An Apology
It is with embarrassment that I admit that I was one of the few who didn't catch the pun in the Standard's headline last week, "Grange Hill Foes Flood Meeting". Though not a nearby resident, and therefore not subject to the referenced flooding, like many others in town, I am a foe of the project.
First, though, I'd like to apologize to Patsy Highberg, the Grange Hill leader, on behalf of the vast majority of her opponents who were distressed by the personal attacks and outbursts that were made by a couple of the anti-subsidized housing speakers. Such belligerence shouldn't be part of a civilized discussion. Decisions on such important matters should be made through a rational and objective review of the facts. I hope the School Board and the pro-Grange people will realize that emotions are running high and when it comes to your home and your family, passions sometimes spill over. And passions obviously are on full boil... sort of like the sap these days.
But looking at the project rationally, it's hard not to feel that the Board must decide to forego granting an easement to the project. The arguments, running by my count 11 to 2 against, proved the case that the School has little to gain by permanently giving away land which will create a potential safety and health hazard to the student's it's charged with protecting. It's hard to understand why the Board would commit to creating an eyesore at the entrance to the property with its complicated system of pipes, valves and sluice gates to benefit an over-engineered government project on the other side of the road. It should be recognized, if the request for an easement was brought up by a private developer, it wouldn't have a chance in Hades of being passed. For some reason, if it's funded with tax-payers money, against our will, it miraculously is given serious consideration. As the woman from HousingVermont admitted, the project has alternate plans for storm water removal. Good, let the Grange Hill project figure out how to deal with its environmental impact at its own expense. Leave the school out of it.
Lastly, I'd like to point out something ironic. Grange Hill's stated goal is to help people become part of our town. Isn't it funny that the exact range of people it proposes to help are the ones up in arms against it? The project is disrupting the community. It's sort of like the Viet Nam war, 'we're going to liberate you, if we have to kill you to do it'. In this case it's, we're going to build you a better neighborhood, if we have to wreck it to do so. We're going to shove a subsidized housing utopia down your throats for your own good. Sure, there might be collateral damage: a few streams might have to be re-routed, a significant portion of school property might have to be given up forever. Children might have to be put at risk for the common well-being; but HousingVermont knows what's best for you all. Hey, it's not like it's your land or your money.... well actually, folks, this time it is.
Turn down the easement, scale down the project, or move it elsewhere.
Hunter Melville
VTCampaignforLiberty.com/WindsorCounty
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