South Burlington is a fortunate community. More than half of our city’s 10,600 acres are open land that is protected from development through regulation, private conservation or other means. These open spaces do more than provide scenic beauty… (read more →)

At a time when democratic norms are eroding at the federal level, I’ve taken comfort in the strength of our local democracy here in Vermont — especially in our city’s commitment to civil, respectful and thoughtful civic discourse. That’s why I was disheartened to read recent claims that the City Council has “stripped (noise) protection from the public” and attempted to “cover it up.” (read more →)

In May, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels topped 430 parts per million — the highest in 14 million years. If that number feels abstract, the consequences are not. Last year was Earth’s hottest in the modern record.  In one single week this July, four one-in-1,000-year rainstorms hit different parts of the U.S… (read more →)

Finding the right balance between conservation and development in South Burlington has been an ongoing challenge, reflecting a broader national dialogue around land use, environmental preservation and community identity… (read more →)

I would implore VTDigger to refuse to publish commentaries with dangerous misinformation like the one written by Meg Hansen (“Bad policy begets worse; repeal Global Warming Solutions Act”). Meg says “Serious critics … believe that Earth’s complex dynamical system of temperature is influenced by multiple factors rather than controlled by CO2 alone.” It is true that, over short time spans, multiple factors influence temperature and climate… (read more →)

Congress must act now on the climate package in the Build Back Better bill. The Senate was warned of the danger of climate change in June 1988 by NASA climate scientist James Hansen. Thirty-four years have passed since that Senate hearing. (read more →)

South Burlington residents petitioned for interim zoning out of a concern that land development regulations do not sufficiently protect the city’s precious natural resources in the face of continued threats to the environment. (read more →)

I applaud the South Burlington Planning Commission for all the hard work on the proposed environmental regulations. (read more →)

In response to “A Deeper Dig on Housing and Open Space” by John Simson in the Jan. 28 edition of The Other Paper: From my work with him on the transfer of development rights interim zoning committee, I believe his heart is in the right place… (read more →)

We are writing to tell the story of how a few neighbors, with the help of many other South Burlington concerned citizens, were able to save acres of pristine open land (with meadows, forests and streams) from a mammoth housing development… (read more →)

Bravo to the students and others that participated in the climate strike in Burlington. I was proud to be among those who marched. (read more →)

Climate change is such a difficult subject to engage in. It is so hard to really believe that our regular, ordinary activity – what we eat, how we get to places, how we live – is undermining the bright future we all wish for our children. (read more →)