Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak holds second public safety forum

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Burlington's Mayor took another step towards finding a solution for better public safety Thursday evening. In this forum, the mayor's office shared what the city is doing for victims and children.

"We're all victims in some ways by being in Burlington right now and being present to all the suffering that's going on," said Rachel Jolly from the Burlington Community Justice Center.

Every year since 2022, there have been over 1,000 reported incidents of larceny. The number is high enough for one in every 40 residents to be a victim of personal theft.

"Every time there is crime or harm, the community is impacted. That's why you're all here," said Jolly.

A few dozen Burlingtonians showed up to Fletcher Free Library to participate in a public safety forum, though the public was not offered an opportunity to speak.

"That's part of what these forums are about, is to introduce you one to existing resources, and how we're continuing to have to create new responses," said Jolly.

Representatives from the Community Justice Center, the King Street Center, Steps to End Domestic Violence, and the police shared what their part in the fight for a safer city looks like.

The mayor shared updates to her objectives for public safety. She's trying to hire a receptionist for the police department, a project manager for the overdose prevention center, make a public bathroom map, and she says soon she'll implement better public education on who to call in an emergency and pilot a rapid response team inside the library.

"I'll meet with the county sheriff along with other folks here from the city on exploring retail theft," Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak said.

While residents in the audience couldn't say anything, the mayor's office did take questions from them via note cards that were sorted by her staff and answered by the panel.

The panelists had a vision for what a safe city looks like. One where children are literate and have after school activities with transportation and mentorship, where people's basic needs are met, where housing is not a crisis, and there's no desire for drugs.

"I'm looking forward to the day where you can feel both the vibrancy and the diversity of this community," said Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak.

The third public safety forum will focus on drug use in January. The mayor's office said there there are not any deliverables or a strategic plan in place for after these forums end.