by Paul Bean

High tensions and a heated public were on display Monday night, January 22 before Burlington city councilors voted 5-7 against placing a pro-Palestine resolution on the March 5 ballot.

The resolution would have declared an “apartheid-free community” and supportive of ending “Israel’s apartheid regime, settler colonialism and military occupation.”

During the public forum, speaker, after speaker, after speaker stated why they did or did not support the symbolic resolution.

Lucy Gluck, Resident of Burlington’s North End, said “the fact that people are afraid to come to these meetings and they’re too scared to sit in a room, they might be attacked, that was upsetting to me…I want to see Burlington residents coming together to support positive outcomes in the Middle East.” However, she did not support the symbolic resolution.

Peg Price of Burlington “chose to move to Burlington years ago because they embraced the progressive values of the city, and we want to live in a city that embraces diversity…My Youngest child goes to a Jewish preschool here…” She continues, holding back tears, “my toddler has a Hebrew name, and I am so scared for how she is going to be viewed for years to come simply because her parents gave her a Hebrew name.”

The council also heard from Burlington residents who could not understand why this was question was under consideration, because Burlington already has many problems having nothing to do with a conflict in the Middle East. 

Jeff Potash, life-long resident of Burlington explains his discontent with the time wasted. “The quality of life (in Burlington) has seriously deteriorated in recent years. Expectations we took for granted – properly maintained roads, safety, urban cleanliness, exemplary schools – have been waylaid in favor of political, grandstanding and social experimentation. What we have witnessed in our seeing here tonight is a board whose valuable time is occupied debating issues it has no standing or legitimacy. Let’s stop the circus counselors on the job please that you were elected to make Burlington safe. Let’s rebuild structure and give our resident taxpayer something tangible for increasing tax burden.”

Debate among the city council was passionate and full of mixed opinions.

Councilor Joe Magee (P-Ward 3), a resolution co-sponsor, said advisory questions on the ballot are a form of direct democracy.  “I don’t think it’s our place to stand in the way of that,” he said.

Progressive Melo Grant said, “I would support it because of the special relationship our country has always had with Israel, and we have sent billions of dollars, we have sent billions of weapons. We have not sent billions of dollars to China to oppress the Muslims there… there needs to be some accountability there. Division is already here, division in our conversation, about public safety and an equity and policing  accountability. This division is already here. We do not treat people the same, we are not as progressive as we pretend to be, right?”