On May 9, 2025, a large coalition of small business owners in downtown Burlington sent an open letter to Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak outlining urgent concerns about public safety, infrastructure, communication, and the future of our local economy.

 We are now asking for your support.

 If you live, work, study, or spend time in Burlington—and believe in a vibrant, safe, and locally driven downtown—please add your name in solidarity. Your signature shows City leadership that these concerns are shared by the broader community and deserve immediate action.

 Together, we can help protect the character, safety, and future of downtown.

Please read the full letter below before signing 

AN OPEN LETTER FROM BURLINGTON SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS 

May 9, 2025 

Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak City of Burlington
149 Church Street
Burlington, VT 05401 

Dear Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak, 

We, the undersigned small business owners in downtown Burlington, are writing to express our deep concern about the current state of our city center. Many of us have been proud to operate here for decades, serving as anchors on Church Street and in the surrounding neighborhoods through various economic shifts, construction, the pandemic, and cultural changes. We have consistently supported Burlington by providing local jobs, sales tax revenue, mentoring students, sponsoring community events, and contributing to the vibrant character that defines our city. 

However, we have reached a critical point where we must voice a serious alarm: our downtown is facing a crisis. 

We have participated in numerous meetings and focus groups with the hope of seeing positive change. Despite a stated desire by the administration to impact change, these statements have not translated into tangible results. Businesses are closing their doors, valued long-term employees are leaving, and residents are increasingly choosing to avoid the downtown area. Those of us who remain feel neglected and increasingly unsafe. Our expectations are not for an unattainable ideal, but for effective leadership, genuine support, and the fundamental resources necessary to operate businesses that are safe, welcoming, and sustainable. 

Therefore, we urgently request that the City Administration take immediate action on the following: 

1. Clean, Safe, and Usable Parking Garages 

Downtown parking garages have become unwelcoming and unsafe for customers and employees alike. Poor lighting, lack of surveillance, and the frequent presence of drug use or harassment are actively deterring visitors and impacting business.
We urge the City to prioritize immediate safety upgrades—improved lighting, visible security cameras, and a consistent security presence. We also recommend reinstating the first two hours of free parking as a gesture of good faith to encourage downtown visits and support struggling businesses. 

2. Employee Safety and Retention 

Many of our employees—particularly young women and students—feel unsafe coming to work. Incidents of street harassment, visible drug use, and threatening behavior have led several staff 

members to quit after just one or two shifts. This directly affects our ability to operate and retain reliable teams. 

We ask the City to implement a visible downtown safety presence during our peak months—such as walking patrols, trained community ambassadors (who stop into businesses at night to check in)—to deter disruptive behavior and support those who work in our city. Small businesses cannot serve as crisis responders. 

3. Accountability and Support for Public Safety 

While we are encouraged by the hiring of Chief Burke, downtown businesses continue to shoulder the burden of managing overdoses, confronting shoplifting, and responding to mental health crises without adequate support. This is not our role—we need trained professionals and a responsive system in place. The administration must address the lack of meaningful consequences for repeat offenders, which has led to emboldened behavior and a troubling escalation in both frequency and severity. 

As a constructive step, we urge the City to explore restorative approaches. Assigning offenders to community service—such as picking up needles, cleaning human waste, or removing graffiti—could provide a path toward accountability while addressing the visible impact of these harms. 

4. Needle Removal and Public Drug Use 

It is unacceptable that families, children, and workers must step over used needles on sidewalks and in doorways. Burlington must adopt a serious, sustained strategy for needle cleanup and make this a top public safety priority. 

We call on the City to implement a consistent and visible needle cleanup program, including daily sweeps of high-traffic areas, responsive reporting tools, and clear accountability for results. While the public supported harm reduction through a needle exchange program, what we are seeing today falls far outside that intent and must be urgently corrected. 

5. Children’s Safety 

Let us not forget: our downtown includes a high school, a middle school, and a YMCA daycare. Students can't safely ride their bikes to school without risk of theft, and they regularly encounter needles or erratic behavior on their way to class. This is a crisis for the entire community—not just business owners. 

6. Relocation of the Free Lunch Program from the Parking Garage 

We support efforts to feed and care for those in need. However, the free lunch program operating out of our main parking garage has had a negative impact on the area. Some attendees have repeatedly stolen from businesses or caused harm. We respectfully ask that this program be relocated to a more appropriate and secure setting—not eliminated. We are aware there have been alternative spots brought to the City’s attention and we would like those explored. 

7. Graffiti and Property Damage 

Graffiti covers public and private buildings with little to no recourse or support for removal. While we understand that private property is not a municipal responsibility, rampant graffiti is a theft-of-value of a collectively incalculable amount. We propose a cleanup enforcement program and grant funding to assist property owners. We also support restorative efforts—such as assigning cleanup duties to those caught shoplifting or vandalizing. 

8. Better Communication and Mitigation from City Departments 

The massive multi-year construction project on Main Street has severely impacted foot traffic and accessibility for businesses in that area. There is minimal signage to help redirect or reassure visitors, and no visible effort to offset the economic harm to affected businesses. We respectfully urge the City and Department of Public Works to take immediate steps to improve directional and wayfinding signage throughout the downtown area. Clear, professional signage—both pedestrian and vehicular—should inform visitors that businesses are open, and guide them on how to access storefronts and available parking. This is an essential measure to support our local economy during this disruptive period. We urge the City and DPW to restore the two free hours of parking downtown to help support the customers who continue to come despite these challenges. This would be a simple, meaningful step to show that the City values and supports its downtown economy. 

Additionally, there is little to no notice when construction or street work impacts access to our buildings. Most recently, the sidewalk and employee entrances next to one business were blocked off with no prior communication. This is unacceptable and disruptive to operations. Customers and deliveries were confused, staff didn’t know how to enter the building, and no timeline or contact information was provided. A simple heads-up could have prevented confusion and lost revenue. 

9. Public Nudity Ordinance 

We are formally requesting an ordinance that would prohibit public nudity within Burlington’s downtown core, similar to the regulation in Brattleboro. We have observed an increasing trend of individuals engaging in deliberately inappropriate behavior in public spaces, which is causing alarm among families and negatively impacting Burlington's reputation as a welcoming environment. We believe this issue warrants prompt attention and can be effectively addressed with an ordinance before the summer months. 

10. Invest in Downtown’s Image 

The perception of Burlington as unsafe is now widespread—from Chittenden County to our own student population. Tax dollars must be used to support coordinated marketing and PR efforts that promote downtown and re-establish it as a vibrant, safe, and inclusive space. College students in particular have stopped visiting downtown—what can be done to rebuild that trust? Many of the same mitigation issues mentioned above will help regain students’ trust. 

Keeping Downtown Local 

While newer ventures have come and gone, we have remained—through COVID, economic hardship, and an increasingly difficult downtown environment. But even we have limits. If we go, the local feel of downtown goes. 

The growing number of local business closures is a serious concern, posing a threat to the distinctive charm that defines Burlington. We face the risk of these unique establishments being replaced by ubiquitous national chains. This trend is also making it increasingly challenging for emerging Vermont entrepreneurs to thrive. 

We are your partners in building a strong Burlington. Now we need you to act like our partner. We respectfully request that your administration address these urgent issues and work on meaningful solutions. 

Sincerely, 

The Undersigned Burlington Business 

 Full Name & Business
Melissa Desautels- Dear Lucy
Llyndara Harbour Harbour Thread
Marc Sherman, OGE
Allan Walker-Hodkin, The Cafè HOT.
Lindsay Chisholm Mirror Mirror
Timothy Pratt Global Pathways
Jennifer Carlson- Code Style Club
Vermont Mortgage Company, LLC
Ava Stanley/Olive & Ollie
Heather Lavoie Ladybug Creative
Evelynn Lavoie & Ladybug Creative
Jana M Qualey - Home & Garden Vermont
Mike Berger- lippas
Julie Thom, Von Bargen’s Jewelry
Nicole Carey Golden Hour Gift Co
Rachel Solis, The Daily Planet
Neil Solis, The Daily Planet
Jesse Jacobs, property owner, Broadway Enterprises
Kaitlin Ryan, Saratoga Olive Oil
Allison Gibson, Honey Road
Shiloh Sefcik - Inkwell Emporium
Jacob Shane, Rogue Rabbit
Cara Tobin, Honey Road & The Grey Jay
Jed Davis
Brendan Foster / Maven Skateshop
Tierney Munger, Muddy Waters Cafe
John George-Wheeler Skirack / Patagonia Burlington
Shlomi Lavi, Flora & Fauna and Weenies
Bridget Conry, Lucky You
Miriam Acoca Lavi, Flora & Fauna and Weenies
Bentley Droy - Ken’s Pizza & Pub
Tom Miller - Ken’s Pizza & Pub
Tom Miller - The Other Place
Katchen McElwain, Liebling
Valerie Suplee, Global Pathways
Ali Dumont Von Bargen’s Jewelry
Jordan Ware - Frankie's
The Skirack, Inc includes Patagonia Burlington
Debra Miller. Kens Pizza and Pub (52 years)
Thomas Miller Kens Pizza and Pub
Cindi Kozak | Frankie’s
Jason Thom - Von Bargen's Jewelry
Gosia Meyer Jewelry
William Read / CannaPlanners - employing 25 full time employees
Zachary Santarsiero, CannaPlanners
Joshua Cleaver, CannaPlanners Inc.
Ian Doerner / Burlington Records
Trena Isley & Bill Everts, Tradewinds Imports
Cynthea Hausman - Cynthea's Spa LLC - 21 years on Church street
Eric Warnstedt Hen of the Wood
Paige Farrington, BTV Spaces
Daniel Zeese, Frog Hollow Craft Gallery & Association
Michael Williams KKD
Dan Cunningham, One Day In July
Shayne Lynn & Lucky You
Mark Bouchett - Homeport
Paul Sansone Shy Guy Gelato
Sara Garside, Green Mountain Ashtanga
Bianca Anderson, Adept Technology
Michele Ready Ambrosino- The Archives Bar
Trina Zide Maven Skateshop
Natalie Miller - Vermont Comedy Club
Debbie Safran, Houndstooth
DAVE FARRINGTON/ BRICKBOX / STICKS & BRICKS / 77 COLLEGE / BROWNELL-HAWLEY BLOCK / CITYPLACE
Linda Pacheco Rapunzel Full Service Salon
John A. Ambrosino - The Archives Bar
Kylee Heingartner - KYLEE Boutique
Amy Bernhardt Leunigs Bistro
Lara Heath Allen @ Ecco Clothes Boutique
Corrine Levinthal J Skis
Jason Levinthal J Skis
jenny sangkhanond, BKK in the alley
Bobby Chompupong,BKK in the alley
Isaac Dow, Battery Street Jeans Exchange
Patricia /Jay Miller J.P. Coseno North Star Sports
Sarah and Mark of Banana Stand
Chelsea Edson, FoxHoneyGoods
Whitney Goldfield - Whitney Eve Wellness
Aaron Goldfield - Goldfield Construction Management
Allison Gibson, Honey Road
Christina DeMag Jubilance Salon
Joshua Markle Akes’ Place
Red Square
Allyson Sprinkel Pepper Lee
Paul Martinez / Moose Tattoos
Caroline Corrente, Haymaker Bun Co.
Fred Palatino Garcia Tobacco Shop Inc
Teresa Palatino Garcia Tobacco Shop Inc
Zandy Wheeler: SR South LLC, Wilsuzan Associates Inc., Patagonia Burlington, Ski Rack Inc.
Shannon Kamnik | Kish
Robin Blodgett Stash Fabric
Kevin Richer CVS Pharmacy
Lyn Carey Golden Hour gift co
Ian Bailey, Vivid Coffee
Ryan Nick - J.L. Davis Realty
Phoenix Books
Jeff Nick J.L. Davis Realty
Kelli Catana downtown worker
Katie DeSanto, Phoenix Books
Lyn Carey, Golden Hour Gift Co
Jaeger Nedde - Nedde Real Estate
Robin Gershman, Pearl
Tony Blake, principal, V/T Commercial
Jason Adams, Independent Block, LLC
Yana Walder, Director of Leasing, Lake Point Property Management
Anthony H. Shaw - ShawRealEstate
Bill Kiendl - 90 96 Church Street, LLP
Brian Armstrong, KW Vermont, Strong Will Property Management, and Lake Champlain Closets
Katie Woods | Ritual Skincare
Michelle Anemikos. Rapunzel Salon
Julia Booth - Investors Corporation of Vermont
Nicole Senecal Omega Realty
Alfred Senecal & City Place Partners
Sharon Beal Common Deer
Zachary Jones Black Cap Coffee and Bakery
Marnie Long, August First
John Beal - V/T Commercial
Patricia Trafton, Soapbox Arts
Zari Sadri- Hinterland Bride
Elise Pecor Vermont Pub & Brewery
Linda Letourneau VT COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
Brian M Cherry, New England Floor Covering
Body Art Tattoo
James Unsworth, Unsworth Properties
Jennifer Kahn, Jennifer Kahn Jewelry
Erik Hoekstra & Glenn Von Bernewitz, Redstone
American Flatbread Burlington Hearth
Paddy Donnelly - Bern Gallery
Abby Huston Olmstead/ Abby Huston Designs
Matt Tedder, The Kingsland Co.
Steven Schonberg, Howard Opera House Associates, LLC
Nathan Mitchell / The Optical Center
Gordon Demeritt, Catamount east development co.
Jeff berger 99-1011/2 llc, 112 llc, lippa’s
Steve Conant - The Soda Plant
Yves Bradley-VT Commercial
Chelsea Tedder - Vermont Occupational Therapy Connections
Mike Hathaway - New World Tortilla
Leunigs building
Bentley Miller Kens Pizza and Pub
Michelle Sautter The Men’s Room
Patricia Pomerleau 108/110 Church St landlord.
Sheehan Lake
Leah Chiofaro SoulShine Power Yoga
Beth Garbo Tick Tock Jewelers
Sarah Beal, Common Deer
Joe Larkin
kent Wood Agem Properties
Fernando Cresta - Nedde Real Estate
John and Monica Clark, The UPS Store 2821
Rich Arentzen/Tove Ohlander AO Glass
Sipha Lam, Wilder Wines
Bradford J Worthen, Pomerleau Real Estate
Stacey Thibaud & DeLisle Thibaud , LLC
Daniel DeLisle & DeLisle Thibaud , LLC
George Martin, LN Consulting
Karin Eisenberg OLD GOLD
Ryan Merritt | CannaPlanners
Wright Preston, Prelco, Inc.
Anya Huneke, Dirt Chic
Kirstin Minton-Ellwood owner is Pure Beauty
Rob Desautels, NPC Processing
Lawrence Halvorson, Halvorson’s Upstreet Cafe
Lilly Boardman - Brian Boardman Group / CB Coldwell Banker Hickok and Boardman
Morganne Thayer, CVS
Meg McGovern Donahue & Associates
Ernie pomerleau -Pomerleau real estate
Bryan Dube / Acme Glass
Eric Lampman - Lake Champlain Chocolates
Larry Williams
Private Citizen, please LEAD!
Kristin Halvorson, EB Strong’s Prime Steakhouse
Michele Asch, Twincraft Skincare
Christopher Maley, Maley and Maley, PLLC
Will Dodge -- Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC
T Jeff Spencer of Stewardship Slate
Scott Michael Mapes - Eighty Nine College Street LLC
Megan Epler Wood, EplerWood International
Christine Beall
Molly Conant | Rackk & Ruin
Giovanna Jager - Karma Bird House
Barry Mossman, One Lawson Lane
Perry Sporn, Perrywinkle’s Fine Jewelry
The Skinny Pancake - Benjy Adler