Winooski poll-goers talk just-cause eviction, LGBTQ council and ballot legalese

This past Tuesday, Town Meeting Day ballots were available in 12 different languages

Bundled head to toe, Kathleen MacDonald stood outside the Winooski Senior Center on Barlow street, snowflakes catching on her knit hat. 
In the blisteringly cold Winooski weather, residents like MacDonald gathered in the senior center by St. Stephens Catholic Church to vote on Town Meeting Day. MacDonald moved from New York to Winooski last October; this was her first town meeting. 

From what she’d heard beforehand, she expected a raucous affair, or at least one featuring deep debates. Instead, she said, she found something a little quieter. “I was a little disappointed by that, but I totally get it,” she said. “I had a different picture of what a town meeting was like … I don’t really see people talking about things.” 

Some towns not much smaller than Winooski still invite their residents to debate the ballot under one roof — in the old tradition of unflinching New England democracy. Peacham, in Caledonia County, puts out a potluck spread of lemon squares and sandwiches for its residents to enjoy before settling into a sea of folding chairs for a day of decision-making, as seen in coverage by Vermont Public. 

But Winooski uses the Australian ballot for all of its annual meeting voting, something more and more towns across the state have been choosing too in recent years. 

One of the most pressing measures for many voters seemed to be Article 4, the just-cause eviction initiative. MacDonald supported the item:“The housing situation here is so horrible — and all throughout the country, not just here — but it’s very tight here,” she said. “That stress of worrying over whether or not you’re going to be able to stay in your homes, (it’s) horrendous. People who don’t have a lot of means or what have you, need a chance to try other avenues before they’re kicked out to the curb.” 

Most of the other residents who spoke to Winooski News reporters at the senior center Tuesday morning and evening felt the same. 

One young voter, who declined to give his name, was hopeful that the measure if passed would “be beneficial for an average Winooski resident, which I think in this case is renters.” 

State Rep. Taylor Small, P/D-Winooski, was at the polls that morning framed Article 4 as an issue of affordability. 

“Specifically when we look at the just-cause eviction protection, we have the highest density of renters in the state, with over 60% of our population being renters,” she said. “So affordability and being able to stay in housing and prices not being increased and not worrying about your place being sold to another landlord is important here.”

Another hot topic among voters was the apparent complexity of ballot items — and what that means for Winooski’s notable new American population. 

Residents Jemn Childress and Jenni Date found frustration with the language on the ballot. “I wish I understood a little bit more about the just-cause thing. Because I kind of did, but I kind of don't,” Date said. 

Both found the legal language confusing. “Even though I read it and reviewed it, looked over and still felt: Is this saying what I think it's saying?” Date said. “So that's a bit challenging”

If the ballot had too much jargon for Childress and Date — both of whom said English is their native language —  it’s unclear how much of an obstacle the legalese would be for the city’s growing population of refugees and immigrants from countries where English isn’t usually someone’s first language. 

Voters were offered ballots translated into 11 languages, including Nepali, Spanish, Arabic, Vietnamese and Somali. When asked, a polling officer said that although the city didn’t have exact numbers on how many translated ballots were used, several Nepali and Arabic ballots had been requested. And some voters brought interpreters, the official said. 

The diversity of translated documents reflects the diversity of the city, a point of pride for many Winooskians. That’s why some voters expressed disappointment — or more — with city officials’ decision to not fund the vacant equity director position created in 2021. Yasamin Gordon, the first and only holder of the position, resigned last year after facing “microaggressions from colleagues,” according to city manager Elaine Wang.

“We’re the only minority-majority school district in the state (and) we don’t have an equity director in our city, which is not okay,” said resident Mary Penson.

Penson added: “I think that’s horrible that they paused (the equity director position). I think that’s unconscionable to go this far, to go this far.” 

She paused to show off her sweatshirt featuring a graphic for Winooski Strong, a local initiative raising funds and awareness for anti-racism in the city. 

“We know why the equity director left … it's the same reason that equity directors all over the state or in Burlington have left as well. And as a person who has worked in a predominantly white environment I get it, you know,” she said.

Small said she hopes to see the equity director position reintroduced and better supported in future years but recognizes the need for internal commitment from city officials. 

“I really appreciate that our city staff has recognized that there are structural issues, especially when it comes to our local government. But I think what the concern is, is making sure that  progress is actually being done, and that the work is being done to create an environment where we can have Black women in particular feel safe enough to serve and not have it be a performative action of just doing outward events.”

Small, the first openly transgender person to serve in the Legislature, also highlighted how this year’s slate of city council candidates was set to be the first in Vermont to be made up entirely of openly LGBTQ people.   

“It is really quite amazing and something to celebrate after 100 years here in Winooski, where you haven't necessarily seen that level of leadership in the LGBTQ+ community and historically have even had folks vote against things like marriage equality,” Small said. “So I think it just shows a lot of the progress that we've seen in this small but really great city.”

City councilor Aurora Hurd agreed, saying that representation is important to residents. “We (have) been building (to) more representation on the city council, so it's really exciting to see … especially because municipal government … affects everyone's everyday lives,” said Hurd, who was not up for reelection Tuesday but was campaigning outside the polling place for their spouse, school board candidate Robert Millar.

For her part, Penson thought the slate was interesting. “I feel like only the L (in LGBTQ+) is missing. And, of course, a person of color,” she said. “But I’m happy.”