YCQM: July 5, 2020
>> Darren: AND GOOD MORNING,
EVERYONE.
I'M DARREN PERRON.
RIGHT NOW ON "YOU CAN QUOTE ME,"
MONTPELIER'S POLICE CHIEF SAYS
SO LONG AND GETS QUITE THE
SENDOFF.
WE'LL TALK TO HIM.
ALSO, MONUMENTAL DIFFERENCES.
WHAT WAS THE REAL POINT OF OLD
STATUES AND DOES THAT REALLY
MATTER ANYMORE?
WE'LL TALK TO AN EXPERT.
PLUS, MEET THE CANDIDATES.
THIS MORNING, WE LOOK AT THE
DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR
AND WE'LL SEE WHO'S AHEAD IN THE
MONEY RACE.
THAT'S WHERE WE BEGIN THIS
MORNING.
IN JUST OVER FIVE WEEKS,
VERMONTERS WILL VOTE IN THE
STATE'S PRIMARY ELECTION,
DECIDING WHO WILL BE ON THE
BALLOT FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION
IN NOVEMBER.
THE PRIMARY FIELD IS CROWDED,
WITH 11 CANDIDATES FROM THEE
PARTIES SEEKING NOMINATIONS JUST
IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.
INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN PHIL SCOTT,
HIS CHALLENGER JOHN CLARK, DOUG
CAVETT, BERNARD PETERS AND EMILY
PAYTON.
ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, THERE
ARE FOUR CANDIDATES, DAVID
ZUCKERMAN, REBECCA HOLCOMBE, PAT
WINBURN, AND RALPH COREBELL.
AND THERE ARE TWO PROGRESSIVES,
PERENNIAL CANDIDATES BOOTS
WERNISSKI AND CHRIS ERICKSON.
AFTER AUGUST 11th, THERE WILL BE
JUST ONE PERSON FROM EACH OF THE
PARTIES LEFT IN THE RACE.
WE BEGIN WITH CURRENT LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR DAVID ZUCKERMAN.
THE LONG TIME PROGRESSIVE IS
RUNNING AS A DEMOCRAT FOR
GOVERNOR.
ZUCKERMAN IS 48 YEARS OLD AND
HE'S BEEN INVOLVED IN VERMONT
POLITICS FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.
WHEN HE'S NOT IN MONTPELIER, HE
SPENDS HIS DAYS PLANTING
VEGETABLES ON HIS FARM WITH HIS
WIFE RACHEL AND HIS DAUGHTER.
HERE'S CHANNEL 3'S CALVIN CUTLER
TO INTRODUCE US TO THE
CANDIDATES.
>> Calvin: SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET
NORTH OF THE COUNTY LINE LIES
FULL MOON FARM IN HINDSBURG.
THERE DAVID ZUCKERMAN, CANDIDATE
FOR GOVERNOR, TENDS TO HIS
ANIMALS AND HIS CROPS.
HE SAYS HIS DRAW TO PUBLIC
SERVICE DATES BACK TO WHEN HE
LEFT HIS HOME STATE OF
MASSACHUSETTS IN THE LATE '80s
FOR UVM.
>> Zuckerman: FELL IN LOVE WITH
THE PEOPLE, THE CULTURE, AND THE
COMMUNITY.
>> Calvin: HE DIDN'T GET
INVOLVED IN POLITICS UNTIL HE
MET THEN CONGRESSMAN BERNIE
SANDERS.
>> Zuckerman: HE SAID EXACTLY
WHAT HE THOUGHT, DIDN'T HIDE
ANYTHING, YOU COULD BE ELECTED
SAYING WHAT YOU BELIEVED AND
FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN.
>> Calvin: HE SAYS SENATOR
SANDERS' VALUES HAVE STUCK WITH
HIM.
WITH HIS EYES ON VERMONT'S TOP
SHOP, DURKMAN SAYS HE'S --
ZUCKERMAN SAYS HE'S FOCUSED ON
RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE,
INCREASING DIVERSITY IN
MONTPELIER, EXPANDING ACCESS TO
HEALTHCARE AND TACKLING CLIMATE
CHANGE.
>> Zuckerman: I THINK THERE'S
REAL OPPORTUNITIES TO MERGE THE
RURAL ECONOMY WITH THE FUTURE
CLIMATE ECONOMY, WHETHER THAT'S
INVESTING IN BROOBZ, INVESTING
IN -- BROADBAND, INVESTING IN
VILLAGE-CENTERED INVESTMENT,
PARTICULARLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
>> Calvin: IN A CROWDED
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FIELDS, HE
ENJOYS NAME RECOGNITION.
HE SAYS HE'S CONNECTED WITH
VERMONTERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE
FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS WHERE
OTHER CANDIDATES HAVEN'T, BUT IF
HE WINS THE PRIMARY, HE'LL BE UP
AGAINST REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR PHIL
SCOTT, WHO RECEIVED HIGH MARKS
FOR HIS HANDLING OF THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC.
ZUCKERMAN APPLAUDS THE
GOVERNOR'S EFFORTS, BUT SAYS HE
DROP THE BALL DEALING WITH
UNEMPLOYMENT.
>> Zuckerman: IT TOOK WEEKS
BEFORE THEY DID ANYTHING
SUBSTANTIAL TO CHANGE ANYTHING
AND THEY NEEDED TO MAKE FASTER
ADJUSTMENTS THERE.
>> Calvin: BUT STILL, ZUCKERMAN
AND OTHER CANDIDATES FACE AN
UPHILL BALANCE SINCE IT'S BEEN
OVER HALF A CENTURY SINCE AN
INCUMBENT GOVERNOR LOST.
ADD TO THAT SCOTT'S POPULARITY
IN VERMONT, BUT ZUCKERMAN SAYS
HE'S TRYING TO SHOW VERMONT HE'S
THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THE JOB.
>> Zuckerman: ARE WE ACTUALLY
AGAINST EACH OTHER, SEAM
CANDIDATES IN THE SAME PARTY, OR
ARE WE TRY TO SHOW WHY WE'RE THE
STRONGEST CANDIDATE?
>> Darren: REBECCA HOLCOMBE IS
ALSO NO STRANGER TO STATE
GOVERNMENT.
SHE'S A LIFELONG EDUCATOR,
SERVING AS A TEACHER AND
PRINCIPAL AND STATE EDUCATION
SECRETARY.
CHARGING HER FORMER BOSS,
GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT FOR
VERMONT'S TOP OFFICE.
SHE GREW UP IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES
WHILE HER PARENTED WORKED FOR
THE U.N.
THIS INSPIRE HER PASSION FOR
TEACHING.
>> Holcombe: THAT REAL IMPRESSED
ON ME HOW ESSENTIAL BASIC
COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC EDUCATION
IS IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE
PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
THRIVE.
>> AFTER TEACHING IN VERMONT AT
THE LOCAL AND COLLEGE LEVEL, SHE
SERVED AS THE SECRETARY OF
EDUCATION UNDER GOVERNOR SHUMLIN
AND SCOTT.
THERE, SHE OVERSAW THE INITIAL
ROLLOUT OF THE CONTROVERSIAL ACT
46 WHICH CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL
DISTRICTS.
SHE SPLIT WITH SCOTT IN 2018
AFTER DISAGREEMENTS ABOUT ACT 46
AND SCHOOL FUNDING.
NOW AHEAD OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PRIMARY, SHE SAYS HER TOP
PRIORITIES ARE INCREASING EQUITY
FOR VERMONTERS ACROSS
HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, AND THE
ECONOMY.
>> Holcombe: WE NEED TO BE
PAYING ATTENTION TO ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY FOR MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN CUT
OUT OF PROSPERITY, BUT ALSO
PARTS OF THE STATE THAT NEVER
RECOVERED FROM THE LAST
RECESSION.
WE NEED A RURAL ECONOMY THAT
WORKS AND THAT IS CREATING
OPPORTUNITY OUTSIDE CHITTENDEN
COUNTY.
>> Reporter: SHE ALSO WANTS TO
STABILIZE HEALTHCARE COSTS AND
TAKE ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE.
>> Holcombe: CREATING HIGH WAGE
JOBS IN VERMONT COMMUNITIES FOR
WORKERS WHO CAN GET GOOD SKILLS
OUT OF OUR STATE COLLEGE SYSTEM,
OUR CAREER AND TECH CENTERS WHO
CAN EARN A REALLY GOOD WAGE.
>> Reporter: BUT LIKE HER
PRIMARY CHALLENGERS, SHE'S UP
AGAINST GOVERNOR SCOTT WHO
RECEIVED HIGH MARKS, EVEN BEFORE
THE PANDEMIC.
SHE SAYS HE'S FALLEN SHORT IN A
LONG-TERM VISION FOR THE STATE
SUCH AS THE EXPANSION OF
BROADBAND.
>> Holcombe: RIGHT NOW AS A
RESULT IN THE MIDDLE OF A
PANDEMIC, WE ARE SEEING HUGE
EQUITY GAPS IN TERMS OF ACCESS
TO EDUCATION, IN TERMS OF ACCESS
TO HEALTHCARE, IN TERMS OF WHICH
BUSINESSES AND IN WHICH
COMMUNITIES CAN GET BACK ON
THEIR FEET AND FIND WAYS TO
CONNECT WITH MARKETS.
>> Reporter: SHE SAYS HER TRACK
RECORD IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND AT
THE STATE LEADERSHIP LEVEL SETS
HER APART FROM HER OPPONENTS.
>> Darren: NEXT WE TAKE A LOOK
AT PAT WINBURN.
HE'S 64 YEARS OLD AND LIVES IN
BENNINGTON WHERE HE HAS WORKED
AS A PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER FOR
NEARLY FOUR DECADES.
HE'S MARRIED TO HIS WIFE KIM AND
HAS TWO KIDS.
>> Reporter: BENNINGTON LAWYER
PAT WINBURN IS SEEKING THE
GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION.
HE LAUNCHED HIS CAMPAIGN FOR THE
OFFICE BACK IN MARCH.
YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN HIS
HUNDREDS OF YARD SIGNS AND TV
COMMERCIALS.
HE'S BUILT A NEAR 40-YEAR CAREER
AS A TRIAL LAWYER WORKING ON
CASES AT THE LOCAL AND STATE
LEVEL ALL THE WAY UP TO THE U.S.
SUPREME COURT.
SERVING AS THE PAST PRESIDENT OF
THE VERMONT TRIAL LAWYERS
ASSOCIATION, HE SAYS HIS
ANALYTICAL THINKING WILL BRING
CHANGE TO MONTPELIER.
UNLIKE FORMER EDUCATION
SECRETARY REBECCA HOLCOMBE AND
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DAVID
ZUCKERMAN, HE'S AN OUTSIDER TO
THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE
LEGISLATURE.
HE SAYS HE'LL BRING A FRESH
PERSPECTIVE TO MONTPELIER AND
REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF
SOUTHERN VERMONT.
>> Winburn: WE'RE NOT PART OF
MONTPELIER AND CHIT DUN COUNTY,
SO I BRING A DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVE ON POLITICS IN THE
STATE.
>> Reporter: HE COMPARES HIS
VISION FOR VERMONT TO SHUFFLING
AND REDEALING A DECK OF CARDS
AND RETHINKING PUBLIC POLICY TO
INCREASE EQUITY.
HE SAYS A COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY
LEAVE PLAN VETOED BY GOVERNOR
SCOTT IS A GOOD PLACE TO START.
>> Winburn: AFTER WE SEE WHAT
THE POLICIES ARE AND WHICH ONES
ARE G WE THROW OUT A FEW JOKERS
AND GO FROM THERE AND PASS SOME
THINGS RELEVANT TO THE 21st
CENTURY.
>> Reporter: EVEN WITH HIS
CAMPAIGN'S OUTREACH IN VIRTUAL
TOWN HALLS, YARD SIGNS AND A
MASSIVE MEDIA CAMPAIGN, HE STILL
HAS TO OVERCOME THE POPULAR
GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT.
>> Winburn: I THINK AFTER THE
PANDEMIC SETTLES DOWN A LITTLE
BIT, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO
LOOK AT WHAT THE ISSUES ARE IN
VERMONT THAT WE HAVE TO, YOU
KNOW, SORT OF DEAL WITH IN A
VERY SERIOUS WAY.
>> Darren: WE'RE ALSO GETTING A
LOOK AT HOW MUCH MONEY
CANDIDATES HAVE RAISED AND
SPENT.
ONE IMPORTANT INDICATION OF THE
TRACTION THEIR CAMPAIGNS ARE
GETTING WITH VOTERS.
AMONG THE FOUR DEMOCRATS RUNNING
FOR GOVERNOR, REBECCA HOLCOMBE
LEADS THE MONEY RACE.
SHE HAS RAISED $481,000 SO FAR.
HOLCOMBE HAS SPENT 376,000,
LEAVING 104,000 CASH ON HAND.
THERE'S A FOUR-WAY RACE FOR THE
DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION AS WE
MENTIONED.
SO FAR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
DAVID ZUCKERMAN HAS PULLED IN
288,000.
HE SPENT 245,000, HAS 43,000
LEFT IN THE BANK.
AND PAT WINBURN REPORTS RAISING
JUST SHY OF $195,000.
HE SPENT EVERY PENNY, LEAVING A
SLIGHT DEFICIT IN HIS CAMPAIGN
ACCOUNT.
IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT ALL BUT ABOUT $4,000 HAS
COME OUT OF HIS OWN POCKET.
IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY,
INCUMBENT GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT
HAD MONEY LEFT OVER FROM HIS
PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN.
HE RECENTLY RAISED MORE THAN
80,000.
RIGHT NOW, HE HAS ABOUT 50,000
LEFT.
AND HIS REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER
JOHN CLAW REPORTS RAISING ABOUT
28,000.
HE HAS 11 GRAND IN THE BANK.
WE TURN NOW TO CAMPAIGNING
DURING A PANDEMIC AND CALVIN,
WHO IS IN MONTPELIER.
CALVIN, THERE WAS A ROBUST
DEBATE ABOUT CLIMATE AND
VERMONT'S DEMOGRAPHICS ON THE
CAMPAIGN TRAIL, AND THEN
COVID-19 TOOK OVER.
HOW IS THIS INFLUENCING ISSUES
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL?
>> Calvin: WELL, DARREN, THE
PANDEMIC AND THE SUBSEQUENT
FINANCIAL CRISIS HAS REALLY
TAKEN CENTER STAGE THESE PAST
FEW WEEKS, ESPECIALLY ON THE
CAMPAIGN TRAIL.
THE DIALOGUE, OF COURSE, IN THE
MONTHS AND WEEKS -- WEEKS AND
MONTHS AHEAD IS GOING TO BE
FOCUSED ON HOW TO KEEP
VERMONTERS HEALTHY AND HOW TO
FILL GIANT GAPING HOLES IN THE
STATE BUDGET AND HOW THE
CANDIDATES PLAN TO DO THAT.
NOW, VERMONT HAS SEEN ABOUT
THREE DECADES WORTH OF JOB
GROWTH SLASHED IN JUST ABOUT
THREE MONTHS.
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR A LOT ABOUT
CANDIDATES' IDEAS TO BOLSTER
STATE REVENUE, BUT ALSO WHERE TO
MAKE TOUGH CHOICES AND TRIM THE
BUDGET.
BUT STILL, MANY OF THE
CANDIDATES ARE FOCUSING ON
NON-COVID ISSUES, SUCH AS
CURBING GREENHOUSE GASES,
KEEPING THE COLLEGE SYSTEM
ALIVE.
CANDIDATES VYING FOR STATEWIDE
OFFICE HAVE TO STRIKE THE RIGHT
BALANCE BETWEEN TALKING ABOUT
THE IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM
PROBLEMS AFFECTING VERMONT AND
OUR ECONOMY.
>> Darren: AND CALVIN, THERE ARE
MORE THAN 20 CANDIDATES RUNNING
FOR GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR.
CROWDED FIELDS THERE.
HOW HAS COVID CHANGED THE
PLAYING FIELD?
>> Calvin: WELL, THAT'S RIGHT,
DARREN.
THERE'S A LOT OF CANDIDATES
RUNNING THIS YEAR, IN PART
BECAUSE THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S
OFFICE DIDN'T REQUIRE PEOPLE TO
GO OUT AND GATHER THE SIGNATURES
TO GET ON TO THE BALLOT.
THAT WAY, THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO
COME IN CONTACT WITH PEOPLE
BECAUSE OF COVID-19.
NOW, ADDITIONALLY, THIS
LEGISLATIVE SESSION RAN LATE,
ENDING LAST FRIDAY, MEANING
CANDIDATES LIKE DAVID ZUCKERMAN
AND OTHERS IN THE LEGISLATURE
HAVEN'T HAD THE TIME TO MAKE
CAMPAIGNING THEIR TOP PRIORITY.
ALSO, SOCIAL DISTANCING AND
LIMITATIONS ON GATHERING HAVE
POSED A CHALLENGE TO CANDIDATES
GETTING THEIR MESSAGE OUT
BECAUSE EVENTS HAVE LAD TO BE
CONDUCTED OVER VIDEO CHAT.
REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT GOVERNOR
PHIL SCOTT WHO'S SEEKING
RE-ELECTION SAYS HE DIDN'T
ACTIVELY CAMPAIGNING DURING THE
STATE OF EMERGENCY.
>> Darren: BUT THE GOVERNOR HAS
REMAINED IN THE SPOTLIGHT
BECAUSE HE'S HOLDING THESE
WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCES.
HE'S GETTING A LOT OF AIR TIME
BECAUSE OF THOSE AND REALLY,
CALVIN, HE'S NOT ALWAYS STICKING
TO THE TOPIC OF COVID.
>> Calvin: RIGHT.
SO WHEN WE FIRST STARTED HAVING
THESE PRESS CONFERENCES, MANY OF
THE TIME IT WAS GETTING OUT
CRITICAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE
DISEASE, WHAT VERMONTERS NEED TO
KNOW, TALKING ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT
AND MOST RECENTLY CRITICAL
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS,
WHICH CAN HELP KEEP VERMONT
BUSINESSES AFLOAT.
BUT NOW, THERE'S BEEN MORE AND
MORE TALK OF POLITICAL QUESTIONS
THROWN THE GOVERNOR'S WAY.
NOW, FOR MANY IN THE VERMONT
PRESS CORPS, HOWEVER, THIS IS
THE ONLY TIME OF THE WEEK THAT
WE ACTUALLY GET THE CHANCE TO
ASK HIM AND HIS CABINET
QUESTIONS ON OTHER TOPICS, BUT
IN RECENT WEEKS, HE'S BEEN
FIELDING QUESTIONS DEALING WITH
POLICE REFORM, RACIAL EQUITY AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE IN VERMONT, NOT
NECESSARILY RELATED TO THE
PANDEMIC, BUT STILL VERY
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR HIM TO
FIELD.
HE'S ALSO USED THE PRESS
CONFERENCES AS A WAY TO GET HIS
MESSAGE ACROSS ON THIS FRONT
SUCH AS WHEN HE ANNOUNCED THE
FORMATION OF A RACIAL EQUITY
TASK FORCE AND, OF COURSE,
STARTING THIS WEEK, THE GOVERNOR
WILL ONLY BE HOLDING PRESS
CONFERENCES ON TUESDAYS AND
FRIDAYS.
>> Darren: CALVIN, THANKS.
NEXT SUNDAY, WE ANALYZE THE
REPUBLICAN RACE FOR GOVERNOR.
APPRECIATE IT.
>>> STILL AHEAD, WE TALKED TO
MONTPELIER'S RETIRING TOP COP
AND THE MEANINGS BEHIND THE
MONUMENT.
AN EXPERT TELLS US WHY MANY NOW
SYMBOLIZE SOMETHING DIFFERENT
THAN THEY DID WHEN THEY WERE
FIRST BUILT.
>> Darren: THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY SENT
DEPLOYMENT TEAMS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY TO PROTECT NATIONAL
MONUMENTS AND STATUES OVER THIS
HOLIDAY WEEKEND AS THE DEBATE
OVER THE REMOVAL OF MONUMENTS OF
CONFEDERATE LEADERS AND FORMER
SLAVE OWNERS INTENSIFIES.
PRESIDENT TRUMP CREATED THE TASK
FORCE WITH AN EXECUTIVE ORDER.
HE THEN TWEETED ABOUT IT,
SAYING, MY EXECUTIVE ORDER TO
PROTECT MONUMENTS, STATUES,
ETCETERA, IS IN FULL FORCE AND
EFFECT IN EXCESS OF A TEN-YEAR
PRISON TERM.
PROTESTERS SAY THEY REPRESENT
AMERICA'S TROUBLING HISTORY.
CHANNEL 3'S DOM AMATO LEARNED
WHY THE MONUMENTS WERE BUILT.
>> Dom: AS THE COUNTRY CONTINUES
THE CONVERSATION OF REMOVING
STATUES OF CIVIL WAR CONFEDERATE
FIGURES, A UVM HISTORY CLASS HAS
ALREADY WRITTEN A BOOK.
WHEN THE FATE OF CIVIL WAR
MONUMENTS HEATED UP IN 2011, THE
PROFESSOR ASKED HER CLASS TO
WRITE ESSAYS EXAMINING MONUMENTS
IN SEVERAL U.S. CITIES.
THEY ENDED UP PUBLISHING
CONFEDERATE MONUMENTS,
REVISITING OUR HISTORY, BY EARLY
2018.
WE'RE NOW JOINED BY PROFESSOR
DI DIO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
>> Di Dio: HAPPY TO BE HERE.
>> Dom: WHAT ABOUT THE CLASS
GAVE YOU THE IDEA TO PUBLISH
THIS WORK?
>> Di Dio: WELL, IT WAS AN
HONORS COLLEGE CLASS, SO THESE
ARE SORT OF THE HIGH-FLYING
STUDENTS AT UVM AND IT'S ALWAYS
SUCH A JOY TO WORK WITH THEM,
AND THIS COURSE WAS DEVELOPED IN
RESPONSE TO THE NUMBER OF ACTS
OF DESTRUCTION THAT WERE TAKING
PLACE AROUND THE WORLD THAT
SPECIFICALLY TARGETED ART
OBJECTS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY IN
2017, SO MUCH WAS GOING ON IN
OUR CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE
CONFEDERATE MONUMENTS AND WHAT
SHOULD HAPPEN TO THEM, THAT I
THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE GREAT
CONVERSATIONS WE WERE HAVING IN
CLASS AND THEN HAVE THE STUDENTS
WORK ON THEM FURTHER AND REALLY
EXAMINE HOW COMPLEX THESE ISSUES
ARE ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH THESE
THINGS AND WHERE THE OPTIONS ARE
AND WHERE THEY SHOULD BE LOCATED
OR IF THEY INDEED SHOULD BE
DESTROYED, AND, YOU KNOW, SHOULD
IT BE TAKEN AS A BLANKET BLACK
OR WHITE DECISION OR SHOULD IT
BE TAKEN AS A MORE NUANCED
DECISION PROCESS AROUND EACH OF
THE INDIVIDUAL MONUMENTS IN
THEIR OWN CONTEXT.
>> Dom: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY BEFORE
THE ART?
>> Di Dio: YOU KNOW, AS AN ART
HISTORIAN, OBVIOUSLY, I AM
DEEPLY MOVED BY THE
INTERCONNECTEDNESS, COMPLETE
CONNECTEDNESS BETWEEN THE
HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND THE ART
OBJECT THAT'S PRODUCED.
IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT
HISTORY, YOU CAN'T, INDEED,
FIGURE OUT WHAT SHOULD BE DONE
WITH THESE SCULPTURES TODAY OR
UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITY OF THE
MESSAGES THAT THESE SCULPTURES
ARE SENDING NOW AS OPPOSED TO
WHEN THEY WERE FIRST CREATED.
A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW
COMPLICATED THIS IS IS LOOKING
AT THIS SCULPTURE THAT'S CALLED
THE EMANCIPATION MONUMENT THAT'S
IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND THERE'S
A COPY IN BOSTON.
AND THIS ONE MONUMENT WAS
ACTUALLY PAID FOR BY RECENTLY
FREED SLAVES WHO FUNDRAISED FOR
THE SCULPTURE TO BE MADE.
FREDERICK DOUGLASS MADE A MOVING
SPEECH ON THE DAY OF ITS
DEDICATION.
PRESIDENT GRANT WAS PRESENT FOR
THIS AND THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT
MOMENT FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY
IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
HOWEVER, WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT
SCULPTURE TODAY, WHERE YOU HAVE
LINCOLN STANDING VERY PROUDLY
WITH HIS HANDS SORT OF IN
BENEDICTION OVER THIS CROUCHING
BLACK MAN, IT'S A TROUBLING
IMAGE, AN IMAGE THAT REQUIRES
SOME FURTHER THOUGHT AND
ANALYSIS AS WE LOOK AT IT TODAY.
IT'S NOT AN IMAGE THAT WE ARE
COMFORTABLE WITH TODAY, BUT
CERTAINLY WAS ONE THAT THE
BLACKS IN THAT MOMENT WANTED AND
CELEBRATED.
SO WHAT DO WE DO WITH A MONUMENT
LIKE THAT?
IT REQUIRES CONTEXTUALIZATION.
IT REQUIRES FUNDING FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP
PROVIDE FURTHER SCULPTURES THAT
GIVE MORE CONTEXT TO THESE
MONUMENTS, OR AT THE VERY LEAST
SOME NEW MARKINGS SO THE FULLER
HISTORY OF THAT SCULPTURE IS
PERSPECTIVE VENN.
>> Dom: DO YOU THINK THAT'S
IMPORTANT FOR A LOT OF THESE
SCULPTURES THAT, WE SHOULD BE
CONTEXTUALIZING THEM RATHER THAN
TEARING THEM DOWN?
>> Di Dio: I THINK IT DEPENDS ON
THE SCULPTURE AND THAT'S MY
BIGGEST POINT THAT I WOULD MAKE
WITH MY STUDENTS AND I WOULD
URGE THE PUBLIC AND CERTAINLY
OUR GOVERNING OFFICIALS TO
CONSIDER, IS THAT YOU NEED TO
BRING ON BOARD HISTORIANS, ART
HISTORIANS THAT HELP BETTER
UNDERSTAND THE SCULPTURE, ITS
MEANINGS, AND THE CONTEXT IN
WHICH IT WAS MADE, AND THEN THE
PUBLIC NEEDS TO HAVE A VOICE IN,
YOU KNOW, DECIDING WHETHER THIS
IS A SCULPTURE THAT SHOULD STILL
BE ON PUBLIC LAND OR, INDEED,
SOMETHING ELSE SHOULD HAPPEN
WITH IT, WHETHER IT GOES TO A
MUSEUM OR CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELD
OR SOME OTHER MEANS OF
SEPARATING IT FROM PUBLIC LAND.
>> Dom: PROFESSOR KELLEY
HELMSTUTLER DI DIO, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME.
>> Di Dio: THANK YOU.
>> Darren: STILL AHEAD,
MONTPELIER'S POLICE CHIEF MOVES
ON, BUT NOT BEFORE HIS COMMUNITY
SAYS THANK YOU.
THE CHIEF JOINS ME NEXT.
STAY WITH US.
>> Darren: A FINAL SENDOFF FOR
THE RETIRING POLICE CHIEF IN
MONTPELIER.
>> I CERTAINLY WASN'T EXPECTING
ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
>> Darren: POLICE OFFICERS AND
EMERGENCY RESPONDERS FROM
WASHINGTON COUNTY, THE STATE OF
VERMONT, AND EVEN FEDERAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT WERE ON HAND TO
HONOR ANTHONY FACOS.
AND THE CHIEF JOINS ME NOW.
GOOD MORNING.
>> Facos: GOOD MORNING, DARREN.
>> Darren: WHY WAS IT TIME TO
RETIRE FROM THE FORCE?
>> Facos: WELL, IT WAS A
DECISION THAT WAS MADE MANY,
MANY YEARS AGO, AGE 55 WAS OUR
RETIREMENT ELIGIBILITY DATE, AND
SO I KIND OF PLANNED MY LIFE
AROUND THAT.
CERTAINLY I DID NOT PERCEIVE
COVID-19 AS WELL AS THE CURRENT
UNCERTAINTY AROUND POLICING IN
GENERAL, SO IT'S A VERY
CHALLENGING TIME FOR MY
SUCCESSOR TO COME IN, BUT IT WAS
SOMETHING I FORMALLY ANNOUNCED
BACK IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, OF
MY INTENTION TO RETIRE AT THE
END OF JUNE.
>> Darren: I WANT TO GET TO SOME
OF THAT IN JUST A MOMENT, BUT
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY YOU BROUGHT
TO THE DEPARTMENT, YOUR BIGGEST
ACCOMPLISHMENT OR CHANGE THAT
YOU PUT IN PLACE?
>> Facos: SURE.
I THINK IT'S REALLY THE CULTURE
OF THE MONTPELIER POLICE
DEPARTMENT THAT I'M VERY PROUD
OF AND THAT STARTS WITH REALLY
FOCUSED ON QUALITY TRAINING.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS
CERTAINLY A PRIORITY WHEN I
FIRST TOOK OVER, AND WHERE WE
FOCUS THAT TRAINING WERE IN
AREAS THAT WERE, YOU KNOW, HIGH
RISK BOTH LEGALLY AND
PHYSICALLY.
SO WE FOCUSED A LOT ON
DE-ESCALATION, USE OF FORCE, AND
NEGOTIATION.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH OUR
MENTAL HEALTH CALLS AND CRISIS
RESPONSE.
THE OTHER PIECE IS JUST OUR
PARTNERSHIPS.
WE HAVE A VERY, YOU KNOW,
MULTIPLE PARTNERSHIPS WITH
TOLDERS, THE FBI IN --
STAKEHOLDERS, THE FBI AND
CERTAINLY THE VERMONT POLICE AND
THAT COMES TOGETHER WITH 20th
CENTURY POLICING.
THAT CAME LATER IN MY CAREER AS
A CHIEF, BUT MANY OF THE THINGS
THAT WERE OUTLINED IN PRESIDENT
OBAMA'S REPORT, POLICING THAT
CAME OUT IN 2015, CENTERED ON
MANY THINGS WE WERE ALREADY
DOING.
AND YOU LOOK AT COMMUNITY HEALTH
AND THE ROLES OF POLICE IN 2015,
WE LAUNCHED PROJECT SAFE CATCH,
AGAIN WITH STAKEHOLDERS FROM
VICTIM SERVICES, VERMONT NEW
DIRECTIONS COALITION, WASHINGTON
COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
AND ALSO THE UVM MEDICAL CENTER
MURPHY DEPARTMENT, TO PROVIDE AN
ALTERNATIVE -- BASICALLY A
POLICE-ASSISTED ADDICTION
RECOVERY RESPONSE.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF SOMEBODY
NEEDS HELP, THEY HIT ROCK
BOTTOM, THEY CAN FLAG DOWN A
CRUISER, COME TO THE STATION,
AND WITHOUT QUESTION, IF THEY
HAVE DRUGS ON THEM OR WHATEVER,
THEY CAN DISPOSE OF THEM IN THE
BOX IN THE LOBBY AND WE HAVE A
WAY TO GET THEM SUPPORT ANYTIME
DAY OR NIGHT.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE VERY PROW
OF AND I THINK THAT SPEAKS A LOT
TO, AGAIN, THE COMMUNITY HEALTH
CULTURE OF THE DEPARTMENT.
>> Darren: LET'S FOLLOW UP ON
SOMETHING YOU MENTIONED EARLIER.
AT A TIME WHEN, YOU KNOW, POLICE
DEPARTMENTS AND THEIR BUDGETS
ARE UNDER THE MICROSCOPE ACROSS
THE COUNTRY AND HERE IN OUR
REGION, TOO, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF
THAT?
>> Facos: WELL, I THINK
CERTAINLY THERE'S A LOT OF
IMPORTANT REFORM THAT NEEDS TO
BE HAPPENING.
WE'VE HEARD BOTH IN THE
LEGISLATURE JUST LAST WEEK AND
THE WEEK PRIOR ON SOME KEY
BILLS.
VERMONT'S NOT IMMUNE TO SOME OF
THE FRUSTRATION, SOME OF THE
CHALLENGES, AND HOW DO WE LOOK
AT POLICE REFORM.
YOU KNOW, SO WE DON'T HAVE
CONSISTENCY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
FOR EXAMPLE, THINGS THAT WERE
ALREADY PROHIBITED IN VERMONT
AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS OUTSIDE
OF VERMONT, THEY COULD BE
ALLOWED IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCE.
SO THAT WAS PROBLEMATIC, BUT
CERTAINLY I WOULD HATE TO SEE
COMMUNITIES -- REALLY, IT'S A
KNEEJERK REACTION, AN EMOTIONAL
REACTION THAT'S NOT BASED ON
DATA NECESSARILY, AS WELL AS
WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES.
FOR YEARS AND YEARS, CHIEFS HERE
IN VERMONT AND POLICE LEADERS
HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO
BETTER FUND MENTAL HEALTH
RESOURCES, ADDICTION RECOVERY
RESOURCES AND HOW DO YOU ADDRESS
IN A MORE EFFECTIVE WAY
HOMELESSNESS?
THESE ARE PROBLEMS THAT, YOU
KNOW, AGAIN, ALL HOURS OF THE
DAY AND NIGHT FALL ON POLICE,
AND ARE WE ALWAYS THE RIGHT
RESOURCE TO RESPOND TO THOSE
CALLS.
>> Darren: DID YOU NOT GET TO
SOMETHING THAT YOU HOPED TO AS
CHIEF?
>> Facos: I REALLY WOULD HAVE
WISHED THERE WAS A WAY -- AND
THERE'S A COST INVOLVED, BUT
EFFECTIVE CITIZEN SURVEYS,
SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN REALLY
GET THE PULSE OF WHAT OUR
COMMUNITY IS FEELING ABOUT THE
POLICE, ABOUT SAFETY IN THE
COMMUNITY HERE IN MONTPELIER,
AND ALSO SUGGESTIONS OF WHERE WE
CAN IMPROVE.
>> Darren: YOUR SUCCESSOR IS
BRIAN PEETE.
THE CITY IN GOOD HANDS?
>> Facos: I THINK THE CITY IS IN
FANTASTIC HANDS.
>> Darren: SO LET'S TALK ABOUT
THAT SENDOFF.
HOLY SMOKES, QUITE THE TURNOUT.
>> Facos: YEAH, VERY EMOTIONAL
FOR ME.
I WAS NOT EXPECTING ANYTHING
LIKE THAT, ESPECIALLY IN A
COVID-COMPLIANT WAY, AND AGAIN,
SEEING ALL OF OUR PARTNERS,
JUST -- IT WAS REALLY VERY
PERSONAL, VERY TOUCHING FOR ME.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK ANYBODY
THAT HAD ANY ROLE IN THAT.
>> Darren: CHIEF, WHAT'S NEXT
FOR YOU?
>> Facos: RIGHT NOW I HAVE NO
IMMEDIATE PLANS OTHER THAN
GETTING CAUGHT UP ON SOME
MOUNTAIN BIKING AND SCUBA DIVING
AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE SKI
SEASON AND DOING SOME VOLUNTEER
WORK.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT CHAPTER TWO IS
GOING TO BRING.
>> Darren: WELL, ENJOY ALL OF
THAT.
CHIEF FACOS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME AND FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> Facos: THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
DARREN.
>> Darren: AND THAT WILL DO IT
FOR "YOU CAN QUOTE ME."
HAVE A WONDERFUL SUNDAY,
EVERYBODY.
WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.
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