BRATTLEBORO-I have known David Gartenstein since he first returned to Brattleboro after finishing law school at Columbia. We were introduced by my husband, who had worked with him in the kitchen of the Common Ground and then alongside him on the faculty of Landmark College.
David's innate wisdom, knowledge, experience, insightfulness, fairmindedness, and altruism have been invaluable to me (and the community) for decades. Over the years, he has been a trusted advisor and friend, always available and accessible, always 100% honest and invariably right on target.
When it has counted most, David has always given me the precisely right answer to any question I have thrown at him. He is so sharp and so astute that he often states the answer well before I even finish the question. And he has never steered me wrong.
When it comes to decision making, David quickly weighs pros and cons to come up with the perfect and most just solution. He is never distracted by red herrings and has never been one to waste time or money. He cuts to the chase.
He also has more integrity than anyone I know. When he tells you he will be transparent, he means it. When he promises to do something, consider it done.
If you want to be represented by someone you can completely trust always to choose and do the right thing, David Gartenstein is your man.
But I am not just writing today to sing his praises.
I strongly urge everyone, not just those in his district, to listen to his take on making not just the community, but the state and the country, a safer place to live.
I have lived here since 1990 and, like so many others, am deeply concerned about what has and continues to be happening in our town.
This is what the crime reporting site Neighborhood Scout, has to say about our beloved Brattleboro, which, it reports, "has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities."
"Regardless of whether Brattleboro does well or poorly compared to all other cities and towns in the U.S. of all sizes, compared to places with a similar population, it fares badly," the site said. "Few other communities of this size have a crime rate as high as Brattleboro."
To properly address the growing crime rate and deal with the issue of public safety, homelessness, and untreated addiction and mental health issues, choosing someone who has served as deputy state's attorney for more than two decades is a no-brainer.
David Gartenstein has been working diligently on the front lines, is well versed with the most challenging cases affecting us, is seriously concerned and deeply dedicated to improving our community, and knows more than anybody what the source of the problems, and what the requisite solutions, are.
He is both passionate and compassionate about providing comprehensive, long-term treatment and services and sorely needed care and attention to our most vulnerable citizens, relatives, friends, and neighbors, as well as their family members, friends, and neighbors.
David points out that at least one third of our homeless population needs not just housing, but intensive, long-term professional care and ongoing support, a belief that is near and dear to my heart.
I agree wholeheartedly with David that identifying and addressing these needs are of utmost importance and should in fact be our No. 1 priority if we want to improve the safety of all members of this community.
If anyone can help Brattleboro become a safe and prosperous place to live again, it is David Gartenstein.
Tanya Tabachnikoff
Brattleboro
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