Burlington speaks: community-led public safety is urgent, needed
Voters turn out in support of police oversight board
March 7, 2023
BURLINGTON, VT - Public safety remains in the spotlight in Burlington, as voters turned out today to show support for a community-led effort to create a police oversight board.
Building on an initiative approved by the City Council in 2020 but vetoed by Mayor Weinberger, this issue found its way onto the ballot after Burlingtonians gathered the required 2,000+ signatures. Fittingly up for a vote on Town Meeting Day, a long-standing opportunity for Vermonters to better their communities, the charter change would create a civilian board with the power to discipline police officers when misconduct has occurred.
The ballot item garnered significant support across the city, earning 3,864 votes, or nearly 37% of votes cast. While this was insufficient to pass the measure, it is a clear victory for residents of Burlington keen on revisiting the low standard of oversight to which the Burlington Police Department is subject. The campaign yielded a reckoning amongst elected officials, who have doubled down on commitments to increase oversight of the police department.
From parents of young children to the elderly; from elected officials to college students; this effort has been supported and led by people committed to a better Burlington, where we can all feel safe. Community leaders responded to the election results with hope for that future, and energy to continue this needed work.
Please see below for a statement from People for Police Accountability and quotes from local leaders on the outcome of this historic vote. For additional context, note that the People for Police Accountability group spent $1633.75 from over 20 individual donors, in stark comparison to at least $12,714.89 spent by the opposition, overwhelmingly provided by local landlords.
“Today we’re celebrating the success of this campaign and the tireless work of everyone who has taken part. We’re proud of the strong support our neighbors have shown for community oversight despite the tens of thousands of dollars spent by five wealthy opponents. This campaign has forced the hand of city officials, who have now finally committed to answering calls for police oversight in the coming months. But our work is far from done. We will keep fighting for the core principles on which this proposal was built: transparent oversight that represents our community and has investigatory and disciplinary powers. We know that Burlington deserves better, and we are committed to achieving this higher standard of public safety.”
–People for Police Accountability
“We still need better community oversight and this vote doesn’t change that. Even opponents acknowledge this. I look forward to working with People for Police Accountability, the Mayor, councilors, and others to make this happen as soon as possible.”
–Gene Bergman, Ward 2 City Councilor
“Civilian oversight is needed as a means to ensure accountability and transparency. Oversight is a component of a healthy public safety system, is deeply desired by our community, and was a key recommendation in the CNA report that assessed Burlington Police Department.”
–Stephanie Seguino, Police Commissioner
“At the 2/28/23 Police Commission meeting, Council President Paul pledged to restart the work set forth by resolution in 2021 to codify additional oversight powers for the Police Commission. This process has been stalled for over a year. The fact that it is moving again now is a credit to question 7 and all the organizing that went into it. That is a victory. This work will continue.”
-Melo Grant, Central District City Councilor Elect
Learn more about the initiative for a community-led police oversight board at https://peopleforpoliceaccountability.com; see below for a list of community leaders and organizations that support this proposal, and quotes from them here.
Max Tracy, Kiah Morris, Infinite Culcleasure, Zoraya Hightower, Joe Magee, Jessica Laporte, Gene Bergman, Melo Grant, Ben Cohen, Jerry Greenfield, Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, Brian Cina
Pride Center of Vermont, ACLU-VT, SURJ Burlington, Rights and Democracy, Migrant Justice, Community Voices for Immigrant Rights, Peace and Justice Center, Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, Howard Center Workers Union