Dean Corren, Issues in BTV, and more

Dear Neighbors –

DEAN CORREN

We were deeply saddened to learn that long-time Progressive Party leader and mentor, Dean Corren passed away.  Dean served four terms in the Vermont House, and ran for Lieutenant Governor in 2014, with a primary focus on single-payer health care and climate change. Continuing through March town meeting this year, Dean remained an active supporter and hard worker in support of Progressive City Council candidates in Ward 1 and the East District. The Seven Days story about Dean’s life can be found here.

CANDIDATE TRAINING     

We hope to provide better support and training for people considering running for office now or in the future, and for those who step up to support those candidates as campaign managers. To that end, the Steering Committee is organizing a series of training sessions focused on the different elements of a successful local campaign: fundraising, communication, serving in elected office, running a voter outreach program, building a team, and more. If you are interested, or know someone who might be interested, contact Carter Neubieser: carterneubieser@gmail.com

CITY COUNCIL

Our Councilors are currently focused on a variety of issues:

• City Finances: The fiscal year 2024 budget, important both to assure that basic city services are adequately supported, but also to make sure resources are available to make progress on social, economic and environmental justice issues – including policing, public transportation, housing, and mental health.
   

• Police Oversight: Efforts continue to develop an effective, systematic, citizen-involved police oversight process.
   

• Fair Taxation: Reforming Burlington’s property tax system. That system is regressive because it relies disproportionately on the residential base as compared to commercial properties, and because, unlike the state property tax system, there is no “income sensitivity.”
   

• Drug Crisis: Improving the capacity of, and coordination between service providers to effectively help those contending with drug dependency.  In addition, setting up an overdose prevention center focused on harm reduction instead of criminalization.
   

• Housing: Three primary efforts currently include… 

  • Addressing houselessness as the State ends its Covid-era motel program;

  • New affordable housing as “the pit” gets developed and as the new South End Zoning is implemented;

  • Enacting Just Cause Eviction and encouraging passage by the Vermont Legislature.
     

• Democracy Reform: If approved by the Legislature, implementing ranked choice voting, all resident voting, and flexibility around voting place location.
   

• Climate Change: Currently there is focus in three areas …

  • Access to public transportation and reducing car dependency; 

  • Examining the McNeil plant’s future and the carbon impact of biomass Generation;

  • Evaluating the airport’s aircraft emissions.

EVENTS

City Council meetings are open to the public, include a period of public comment, and are streamed.  The Council convenes on alternate Mondays – schedules and agendas can be found here. The calendar of meetings of other city committees and boards can be found here.

The Progressive Party State Committee will meet on Sunday, May 21 at 10:00 am at Vermont Technical College in Randolph. If you are a party member, or interested in getting involved for the first time, you can RVSP here - we’d love for you to join us as we prepare for a Summer of Organizing!

PS>

The Department of Children and Families is always in need of more foster families in Vermont, especially those who can care for:

• Infants, toddlers & teenagers

• Sibling groups

• Children with complex medical or developmental needs

• Youth who identify as LGBTQ

• Children who need short-term, urgent care

• Teens transitioning from residential care back to the community

If you would like to learn more about ways that you or your organization can support a child in foster care, their Recruitment & Retention Specialists and Resource Coordinators would love to work with you!

Complete this short Foster Care Inquiry Form and someone will reach out to you OR Call your local Family Services District Office and ask for the Resource Coordinator.