The hole in the crotch of his pants is what I saw first (which also shows how horribly inured I've become to pics of armed, masked thugs bombarding our cities and our media)

Thank you for having an online option!

Ugh, paywalled articles 😒

And what a bonus that the cover matches your cat!

Hats off to Powell for holding this until today rather than adding to the Friday evening news dump.

Please, @welch.senate.gov, answer this question -- inquiring Vermonters like me want to know. Disgusted and disappointed. ☹️

I really wish @bostonglobe.com would provide free access so we can read these important articles without subscribing, like NYTimes does (for all its flaws)

In the past 5 years, staff & PC have aligned on form-based code, loosened growth mgmt restrictions, added inclusionary zoning, changed parking to maximums, encourage ADUs + higher density multi-family & mixed-use, pushed to buy a *second* sidewalk plow. Electeds whine, nitpick, stall, + penny-pinch.

Actually, the exact opposite. 😂

The staff are amazing -- young-ish, progressive, super-smart and dedicated. We're really lucky. And they live in neighboring towns just as unaffordable as mine! 🤪
You just have to come visit, Alessandro!

Last thing I'll add is that I can honestly say I have personally impacted my town thru my service -- pushed for sidewalks, approved housing, led votes on form-based code and energy standards, challenged 'profit-first' thinking, and advocated for kids, POC, and low-income residents. A good feeling!

Ugh, messing up numbering! 2 more points about diverse perspectives due to varied PC membership and knowledge from our own professions (art, tech, finance, school admin, public health, professor of geography). 🤷‍♀️

3. We do deep dives into specific issues & policies & how they'll affect our town & residents --> more specialized than elected officials can & deeper place knowledge than staff.
4. 2-hour meetings twice a month serve as a sounding board for the staff and our deliberations with them spark new ideas

5. Our current PC has a diversity of ages, life stages, gender/sexuality, race, etc. bringing broader perspectives to decision-making
6. We bring diverse knowledges from our professions: finance, tech, art, school admin, public health, & me (Geog prof), which inform choices & shape policy.

Having served on my Vermont town's planning commission for 15 years, my take is:
1. Yes, more public participation at a deeper and more informed level, as *residents* (which staff often aren't)
2. We act as a check on staff and elected officials, preventing bad decisions *and* adding transparency

Starting the year off right 😉

Paywalled 😪

Thanks - just texted my elderly aunt in Renton. 😬