Of four open positions on the seven-member commission, the council only returned vice chair Shireen Hart to her seat. Two other incumbents, Peter Bahrenburg and James Dunn, did not win reelection, while a third, Robert Simpson, did not reapply.
Newly appointed to serve three-year terms were black men Jabulani Gamache, a bartender; Yuol Herjok Yuol, a social worker; and Mark Hughes, a community activist.
The sea change comes after recent allegations of police brutality against people of color. Two Burlington police officers were recently sued for excessive use of force against black men, leading activists to call for greater oversight and cultural competency.
The council received 10 applications for the four open seats. Hart was unanimously reelected by the council as part of a slate of appointments to a variety of city boards and commissions.
But for the three remaining seats, each councilor was allowed to nominate an applicant. Each person to obtain seven votes, a majority, would land a spot. Mayor Miro Weinberger was allowed to cast a vote along with the 12 councilors.
Councilor Karen Paul (D-Ward 6) nominated Yuol, who received 10 votes, while Councilor Adam Roof (I-Ward 8) nominated Gamache, who earned eight. Councilor Franklin Paulino (D-North District) nominated Bahrenburg, though the council never voted on the incumbent.
The most debated appointment was for the last seat. Councilor Joan Shannon (D-South District) nominated incumbent Dunn, who was just finishing his third year on the commission.
Dunn is a retired lawyer who spent 42 years representing the Burlington Police Department in negotiations with the police union, according to his application for the commission post. Despite that work, Shannon said Dunn isn’t afraid to challenge Burlington Police Chief Brandon del Pozo during commission deliberations.
“While we need new blood, we need some continuity,” she said.
Councilor Brian Pine (P-Ward 3) countered with a nomination for Hughes, the executive director for the nonprofit Justice for All. Pine said he was originally going to vote for Dunn but changed his mind, saying he supports Hughes because he’ll speak up against the racial divide in Burlington.
Council President Kurt Wright (R-Ward 4) chided his fellow councilors, saying that removing incumbents “for no apparent reason” discourages people from even applying for civic service.
“Yes, the police commission needs change, and we’re doing that,” Wright said. “We just added significant diversity [in Gamache and Yuol]. Really significant diversity.”
Councilor Perri Freeman (P-Central District) criticized Wright, saying his language “tokenized” the nonwhite applicants. She then cast her vote for Hughes, who was approved with eight votes compared to five for Dunn.
In his application, Hughes said his military experience equipped him with an understanding of a rigid structure such as that found in a police department. He said his goal is to “restore community trust to the department.”
Gamache, a bartender at Manhattan Pizza & Pub on the corner of Church and Main streets, said he frequently witnesses the challenges of policing in downtown Burlington.
“Lastly,” Gamache wrote, “as a 33-year-old black man, I have an understanding of the cultural and historical dynamics at play between the police and communities of color.”
Yuol’s application was concise: “I want to be the voice of the forgotten community,” he wrote.
Watch the full meeting below; video courtesy of Channel 17:
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As long as Michelle Asch is chair and the commission has zero authority to do much of anything, this is all window dressing.
The commission could be 100% non-white and it wont matter if oversight rests in the hands of a very high majority white and wealthy council + mayor.
@cwinklem
Please tell us all what you definition of wealthy is. Also please inform us as to who the wealthy members of the board are.
Can’t wait for this!
For many reasons (both good and not-so-good), the council is indeed very “white” and probably quite “comfortable”. It’s hard to serve on any councils or commissions when you have to work to pay bills and you can’t afford childcare.
“Councilor Perri Freeman (P-Central District) criticized Wright, saying his language tokenized the non-white applicants.”
Riiiggghhhtttt…
From Mr. Hughes application for the commission spot: “How did you learn of the opportunity/opening to serve on a Board/Commission Answer: I was approached by the Progressives.” So who was it who tokenized the process and the applicants then, Perri?
Also it should be mentioned that since Mr. Hughes tends to make a lot of his military service it is perfectly appropriate to request to see his DD-214, and he should offer it eagerly. It is odd that he states he is a retired officer but has an Associates Degree.
When people hear officer they generally think Commissioned Officer which requires a Bachelors as a minimum. Mr. Hughes may have also been a Warrant Officer, but while Commissioned Officers are largely generalists WOs are usually very loud and proud of their roles as subject matter experts and would not refer to themselves as simply Officers unless someone was trying to be deliberately nebulous. Also his 15 years of service is odd in relation to his claim of being retired (meaning on the retired list). During the peace dividend drawdown the services did occasionally offer what was referred to as TERA which was a sort of early retirement, but the services also RIFed (Reduction In Force) a lot of people during the same time and it would be helpful to know which category Mr. Hughes falls into. His DD-214 would clear all this up.
“His DD-214 would clear all this up.”
Dude, I got buddies who died face down in the muck so that you and I could enjoy this family newspaper!
Mercy sakes Mr. Cashman, there is no need to unleash your “Stolen Valor” paranoia on Mr. Hughes, and no dark, looming character issue that necessitates some sort of Double D’s documentation or whatever to “clear all this up”.
If you feel compelled to publicly comment, a respectful, albeit canned “Thank you for your service” acknowledgement of Mr. Hughes 15 years of military service would suffice. Or is that reserved only for white vets?
“I got buddies who died face down in the muck…” Oh, spare me the hyperventilating hyperbole. Mr. Hughes makes an issue of his military service, repeatedly. He uses very specific words that mean very specific things. For the sake of all who have served honorably the right thing to do is to request to see his DD-214, just as I do whenever I see anyone else using their service as a qualification. It isnt wrong to use service as a qualification and to be rightfully proud of honorable service, but if you do you should expect that reasonable people will want to see some proof of your claimed qualification. Doing so is infinately more respectful of Veterans than simply accepting at face value everyone who makes the claim as it serves to deter the cheats and liars and preserves the sanctity of the title of Veteran.
@BradD I was referring to the councilors, but sure. The commission chair has done an exceptionally poor job communicating with residents who bring complaints, also owns a $2 million dollar house. The vice-chair is a powerful lawyer and BBA vice-chair, who has done a much better job communicating, yet neither are able to show anything close to the transparency needed to bring trust back to this commission, as they both signed off on all the brutality and shenanigans going on under this chief.
Standing next to him during a press conference where they agreed with letting one officer off scott-free and the other with a 2-week suspension threw any credibility the two of them may have had out the window.
I hope the new folks on the commission publicly push for more oversight power, so this isn’t just a tokenizing act.
“wealthy council”
Wow.
First of all, I echo Bradd’s question: what is “wealthy” and who on the Council is “wealthy”?
Second, please explain why a “wealthy” person is, by virtue of her income, incapable of carrying out oversight of the Police Department? Is there something in the leftist-dogma-talking-points rule book that says “wealthy” people can’t exercise oversight of police and must not be allowed to serve? Why not? Which rule is that in the book? Would a “wealthy” person of color be an exception to that rule? Would a really poor white person be better at police oversight than a “wealthy” white person?
Prejudiced against “wealthy” people (however you unilaterally define it), much? Chained to dogmatic stereotypes, much?
And speaking of white majority City Council, there were 4 council races in March. How many candidates of color did the Progs put up to run for those seats? Out of 4: one.
Mr. Cashman,
Thank you for knowing what you’re talking about. I don’t know about the document, but you sound okay.
Mr. Flipflopfly, if you can’t put your name behind it, your comment is not so trustworthy. I’d also suggest you put your opinions in a positive way, and not start “calling each other names.”
Most of what I know about the three most vocal commenters (flipflopfly, knowyourassumptions, and grownassman,) is that they dislike everyone else’s opinions.
Mr. Hughes is executive director of Justice For All, and likely a good choice, as are the other two men.
As far as continuity, I’m not sure if we need it or not. I’m interested to see how all this goes. It’s a good step.
I went to high school with Kurt Wright and he was always bragging how rich he was and acted like he was better than anyone else. He was also racist in school so I don’t know if he’s changed since then. That might explain his reluctance to vote for Hughes…
@cwinklem
I also was referring to the city council. How many of the Progs do you consider rich? And as far as not being able to afford child care isn’t that what families do. Each share in the responsibility of child rearing.
It is obvious that your thinking is if you are a person of color (white is a color) you are prejudice.
Last I looked the Police Chief has a lot of bases covered having a Jewish mother and Cuban father. Too bad he isn’t a woman…………………….
The police commission is fortunate to have Mark Hughes. He walks his talk and gets things done.
Martha,
Great. But what does that mean, exactly?
You point out that someone you disagree with owns a $2 million dollar house? Really? That is how you reason? That is how you debate issues? She and her husband own a house that is assessed at $2 million, therefore whatever views she holds about policing are automatically wrong? Have you heard of this concept called logic? So I assume you would also agree that Bernie Sanders is a greedy bastard who couldnt and shouldnt serve on the Police Commission, since he has three residences and a net worth of over 2 million?
Good decision, Majority of City Council. And thanks to those who stepped up to be nominated.
What discourages people from applying is contentious deliberation, and the practice of reappointing incumbents as if it is their privilege to keep a seat year after year. During the tenure of that commission, police killed fragile people and black people were beat up by police. That commission definitely needed a sea change! Why did it take so long for Council to realize the commission needed racial balance, and what about gender balance? Every board and commission needs this balance, including City Council.
How long will there be peace in the police force??? Did any of these new citys police commission have any police training? I mean a bartender, a social worker, a community activist. what are their qualifications for knowing how a policeman should react??? Have they been out on the streets trying to arrest someone who is violent or maybe have a weapon ??? No matter what skin color these men/women police officers, all I can say is “Thank You for your service” !!!
Knowyourassumptions?
Your letter was all questions? Do you have an opinion on the article itself? The issue itself? Are you harassing people who comment? I hope not?
Hmm. The more you scratch the stranger this all smells. Turns out the Christine Longmore, who appears to also claim 222 Riverside Ave Apt 12 as her address, was also previously a police commissioner: https://vtdigger.org/2017/02/07/burlington…
Patrick Cashman, check out this swan song from Hughes and Longmore…
https://justiceforallvt.org/2018/07/19/123…
Ted Cohen,
Okay, wow. That has to be one of the most un-selfaware, self aggrandizing spiels I have read in a long time. I especially enjoyed how every objection to their pronouncements is simplified, then restated with quotes around it, to include the very language of the law that provided them their bully pulpit in the first place. In a state government report. These two do appear to be a couple of charmers.
Interestingly though the requirements for being on the Burlington Police Commission are in charter, not ordinance, so the City doesn’t establish the requirement to be a legal voter of Burlington but instead the Legislature does. So it will be fun to see how the Council works around Mr. Hughes not being a legal voter of Burlington when he was appointed to the commission.
Thanks for the link.
I can’t see how that link is so bad – tells about Justice For All. Any website of an organization tells how important they believe the organization is. “WE WANT TO KEEP YOU POSTED ON ALL THE THINGS” is a little awkward, but I’ve seen worse on more official sites. What’s the matter with it?
Mr Messing,
Im referring to the “Report” reached via the download button at the bottom.
Hello Patrick, or Mr. Cushman,
You mean the download link on the Justice For All site – I see!
It’s a 25 page PDF – if you can read that and understand that document in a few hours, you’re more familiar with the format and subject than I am. If you say it’s got its quirks or flaws, I believe you. Thanks for the clarification.
Did Ms. Freeman verify Mr. Hughes was a legal Burlington voter before nominating him? It seems like basic due diligence.
“Did Ms. Freeman verify Mr. Hughes was a legal Burlington voter before nominating him? It seems like basic due diligence.”
Well Ms Freeman verified the only issues that mattered to her , that Mr Hughes had the right politics and the right skin color . Anything else seems to be of minor importance .