Hanover’s need for housing

I’m writing to enthusiastically support the Town of Hanover’s Article 2, which would allow house-scale residences with up to four homes per lot in our town. This modest shift — in line with historic small-town development patterns and already embraced by many forward-thinking communities — aligns with our town’s Sustainability Master Plan that prioritizes inclusivity, environmental stewardship and smart growth.

By allowing accessory dwelling units more flexibly, and enabling two-family, three-family and four-family residences within our existing neighborhoods, we create more opportunities for young families, professionals and essential workers to call our town home. These homes maintain the scale and character of our neighborhoods while fostering a more diverse, multigenerational community — not an exclusive enclave.

Importantly, this approach curbs sprawl by making better use of land we’ve already developed, protecting surrounding open spaces and ecosystems and preserving our treasured small-town and rural aesthetic. It reduces dependence on costly, carbon-intensive infrastructure and long commutes, helping us meet our climate goals. Infill housing where we already maintain water, sewer and streets is also fiscally responsible and makes better use of costly town resources.

Hanover has a chance to grow in a way that welcomes everyone. According to our 2023 Housing Needs and Market Analysis we’ve seen a decline of about 150 young families since 2010, and most new homes — around 80% — have become second houses or vacation rentals. It’s time to create more opportunities for people who want to live and work here full-time. By allowing small-scale homes near jobs, schools and shops, we can help Hanover stay vibrant, inclusive, and full of life.

Increasing our housing supply in a thoughtful, neighborhood-compatible way is key to addressing the regional housing shortage. We cannot rely on other towns and cities to do their part while we preserve outdated regulations that stifle needed housing and sustainable growth. If we truly value equity, sustainability and long-term vitality, we must make room — gracefully and responsibly — for more neighbors.

Jennie Chamberlain

Hanover

The writer is a member of the Hanover Selectboard and Planning Board. The views expressed here are her own.

The autocrat’s way

We are on the road to autocracy. Donald Trump’s objective is not simply paring the size of government to cut costs. He is following an authoritarian playbook. He is determined to organize autocratic power after the fashion of Viktor Orban, prime minister of Hungary, and Recep Tayyip Edorgan, president of Turkey. I wonder if Orban on his recent visit to the White House tutored Trump on how to become an autocrat.

Orban defines his autocratic model as “illiberal democracy.” Though elections are allowed for purposes of democratic legitimacy, in reality, they do not challenge his power. He purges the bureaucracy, replaces military officers, controls the judiciary, tightens his grip on the press, rounds up terrorists and others critical of his administration, personalizes smear campaigns, monopolizes national conversations, lies repeatedly to create confusion.

Pairing illiberal trends with aggressive authoritarianism, both Trump and Musk have developed an astute strategy to destroy the federal government. They spread their agents out in different directions using the power of the presidency to diminish Congress, delegitimize institutions including universities, law firms, judges and the press, gut security programs, destroy USAID, abduct people off the streets and from their homes. In addition, DOGE indiscriminately dismantles and shuts down agencies assuming that workers are either corrupt or incompetent without examining the adequacy of their work. These are perfect examples of “might makes right,” where power worship is the norm and capitulation is required.

These actions are not likely to end soon but respond we must. Trump’s failures in the courts undercut his power and will rattle him to unpredictable outbursts. This shows us that he can be stopped. Law firms, universities, media outlets and others must resist Trump’s incursions. Urge your congressional representative to be publicly active. Confront Trump partisans about his lies, violation of laws and incompetence. We need to document the administration’s illegal actions and demonstrate loudly about them.

Bob Scobie

West Lebanon

Time for Congress to act

Welcome to a new America. Our country is now a police state and is under attack by our own government. President Trump initially said he would deport the violent, criminal illegal aliens. But then it became anyone illegally here, then persons with valid visas and permanent residents. And now he has threatened to deport US citizens. People are being snatched off the streets without due process.

Our history is under attack; the images and stories of women and people of color are being removed. Our economy is under attack; he promised lower inflation, but his tariffs have already begun to drive prices up. Our institutions of higher learning and research are under attack. Public education in our local K-12 schools is under attack by the increasing programs to use public funds for private and religious education. Our health care systems are under attack with the threatened loss of funding and indiscriminate firing of employees at the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Funding for those most in need of health care is under attack with Congress considering cuts to Medicaid to help pay for tax cuts for the wealthy. In the eyes of the Republicans, money has now become more important than your health. So, what can we do?

Willem Lange’s Yankee Notebook column on April 16 (“A day for patriots of all seasons”) hit the nail on the head. It reminded me of John Kennedy’s “Profiles in Courage,” which I read more than 60 years ago and which tells the stories of eight US senators who stood up for what was right, rather than party loyalty. Where are those Congresspeople now? The Supreme Court has made it clear that it is Congress alone that has the authority to hold the president responsible for his actions in defiance of the courts and the Constitution. We, the people, call on Congress to act as true patriots and reclaim the constitutional authority of Congress and hold the president accountable.

Robert Meyer

Grantham