Vermont mayor blasts crime measure

By Ted Cohen

The mayor of Vermont's largest city took credit Friday for killing a get-tough-on-crime plan put forth by her political opponents.

The "Burlington Forward" measure proposed by Democrats died for lack of council support.

Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, a member of the so-called Progressive Party, called the idea "underdeveloped."

"My administration’s community safety framework is comprehensive and evidence-based, because Burlington’s community safety challenges demand a serious, coordinated strategy—not an underdeveloped alternative," she said.

"This is why I’m pleased that, after a long debate, the City Council agreed to my proposal to start anew as true collaborators."

Council President Ben Traverse had championed a plan to crack down on the crime plaguing the city's main shopping district.

Traverse's plan came under fire from liberals for favoring law enforcement over wrist-slapping.

They derisively called it "Burlington Backward," a play on "Burlington Forward."

Its defeat is a major blow to his hopes of running for mayor in the spring against the first-term Mulvaney-Stanak.