“Today’s ruling from the Vermont Public Utilities Commission regarding Burlington Telecom (BT) is excellent news that confirms the validity of the course that we have charted as a City, and helps turn what had been a great risk to the City into an enduring success."

Chittenden County experienced a 50 percent reduction in opioid-related overdose deaths in 2018, from 35 deaths in 2017 to 17 in 2018. This reduction marks a reversal of what has previously been a steady upward trend in overdose deaths since 2014, and the total was lower than in any year since the State began publishing county-by-county results in 2013. The City, State, and nation continue to contend with the lethal effects of fentanyl and other powerful opioids, and any significant reduction in fatal overdoses is both welcome news and a cause for hope and examination.

“I urge the City Council to stay the course and continue to support a plan that will make our central public space far more green, welcoming, and accessible for future generations.”

This week, Vermont Police Academy (VPA) Executive Director Richard Gauthier made public comments in response to a Burlington police officer’s lawsuit against the VPA that run counter to the findings of an investigation completed by the Burlington Police Department, and raise concerns about his ability to oversee an investigation into the harm caused by VPA’s training practices.