Burlington Greens Campaign Packet

8/12/2019 Burlington Greens Campaign Packet

1/64

T a b l e o f C o n t e n t s

C a m p a i g n S t a t e m e n t P g 1O n B u r l i n g t o n ' s E n v i r o n m e n t 7G e n e r a l C a m p a i g n S p e e c h 1 3M a y o r i . a l R a c e 1 8C i v i c D e m o c r a c y 2 1U n b r i d l e d G r o w t h 3 5T h e B u r l i n g t o n E c o n o m y 4 9


2/64

o

n

n


3/64

I

G r e e n C a m p a i g n S t a t e m e n tS a n d y B a i r d F o r M a y o rG a r y S l s c o F o r B o a r d o f A l d e r m e n W a r d 1P a u l F l e c k e n s t e i n F o r B o a r d o f A l d e r m e n W a r d 6J a n u a r y 9 , 1 9 8 9T h e B u r l i n g t o n G r e e n s a r e t o d a y a n n o u n c i n g t h a t w e a r e e n t e r i n gthe Mayora l race and the Aldermanic races in Wards 1 and 6. Ourc and ida t es a re Sandy Ba i rd f o r M ay o r , Ga ry S i s c o i n W ard 1 andP a u l F l e c k e n s t e i n i n W a r d 6 .

T h e G r e e n s a r e e n t e r i n g t h i s r a c e f o r 2 r e a s o n s . F i r s t , w e w a n tt o w i n . F o r y e a r s , w e h a v e w a t c h e d a s o u r c i t y h a s b e c o m ei n c r e a s i n g l y i n t o l e r a b l e f o r p o o r a n d m i d d l e i n c o m e p e o p l e ,e s p e c i a l l y w o m e n , a s o u r e n v i r o n m e n t h a s b e c o m e i n c r e a s i n g l yo v e r d e v e l o p e d , p o l l u t e d , a n d t o x i c , a s o u r c u l t u r e h a s b e c o m e t h eh o m o g e n i z e d c u l t u r e w e t h i n k o f a s t h e s t r i p d e v e l o p m e n t a n dg e n t r i fi e d c h i c n e s s o f b i g c i t i e s , a s o u r d e m o c r a t i c i n s t i t u t i o n sh a v e b e e n w h i t t l e d a w a y i n f a v o r o f a c e n t r a l i z e d c i t y h a l l , a n da s o u r s o c i e t y h a s b e e n t o r n a p a r t b y t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o fc o m m u n i t y w i t h t h e i n e v i t a b l e o u t c o m e o f v i o l e n c e a n d c r i m e ,e s p e c i a l l y t o w a r d g a y s , l e s b i a n s , m i n o r i t i e s , a n d w o m e n .

F o r y e a r s , w e h a v e n o t o n l y w a t c h e d , b u t h a v e t r i e d t o s t o p t h e s ed i s c o u r a g i n g d e v e l o m e n t s a n d i n t h o s e a t t e m p t s h a v e t u r n e d s o m eo f t h e w o r s t a b u s e s a r o u n d , a s w h e n w e h e l p e d s t o p t h e s a l e o fo u r w a t e r f r o n t i n t h e A l d e n P l a n a n d t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f o u rw e t l a n d s a t t h e M o u t h o f t h e R i v e r i n t h e N o r t h s h o r e P r o j e c t . I no u r e f f o r t s w e h a v e b e c o m e c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e p a s t a n d p r e s e n t


4/64

I

2a d m i n i s ' t r a t r i o n s o f o u r c i t y a r e o n a c o l l i s i o n c o u r s e w i t h b o t hthe natural world and poor people that can only be averted by af u n d a m e n t a l l y n e w k i n d o f p o l i t i c s . W e G r e e n c a n d i d a t e s s t a n dt o d a y r e a d y t o h e l p c r e a t e t h a t m o v e m e n t b a s e d o n t h e e t e r n a lhopes of people for ecology, grass roots democracy, an economyfor peop le , not fo r profi t , and soc ia l jus t ice .

The Greens are entering the race for a second reason. In the yearwhen the Endangered Earth has been made Planet of the Year byTIME Magazine, the word ecology is not heard from any of ourlocal candidates. Rather, the cit izens of Burlington are beingt r e a t e d t o a l a c k a d a i s i c a l d e b a t e b e t w e e n t h e c u r r e n ta d m i n i s t r a t i o n w h i c h s p e a k s o f f a m i l y p l a t i t u d e s o r u r g e s u s t obelieve that things have never been so good, and the parties ofp a s t a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s w h o w o u l d l i k e u s t o r e t u r n t o t h eB u r l i n g t o n o f e i g h t y e a r s a g o . T h e G r e e n s w i l l i n t r o d u c e i n t oth is Bush/Dukakis- l ike debate real i ty and therefore, ecology.

Far from never having it so good, we have seen both in the paste i g h t y e a r s a n d b e f o r e , a n a c c e p t a n c e o f u n b r i d l e d g r o w t h w h i c hh a s d e s t r o y e d b o t h o u r h u m a n a n d n a t u r a l e c o l o g y . I n t h eProgressives own brand of trickle-down economic theory they have,in pre-deve lopment agreements and pub l ic -pr iva te par tnersh ips ,made dea ls w i th deve lopers in wh ich the c i t y ac tua l l y p rofi tsfrom huge projects l ike Alden and Northshore. Instead, then, ofq u e s t i o n i n g t h e s p r e a d c o n d o m i n i u m s o n t h e w a t e r f r o n t o r t h e


5/64


6/64

4

now make our city as dangerous as many much larger. And thecreation of a Community Development Office to foster growth thatis only responsible to the mayor has hurt democrat ic inst i tut ionsby centralizing power into the hands of a few men who will decidefo r t he r es t o f us t he f u tu re o f ou r c i t y . Wh i l e a hea r t l e s sregime in Washington can be partially blamed for this furtheranceof socialism for the rich and free enterprise for the poor, ourcurrent administ rat ion has done l i t t le but provide band aids forthese nationwide developments. Indeed, without questioninggrowth and more imnportant ly, while benefit ing from it , theyhave, perhaps with the best of intentions, only added to them.

Unique among the candidates, Greens wi l l argue that i t is th issame encouragement of development that is destroying our naturalenvironment. The administration cannot preseirve our waterfront byat tempt ing to se l l i t . They cannot d iscourage t ra ffic and c leanthe air, yet approve the Southern Connector and parking garages.They cannot thunder about student noise destroying neighborhoods,"i'th no effective policy to house students on campus. They cannott a l k abou t c l ean ing up ou r l a k e , by pu t t i ng mo re and mo redevelopment on its shores. Above all, they cannot talk about thepro tec t ion o f our natura l wor ld and a hea l thy c i ty , wh i le theycont inue to make dea ls w i th those fo rces who wou ld use bo th ourenv i ronm en t and ou r c i t y on l y t o m ak e p rofi t s f o r t hem s e l v es

I n t h i s deba te . Greens w i l l a l s o s ugges t a l t e rna t i v es t o t h i s


7/64

5p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h g r o w t h . W e w i l l a s k f o r a m o r a t o r i u m o n a l lluxury growth so that c i t i zens in rea l ne ighborhood assembl iesh a v e t h e b r e a t h i n g s p a c e a n d p o w e r t o d e c i d e w h a t k i n d o fd e v e l o p m e n t i s g o o d f o r u s . W e w i l l a l s o c o m m i t o u r s e l v e s t owork ing toward the passage of a Home Rule Amendment to ach ievef o r o u r c i t y fi n a n c i a l i n d e p e n d e n c e . W e w i l l w o r k t o c r e a t e a nE n v i r o n m e n t a l C o m m i s s i o n w i t h p o w e r t o p r o t e c t o u r l a k e ,w a t e r f r o n t , a i r , a n d n e i g h b o r h o o d s , a n d t o e x a m i n e t h e l i n kb e t w e e n h e i g h t e n e d c a n c e r r a t e s i n C h i t t e n d e n C o u n t y a n dpo l lu t ion . We wi l l recommend the creat ion o f a Human RightsCommission to examine the special problems faced by gays andl e s b i a n s , m i n o r i t i e s , t h e e l d e r l y a n d w o m e n . G r e e n s w i l l d e m a n dthe University to house its students, the passage of rent controland just cause evict ion ordinances, daycare funding, the creationo f a f f o r d a b l e h o u s i n g , t h e i n v i g o r a t i o n o f t r u e n e i g h b o r h o o da s s e m b l i e s , a n d t h e d e m o c r a t r i c e l e c t i o n o f c o m m i s s i o n e r s .

W i t h p r a c t i c a l s u g g e s t i o n s , w e G r e e n s w i l l a l s o t e l l t h e t r u t h .In th is era o f a lmost to ta l acceptance o f greed, we know wecannot have al l the answers to bui ld an ecological society. Wealso know that governments cannot do that, but only citizens whowill create a real grass roots movement to say "no more" to thepo l i t i cs tha t are dest roy ing wor ldwide humani ty and the natura l

i g n o r a n c e , h o m e l e s s e s s , d i s e a s e s l i k e A I D S a n d c a n c e r , a n decocide. For many years. Green candidates have been part of that


8/64

L

6

flegdling movement which wil l no longer tolerate old polit icali ns t i tu t ions and wh ich hopes to rea l i ze human i ty ' s d reams fo rdemocracy, freedom, justice, and a life lived in harmony withn a t u r e . W e a s k f o r y o u r s u p p o r t a s b o t h r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h a tmovement and as part ic ipants in i ts fur therance. Our p ledge tothe c i t izens of Bur l ington is our loyal ty to keep that movemental ive, growing, and well . As Harvey Milk, the assassinated, firstpublical ly gay city official of San Francisco said before us,"T he m ov em en t i t s e l f i s y ou r c and ida t e . "


9/64

O n B u r l i n g t o n ' s E n v i r o n m e n t

are living today in a time of ma^or ecological breakdownt l i a t in the v iew o f many sc ien t i s t s may make our p lane tu a i n l i a l i l t a b l e f o r a l l c o m p l e x l i f e - f o r m s , i n c l u d i n g o u r o w nspecies* And ttiis breakdown is occurring at a rate that issi jqply unprecedented in our history with results that aregrim for the future of our younger people and many people oft h e p r e s e n t g e n e r a t i o n a s w e l l .

We can no longer ignore the fact that the ozone layer thatprotects us from the sun's deadly ultraviolet radiation isthinning out at an appalling rate. We hear a lot about thedanger of skin cancer. Hardly anything is being reported inthe msdia that greater exposure to ultraviolet radiation threatensmarine plankton, which may be responsible for 80% of the oxygen

tin our atffliMphere, and may produce incalculable damage to alll ife forms as well. Similarly, the carbon dioxide blanketthat surrounds our planet if thickening to a point where majorclimatic changes are being predicted by reputable scientiststhroughout the world. Where these fozms of environmental breakdown will lead and I make no mention, here, of the destruction of our planet's rain forests, the increased effects ofacid rain, the entry of radioactive elements Into the foodchain, and so forth is inmost too mind-boggling to explore.

The ecology of our planet and yes,, the ecology of ourcommunity is perhaps the most crucial issue we face. 1 canonly be pleased that the Burlington Greens, by entering themayoral race, ha focused so much attention on environmentalproblems at home and abroad. I wonder if the Democratic and


10/64

IMU. U U l . ouUBl i f parttcipatB and wupJuwize ua importance.But will our nvlronmantal problem - globally and locallybscoBM a man Xootba for mora campagn rhetorc? Forone tblng. i hear Bny high-eoundin pronisee that reveal noreal underetandin, of Burlington-e o environmental proble-uch le those of our country or our planet. How ny of ou>-called "frontrunuin... candidate, are aware of the problem ofcancer in our region, the hind of air and water pollution, vprobem we have and those that we w face n the years toCOM? The probea...of toxc ss? Of trash dsposa? of^ " I ' i i i t n - n m i i .

UMital i8ttef?.e everytie we, Oreens. raise^STviron-

None Of them has serous faced up to the very source, of thepollution problem, that exist in Burlington STt-e lihely toxat n the years ahead: GBOWTH . . . qbowth . . . and hobecaom, Clavelle and -s. Chioffi are cooitted to onethng - to brtn more ndustry and commerce nto our ctyU Wth them, more pouters who w damage our communtyVes - they give Up-service to the need for "controla" but. u.ve eight years of th.. so-called Progressive Administration1. Which Mr. Sander, tried to foist a condo-oriented waterfronton our community and eMtially ignored atten,ts to invadeour wetlands with a world-class marina Nor hoNor have we seen veryexciting proposal, from Ms. Chioffis. Chioffi while She was on the Board


11/64

O f A l d e r a i u i .Vbat i s mos t annoy ing i s how l i t t l e these peop le know about

Burlington's own environmantal problems. To the best of myknowledge, there has been no environmental assessment of ourcity and its region no reports, no studies of a comprehensivenature, no commissions to deal with the envizx>nment, or the like.O u r e n v i r o n m e n t h a s t a k e n s e c o n d o r e v e n t h i r d p l a c e t o w a y s* I ' d ^attractsar' business, wantocj^ constructiien af repulsiveb u i l d i n g s , b r i n g i n g m o n e y i n t o t h e c i t y u s u a l l y i n t h e i n t e rests of the wealtl and fostering growth.

F o r t h e fi r s t t i m e , s o f a r a s I k n o w , t h e B u r l i n g t o n G r e e n sare presenting a comprehensive "Annual Report on Burlington'sHa#Snvironnent, ** a report to9Mr cit izens and city officials thatassess with hard facts and some very compelling ones thecancer uffrtHlity rates in Burlington, our problem of hazardouswastes. Lake Champlain and its pollutants, our drinking water%generally, our solid waste problems, our air quality, and ourenerg roblems. This document is fully 70 single-spacedpages.and is crammed with facts. Such reports should have beenmade available to wr citizens years ago so that they could befully conscious of o\ir city's environmental problems problemsthat we as Greens feel directly affec their health and well-b e i n g .

Ve must begin to face,.s,p.me hard facts about Biirlington andC h i t t enden C oun t y t ha t a re no t be ing d i s c us s ed i n t he p res en tcampaign. Ve want to know why Vermont has a death rate fromcancer that is higher than the national average And why doesChi t tenden County have an even h igher death rate f rom cancert h a n V p r m o n t ? T s t h e r e a n v t h i n t r i n n n r r o n m e n t t h a t i s


12/64

i s p roduc ing thdso h igh death ra tes f rom /d tseesos tha t a reo f t e a . a s s o c i a t e d w i t h e n v i r o n m e n t a l p r o b l e m s ?

Why is Lake Champlain, the source of our drinking water inBur l ington, pol luted known cancer-causing mater ia ls l ikeAPCBs, possibly harmful metals, phenols and the like? Howlong will be continue to live with the fact that there are at

C t A i L A * * 1s e v e n h a z a r d o u s w a s t e s i t e s w i t h i n t h e c i t y l i m i t s t h a t < m t ^ e v e n h a z a r d o u s w a s t e s i t e s w i t h i n t h e c i t y l i m i t s t h a t < m teater the Lake vMi sewage overflows? Are we monitoring^ A

the radioactivity at the "Beeves" dump on Biverside Avenue radioactivity that our report indicates is >.12 to 24 times highertha" the natural background radiation in the area? Are residents,especially highly vulnerable children and pregnant mothers, whol ive in the low-income housing project adjacent to the dump beingalerted to the possible hazards involved? What lUaout the flam-mable magnesium tailii^g at the former Bell Aircraft dump that* . I Inn burst into flames? I could go on with many more problems Hthat are cited in the repor'^'ou tuxlu duiupi*^ such as the righc ^Qt the McNeill wood-chip plant to dump 500,000 gallons per dayof wastes containing cancer-causing heavy metals such as cadmiumand chromiumVU^q

For al l the talk about our clean air, the fact is thatBurlington's ozone levels are higher than those that have harmful effects on sensitive plant species. Are we to suppose* thatasthmatics, people with .rejipiratory problems, children^ and theelderly are not being s^fected by this problem? Over thepast five year , carbon monoxide levels have been slightly increas-A ing. Are we to suppose that if the Clavelle reverence for growth ^ brings more motor vehicles into our city^ttat these levels willgo down ^ fcp? And what of urban run-off like oil and greafae


13/64

dsposltad on our streots by motor TTthlrlnn. thnr nia liiiiiia washed)> in to t l i e Lake by ra l& la l l?

Burliogton's siting of its proposed new landfull at HydePark sharaeXully violates tine spirit of Vermont's new solid-wastefflanagement act . The present administ rat ion has \mi latera l lypicked a site on its own instead of going tlirougii a cooperativeprocess of working with i ts neighbors in choosing a landfil ls i t s in coopera t ion w i th res iden ts ^ the ma. I s i t any wonderthat our city is becoming hated throughout the county as a badn e i g h b o r a h a t r e d t h a t w i l l r e b o u n d a g a i n s t u s i n t h efuture? We need more than a token recycling program that isexperimental,^for one year, and restricted to only a few neighborhoods instead of the city as a wholeVo

Our report is fi l led wi th data of th is k ind^and I would l ikec J J l ^ i i Mi r c i t i zens to s t^dy i t . Bur l ing ton faces mass ive growthat a t ime when major problems of our env i ronment have not yetbeen resolved and ser ious quest ions have not been answered.B a r e l y h a v e w e n e e d e d a r e a l E n v i r o n m e n t a l C o m m i s s i o n t o i n v e s t igate these problems and by an Environmental Commission I donot mean hand-picked people who are chi immy with developers andt h e g r o w t h - o r i e n t e d C S D O b u r e a u c r a t s . W e n e e d t o E L E C T t h e s ecooBissioners as we do other commissioners in the major agBneitfnt h a t p l a y a n i m p o r t a n t r o l e i n o u r c i t y a n d i t s f u t u r e . T h e s e people should be accoiuita^le to ay# citizens on a yearly bMisand no t ho ld o f fi c e f o r y ea rs on end , ans w erab le on l y t o t hem a y o r a n d t h e B o a r d o f A l d e r m a n .

We also need annual reports every year that equal or areeve A more complete than the report I am handing out to you today.The recommendations the Greens are making are minimal requirements


14/64

l 2- 6 -

for ft dcot eavlroiiBwnt, not to speak of a taealtby one. Weneed alster prograM not only witU Puerto Cabezas and Yaroslavl,

o< Bile* away, but with our own Vermont towns withwbicb we have to work as good neigUbors 11 we are going to doour bit la cleaning up our own backyards. As an internationalmoveiMat tlie Greens ~ we are trying to llgbt the undoing ofour planet everywhere. As Burlington Greens we are trying tosave our own environment from ruin, especially In the years thatlie ahead, given the trends that are developing all around us.It's high time we had a "sister city program" with our own planet,and It is lor this reason that ae-fireen .we have been at suchcarXul paiaa to prepare this report.Mo one who lines In Burlington and Its surrounding regioncan allord to Ignore what we have prepared. K anything, weneed more Inioraatlon lor the protection ol ear citizens andthe generations who will be heirs.

I

m


15/64

Overriding all issues, overreaching all concerns, Burlingtonians,Amer icans and c i t i zens o f t he wor ld mus t be invo lved w i th thep res e rv a t i on o f hum an and na t u ra l ec o logy . W he t he r bus ines s m anor welfare mother, whether homeowner or homeless, whether richor poor, the qual i ty of our a i r , water , forests, c i t ies and neighborhoods now have to be the major concern of al l of us as we faceec o log i c a l d i s as t e r i f w e k eep d ream ing t ha t w e c an c on t i nueto do business as usual. While both the Democrats and Independentstalk about their records in power at City Hal l , i t is only theG r e e n s w h o a r e p o i n t i n g o u t t h a t t h o s e r e c o r d s r e v e a l t h a t t h o s eadministrat ions have done l i t t le to stem the downward spiralof these problems and that new approaches and measures must bec o n s i d e r e d b e f o r e t h a t s p i r a l c o n t i n u e s .

Under past rule, the acceptance of unbridled growth hasled our Ci ty in to ser ious ecological problems. Beginning inthe Democratic years, we saw the building of the Church StreetM al l , t he R ad i s s on , t he Bu r l i ng t on Squa re M a l l and t he Sou t he rnConnnector which replaced neighborhoods and affordable housingwith commercial development. Arguing a trickle down theory ofe c o n o m i c s , t h e l e a d e r s o f p r i o r a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s f e l l i n t o t h et r a p o f a c c e p t i n g t h e n o t i o n t h a t f u e l l i n g d e v e l o p m e n t w o u l dhelp the low income people in Burlington by wealth seeping downi n j o b s a n d e c o n o m i c a c t i v i t y . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , w h a t d i d r e a c hthe poor came main ly in the form of low pay ing jobs which ator near minimum wage left workers with little money to pay thei n c r e a s i n g l y h i g h e r p r i c e s f o r n e c e s s i t i e s l i k e h o u s i n g t h a tw e r e a l s o p a r t o f t h e e c o n o m i c b o o m .

R ep lac ing t he D em oc ra t s , t he I ndependen t l eade rs h ip o f M ay o rS a n d e r s a n d M r . C l a v e l l e i n C E D O p r o m i s e d t o a d d r e s s t h e h u m a nproblems created by the unchecked growth of previous years,b u t t h e y t o o f e l l i n t o t r i c k l e d o w n t h e o r y , a l b e i t t h e i r o w nkind, using pre-development agreements which wrested from developersbenefits for the Ci ty , urg ing inc lus iohary zoning which inc ludedtokens of affordable housing in high priced luxury projects,get t ing impact fees to of fset the pr ice of increased bui ld ing.


16/64

/ f

There was new langaue, sure enough. However, the effect wasthe same. Development continued, its inevitability was accepted,and its presence even encouraged. And in its wake, prices ofbasic human needs, like houses have become astronomical, welfarewomen and children have no place to go and our city has becomed o t t e d w i t h s h e l t e r s f o r t h e h o m e l e s s , t r a n s i t i o n a l h o u s e s f o rwomen, bandaids for what are becoming rapid ly open wounds.

But beyond our real human problems, and perhaps even goingbey ond t hem in im por t anc e , t he ac c ep t anc e o f un res t ra i ned s ea rc hesfor money either profit or tax base, is seriously pressing ournatural enviroment. There are in real i ty no t rade-of fs or impactfees which can afford the cost of what we are doing to our air,water and ear th . As roads and park ing garages are p lanned todump more cars into Burlington, air pollutants choke our lungs.E v e r y c o u p l e y e a r s , p l a n s l i k e t h e p r e s e n t r a i l r o a d s c h e m e t h r e a t e nt o t u r n o u r w a t e r f r o n t i n t o p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y . O u r w a t e r f r o mthe lake is endangered and we have to have swimming pools ono u r s h o r e s a s L a k e C h a m p l a i n b e a c h e s a r e c l o s e d .

While rampant development has damaged human and natrual ecolog y m o r e e l s e w h e r e , a s i n t h e m a k i n g o f d e s e r t s o u t o f A f r i c aor in the slashing and burning of rain forests in Brazil, Greensare urging Bur l ington c i t izens of a l l income levels, professionsand styles of l i fe to begin the process of heal ing here, by firstrecognizing the problem and talking about it, and second by urginge v e r y o n e t o s t o p , t h i n k , t o d i s c u s s a n d t o g e t h e r t o fi n d w a y st o s a v e o u r s e l v e s a n d o u r e n d a n g e r e d p l a n e t . I t i s i n t h i s s e n s eof the immediacy of the problem and the necessity to reversethe powerlessness we have felt in its strength, that we are askingf o r y o u r s u p p o r t .


17/64

Ecology, both human and natural, is the highest priorityfor Greens. As we believe that the domination and exploitationof the natural enviroment is in t imately l inked, even the resul tof human desires to dominate other humans, men over women, oldo v e r y o u n g , w h i t e o v e r b l a c k , r i c h o v e r p o o r , w e b e l i e v e u l t imately in a renewal and deepening of our democratic traditionsa n d i n s t i t u t i o n s .

Under the Democrats, Progressives, and Independants, Burl-ingtonians have not increased their powers to govern themselves.Although the Sanders administration entered City Hall in 1981pledged to increase citizen participation in government afteryears of so-called croneyism under the Democrats, that pledgecame to mean only the increase of voters who would elect greatm e n t o l e a d t h e m o n c e m o r e .

Lit t le attent ion, for instance, was paid to the wishes ofcitizens' groups who had helped to elect Sanders in hopes ofde f ea t i ng p ro jec t s l i k e t he W ood C h ip P lan t , t he Sou t he rnConnector, or the Pomerleau Plan for the waterfront. Quickly,the new mayor reversed his stands on those critical projects,and he approved the McNeil Plant in the intervale, compromisedwith the Connector without solving the problem of the toxic bargecanal, and fostered the Alden Plan, an update of the Pomerleaudes ign w i t h h i gh r i s e ho t e l s and h igh p r i c ed c ondos .

Other hopes for increased democracy or even responsivenessf r om on h igh w ere a l s o das hed by t he Soc ia l i s t adm in i s t ra t i on .N e i g h b o r h o o d P l a n n i n g A s s e m b l i e s t o o k o n m o r e a n d m o r e t h e c a s to f s ound ing boa rds f o r c i t y des igns on us , r a t he r t han dem oc ra t i cs t r u c t u r e s . T h i s r e a l i t y h i t B u r l i n g t o n i a n s e s p e c i a l l y w i t ht h e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e A l d e n P l a n . I n t h e s l i c k e s t s o f f a s h i o n s ,A lden rep res en t a t i v es , hand i n g l ov e w i t h C ED O D i rec t o r C lav e l l e ,


18/64

toured the assemblies with propaganda for the scheme, euphimist-ically calling the hotel a likeside inn and the luxury condos,neighborhood housing. Urging cit izens to adopt the plan, theC i t y l o s t a l l i t s n e u t r a l i t y i n b l a t a n t f a v o r i t i s m t o w a r d t h eplan and implored the neighborhood groups to give it theirunquestioning support. Where in all this was encouragement forthe people of Burl ington to use their dreams, their imaginations,t h e i r c r e a t i v i t y t o c o n s t r u c t t h e i r o w n w a t e r f r o n t ?

Most damaging of a l l to democracy was the creat ion of theCommuni ty and Economic Development Office, an office which whi lehaving within i ts control the most crucial issue of our t imes,growth, was inst i tuted direct ly responsible only to power onhigh, the mayor. Arguing that the Planning Commission with itscommissioners directing it was not in the hands of the people,ou r ex ec u t i v e m ade t he s t range po in t t ha t p l ac ing g row t h unde rthe sole direction of the mayor was somehow democratic. Soon,however, citizens were aware of what had happened. In pre-deve lopment agreements , t radeof f s fo r impac t fees and back roomnego t i a t i ons w i t h dev e lope rs l i k e t he ones w ho w ou ld hav e t u rnedou r w e t l ands i n t o "w o r l d c l as s " m ar i nas , m a jo r dec i s i ons w e retaken away not only from commissioners appointed by the Boardo f A l d e r m a n , b u t m o r e i m p o r t a n t l y f r o m a l l c i t i z e n s . A f t e rthe creation of CEDO, the executive office of Burlington becamen o t a w e a k m a y o r a l s y s t e m b u t a m i g h t y o n e .

We see th is cent ra l ized government as jus t one more exampleo f t h e d o m i n a t i o n o f s t r o n g l e a d e r s o v e r p a s s i v e c i t i z e n s w h i c hin tu rn leads to the domina t ion by s t rong humans over pass iven a t u r e , t h e l i n k w h i c h i s w r e a k i n g h a v o c o n b o t h o u r e n v i r o m e n tand ou r hum an c om m un i t y . T o beg in t o c o r rec t t h i s s o r r y s t a t eo f d e m o c r a c y . G r e e n s i n t h i s e l e c t i o n a r e c a l l i n g f o r a t h e n t i cneighborhood assemblies with delegates on all planning bodiesand real power to shape our city, not merely to watch it grow.


19/64

17

W e s t a n d n o t f o r t h e a b o l i t i o n o f c o m m i s s i o n e r s b u t t h e d i r e c te l e c t i o n o f t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t c o m m i s s i o n e r s , l i k e t h e M a r k e tp l a c e , t h e P l a n n i n g a n d Z o n i n g C o m m i s s i o n , t h e P o l i c e C o m m i s s i o na n d P u b l i c W o r k s , W e w i l l c r e a t e m o r e t i m e a t B o a r d o f A l d e r m e nm e e t i n g s f o r p u b l i c d i s c u s s i o n a n d d a y c a r e a t t h o s e m e e t i n g sf o r pa ren t s who w ish t o a t t end . We w i l l u rge t he d i sman t l i ngo f C E D O w i t h i t s b e n e fi c i a l f u n c t i o n s l i k e t h e S t e p u p p r o g r a mt r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e W o m e n ' s C o u n c i l . W e w i l l i n s t i t u t e a c i t yt o w n m e e t i n g i n t h e b e s t o f V e r m o n t d e m o c r a t i c t r a d i t i o n . A b o v ea l l , w e w i l l c o m m i t o u r s e l v e s t o t h e p a s s a g e o f t h e H o m e R u l eA m e n d m e n t , w h i c h w i l l g i v e u s n o t o n l y fi n a n c i a l i n d e p e n d e n c ef r o m M o n t p e l i e r , b u t a l s o , t h e a b i l i t y t o g o v e r n o u r s e l v e s a n dt o l i n k o u r c i t y i n c o n f e d e r a t i o n w i t h o t h e r c i t i e s a n d t o w n st o m a k e i n c o n c e r t d e m o c r a t i c d e c i s i o n s w h i c h a f f e c t o u r r e g i o n .

I n s h o r t . G r e e n s a r e a d v o c a t i n g a n e w p o l i t i c s b a s e d o nt h e t r i e d a n d t r u e h u m a n l o n g i n g s f o r d e m o c r a c y , a p o l i t i c s w h i c hc a n b e s e e n i n t h e t o w n m e e t i n g , o u r m o d e l f o r B u r l i n g t o n . W ef a v o r n e i t h e r t h e p o w e r f u l r u l e o f g r e a t m e n o r g r e a t w o m e n b u tr a t h e r t h e r e a l i z a t i o n o f h u m a n p o t e n t i a l t o g o v e r n o u r s e l v e si n p e a c e w i t h e a c h o t h e r a n d n a t u r e . F o r G r e e n s , h u m a n s l i v i n ge c o l o g i c a l l y m e a n s t h e n u r t u r a n c e o f d e m o c r a c y i n i t s d e e p e s tf o r m s .


20/64

Burlington's Foreign Policy:the Candidates ViewsNOTE: Burlington mayoral candidates were all asked ^'ShouldBurlington have a foreignpolicy?"What follows are their responses.

Sandy Baird:Not ony ctes but ctzens need toake foreign policy. In an agewhen the nation-state increasinglyemploys its diplomatic efforts to makede^s with other nation-states to carveup weaker, usually third world areasof the globe as so much real estate,only citizen&can make peace with eachother and nature.On both sides of the Cold Warpeople are beginning to see that theirgovernments will never do jusdce totheir longings for peace, democracyand ecolo . Although Gorbachev hasshowed himself willing to talk to theWest, willing to cut some forms ofweaponry, willing even to allow someforms of openness at home, his aim ismore exp ent than mor . To getconsumer goods produced and to appease his people's deserved longing formaterial comfort, the Russian premierwould like to cut military spending.To move his economy into a competitive posidon with the West, he wouldstop anu-capitalist rhetoric, institutesome market reforms, and perhapslighten the hold bureaucracy has onhis people. Seeing the pragmauc andnot moral underpinnings of his programs , and seeing moreover the heavyhand Moscow employs both againstnationalist movements as in Armenia,and nature as in Chernobyl, dissentersin the Soviet bloc know that the newglasnost could cease at any moment itceased to be efficient, giving themonce more over to an authoritarianPAGE 6

state at home, a militaristic one abroad,and ecological destruction in the nameof development.Similarly, American citizens arenot at all willing to believe that theirgovernment will bring them peace,democracy, and lives lived in harmonywith the natural world. As the US andthe USSR do their dance of death witheach other, we see large areas of agreement between the two. They let usalone pretty much in Latin America,we let them be in Eastern Europe. Andboth tium a blind eye to our mutualexploitadon of the Third World andnature, leading all of us into hot spotsof trouble as in Nicaragua and Afghanistan, and into a continuing^war.o n n a t u r e .Butalsoon both sides of the ColdWar are people separate from those *.who rule them. They are the citizenswho, like us, think about their worldand worry about its seemingly endlessspiral into repression, war and ecocide.They, like us, dissent, protest againsttheir war machines as we do againstGE, engage in civil disobedience, formdemocradc and environmental groupsindependent of their governments,and in general make it tough for theirstates to do their dirty work.It is the belief of the Greens, then,that ddes should have foreign policyand that foreign policy should be toencourage and enable these dissenterswd citizens, both East and West,independently of officialdom to construct bridges to each other, to buildawareness about nadon-states and thepower-bloc system, to solidify thenodon that people not governmentswill bring peace and democracy, andto create the only real detente: detentefrom below.

Nancy Chioffi:The peope o Burnon havehown great creativity and initiative in promoting world peace andnuclear disarmament. I commendthem, and I pledge to support theircontinued efforts.We are just beginning to see theorganization for Burlington's sistercity project with Yaroslavl. This willprovide an exciting educational andcultural opportunity for all childrenand adults, and a chance to forge some

personal bonds with Soviet citizens.Given the logistics of dealing with theSoviet Union, it will take a lot of workand commitment on the pan of thecity administration. I am committeuto the success of this projea.Our sister city program withPueno Cabezas, Nicaragua gives us achance to learn about Central Americaand to promote more peaceful,cooperative relations between our twocountries. In addition, our spons exchange program with our other sistecity Burlington, Ontario helpsus to leam more about our nearestforeign neighbor, Canada.But we also need leadership fromQty Hall to put the same energy intoour other sister city program: the twinning of Burlington with St. LambertQuebec as pan of the Rainbow Projectagainst Acid Rain. Asa member of theB(md of Aldermen, I represented thecity when we signed the agreementwith St. Lamben. As Mayor, I willwork to get Burlington residents involved in this project and to make itan effective, vigorous internationallobbying effon.I believe that we must be conscious ofglobal issues in the decisionwe mate in city government and ascity residents. Burlington is not anisolated speck on the map, but part of


21/64

the greater community. Our actionshere affect the world as a whole. AsMayor, my goal will be to make ourcity a model for acting locally whilethinking globally.It is especially critical that we takeaction now to become more environmentally responsible. What we do inBurlington does affect the global environment: when we flush a toilet here,the sewage effluent ends up in the St.Lawrence River in Canada; emissionsfrom our wood chip plant and the carsand buses we drive here contribute toglobal atmospheric pollution. We havealready taken some action, but there'smore we can do.We must explore creative alternatives that reduce air and water pollution and that help curb acid rain andthe depletion of the ozone layer. Recycling, for example, conserves energyand reduces our dependence on land-tills and trash burning plants. The city>ow has a pilot recycling project for^ume residents, but businesses alsoproduce huge amounts of trash. 1would work with the business community to expand our recycling efforts toinclude businesses. We also need toconcentrate on energy conservationmeasures and on reducing our dependence on automobiles through improved public transportation, carpool-ing, and using commuter buses andt r a m s .1 also see Burlington as the guar-d ian of Lake Champlain, which meanswe must be the leaders in a serious,ongoing effort to preserve the lake. Weare already committed to a major sewerproject which will stop our sewagefrom polluting the lake. We also needto take an active role in the Lake Cham-plain Basin Commission, created lastyear as part of a lake protection agreement between Vermont, New Yorkand Quebec.By thinking globally on environmental, political and culturalfronts we can do our part to easevorld tensions and build a spirit ofinternational respect and cooperation..\s Mayor 1 will work hard to see thata global perspective is a strong part ofour city goverrunent.

Peter Clavelle:Shoud Burngon have a oregnolicy? Absolutely Burlingtonmust continue to be a national inspiration and speak out loud and clear foreconomic and social justice. We mustcontinue to meet the challenge to"think globally and act locally." Wemust continue to speak out for peace,and against bloated military budgetsand insane foreign policies.Some will argue that City Hall isno place for discussion and formulation of opinions on peace and justiceissues. I emphatically reject that notion. What good is it to repair ourstreets and sidewalks if our planet iswiped out by nuclear holcaust? Doesit make sense to give our children aquality education and then send themoff to f ce death in an insane war in aforeign land? If Burlington residents{and city government) are not preparedto wage peace, who< is?Our community has a strongrecord and a firm commitment topeace and justice. We've worked together to block the insane Nuclear WarCrisis Relocation Plan of the ReaganAdministration. After all, St. Albansis a nice place, but it's not where Iwould want to be sent if the bomb wasdropped. We have vigorously opposedthe invasion of Grenada and haveargued to end intervention in CentralAmerica. I have traveled to both Grenada and Central America, and believein my heart that we should be supporting the people's struggles in thoseareas not arming those who resistthe cries for peace and freedom.We have also created a PeacePrize program, two Sister City projects, and have spoken out in favor ofthe Freeze, Jobs with Peace, and more.We have much to be proud of, but stillhave far to go.I will, as Mayor, be a leader ofefforts to bring peace and justice toour community and the world. Specifically, you can expect that a Clavelleadminis trat ion wi l l : Continue the efforts begun in CEDOto develop a plan for the conversion of

the GE plant to a non-military use.The participation of the GE workers,as well as peace activists and conversion specialists, will be actively solicited in this effort. Re-affirm and strengthen the SisterCity projects between Burlington andPuerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, and Yaroslavl in the Soviet Union. I understandfrom my visit to Yaroslavl that theSoviets are as thirsty for peace as weare. The Sister City projects can, in asmall, but very significant way, buildinternational friendships, understanding and long-standing trust. Propose that a percentage of theproceeds of taxes paid by Burlington'sdefense industries be dedicated tolocal peace activities. Continue the call for a re-orderingof national priorities. It's outrageousthat Federal housing programs havebeen slashed by 80% in order to fundthe Star Wars program. Strengthen our initiatives on thehomefront to achieve social andeconomic justice and guarantee that allof Burlington's residents share in ourcity's prosperity. Particular emphasiswill be placed on addressing the needsof women and children, the elderly,disadvantaged youth, and differentlyabled of our community.

I look forward to accepting thesechallenges. Working together, theentire community can be empoweredto wage peace and fight for socialjustice.

P A G E ?


22/64

n


23/64

2 1

?uK L : : TOTrM OR E E N ?^ V e r m o n t 0 5 4 0 1

- 1 V 1 r j I 4 0 C B ; A C ' iA i - z i i - l c n . P a c e r c i - r h e ' a r i i n e r x o n ' j ^ r e e n s a n u ^ r v. n _ i - 6 i , v n e r i 3 e r n a r a S a n a e r s l i r s x r a n l o r m a y o r o i B u r i i i i g x a n , h ei i a v c c a t e d i n c r e a s e d p u b l i c p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n c i t y g o v e r n n e n t . H eproc ia imea t ha t he w as see i i c ing " t o do somet h ing t ha t has no t been donei l l : n a n y c o m m u n i t i e s a c r o s s t h e c o u n t r y , a n d t h a t i s t o i n v o l v e l a r g ^ eT i u m b e r s c r p e o p l e i n t h e d a y - t o - d a y a f f a i r s o f c i t y s o v e r n m e n t . "' . q u o t e d i n V a n y u a r d 3 / 6 - 1 3 / 8 1 > S i n c e t h e n , t o o , S a n d e r s h a sc o n s i s t e n t l y m a i n t a i n e d t h a t " t o t h e g r e a t e s t e x t e n t p o s s i b l e , p e o p l eh a v e t o n a v e i n p u t i n t o t h e d e c i s i o n - m a k i n g i n t h e w o r l d i n w h i c h t h e yl i v e . " ^ Q u o t e d i n V e r m o n t S u n d a y I t o g a z i n e b / l / 3 6 >Y e t s i n c e S a n d e r s ' s e l e c t i o n , t h i s p r o m i s e h a s n o t b e e n f u l fi l l e d .' J n a e r P r o g r e s s i v e C o a l i t i o n g o v e r n m e n t , p o p u l a r d a y - t o - d a yp a r t i c i p a t i o n i n s e l f - g o v e r n i n e n t h a s n o t i n c r e a s e d b u t h a s d e c r e a s e d ,i u r j - i n ^ t o n r e s i d e n t s a r e l o s i n g c o n t r o l o f t h e i r c o m m u n i t y . 3 . n d h a v e= e e n ^ n e r i s e o f a n i n c r e a s i n g l y c e n t r a l i s e d c i t y h a l l .T h e w a r n i n g o f a 1 9 8 3 V a n g u a r d e d i t o r i a l e n d o r s i n g S a n d e r s h a s n o tb e e n h e e d e d ;

S a n d e r s ' p e r s o n a l i t y a n d p r o g r a m s a r e s o a p p e a l i n g t h a t h eh a s b e c o m e s o m e t h i n g o f a c u l t fi g u r e . T h a t m a k e s g o o d c o p yr o r n a t i o n a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l j o u r n a l i s t s fl y i n g i n t o t o w nf o r a l o o k a t t h e fi e r y m a y o r , b u t i t m a y n o t m a k e g o o dp o l i t i c s f o r B u r l i n g t o n . S a n d e r s m u s t r e s i s t t h e u r g e t oc e n t r a l i s e p o w e r . . . . A n d e v e r y o n e s h o u l d r e m e m b e r t h a tS a n d e r s w i l l n o t a l w a y s b e m a y o r ; t h e r e v o l u t i o n h e b e g a nw i l l r e m a i n v i t a l o n l y i f b a s e d o n a w e l l - c o n s i d e r e df r a m e w o r k o f p o l i t i c a l v a l u e s a n d s t r a t e g i e s . "' 3 / 4 - 3 / 1 3 / 6 3 )

A s t n e P r o g r e s s i v e C o a l i t i o n n o w p a s s e s i t s t o r c h i r a m S a n a e r s t oP e t e r C l a v e i l e , t h i s " w e l l - c o n s i d e r e d f r a m e w o r k o f p o l i t i c a l v a l u e sa n d s t r a t e g i e s " i s c o n s p i c u o u s l y m i s s i n g p a r t i c u l a r l y a i r a m e w o r k f o ro p e n i n g c i t y g o v e r n m e n t t o p o p u l a r p a r t i c i p a t i o n .T H E M O V E M E N T F O R N E I G H B O R H O O D A S S O C I A T I O N SI n t h e l a t e i S 7 0 s a n d a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e 1 9 8 0 s , r i t i r e np a r t i c i p a t i o n i n p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i t y b l o s s o m e d i n B u r l i n g t o n .N e i g b o r h o o d o r g a n i z a t i o n s fl o u r i s h e d i n a l m o s t e v e r y w a r d . M a n y w e r eo r i g i n a l l y c r e a t e d w h e n c i t i z e n s c a m e t o g e t h e r o v e r s i n g l e i s s u e s t h a ta f f e c t e d t h e i r n e i g h b o r h o o d s ; s c h o o l s , z o n i n g , t e n a n t s ' i s s u e s ,l o m m e r c i a l d e v e l o p m e n t , v a n d a l i s m , a n d t h e l i k e ; a s t h e y c o n t i n u e d t oe x i s t , - h e y b e c a m e b r o a d e r a n d m o r e s e l f - c o n s c i o u s p o l i t i c a l e n t i t i e s ,s e e k i n g t o r e c l a i m p o w e r f r o m a n e n t r e n c h e d D e m o c r a t i c c i t ya d m i n i s t r a t i o n .A t e n a n t s ' r i g h t s m o v e m e n t fl o u r i s h e d i n t h o s e t i m e s . T e n a n t g r o u p sw r o t e p r o p o s a l s t o s t e m e s c a l a t i n g r e n t s a n d e s t a b l i s h f o r m a lb a r g a i n i n g g r o u n d f o r t e n a n t s a n d l a n d l o r d . N e i g h b o r h o o d t e n a n t s


24/64

u

: r j s n i z a - i a r : ' = , : = u c i i ^ . 3 t h e F r a n k l i n S q u a r e N e w ^ v c t l o n C - r o u p a n d t i i er c r ~ h . ^ 3 . z a l e n a i i v s A d v i s o r y B o a r d , ' . v o r i s e d t o e s t a b l i s h a r a i r h o u s i n ;o - a i n i - = : = i c n , a s - a i z t n e c i t y w i d e P e o p l e A c t i n g i o r C h a n g e T o g e t h e rr A C T ' a n a t a e S u r i i n g x o n T e n a n t s ' O r g a n i z i n g C o i i u n i t t e e < B T O C .i . i ' : . : i o u g a s o m e r - e i r h b o x ' n o o d g r o u p s w e r e i i b e r a l a n d - ^ i n ' z l ' r - i = 5 u e -s r i e n t e a . o t h e r s s c u g n t s y s t e m i c c h a n g e , a T r e r n i a n e n t - . r . ; r e = L no n t r o i o v e r t n e i r o w n = . u r r o u : " i a i n * , t - = . T h e - r e a l l i r r . ^ i - - . - r e e n / " L O u r L t a i : -

V , o i n m u n 1 1 V . e r v i c e s .

. - . a v e n j i a

1 1 r . o r h o o a ." j r i ' . e a t o o p p o s e t- - inmu n i t v C r


25/64

i n x i i i s w e l t e r o f i o c a i B e i f - e m p o w e r l a e n t , - E o m e g r o u p s w o r k e d t o h e l pc r j R ; a n i c e o t h e r n e i g h b o r h o o d a s s o c i a i : i o n s . T h e K i n g S t r e e t A r e a Y o u t hf r o g r a m h e l p e d c - c h e r i i e i ^ h b o r h o o d s s t a r t y o u t h c e n t e r s w h i c h b e c a m ev h e l o c u s l o r n e i g n b o r h o o d o r g a n i s i n g . T h e s t a t e w i d e V e r m o n t A l l i a n c e ,w h o s e p u r p o s e w a s " t o o r g a n i z e a n d b u i l d o n c o m m u n i t y n e i g h b o r h o o dc r o u p s o f i o w a n d m o d e r a t e i n c o m e f a m i l i e s w h e r e p e o p l e c a n h a v e a s a yi n t n e d e s t i n y o r t a e i r n e i g h b o r h o o d s , " a l s o h e l p e d o r g a n i z er i e i g h b o r n o o Q S i n B u r l i n g t o n .A s n e i g h b o r h o o d o r g a n i z a t i o n s g r e w i n t h e i r p o l i t i c a l i m p a c t , m a n yi : ' e o p i e w h o p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h e m c a m e t o r e g a r d t h e m a s o n g o i n g f o r c e si n t h e p o l i t i c a l l i f e o f t h e c o m m u n i t y , a n d t h e g o a l s o i s o m e g r o u p sw e r e b r o a d e n e d b e y o n d s i n g l e i s s u e s . T h e y d i s c o v e r e d t h a tn e i g h b o r h o o d o r g a n i z a t i o n c o u l d h e l p r e c r e a t e c o m m u n i t y l i f e , t h a tx o c a l g o v e r n m e n t i s c l o s e s t t o t h e p e o p l e a n d c a n o f t e n b e t h e m o s tr e s p o n s i v e t o t h e i r n e e d s a n d t h e i r s o l u t i o n s . C i t i z e n s l e a r n e d t o_ o o i c f o r c o m m u n i t y s o l u t i o n s t o p r o b l e m s , t h a t t h e y n e e d e d t u r n t o : i t y g o v e r n m e n t o n l y w h e n i t s e e m e d a p p r o p r i a t e , a n d d t h e y d i d n o tn e e d t o r e l y o n . e a d e r s .T h e i r a s s o c i a t i o n s r e p r e s e n t e d a f u n d a m e n t a l f o r m o f p a r t i c i p a t o r yd e m o c r a c y , i n t h e t r a d i t i o n o f l o c a l s e l f - g o v e r n m e n t o f V e r m o n t . S a i do n e K i n g S t r e e t o r g a n i z e r a t t h e t i m e , " N e i g h b o r h o o d g r o u p s s h o u l d b et h e c a t a l y s t . . . n o t j u s t a d v i s i n g b u t h a v i n g p o w e r . . . . W h e np e o p l e o r g a n i z e e f f e c t i v e l y , t h e y fi n d o u t t h e y c a n h a v e a s a y a n d d ot h i n g s . T h e n a n y t h i n g i s p o s s i b l e , n o t o n l y q u e s t i o n i n g , b u t d o i n gt h i n g s . . . [ w i t h o u t ] w a i t i n g f o r a m e s s a g e f r o m c i t y g o v e r n m e n t . "A l d e r p e o p l e e v e n b e g a n t o a t t e n d t h e m e e t i n g s s i n c e t h e y w e r e s h o w i n gt h e i r s t r e n g t h .O u t O I t h i s f e r m e n t o f s e l f - c o n s c i o u s n e s s a b o u t n e i g h b o r h o o d s 'p o t e n t i a l l y b r o a d p o l i t i c a l s c o p e , a C o n f e r e n c e o f N e i g h b o r h o o d s w a sh e l d i n I ^ a y 1 9 6 1 . I t s p u r p o s e w a s t o b r i n g n e i g h b o r h o o d s t o g e t h e r a sd L c o h e s i v e p o l i t i c a l f o r c e i n B u r l i n g t o n . I t w a s s p o n s o r e d b v t h er a d i c a l g r o u p s r r o m i o w - a n d m o d e r a t e - i n c o m e n e i g h b o r h o o d a s s o c i a t i o n sw h o f e l t t h e i r n e e d s h a d n o t b e e n m e t b y c i t y h a l l . T h e c o n f e r e n c es o u g h t t o d e v e l o p i d e a s f o r w i d e r c i t i z e n p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n c i t ya i f a i r s a n a t o s n o w t h a t n e i g h b o r h o o d i n fl u e n c e c o u l d b e e x t e n d e dt h r o u g h o u t B u r l i n g t o n c i t y g o v e r n m e n t , i t f o c u s e d o n n i n e m a j o ri s s u e s : h o u s i n g , s o c i a l s e r v i c e s , h e a l t h c a r e a n d f o o d , d e v e l o p m e n t ,p o l i c e , y o u t h , c i t y s e r v i c e s , e n e r g y , u t i l i t i e s , a n d c i t y g o v e r n m e n t .A s w e e p i n g s e t o f r e s c l u t i o n s r e s u l t e d f r o m t h a t c o n f e r e n c e - T h e s er e s o l u t i o n s d e m a n d e d o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e M c N e i l w o o d - c h i p p l a n t a n d t h eS o u t h e r n C o n n e c t o r ; t h e y d e m a n d e d i n v e s t m e n t o f c i t y f u n d s " c o n s i s t e n tw i t h t h e s o c i a l c o n s c i e n c e o f B u r l i n g t o n " ; t h e y d e m a n d e d p u b l i cd e c i s i o n - m a i c i n g o n t h e w a t e r f r o n t ; t h e y d e m a n d e d t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o fa h u m a n s e r v i c e s c o m m i s s i o n . S i g n i fi c a n t l y , t h e y d e m a n d e d i n c r e a s e dp o w e r s f o r t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d s t h e m s e l v e s , i n c l u d i n g r e g u l a r w a r dc i t i z e n s ' a s s e m b l i e s , v o t i n g r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o n a l l c o m m i s s i o n sp r o c e s s o f a p p o i n t i n g c i t y c o m m i s s i o n e r s .


26/64

4

T H E P R O G R E S S I V E C O A L I T I O N A N D T H E N E I G H B O R H O O D Sw h e n B e r n a r d S a n d e r s fi r s t r a n l o r n i a v o r i n 1 9 8 1 , h e r e c e i v e d t h es u p p o r t a i s o m e p e o p l e i n t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d g r o u p s w h o w e r e d i s t u r b e d" t o o u t B u r l i n g t o n ' s s e v e r e n o u s i n g c r i s i s , t h e S o u t h e r n C o n n e c t o r , a n do t h e r i s s u e s . A l t h o u g h m o s t n e i g h b o r h o o d o r g a n i s a t i o n s d i d n o tr o r n i a l i y e n d o r s e S a n d e r s , s o m e i n d i v i d u a l o r g a n i z e r s d i d b e c a u s e h es e e m e d t o s h o w s e n s i t i v i t y t o t h e i r c a u s e s . S e e k i n g t h e s u p p o r t o f t h en e i g h b o r n o o d a s s o c i a t i o n s , h e c i t e d t h e m a s e x a m p l e s o f " t h e p e o p l e "v / h o h a d b e e n e x c l u d e d f r o m t h e p o l i t i c a l p r o c e s s b y t h e P a q u e t t ea d m i n i s t r a t i o n . H i s c a m p a i g n p r o m i s e t o " i n v o l v e l a r g e n u m b e r s o fp e o p l e i n t h e d a y - t o - d a y a f f a i r s o f c i t y g o v e r n m e n t " a p p e a l e d t o s o m eo r g a n i s e r s ' n e w s e n s e o f p o w e r a n d t o t h e i r r a d i c a l d e m a n d s f o r t h ed e m o c r a t i z a t i o n o f c i t y g o v e r n m e n t . H e a s k e d v o t e r s t o b a c k n o t o n l y ac h a n g e i n l e a d e r s h i p b u t a l s o a c h a n g e i n s t y l e a n d s t r u c t u r e o fg o v e r n a n c e , t o w a r d m o r e o p e n n e s s i n c i t y g o v e r n m e n t . A w e e k b e f o r e h i s1 9 8 1 e l e c t i o n , n e i g h b o r h o o d g r o u p s s p o n s o r e d a c a n d i d a t e s ' f o r u m t h a ti : u r n e d i n t o a n a t t a c k o n t h e n - M a y o r P a q u e t t e ' s d e v e l o p m e n t p o l i c i e s ,w n i c h g r e a t l y h e l p e d S a n d e r s .x n A u g u s t 1 9 8 2 , T i h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t u n d e r t h e S a n d e r s a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ,r e s p o n d i n g a m o n g o t h e r t h i n g s t o a s t r o n g r e s o l u t i o n t o r c i t i z e n s 'a s s e m b l i e s p a s s e d t h e y e a r b e f o r e b y t h e N e i g h b o r h o o d C o n f e r e n c e ,e s t a b l i s h e d t h e N e i g h b o r h o o d P l a n n i n g A s s e m b l i e s ( N P A s ) . O n e i n e a c ho f B u r l i n g t o n ' s s i x w a r d s , t h e y w e r e p o t e n t i a l l y , a t l e a s t a ni m p o r t a n t s t e p i n d e m o c r a t i z i n g t h e c i t y g o v e r m e n t . A l t h o u g h t h e y h a do n l y a n a d v i s o r y c a p a c i t y a n d w e r e g i v e n n o s t r u c t u r a l p o w e r ( t h e M a y1 9 8 1 N e i g h b o r h o o d C o n f e r e n c e h a d d e m a n d e d s u b s t a n t i a l l y m o r e ) , t h e yd i d h a v e s o m e d e g r e e o f s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n i n t h a t t h e y w e r e t o d e v i s et h e i r o w n b y l a w s a n d a p p o i n t t h e i r o w n o f fi c e r s . ( . T h e y w e r e a l s o ac o n v e n i e n t m e a n s f o r t h e c i t y t o p r o v i d e t h e f e d e r a l l y r e q u i r e dc i t i z e n i n p u t f o r t h e d i s b u r s i o n o f f e d e r a l C o m m u n i t y B l o c k G r a n tl u n d s .T h e m e e t i n g s a t w n i c h a u t o n o m o u s b y l a w s a n d o f fi c e r s w e r e t o b ef o r m a l l y i n s t i t u t e d , h o w e v e r , w e r e n o t c o n v e n e d a t t h a t t i m e . M e e t i n g sw e r e c a l l e d o n l y i n t e r m i t t e n t l y , a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n s b e t w e e n c i t yg o v e r n m e n t a n d t h e a s s e m b l i e s w e r e p o o r . I n t h e c o u r s e o f d e fi n i n gt h e i r s t r u c t u r e , t h e P l a n n i n g C o m m i s s i o n w h i c h h a d o r i g i n a l l y b e e ng i v e n n o r o l e b y t h e B o a r d o f A l d e r m e n d r e w u p a v e r s i o n o f N P Ab y l a w s t h a t w o u l d h a v e a t t e n u a t e d t h e a u t o n o m y o f t h e N P A s . T h e N P A si n t h i s f o r m w o u l d h a v e p r o v i d e d n o c o n s i s t e n t f o r u m f o r d e b a t e f o rt h e p e o p l e a t l a r g e , w i t h t h e i r o w n r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s t o g i v e a n d g e tl e e d b a c k . C i v i c d e m o c r a c y i t s e l f w a s v i o l a t e d i n b o t h s p i r i t a n di i i r a c t i c e b y t h e C o m m i s s i o n ' s b y l a w s . S o m e a c t i v i s t s f e l t t h a t t h e y h a db e e n l e f t o u t a n d m a n i p u l a t e d ; o t h e r s f e l t t h e N P A s w e r e a " w a s t e o ft i m e " b e c a u s e t h e y h a d n o v o t i n g r e p r e s e n t a t i o n t h a t i s , n os t r u c t u r a l p o w e r .S u b s e q u e n t l y , t h e N P A s w e r e s o m e t i m e s c o n v e n e d b y t h e m a y o r o r t h eP l a n n i n g C o m m i s s i o n a s s o u n d i n g b o a r d s . A s t h e y i n c r e a s i n g l yd i s a g r e e d w i t h S a n d e r s a d m i n i s t r a t i o n p o l i c i e s , t h e y b e c a m e l e s sf a v o r e d . T h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n b e g a n t o r e f u s e t o r e f e r t r u l y


27/64

I f

5l o n t r o v e r s i a i i s s u e s t o z h e N P A s f o r p u b l i c d e b a t e . W h e n t h e c i t y w a sd e v e l o p i n g i z s m a s t e r p l a n i n 1 9 8 3 , f o r e x a m p l e , m a n y n e i g h b o r h o o d sw a n t e d t o m a i n t a i n t h e i r e x i s t i n g l o w - d e n s i t y c h a r a c t e r . B u t k e ya d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f t i c i a i s w a n t e d t h e m t o r e x a i n t h e i r e x i s t i n g ^ h i g h e r j . e n = i t y > z o n i n g . D u e z a ' h i s c o n fl i c t , t h e q u e s t i o n o f n e i g h b o r h o o di a n a u s e a n d z o n i n g s i m p l y w a s n o t r e f e r r e d t o t h e a s s e m b l i e s d u r i n gt h i s c r u c i a l p r o c e s s .F i n a l l y , t h e A l d e n w a t e r f r o n t p l a n w a s b r o u g h t b e f o r e t h e N P A s i nF e b r u a r y 1 9 8 4 . P e t e r C l a v e l l e o f C E D O t o l d t h e c i t i z e n s o f B u r l i n g t o nw e r e t o l d t h a t t h e m o r e p a r t i c p a t i o n t h e r e w a s i n d e t e r m i n i n g t h ef u t u r e o f t h e w a t e r f r o n t , t h e b e t t e r i t w o u l d b e . O v e r a t h o u s a n dp e o p l e t u r n e d o u t f o r t h e m e e t i n g s . B u t w h e n t h e y a r r i v e d , t h e y w e r es i m p l y p r e s e n t e a w i t h p r o p a g a n d i s t i c s l i d e s h o w s a n d h y p e t o u t i n g t h ev i r t u e s o f t h e A l d e n p l a n . W h e n c o n c e r n e d c i t i z e n s a s i i c e d t e c h n i c a lq u e s t i o n s a b o u t c o n g e s t i o n , t r a f fi c , a n d t h e l i k e , C l a v e l l e r e s p o n d e dt h a t t h e p l a n s w e r e " t o o p r e l i m i n a r y " t o a n s w e r t h e i r q u e s t i o n s . I ne f f e c t , t h e c i t i z e n s a t t h e a s s e m b l i e s w e r e b e i n g a s k e d t o g i v eo l a n k e t a p p r o v a l t o a p r o j e c t w h o s e i m p a c t c o u l d n o t b e d e t e r m i n e d .L - e s p i t e p a e a n s t o t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f c i t i z e n p a r t i c i p a t i o n , t h e c i t ya d m i n i s t r a t i o n < w h i c h s u p p o r t e d t n e A l d e n p l a n ; t h u s g a v e t h e c i t i z e n sn o o p p o r t u n i t y f o r r e a l p u b l i c r e s p o n s e o r i n p u t . T h e N P A s b e c a m e m e r ev e h i c l e s f o r p r o p a g a n d a f o r t h e c i t y ' s s l i c k a d v e r t i s i n g c a m p a i g n .T h e N P A s a s p o l i t i c a l f o r c e s h a v e b e e n p e r m i t t e d t o l a n g u i s h i n a na t m o s p h e r e o f b e n i g n n e g l e c t . C E D O t o o k o v e r t h e i r m a n a g e m e n t u p o n i t sc r e a t i o n i n 1 9 8 3 . I n 1 9 8 8 , t h e N P A s a r e r e l a t i v e l y a u t o n o m o u s ; t h e i ra u t o n o m y h a s b e e n i n c r e a s e d , a n d t h e y s e t t h e i r o w n a g e n d a s a n d e l e c tt h e i r o w n c o o r d i n a t o r s . B u t t h e y c o n t i n u e t o h a v e n o s t r u c t u r a l p o w e r2 i n d a r e e s s e n t i a l l y r e s t r i c t e d t o r u b b e r s t a m p i n g c i t y h a l l p r o j e c t s ,t o d i s b u r s i n g f e d e r a l C o m m u n i t y D e v e l o p m e n t B l o c k G r a n t f u n d s , a n d t o2 t d m i n i s t e r i n g t h e f e d e r a l H o u s i n g R e h a b i l i t a t i o n L o a n P r o g r a m .A s t h e N P A s t h e o u t c o m e o f a d e m o c r a t i z i n g m o v e m e n t s t a g n a t e f r o ml a c k o f p o w e r , t h e v i t a l i t y o f t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d a s s o c i a t i o n m o v e m e n ta s a w h o l e w a s l o s t . W h e n t h e N P A s w e r e e v i s c e r a t e d a n d n e u t r a l i z e d ,t h e m o v e m e n t f o r l o c a l n e i g h b o r h o o d c o n t r o l w a s d e l i v e r e d ad e v a s t a t i n g s e t b a c k . < E v e n t h o u g h t h e y a r e s t a g n a t i n g , t h e y a r efrequently touted by the Progressive Coalition administration; "We aren u r t u r i n g t h e N P A s , " w r i t e s P e t e r C l a v e l l e i n t h e P r o g r e s s i v eC o a l i t i o n n e w s l e t t e r o f 1 2 / 8 8 . )M e a n w h i l e , m a n y a c t i v i s t s c a m e t o r e s t t h e i r h o p e s i n S a n d e r s ' sP r o g r e s s i v e g o v e r n m e n t ; i n s t e a d o f e m p o w e r i n g n e i g h b o r h o o d s , h o p e sw e r e p l a c e d i n a P r o g r e s s i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n t h a t w o u l d m e e t t h e i rn e e d s f r o m a b o v e . T h e f a i l u r e o f m a n y g r o u p s ' e f f o r t s t o s t o p t h ec o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e w o o d - c h i p p l a n t a n d t h e S o u t h e r n C o n n e c t o rc e r t a i n l y h a a a d i s c o u r a g i n g e f f e c t ; s o m e d r o p p e d o u t o f c o m m u n i t ya c t i v i s m a l t o g e t h e r . B u t u l t i m a t e l y , a s t h e a t t i t u d e w a s i n c r e a s i n g l yt a k e n t h a t t h a t t h e y n o l o n g e r h a d t o fi g h t c i t y h a l l a n d t h a t " B e r n i ew i l l do i t , " much o f t he momen t um o f t he ne ighborhood movemen t w asd e l u s e d a n d a b s o r b e d i n t o t h e P r o g r e s s i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a n d i t se l e c t o r a l p r o j e c t s . T h i s h a d t h e e f f e c t o f s i l e n c i n g d e m a n d s f o r


28/64

u

r . e i g h b o r h o o d p o w e r . I n s t e a d o f s t a y i n g o n t h e s t r e e t s r a i s i n g s o c i a lc o n s c i o u s n e s s n e s s a n d o r g a n i s i n g , a c t i v i s t s o f t e n n o w w o r k t o b u i l d ac a m p a i g n o r g a n i z a t i o n l o r n i a y a r a i c a n d i d a t e s w h o a r e t e p i d l i b e r a l s a tb e s t .

T h e o n c e - s t r i d e n t t e n a n t s ' r i g h t s m o v e m e n t i s n o m o r e , i n p a r t d u e t ot h e a e m o r a l i z i n g l a i l u r e o f s e v e r a l p r o - t e n a n t p r o p o s a l s a t t h e p o l l s ,b y 1 9 6 2 , n o m o r e n o u s i n g r e s o l u t i o n s w e r e b e i n g w r i t t e n ; P A C T w a s .c l o s e d ; o n l y V T I r e m a i n e d . A c c o r d i n g t o o n e f o r m e r P A C T m e m b e r ^ t h ew h o l e q u e s t i o n o i h o u s i n g " d i s a p p e a r e d w h e n B e r n i e w o n . " A n o t h e ra c t i v i s t a d d e d t h a t " v S a n d e r s i s n ' t p u s h i n g e n o u g h . " W h e n c o n f r o n t e dw i t h t h e s e c r i t i c i s m s , S a n d e r s a d m i t t e d t h a t " I h a v e n * t p a i d a s m u c ha t t e n t i o n a s I w o u l d h a v e l i k e d t o t h i s y e a r C 1 9 8 2 ] t o t h e h o u s i n gi s s u e . " A f t e r r e fl e c t i n g a b i t , h e a s k e d , " W h e r e a r e a l l t h eo r g a n i z a t i o n s i r o m t h e o u t s i d e ? " < q u o t e d i n V a n g u a r d 5 / 7 - 1 4 / 3 2 )Y e t t h e f e r m e n t o v e r t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d a s s o c i a t i o n s g a v e B u r l i n g t o n a no p p o r t u n i t y t o r e t h i n k t h e s t r u c t u r e o f c i t y g o v e r n m e n t a n d m a k e i tm o r e a e m o c r a t i c , i a o r e a c c o u n t a b l e t o t h e p e o p l e , a n d m o r e a v a i l a b l e t op o l i t i c a l l y a c t i v a t e d c i t i z e n s . T h e a b s e n c e o f t h i s d i s c u s s i o n n o w ,t o o , i s q u i t e c o n s p i c u o u s . D u r i n g t h e c o u r s e o f t h e S a n d e r sa d m i n i s t r a t i o n , i t w a s r e p l a c e d b y a n o t h e r d e b a t e o v e r t h e s t r u c t u r eo f c i t y g o v e r n m e n t , o n e t h a t i n v o l v e d n o t d e m o c r a t i z a t i o n b u t p o w e rs t r u g g l e s b e t w e e n t h e m a y o r a n d t h e c o m m i s s i o n s , d e p a r t m e n t s , a n da l d e r m e n . T h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e c i t y w a s d i v e r t e d a n d p o p u l a re m p o w e r m e n t d i s a p p e a r e d a s a n o b j e c t o f s e r i o u s d i s c u s s i o n .S A N D E R S A S A " P O P U L A R " L E A D E RA l t h o u g h S a n d e r s c o o p t e d t h e v i t a l i t y o f t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d m o v e m e n t , h eh a s n o t a l w a y s r e p r e s e n t e d t h e w i s h e s o f h i s n e i g h b o r h o o dc o n s t i t u e n t s , p a r t i c u l a r l y t h o s e i n l o w - i n c o m e n e i g h b o r h o o d s . I n. S e p t e m b e r 1 9 8 1 , a m e r e s i x m o n t h s a f t e r h i s e l e c t i o n , n e i g h b o r h o o do r g a n i z a t i o n s a l r e a d y f o u n d t h e m s e l v e s e x c l u d e d f r o m c i t y g o v e r n m e n to n c e a g a i n w h e n . i ' a n a e r s e n d o r s e d t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e M c N e i l w o o d -c h i p p l a n t . < . S a n d e r s h a d s p e n t a f u l l d a y l i s t e n i n g t o t h e B u r l i n g t o nE l e c t r i c D e p a r t m e n t ' s s i d e o f t h e s t o r y b u t g a v e a n t i - M c N e i l a c t i v i s t so n l y m i n u t e s t o p r e s e n t t h e i r c a s e . S e v e r a l y e a r s l a t e r , h e a d m i t t e dt h a t h i s s u p p o r t f o r t h e p l a n t h a d b e e n a m i s t a k e . )A l t h o u g h S a n d e r s r a n i n o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e S o u t h e r n C o n n e c t o r , t h i sl e a d e r i n w h o m c o m m u n i t y a c t i v i s t s h a d p l a c e d t h e i r h o p e s l a t e rc o m p r o m i s e d w i t h b u s i n e s s i n t e r e s t s o n t h a t i s s u e . A l t h o u g h h eo r i g i n a l l y o p p o s e d t h e P o m e r l e a u w a t e r f r o n t d e v e l o p m e n t p l a n a s " a ne n c l a v e f o r t h e r i c h , " o n l y a f e w m o n t h s a f t e r h i s fi r s t e l e c t i o n h em a d e a r a p p r o c h e m e n t w i t h P o m e r l e a u , a n d i n 1 9 8 4 h e s u p p o r t e d t h el u x u r y - c o n d o m i n i u m A l d e n w a t e r f r o n t p l a n w h i c h w a s n o t s o d i f f e r e n ti r o m P o m e r l e a u ' s . A l t h o u g h S a n d e r s p r o m i s e d t o d e m o c r a t i z e c i t yg o v e r n m e n t , h e a l l o w e d t h e N P A s t o s t a g n a t e .S a n d e r s p r i d e s h i m s e l f o n h a v i n g i n c r e a s e d c i t i z e n p a r t i c i p a t i o n i nc i t y a f f a i r s . B u t h e m e a s u r e s t h a t p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t e r m s o f v o t e rt u r n o u t n o w , n o t i n t e r m s o f c i t i z e n p a r t i c i p a t i o n . H e w r o t e , f o re x a m p l e , i n t h e 1 9 8 7 A n n u a l R e p o r t f o r t h e c i t y , " I n B u r l i n g t o n w e


29/64

i n

l i a v e , - n r e c e r i T : y e a r s , s i g n i f i c a n x i y i j a p r o v e d c i t i s e n p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n^ ^ o v e r n m e n t ; . A i r a o s t t w i c e a s m a y p e o p l e n o w v o t e i n l o c a l e l e c t i o n s ,a n d - c h e r e i s i a r i c o r e c i t i c e n i n p u t i n d e c i s i o n m a k i n g . "B u t v o t e r p a r " ^ i c i p a x : i o n i n e l e c t i o n s i s h a r d l y e q u a r a b l e t o d i r e c tp a r t i c i p a t i o n b y a m o b i l i s e d c i t i z e n r y , t o t h e i r h a n d s - o n a c t i v i s m i na e l p i n g s h a p e c i - c y p o l i c y , i n d e e d , s h o r t l y a l t e r h i s 1 9 6 1 e l e c t i o n ,. : iand.ers was asKed on You Can Quoxe He i i he favored townmeet ing^ a v e r m e n t , t h e c i t i z e n s ' a s s e m b l i e s t h a t h a v e l o n g a n d d e e p r o o t s i nV e r m o m : h i s t o r y , o a n d e r s ' s r e s p o n s e w a s a n e m p h a t i c n o .E u g e n e D e b s , t h e e a r l y t w e n t i e t h - c e n t u r y s o c i a l i s t w h o m S a n d e r sa d m i r e s , o n c e m a d e a d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n p e o p l e t r u s t i n g l e a d e r s a n dp e o p l e e m p o w e r i n g t n e m s e l v e s . D e b s a d v o c a t e d t h e l a t t e r ; t h a t i s , h ew a n t e d p e o p l e t o t a k e c o n t r o l o t t h e i r o w n l i v e s a n d m a k e d e c i s i o n s ,t o c h a n g e t h e n a t u r e o i p o l i t i c a l r u l e a n d p o w e r .

i a m n o t a L a b o r L e a d e r : I d o n o t w a n t y o u t o f o l l o w m e o ra n y o n e e l s e ; i f y o u a r e l o o k i n g f o r a M o s e s t o l e a d y o u o u to f t h i s c a p t i a i i s t w i l d e r n e s s , y o u w i l l s t a y r i g h t w h e r e y o ua r e . i w o u l d n o x l e a d y o u i n t o t h e p r o m i s e d l a n d i f Ic o u l d , b e c a u s e i f I c o u l d l e a d y o u i n , s o m e o n e e l s e w o u l dl ead you ouz . Y ou mus t use you r heads as w e l l as you r handsa n d g e t y o u r s e l f o u t o f y o u r p r e s e n t c o n d i t i o n . ^ . Q u o t e d i nP l a i n T a l k . S a l t L a k e C i t y , 1 0 / 2 9 / 1 0 )

A l e a a e r r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e p e o p l e i s t h u s q u i t e ad i f f e r e n t m a t t e r f r o m p e o p l e t h e m s e l v e s p l a y i n g a d e c i s i v e r o l e . I nt h e r a d i c a l t r a d i t i o n o f D e b s , p e o p l e p a r t i c i p a t e i n s h a p i n g p o l i c i e s ,n o t j u s t i n s e l e c t i n g t h o s e w h o m a k e t h e p o l i c i e s , h o w e v e r e n l i g h t e n e d -x h o s e p o l i c i e s m a y b e .S a n d e r s p r i d e s h i m s e l f o n h i s " r e s p o n s i v e n e s s " t o u n d e r p r i v i l e g e dp e o p l e i n B u r l i n g x o n w h o a r e f a c e d w i t h e v i c t i o n s , l a c k o f h e a t ,w r e t c h e d h o u s i n g c o n d i t i o n s , a n d t h e i l l s o f p o v e r t y , a n d o n h i sw i l l i n g n e s s t o h e a r t h e c o m p l a i n t s a n d d i s t r e s s s i g n a l s . B u t i n s t e a do f e m p o w e r i n g p e o p l e t h e m s e l v e s , S a n d e r s a s k s c i t i z e n s t o e n t r u s t h i ma s a l e a d e r t o s t a n d u p f o r t h e m t h a t i s , b y v o t i n g f o r h i m .T o b e t r u l y p a r t o f t h e r a d i c a l t r a d i t i o n o f D e b s , S a n d e r s w o u l d h a v eh a d t o d o m o r e t h a n s e e k v o t e s . H e w o u l d h a v e h a d t o i n s t i t u t e ap r o g r a m f o r c h a n g i n g t h e I n s t i t u t i o n s o f g o v e r n m e n t a n d s o c i e t y t op l a c e : : o m m u n i t y c o n t r o l d i r e c t l y i n t h e h a n d s o f t h e p e o p l e .I n s t e a d , S a n d e r s s t r e s s e s e l e c t o r a l v i c t o r y , n o t l o c a l p o p u l a r p o w e ra n d b a s i c c h a n g e s . H i s P r o g r e s s i v e C o a l i t i o n p r e s e n t s a m e r e s e m b l a n c eo f " p o p u l a r " l e a d e r s h i p . I n s t e a d o f g i v i n g p o w e r t o t h e p e o p l e a t t h eg r a s s r o o t s l e v e l . S a n d e r s h a s f u n c t i o n e d a s t h e k i n d o f l e a d e r D e b s s o s h a r p l y c o n d e m n e d a l a t x e i d a y M o s e s l e a d i n g p e o p l e i n t o a m y t h i cp r o m i s e d l a n d .D e s p i t e S a n d e r s ' s r h e t o r i c a b o u t b u i l d i n g a s t a t e w i d e m o v e m e n t , i nr e a l i t y h e h a s r e f u s e d t o b e a c c o u n t a b l e t o a n y p a r t y o r g r o u p . H e h a s


30/64

u

8r u n a D n e - n i a n , s h o w , c r e a t i n g a n o r g ^ a n i z a t i o n a r o u n d h i m s e l f , i n e f f e c ts u d s t : i t u t i n g h i i n s e i t l o r a r a d i c a l m o v e m e m : . S a i d o n e L a i c e s i d en e i g n b o r h o o d o r g a n i c e r i n 1 9 8 4 . " H e r n i e - B o r a e t i r a e s j u s t d o e s t h i n g s ,m e n t e l l s p e o p l e h e ' s d o n e t h e m . . . . W e ' r e m i s s i n g l i n k s s o m e w h e r ei n c o m m u n i c a t i o n . " ^ q u o t e d i n V a n g u a r d 8 / 8 3 )o a n a e r s ' s " o p e n i n g " o f c i t y g o v e r n m e n t i s t h u s p r e m i s e d o n a v e r ye l a s t i c a s s u m p - c i o n o f w h a t o n e m e a n s b y t h e w o r d " o p e n . " I f" o p e n n e s s " m e a n s g r e a t e r m u n i c i p a l d e m o c r a c y a n d p u b l i c p a r t i c i p a t i o n ,P r o g r e s s i v e C o a l i t i o n g o v e r n m e n t h a s n o t b e e n o p e n i t h a s n o t g i v e nn e i g h b o r h o o d s a n y a p p r e c i a b l e s h a r e i n t h e c i t y ' s g o v e r n m e n t . I n s t e a d ,i t h a s d i s p e n s e d S a n d e r s ' s p e r s o n a l p a t e r n a l i s m i n t h e n a m e o f " o p e ng o v e r n m e n t . " E v e n f o r m e r M a y o r G o r d o n P a q u e t t e f r e q u e n t l y a n s w e r e d h i so w n p h o n e ; b u t a c c e s s i b i l i t y t o S a n d e r s , t h e " o p e n g o v e r n m e n t " m a y o r ,b e c a m e r a t h e r m o r e d i f fi c u l t .S A N D E R S A U D C I T Y G O V E R H M E N TN o t o n l y h a s S a n a e r s f a i l e d t o g e n u i n e l y d e m o c r a t i z e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t :h e a c c u m u l a t e d p o w e r w i t h i n t h e e x i s t i n g c i t y g o v e r n m e n t , s h i f t i n gr o w e r i n t o t h e m a y o r ' s o f fi c e a n d a w a y i r o m o t h e r b o d i e s , l l ' u r i n g t h ey e a r s o f P r o g r e s s i v e C o a l i t i o n g o v e r n m e n t , B u r l i n g t o n c i t i z e n s h a v ew i t n e s s e d a s t e a d i l y i n c r e a s i n g c e n t r a l a d m i n i s t r a t i v e a p p a r a t u s . T h ec i t y ' s a t t e n t i o n h a s b e e n d i v e r t e d f r o m t h e q u e s t i o n o f d e m o c r a t i z i n gc i t y g o v e r n m e n t t o o b s e r v i n g a s e r i e s o f p o w e r s t r u g g l e s . P o w e r h a si n c r e a s i n g l y b e e n p l a c e d i n t h e h a n d s o f " e f fi c i e n t " t e c h n i c i a n s a n dt e c h n i c a l m a n a g e r s i n t h e m a y o r ' s o f fi c e . T h i s c e n t r a l i z a t i o n h a si n c r e a s i n g l y s u b v e r t e d o u r V e r m o n t h e r i t a g e o f p a r t i c i p a t o r yd e m o c r a c y , t u r n i n g B u r l i n g t o n i a n s f r o m a c t i v e c i t i z e n s i n t o p a s s i v et a x p a y e r s a n d m e r e v o t e r s .A l t h o u g h t h e m e d i a r e f e r t o B u r l i n g t o n a s h a v i n g a " c o m m i s s i o n f o r m o fg o v e r n m e n t , " B u r l i n g t o n a c t u a l l y h a s a " w e a k m a y o r " f o r m o f m a y o r -c o u n c i l g o v e r n m e n t i n w h i c h c o m m i s s i o n s n o n e t h e l e s s p l a y a n i m p o r t a n tr o l e . I n t h i s s y s t e m , c o m m i s s i o n e r s a r e a p p o i n t e d b y t h e C i t y C o u n c i l' t h e m a y o r p l u s t h e B o a r d o i A l d e r m e n ) . T h e p u r p o s e o f t h i s i sp r e c i s e l y t o p r e v e n t p o w e r f r o m b e c o m i n g c e n t r a l i z e d i n t o t h e h a n d s o fo n e c h i e f e x e c u t i v e o f f i c e r i n c i t y g o v e r n m e n t t h e m a y o r ' s i s j u s to n e v o i c e i n m a k i n g t h e s e a p p o i n t m e n t s .B u t t h i s a r r a n g e m e n t w a s n o t t o S a n d e r s ' s l i k i n g w h e n h e t o o k o f fi c ea s m a y o r ; w h e n c o m m i s s i o n e r s c h a l l e n g e d h i m f o r p o l i t i c a l r e a s o n s , h es a i d t h a t t h e y w e r e " h a m s t r i n g i n g " h i m b e c a u s e h e c o u l d n o t m a k e h i so w n a p p o i n t m e n t s . I n a n e f f o r t t o a t t a c k t h e c o m m i s s i o n s a s b a s t i o n so f p o l i t i c a l r e a c t i o n , S a n d e r s c o m p l a i n e d a b o u t t h e" n o n a c c o u n t a b i l i t y " o f c o m m i s s i o n g o v e r n m e n t . T h i s c o m p l a i n t h a dm e r i t t h e a c c o u n t a b i l i t y o f c o m m i s s i o n e r s i s n o t w h a t i t s h o u l d b e .B u t t h e q u e s t i o n t o b e a s k e d i s ; s p e c i fi c a l l y t o w h o m s h o u l dc o m m i s s i o n e r s b e a c c o u n t a b l e t o t h e m a y o r o r t o t h e p e o p l e ?O i e a r l y , i f i t w a s t h e c o m m i s s i o n e r s ' " a c c o u n t a b i l i t y " t o t h e p e o p l et h a t S a n d e r s d e s i r e d , h e c o u l d h a v e m a d e t h e m a c c o u n t a b l e b y c a l l i n gf o r t h e e l e c t i o n o f c o m m i s s i o n e r s b y t h e c i t i z e n r y . B u t i n s t e a d o fd o i n g t h i s , S a n d e r s o p e r a t e d o n t h e p r i n c i p l e t h a t " a c c o u n t a b i l i t y " t o


31/64

Z-]

t h e p e o p l e m e a n t a c c o u n t a b i l i t y t o h i m t h e l e a d e r o f t h e p e o p l e H es i m p x y c r e a t e a n e w o i l i c e s u n d e r h i s o w n j u r i s d i c t i o n t h a t t o o k o v e rI u n c i : i o n s f r o m e x i s t i n g c o m m i s s i o n s .M o s t n o t a b l e i n t h i s r e g a r d w a s t h e c r e a t i o n o f t h e C o m m u n i t y a n d" E c o n o m i c D e v e l o p m e n t O f fi c e , o r C E D O . T h e c r e a t i o n o f C E D O i n 1 9 8 3i - e m o v e d p o w e r s f r o m t h e P l a n n i n g C o m m i s s i o n < . s u c h a s a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o fb l o c K g r a n x f u n d s a n d o v e r s i g h t o f t h e N P A s ) a n d s t r i p p e d t h e e x i s t i n gP l a n n i n g D e p a r t m e n t o f i t s p o w e r s , o n t h e p r e t e x t t h a t t h e P l a n n i n gD e p a r t m e n x ' s r o l e h a d b e e n s p l i t b e t w e e n f o s t e r i n g d e v e l o p m e n t a n dr e g u l a t i n g i t . A l l a p p o i n t m e n t s - c o C E D O a r e h a n d p i c k e d b y t h e m a y o r ,a n d a p p o i n t e e s a r e r e s p o n s i b l e t o t h e F i n a n c e B o a r d ( w h i c h c o n s i s t s o ft h e m a y o r , t h r e e a l d e r p e o p l e , a n d t h e c i t y t r e a s u r e r ) n o t t o t h eB o a r d o f A l d e r m e n o r t o t h e p e o p l e . M o r e o v e r , C E D O w a s c h a r g e d w i t ha d m i n i s t e r i n g S I m i l l i o n i n f e d e r a l b l o c k g r a n t f u n d s ( . i n c l u d i n gc o m m u n t i y d e v e l o p m e n t f u n d s ) n e w l y a v a i l a b l e u n d e r R e a g a n ' s " n e wl e d e r a l i s m . " T h i s m a n d a t e g a v e i t c o n s i d e r a b l e p o w e r .B y g i v i n g C E D O s u c h e c o n o m i c p o w e r ; b y t a k i n g p o w e r s f r o m t h e P l a n n i n gD e p a r t m e n t a n d C o m m i s s i o n ; a n d b y v e s t i n g t h e m a y o r w i t h t h e p o w e r t oa p p o i n t C E D O o f f i c i a l s f o r a l l t h e s e r e a s o n s , t h e c r e a t i o n o f C E D Or e p r e s e n t e d a m a j o r s h i f t i n p o w e r i n c i t y g o v e r n m e n t , a w a y f r o m t h eB oard o f A lde rmen and t he commiss ions and t ow ard t he mayor .T h e m a y o r ' s o f fi c e w a s a l s o s t r e n g t h e n e d b y t h e c r e a t i o n o f a n u m b e ro f c o u n c i l s a c c o u n t a b l e s o l e l y t o t h e m a y o r t h e M a y o r ' s C o u n c i l o nt h e A r t s , t h e M a y o r ' s Y o u t h O f fi c e , a n d t h e B u r l i n g t o n W o m e n ' sC o u n c i l . C i t y h a l l s t a f f w a s g e n e r a l l y e x p a n d e d ; t h e m a y o r ' s r o l e i nt h e s e l e c t i o n o f a fi r e c h i e f a n d t h e p o l i c e d e p a r t m e n t w a s i n c r e a s e d ;a n d t h e m a y o r ' s r o l e i n d e v e l o p m e n t i s s u e s , s u c h a s t h e e x p a n s i o n o ft h e R a d i s s o n H o t e l a n d t h e w a t e r f r o n t , w a s i n c r e a s e d .fi n a l l y , S a n d e r s h a s i n t r o d u c e d t e c h n o c r a t s i n t o h i s a d m i n i s t r a t i o nw h o a r e m o r e c o n c e r n e d w i t h r e n d e r i n g c e n t r a l i s e d c i t y g o v e r n m e n te f fi c i e n t t h a n w i t h o p e n i n g i t u p t o p o p u l a r s e l f - g o v e r n m e n t . T h eb o o k s w e r e c l e a n e d u p . T h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n b r i n g s g r e a t e r r e v e n u e s i n t ot h e c i t y c o f f e r s b y w a y o f i t s i n v e s t m e n t s , b y o p e n i n g c i t y c o n t r a c t st o c o m p e t i t i v e b i d d i n g , b y c e n t r a l i z i n g p u r c h a s i n g , a n d b y s l a p p i n gf e e s o n a w i d e r a n g e o f i t e m s . T h e s t r e e t s a r e p l o w e d . B u r l i n g t o n i sw e l l - m a n a g e d , l i k e a n e f fi c i e n t c o r p o r a t e e n t e r p r i s e . B u t w h e t h e ra c c o u n t i n g a n d p u r c h a s i n g e f fi c i e n c y f u l fi l l s p o p u l a r d e m o c r a t i cd r e a m s i s o p e n t o q u e s t i o n .T h i s c e n t r a l i z a t i o n o f p o w e r i n t h e m a y o r ' s o f fi c e h a s s e t t h e s t a g ef o r t h e a p p e a r a n c e o f p o w e r f u l m a y o r s w h o m a y o r m a y n o t b e a s" p r o g r e s s i v e " a s S a n d e r s h i m s e l f . A s t h e V a n g u a r d w a r n e d i n 1 9 6 1 ,

J n l e s s S a n d e r s e m p o w e r s a l t e r n a t i v e i n s t i t u t i o n s s u c h a sn e i g h b o r h o o d c o u n c i l s t h a t c a n c a r r y o n i m p o r t a n t p r o j e c t s w i t h o r w i t h o u t a f r i e n d i n t h e m a y o r ' s o f f i c e t h e r e c o r do f S a n d e r s ' s a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s w i l l f a d e q u i c k l y w h e n h el e a v e s o f fi c e a n d l i t t l e l a s t i n g i m p a c t w i l l b e m a d e .


32/64

5 ^1 0

A n a a g a i n ;C i t y a d m i i i i s x r a t i o n i s n o t a m o v e m e n t . T h e o n l y w a y t h eP r o g r e s s i v e s i n c i t y h a l l c a n h a v e a t r u l y l a s t i n g e f f f e c ti n f c u r i i n g t o n , o n c e S a n d e r s ' s " C i m e i n o t i i c e i n e v i t a b l ye n d s , w i l l b e t o c h a n g e t h e s t r u c t u r e o f c i t y g o v e r n m e n ti t s e l i . . . . A s i m p o r t a n t a s e f fi c i e n c y a n d t a x e q u i t y a r e ,t h e s e w e r e n o t t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t r e a s o n s C S a n d e r s w a s 3e l e c t e d ,

i n 1 9 8 9 , a s S a n d e r s s t e p s d o w n a s m a y o r , B u r l i n g t o n i a n s a r e f a c e d w i t ht h e s e q u e s t i o n s . T h e f a c t i s t h a t t h e P r o g r e s s i v e C o a l i t i o n h a s n o tc h a n g e d t h e s t r u c t u r e o f c i t y g o v e r n m e n t b y m a k i n g i t m o r e d e m o c r a t i c ,n o r h a s i t g i v e n t h e N P A s r e a l p o w e r . T h e s t r u c t u r a l i m p a c t o f h i sl e g a c y o f i n c r e a s e d c e n t r a l i z a t i o n , o f n o n a c c o u n t a b l i t y , a n d o fn e u t r a l i s i n g p o p u l a r o r g a n i z a t i o n s w i l l r e m a i n a f t e r h e i s g o n e . T h ee v i s c e r a t i o n o f p o p u l a r i n i t i a t i v e s a n d t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f a c t i v ec i

Burlington Greens Campaign Packet

Documents

Transcript of Burlington Greens Campaign Packet