Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Posted at 5:30 p.m.
In the video below, Mayor Weinberger gives a Wednesday evening update on the latest in the City’s response to COVID-19. The Mayor covers how things went on the first day of City buildings being closed to the public, how we're working through the logistics of holding a virtual City Council meeting (including public forum), the first day of the Burlington School District and partners distributing free breakfast and lunch to youth ages 18 and under at 11 locations around the city, how we're addressing shortages of critical supplies for City responders (local distilleries are starting to make hand sanitizer!), and ongoing work to develop economic relief for everyone impacted by the disruptions of this crisis.
Here's one more update that's not in the video: As of Tuesday, the City is no longer giving parking tickets in Burlington for meter violations or residential parking violations. This is not because we want people gathering in groups, of course, but we do want to make it easy for people to pick up food from restaurants to take home, or to park to deliver food or other assistance to their friends and family. We are still enforcing prohibited area violations and those that impact public safety, such as people being parked in a way that blocks traffic or pedestrians, handicapped spaces, or fire access.
Thank you to everyone who is practicing physical distancing. As the Mayor says at the end of the video, quoting the U.S. Surgeon General, everyone's job right now is to "act like you have the virus." Together, we can slow the spread of this virus and save lives.
Follow local updates on the City website: https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/covid-19
