FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 7, 2016
Contact:  Katie Vane
                 802.734.0617

Mayor Miro Weinberger Statement Regarding Shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota

“The officer-involved shootings of two black men, one in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Tuesday and one in St. Paul, Minnesota on Wednesday, have shaken Americans once again.  My thoughts are with the family and friends of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. 

These shootings are a source of grief and distress in the Burlington community, and a reminder of why we are working diligently to avoid such tragedies here.  The Burlington Police Department continues to implement critical 21^st century policing practices, including deployment of body cameras on all officers, increased de-escalation training, increased anti-bias training, and numerous initiatives to ensure strong relationships between officers and the communities they are responsible for protecting. Officers are taught the value of training that protects both the police and the citizens they encounter.  Our police train to be communicators, problem-solvers and tacticians, with the goal of every police-citizen interaction ending safely.

The full details of both situations are not fully known at this time, and independent investigations are critical to ensure justice for the officers and individuals involved in these incidents.  Regardless of the outcomes of these investigations, the City of Burlington, State of Vermont and country need to continue their work to ensure that police departments strengthen community policing and trust among law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 28, 2016
Contact:  Katie Vane
                 802.734.0617

Vermont Mayors Coalition Calls on State to Protect Vermonters
Coalition Calls for Universal Background Checks, Law Enforcement Notification of NICS Failures and 
Confirmation That S.141 Mandated NICS Reporting Is Happening

Burlington, VT – In the wake of the Orlando shooting the Vermont Mayors Coalition (VMC) today renewed its call for state action on universal background checks and to take critical steps to increase the efficacy of such checks.  Speaking at the Burlington Police Department, where Vermont mayors first gathered over three years ago in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook shooting to call for state gun violence reforms, the mayors together called for critical state action to improve the safety of Vermonters by:

• Joining nearly twenty other states in enacting legislation to require background checks for all gun purchases in Vermont, eliminating the loophole in the federal law that allows approaching half of gun purchases to be completed without a background check.  The Mayors called for all candidates for legislative and statewide office to declare there position on this issue, which multiple polls have shown to be supported by approximately 80-90 percent of Vermonters.  
   
• Creating a notification system to alert local law enforcement when prohibited persons attempt to purchase firearms.
   
• Ensuring that the reporting of individuals in Vermont who have been adjudicated to be a threat to themselves or others because of dangerous mental health conditions are being reported properly to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) database.  Prior to the enactment of S. 141 in the 2015 legislative session only a handful of the thousands of individuals who have been adjudicated to be a threat had been reported to the database.  Despite repeated calls since January, 2016 for a report on S.141 implementation, the VMC has not been able to confirm implementation of new protocols.
   

In addition to calling for background check reforms, the Mayors made two announcements:

• The Coalition reaffirmed its call for the State Legislature to respect the role municipalities play in ensuring public safety and to allow local regulation of firearms issues when such regulations are not in conflict with the rights of Vermont’s sportsmen and women.
   
• Mayor Lauzon announced that he will host and personally contribute funds for a VMC event in Barre prior to the next legislative session that will attempt to bridge the divide between Vermonters on the issue of gun violence.
   

Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger: “In the three years since twenty elementary school children were murdered in Newtown, the country has witnessed hundreds of mass shootings, including the worst in modern United States history in Orlando, Florida and a terrible tragedy in Barre, Vermont. Yet our federal and state government have failed to act to stop further massacres.  We applaud the efforts of our federal delegation to demand action at the federal level, which would clearly be the best way to enact meaningful reforms, but in the absence of such action, state and local leaders must act.  Vermont has led the way on other issues ranging from marriage equality to global warming, and Vermonters are demanding action on this front as well.  Vermonters and their neighbors will be safer when Montpelier requires background checks for the guns sold in the state and allows local municipalities to enact common sense public safety policies to protect their citizens and police officers.”

Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon: “When the Vermont Mayors Coalition started this conversation we were determined to find actions that we thought could make a difference.  It is my hope that we can establish a respectful dialogue with one common goal: to establish gun safety in Vermont.  The results always seem to be the same for those in public service: we try to shout above each other, and nothing really gets done.  We do not find compromise and we do not find common ground.  But when it comes to gun violence reform, there is much room for improvements I think we can all agree on.  In that spirit, I will commit personal resources to convening a multi-day forum in Barre this fall where people of all different opinions are invited to attend.  Let’s bring together individuals from both sides of this issue to start this important dialogue”

Montpelier Mayor John Hollar: “Vermont has been fortunate not to have experienced the horrific mass shootings that have occurred in so many other states.  But Vermonters do experience the quiet tragedy of suicides that all of us read in the obituary sections of our newspapers each week.  Our suicide rate is one-third higher than the national average, and we know that background checks are an effective way to prevent suicides.  There are 48 percent fewer gun suicides in states that require background checks for private handgun sales than in states like Vermont that do not.  Let’s close this loophole that is contributing to the tragic and avoidable deaths of so many Vermonters.”

Winooski Mayor Seth Leonard: “How many more tragedies will it take before action is taken as a nation, as a state, and in our communities?  Today, we call for our state to take immediate steps to protect our communities from devastation that may be prevented through sensible measures that would ensure weapons do not end up in the wrong hands.  We hope others will join us in demanding this conversation be brought into the light of day.  Vermonters deserve a reasonable and open discussion about how we can best protect our community members while also preserving each individual's rights. We should work together with urgency to find solutions to prevent gun violence that fit Vermont values and the needs of our communities.  Protection of our communities and protection of rights need not be mutually exclusive goals.”

The Vermont Mayors Coalition has been active on common sense gun violence reforms in Vermont for several years. During the last legislative session, the mayors focused on strengthening reporting to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) by improving notification of prohibited person attempts to purchase firearms, and requesting an update on the implementation of S. 141, which mandated improved reporting of mental health data to NICS. The mayors have also supported the Vermont tradition of local control, advocating that what works in one Vermont municipality in an urban setting like Burlington may be different than another municipality that is more rural.

The Vermont Mayors Coalition was created in 2013 by Vermont’s eight Mayors.  Its members include:

• Bill Benton, Vergennes; 
• Liz Gamache, St. Albans;
• John Hollar, Montpelier;
• Thom Lauzon, Barre;
• Seth Leonard, Winooski;
• Chris Louras, Rutland;
• Paul Monette, Newport; and
• Miro Weinberger, Burlington.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 24, 2016
Contact:  Katie Vane
                 802.734.0617
 

Mayor Miro Weinberger Responds to Rubi Simon’s Resignation as Director of Fletcher Free Library

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger today responded to Rubi Simon’s resignation as director of the Fletcher Free Library.  Simon, who has served as library director for the past four years and whose last day will be August 26, 2016, has accepted a position as director of the Howe Library in Hanover, New Hampshire.

“Rubi is a visionary leader who built upon the successful traditions of our 140-year-old library and infused the library with new energy, ideas, and programs at a key moment in Fletcher Free’s evolution,” said Mayor Weinberger.  “Her great work and positive influence will benefit Burlingtonians for years to come.  While her departure is a significant loss to our community, I wish Rubi much success and happiness in her new position and Rubi and her family a smooth transition to their new home.”

In her letter of resignation, Simon expressed her gratitude to Mayor Weinberger and the library team for the rewarding experience of leading the Fletcher Free Library, stating: “Your unconditional support allowed us to plan for and make great change at the Library.  I hope to continue many of the relationships I have developed in Burlington as I move forward and continue to be a strong advocate for libraries in this region…  The Fletcher Free Library is an amazing institution.  It has a passionate staff that I know will accomplish great things, and I will miss dearly.”

The Mayor’s Office soon will assemble a committee, including Mayor’s Office staff, library commissioners, human resources personnel, and others to engage in a national search for the library’s next talented leader.

*Please see letter of resignation from Fletcher Free Library Director Rubi Simon to Mayor Miro Weinberger.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 21, 2016
Contact:  Katie Vane
                 802.734.0617

Mayor Weinberger Welcomes Mayor Reynaldo Francis and Puerto Cabezas Delegation to Burlington
Sister City Visitors Will Learn about Community Garden and Cooperative Farm Projects throughout Vermont

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger will welcome Puerto Cabezas Mayor Reynaldo Francis, Vice-Mayor Anicia Matamoros, and Executive Director Rodolfo Spear to Burlington on Tuesday, June 21 during a six-day visit to learn about Vermont’s exemplary community garden and cooperative farm projects. The municipal administration in Puerto Cabezas plans to begin an incubator project giving vegetable seeds to women in its communities so they can produce vegetables both for sale and for the improvement of the nutritional value of family meals. While in Vermont, the delegation will observe local food growing models, from urban cooperative farms to small neighborhood garden projects.

“We welcome Mayor Reynaldo Francis and the Puerto Cabezas delegation to Burlington,” said Mayor Weinberger.  “We look forward to sharing Burlington’s knowledge of cooperative farming and neighborhood gardens, knowing it will benefit communities in our sister city. These visits allow Vermonters and Nicaraguans a unique opportunity to explore mutual interests from different perspectives, and forge connections that strengthen our historic ties to Puerto Cabezas and our Nicaraguan friends.”

Burlington began its sister city relationship with Puerto Cabezas, a city of 60,000 inhabitants located on Nicaragua's remote North Atlantic coast, in 1984. Over the years, Burlington has sent material and humanitarian aid to its sister city, including agricultural supplies, educational materials, computers, video equipment, wheelchairs, and fire-fighting tools. Official, educational, and cultural exchanges between the two cities have involved mayors, firefighters, drug-abuse counselors, photographers, visual artists, folk singers, college students, and entire Little League baseball teams.

Mayor Weinberger, along with former Mayor Peter Clavelle, will be hosting a reception for the visitors in Contois Auditorium on June 21 at 3pm. Also participating in the afternoon ceremony will be Burlington City Councilors, Department Heads, CEDO, and others involved with the sister city program. This will be an opportunity for Burlingtonians to meet the group from Puerto Cabezas and learn more about the sister city program. For more information, visit www.uvm.edu/sistercity.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 16, 2016
Contact:  Katie Vane
                 802.734.0617

Public-Private Marina Project Agreement Advances to the City Council
Will Create New Public Park, Add Long-Desired New Slips to City’s Harbor

The Board of Finance voted unanimously (4-0) on Monday, June 13 to recommend approval of a development agreement for the Burlington Harbor Marina project to City Council for its consideration on June 27.

“The exciting transformation of the northern waterfront that broke ground in 2014 is continuing to gather momentum,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “The new marina will build on the City’s recent northern waterfront public infrastructure investments and bring additional visitors and activity to a section of the lakeshore that had been largely abandoned for decades.  The project’s new park and public amenities will create new opportunities to enjoy Lake Champlain and our spectacular waterfront.”

Burlington is the largest city on Lake Champlain but has the ninth largest marina.  The City has had long waiting lists for slips for many years, and the lack of transient mooring options causes the City to turn away many would-be visitors every year.  Expanding the number of boat slips is an important strategy for creating economic opportunity and increasing the use of our waterfront.

The Burlington Harbor Marina project, a public-private partnership that includes the creation of a substantial new public park along the waterfront, would be built between the U.S. Coast Guard Station and the Burlington fishing pier on public lake frontage just south of the Community Sailing Center and Moran Plant. The project includes improvements such as a perimeter-wide floating breakwater open to the public, a floating facility with public restrooms, an interior dock with 160 slips, 40 percent of which will be reserved for transient boaters, a waterfront plaza, pump-out facilities and other services for boaters, and a wa­ter taxi stand.

The marina project was part of the plan for the northern waterfront developed during the year-long Public Investment Action Plan process. This process culminated in the overwhelming voter approval of the plan on Town Meeting Day in 2014.  The City Council unanimously approved an MOU for the project in May, 2015.  The City Council Parks Arts and Culture Committee has also reviewed the proposed project in recent months and recommended City Council approval of the marina agreement.

“We are looking forward to seeing the world-class facility and service we envisioned become a reality on the northern waterfront,” said project developers Chuck Deslauriers and Jack Wallace. “We are confident that Burlington Harbor Marina will help make Burlington the number one boater destination on Lake Champlain. We have enjoyed a lot of support from the community, especially the local boating community who looks forward to improved access to the lake.”

Following approval of the Development Agreement by the City Council, the project will need to complete permitting with the Burlington Development Review Board, along with state and federal regulatory agencies. The marina developers expect to open the new slips and complete construction in 2018.

*The proposed Development Agreement and images of the Burlington Harbor Marina project are available here: https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/CEDO/Harbor-Marina

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 14, 2016
Contact:  Katie Vane
                 802.734.0617

Next Phase of Bike Path Rehabilitation Breaks Ground
Will Extend Enhanced Path from New Skatepark to North Beach; Includes Three New Pause Places; 
Limited Construction Impact to Bike Path Users

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger today announced that the next phase of the Burlington Bike Path has broken ground. Bike Path Phase 1b construction will update and realign about one mile of the path from the new Andy A_Dog Williams Skatepark to North Beach, and will include the construction of three new pause places, intended to provide expanded recreational opportunities, including new fitness equipment provided by UVM Medical Center, along the path. Phase 1b rehabilitation will last through this December, with landscaping and finishing touches completed early in the spring of 2017.

“This summer we continue our generation’s work of restoring and enhancing the full length of the Burlington waterfront,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “This new phase will increase opportunities for Burlingtonians to access and enjoy Lake Champlain along a section of the path that has languished for years. Thank you to the Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Department for leading this effort, and to the hundreds of people who have worked to bring this vision to reality.”

During the first part of construction there will be limited disruption to current Bike Path users. Path rehabilitation through the Urban Reserve features a new path alignment that will bring the path closer to the lake, necessitating only occasional closures of the existing Bike Path for the crossing of construction equipment. The dog park within the Urban Reserve and the Phase 1b construction site will be closed this summer, but will reopen in 2017 as a restored facility with new fencing, gates, signage and improved water access. 

After Labor Day, the second part of construction from the Urban Reserve to just south of North Beach will require a full path closure. A detour through the North Beach Campground to North Avenue and down Depot St., connecting back with the Bike Path in Waterfront Park, is planned for path users. Access to the path by the Sailing Center and Skatepark will remain open.

Construction will also include the first of several planned pause place installations along the Burlington Bike Path. Located in the Urban Reserve, these first three pause places were designed by the planning and landscape design firm Sasaki Associates. All three will incorporate new fitness equipment made possible by a generous donation from the UVM Medical Center to the Parks Foundation of Burlington. These first installations will make up the beginning of the UVM Medical Center Fitness Trail that will continue in other parks and pause places throughout the rehabilitation of the Bike Path.

The first two pause places will be located adjacent to the new dog park and create access to the lake, fitness equipment, bike parking, and wayfinding.  The third pause place has been designed as a “mini-park” with a landform area for passive and active recreation, a new deck providing stunning views of both the lake and City, as well as ADA access to the newly acquired beach. The completed project will improve accessibility, add bike parking, and include the planting of over 150 native and cultivated varieties of trees and shrubs.

“The improvements to the Burlington Bike Path, part of the larger Burlington Greenway project, will continue thanks to the support of the City’s voters and generous philanthropic supporters,” said Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront (BPRW) Director Jesse Bridges.  “Our continued focus is to not only improve the pavement conditions of the path, but to give our residents and visitors a world-class experience to and through our beautiful parks and next to our most treasured asset, Lake Champlain. Next summer, users will have many reasons to stop to enjoy the Urban Reserve and the newly acquired Texaco Beach instead of simply moving through those spaces.” 

BPRW has led the effort to rehabilitate the entire eight-mile Bike Path running through downtown Burlington and along the Lake Champlain Waterfront.  Phase 1a encompassed the length of the path from Perkins Pier to Penny Lane, and was completed in summer of 2015.  Phase 1b brings the City a step closer to its five-year completion goal for the full eight miles.

The Council-approved budget for Phase 1b construction is approximately $2.4 million, a combination that includes tax increment financing (TIF), Fiscal Year 2016 Capital Improvement Program resources, Penny for Parks funding, support from the Bike Path Maintenance and Improvement Fund, and private philanthropy from the Parks Foundation of Burlington. The City Administration anticipates releasing a financing plan for the remaining bike path miles in the coming months.

*Please see attached document:

• Phase 1b Construction Site Sign

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 13, 2016
Contact:  Katie Vane
                 802.734.0617

Mayor Miro Weinberger Statement Regarding Orlando Shooting

“Burlington is devastated by the terrible terrorist act that took place in Orlando yesterday.  The City Hall flag will fly at half-mast this week in honor of the victims of America’s deadliest mass shooting, and I encourage all who can attend to stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ community and the people of Orlando at today’s 6pm Vermont Vigil for Orlando hosted by the Pride Center of Vermont.  The vigil will begin at 6pm at the First Unitarian Universalist Society on Pearl Street and include a march down Church Street to City Hall Park.”

*For more information about the vigil, please see: https://www.facebook.com/events/218649318528436/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 8, 2016
Contact:  Katie Vane
                 802.734.0617

Mayor Miro Weinberger Statement Regarding Outstanding Trump Invoice

“After careful investigation into the First Amendment and other legal considerations, we have come to the conclusion that it would be difficult to hold Donald Trump legally liable for the costs the City incurred to make his January rally in Burlington a safe and successful event. Thus, it would not be cost effective for the City to pursue collections remedies through the courts.

“That said, Mr. Trump’s failure to cooperate with local law enforcement officials and lack of communication with the public and ticketholders put undue strain on the City’s police, and unnecessarily hurt downtown businesses. Paying the invoice remains the right and honorable thing for Mr. Trump to do.

“Finally, I want to again thank the Burlington Police for their exemplary work during Mr. Trump’s visit to Burlington. The skill and professionalism of our officers were critical in ensuring that Mr. Trump’s Burlington rally did not result in the kind of violence and chaos that have all too often accompanied his campaign events.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 7, 2016
Contact:  Katie Vane
                 802.734.0617

Mayor Miro Weinberger’s Statement on S.230

“I support legislation that will have a positive impact on Burlington’s continued progress toward an even more renewable and sustainable energy future and give cities and towns appropriate opportunities to impact renewable energy siting decisions by the Public Service Board. Much of S.230 is in line with Burlington’s goals. I’m hopeful that the Legislature will sustain the Governor’s veto and fix the problematic provisions in S.230 during their brief return to the State House later this week.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 

June 3, 2016
Contact:  Katie Vane
                 802.734.0617

Mayor Miro Weinberger Statement in Response to Arrest of Suspects of Amos Beede Homicide

“I want to thank and congratulate the Burlington Police Department, in particular the detective unit, for their success in apprehending the four suspects in the murder of Amos Beede, and for bringing a measure of closure to the community after this terrible incident.

Amos was by all accounts a kind, caring, and loving individual. I extend my condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time.  I also would like to thank the Pride Center of Vermont for planning a memorial service for Amos on Wednesday, June 8 at 6:00 pm at Perkins Pier and giving the community the opportunity to remember and honor Amos’s life.

While the current evidence suggests that the attack of Amos may not have been a bias incident, the tragedy and the arc of Amos’s life remind us that transgender individuals face unique challenges and vulnerabilities that we must continue to work to address.”

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