pretty horrible homeless story from Vermont

[cali]

Newport Vermont is a town of 5,000 smack dab on the Canadian border. It's close to Jay Peak which is a ski resort and that fact figures into this story. Bill Stenger is the CEO of Jay Peak and has managed to get more EB-5 money than anyone in the country. EB-5 money comes from wealthy foreign individuals who invest money and in return get a green card. Stenger has collect something like $400,000,000 in EB-5 money. One of his "projects" is Newport. He's essentially purchased most of the town and is putting up a conference center and hotel and bringing in a South Korean bio-tech company, etc.

Newport is a poor town. It's also a prison town. And now there's virtually no shitty housing left. And it's been fairly cold this winter with multiple nights of 20 below zero. (btw, the restaurant referenced in the article is shutting down too, as Stenger bought that property and is tearing it down.)



The city of Newport is poised for major economic development. But a lingering social problem seems to have gotten worse this winter. Community activists say they are seeing a rise in homelessness in a city with no emergency shelter.

On Newport’s Main Street, Brenda’s Restaurant is an early morning oasis for people who may have spent a bitterly cold night outdoors.

Chatting with her friend Neil Morrissette, owner Brenda LePage says she’s happy to feed them for free.

“These people that do stay out, I don’t know how they do it, I really don’t. So I guess, how it works, Neil —you call the police?” she asks.

<snip>

On a recent frigid night about 24 showed up at a Newport medical facility. Some were transported to other towns with shelters; others had to be turned away. So a grassroots group is trying to open a shelter downtown.

<snip>

http://digital.vpr.net/post/hidden-homeless-finding-samaritans-newport


here's a link to an excellent article about the EB-5 program.

http://vtdigger.org/2014/03/04/eb-5-national-reports-shine-spotlight-immigrant-investment

I've said it numerous times and I'll say it again: The EB-5 program is a huge scandal waiting to be revealed.

[brooklynite]

1. Sorry, but I don't see the link...

What does encouraging investment by foreigners have to do with the Town's decision to not provide resources for the homeless?

[reddread]

3. no different than the rationale of Fresno Republicans like Ashley Swearingen

Not having learned much from the church she and her husband run, the belief appears to be that by neglecting, harrassing and bulldozing the MASSIVE homeless population that was formerly pushed downtown, once her associates and friends bought properties right there for fire sale prices, it is necessary to remove the blight entirely and increase the value of the properties.
Im pretty sure that is how they think it works. And they would be right, if only they could get the lifelong homeless residents of Fresno to disappear without a trace.

[cali]

4. the link is that Stenger has bought up the properties that provided the

cheapest housing and is tearing them down. pretty clear link. less cheap housing, more homeless folks.

[jsr]

2. Yep, $500,000 buys you a visa.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304757004579333160804518176
EB-5 Visas for Investors See Record Demand

[Auntie Bush]

5. I never heard of people buying visa's before.

So any wealthy person can get a green card and get to the US. Of course they will all become ReThugs. Is this the way they plan on expanding their base?

I can't understand how anyone can survive a winter night outside is VT. How sad!

[Catherina]

6. Ugh. Rec'd

Thanks for posting this Cali

[countryjake]

7. K&R