FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 25, 2021 
Contact:  Olivia LaVecchia 
                 (802) 734-0617 

Mayor Miro Weinberger Urges City Council to Adopt Public Safety Continuity Plan 

Burlington, VT – At tonight’s City Council meeting, the Council will consider a Public Safety Continuity Plan developed by the Administration. In a memo posted to the City Council agenda, Mayor Miro Weinberger urges the City Council to approve this plan.  

“It is a fundamental job of City government to ensure public safety,” Mayor Weinberger writes in the memo. “When the public calls, we need to be able to respond with professional public safety employees who are trained for the full range of emergencies and needs that Burlington residents expect to be addressed. Now, however, the City Council has created a crisis in public safety that threatens the City’s continued ability to meet this fundamental responsibility… The package before you Monday night is my second attempt to propose a solution to this crisis. I respectfully urge you to approve it as a necessary step during this period of evaluation and assessment, and caution again that significant additional public safety service curtailments will happen soon if this proposal is not accepted... By joining with the administration and approving this proposal, you will create a path for providing the services we need and the Burlington public expects, while also trying new strategies and completing the analysis that we need in order to succeed at further transformation of the Police Department.” 

Mayor Weinberger’s memo outlines the ways in which the City is currently facing a crisis in public safety: 

• In June 2020, the City Council voted to reduce the number of police officers in Burlington from 105 to 74, without a plan in place for how the City would respond to the full range of calls with 30 percent fewer officers. 
• Already, as a result of this vote, the Police Department has had to curtail services that include: the Community Affairs Officer who helped coordinate the City’s response to graffiti, the Emergency Response Officer who helped manage the innovative strategies that the Department uses to respond to acute mental health crises, the street crime team that responded to patterns of open-air drug activity and robbery, and foot patrols on Church Street.
• Soon, matters are likely to become worse. There are currently 41 officers available for patrol. When that number falls into the high 30s, the Police Department will have to curtail additional services that include: Reassigning the Domestic Violence Prevention Officer who coordinates enforcement, prosecution, and services follow-up for this complicated and unfortunately common crime; reducing the detective bureau, limiting their ability to respond to felony assaults, robberies, gun violence, narcotics and sex trafficking, and pattern crimes; and no longer being able to support the Fire Department at all scenes to ensure those scenes are safe prior to entry, impacting the Department’s ability to provide emergency medical services. 
• As staffing levels drop without the kind of shift in workload that requires a comprehensive assessment to undertake, the City faces increased overtime – which has budgetary implications and serious performance implications that result from overwork. 

The Administration’s Public Safety Continuity Plan would respond to this crisis by taking the following actions: 

• Raising the cap on sworn officers from 74 to 84, and establishing a target level of 78 sworn personnel – a significant reduction from 105, but one that maintains the BPD’s ability to respond to calls for service; 
• Adding four Community Service Officers, giving the City new capacity to shift more calls to personnel who have different training than sworn officers and do not carry weapons; and 
• Immediately adding a Community Service Liaison position who would provide support for individuals who have come into contact with police and are suffering from opioid use disorder, and beginning the process of creating two more of these positions. 

The full proposal, including Mayor Weinberger’s memo, is available on the City Council agenda. 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 20, 2021
Contact: Olivia LaVecchia
(802) 734-0617

Statement from Mayor Miro Weinberger on the Inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris

Burlington, VT – Today, in advance of the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Mayor Miro Weinberger released the following statement:

“Four years ago, the job of every elected official in the country changed profoundly as the federal government was taken over by a President hostile to our country’s institutions and values. Here in Burlington, local government suddenly had new responsibilities – to fight back against draconian changes to federal immigration policy, to maintain our commitments to the Paris Climate Accords even as the country withdrew, and to attempt to sustain civility and common purpose even as the national dialogue coarsened and splintered.

“Today, the country will swear in President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and once again have an administration of which we will be proud. Our children will see a Black woman in high office, and our country will be reminded again of the profound importance of honesty, integrity, and empathy.

“The fight in Burlington to contain Covid-19 and help our residents who have lost their jobs and businesses over the last year will improve immediately with a White House team that values and invests in local government. We will still face enormous problems in the years ahead. But now, as we tackle the generational challenges of racial justice and the climate crisis, the President and Vice President will no longer be a pervasive force that makes everything much harder, and instead will be partners in helping us achieve these difficult, transformational changes.

“Congratulations and thank you Joe Biden and Kamala Harris! Hurrah! Burlington stands with you ready to rebuild from 2020 and finally achieve the ideals of equality, justice, and opportunity for all that this country is supposed to represent.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 19, 2021
Contact: Olivia LaVecchia
(802) 734-0617

Mayor Miro Weinberger Responds to Councilor Ali Dieng’s Proposal to Delay Administration’s Public Safety Plan

Burlington, VT – At the December 21, 2020 City Council meeting, the Weinberger Administration presented a plan to raise the cap of sworn police officers to 84 and authorize the hiring of additional public safety personnel. That plan is scheduled to come to the Council for approval on Monday, January 25. Now, Councilor Ali Dieng has introduced a resolution that is on the agenda at tonight’s Council meeting that would defer action on this proposal until after Town Meeting Day.  In response, Mayor Miro Weinberger released the following statement:

“Progressive City Councilors have created a crisis in public safety in Burlington, over my strenuous objection, by lowering the cap on sworn officers by 30 percent without a plan for how public safety would be staffed in the aftermath of this decision. Having heard from so many Burlingtonians on this important issue, I am confident that voters support my position to keep the cap at 84 or higher. I oppose Councilor Dieng’s proposal to delay action and dodge Council responsibility for fixing the problem it created. The City Council should not need a vote of the public to understand that we need a well-resourced and professional police department to respond to the approximately 30,000 calls for service the City receives every year, even as we explore the possibility of responding to some of these calls in new and different ways. The Council should not wait until after Town Meeting Day to approve my Administration’s proposal on this urgent public safety matter.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 2021
Contact: Olivia LaVecchia
(802) 734-0617

Mayor Miro Weinberger Responds to Fatal Structure Fire on King Street

Burlington, VT – In response to today’s structure fire at 199 King Street, Mayor Miro Weinberger released the following statement:

“Early this morning, Burlington lost two residents in the City’s first fatal fire since June 2012. My heart goes out to the friends and loved ones of the deceased, and the other five households who are now displaced. I walked the burned-out building with Fire Chief Steven Locke soon after it had been stabilized. I commend the Burlington firefighters who responded to this tragedy within minutes of the emergency call. They moved swiftly through the structure while it was still engulfed in flames to ensure that no other lives were lost.

“An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway. What is already clear is that the fire moved through the apartment building with stunning speed and power, upending the normalcy of many lives in a matter of  minutes. I urge everyone to check your smoke alarms and fire systems regularly – and hug your loved ones. Despite all the progress we have made on building fire safety in recent decades, our protection from sudden tragedy requires ongoing vigilance.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 6, 2021
Contact: Olivia LaVecchia
                (802) 734-0617

Statement from Mayor Miro Weinberger Regarding Events at the Nation’s Capitol

Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger released the following statement:

“I opened my Covid-19 briefing at 2:00 pm today expressing optimism for the future of our country following the election of Georgia’s first Black U.S. Senator, the likelihood that the newly elected Congress will once again be supportive of America’s cities, and the expectation that the presidential election would be certified today. Over the course of my hour-long briefing, armed protestors swarmed the Capitol and suspended the certification of the vote. The peaceful transition of power is a cornerstone of our democracy, and it is a civic tragedy that this has been interrupted for the first time in our long history. I condemn this destructive, violent riot and President Trump’s incitement of it in the strongest possible terms. I am heartbroken to see this happening. Our democracy is precious and fragile, and we must all work to heal and strengthen it.”

Update: On January 8, 2021, Mayor Weinberger released a longer letter to the community about the insurrection at the Capitol.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 4, 2021
Contact: Olivia LaVecchia
                (802) 734-0617

Statement from Mayor Miro Weinberger on Negotiations Regarding Veto of Charter Change

Burlington, VT – On Thursday, December 31, Mayor Weinberger’s veto of the Charter Change regarding the independent community control board was posted as part of the City Council agenda, along with a memo that outlined the Mayor’s decision and called for an attempt to find consensus. Today, Mayor Weinberger released the following statement:

“Following the release of my veto letter on Thursday, City Council President Max Tracy reached out to me on Sunday morning and invited me to discuss my veto with several Progressive City Councilors. I met with them at noon that day for approximately 90 minutes. Director of Police Transformation Kyle Dodson and Chief of Staff Jordan Redell also attended.

“The meeting was productive, detailed and, from my perspective, appeared to be conducted in good faith by all participants. I left the meeting optimistic that there is much common ground between us on the issue of reforming police discipline, hopeful of achieving a compromise either now or in the months to come, and awaiting a response from the Councilors as to whether they were interested in continuing the talks and attempting to negotiate changes to the proposed Charter Change before tonight. No further progress or material communications took place until early this afternoon, when Councilors were back in touch with me and shared some proposed new Charter Change language.

“I appreciate that over the last two days, the Progressive Councilors showed willingness to find compromise. Unfortunately, however, the changes transmitted this afternoon fell well short of addressing my fundamental concern that the current Charter Change proposal will undermine the City’s ability to ensure public safety – specifically, that when the public calls, we are able to respond with professional public employees who are trained for the full range of emergencies and needs that the public expects to be addressed.

“Further, following additional consultations with the City Attorney, it has become more clear to me than it was at the time of my Thursday veto letter that the legally prescribed process for making Charter Changes does not lend itself to compromise at this stage. Indeed, it is clear that there are no options to make binding changes to the Charter Change language at this point that would provide adequate transparency and opportunity for the thorough vetting and review needed by Councilors, the Administration, and the public. Specifically, all options for making changes to the Charter Change language at this point would require last-minute amendments of tonight’s City Council agenda, language to be negotiated and acted upon by the Council without any public review, and some kind of non-binding Council vote at tonight’s meeting.

“Therefore, I will not be rescinding my veto, and I urge the City Council to sustain it tonight.

“It is very unfortunate that a clear opportunity for consensus and progress on this important policing and racial justice issue was missed. Prior to the key vote on this Charter Change on December 14, I made repeated requests for the City Councilors who have led this effort to engage the Administration. Unfortunately, they declined to collaborate sooner. I believe that had we been able to have those discussions earlier, before that vote, we now would have a Charter Change with broad support heading to the ballot for Burlington voters to decide in March.

“While we will not have that consensus for this March, I am still committed to achieving that goal as soon as possible. If my veto is sustained tonight, the work to improve our police discipline system and build trust with Burlington’s BIPOC residents on this issue must continue with urgency. As detailed in my veto letter, there is much that we can and should do immediately to continue making progress in our current disciplinary system while, at the same time, working toward necessary structural change. I am committed to continuing this work and I hope my City Council colleagues will be as well.”

“Finally, I want to address the many Burlington residents who have advocated for this Charter Change. I respect and am grateful for the work you have put into this process. Though I do not feel I can responsibly do what you want me to tonight, I believe you have shaped Burlington’s discussions, raised critical ideas, and advanced policy goals in recent months. I hope that on another day, not far in the future, we will be able to find compromise and common ground on this issue, and achieve enduring progress for policing and racial justice.”

For additional information, please see:

• December 31, 2020: “Veto of Charter Change re: Independent Community Control Board and Call for Collaboration and Progress”
• December 7, 2020: “Memo from Mayor Weinberger re: Police Oversight Charter Change”

Mayor Weinberger’s veto letter from Thursday closed with an alternative plan that can progress immediately. That proposal is reprinted here:

“I am committed to taking the following steps to implement immediate improvements to our current system and continue momentum towards future structural changes:

• I will work with the City Council to bring forward a resolution soon that immediately delegates new disciplinary authority to the Police Commission, including the authority to conduct independent investigations. We do not need a charter change to delegate this authority to the citizen oversight board that exists today.
• I will also work with the City Council to bring forward soon a current year budget amendment granting the Police Commission a budget for conducting such independent investigations.
• Ultimately, we will still need a charter change on police discipline. As soon as possible, the Council and the Administration should appoint a new Special Committee of Councilors and Administration representatives that continues to work to find common ground on this issue. This committee should be tasked with hearing from both racial justice advocates and police officers who will serve under a new system, and returning with a consensus proposal by mid-2021.
• To ensure that this consensus proposal can be put to the voters and delivered to the legislature for the start of the 2022 session, I propose that we commit to a Special Election next fall (such a Special Election will also likely be necessary for TIF project bonding authority and perhaps other infrastructure bonding as well).
• One of the major short-comings of the Council’s current charter change proposal is that it is unclear what standards the new board would attempt to hold officers accountable to. I propose that the Council and Administration act in January to address that short-coming by requesting that the Police Commission review the current departmental discipline standards and recommend new standards in advance of a Special Election next fall.
• While getting police discipline right is critical, we must expand our focus if we truly seek to secure different policing outcomes. I have requested that our Director of Police Transformation Kyle Dodson complete a review of our officer training and evaluation systems and issue recommendations to me and the City Council before the end of his six-month tenure. Further, Director Dodson has been exploring the creation of a process to forge reconciliation between the Burlington police and the BIPOC community, and I have asked him to conclude that work and issue recommendations before his tenure ends.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
December 29, 2020 
Contact:  Olivia LaVecchia 
                 (802) 734-0617 

Railyard Enterprise Project Advancing to Preliminary Engineering 

Burlington, VT - Last week, the City Council unanimously approved a motion in support of the advancement of the Railyard Enterprise Project to preliminary engineering. The City and the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) expect that design work could begin in 2021, and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and VTrans have committed to providing 90 percent of the funding. When complete, the Railyard Enterprise Project will create an important new link in our transportation network and connect Pine Street to Battery Street adjacent to the Vermont Rail System railyard. 

In response to this action, Mayor Miro Weinberger released the following statement: 

“For decades the City of Burlington has sought to connect Battery Street and Pine Street in order to improve the City’s connectivity, create new economic development opportunities, and reduce traffic in the neighborhoods that border the blocks of Pine Street south of Main Street. While progress toward this goal has been slow and uneven over the years, last week we took a big step toward making this vision a reality as the City Council unanimously supported the Administration’s plan to move three Railyard Enterprise Project concepts to Preliminary Engineering and further evaluation. This City action, combined with the commitment by VTrans Secretary Joe Flynn to provide 90 percent Federal and State funding for the project, ensures that after years of conceptual planning, millions of dollars of engineering work will now be invested this critical infrastructure project in the next few years.” 

“This is great news for the King and Maple neighborhood,” said Michael Monte, Chief Operating Officer of the Champlain Housing Trust. “Constructing the Pine Street to Battery Street connection will significantly reduce traffic in the King Street neighborhood and will enhance its livability.” 

For additional information about the Railyard Enterprise Project, including plans showing the concepts that will now receive further evaluation, please see the materials that are part of the City Council’s December 21, 2020 agenda or the project’s website. 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2020
Contact: Olivia LaVecchia
                (802) 734-0617

Statement Regarding Winter Access for the Public to the Grounds of the Burlington Country Club

Burlington, VT – In recent weeks, the Burlington Country Club stated that it was going to restrict public access to its grounds during the winter months. Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger released the following statement:

“I was disappointed to hear that the Burlington Country Club officially closed their property to the public, especially because during the pandemic, outdoor activity and access to open space is vital. I thought the action was out of step with the coordinated and collaborative efforts that so many Burlington and Vermont institutions have taken to support public health during the pandemic.

“Accordingly, I met on Monday with the President of the Board and General Manager of the Burlington Country Club.  I listened to the Club's concerns and decision-making process about public access and then expressed my strong views that they should immediately revert back to the former policy of not restricting the public use of their grounds in the winter. On Tuesday, the Burlington Country Club took action to remove the ‘No Trespassing’ signs by the end of the week, and agreed not to prohibit public access to their grounds this winter in support of public health during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I’m appreciative of all of the Burlingtonians who raised this concern with my office. Thank you to Ward 6 City Councilor Karen Paul, who has been working for months with neighbors and the Club leadership to allow residents to access the grounds in the winter. Thank you to South District Councilor Joan Shannon for her advocacy for public access as well. And lastly, thank you to the Board of the Burlington Country Club for their willingness to quickly reconsider this change. I recognize that Burlington Country Club has concerns about the use and treatment of their property and remind all Burlingtonians that if they access that property they should treat it respectfully, be mindful of any areas that are roped off, and avoid damaging this winter outdoor resource."

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 8, 2020
Contact: Olivia LaVecchia
                (802) 734-0617

Mayor Miro Weinberger Announces Re-Opening of Barge Canal Section of the Burlington Bike Path

Section features some of the most dramatic improvements of the entire Bike Path rehabilitation project; Seven miles of the eight mile path now fully rehabilitated

Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger announced the opening of the Bike Path from Oakledge Park to Roundhouse Park, reconnecting the South End to the downtown. This completed section features significant improvements to path width and safety, and with its reopening, the City has now completed seven of the eight miles of the multi-year Bike Path rehabilitation project.

“Even as the City is focused on our response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we also continue to advance projects that ensure that we will be a stronger community on the other side of this,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “This re-opened section of the Bike Path is a dramatic improvement that will make it easier, safer, and more enjoyable for Burlingtonians to travel along the Bike Path from downtown to the South End. The Burlington Bike Path is both critical infrastructure and beloved part of the heart of our city, with this section, we’re continuing our work to restore, upgrade, and steward it for all Burlingtonians to enjoy.”

This section of the Bike Path crosses the Barge Canal in the South End, and improving it posed one of the greatest technical challenges of the entire path. In order to address the chronic problems of exposure to waves and wind, frequent deterioration, and crowding, the rehabilitation widened the path from a mere eight feet to the standard 15 feet of other sections of the Path. The rehabilitation also included creating a “revetment” wall alongside the path, built with boulders specifically designed to absorb wave action and prevent icing and wear on the path.

The reopening of this section follows a delay after the “Halloween Storm” of October 31, 2019 poured 3.3 inches of rain in Burlington, increased the level of Lake Champlain by two feet, and brought work on constructing the revetment to an abrupt halt, which prolonged a detour of the Path onto Pine Street. Fortunately, low levels of precipitation this winter and spring allowed the project team to progress quickly once they were able to restart work.

“The 1,000-foot stretch of Path along the Barge Canal was previously a narrow and occasionally treacherous section bombarded by waves, ice, blowing sand, and snow,” said Cindi Wight, Director of Burlington Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront. “Now, this section is completely rebuilt with accessibility, safety, resilience, increased recreation opportunities, and reduced maintenance costs in mind. Thank you to all of our many partners in this project, including federal agencies, State partners, land owners, City departments, and the designers and work crews who worked through challenging weather and the pandemic to bring this project to completion.”

“I’m thrilled to see this section of the Greenway reopen, and very excited to make use of it in the 2021 Vermont City Marathon,” said Peter Delaney, Director of Run Vermont. “Most years, we chose to avoid these specific sections for safety reasons. Now, without hesitation, we can route our race through the most beautiful and striking sections of the Burlington Greenway.”

Throughout the Bike Path rehabilitation, the City has implemented improved standards that include safer alignment, extra width, accessible grade, smoother and more consistent paving, a shoulder for running and walking on both sides of the pavement, and pause places that create space for people to stop and enjoy. This latest phase is funded through the City’s Capital Budget, Penny for Parks, and philanthropic contributions from the Parks Foundation of Burlington.

Along with the Barge Canal, other improvements to this section have included, from north to south:

• A wider path with increased visibility and maneuverability from the HULA property to Lakeside Avenue, thanks to close collaboration with HULA;
• Connecting the Path to the sidewalk at Harrison Avenue and smoothing out grades at the intersection with the street;
• Paving a small section from the Oakledge bridge to Proctor Avenue, which links the Lakeside neighborhood with Oakledge Park; and
• Rebuilding the Path through the northern portion of Oakledge Park, widening this often-crowded part of the Path to the standard 15 feet and introducing inviting, expansive, and accessible seating areas with view across Lake Champlain.

The Bike Path is now open for use throughout its length, including the section from Perkins Pier into Oakledge Park.

Finishing the Rehabilitation of the Bike Path

The reopening of this section of the Bike Path caps a year of work that included both off-road and on-road improvements from Queen City Park Road to Home Avenue, Proctor Place to Harrison Avenue, and through the Barge Canal and Roundhouse Park to Perkins Pier. This latest phase followed years of work to steward and upgrade the northern sections of the path from Perkins Pier north to the Winooski River Bridge.

Now, the City is working on Phase 3b of the Bike Path rehabilitation, which focuses on the Path through Oakledge Park. This work is expected to start in June 2021, and has been coordinated to allow maximum use of Blanchard Beach through the summer. The work will include improving beach access, realigning the path through Oakledge Park to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, and improving circulation at Flynn Avenue. The project team is on track to complete the reconstruction of the entire eight miles of the Bike Path in the fall of 2021.

Background: Bike Path Rehabilitation Is Result of Years of Planning, Effort, and Generosity

The rehabilitation of the entire Burlington Bike Path is a multi-year project estimated to cost a total of $16.5 million. Phase 1a encompassed the segment from Perkins Pier to Penny Lane, and was completed in summer of 2015. Phase 1b picked up from Penny Lane, realigned the path through the Urban Reserve and added a new pause place, lookout, and three new UVM Medical Center Fitness Stations. Phase 2 covered just over 3 miles of full reconstruction from north of the North Beach overpass to the intersection of North Avenue Extension, and additional paving from North Avenue Extension to the Winooski River Bridge. Each phase has enhanced safety, ecological function, and connectivity, transforming the Bike Path into a linear system of parks.

The effort to rehabilitate the Burlington Bike Path began in 2010 with the convening of the Bike Path Task Force, which recommended a $12-16 million enhancement to bring the Bike Path up to modern standards. Following significant flood damage in April 2011, in November 2012, Burlington voters approved two significant ballot items put forward by Mayor Weinberger in his first months in office to fund the improvement and maintenance of the Bike Path, and also supported ongoing investment in infrastructure through Mayor Weinberger’s approximately $50 million Sustainable Infrastructure Plan in 2016, the most comprehensive infrastructure effort in modern Burlington history. Reinvestment in the Bike Path has also been made possible by the Parks Foundation of Burlington, which has raised over $1 million to supplement public investment in the Bike Path.

To follow the latest information about closures and construction progress, please see:

• “Burlington Greenway Updates”

For more information about the work to rehabilitate the Bike Path, please see:

• “Mayor Miro Weinberger Announces Opening of New Segment of South End Bike Path Rehabilitation,” August 2020
• “Mayor Miro Weinberger Announces Groundbreaking on Next Phase of Bike Path Rehabilitation,” June 2019
• “Mayor Weinberger Reopens the Entire Northern Bike Path,” December 2017
• “Next Phase of Bike Path Rehabilitation Breaks Ground,” June 2016
• “Governor Shumlin, Speaker Smith, Mayor Weinberger, Bike Path Stakeholders Break Ground on Enhanced, Expanded Bike Path Construction,” October 2014
• “Mayor Miro Weinberger Announces Next Steps for Bike Path Enhancements and Expansion,” May 2013
• “Mayor Miro Weinberger Announces Bike Path Repair Progress and Schedule,” May 2012

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 4, 2020
Contact: Olivia LaVecchia
(802) 734-0617

Mayor Miro Weinberger and Local Leaders Encourage Safe Participation in Local Economy this Holiday Season

Burlington, VT – Burlington's locally owned businesses face an existential threat as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger and local leaders urged Burlingtonians who are able to to participate in the local economic recovery from Covid-19, and consider ways to safely patronize the downtown stores and restaurants during the holiday season.

“The public health crisis of this pandemic remains our top priority,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “At the same time, I am gravely concerned about the accompanying economic crisis that has disrupted the lives and livelihoods of so many. I will continue to call for the federal aid that is critically necessary. I also want to urge Burlingtonians to meaningfully contribute to our recovery by seeking out local businesses for safe shopping and dining options. Our locally owned businesses and the people who they employ are an important part of what makes us a vibrant, healthy, and distinctive community, and I encourage everyone to consider ways to help them get through this challenging time.”

There are three key ways to safely support Burlington businesses:

• In-person shopping: Many businesses remain open for carefully regulated in-person shopping, with capacity limits, face coverings, and other precautions in place in line with the Governor’s orders.
• Takeout, curbside pickup, and home delivery: Burlington businesses have used the last nine months to transform their offerings and expand alternatives to in-person shopping, and many now offer takeout, curbside pickup, and home delivery. The City has created a website at www.loveburlington.org, updated daily, that allows people to filter by a range of pickup and delivery options, business characteristics, and other criteria.
• Winter markets: The City has organized three upcoming winter markets to create a space to showcase local artists’ and businesses’ wares in a safe outdoor setting. The markets will take place in City Hall Park and will be run will strict health and safety protocols in place, including one-directional traffic, capacity limits, booths spaced six feet apart, and two people per booth at a time. Vendors will stay warm in open-air booths designed and installed by Generator and BCA, with support from Northfield Savings Bank. Learn more about the markets at the links below:
  • December 5-6: BCA Holiday Artist Market
  • December 9-13: Love Burlington Winter Market
  • December 16-20: Love Burlington Winter Market

This holiday season, the City and businesses also have reimagined the attractions on Church Street. Those looking for activities to do with their household can mail letters to Santa via the magical North Pole mailboxes in two location on Church Street, enjoy the holiday window contest, and visit the Top Block Christmas Tree and lights.

Burlington’s locally owned businesses, from the downtown to neighborhood corridors, are treasures of the city. They provide livelihoods for many residents of Burlington, give the city an important part of its distinctive character, offer unique and personal goods and services, and multiply the local impact of every dollar they earn by recirculating it to other locally owned businesses. On Church Street alone, seventy percent of the stores and restaurants are locally owned. These businesses that are owned by and employ many in our community need the support of the entire region during this challenging time.

At a small, outdoor press conference in City Hall Park, Mayor Weinberger was joined by Kara Alnasrawi, the City’s Director of the Church Street Marketplace and Director of Business Support; Doreen Kraft, Director of Burlington City Arts; Mark Bouchette, owner of Homeport; and Chiuho Sampson, owner of A Single Pebble.

"It is so important to remember that these business owners and their employees are our neighbors and friends,” said Kara Alnasrawi, the City’s Director of the Church Street Marketplace and Director of Business Support. “Our economy is driven by us, which means that we can save our community and ensure that it remains vibrant and healthy long after this pandemic is over. These next few weeks are a crucial time for our local businesses. There are safe and contactless ways to support our local economy and I urge all in Burlington and our surrounding communities to take advantage of them.”

 “Vermont artists, makers, and small businesses are among those who have been hardest hit by the pandemic,” said Doreen Kraft. “These painters, woodworkers, potters, and designers need our support now more than ever. I am so thrilled that the BCA Holiday Artist Market and Love Burlington Winter Markets can provide a safe, creative way for them to reach customers during a challenging holiday season. These artists and businesses represent the backbone of Vermont's creative economy; if we want them to be there for us later, we need to be there for them now.”

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