Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak released the following statement on the “Burlington Forward” resolution brought forth today from the Democratic City Council Caucus.
“I’m a Mayor who prioritizes working together and thinking strategically and differently about how to support our community, especially during this period of unprecedented challenges that are occurring not just in our community but around the country.
I certainly appreciate the interest of the Democratic Council Caucus in helping to address the State’s challenges pertaining to homelessness, substance use, and mental health. But this draft resolution, in its current form, does little to set a tone of collaboration, nor does it introduce new ideas. More importantly, the resolution contains concerning ideas that move Burlington away from its values of being an inclusive community by suggesting we should remove people and legislate restrictions that contradict what public health data tells us works.
The expansive community safety efforts of not only my administration, but also our many local and regional partners, is very well documented and covers much of the proposed work in the resolution. These efforts include new approaches such as the Situation Table, Chittenden County Accountability Court, City Circle, and our cross-departmental Safe Outdoor Sites weekly meetings to monitor and address public spaces. This week, we restarted the City’s “Hot Spots” strategy work that led to significant success at stabilizing the library and parking garage spaces in 2024 alongside more strategic use of Burlington Police Officers and Community Service Officers. We know more work is needed. We are assessing these efforts and adapting our approaches smartly. One City cannot solve an unprecedented State crisis on homelessness, mental health, and substance use on its own.
I continue to invite City Councilors to partner in constructive ways to enhance the City’s efforts to support all of our residents, including the most vulnerable among us. Our City’s response efforts must include compassion and accountability measures, as these are necessary to respond to these unprecedented times. We also must acknowledge our resources are not unlimited, and we must use our City staff in strategic and appropriate ways.
I’d also like to take a moment to deeply appreciate the monumental efforts of our City staff, Police Department, Fire Department, and countless community partners that show up every day and bring tremendous care, expertise, and commitment to bear on a notoriously wicked problem. Their efforts are often unseen – including, it seems, by some of our elected officials. While this resolution thanks the Governor, it fails to recognize those who are already doing the hard work every day serving the residents of Burlington. On behalf of the city, thank you for continuing to show up for our community; while the progress may feel slow at times, it is absolutely there, and you are a core part of that.”
7.24.2026.
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