A crowd of 250 people inside the Burlington High School auditorium roared with approval, waving “Miro for Mayor” signs as they gave their endorsement with a voice vote.
Weinberger avoided what could have been an awkward caucus. Independent mayoral candidate Carina Driscoll initially said she planned to seek the Democratic endorsement, but later backed down.
“Rather than attempting to pull off a political stunt unseating the Mayor in his own caucus, I am focused on engaging voters throughout the city and increasing participation on election day, Tuesday, March 6th,” she said. Driscoll earned the endorsement of Burlington Progressives in December.
Weinberger’s wife, Stacy, nominated him for the endorsement. The mayor seemed at ease on stage, cracking a joke about keeping the temperature low inside the chilly auditorium to save taxpayer dollars, and sharing anecdotes about members of his campaign team.
Weinberger was quick to tout his accomplishments, painting a picture of his intervention when Burlington “teetered on the edge of a true fiscal crisis.” He described his work investing in the northern waterfront, building affordable housing and selling Burlington Telecom.
Weinberger also reverted back to his talking point of elections past — city financials. “Fiscal responsibility is not a checkbox on a to-do list to be marked and then forgotten,” he said to applause.
His priorities in his next term will be ensuring that Burlington remains “an equitable and inclusive city.” Weinberger also vowed to invest in infrastructure and public spaces, move forward on energy initiatives, and to resist policies of President Donald Trump “that are in conflict with Burlington values.”
Though Weinberger never mentioned Driscoll by name, he twice alluded to her in his speech. Driscoll, Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) stepdaughter, could pose a serious challenge to the incumbent.
“One of my opponents is trying to reuse the old campaign slogan that ‘Burlington is not for sale,’ suggesting that Burlington Democrats are recklessly selling off the City’s assets,” Weinberger said. “Nothing could be further from the truth. We aren’t selling Burlington.”
The caucus began with city council candidate endorsements.
Haskell, a 21-year-old UVM graduate, has worked with Burlington and state Democratic committees and promised voters that if elected, she would bring accountability and transparency to the city council.
In Ward 7, incumbent Ali Dieng beat Chris Trombly 46-16. Dieng, who in December also secured the Progressive nomination, defeated Trombly in a special election last June.
Chip Mason (D-Ward 5) also received unanimous support in his bid to hold his seat against Progressive Jesse Warren. Incumbent Karen Paul (D-Ward 6) was endorsed in her run against Progressive Charles Simpson. Independent Adam Roof received the Ward 8 endorsement; he’ll face UVM student Carter Neubieser, a Progressive.
No Democratic candidates stepped up to contest the reelection bids of Sharon Bushor (I-Ward 1), Kurt Wright (R-Ward 4) or Max Tracy (P-Ward 2).
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“We aren’t selling Burlington” but Miro is.
Burlington is for sale.
1) The city just sold a parking lot to known slumlord Rick Bove.
2) The city is leasing land on the waterfront so that a local hotel mogul can build a private marina.
3) Burlington Telecom just sold to an out of state bidder with few ties to the city.
4) The mayor wanted to sell memorial auditorium to UVM so they could build an arena, without input from residents.
1)The city sold an underutilized parking lot to make way for affordable housing
2)The city also just completed a significant upgrade to public spaces along the bike path
3)BT was just sold to Schurz (a family that donates to conservative political candidates) thanks to “progressive” city councilors collaborating with NNE conservative councilors to block the mayor’s preferred choice
4)The mayor talked with the UVM about Memorial, they never got to a point where there was any deal, which would’ve included public input to be approved.
Not saying the current administration is perfect, far from it, they definitely need to improve their public outreach and transparency, but the way progs are playing politics is really disappointing. They are hiding their own culpability on issues like the BT sale, as well as the fact that when they were in control of the Mayor’s office all of these issues of affordability, lack of transparency still existed. At least this mayor doesn’t pass everything on to the taxpayers.
Also since when is protecting parking spots for gas guzzling cars considered to be progressive value?
Burlington has to move forward to be successful. Development is part of moving forward.
1. The parking lot was underutilized netting approximately $23,000/yr. Sale is for $500,000 and adds property to the grand list and generates rooms and meals tax revenue. The development results in 15 net new housing units, 76 hotel rooms, 95 parking spaces and a commercial space. Apart from the required Inclusionary Units the remainder will be at Section 8 rates. Finally, the sale of this lot is consistent with Plan BTV.
2. TIF funding for the marina was approved by the voters. The marina was part of the process that began in 2013 and was one of 50 proposals that went through multiple public hearings, open houses, council approval and ultimately public approval in 2014. The Marina will bring visitors to Burlington generating tax revenue. The marina will further advance the transformation of the northern waterfront.
3. BT was never owned by the City and was “sold” because of financial mismanagement and gross negligence of the Kiss Administration. A sale to the KBTL was not viable and would have resulted in costly litigation with CitiBank, a denial from Blue Water and likely denial by the PSB. The sale was forced because of settlements and agreements made to save BT.
4. There was never a decision to sell Memorial. Discussions with UVM were exploratory. The Administration has engaged a consultant to advance the discussion on Memorial. The charge to the consultant is to create an adaptive reuse plan for Memorial Auditorium to remain a publicly-owned public assembly space (engaging stakeholders and the general public to determine elements of the design and program); create conceptual plans, and present it to the Council for a November 2018 ballot item.
My issue with Mayor Weinberger is I don’t trust him. He’s already starting to pivot off of his development message to “inclusion, affordability, etc.” none of which has marked his years in office, why should I trust him now? He has clearly embraced large scale development which isn’t (curiously?) in his current message, again to the trust issue. He DID bring up private development of Memorial Auditorium which should be taken at face value given his track record. He seems to pivot whenever it suits him, make disparaging remarks against competitors and then say he’s for inclusion. I voted for the guy initially but no longer support him because I don’t trust him.
Yes, BT is water under the bridge but to claim gross mismanagement and negligence is a cheap shot. The financial condition of BT was clearly articulated in the City’s financial statements (look back at 2008, etc.). The City Councilors (Shannon, Knodell, Bushor, Wright, etc.) should have been able to pick up on BT’s financial woes and bring it up for discussion. If they didn’t understand BT’s condition at the time, then the City Council should also be criticized with the gross mismanagement and negligence brush too and not lay it all on the Kiss Administration.
Time for a change in City Hall.
“We aren’t selling Burlington” but Miro is..
This is simply Trump-style fake news. By a Weinberger-hater who consistently hurls false claims against the mayor (“bribery”) but has never, ever backed them up with any evidence.
Hi Councilor Mason,
1. I believe in working with developers who treat their tenants like human beings. Rick Bove is so far removed from that list.
http://charleswinkleman.com/2017/12/06/the…
Will you be working on any ordinances to protect current and new residents?
2. TIF funding for the marina was approved by the voters, many of whom like myself thought that the waterfront would stay open entirely to the public like it had for 30 years.
The marina was part of a process, where the winner won by only .2 points to a publicly funded Parks and Recs marina, and the chair of the PIAP process just happened to have worked previously with the aforementioned hotel mogul, which feels uncomfortably close. And in the process Public ownership wasnt given any extra weight.
https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/CEDO/Public-I…
If we desperately must privatize it should be to help our most vulnerable neighbors first and foremost, not wealthy out-of-state tourists.
3. BT was never owned by the City and was “sold” because of financial mismanagement by the Kiss Adminsitration, also because of city councilors from all parties who ignored the warning signs, and also due to councilors Shannon and Adrian who used political maneuvering so that the city couldnt adequately refinance in 2008.
https://sevendaysvt-test.newspackstaging.com/vermont/under-…
4. If discussions were just exploratory, why atleast from news articles, did it sound like it was exploratory only towards a sale to UVM, and only when that sale (or long term lease) fell through did the city return to their original public process and plan to keep the auditorium public?
https://sevendaysvt-test.newspackstaging.com/OffMessage/arc…
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In 2009 Mayor Weinberger entertained selling off Burlington Electric.
https://m.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/for-sale…
He loves Bernie, Miro is a socialist liberal, he wants to make Burlington into an NYC. He’ll be reelected, no if and buts about it. Why aren’t businesses stay in Burlington?? Even small businesses are losing.. People are better off shopping outside of Burlington and living outside of it too.
Charles,
1. As always, I would be happy to discuss your concerns and potential solutions beyond what is in our current ordinances.
2. I, too, supported the marina planned for the southern portion of the waterfront, but as you note, that was not advanced since it scored lower than other proposals. Jesse Bridges believes that his plan remained viable and may be advanced some day. In light of the City’s other pressing needs (and the recently announcement by the School Board of a double digit increase in property taxes), I do not see the second marina moving forward soon.
3. The City of Burlington would not have been able to refinance $50M in BT debt. The term sheet floated by Raymond James required the full faith and credit of the City which would have required a change in state law and approval by the PSB. Additionally, BT was worth under $10M at that time. Borrowing at that level would have killed it.
4. There is nothing in the article you cited that demonstrates anything other than a proposal. Conversations about the future of memorial have not been front and center or active because of the attention focused upon City Center and BT. Thanks.
Congratulations to Miro (D-Redstone/Sinex)
Hi Councilor Mason,
At the end of the day what I see is a consistent thread of a mayor and city council who just do not understand what its like to be working poor, and whose policies time and time again end up focusing on helping those who have considerable means over our neighbors who are most vulnerable and marginalized. The voices of advocates, like the ACLU, seem to fall on deaf ears.
I was hoping you could offer some clear examples to show how I am wrong, how I have misread the past 6 years, show some clear examples of the council and mayor putting people over profits, because Im having some serious trouble seeing it.
When I think Burlington is for sale, what I mean is that businesses and landlords and developers in Burlington have priority and focus over more vulnerable populations, that for example like the private marina, or the mayor and city council supporting a mall project with an initial poor door entrance, tourists and developers have a better chance of being heard in city hall over community advocates (like myself) and more importantly the marginalized groups and the working poor we devote our lives to supporting.
It has been demoralizing to put so much trust in local elected leaders and feel like instead of listening, they’d rather argue. Thank you for your time.
“a mayor and city council who just do not understand what its like to be working poor,”
First, I just think you are wrong.
Second, take up your concerns with Max Tracy, Jan Knodell, Sharon Bushor, Sara Moore, and Ali Deng. What have they done?
Wow!! Now that Bernie’s daughter is running for Mayor the Progressive attack dogs are going to do everything they can to stab Miro in the back. The Progressives always want and usually get the Democratic support but it is a totally one way street. As soon as they have their own candidate they have no use for the Democrats. What a bunch hypocrites! The fact is the Kiss/Leopold administration left the city in financial shambles. Miro has brought Burlington back to financial respectability. Sorry, just facts not FAKE NEWS!!