE, THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST HARD HIT COMMUNITIES.
IT IS GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT'S HOMETOWN.
THIS WEEK HE UNVEILED BIG IDEAS TO MAKE BARRE MORE FLOOD RESILIENT.
>> BARRE'S DOWN TO IS GOING TO FLOOD AGAIN.
THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHEN.
IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF IF.
>> EITHER WAY WE ARE SPENDING THE MONEY.
IT'S SIMPLY A QUESTION OF WHETHER WE SPARE PEOPLE HAVING TO GET EVICTED FROM THEIR HOMES, LOSE THEIR HOMES, LOSE THEIR PERSONAL POSSESSIONS, IF WE CAN SPEND OUR MONEY SMARTER WE'LL BE BETTER OFF IN THE LONG RUN.
>> PLANS ARE REALLY INTENDED TO CREATE MORE OF A MIXED INCOME MIXED USE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT REALLY ALLOWS FOR AN INCREASE IN HOUSING UNITS.
BARRE HAS HAD A HOUSING CRISIS OR CRUNCH FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
>> IT'S DEFINITELY IN THE TENS OF MILLIONS IF YOU ROLL IN ALL THE PRIVATE INVESTMENT THAT MIGHT BE REQUIRED, ALL THE MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT, IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY LARGE AMOUNT OF FUNDING.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED FEDERAL HELP.
>> THAT WAS THE STATE'S RECOVERY CZAR DOUG FARNHAM.
WALK US THROUGH THE PROPOSAL.
>> THIS WEEK'S PRESS CONFERENCE, GOVERNOR SCOTT SAID RIGHT IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE FLOOD HE ALMOST STARTED SKETCHING OUT ON A PIECE OF PAPER HOW CAN WE ARE THINK MY HOMETOWN, PARTICULARLY THE NORTH END.
I WOULD SAY THE MOST WORKING CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S LOW-LYING AND IT WAS INCREDIBLY HARD HIT FROM THE FLOOD.
IT'S JUST DEVASTATING, THE LOSSES.
THERE'S GRAND IDEAS OF HOW TO REALLY REBUILD THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S ALSO IF YOU'RE PARTICULARLY DRIVING IN FROM MONTPELIER OR FROM THE INTERSTATE IT'S WHAT YOU FIRST SEE WHEN YOU DRIVE INTO BARRE.
GOVERNOR SCOTT KIND OF SKETCHED OUT THEN ENDED UP HAVING ARCHITECTURAL FIRM SKETCH OUT A REAL SKETCH OF THIS REDESIGN, REPHAPLG ANYTHING OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT WOULD HAVE A PARK WITH GREEN SPACE WHICH IS BEAUTIFUL BUT ALSO WOULD BE ABLE TO ABSORB EXCESS WATER.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE FIND IS A REAL ISSUE IN VERMONT IS THAT WHEN YOU PAVE OVER TOO MUCH THE GROUND CAN'T ABSORB EXCESS WATER, WHICH IT WILL COME ONCE AGAIN.
OPEN WITH THAT, THEN HOUSING ON HIGHER GROUND AND MIXED USE HOUSING, LIFTING UP FLOORS SO THEY DON'T FILL WITH WATER WHEN THE NEXT FLOOD COMES.
IT'S A BIG PLAN.
IT'S REALLY ADVENTUROUS AND BIG REIMAGINING OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> IT'S A VERY KIND OF PIE IN THE SKY.
WE'RE TALKING TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GETTING RID OF SOME HOMES AND SOME PROPERTIES.
>> YES.
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REDOING A HUGE SECTION OF BARRE.
>> THE OTHER THING ABOUT THIS TOO IS THAT BARRE BECAUSE IT WAS SO HARD HIT IN THE FLOOD, A BARRE ALREADY HAS REALLY HIGH PROPERTY TAXES AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR HOMES AND THEY ARE GOING TO PROBABLY I WOULD THINK MAKE THE CASE TO THE CITY, HEY, HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO PAY MY PROPERTY TAXES WHEN MY PROPERTY DOESN'T EXIST ANY MORE?
BARRE IS LOOKING AT A BIG BUDGET SHORTFALL ALREADY.
IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MONEY FOR THE MUNICIPALITY TO PUT FORWARD THERE'S NOT MUCH.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO FINANCIALLY IN A TOUGH PLACE ALREADY IN BARRE.
THERE'S A LOT 6 CONFLICTING FORCES HERE AND THAT'S WHY DOUG FARNUM SAID FEDERAL SUPPORT IS WHAT THIS HINGES ON.
I'M VERY EAGER TO SEE WHAT THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION MIGHT BE ABLE TO DELIVER IF THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET JUST WENT THROUGH CONGRESS IS ANY INDICATION, PRESIDENT BIDEN IN HIS SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET PROPOSAL LEFT PRETTY MUCH ALL OF VERMONT'S FLOOD RECOVERY ASKS ON THE TABLE.
SO WE'LL SEE HOW THAT PROGRESSES.
>> THIS IS CERTAINLY THE MOST AMBITIOUS POST FLOOD PROPOSAL THAT WE HAVE SEEN SO FAR.
>> STICKING WITH THE FLOODING HERE, KEVIN, YOU HAD AN INTERESTING LOOK THIS WEEK AT FOUR VERY OLD DAMS IN THE WINOOSKI RIVER CORRIDOR IN CENTRAL VERMONT.
ADVOCATES SAY REMOVING THOSE FOUR DAMS WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE THE MONTPELIER AREA MORE FLOOD RESILIENT.
HOW DOES THIS WORK?
>> MOST PEOPLE WHEN THEY THINK OF A DAM THEY THINK OF A BIG STRUCTURE THAT HAS A SPACE BEHIND IT FOR LOTS OF WATER TO BE HELD BACK WHEN THE RUNOFF HAPPENS FROM A BIG STORM, THAT IT WILL NOT GO DOWN THE RIVER BECAUSE OF THE SIZE AND HEIGHT OF THAT DAM.
THERE ARE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF DAMS ALL AROUND THE STATE THAT ARE NOT BUILT LIKE THAT, NOT FOR FLOOD CONTROL, THE WATER GOES OVER THE TOP OF THEM.
THERE ARE SEVERAL AROUND MONTPELIER.
MONTPELIER IS DIFFERENT THAN BARRE IN THAT THERE'S SO MUCH INFRASTRUCTURE SO CLOSE TO THE RIVER AND SO MANY BUILDINGS THAT ARE HISTORIC AND SO MANY BUSINESSES SO CLOSE TO WHERE THE RIVER AND THE NORTH BRANCH COME THROUGH, THAT RELOCATING THEM, BUILDING A PARK THERE INSTEAD IS JUST NOT FEASIBLE.
IN MONTPELIER THERE'S A HEIGHTENED LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT REMOVING THESE DAMS COULD ACTUALLY INCREASE THE DEPTH OF THE CHANNEL THAT THE RIVERS FLOW THROUGH AS THEY GO THROUGH THE CITY.
AND IF YOU DID THAT, ONE IS THE BAILEY DAM NEXT TO SHAW'S SUPERMARKET.
IT A TEN FOOT HIGH PIECE OF CONCRETE ON THE RIVERBED.
IT WAS BUILT ORIGINALLY TO HOLD BACK FLOODWATERS BUT NOW IT JUST GOES OVER THE TOP OF T. ADVOCATE SAY, LOOK, IF YOU TAKE THAT 10 FOOT STRUCTURE OUT OF THE RIVER, IF IT'S NOT THERE ANY MORE THE NEXT TIME THE WATER COMES THROUGH IT WON'T HIT THAT LIKE A SPEED BUMP AND THEN GO INTO THE STREETS.
IT'S AN INTERESTING HYDROLOGICAL STUDY, WHETHER YOU CAN DO A SMALLER SCALE FLOOD RESILIENCY PLAN.
REMOVE THE CHOKE POINTS AND MAYBE YOU WON'T HAVE TO DO A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR SWEEPING AMBITIOUS PROJECT TO LET THE RIVER FLOW IN VARIOUS PLACES YOU CAN JUST IMPROVE THE PLACES IT ALREADY DOES FLOW.
>> MY FAVORITE PART OF YOUR PIECE I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT MILLIONS OF VIEWERS ACROSS THE GLOBE NEED TO LEARN ABOUT.
GIVE ME 30 SECONDS EXPLAIN THE RAT DAM.
>> THE BAILEY DAM IS RIGHT IN THE MAIN PART OF TOWN.
THE RAT DAM IS A SMALL, UGLY BROKEN DOWN DAM JUST AROUND THE CORNER ON THE NORTH BRANCH THAT WAS APPARENTLY BUILT BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN SEWER PIPES WENT RIGHT INTO THE NORTH BRANCH.
SO WHAT THEY DECIDED AND THE RATS COULD APPARENTLY GO UP THE SEWER PIPES.
THEY BUILT THE DAM, RAISETHE WATER LEVEL, BUILT A POND AND ALL THE SEWER PIPES WOULD BE COVERED BY WATER AND THE RATS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SWIM DOWN AND UP.
>> THAT'S THE KIND OF CONTENT WE WANT TO BE KNOWN FOR HERE AT VERMONT PUBLIC.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
BEEN A GOOD FIVE MINUTES SINCE WE TALKED HOUSING.
CARLY, YOU DID A REPORT LOOKING AT THE PHENOMENON OF EMPLOYEE OWNED HOUSING.
>> REALLY INTERESTING.
SO MANY BUSINESSES IN VERMONT ARE STRUGGLING TO HIRE AND RETAIN EMPLOYEES BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF HOUSING.
SO MORE AND MORE EMPLOYERS HAVE STARTED OFFERING HOUSING TO THEIR WORKERS SO THAT HAS SORT OF STARTED WITH THE KINDS OF COMPANIES' BUSINESS TRAS ARE USED TO HOUSING PEOPLE IN SOME FORM, LIKE HOSPITALS, UNIVERSITIES, SKI RESORTS.
BUT IT'S EXPANDING FURTHER TO SMALLER BUSINESSES TOO.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FOUND WORKING ON THIS PIECE IS THAT FOR THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THAT HOUSING IT'S SORT OF A COMPLICATED SITUATION WHEN YOUR BOSS IS ALSO YOUR LANDLORD.
SO I SPOKE TO ONE FORMER EMPLOYEE AT THE SUGARBUSH SKI RESORT WHO FELT THAT HIS MAINTENANCE CONCERNS WITH EMPLOYEE HOUSING WERE NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY ENOUGH BY THE RESORT AND ENDED UP DECIDING TO LEAVE THE JOB AND THE STATE ULTIMATELY.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING EMPLOYER HOUSING FOR OUR OWN ORGANIZATION AS WE BROUGHT IN PEOPLE FROM OUT OF STATE LIKE YOURSELF THAT STRUGGLED TO FIND A PLACE TO LIVE UP HERE.
KEVIN, WE DON'T TALK BREAKING CRIME NEWS ON THIS SHOW OFTEN BUT IT'S BEEN HARD TO IGNORE.
A RECENT SPATE OF VIOLENT INCIDENTS THAT HAVE KEPT STATE BLESS PRETTY BUSY.
>> IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS WE HAVE SEEN SIX HOMICIDES, UNPRECEDENTED FOR VERMONT.
WE DON'T HAVE THE FINAL STATS ON HOW MANY HOMICIDES WILL BE IN 2023 BUT WE'RE ON TRACK TO OUTPACE LAST YEAR'S 22 HOMICIDES, WHICH ITSELF WAS I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS AN HISTORICALLY HIGH NUMBER BUT FAR HIGHER THAN THE PRECEDING DECADE.
VERY SAD.
THE INCIDENTS HAVE COME ALL OVER THE STATE.
THEY HAVE BEEN MOST PLY IN RURAL AREAS, THOUGH.
IT STARTED OCTOBER 5th WITH A WOMAN IN CASTLETON, FORMER DEAN OF CASTLETON UNIVERSITY.
THERE WAS A MAN IN NEWPORT KILLED AND A MAN IN WHEEL LOCK WHO WAS KILLED, TWO MEN FROM MASSACHUSETTS WHO HAD GONE MISSING EARLIER AND THEN THEIR BODIES WERE FOUND IN A WOODED AREA IN EDEN.
THAT SAME DAY EVEN AS INVESTIGATORS WERE INVESTIGATING THOSE BODIES THERE WAS A REPORT OF A WOMAN'S BODY FOUND IN THE SMALL TOWN OF WASHINGTON IN ORANGE COUNTY.
THE AUTOPSIES ARE NOT ALL COMPLETE BUT MANY OF THEM INVOLVE GUNSHOTS AND THERE'S SOME SUSPICION SOME OF THEM INVOLVE DRUG CRIMES.
IT'S VERY UNIMPORTANT.
POLICE ARE STRETCHED THIN.
WORKING REALLY HARD BUT IT'S UPSETTING TO WATCH SO MANY CRIMES IN SO MANY COMMUNITIES IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
>> NEEDLESS TO SAY WHAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THESE CASES DRAMATICALLY OUTWEIGHS WHAT WE DO KNOW.
NOT TRYING TO INFER OR ANYTHING BUT IT'S BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE THESE PRESS RELEASES COMING SEEMINGLY EVERY DAY.
>> ALL SIX OF THEM, THERE'S NO SUSPECTS IN ANY OF THEM AND NO MOTIVES KNOWN IN ANY OF THEM THAT HAS BEEN PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED BY THE POLICE SO IT'S JUST CONFUSING.
>> WE ARE NOW THREE WEEKS INTO THE WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS.
WE HAVE BEEN TRACKING HOW THE HAMAS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IS REACTING TO THESE EVENTS.
A COUPLE OF HOURS AGO CONGRESSWOMAN BALINT PUT OUT A STATEMENT.
SHE SAYS PARTIALLY AN IMMEDIATE HUMANITARIAN PAUSE TO THE FIGHT NOT GUILTY GAZA IS NEEDED TO GET ALL THE NECESSARY SUPPLIES TO PALESTINIANS IN DESPERATE NEED.
WE MUST REDUCE HUMAN SUFFERING AND PRESERVE THE LIVES AND SAFETY OF CIVILIANS IN GAZA DURING THIS HUMANITARIAN PAUSE HAMAS MUST IMMEDIATELY RELEASE ALL HOSTAGES.
THAT STATEMENT WENT ON FOR A WHILE.
HOW IS THE DELEGATION REACTING?
>> GENERALLY SPEAKING THE DELEGATION HAS AFFIRMED ITS SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL IN PARTICULAR THEY HAVE SAID THAT THERE -- ISRAEL HAS A RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF.
THEY EXPRESSED ALARM AND CONCERN AT THE BEVEL OF CASUALTIES AND INTENSE HUMAN SUFFERING IN GAZA.
MULTIPLE THINGS BEING TRUE AT ONCE.
IN PARTICULAR ALL THREE MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION HAVE SAID THAT GAZA NEEDS AND PALESTINIANS NEED HUMANITARIAN AID, THEY SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECTED TO POWER OUTAGES OR HAVING THEIR SUPPLY OF FOOD AND SAFE DRINKING WATER INTERCEPTED OR BLOCKED, THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE INDISCRIMINATELY BOMBED, BUT NONE OF ANY OF THE THREE MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION HAVE ACTUALLY CALLED FOR A CEASE-FIRE ON ISRAEL'S PART.
>> OF COURSE WE ALSO SAW THIS WEEK PROTESTS AT UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX.
THE POET HAD BEEN SCHEDULED TO SPEAK ON CAMPUS FOR WELL OVER A YEAR BUT UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS PULLED THE PLUG SAYING THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE SAFETY BECAUSE OF THE ONGOING CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
MANY STUDENTS CRIED FOUL OVER THAT CANCELLATION, SOME HELD A PROTEST THIS WEEK.
HERE'S A REACTION FROM ONE STUDENT WHO WAS UPSET ABOUT THE DECISION.
>> UVM HAS RESOURCES TO KEEP STUDENTS SAFE.
THERE'S SO MANY POLICE FOR OTHER ACTIVITIES I DON'T SEE WHY THEY COULDN'T BRING THAT INTO THIS EVENT TO STILL HAVE IT.
>> OBVIOUSLY THIS IS SOMETHING WE WILL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON.
WE DO LIKE TO END SHOT ON SOMETHING A LITTLE LIGHTER.
THIS WEEK A MUCH TALKED ABOUT STORY IN VERMONT, IT WAS AT THE NOTCH.
EVERYONE'S FAVORITE ROADWAY, THE BAIN OF TRUCK DRIVERS.
WE HAVE HAD FOUR STUCK UP THERE ALREADY THIS YEAR AND THIS WEEK THE AGENCY OF TRANSPORTATION ANNOUNCED IT'S INSTALLING CURB BARRIERS ON THE STOWE AND CAMBRIDGE SIDE TO ENCOURAGE TRUCKS TO TURN AROUND BEFORE THEY ED UP THE NOTCH TO SIMULATE THE ANGLES OF THE ROADS UP HIGHER SO IT'S EASIER TO EXTRACT THEM WHEN THEY ARE LOWER THAN UP TOP.
THANK YOU TO OUR PANELISTS, SARAH MEARHOFF FROM VTDIGGER, KEVIN MCCALLUM FROM SEVEN DAYS, CARLY BERLIN FROM SEVEN DAYS AND VERMONT PUBLIC.
I'M MARK DAVIS.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.