On July 21, 2016

Reckless, authoritarian act

Dear Editor,

The primary responsibility of elected officials is to the citizens. When Rutland’s Mayor Chris Louras single-handedly devised a plan with respect to bringing Syrian refugees to the Rutland area, he failed to consider the citizens he represents.

Vermonters are generous and welcoming. They deserve no less than equal consideration from elected officials in the form of transparency, full disclosure, and the opportunity to be heard when a major issue impacts their community. Mayor Louras has denied his constituents this basic right with his king-like command to place Syrian refugees in the Rutland area. Unfortunately, some members of the Board of Aldermen, based on the vote at the July 5 meeting, also fear hearing what the citizens have to say.

When no less than the president’s CIA Director John Brennan warns that the Syrian refugees present an opportunity for terrorists to gain access to the United States, then the very least Mayor Louras and the Aldermen should do, while working with the citizens, is take note of Bruce Lisman’s proposal.

Bruce Lisman has wisely advocated a moratorium on the refugee resettlement program until we can confirm that the refugees coming into our community are not dangerous. This makes sense—an open-minded, thoughtful approach to a difficult situation. It is crucial to understand all the implications of the Syrian refugee program before it is implemented. The fact that Mayor Louras and, ultimately, some Aldermen, are unwilling or unable to carry out their basic duties as elected officials is troubling in its recklessness.

Janine Seitz, Pawlet

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

Closing schools doesn’t fix Vermont’s education affordibility problems

October 30, 2024
By Margaret MacLean Editor’s note: Margaret MacLean, of Peacham, is a retired Vermont teacher and award-winning principal. She is the founding executive director of the Vermont Rural Education Collaborative, a past employee of the Rural School and Community Trust, and served on the Vermont State Board of Education.  Roxbury parents can meet most of the…

Making Vermont a place working families want to call home

October 30, 2024
By Rebecca Holcombe Editor’s note: Rebecca Holcombe is a Vermont Representative from Windsor-Orange 2 who served as the Vermont Secretary of Education from 2014 to 2018. Vermonters suffer from unsustainable increases in the cost of everything from property taxes to healthcare. Too many people are working hard and stretching Social Security checks but still worry…

Don’t be fooled by false promises

October 30, 2024
Dear Editor,  There is no simple solution to the challenges that Vermonters face. There needs to be a delicate balance between what, on the surface, seems like appealing short-term solutions to the cost of living for all Vermonters versus the vision for long-term planning that creates financial stability and growth into the future.  Do not…

Context matters

October 30, 2024
Dear Editor, In an October 23 letter to the Mountain Times, Steve Berry wrote, “John Kerry stated at a World Economic Forum panel, ‘Our First Amendment stands as a major block (to getting things done).’”  You may wonder why Mr. Berry uses such odd syntax, placing part of the quote in parentheses. Maybe it’s because…