Neighbors- Now that Council is getting back into full swing, I wanted to provide a few updates on upcoming issues as well as let you know that Mayor Weinberger and I will be at Barrio Bakery from 8:00-9:30 on Friday morning to hear about your concerns and ideas for the Old North End. I realize that many of you will be working at this time, so we will be making a point of doing it at a different time in the future. As always, feel free to call (373-1968) or email (maxwell.k.tracy@gmail.com) if you have any feedback to share.
Now for the updates:
Redistricting- As a result of the 2010 census data and changing population numbers, the city must redraw the ward boundaries to make sure that everybody across the city receives equal representation. After months of work by the Redistricting Committee and the Council and three public hearings, several plans with widely varying ward boundaries and numbers of councilors will be voted on by the Council on Monday, September 23. My biggest priorities are keeping the Old North End as a distinct neighborhood in terms of representation and making sure that we create wards in which people of all economic, racial, gender identity, sexual orientation and political backgrounds can compete. For more information on the process and to see the maps go here: http://www.burlingtonvt.gov/CityCouncil/Ward-Redistricting/
Livable Wage Ordinance- Following several months of review, the Ordinance Committee voted out to the full Council a revised livable wage ordinance that provides enhanced third party compliance checks to make sure that city employees and employees contracted by the city receive a livable wage. Additionally, the ordinance was expanded to include seasonal and temporary workers. However, the Committee did remove the provision specifying that airport lessees (mainly airlines) had to pay their workers a livable wage. While I support the enhanced compliance checks and expanding the ordinance to cover seasonal workers, I do not support removing the airport from ordinance because I support the livable wage concept as a whole and have not seen any data regarding the negative impact on airlines. There will be a public comment period on this issue at 6pm on the 23rd at Contois Auditorium at City Hall prior to the Council mtg where we will take a final vote if you want to share your opinion.
F-35 Basing- At the City Council meeting on October 7th, all four of the Old North End councilors will be sponsoring a resolution opposing the basing of the F-35 at Burlington International Airport. The combined impacts on noise (4x louder than the F-16), loss of housing, public health, crash risk, and overall cost of the project ( Over 160 million per plane) are staggering and I cannot support bringing those harms upon my community. If you would like to share your opinion on this with the Council we will be having a public comment period at 6pm on October 7th in City Hall specific to the issue.
Streets and Sidewalks- I appreciate the patience that many of you have exhibited in dealing with inconveniences associated with our summer paving program. All paving is slated to be completed within the next two weeks. As Chair of the Transportation Committee, I always want to make sure that work that has been done is satisfactory, so please let me know if you see anything that is not right and I will make sure the contractors go back and fix it. Also, feel free to let me know about sidewalks badly in need of repair and I will be happy to get DPW on it as best I can.
Finally gun safety- At our October 23rd City Council meeting, we will be reviewing several charter change provisions regarding gun safety. The proposals, all of which I support, include barring guns from bars, doing away with concealed carry in the city, and allowing police to remove weapons from a home where there has been a domestic dispute. Though these changes are not as far reaching as I would like and will require approval from Montpelier, it feels like a positive first step among many others.
Thanks for reading and please be in touch!
Feb 11, 2025, 6 to 8 PM
Free Sewing & Crocheting ClassesFeb 12, 2025, 10 AM to 12 PM
Roll Bounce Roller Disco Fundraiser!Feb 15, 2025, 4 to 9 PM