So, like, a bunch of local business owners in downtown Burlington are pretty fed up with the state of things, and they decided to write an open letter to Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak to demand some action. The letter, signed by over 100 businesspeople, calls for 10 specific changes to address what they’re calling an economic “crisis” in the area.
The business owners are not holding back, pointing out problems like needles on sidewalks, graffiti, public nudity around Church Street, and even wanting to force a pop-up soup kitchen to move away from downtown shoppers. They are not happy campers, to say the least.
The letter came out right after Nectar’s, that famous music venue on Main Street, announced they were closing for the summer. The business owners blame issues like public intoxication, property crime, and homelessness for scaring customers away. They also mentioned ongoing construction on Main Street and national trade policy stuff adding to the mess.
One business, Outdoor Gear Exchange, saw a 40 percent decrease in foot traffic this year. Honey Road, a fancy restaurant, had a 20 percent drop in diners. And the owners of Café HOT. haven’t even paid themselves this year. It’s a tough time for these folks, no doubt about it.
They’re asking the city for help with the construction impacts, but apparently, the city’s budget is too tight to do much about it. Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak even had to lay off 18 city workers to try to make ends meet. Yikes.
The business owners want the city to clean up the parking garages, beef up security, and give shoppers two hours of free parking. They also want Food Not Cops, a group that hands out free lunches, to move away from the Marketplace Garage. The city tried having a sheriff’s deputy patrol the garage last year, but the food group is still hanging around.
More police downtown and consequences for people committing crimes are also on the list of demands. They want criminals to clean up needles and waste from sidewalks as a kind of punishment. Tough crowd, huh?
Oh, and there’s also a call for better cleanup programs for needles and graffiti. And apparently, walking around naked in the city is not against the rules, but the business owners want that to change, especially in the downtown area.
The letter ends with a plea for better signage around construction zones and street closures, as well as a marketing push to bring life back to downtown Burlington. Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak didn’t have anything to say about it, at least not yet.
One business owner, Sherman, said they’re looking to get some support from state officials soon. He’s also asking residents to keep shopping local to support the economy. After all, the high property values in Burlington are thanks to downtown businesses.
So, yeah, things are not looking great for downtown Burlington, and the business owners are not holding back in asking for help. Let’s see if the city can step up and make some changes before it’s too late.
