By Guy Page

With public safety an increasingly important issue to Burlington voters, the Burlington Daily News offers the public safety views of two leading candidates for mayor: Democrat Joan Shannon and Progressive Emma Mulvaney-Stanak. 

In an upcoming issue, BDN plans to publish similar statements by Democratic mayoral candidates Karen Paul and CD Mattison.

Similarities: both Shannon and Mulvaney-Stanak say citizens’ public safety has been compromised by the drug epidemic and housing shortage. Both express extreme regret about the Saturday, November 25 shooting of three Palestinian college students on Prospect Street.

One major difference: their willingness to condemn the 2021 City Council vote to reduce the police force by 30%. 

Shannon: “We must now face our unprecedented challenges made worse by the City Council vote to reduce the Burlington Police force by 30% — which I vocally opposed. This decision was made without regard to the collateral impacts, without an evidence-based plan to maintain public safety, and failing to make up for  the loss of enforcement and investigative capacity.”

By contrast, Mulvaney-Stanak was asked by BDN to comment on the 30% vote: “Do you have a position on that vote? In retrospect, was it the right thing to do for Burlington? And as mayor would you support future efforts to decrease the size of the force?”

Mulvaney-Stanak avoided direct comment on the vote, and instead embraced recommendations from a March, 2023 CNA report prepared for the police commission: “I would support police staffing levels and adequate resources for social workers and other professionals (not officers) to respond to quality of life/non-violent calls as recommended in that report.”

Public safety statement by Democratic candidate Joan Shannon (press conference, Tuesday, November 28):

I want to start by condemning the shooting Saturday night of 3 Palestinian college students visiting for Thanksgiving.   This is heartbreaking for the victims and their families; and has had a chilling impact on our entire community.  These young men are scholars, friends, loving and beloved members of families.   Our community should have no tolerance for violence or hate.   I thank our first responders including the Fire Department EMTs who offered immediate medical care and our police officers who kept them safe while they did so, and to all who responded to the immediate crisis Saturday night.  I am very proud of the care that has been given to the victims and families by our city staff, hospital workers, and our broader community.

Our prayers are with the victims, that they have a speedy recovery and continue to get the support they need on their path to wellness. I want to thank the BPD, FBI, ATF, Chittenden County Gun violence task force, the State’s Attorney, US Attorney, the Mayor, and Police Chief for their swift work to apprehend the suspect and ensure our community’s safety.

I also want to remind everyone in our community, that while we remain unsure of the motivations behind this hateful crime, we do not fight hate with hate. We fight hate with justice.  And justice comes from having a strong and trusted law enforcement system.

Last night, we published our public safety plan on our website.  This is a plan that has been a collaborative effort with input from professionals in human services, housing, city government, law enforcement, and many other perspectives.  

I announced my candidacy for mayor because I believe we can make Burlington the most livable, equitable, and vibrant city in America.  As a community, we have the human resources, the natural resources, and the will to accomplish this vision. After 20 years serving as a City Councilor and 3 years as Council President, I am ready to lead this effort.

Burlington, like so many places in our country, is experiencing a rise in drug addiction, a crisis of mental health, an increase in crime, and as we saw Saturday night, increasing polarization, hate, and gun violence. These crises are made worse by a lack of adequate housing and social services, and a diminished police force. All of this has weakened the social and economic fabric of our community. But with every challenge comes great opportunity for new systems and a new vision. Together we will rise to these challenges!

As a community, I believe we have a shared vision of a vibrant, safe community where diverse opinions, cultures, and backgrounds are valued. A community where our most vulnerable residents are truly seen and programs and policies work to address their needs equitably. Our community should be one where families, workers, students, and visitors alike can enjoy the best of Burlington without fear or concern for their safety.

And yes, we must now face our unprecedented challenges made worse by the City Council vote to reduce the Burlington Police force by 30% — which I vocally opposed. This decision was made without regard to the collateral impacts, without an evidence-based plan to maintain public safety, and failing to make up for  the loss of enforcement and investigative capacity. I am proud to have not only voted against this proposal, but also provided an alternative to it, which is a key distinction of my candidacy. 

Our Plan recognizes that Burlington can and should do better.  Importantly, this plan is based on our shared goals and will improve public safety for all our neighbors.  We are asking for an All Hands On Deck approach because we know that only together  can we create the Burlington that we all want. 

As mayor, I will focus on four areas to improve public safety in our community:

Deterrence and Prevention.

Treatment.  

Housing.  

Justice.  

All of the above include key elements of accountability and care.  This plan recognizes that people are not getting the help they need. At the same time, it acknowledges that accountability is essential, and our community can no longer tolerate gun violence, open drug use and drug dealing, graffiti, car theft, bike theft, retail theft, and other harmful behaviors in our parks, in our neighborhoods, and in our downtown.

We must restore strong public expectations of safety throughout Burlington for our residents, for those experiencing homelessness, for our local businesses supporting local jobs, for our non-profit organizations and for service providers seeking to help our community. We also must recognize that our economic future is tied to our ability to maintain public safety and reverse the negative perceptions about our city.

We can and will do better!  My top priority will be to tackle these four primary issues, Deterrence, Treatment, Housing, and Justice with the tools and resources available to city government.  But city government can’t do it alone.  I will also partner with and call on the community at-large, leaders in the Statehouse, and our congressional delegation to help. The time to act on these issues is now, and our community cannot wait. As I continue to listen to our community, I commit to building feedback, data, and new information into this plan every step of the way.

In closing I would like to thank the Burlington Police Officers Association for their endorsement and putting their confidence and trust in me as the next Mayor of Burlington.

Statement by Progressive mayoral candidate Emma Mulvaney-Stanek on public safety (Email to VDC, November 29):

My main policy priority if I am elected mayor of Burlington is community safety. Everyone deserves to feel and be safe in Burlington. Right now, the city is not meeting this standard but it is achievable and together we can get there. Burlington, Vermont, and our entire country are facing serious community safety challenges including substance use disorder, and a lack of adequate mental health care and affordable housing.

Improving community safety cannot be solved through one approach, or by one person. We also cannot solve community safety issues with the tools and approach we have been using so far. It is not working. Solutions that will work require collaboration and must be community-centered to help people meet their basic needs. We must also make better use of community enforcement measures that are proven to improve safety including community policing and strategic use of city resources to address “hot spots.”

People deserve a timely and appropriate response when they call for help. We must convene our community to make sure all critical stakeholders are at the table to solve the root of our community safety challenges. This includes police, public health experts, mental health and social service providers, state partners, businesses and nonprofit leaders, and impacted community members. We must also look to other communities around the country to learn how they approached housing first and treatment first programs. As mayor, I will engage city leaders as collaborators and do the hard work to find long-term, sustainable solutions. My job will be to listen, bring experts and community members to the table, and take action in partnership with the City Council and others.

Police are part of a community safety response, but not the only piece of the puzzle. This is why I am focused on a comprehensive approach to solving our safety issues and looking forward in terms of what the city needs to focus on, not behind us. We have a comprehensive CNA report since the council vote that Councilor Shannon is referencing and a lot more information on why police departments around the state and country are struggling to hire and retain officers. I think the staffing levels need to be right-sized for Burlington and that information is in the CNA report. I would support police staffing levels and adequate resources for social workers and other professionals (not officers) to respond to quality of life/non-violent calls as recommended in that report.