Nearly 200 downtown Burlington businesses have accused city leaders of failing to address a surge in public-safety and quality-of-life problems that they say is harming tourism and local commerce around the University of Vermont.
More than 170 businesses signed an open letter in May calling on municipal officials to intervene after owners reported open drug use, shoplifting, graffiti, unsafe parking garages and other conditions that they say have driven customers away and reduced restaurant and bar revenue.
Burlington Business Association executive Kelly Devine told local television that restaurant and alcohol revenue has fallen “drastically” as incidents and visible disorder have increased. Devine said the downtown has become “edgy, kind of scary, and icky” for some patrons and urged city officials to take concrete steps to address open drug use, littering, and retail theft.
The public dispute has put pressure on Burlington’s progressive city leadership. Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak said the problems are deep-rooted and that there is no quick fix; she has pushed for additional state resources for mental-health and substance-abuse treatment as part of a broader response. City officials have also pursued changes focused on day-to-day public order.
In August, City Councilor Ben Traverse proposed a public-safety plan that would increase the visible presence of police downtown after a fatal incident near City Hall Park in which a man was killed by a group of teenagers. The council approved the proposal by a 9-2 vote. Traverse said increased patrols could prevent serious criminal activity and help residents feel safer, adding, “I should be able to say this without being compared to Donald Trump.”
Not all councilors supported the plan. Progressive Councilor Melo Grant voted against it, calling the proposal “performative” and criticizing it as a political maneuver that would not address root causes. Traverse said he met with the mayor to revise the plan after receiving feedback.
Rutland County Deputy Jimmy Baldea, speaking to Fox News Digital, urged the mayor to reconsider the role of visible policing, saying having officers interact with residents builds trust and that visible patrols are “one of the best crime deterrents possible.” He added that crime prevention “takes effort on everybody’s part.”
City Hall has also adopted a new program called City Circles aimed at preventing low-level offenses such as littering and minor vandalism to improve public order and deter escalation into more serious crimes. City officials say the measure is part of a multi-pronged approach intended to balance enforcement with social services.
University of Vermont officials and promotional materials describe the surrounding neighborhoods as a “thriving artistic community” with restaurants, cultural attractions and outdoor recreation within walking distance of campus. University leaders have emphasized the campus’ role in the local economy while noting that student and visitor safety is a priority.
Local business leaders and city officials differ on the mix of strategies that will be most effective. Business owners say visible disorder and drug activity have had an immediate economic impact on downtown merchants and restaurants. City leaders and some advocates say expanded access to mental-health care, substance-abuse treatment and homelessness services are necessary to resolve underlying problems, alongside selective enforcement and public-safety programs.
The dispute reflects broader conversations in municipalities nationwide about how to balance policing, social services and community-based interventions to address public-safety and quality-of-life challenges. Burlington officials say they are pursuing both enforcement changes and increased social support but acknowledge the work will be ongoing as they monitor outcomes and solicit community input.