BRATTLEBORO-Amid rising reports of drug dealing and related crime, the town is considering an "acceptable community conduct campaign" in hopes of educating both public rule breakers and residents who are increasingly complaining about feeling unsafe.
"The goal is to influence behavior," Municipal Manager John Potter told the Selectboard, "to encourage everyone in town to be nice to each other."
So far, the yet-drafted proposal is sparking less decorum than debate.
"Decent messaging will define what we're looking for," Selectboard member Peter Case said at a recent meeting, "by rolling that out on all possible platforms - radio, newspaper, social media, TV - to, if you will, tsunami the landscape."
But social service advocates are questioning the potential results.
"I don't think a stigmatizing messaging campaign will help people out of their drug addiction and the behaviors that we're trying to target," Ava Zelkowitz, an outreach case manager for the Groundworks Collaborative antipoverty agency, told the board in response to the proposal.
Brattleboro, facing a 16% increase in police calls, recently boosted its budgeted count of law enforcement officers from 27 to 30, approved a plan for six more support staffers, and strengthened its ordinances against illegal drug use and public intoxication, lewd behavior, physical threats, and vandalism.
Local leaders also have allotted up to $10,000 for "public messaging" to communicate "community expectations and standards," as outlined in a recent memorandum.
According to the plan, the town would craft a set of statements to inform "community members exhibiting unacceptable behaviors" about the idea that "there are healthy boundaries on behavior in Brattleboro and if you stay on the right side of that, you are welcome."
The municipality also would address "community members concerned with unacceptable behaviors," the memo continues, in ways to "reassure the target audience that Brattleboro is a wonderful place to live, work in and visit."
"Lighter touch" suggestions for posters and programs would aim to tell rule breakers they could "seek out help and resources here" and urge residents encountering them to "keep it chill" so as not to escalate a situation.
A "more direct approach," if favored instead, would publicize local laws and encourage people to contribute financially to social service providers rather than to individuals who have faced community questions about panhandling.
"Compassion, not cash," one suggested message said.
A majority of board members have voiced support for the concept of a campaign, although Chair Daniel Quipp has expressed reservations about telling people how they should earn or spend their money.
"If we are to proceed in this way," said Quipp, who assists people with lower incomes at Southeastern Vermont Community Action, "I would want to see something different."
Not all agree
Residents at a recent board meeting offered a variety of opinions.
"I think that it has an overall effect of demonizing struggling people," former local School Board member Robin Morgan said.
"I'm just speechless that this is what we're considering putting our energy and resources toward instead of actually substantially improving the conditions that are causing people to be in this visible struggle," she continued.
Property manager Fric Spruyt said that, although he had heard many calls for compassion for rule breakers, "I don't hear, on the same count, a desire to create a sense of accountability."
Downtown store owner Penelope Wurr expressed similar frustrations.
"I do understand that there are people who are on the street who have needs that are probably not being met," said Wurr, who operates a namesake gift shop, "but at the same time we have businesses whose needs are not being met."
Municipal leaders are set to draft specific wording for review at a yet-scheduled meeting.
Resident David Blistein, who writes a Substack blog about the plight of locals who are impoverished, said any effort should start by targeting everyone debating the issue.
"We all need to stop 'othering' each other," Blistein told the Selectboard.
This News item by Kevin O'Connor originally appeared in VTDigger and was republished in The Commons with permission.