burlington

Service Rendered: Straight Talk Vermont - Program Updates and Upcoming Events 03/21/2023

Host Bruce Wilson, Executive Director of Service Rendered, is joined by Vikii Schwarz, Technical/Social Media Director of Arts So Wonderful to discuss Arts So Wonderful's new art gallery space, upcoming community events, and other program updates.

Burlington Progressives TV: Public Assets Institute 03/16/2023

From Burlington Progressives TV:

Host Gene Bergman chats with Stephanie Yu from the Public Assets Institute.

Burlington Democrats: Town Meeting Day 2023 Recap 03/14/2023

Andrew Champagne discusses the Town Meeting Day 2023 results, and what they mean for Burlington's Democrats.

Burlington School Commissioners' Corner: Public Education Policy in Vermont 03/13/2023

From Burlington School Commissioners' Corner:

A legislative update about public education policy priorities underway in Montpelier.

For more information visit: bsdvt.org

Stop Cop City Rally & Press Conference 03/09/2023

From the organizer:

FreeHer VT | Cooperation Vermont | Peoples Network for Land and Liberation | Food Not Cops | People’s Kitchen

In response to the National Call to Action from the Stop Cop City Coalition in Atlanta, GA, activists in Vermont rally and hold a press conference in solidarity, directed at Cox Enterprises to immediately divest from Cop City and cease their fundraising activities.

The City of Atlanta has leased 381 acres of Weelaunee Forest (the last substantial green space in the Atlanta area) to the Atlanta Police Foundation for a militarized police training facility funded by corporations. At the price of 90 million dollars, it includes a mock city to practice urban warfare, tear gas and explosives testing, dozens of shooting ranges, and a Black Hawk helicopter landing pad. Supported by the Atlanta Committee for Progress, which is composed of over 40 corporate elites including the CEOs of Coca-Cola, Home Depot and Cox, its aim is to further the surveillance of the population, stifling decent, and gentrification of the city.

Jim (Fergie) Cox Chambers, Jr. speaks out on March 9th in Burlington against his family company’s (Cox Enterprises) direct involvement in the private fundraising efforts for Cop City.

Cox Enterprises owns Dealer.Com in Burlington

https://www.stopcopcitysolidarity.org/

Burlington Wards 2 and 3 NPA Meeting 03/09/2023

For more information on the Burlington Neighborhood Planning Assemblies (NPA) and their current procedures and meeting dates, please visit burlingtonvt.gov/CEDO/Neighborhood-Services/Neighborhood-Planning-Assemblies.

Burlington Transportation, Energy, and Utilities Committee 02/22/2023

The Burlington Transportation, Energy, and Utilities Committee studies and makes recommendations to the Burlington City Council on issues concerning all modes of transportation and interrelated development issues; energy plans, rates and other issues; and utility matters regarding, but not limited to, water, sewer, and telecommunications.

For more information on the Transportation, Energy, and Utilities Committee and their current procedures and meeting dates, please visit burlingtonvt.gov/CityCouncil/TEUC.

VICII: Independent Community Control Board of Burlington Police - Hell NO, Say Groups of Burlington Citizens 02/22/2023

From VICII:

On the Ballot this Town Meeting Day, on March 7th: create an independent Community Control Board to oversee the Burlington Police, with investigative and disciplinary authority. "Many Burlington leaders and residents are concerned that the Charter Change to create an Independent Community Control Board will undermine our efforts to rebuild the Police Department and hurt the community," says Jordan Redell, Mayor Miro Weinberger's Chief of Staff. The opponents to the Charter Change insist that, like the action to reduce the size of the Police Department by 30%, this initiative is a risky experiment with Burlington's public safety with little-to-no precedent or planning.

The Vermont Institute of Community and International Involvement (VICII) has sponsored a two-episode series of discussions. On February 15th, Councilor Gene Bergman presented the pro arguments in this ballot item. On February 22nd, Councilor Ben Traverse articulated the opposing views.

For more information: vicii.org

VICII: Control Of Police By Citizens - This is How Policing Burlington Could Soon Look 02/15/2023

From VICII:

People for Police Accountability is a grassroots movement currently campaigning to create an independent Community Control Board to oversee our local police, with both investigative and disciplinary authority. The change will be before voters this Town Meeting Day, on March 7th, 2023. People for Police Accountability advances the idea that police must be held accountable to the community they serve. "We are fighting for this change in Burlington, Vermont due to very well documented instances of police misconduct within the Burlington police department", says the pro-charter change group.

To help inform your vote on this crucial and divisive issue, The Vermont Institute of Community and International Involvement (VICII) will sponsor a two-episode series of discussions.

On the 15th of February, Councilor Gene Bergman presents the pro argument in this ballot item.
On the 22nd of February, Councilor Ben Traverse articulates the opposing views.

For more information: vicii.org