This commentary is by John Bossange of South Burlington. He is a retired middle school principal and a board member of Better (not bigger) Vermont.
At long last, there is some good news coming out of Burlington.
It comes in the form of an inspiring group calling itself Building Burlington’s Future. Teams of local community leaders, past and present, have created a nonprofit organization dedicated to building an affordable, safe and livable future for Burlington.
I am hopeful that all of the leaders in our city, regardless of political party affiliation, will engage with Building Burlington’s Future.
The organization aspires to be a dedicated and coordinated force for change by connecting grassroots advocacy and policy development. The group sees what we all see, every day and every night: a struggling downtown.
The cost of housing is pushing families out of the city, and gaps in public safety and health services are putting individuals and families at risk.
The good news is that Building Burlington’s Future will focus on developing practical policies that will make the city more affordable, safe and livable. They will do this work collaboratively, with input from Burlington’s wealth of direct service providers, business leaders and everyday residents to drive change that is needed now and will last.
Since launching in June, the nonprofit has been supporting positive and productive action in Burlington. I expect that we will soon see initiatives from Building Burlington’s Future on important issues, such as affordable housing, public safety, the expansion of community service personnel, the retention of police officers and the encouragement of public health initiatives that support those experiencing homelessness.
Our community needs this kind of action more than ever before. We need people to show up downtown to community events and activities, to attend public meetings, and to participate in conversations that seek solutions. Building Burlington’s Future promises to bring more people into the conversation — and for many of us, we are grateful for that effort.
The questions that remain on my mind are: How will our elected leaders serving on the Burlington City Council react to the formation of an independent advocacy organization? Will our leaders on both sides of the political spectrum be open to feedback and new ideas? Will they be receptive to integrating action steps coming from the Building Burlington’s Future?
I’m not sure what to expect once the organization begins to advocate for policies that will require integration and implementation by the city.
We know that Burlington, like many other places, can be resistant to change. We also know that some of our hardest conversations can often take unproductive and divisive turns.
Some examples of this include the conversation about the removal of a “Food not Cops” feeding location in a public parking garage to City Hall Park without a permit, allowing cars of unhoused individuals to park overnight at Perkins Pier or the growing tent settlements along the bike path and in the Intervale. We must come together in a partnership if there are to be long-lasting solutions.
I believe the most important challenge facing the city right now is the environment that is creating a lucrative and illegal market for drug trafficking and dealing. In my opinion, drug dealing, not just usage, is the greatest threat to public safety in Burlington. On that issue alone there should be no debate on our City Council. Helping the most vulnerable population deal with their substance use is critical if we are to address our city’s drug crisis.
I hope for a future where discussions can take place in a productive, civil manner and where we build bridges rather than jump to label those who don’t agree. I believe Building Burlington’s Future can play a constructive role in creating some common ground for positive, productive change.
If you attend a City Council meeting these days, too often you are likely to encounter people who are just there to criticize or advocate against things. That negative rhetoric just compounds our problems and the perception people have about Burlington.
We need an organization that is willing to convene all the citizens of Burlington, including tax-paying residents, renters, business owners, vulnerable individuals, students and, of course, visitors.
This is a critical and timely opportunity to combine resources and ideas — and move beyond political ideology and rhetoric.
I hope readers of this commentary and other interested citizens will join me in welcoming Building Burlington’s Future to the table and participate in meaningful conversation. We need to ensure that Burlington’s future will be affordable, safe and livable for everyone.
