Knodell, a Progressive, broke with some members of her party when she voiced her support for the downtown mall redevelopment. That’s put a target on her back for members of the CLC.
Grill, in a statement announcing her candidacy, did not mention the Coalition. But she’s been an outspoken member of the group for much of the last year and plans to run on similar issues.
“Recent initiatives of the administration have pushed private profit agendas upon residents,” Grill said. “This is a campaign for real neighborhood power and real political, ecological, and economic change, not just politics-as-usual, backroom deal-making, token public input, or compromises with powerful private interests.”
Grill, who shares studio space in the South End, contributed artwork and broadsides to CLC’s “vote no” campaign before the November election.
Grill’s fellow CLC member Charles Simpson will run as a Progressive in the South District against incumbent Democratic Councilor Joan Shannon, an outspoken supporter of the mall redevelopment.
The deadline to register with the city as a candidate for the March 7 election is January 30. Democrats are scheduled to hold their nominating caucus on Thursday.
*Correction, January 11, 2017: This post has been updated to clarify the relationship between the Coalition for a Livable City and Grill’s campaign.
Related Stories
Got something to say?
Send a letter to the editor and we'll publish your feedback in print!
Love the Genese Grill. Great hamburgers, prompt service.
Jane Knodell will always have my support. She knows how to turn progressive ideology into tangible environmental, social, and economic results.
Hey, Burlingtonobserver! Jane Knodell has:
-shilled and voted for the 14-story Mall benefitting a Wall Street multi-millionaire Don Sinex
-voted for the basing of the costly and unnecessary weapon of US imperialism the F-35
-voted for management over the striking bus drivers
-voted for militarized policing and Chief del Pozo who has brutally murdered two residents in just one year
-voted for the 1%’s entire gentrification agenda serving white-gated communities
-voted against the democratic and inclusive planBTV
Is this the “progressive ideology” you refer too?
To know Knodell is to NO Knodell. Vote her out in March!
Good luck to those of you who represent the 99%.
I’m with Jane! I’ve had the opportunity to see Jane in action in our community a number of times over the past few years, and really admire her drive for change, and her empathy.
She’s always out there talking to people, and she really listens. I email her last year about frustration with some city processes (permitting, etc.) and she made an effort to personally come to my house and listen. I saw her in action during our Old North End clean-up event last year – She & Sara organized a very successful junk removal event with big dumpster and ReSource trucks, and she was walking the neighborhood helping people participate, clearly energized by our neighborhood. A couple of weeks ago, she came to a neighborhood safety meeting at Nunyuns, and Jane was there listening, facilitating, taking notes, and making sure our police officers felt comfortable in the group.
I think she’s not only passionate about Burlington, but has a strong understanding of a wide range of people’s needs and interests in the city based on years of listening and making connections. She’s willing to consider all sides of things and long-term consequences, which makes her a strong legislator and fair representative. Looking forward to voting for Jane for another term!
Jane Knodell, a faux Progressive who puts the profits of Lockheed-Martin and their F-35 fighter jet over the health and home values of her own constituents. That’s the kind of economy that Knodell the economics professor supports. A transfer of wealth from the least vulnerable whose homes and health are all they have to the already rich and military industrialists.
It’s even worse because Knodell campaigned on a promise to oppose the planes. This liar then repeatedly broke her campaign pledge once she was safely reelected. She should be ashamed of herself. Not sure how she looks a single constituent in the eye. No different than most every other politician who talks the talk but doesn’t give a hoot about anyone but themselves. The people of Wards 2 and 3 would do well to elect someone else.
Too often when people serve in any elected position too long, they become members of the club and no longer identify with (or represent) the people who elected them. Look at how they vote. Sharon Bushor is a rare exception. Genese Grill’s opponent is not.
Genese will bring a resident’s petspective to City Council. She will be faithful to the values of the Central District, and will work well with Councilor Tracy. She will bring energy and independence to a council that tpday acts like the mayor’s private club.
Genese is not timid. She will fight for the people in her district and for all who want a council that serves as a balance to over-reaching power. People all over the city are counting on Wards 2 and 3 to send Genese’ strong, independent voice to the council table.
I’m glad Jane’s done good work in the past, but I haven’t been seeing it this year. I’m don’t want the F-35 or skyscrapers here, and I don’t think those ideas are Progressive. It’s time for a change – it’s become obvious that Jane and a group of her constituents no longer think alike. I’m voting for Genese. And whoever Stellquarta is, making fun of her name is insidiously low. Cute wordplay can’t run for office. Let’s make some real progress.
Hi. The Progressive Coalition, with Bernie Sanders at its apex was a major, if not the major factor in my moving to Burlington in the early 80’s. What I learned from them during those early years informs my commitment to Genese Grill now. Genese has the marrow-deep integrity that made our city hall an example for all the nation. Then.
Genese was my partner Jen’s advisor at Burlington College. She brought out the best of Jen’s qualities in coaching her through her graduating project, synthesizing everything she ever learned. Nothing less than the best was going to be acceptable.
Others will be able to tell you that Genese is uncommonly articulate, consistent, knowledgeable about her city, and sincere in saying what she means, and meaning what she says. I can tell you at length how she connected with my Jen and helped her create something that she could be proud of.
Genese Grill is a perfect example of the democracy in action that President Obama referenced tonight when he said “change only happens when ordinary people get involved, and they get engaged, and they come together to demand it.” The incumbent and the administration she serves govern from the top down. If they didn’t call themselves Progressives and Democrats, they’d be easily mistaken for Republicans. Genese will empower the Neighborhood by being the voice of her neighbors. It’s time for more true democracy on the City Council. Genese is the change to make that happen.
I’ve know Genese since she came to Burlington over 20 years ago, and she is that rare person with great integrity, passion, and creativity who is also absolutely dedicated to the principles of strong community through democracy. Her skills and work as an activist have already affected change, especially seen through her arts community advocacy as part of the South End Alliance, and in her recent activism around the downtown development agreement, where she argued for a fair and democratic process at every turn.
In this time of money talking and democracy walking, Burlington does need to make sure we have voices at the city council table who are representing the disenfranchised and un-moneyed. Genese stands for everything I have loved about my hometown of Burlington and still think is worth fighting for; its artistic heart, progressive politics, and commitment to social justice and democracy over money interests.
Genese Grill cares about Burlington and the people here. She gets what makes it such a special place and has put her heart and soul into making sure it remains so. She has my confidence and my vote.
Thrilled that Genese is stepping up. She will be an informed, articulate advocate for those whose voices too often go unheard. Local government should remain the most accessible and responsive vehicle for addressing citizen needs. Genese will hold those who serve alongside her responsible for doing the people’s work.
Yay Genese! Time for a change in City Hall!
Genese Grill lives centrally among her constituents and — importantly — shares an income level with the majority of them. Thus she is particularly fitted to represent her district. As a prolific author and editor, she is exceptionally able to articulate its situation to the public at large, and to other members of the City Council. And as a committed activist/”artivist”, she well represents that spirit of Burlington which often escapes the usual politician. She’ll certainly make City Council meetings more interesting.
Have termed Genese the “person for all seasons” because she can do the nitty gritty of politics at the meeting level with those she likes and does not like so much (disagrees with someone’s politics but never makes it personal), writes scholarly researched books, does the boring organizational work of leading meetings and silk screening T-shirts, listens to everyone she meets, works as a part time artist, edits Burlington’s incredible 05401 magazine carefully circulated to all residents not just the “elites”, taught at Burlington College, and perhaps as important in impressing one, she travels everywhere by bicycle and would be the second City Councilor along with Max Tracy to bring a first hand daily experience of what it is like to walk and bike the difficult streets of this City. This is a time of change, of insuring grassroots change rises naturally through the City Council and above–and Genese Grill could be better suited to undertake this task on behalf and in democratic concert with Wards 2 and 3. Tony Redington Blog: TonyRVT.blogspot.com
A vote for Genese is a vote FOR greater participatory democracy,
She will listen to you, and put everyones ideas to work.
She has spent decades going before city hall to speak out about various things. So she understands how city hall works. Knows all of the members of various boards.
She voted NO for the 14 story mall, just like the entire wards 2/3 did.
Now she is willing to give back to city hall and put her incredibly creative energy to work as a city councilor. VOTE YES FOR GENESE GRILL. She is just the very best.!
Genese is fantastic. And I am constantly amazed by Tony Redington’s clarity and vision.
Both speak truth to power and money unwaveringly. They really care about this place and our future living here and are both careful, truthful, researchers and planners.
What is happening in Burlington right now is that people like the developer-Mayor and his cronies (those on the city council and those he has appointed, etc), have obtained power to serve themselves and not the community. Shocking huh? Weinberger was destroying and violating Burlington’s neighborhoods and zoning codes before he was mayor and decided to go straight to the source to annihilate our common sense PlanBTV thus freeing himself of our protections. Weinberger and Co. have become so obviously self-serving and brazenly destructive to the community that ordinary citizens who were never tempted to obtain city office are now being called into it, simply to stop the madness and lend integrity back into the process.
You want people like Genese and Tony and Max and Sharon, and hopefully soon Steve Goodkind running your city. You do not want developers that set up PACs and spend 100,000$$+ to trick people into voting against their own best interest while handing over millions to millionaire developers.
I am unabashed in my enthusiasm for Genese Grill for City Council. Having worked closely with Genese in the efforts of CLC and SEA, I can say that she is the kind of passionate, independent, dedicated and fiercely honest voice that is desparately needed in City Council along with Max Tracy and Sharon Bushor.
I respect Jane Knodell and she has presided over City Council with much professionalism, but politically she has fallen out of step with her constituents over F-35 basing and the zoning change that allows 14+ story buildings in our downtown core. Her policies appear to be driven by a Miro affiliation or an old guard progressive agenda, rather than true representation of the views of the residents in wards 2/3.
Genese is independent of party agendas and political affiliations. Her goal is not just to listen to her constituents but to ACT on their behalf. She represents the kind of fresh representation of neighborhood concerns that is so needed today. Genese has no hidden agendas that will distract her from the kind of representation that Wards 2/ 3 deserve. Genese is exactly the kind of candidate needed today, both locally and nationally to refocus on what matters most – people, the environment and democratic process.
Burlington needs real change, real soon! Vote for real citizen power.Vote for Genesse Grill !
When the current Mayor first campaigned for office, a clean sweep was promised to Burlington voters. The previous (KISS) administration stole $17 Million of taxpayer dollars which funded Burlington Telecom.
This administration is sweeping more dollars from citizens pockets, with $21 million promised to the Burlington Town (Mall) Centers developer.
PS- Todays paper announced a 5.23% increase in Burlingtons educational budget.
Genese is a wonderful person and true believer in human dignity and all things beautiful. She is a genius at scholarly work and her artistic mind will be put to good use in politics! We need more like her everywhere. Vote her in to keep Burlington the best city in America.
Excuse me…the “reactionary fringe”? Hello, It’s WE THE PEOPLE, participating in the democratic process.
Thank you for inviting our participation in the public input part of city-wide planning projects. We have showed up in droves, attended meetings and filled out questionnaires. But quite frankly, WE THE PEOPLE are weary of participating in these sessions, only to have our interests passed over in favor of developers with big pockets. Your pace for development is too frenzied. Where the rubber meets the road, in the finalization stage of plans, we want our input to be incorporated.
Many of us were outraged when 60+ WE THE PEOPLE’s show up for the public input part of a city council meeting to weigh in before the council vote to approve the Burlington College property development plan. When 75% of those WE THE PEOPLE’s comments were not in favor of the plans as presented, it seems prudent that you would slow down the pace to consider and incorporate changes to address those concerns. We want councilors and a mayor who will not only listen, but advocate for what we tell them is important to us. You asked. We spoke. You listened. But you DID NOT ADVOCATE for WE THE PEOPLE. My vote goes for s(he) who advocates for me.
WE THE PEOPLE are not opposed to the downtown suburban mall nor upgrades to City Hall Park. We want our interests included in shaping the finalized version of development plans.
WE THE PEOPLE are reading the fine print and details. We are informed and actively engaged, and we will put forth a slate of candidates who not only listen, but advocate for us.
As a concerned citizen, I have to speak up here with a dissenting opinion. Not everyone loves Genese Grill, for a host of reasons that I will leave it up to others to investigate. She has a demonstrated history in this community that is far from pleasant. Please elect a respectable, experienced, level-headed, and empathetic representative with integrity!