On public safety
Continuing to secure our public safety requires a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach that supports law enforcement and first responders, while also investing in harm reduction and steps to end homelessness. Since joining the City Council, I have supported efforts to address recruitment and retention challenges in our police and fire departments, stand up new positions to complement the work of first responders, and support new teams staffed with professionals trained to respond to overdose and mental health emergencies.
The City Council needs to continue supporting these efforts, as our community is starting to see success. The Burlington Police Department recently graduated one of its largest academy classes in recent memory and now has a staffing plan to stand back up its vital street crimes unit.
We also need to invest in innovative approaches to prevent overdose and recommit our community to saving lives lost to the overdose crisis. I have consistently supported requests that the State change Vermont law to allow for overdose prevention centers.
Additionally, in my first term on the City Council, I co-chaired a committee dedicated to reviewing and improving Burlington's model of police oversight and accountability. I am committed to ensuring that our community have an opportunity to vote on a new community oversight model that has broad support.
On Housing
I am deeply concerned about the rising costs of Burlington homes and rent, and the impact this has on those who cannot afford to live here. Our community needs more housing, including more affordable housing, and I've been closely working on a number of initiatives to support this goal:
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As chair of of the Ordinance Committee, we secured a zoning change to create the South End Innovation District, opening up opportunities for hundreds of new housing units in an area that previously prohibited residential development. We did this in such a way that maintains our character as a space for makers, artists, and small businesses, and properly preserves our open spaces.
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We are continuing to work on the Neighborhood Code proposal which, if passed, will allow for the development of more "missing middle" housing, support greater density along major transit corridors, remove many restrictions that have served as hurdles to building, adding, onto and renovating homes, and create opportunities for more neighborhood-centered businesses.
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In my first term on the City Council, Burlington joined the growing list of American cities that has eliminated minimum parking requirements for new development, which served as a historical barrier to our being a denser, more walkable community.
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We brought regulation to Burlington's short-term rental market and, in so doing, captured subatantially new resources for our Housing Trust Fund, which will continue to support the development of more affordable housing.
Property taxes
Especially in Ward 5, the recent citywide reassessment placed undue burden on residential property owners and, in turn, renters who pay the pass-through cost. My first act as a City Councilor was to expand the availability of a property tax relief fund.
As we continue to emerge from the pandemic and property values settle to a new normal, I support equitable adjustments to the assessed value of commercial property. In the future, we need a more regular and transparent assessment process.
On taxes
For renters
I spent five years on the Housing Board of Review, resolving security deposit disputes and upholding minimum housing standards. While we can help make renting more affordable through the development of more housing, we also need to do more for Burlington's renters.
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Dedicate more City resources for direct assistance with rent, security deposits, and utility bills.
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Improve living conditions by raising the City's minimum housing standards, including those related to weatherization.
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Establish a landlord/tenant mediation clinic to resolve housing disputes without costly legal services.
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Require that landlords better inform renters of existing tenant protections.
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Make minimum housing violations and decisions of the Housing Board of Review more accessible to the public.
On childcare
As a parent with children in childcare, I am intimately familiar with the challenges surrounding access, affordability, and quality of care. Burlington’s Early Learning Initiative (ELI) and First Steps Scholarship Program provide critical funding to address the challenges of equitable and inclusive access to affordable high-quality child care in Burlington. I would explore the implementation of dedicated revenue sources for these excellent programs.
For our homeless neighbors
For those who are homeless, we need more empathy-driven practices that provide diverse supports for individuals with differing needs. When the State ended a pandemic-related program that provided hotel/motel vouchers, Burlington was heavily impacted by the consequences. We need the support of federal, State, and regional partners to establish the comprehensive approach is necessary to actually achieve "housing first" for all. Burlington cannot solve this issue alone, but I'm proud of the work we're continuing to do:
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Establishing hundreds of new short-term shelter options;
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Operating the first ever City-sponsored winter warming shelter;
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Dedicating millions of dollars to the development of more long-term, permanently affordable housing options;
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Creating a permanent position within the City dedicated to ending homelessness by providing direct support and assistance to unhoused individuals, in partnership with other community organizations.
High school
The City Council needs to continue working closely with and collaborating with the School Board to ensure the completion of our high school in a fiscally responsible way, which is not overly burdensome on taxpayers and allows the City to continue its investments in other vital needs. When I first ran for City Council, my Ward 5 friend Lucia Campriello also ran for her first term on the School Board. Through our ongoing work together, I trust we will both be best positioned to serve our community well on this issue and other school-related topics.
On parks
I view our outdoor spaces, parks, and recreation programs as an essential City service. Outdoor community-gathering spaces are integral to living and thriving in Burlington. In particular, I am interested in these ideas:
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Expand the Penny for Parks program to allow for more resident-driven ideas in our parks.
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Support the development of more accessible playgrounds and other features in all of our parks.
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Protect our lake health and ensure water access for all in Burlington, including by exploring the possibility of a public pool.
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View our outdoor spaces and tree canopy as a nature-based solution to climate change.
Sustainable infrastructure
The South End has welcomed a lot of great development in recent years, particularly along the Pine Street corridor. Updates to our infrastructure are necessary, however, to accommodate future development, to address climate change on a local level, and to ensure we have a walkable and bikeable community. Here are some ideas to support sustainable infrastructure:
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Update and complete Burlington's Walk/Bike plan, focusing on improved sidewalks, crosswalks, and bike lanes.
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Finish the Champlain Parkway, and ensure more forward-thinking development in other major infrastructure projects, like a new Burlington/Winooski bridge.
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Support a more usable and affordable public transportation system, and improve recently established Transportation Demand Management requirements for new commercial and large residential development.
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Continue efforts to improve traffic flow along main thoroughfares, and improve traffic calming on our residential streets.
On climate
The work we do in Burlington, on issues like housing development, sustainable infrastructure and transportation, and promoting open spaces, all needs to be looked at through the lens of supporting our climate goals. In my first term on the City Council, we have also taken a number of important actions to specifically address the impact of climate change and we must continue to build on these efforts:
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Require that new construction and large existing buildings prioritize the use of electrification when installing new thermal energy systems.
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Establish a carbon pollution impact fee for buildings that must rely on fossil-based systems.
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Provide financial support and incentives for weatherization projects.
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Electrify the City's vehicle fleet.