By Kolby R. LaMarche
A wave of violent incidents in City Hall Park, including a fatal daytime assault, where three juveniles beat a man to death, has plunged Burlington into a political firestorm over how to address its escalating public safety crisis.
As businesses report a continuation of declining foot traffic and residents avoid downtown, Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak is at odds with Governor Phil Scott and state officials over responsibility for tackling crime, homelessness, and drug use. Meanwhile, City Council Democrats are pushing for immediate local action, pushing to create clearer enforcement expectations at the next council meeting.
The violence in City Hall Park, a revitalized, $5.8 million, public space meant to be a community hub, has become a symbol of the city’s struggles. A separate incident involving a man struck with a rifle stock nearby heightened concerns.
City Council President and Democrat Ben Traverse voiced alarm in a letter to constituents, describing “unacceptable acts” including violence, drug trafficking, open drug use, and disorderly conduct. He called for stationing police in the park during all open hours, clearing it when closed, and enforcing laws to curb criminal behavior, urging residents to support these measures at the August 25 City Council meeting, stating, “This moment calls for unity, not division,” Traverse said.
Mulvaney-Stanak, however, frames the crisis as part of a broader systemic issue affecting Vermont municipalities. In a letter to residents sent moments before the Democrats email, she wrote, “Burlington is not alone in confronting complex and overlapping public health crises… Homelessness, substance use disorders, and mental health crises touch every community across our country.”
She emphasized that the state’s 2023 decision to end a hotel-motel voucher program for the homeless exacerbated visible suffering, pushing many onto the streets. Mulvaney-Stanak urged residents to contact Governor Scott directly, pressing him to make a coordinated state response a priority, including investments in housing, mental health services, and substance use treatment.
In an August 13 VTDigger op-ed, the mayor reiterated, “Vermont’s municipalities are at a breaking point… We are seeing a rise in visible homelessness, substance use, and mental health crises on our streets, and our local governments and businesses cannot shoulder this alone,” calling for a “collaborative partnership” with the state to implement lasting solutions.
Scott, however, has rejected these claims. At an August 20 press conference, he said, “We haven’t been asked to do anything. We would be happy to assist in any way we possibly can.”
The Governor suggested that insufficient local enforcement contributes to the issues, noting, “The lack of enforcement of some of what we’re seeing in the city is impacting them.” Scott also cited external factors like Canadian tariffs and downtown construction but stressed that stronger law enforcement could help.
VT Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison, former interim Burlington police chief, attributed the city’s challenges to “years and years of policy decisions, budgetary decisions, the city council decisions.”
VT Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison, former interim Burlington police chief, attributed the city’s challenges to “years and years of policy decisions, budgetary decisions, the city council decisions.”
She highlighted state efforts, like funding a “Situation Table” project to address complex cases of at-risk individuals, and stressed local accountability. “I really resent the implication… that somehow Governor Scott is responsible for anything that has happened in the Queen City,” Morrison said.
Burlington’s challenges stem from a complex history. A 2020 decision to cut the police budget by 30% led to a drop in officer numbers from 99 in 2021 to 86 in 2022, though staffing has since risen to 108 by 2023. Recruitment remains a hurdle, with staffing shortages delaying responses to incidents.
Mulvaney-Stanak says she has taken steps to address safety, appointing new public safety leaders and forming a community safety advisory board. She is also pursuing an overdose prevention center, with Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform selected to operate it, pending state funding.
Her broader call, however, again remained focused on state-level support for housing and mental health, “Vermont can lead the way with a coordinated, compassionate response… but it requires bold leadership from the state,” she said.
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