"Wrong Approach?": Critics Question New Crime Programs Amidst Public Safety Concerns
Transparency concerns have grown since a January executive order issued by Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak requiring all Burlington Police Dept. press releases to be approved by her office before being issued.
As city leaders roll out a progressive new strategy to combat low-level crime, they are facing a wave of skepticism from a community on edge. The new programs, hailed by the mayor’s office as a more effective and humane way to ensure public safety, are being questioned by critics who fear they are the wrong approach for a city grappling with a growing sense of unease and a perceived lack of transparency from the top.
The new initiatives, named "City Circle" and "Situation Table," are designed to move away from traditional prosecution for minor offenses like littering, public intoxication, and trespassing. Instead, they will rely on community-based intervention and support services to address the root causes of these behaviors.
“The goal is to connect and engage with people and provide them with the support that they need,” said City Attorney Jessica Brown at a City Hall press briefing, explaining that City Circle would offer offenders a chance to discuss their actions with the community and access support services. The alternative would be a court summons.
A City on Edge
However, the announcement comes at a time when many Burlington residents are on edge. Recent data paints a stark picture of the city’s public safety challenges. A January City Council resolution highlighted a report from the police chief that, as of December 2024, the department had only 64 sworn officers, with just 26 available for patrol—well below the levels an independent consultant recommended based on 2019 data. The resolution also noted that since that 2019 analysis, “petty crime and theft, drug use, drug overdoses, violent crime, and shootings are all up.”
Who Controls the Information?
Compounding these anxieties is a growing concern among some citizens about the transparency of information coming from the city. An executive order issued by Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak on January 8, 2025, requires that all press releases from the Burlington Police Department must be sent to her office for approval before being issued. This has led to worries that the full scope of the crime situation is being managed and potentially downplayed for political reasons, further eroding public trust.
“It’s not just what we see with our own eyes; it’s about what we’re not being told,” said one resident who spoke at a recent city council meeting. “How can we have an honest conversation about solutions if we don’t have a completely unfiltered view of the problem? The police should be able to communicate directly with the public they serve.”
This sentiment reflects a widespread frustration. The question of enforcement and transparency is at the heart of the debate. Critics argue that without a credible threat of prosecution and a clear, unvarnished picture of crime statistics, diversionary programs like City Circle lack the teeth needed to be a deterrent.
Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak has acknowledged the public’s concerns, hosting a series of community safety forums to discuss the new initiatives. “I'm really hopeful that this will start to create some new ways of accountability, but intensive and relentless support and intervention when necessary,” the mayor said at a public forum in early June, framing the programs as a way to break down silos between city services.
Proponents argue that the traditional approach has failed to curb the cycle of recidivism. They maintain that for offenses often linked to poverty, mental health, or addiction, a punitive approach is less effective than one that addresses the underlying issues. The city attorney’s office has stressed that participation in City Circle is not a pass; those who decline will face charges.
What’s Next
As the city moves forward, with plans to present the ordinance to the City Council and Ordinance Committee in the coming months for a September launch, the central question remains. Are these innovative programs a forward-thinking solution to complex social problems, or are they a misplaced strategy in a city that, in the eyes of many, is in desperate need of a stronger police presence and a more transparent accounting of its public safety challenges. For now, Burlington remains a city divided, hopeful for solutions but wary of any approach that might be perceived as a step back from accountability.