January - Winooski Newsletter
From Your Local Representatives
By Representative Daisy Berbeco
Happy holidays, neighbors! As we enter a new calendar year and the start of the legislative session, I want to share a broad overview of what we will be working on in Montpelier, and how you can stay involved and informed.
Rep. Small and I are very united in our appreciation for the unique needs of our community, as well as the importance of collaboration and connection throughout this upcoming term. Legislators have been caucusing the past month to set policy agendas for the upcoming biennium, or two-year term.
We meet in our major party caucuses as well as special focus groups, and discuss policy solutions to issues we hear from our constituents. The details are being drafted at this moment, so expect to see more in the first weeks of the session as the bills are introduced and assigned to a committee. You can watch on YouTube or in person at the State House, and I will include information about that on my website on the Get Involved tab.
It won’t surprise anyone that housing is a clear priority across every district in the state. I will be working with my new colleagues to address affordability and availability of housing by looking at bills through a lens of whether they are equitable and inclusive of low income and diverse people, including multigenerational families.
A second priority that closely intersects with housing is child care. We know that affordable child care allows parents and guardians to find stable housing and contribute to the economy, and most importantly for children and communities to flourish.
Mental health and wellness have been a universal concern across Vermont and also a topic that came up across so many conversations here in Winooski. Mental health has been important to me personally and professionally, and I am already meeting with stakeholders to discuss where the levers are to meet the most critical needs for our community.
Please join upcoming monthly community conversations that Representative Small and I are hosting together, so that we can let you know the latest from Montpelier and also hear how we can support you and our neighbors. Our first conversation will be January 28 at the Community Center on Mallets Bay Ave. Watch our social media and websites for details.
I look forward to working with you in 2023 and hope you have a safe and happy holiday season.