Sign up below to share your story and your vision for Rutland’s future! Hosted by Dr. Michael Shank, the Rutland Roundtables take place virtually over Zoom/phone every Wednesday evening in September at 6 p.m. ET. After filling out the form below, you’ll be emailed the zoom/phone call-in information for the […]
Author: Michael Shank
My Motivation: Make Vermont Even Stronger
RUTLAND HERALD 08/25/20 By Michael Shank I’d like to tell a story I’ve never told in print before. I’ve written hundreds of policy-oriented pieces for local and national newspapers — including the Rutland Herald, regarding Vermont-specific policy — but I’ve never told this story because it’s very personal. I’m telling […]
Michael Shank Running for State Senate as an Independent
BRANDON REPORTER 08/19/20 By Lee J Kahrs BRANDON — A well-known Brandon activist, educator and volunteer has announced his run for Rutland County Senator as an Independent. Michael Shank made the announcement Aug. 16 on Facebook. “Hi friends – Taking a leap here. Feeling like now more than ever before […]
Why I’m Running for Vermont State Senate
My Lens on Life I think about everything through the lens of sustainability. Meaning, can we sustain these policies for the next 5 decades and the next 5 generations? Since policy decisions require financial, human and natural resources, we need to ask: Do we have enough resources to last? Are […]
A National Bipartisan Conversation on Racism
RUTLAND HERALD 08/10/20 By Michael Shank The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives and now needs bipartisan Senate support, is the bellwether for what’s possible in tackling systemic racism in America. The bill, which targets racial discrimination and excessive use of […]
Vermont Could Lead a National Bipartisan Conversation on Race
VTDIGGER 08/10/20 By Michael Shank Editor’s note: This commentary is by Michael Shank, of Brandon, who teaches at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs and George Mason University’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020, which passed the U.S. House […]
Town Passes Animal Control Ordinance
RUTLAND HERALD 08/03/20 By Keith Whitcomb Jr. BRANDON — The Select Board voted unanimously last week to adopt a new animal control ordinance that outlines the powers of the animal control officer. Part of the motion to pass the ordinance was to include recommendations that Select Board Chairman Seth Hopkins […]
Vermont has a Chance to Show how Bipartisanship can Tackle Systemic Racism
THE HILL 07/31/20 By Michael Shank The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives and now needs bipartisan Senate support, is the bellwether for what’s possible in tackling systemic racism in America. The bill, which targets racial discrimination and excessive use of […]
Brandon Strengthens Animal Control Law
BRANDON REPORTER 07/29/20 By Lee J. Kahrs BRANDON — The Town of Brandon now has the strongest animal control ordinance it has ever had, and supporters are hoping it’s enough to prevent troubling animal welfare cases in the future. The Brandon Select Board on Monday unanimously approved the updated ordinance, […]
It’s Time for Fossil Fuel Divestment Campaigners to Take on the Meat Industry
SENTIENT MEDIA 07/17/20 By Clair Hamlett Money makes the world go round, as the saying goes, but follow its flow and you’ll often end up at the door of a company responsible for causing and accelerating planetary-scale destruction. In March this year, a report by NGOs revealed that 35 banks […]