FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2020
Contact: Olivia LaVecchia
       (802) 734-0617

Mayor Miro Weinberger, Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, and 30-plus Chittenden County Organizations Together Declare Racism a Public Health Emergency and Announce New Actions
Organizations announce immediate actions to address this emergency both internally and in their work, and commit to ongoing joint action to eliminate race-based health disparities and systemic racism in Chittenden County

Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger, the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, and more than 30 Chittenden County organizations announced a community declaration of racism as a public health emergency. As part of the declaration, all participants also announced: 1) a commitment to the sustained and deep work of eradicating racism within their organizations; 2) immediate and specific actions that they are taking to address the emergency in the work that they do; and 3) a commitment to participate in ongoing joint action, grounded in science and data, to eliminate race-based health disparities and eradicate systemic racism in Chittenden County. Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine and State Executive Director of Racial Equity Xusana Davis also announced the State of Vermont’s intention to support and collaborate in this regional public health effort. 

“Deep and structural racism has shaped the systems of our nation and community for far too long. Here in Burlington, we have shown while battling the coronavirus pandemic, the climate emergency, and the opioid crisis that when government, non-profits, businesses, and residents share a vision, focus on science and data, and collaborate closely, we can forge remarkable progress on even our toughest challenges,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “Today’s declaration signals that going forward the major institutions of Chittenden County will apply these principles of collective action to eliminating systemic racism and its attendant stark disparities in health outcomes. I look forward to working with the Racial Justice Alliance and many other community partners to achieve this long overdue progress, and creating a Burlington where our structures and policies support opportunity, well-being, and true health for every member of our community.”

“We at the Racial Justice Alliance are proud to have spurred the declaration that racism is a public health crisis,” said Mark Hughes, Vermont Racial Justice Alliance. “But it is imperative that our fellow Vermonters recognize that this is not a new crisis. The systemic racism that has pervaded our society for years – from sub-standard medical treatment caused by limited resources and doctors' bias, to eugenics, to environmental racism that causes people of color to be unjustly exposed to pollutants that make us sick. Racism has been a health crisis since the inception of this country. We must work together to ensure that being Black or a person of color is no longer a pre-existing condition.”

Watch a video of the announcement of racism as a public health emergency and full speaking program:

Impetus for Community Declaration
The community declaration of racism as a public health emergency comes at a pivotal moment. First, the globe is contending with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Second, across the nation and across Vermont, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) have raised their voices to speak out against systemic racism and police violence in response to the death of George Floyd in May. On June 29, the City of Burlington, in partnership with the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, joined a small but growing number of municipalities that declared racism as a public health emergency in response to the enormous health disparities between Blacks and whites in many areas, including COVID-19 infection and mortality rates, infant mortality, morbidity and mortality rates of many chronic diseases, and police-involved killings.

To truly address these disparities, however, will take much more than a governmental response. Over the past two weeks, a steering committee of the City of Burlington, Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, University of Vermont Medical Center, Howard Center, and United Way developed a vision for a community response of many individuals, organizations, and institutions working together to bring sustained focus and action to eliminating race-based health disparities in Chittenden County.

The organizations participating in this effort represent a broad coalition of partners whose work spans the social determinants of individual and public health, including opportunities and outcomes for employment, education, housing, justice, and health.

In all of these areas, disparities based on race are stark and persistent, caused by systemic racism, and adversely impact the health of Black people and all people of color. Recently, the coronavirus has exacerbated these disparities. Black and Latino people in the United States have been nearly three times as likely as white people to become infected with COVID-19 and nearly two times as likely to die,   and those disparities are even more marked among younger age groups.  These same disparities exist in Vermont, and during the current pandemic, though Black residents comprise just over 1 percent of Vermont’s population, they account for approximately 10 percent of the total confirmed COVID-19 cases as of July 8, 2020. 

These disparities extend far deeper than the current pandemic: race-based disparities exist at the local level in many areas that are the most important social determinants of health. For example, in housing, only 4 percent of homes in Burlington are owned by people of color though people of color comprise 18 percent of Burlington’s population,  and potential home applicants who are Black are four-and-a-half times more likely than white applicants to be denied for a home loan (83.3 percent to 18.2 percent). 

Such disparities continue across many other critical metrics of economic well-being. In Chittenden County, 26 percent of Black residents are in poverty compared to 10.6 percent of white residents, 8.1 percent of Black residents are unemployed compared with 4.3 percent of white residents, and 39.6 percent of Black residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher compared with 49.9 percent of white residents. 

To improve health outcomes for Black residents of Chittenden County, and create true equity, will require addressing disparities in all of these areas.

Immediate Actions from Participating Organizations
This community declaration of racism as a public health emergency is the starting point for action to address this emergency that will be both immediate and ongoing. In joining the declaration, participating organizations also committed to immediate actions that they will take to address this emergency in the work that they do. Together, these groups represent some of the largest and most impactful employers, educators, service providers, housing organizations, and other organizations in Chittenden County. Several highlights of these new commitments are below, and a full summary of commitments from all participating organizations is attached.

• City of Burlington: Create a new Public Health Equity Manager position to expand the City’s public health capacity, support the efforts of the City and partners who have declared systemic racism a public health emergency, and assist in crafting a strategic plan for the City’s racial health equity work. The strategic plan will involve the restructuring of City operations to support this new capacity. [For all of the City’s commitments, see appendix]
• Burlington School District: Review our core curricular materials and develop a plan to ensure our curriculum and teaching is culturally relevant, anti-racist, and holds high expectations for what all students know and are able to do. [For all of BSD’s commitments, see appendix]
• Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO): Hire a Director of Racial Equity to focus on organizational development as well as working with the communities we serve. [For all of CVOEO’s commitments, see appendix]
• Howard Center: Create a data dashboard system to identify health disparities and inform practice change within our agency’s clinical practice and recruitment plan. [For all of Howard Center’s commitments, see appendix]
• Lake Champlain Chamber: Provide education and resources for businesses on how to take action toward advancing racial equity. [For all of the Lake Champlain Chamber’s commitments, see appendix]
• UVM Medical Center: Implement a Workforce Diversity Assessment of its 8,000 employees in August to ask them about how they experience equity and racism at work. This assessment will be used to increase recruitment and retention of BIPOC staff and leaders, identify gaps in equity within the organization, and reveal learning opportunities to increase cultural humility throughout the organization. The assessment will also take place across the UVM Health Network. [For all of UVM Medical Center’s commitments, see appendix]
• Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA): Disaggregate VHFA’s programmatic data to make clear who VHFA’s lending and assistance programs serve and which neighborhoods may be over/under represented. This information will be public and we will target future resources in response accordingly. [For all of VHFA’s commitments, see appendix]

Commitment to Ongoing Joint Action
To truly address race-based health disparities and systemic racism in Chittenden County will require sustained and coordinated work that is grounded in data and science. As part of this declaration, participating organizations also have committed to participating in ongoing work and joint action.

The exact form this ongoing joint action will take is still emerging, however, Chittenden County has recent experience to draw from with sustained collective action around a public health emergency in the County’s response to the opioid epidemic. Since the fall of 2016, dozens of Chittenden County organizations have convened at monthly meetings known as CommunityStat to review the data on the opioid epidemic, develop shared strategies, and rapidly deploy resources. Actions taken by these partners contributed to Chittenden County experiencing a 50 percent reduction in opioid-related overdose deaths in 2018, and sustaining that progress in 2019. The success of this effort has demonstrated the potential of collective action to address public health challenges, and this experience will now be applied to the urgent problem of eradicating systemic racism in Chittenden County.

Statements from Participating Organizations
The more than 30 organizations that have joined this community declaration are a multi-sector group that span the County’s largest employers and small non-profits, health care providers and affordable housing organizations, financial institutions and schools. These organizations shared the following statements on their commitment to this declaration, immediate next steps, and ongoing joint action.

Dr. Stephen Leffler, University of Vermont Medical Center: “The mission of the UVM Medical Center is to improve the lives of the people we serve through high-quality health care. That begins with doing everything we can to make sure that we treat each other with respect, humanity, and empathy, and doing the work to become an anti-racist organization. We’re proud to join the city of Burlington and this coalition of community partners to tackle racism in our city.”

Jesse Bridges, United Way: “Our United Way has long had a priority of fighting economic inequity with equity and inclusion as a foundational strategy – we need to do better in our role as individuals and as an organizations so we can actively engage in solutions to racial inequity and justice. We are committed to being an actively anti-racist organization by using our voice and platform to advocate, by mobilizing community resources and volunteers, and by making racial equity and justice a criteria for our community investments.”

Catherine Simonson, Howard Center: “We are committed to a world without racism. With roots in social justice, Howard Center staff work each day to serve our community and strengthen diversity, equity and inclusion in our organizational culture and system of care. We look forward to joining together with our community partners to strategically and fully eradicate systemic racism throughout our community.”

Laura Zeliger, Burlington Housing Authority: “BHA stands together with the City of Burlington and community partners in these efforts to collaboratively eliminate systemic racism."

Tom Flanagan, Burlington School District: “We are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the collaborative effort to declare racism a public health emergency. At BSD, we believe we have a critical role to play in combating racism and in employing anti-racist practices. We are committed to working with the City, and all of the partners who signed on to this declaration, to ensure Burlington, Chittenden County, and the nation directly confront the systemic racism that plagues our nation.”

Tanya Benosky, Boys & Girls Club of Burlington: “We stand by racism as a public health crisis.  We are committed to providing opportunities to our BIPOC Club members that will give them the experiences they need to live healthy lives, from providing food and warmth to educational and economic advancement.”

Donna Carpenter, Burton: “What feels right is to stop, and listen, and take a close look at ourselves, our sport and our industry.”

Kim Fitzgerald, Cathedral Square: “If anything positive can be said about the pandemic, we’re optimistic that it has opened the world’s eyes to the egregious inequities in all aspects of our society, and the institutional racism at the core of them all. We have a lot of work to do to dismantle structural racism and truly provide ‘equal opportunity for all.’ Cathedral Square is ready and eager to participate in this important work.”

Tyeastia Green, Director of Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging, City of Burlington: “This moment isn’t about George Floyd, although the situation in Minneapolis sparked a world-wide effort for everyone to see systemic racism for what it is. Racial disparities in health and social determinants of health have been around for centuries. COVID-19 shined a bright light on that. I’m proud that this declaration is being signed today, and also proud to be a part of making it happen.”

Benjamin Ola. Akande, Champlain College: “We are proud to support the City's efforts to create a whole-systems approach to addressing the crisis of systemic racism that is threatening the lives and well-being of members of our community and our nation. Champlain College is committed to working in partnership with the City and those advocating for racial justice to advance this work in our community and contribute our institutional strengths and expertise to create a stronger, more inclusive Burlington for all who live, work and study here.”

Brenda Torpy, Champlain Housing Trust: “CHT affirms and reaffirms its commitment to fight racism and to the principle that Black lives matter in its policies, programs, and employment in all aspects of its work.”

Charlie Baker, Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC): “At CCRPC, we believe deeply that resources and opportunities – employment, affordable and plentiful housing, accessible transportation, quality education and health care, environmental justice, and overall quality of life -- must be allocated fairly so that all people can thrive. We must actively eliminate barriers to full, meaningful participation in community life and work tirelessly to correct past injustices. We are committed to working through these issues together with our member municipalities, partner organizations, employers and residents.”

Jeffrey McKee, Community Health Centers of Burlington: “Identifying and reducing health disparities has always been central to CHCB’s mission of care. As such, we are uniquely prepared to act as part of our local Population Health Alliance in addressing racism as a public health issue. We are eager and ready to work together with our organizational partners to build a future built on antiracism and equity for all members of our community.”

Paul Dragon, Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO): "Systemic racism, systemic poverty, poor health outcomes and the disregard for our own environment are mutually destructive and all self-inflicted. We built it and we can now change it."

Nancy Owens, Housing Vermont: “Housing Vermont is glad to sign on to this community effort; it is through our collective action that we can make progress eliminating systemic racism and its negative impacts on public health.”

Vicky Smith, King Street Center: “"At King Street Center, we’ve been examining our own practices, programs, environment, and integrating this learning into our ongoing strategic plan. While we are not experts and recognize that this is an ongoing listening and learning process, we commit to being loud & proud members of an anti-racist community in which hatred and intolerance have no place.”

Aly Richards, Let's Grow Kids: “Racism—or antiracism—starts early. Children notice race and begin making judgments on race when they are very young. They begin to be treated differently, by other children and by adults, based on race when they are very young. They begin to experience inequity—in their health and educational opportunities—when they are very young. That’s why Let’s Grow Kids is recommitting our movement to creating an equitable early childhood education system that advances racial justice for the next generation of Vermonters.”

Reverend Christopher Von Cockrell, Vermont Racial Justice Alliance Steering Committee and Interim Pastor, New Alpha Missionary Baptist Church: “We wholeheartedly support the Declaration of the City of Burlington that racism is a citywide health emergency. As the only church in Vermont worshiping in the tradition of African Americans, our collective stories are rich with experiences of the impact of systemic racism. We commit more than ever to embedding in the message of Jesus Christ the resounding call for racial justice in our outreach to a hurting community and stand as a partner with the Racial Justice Alliance as the Mother church in organizing the Burlington community of faith for the purpose of eradicating systemic racism. We call upon the city of Burlington, nonprofits, and local businesses to stand with us in this work and our commitment to the construction of a new church that we will call home.”

Christine Hughes, Vermont Racial Justice Alliance Steering Committee and Executive Director,
New Seasons Vermont: “We stand in full support of the declaration ‘Racism Is a Health Emergency’ being put forward by the City of Burlington and the Racial Justice Alliance. As a black, woman-owned business in Burlington, New Seasons has been a benefactor of the false narrative of scarcity and we therefore fully embrace the prospect that for once we will be offered an opportunity to thrive. From employment development, to job training, adult basic education, basic computer skills, and reentry services, New Seasons will be a key player in ensuring the economic empowerment long awaited and deeply deserved by BIPOC communities in Burlington. We are encouraged that all sectors are converging on this community health emergency and have high hopes that as a result of this partnership that we will realize the resources required to save lives in Burlington.”

Kate Laud, Opportunities Credit Union: "Opportunities Credit Union stands in solidarity with all Black, Minority and New American communities.  We support ending systemic racism and reaffirm our 30-year commitment to racial justice. To honor our members, staff and volunteers, we will seek new ways to listen to Black perspectives."

Christine Lloyd-Newberry, Sara Holbrook Community Center: “At Sara Holbrook, we believe that our world is a better place the more diverse, equitable, and inclusive it is. While we further recognize the intersectionality facing those we serve, taking into account not only race and ethnicity, but gender identity, socio-economic status, and sexual orientation; we recognize that addressing racism needs to happen on its own right. Now. With no exception."

Benjamin Longmore, Vermont Racial Justice Alliance and Vermont Cannabis Partners: “The Declaration by the City Burlington of racism as a public health emergency is both timely and meaningful. For too long have minority-owned businesses been left behind, and this sad fact seems to be replaying itself in the Hemp and Cannabis industry in Vermont and Burlington. The key to this industry is land and capital, neither of which is at a premium for the BIPOC community, especially here in Vermont. It is for this reason that we are hopeful that efforts to eradicate systemic racism will open opportunities for black-owned businesses in the cannabis industry and lead us to the place where true wealth can be built in the BIPOC community. It is our hope that creative solutions will be developed as a result of the relationships established by the city and Chittenden County, local businesses and nonprofits that place us on the path of equity and prosperity.”

Xusana Davis, Executive Director of Racial Equity, State of Vermont: “This declaration acknowledges the systemic and widespread nature of racial disparity in this country and this community. It signals the urgency with which we must address racism, and establishes anti-racism work as a priority for the city. We at the state stand ready to support the city’s equity work.”

Mark Levine, MD – Commissioner, Vermont Department of Health: “It is critical that we work together to address systemic racism at the personal, local, state and national levels. Health equity exists only when all people have a fair and just opportunity to be healthy – especially those who have experienced socioeconomic disadvantage, historical injustice, and other systemic inequalities.”

Maura Collins, Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA): “Housing finance and zoning have long been the primary tools used to make our nation’s racism systematic. In doing so we have locked out Black and Brown households not only from affordable homes but also economic and educational opportunities. VHFA is joining the City’s effort to combat this public health emergency because we all deserve equal access to housing and opportunity.”

Mohamed Jafar, Vermont Racial Justice Alliance and Vermont Racial Equity Association: “As a Burlington-based, BIPOC-owned company offering professional and managed services specifically designed to eradicate systemic racism in businesses, non-profits, and government agencies, we strongly support the long overdue Declaration by the City of Burlington and the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance that racism is a public health emergency. The signatory supporters’ work ahead will require new data-driven approaches and a framework that is built upon an integrated strategy, clear measures of progress, and methods to hold stakeholders accountable. We’re grateful that economic development opportunities are being created to support the advancement of the work of the BIPOC companies like the Vermont Racial Equity Association and we are looking forward to supporting a cross-section of the community to eradicate systemic racism within their organizations.”

Kyle Dodson, YMCA: “It is almost trite to say at this point, but this 'George Floyd moment' does seem to have a different energy; somehow broader and deeper, and more resolute than earlier efforts. All of us who are committing to this initiative, are stewards of our children’s futures. Let's not squander this opportunity.”

For additional information, please see three accompanying documents:
-    A. Community declaration of racism as a public health emergency, including list of all signatories
-    B. Summary of participating organizations’ immediate commitments
-    C. Public action advisory from the Racial Justice Alliance about this declaration

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

Mayor Weinberger, Champlain College President Akande Announce Local Skill Accelerator Program for Burlingtonians Hit by COVID-Recession

Champlain to Offer a Tuition Reduction for City Residents in Online Undergraduate Certificate Programs; Designed to Help Those Out of Work or Considering a Career Transition to Get the Skills Necessary to Find a Rewarding New Job

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger and Champlain College President Dr. Benjamin Akande today announced the Local Skill Accelerator Program, a partnership designed to leverage Champlain College’s extensive online education programs to allow Burlingtonians to access additional savings for undergraduate certificate programs and, ultimately, a full undergraduate degree. Champlain College’s online curriculum is nationally recognized, taught by expert-practitioner faculty, and well-suited to help residents seeking a new job or a career transition in an era when demonstrable skills in information technology, cybersecurity, project management, or human resources can be a huge advantage in securing new employment opportunities.

“In a time of sudden and unprecedented economic disruption, and severe restrictions on many fronts, the Local Skill Accelerator Program creates new opportunities for Burlingtonians to grow and develop skills needed in a quickly changing world,” said Mayor Weinberger. “Champlain College has long been a tremendous partner for the City of Burlington, and I am grateful that one of Dr. Akande’s first acts as President is to continue this partnership by making the College’s high-quality and practical online curriculum even more accessible to Burlington residents.”

“Two months ago, in my first conversation with the Mayor, we discussed this partnership, and our teams went to work to create this opportunity for citizens of Burlington who are seeking to gain new skillsets in the wake of shifting employment challenges – both today and in the post COVID-19 era,” said Dr. Akande. “This is a pioneering moment for Champlain College Online and the City of Burlington, and I expect it to be one of many more to come.” 

Local Skill Accelerator Overview

Champlain College’s online programs are consistently rated among the best online bachelor’s programs by U.S. News and World Report. Two years ago, the College cut the cost of its online undergraduate programs in half – making it one of the most accessible online institutions in the country, and putting it at the leading edge of evolving online education options in the United States. The further 17 percent offered today drops the cost for Burlington residents to $265 per credit hour. Champlain College has further committed that the preferred rate will hold for residents completing a certificate program who then wish to continue on toward a full undergraduate degree. Residents must complete the certificate first before proceeding on to an undergraduate degree.

Further details on the Local Skill Accelerator program are available at online.champlain.edu/BTV, including a full list of available online undergraduate certificates. These career-focused certificate programs allow students to build applicable knowledge and credentials in a short timeframe, with most programs consisting of between 16 and 18 credit hours and take from six to nine months to complete. For many looking for new work or considering a career change, an undergraduate certificate is one of the most efficient ways to jumpstart that process, allowing students to develop in-demand, industry-relevant skills and better positioning them to find work in their field upon program completion.

If a resident has a GED or a high school transcript, they are also eligible to apply for Federal financial aid to further defray the cost of education, in addition to the tuition reduction being offered through this program. No SAT or ACT scores are required for admission to Champlain College Online; however, all Burlingtonians must complete an application for the program to which they are applying, which will be reviewed by the College in considering admission.

Mayor Weinberger and President Akande were joined at the announcement by the City’s Chief Innovation Officer, Brian Lowe, and Champlain College Online Associate Vice President, Melissa Marcello.

“The completion of a career-focused undergraduate certificate from Champlain College Online offers the opportunity for Burlington residents to pivot to a new career or advance into a more specialized role at their current employer in less than six months,” said Vice President Marcello.

As part of the contract signed between the City and Champlain College, the City will cover the expected additional cost for the implementation of the new program, expected to be $5,000 or less. These costs primarily involve resetting tuition at the lower rate for those residents currently enrolled in undergraduate certificate programs. Applicants will be required to self-certify their status as residents of Burlington, and the College reserves the right to seek additional information (such as utility bill payments or current lease agreements) should the need arise.

“This program creates a new opportunity for Burlington residents who may have lost their job or are looking for a new one, and it also creates a new way for Champlain College to relate to and support the community,” said Brian Lowe, the City’s Chief Innovation Officer. “If the program generates interest, we are hopeful that Champlain will be able to expand it to other Vermont cities and towns in the coming months and years to increase access to skills that give people a leg up in the 21st century workforce.”

Applications must be submitted by July 31, 2020 for the Fall A term beginning on August 31, 2020. The application deadline for the Fall B term is September 25, 2020, with classes starting on October 26, 2020.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
June 19, 2020 
Contact: Olivia LaVecchia 
                (802) 734-0617 

Celebration and Recognition of Juneteenth

Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger issued the following statement and below proclamation in celebration and recognition of Juneteenth:

“June 19, 1865 was a foundational day in the history of our country. It should be celebrated along with our other great milestones as a day when the struggle for freedom triumphed.

“On that day, General Gordon Granger arrived on horseback with 2,000 soldiers in Galveston, Texas and issued a proclamation stating: “The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a proclamation of the Executive of the United States slaves are free. This involves an absolutely equality of personal rights and rights of property.”

“With that, nearly two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation went into effect, the institution of slavery as it had existed was finally ended throughout the United States. When people who had been enslaved heard the news that day, they celebrated and rejoiced. Today, 155 years later, we remember and again celebrate this moment of progress.

“At the same time, when people were freed from bondage, they were given nothing with which to start new lives, and this country has never fully reckoned with that history or great debt.

“Juneteenth is a day of celebration – and also one of reckoning. In the years of delay it took for emancipation to reach Texas, we can also see the slowness with which this country has moved to ensure not only basic freedoms, but also the broader rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness for all Americans.

“We still today must do much more to ensure equal access to those rights. I am committed to working with partners to address this here in Burlington, and I feel great hope that our current moment represents an opportunity to create real and lasting change.

“In future years, the City will seek to partner with community leaders to make Juneteenth even more of a moment of vibrant celebration and reflection here in Burlington. This year, I encourage all Burlingtonians to use this day to reflect on our country’s history and how we can work together to forge a more just future.”

See also:

- Procalamtion

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
June 10, 2020 
Contact: Olivia LaVecchia 
                (802) 734-0617 

Statement on Next Steps for City Budget, Racial Justice, and Policing

Burlington, VT – At his COVID-19 briefing this afternoon, Mayor Miro Weinberger shared the following statement:

“The unprecedented participation in the public forum at Monday’s Board of Finance meeting and last night’s Police Commission meeting is part of the overdue and much-needed reckoning that we are having all over our country about policing and safety. I am listening carefully to all that is being said here in Burlington and around the nation, and following closely the major changes that cities are starting to announce in the wake of George Floyd’s murder.   

“I am proud of the Burlington Police Department and the reforms that we have implemented in recent years, and appreciative of the role the police department plays in keeping Burlingtonians safe. I also know that we must do much more for racial justice within the police department and throughout City operations. 

“The City team and I are working hard to find the right path forward for Burlington. Since my State of the City address in April, I have been clear that, while coronavirus would impact much of the City’s work in the year ahead, our efforts to promote racial justice would not be deferred and would continue to receive new investment and focus in the year ahead. We will be expanding this commitment in response to the events of recent weeks. My budget submission to the City Council on Monday will include funding to advance racial justice in Burlington, and contribute to the local and national effort we are engaged in to improve policing and public safety. I have great hope in my heart, and expect that with this budget we will make impactful and long-overdue progress toward racial justice in Burlington.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
June 5, 2020 
Contact: Olivia LaVecchia 
                (802) 734-0617 

Mayor Miro Weinberger and Chief Jennifer Morrison Release Updated Use of Force Policy and Urge Swift Adoption 

Administration will work closely with Police Commission as Commission convenes an emergency meeting next week to review new policy; New policy includes all use of force recommendations made by City’s Special Committee to Review Policing Policies; When adopted Burlington policy will include all of the #8CantWait reforms; Mayor Weinberger signs President Obama’s Mayors Pledge  

 
Burlington, VT -- Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger and Chief Jennifer Morrison released a draft, new Use of Force Policy and urged its swift adoption. The Administration will work closely with the Police Commission to adopt a new use of force policy as quickly as it can. The draft policy includes all of the recommendations made by the Burlington Special Committee to Review Policing Policies which met from August, 2019 through February, 2020. The Burlington Police Department's current use of force policy lags behind its training and practices, and the new draft policy is more consistent with the values of the Burlington community, is clearer for officers to follow, and incorporates many of the best practices of American policing – including all eight of the #8CantWait reforms on police use of force that are part of President Obama’s Mayors Pledge. 

“The killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers has again exposed that our country continues to be defined by deep and structural racism,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “It also has again brought into focus the many real problems that exist in American policing. In Burlington, we have for years been working to chart a different path, and build a police department that reflects the values of our community and embraces the forward-thinking policies and practices of 21st century policing. At the same time, we can and must do better. By adopting this new, clear, progressive use of force policy we take an immediate and meaningful additional step to improve our practices, and to show others the path toward better American policing. We are committed to additional critical improvements and further steps with the Council, Commission, and public in the months ahead.” 

“We have been working for months to develop this new Use of Force Directive for the Burlington Police Department, and believe that once adopted and implemented, it will be one of the most comprehensive and forward-thinking use of force policies in the nation,” said Chief of Police Jennifer Morrison. “This policy is the result of months of public engagement and work by the Special Committee to Review Policing Policies. I am looking forward to working with the Police Commission to adopt it as quickly as we can, because I agree with many in our community that these changes can no longer wait.” 

Mayor Weinberger, City Council President Max Tracy, Public Safety Committee Chair Perri Freeman, and multiple Police Commissioners have been in active communication this week to determine a path to finalizing the policy. The Police Commission will convene an emergency meeting next week to review, amend, and consider adopting this new use of force policy, even as the Commission or City Council may simultaneously launch a longer review to further refine the policy. 

Background and Key Elements of New Use of Force Policy 

From August 2019 to February 2020, the Special Committee to Review Policing Policies, a 14-person and multi-stakeholder group, held twice-monthly public meetings that focused in large part on reviewing and revising Burlington’s use of force policy. They delivered a report on their work to the City Council on February 18, but plans for a further report in March were interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. The current draft use of force policy incorporates recommendations and corrections that were contained in the Committee’s presentation to the Council in February. 

The new policy contains many key elements, and incorporates clear requirements for de-escalation, duty to intervene, verbal warnings, and reporting all uses of force. These elements include: 

1) De-escalation: The new directive defines de-escalation at length, and states clearly: “When feasible, officers will use de-escalation and other techniques to reduce the immediacy of threats to peoples’ safety and stabilize incidents. Whenever possible, officers will seek to slow things down. Not every situation or subject can be deescalated. Conversely, officer behavior can escalate a situation. Officers should not intentionally escalate situations unnecessarily” (DD05.01 III.A). 

2) Chokeholds: The new directive states: “Any restraint or technique that applies pressure to the carotid artery, jugular vein, trachea, or the neck that may render the subject unconscious by restricting airflow or the flow of blood to and from the brain is to be AVOIDED and should be used ONLY under circumstances that would otherwise warrant the use of lethal force” (DD05.02 IV.B.1). 

3) Duty to intervene and excessive force: The new directive states: “Using excessive force is a ‘higher-level infraction’ as defined by the Agreement Between City of Burlington and the Burlington Police Officers’ Association. It may result in criminal and civil liability and will result in department discipline, up to and including termination” (DD05.05 II.G.1). The directive also clearly outlines that officers have a duty to intervene: Failure to intervene in the use of excessive force is a higher-level infraction as defined by the Agreement Between City of Burlington and the Burlington Police Officers’ Association. It may result in criminal and/or civil liability. It will result in department discipline, up to and including termination” (DD05.01 III.E). 

4) Shooting at moving vehicles: The new directive prohibits discharging a firearm at or from moving vehicles, with two extreme exceptions. It states: “An officer will not discharge a firearm at or from a moving vehicle unless: 1. The vehicle is operated in a manner deliberately intended to strike a person, and all other reasonable means of defense have been exhausted (or are not present or practical), which includes moving out of the path of the vehicle; or 2. A person in the vehicle is threatening the officer or another person with deadly force by means other than the vehicle” (DD05.03 IV.B). 

5) Force continuum: The new directive outlines a seven-step continuum, beginning at “officer presence/verbal commands” and culminating in “firearms or other lethal force.” It also states: “When an officer determines that the use of force is necessary and appropriate to respond to resistance, keep people safe, and/or accomplish lawful law-enforcement objectives, the officer shall only use objectively reasonable force as determined by totality of circumstance” (DD05.02 IV). 

6) Exhaust all reasonable means prior to deadly force: The new directive states clearly, “Lethal force should be a last resort. When time permits, officers should exhaust all other reasonable means, or a situation must exclude all other reasonable means.” 

7) Verbal warnings prior to the use of force: The new directive requires verbal warnings prior to use of force. It states: “When time permits and it is safe to do so, an officer should: 1. Make reasonable efforts to identify himself/herself as a police officer; 2. Inform the subject of the reason for the law-enforcement encounter; 3. State by what authority the subject is being detained, arrested, or otherwise taken into custody; 4. Offer clear instructions describing what the subject must do to comply; 5. Make clear statements about what consequences may attach for lack of compliance; 6. Warn that force may be used, unless the officer has the objectively reasonable belief that verbal warning will jeopardize the officer or another person; 7. Document their verbal commands; When multiple officers are at an incident, verbal commands work best when delivered by one designated officer, or ‘contact officer’” (DD05.02 IV.A).

8) Reporting every use of force: The new directive states: “Officers have an affirmative duty to report all uses of force. Accurate, timely reporting facilitates ethical leadership and oversight. Officers also have a duty to report force used against them, in order to paint an accurate picture of the risks they face and of subjects’ behavior. Reporting officers’ uses of force and subjects’ resistance enhances transparency, which is a key part of maintaining community trust and police legitimacy” (DD05.01 III.H). Because pointing a firearm or TASER is considered a use of force, we also require reporting those “threats” of force. 

Burlington Seeks to Do Policing Differently 

This policy follows years of work to address the real problems that exist in American policing, and seek to do policing differently here in Burlington. In recent years, the Burlington Police Department has taken a number of actions to embrace the principles of 21st century policing, including: 

• Overhauling how BPD responds to acute mental health episodes following the troubling officer-involved death of Phil Grenon in 2016, including through policy, training, and acquisition of specialized equipment; 
• Dramatically changing how BPD does traffic stops in order to better allocate officers’ time and reduce racial disparities in traffic stops; 
• Collaborating with the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and other agencies to create 10 Standards of Care for Policing the Opioid Epidemic, and establishing CommunityStat, a robust, multi-agency response to the opioid epidemic led by the Department and the Mayor that has contributed to a dramatic reduction in area overdose deaths over the last two years; 

• Undertaking and publishing a major study of the recruitment and training of police officers of color; 
• Making it easier for people to issue complaints about the conduct of police officers through an online form and in-person options available through community partners; 
• Increasing the size of our civilian Police Commission in order to accelerating diversifying this group; 
• Advocating for reforms in how new police officers are trained at the statewide Vermont Police Academy; 
• Severing ties between the Burlington Police Department and the U.S. Department of Defense, so that unlike many police departments, the BPD does not accept any specialized military equipment; 

• Codifying Burlington’s long-standing policy of not inquiring about immigration status while conducting routine policing 
• Assigning an officer to be a Domestic Violence specialist within the department; 
• And many others. 

Most recently, this week, Chief Morrison, at the request of Mayor Weinberger, also made explicit by order that going forward Burlington officers will have a duty to intervene if they witness misconduct, excessive use of force, or any other violation of department rule or policy. This “duty to intervene” is also part of the new use of force policy. 

This new use of force policy is an important next step. At the same time, having policies written down is not enough. For such policies to be meaningful, they must be backed by training and departmental culture. On top of formal trainings, officers have daily meetings with leadership and often analyze recent interactions together in order to learn from each other and ensure consistent conduct.  

Mayor Weinberger Signs On to President Obama’s Mayors Pledge, and New Policy Incorporates All Eight of the #8CantWait Reforms 

Today, Mayor Weinberger also announced that he has signed on to President Barack Obama’s Mayors Pledge. Dozens of constituents reached out to the Mayor’s Office asking Mayor Weinberger to sign on, and as discussed above, Burlington has already been engaged in a months-long process to take the actions that the pledge outlines: 1) Review police use of force policies, 2) Engage the community by including a diverse range of input, experiences, and stories in the review, 3) Report the findings of the review to the community and seek feedback, and 4) Reform police use of force policies. 

Following the process with the Special Committee to Review Policing Policies, and further process that will occur with the Burlington Police Commission, Burlington is now at step four: reform police use of force policies. The new policy incorporates all eight of Campaign Zero and the Police Use of Force Project’s #8CantWait reforms. 

Please see: 
- Draft use of force policy [PDF]

Watch the recording of the press conference:

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
June 5, 2020 
Contact: Olivia LaVecchia 
                (802) 734-0617 

Mayor Miro Weinberger Announces Eight-Point Plan to Protect BIPOC Communities and Ensure a Racially Just Recovery 

Burlington, VT – This week, Mayor Miro Weinberger and Tyeastia Green, the City’s Director of Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging, announced an eight-point plan to protect black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities and ensure a racially just recovery from the coronavirus. The full plan is summarized below. 

“As a result of generations of structural racism, black Americans are dying at nearly two and a half times the rate of whites in this pandemic,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “Until the pandemic ends, we must do all we can to protect our BIPOC communities from the virus, ensure that our relief and recovery efforts get these communities the emergency resources they need, and work for a future in which black lives no longer face such exceptional and disparate risks. I am grateful to the City’s first director of Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging, Tyeastia Green, for jumping right in and leading this work.” 

“We are living through a chapter of history that will be studied by our grandchildren, and how we respond to what’s happening now will undoubtedly be under a microscope for years to come,” said Tyeastia Green, the City’s Director of Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging. “Burlington will be on the right side of history. This is our moment to break down those structures of racial inequality that we’ve all gotten too comfortable with. We are taking actionable steps to weed out any structure, process, policy, or institution that is inherently racist, whether intentionally or not.” 

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Eight-Point Plan to Protect BIPOC Communities and Ensure a Racially Just Recovery 

The City of Burlington’s response to the coronavirus must include deliberate steps to protect those who are medically vulnerable, as well as those who have experienced systemic inequalities based on socioeconomic status, historical injustice, and race and ethnicity. To ensure that, this eight point plan is the framework that will guide Burlington’s efforts throughout this emergency.1 Each area incorporates work that the City has already begun in its response to the coronavirus, as well as a vision for future work in these areas. Along with this plan, the City also is forming a Racial Equity Rapid Response Team to guide this work and ensure that it is responsive to the needs of the communities it is intended to support. 

1. 1. Support robust efforts to “Box In” the virus 

By working to “box in” the virus through the strategies of testing, isolation, tracing, and quarantine, we can continue to limit the spread of the coronavirus in Burlington – which in turn keeps our entire community safe. This is particularly true for the members of our community most impacted by the virus, including those who are people of color, work in front-line jobs, have underlying health conditions, or are seniors. This is why the City of Burlington has worked with the State of Vermont, the University of Vermont, and Champlain College to develop a local version of the “Box It In” plan, and why the City has launched the Supportive Quarantine Pilot Program to help ensure that people returning to town, including students, have the information and supports that they need to quarantine safely. 

2. 2. Track data on COVID-19 cases by race, ethnicity, and geography 

By tracking disaggregated data, we can better understand which groups are most affected and inform our decisions about where to invest resources such as testing, personal protective equipment, and social services. We are working with the Vermont Department of Health to expand the publicly available disaggregated race data for Burlington and Chittenden County, and will highlight this data on the City’s COVID-19 dashboard. 

3. 3. Communicate and build trust with communities of color 

We need to ensure that information about the pandemic is reaching BIPOC communities, and hear from them about the impacts. To address this need, in April, the City launched the Trusted Community Voices program to employ individuals who will help us improve two-way communications with immigrant and refugee communities in Burlington – through the COVID-19 emergency and beyond. Additionally, we will soon be announcing a new Racial Equity Rapid Response Team, made up of City staff and community members, to help us build stronger communications with all communities of color for the remainder of this emergency. 

4. 4. Enhance access to testing and health care 

BIPOC communities are historically less likely to get referrals for testing, and more likely to mistrust institutions due to discriminatory experiences. We are working with the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC) and Community Health Centers of Burlington (CHCB) to ensure that BIPOC individuals have the access to health care that they need during this crisis. This includes working with CHCB to evaluate the capacity of its mobile testing unit and a possible expansion, helping to translate and disseminate information about health, and working with BIPOC communities to emphasize preventative healthcare.  We also will work with medical partners to root out structural racism in the medical profession to ensure that BIPOC communities receive equitable medical and public health care going forward.  

5. 5. Protect essential and low-wage workers 

Individuals from BIPOC communities are more likely to work in jobs that are considered essential or pay lower wages. The City has been working from the first weeks of this pandemic to provide masks and other supplies to essential workers, and is considering other ways to encourage sick leave and testing policies. Already, through the BTV Community Mask Initiative, the City worked to produce and distribute more than 20,000 free, high-quality masks. These masks were first available to any essential worker in Burlington who requested one for themselves or on behalf of their organization, and the City distributed masks to more than 80 organizations, including grocery stores, health care providers, and non-profit housing agencies. The City also procured and distributed over 100 touchless thermometers to essential organizations early in the crisis when these items were difficult to secure to keep those facilities and their workers safe. 

6. 6. Provide social services to keep vulnerable groups safe 

The members of our community who are most impacted by the coronavirus include BIPOC individuals, immigrants, seniors, and those with low incomes who may not be able to practice physical distancing. The City can support these groups with access to food, shelter, transportation, and medical care. This component of the plan includes several key areas: 

Food security – Many in our community are experiencing food insecurity right now. Organizations in Burlington are working to meet this need, including the Burlington School Food Project, Feeding Chittenden, and Age Well’s Meals on Wheels program. The City has also launched several initiatives to supplement these efforts, including the Burlington Food Relief Program to organize local restaurants to cook 750 meals per week for local non-profits, and Plant for the People to collect 100,000 pounds of additional produce as a community this growing season for our local food shelf.  

Housing – The City is dedicating half of its federal CDBG-Coronavirus allocation to provide rent relief for low-to-moderate-income individuals and families who have been impacted by the coronavirus. 

Education and job training – The City is at work developing initiatives to help ensure that BIPOC students aren’t left behind during this crisis, and to help BIPOC community members train for higher-paying jobs. 

Childcare – The City’s Early Learning Initiative focuses on increasing the availability and affordability of childcare. At the end of May, the City re-launched the applications for the second year of the initiative’s scholarship program. 

Transportation – We continue to work to evaluate how the City can help ensure that public transportation is safe and available during this pandemic. 

7. 7. Ensure communities of color have access to and receive targeted, equitable share of economic relief and recovery resources 

BIPOC entrepreneurs have fewer financial resources to start or sustain a business, and BIPOC communities need assistance with the economic disruption of COVID-19. These efforts are ongoing and continue to be developed, but include the Resource & Recovery Center’s work to help unbanked businesses access federal grant and loan programs, the rent relief program discussed above, and other initiatives. 

8. 8. Identify structural progress that we can achieve with the emergency response 

We are working to make sure that Burlington not only emerges from this pandemic, but does so as an even stronger and more just community. In this category, the City is working on initiatives that include progress toward the long-held goal of creating a year-round low-barrier shelter for people who are experiencing homelessness, creating more housing throughout the City, and working to address the root causes of social and structural racism. 

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

Statements from Mayor Weinberger and Chief Morrison Condemning the Killing of George Floyd and Promoting Racial Justice in Burlington

Burlington, VT – At his public briefing earlier today, Mayor Weinberger shared the following statement condemning the killing of George Floyd and recommitting to the work of promoting racial justice in Burlington. The Mayor was joined by Chief of Police Jennifer Morrison, whose statement also is below.

Statement from Mayor Weinberger:

“I want to start today by looking outside of Burlington’s borders and condemning, in the strongest possible terms, the actions that led to the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers earlier this week.

“I have watched the videos and seen photos of the encounter between Mr. Floyd and the officers. The images are horrific and the conduct intolerable. I fully support the immediate dismissal of the officers involved and the arrest of the lead officer earlier today. 

“Criminal conduct has to have criminal sanctions. And in more and more cases, that’s what’s happening. That’s a good thing. But it also is unacceptable that five years after the national reckoning sparked by events in Ferguson, Baltimore, Cleveland, and elsewhere, the total number of Americans killed by police has stayed the same, year after year, and that our communities have failed to prevent more of these needless killings. The fact that George Floyd’s killing occurred amid a pandemic that is taking the lives of black Americans at far higher rates than it is white Americans because of structural, multi-generational racism casts an even darker shadow on his death.

“What must we do here in Burlington? Certainly we must continue with and recommit ourselves to the work we have been pursuing for years, which is meant to ensure that no one who wears the Burlington Police Department uniform ever commits such a heinous act, and that roots out racism and implicit bias in all its forms. This work is ongoing, and must remain a high priority even at during a time of Police Department leadership transition and public health crisis.

“But, that is not enough. We also must condemn such racial injustices wherever and whenever they happen. I take heart, at least, in that something unusual is happening this week. Activists and political leaders are rightly speaking out. And they are not alone: America’s police chiefs also are denouncing the behavior of the Minneapolis officers, including our own Chief Jennifer Morrison, who is here to share her perspective on this difficult week.”

Statement from Chief Morrison:

“The death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers is an atrocity. It is horrifying and a perversion of everything that American police are meant to do. It is the antithesis of protecting and serving and goes against every piece of training I have had or overseen in my 30 years on the job. I am outraged and sick and frustrated by this incident. 

“Kudos to Chief Arradondo for firing the officers involved without waiting for cumbersome and lengthy investigations. Normally, I am all about ‘process’ but in this case, swift, decisive, and meaningful action was appropriate.

“I have struggled to create a coherent message so far because everything I feel and am struggling with is a tiny fraction of the reality that people of color must feel, particularly in places where police-community relations are frayed or just plain bad. I'm wrestling with not wanting my opinions to take up air time when the voices we should be listening to right now are those of the folks most impacted by this. Right now I, and we, need to do more listening and less talking. 

“We need to listen to our community and vow to never let an incident like this happen here. We are committed to continuing to work with community partners, including communities of color, to make police-community relations in Burlington as strong as possible. Working together, we can build a stronger and more just community. The men and women of BPD are professionals who take their oath to protect and serve very seriously. The events that happened in Minneapolis have no place in professional policing and I condemn them in the strongest possible way.”

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Tuesday, May 12, 2020

5:10 p.m.

On Tuesday, Mayor Miro Weinberger hosted a Telephone Town Hall to discuss what's next in our response to the COVID-19 emergency. Mayor Weinberger was joined by two exciting guests: 
- Dr. Joshua Sharfstein of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Dr. Sharfstein oversees the Office of Public Health Practice and Training at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and directs the Bloomberg American Health Initiative. He previously served as Commissioner of Health for the City of Baltimore, among many other roles.
- Dr. Stephen Leffler, President and Chief Operating Officer of the University of Vermont Medical Center
 

After an overview of strategies for the road ahead, Mayor Weinberger, Dr. Sharfstein, and Dr. Leffler responded to questions from Burlingtonians. View the recording of the Town Hall Meeting:

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

Statement in Response to Arrest of Second Individual Involved in Homicide

Burlington, VT – Today, the Burlington Police Department announced the arrest of a second individual involved in the April 26, 2020 homicide on North Avenue. In response, Mayor Miro Weinberger released the following statement:

“Two weeks ago, a 38-year-old Burlingtonian named Steven Martin died in an exchange of gunfire on North Avenue. In the days since, our Burlington Police Department has worked relentlessly with State and Federal partners to collect evidence, identify witnesses and suspects, build cases, and find and arrest both individuals. While only one suspect has been charged with homicide in State court at this point, we anticipate the second individual will be arraigned on similar charges in the near future. For now, he is in custody on other State and Federal charges and is not a danger to the public.

“I am grateful to our officers for putting in many long days and nights on this case, and appreciative, as always, for the dedication and skill of our Police Department. These kinds of tragedies don’t happen often here in Burlington, but when they do, we work relentlessly to bring them to resolution and seek justice.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2020
Contact: Olivia LaVecchia
                (802) 734-0617

Human Resources Director Deanna Paluba to Begin Position as U.S. Employee Relations Manager at Global Foundries

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger announced today that Deanna Paluba, the City’s Human Resources Director, has accepted the position of U.S. Employee Relations Manager at Global Foundries and will leave her position as the City’s Director of Human Resources on May 12. In Deanna’s time with the City, she established the Belonging, Equity, and Inclusion Employee Resources Group, played a key role in the creation and hiring of the City’s first Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Director, and developed and updated several important City personnel policies. Deanna also created the Talent, Diversity, and Development role and established new processes for how we hire, recruit, and develop City employees. 

“It has been an honor and a privilege to be a part of the City of Burlington’s leadership team and to support the hard working and dedicated employees of the City,” said Deanna Paluba.

“I am grateful for Deanna’s service to the City,” said Mayor Weinberger. “Deanna played a crucial role in strengthening the City’s HR processes and moving forward our work to become a more equitable and inclusive City, while establishing a foundation for the City to make further progress.”

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