We are writing to expand on what happened at the April 6 Hanover meeting, when Ordinance 38 was tabled.
The “Welcoming Hanover” ordinance goes beyond immigration and policing; it widens protections for all people, regardless of nationality, race, ethnicity, gender expression, sexual orientation, spoken language, religion, economic status and culture. The ordinance prevents local police from collaborating with federal immigration authorities and reaffirms our right to be free from discrimination. Hartford, Norwich and Lebanon have all enacted similar policies or ordinances.
We appreciate the time spent by the town manager, Selectboard, and Hanover residents to create an ordinance reflecting the needs of our community, especially those most affected by the issues it addresses. This was largely a collaborative, cooperative effort.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 and its demand on resources disrupted this process. Not until April 3 did attorneys representing the community meet with Hanover attorneys to discuss lingering disagreements in wording. On April 6, Hanover’s town attorney followed up with a proposed final draft, adding language not agreed upon by community members. This change was small, but with a significant effect, empowering the town attorney to block implementation of the ordinance if the town had “reasonable belief” that it violates a federal law. This wording if adopted, could nullify the efforts of all involved.
Because this language was introduced only hours before the hearing, community members were not given opportunity to respond until the public meeting. The Selectboard, which received the ordinance in the mail, was also reviewing this additional wording for the first time at the hearing, thus creating confusion regarding which version was to be voted on. We again ask the Hanover Selectboard to vote to pass Ordinance 38 without the additional language proposed on April 6.
DALIA RODRIGUEZ
and KRISTINA WOLFF
Hanover
The writers are members of the Welcoming Hanover Committee.
Steve Nelson’s recent column, “We older folks are not expendable” (April 9), evokes several responses, but I’ll stick to just one.
Nelson is extremely fortunate to “sit in comfortable isolation” with his wife during the current pandemic. He is equally fortunate that he and his wife have enjoyed “long professional careers.” He and his wife are lucky, as members of the “young-old” (people in their 60s and 70s), to enjoy fine health and the financial resources that allow their retirement to “revolve around our grandchildren.”
However, this happy conjunction of health, wealth and the time to enjoy both is a feature in contemporary American society of race and class. Most Americans face the final decades of their lives strapped for cash, managing multiple health issues in the absence of decent health care, and hoping against hope that Alzheimer’s disease doesn’t overtake them. If dementia strikes (which it inevitably will in most people over 85) their “young-old” children are saddled with the responsibility of caring for them, or finding care for them, in a sub-par assisted living facility or memory care unit. Just how sub-par has been illustrated by the large number of old people who have succumbed to COVID-19 at just such facilities.
The elder care crisis — a multi-generational catastrophe — is epidemic in the U.S. Whether or not the more familiar pandemic will result in a systematic and federally funded approach to elder care that enhances the lives of the very old and rescues their children from unrelieved stress at best and bankruptcy at worse — remains to be seen.
PHYLLIS DEUTSCH
Hanover
I found the Associated Press story “Pandemic deals blow to plastic bag bans” in the April 9 Valley News to be depressing. However long landfills may last, we will eventually run out of space for our trash and most of us know about the toll plastic waste is taking on the oceans.
The idea that the best way to be safe from germs is to use something once and discard it is dangerous and costly. Few medical providers have the ability to manufacture personal protective equipment from raw materials, but most hospitals do have facilities for sterilizing reusable equipment. If masks and other PPE were designed to be sterilized and used again, it would prevent some of the supply problems that have been in the news lately.
Of course, businesses that manufacture these disposable items will oppose this idea and say it’s impractical. If they are smart and responsible, they will be finding ways to make reusable products.
L. CARL PEDERSEN
Thetford
I’m grateful every day for the outstanding reporting and assemblage of local, regional and national news provided by the Valley News. Journalism is evolving rapidly and the Valley News remains mission-driven and focused. Your paper considers art and reader pleasure in layout and design. No matter how good or bad the news, the Valley News is a pleasure to read.
Please accept my donation in addition to an extension of my subscription into 2022. Valley News staff members are essential workers in our community, and as an over-employed, over-tired health care worker, I’m fortunate to be able to offer grass-roots support for an institution I value so highly.
Please keep doing what you do, innovating and staying one step ahead of disaster. We are truly all in this together.
KATHLEEN CRAIG
Thetford Center