By Kolby R. LaMarche

Tonight, the City Council will vote on the Democrats’ resolution to address crime and disorder in City Hall Park. The vote comes as community groups and city leaders grapple with how to make the park safe again, following multiple recent incidents of violent crime in the park.

City Hall Park, revamped in 2020 with a $5.8 million price tag, has instead become a hub for violence, drug trafficking, open drug use, and disorderly conduct. The resolution, led by Council President Ben Traverse, aims to fix this by requiring police or safety personnel in the park during open hours, enforcing its midnight-to-6 a.m. closure, and using “no trespass” orders to stop criminal behavior.

It notes recent efforts like 3,800 downtown patrols from April to August 2025—a 160% increase over last year—and the Situation Table, which has engaged 13 high-risk cases since July. The plan also asks the State of Vermont for a county-wide group to tackle drug trafficking, and a task force on youth violence. A report on police staffing and solutions is due by September 29, 2025.

The Democrats’ resolution also leans heavy on the asks of Governor Phil Scott and facets of his administration regarding access to drug treatment centers. It calls on the Department of Health and Department of Mental Health to “examine how to remove barriers to treatment and address limited capacity to existing drug treatment centers.”