VTDigger’s article “‘Ideologue’ vs. ‘bridge builder’: What kind of Progressives are Pine and Tracy?” (Nov. 25) is generally informative but not appropriately balanced.
It is a challenge to distinguish Max Tracy and Brian Pine since they are largely in agreement on the issues, but to rely more heavily on old-guard retired Progressives for “sound bites” — and to adopt their labels “bridge builder” vs.”ideologue” as definitive — tilts the coverage away from the objective news reporting it purports to be and suggests a preferred candidate.
The story should be quoting an equal number of natural allies of each candidate and it should not be attaching positive and negative labels as if these are the facts.
As a citizen and former councilor, Pine supported what became the City Hole debacle and there was absolutely no bridge building among those on and off the council who pushed that juggernaut forward.
Max was the single principled voice and vote standing against the City Place excess and ineptitude. He was no ideologue but a representative of the community speaking out against a slew of them from the mayor on down.
Michael Long
Burlington