Burlington businesses warn downtown crime is hurting tourism and small firms
More than 170 merchants urged action as officials weigh policing, restorative justice and new patrols in the University of Vermont city
Business owners in Burlington, Vermont, say a rise in graffiti, shoplifting and open drug use in the city’s downtown is harming tourism and threatening small businesses, prompting more than 170 merchants to urge city officials to act.
The merchants’ May open letter described a “growing crisis” in the central business district of the University of Vermont city, where owners said incidents have made the area feel “edgy and kind of scary.” Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak and Burlington officials have said they are developing new strategies to address public-safety concerns, but the mayor has cautioned that a heavier police presence “could undermine progress.”
Local reporting and interviews with law-enforcement figures show a debate unfolding over how best to balance crime deterrence, community trust and treatment-focused responses. Interim Police Chief Shawn Burke has emphasized restorative justice approaches and told WCAX Channel 3 that enforcement alone will not solve the problem. "I have done this job long enough to know that we are not going to arrest our way or fine our way out of this crisis," Burke said.
Outside Vermont, law-enforcement officials have urged a return to visible, community-oriented policing. Jimmy Baldea, a deputy with the Rutland County Sheriff’s Office, told Fox News Digital that greater officer presence on downtown streets and in neighborhood businesses can deter crime and help build trust with residents. "Officer presence is something that I think is one of the best crime deterrents possible," Baldea said, adding that approachable officers who interact casually with residents can encourage reporting and tips that help prevent future incidents.
Businesses say the economic effects are real. Owners have reported lost sales, increased security costs and concern that visitors — including parents of college students and seasonal leaf-peeping tourists — could be dissuaded from visiting. "It’s always been edgy, but it was edgy and fun," Burlington Business Association’s Kelly Devine told WCAX. "Now, it’s edgy and kind of scary, and icky, and we need to fix that."
City officials have taken some steps. Burlington Police Department officers increased directed and foot patrols beginning in 2020, and as of Aug. 28 officers were conducting walkthroughs of the central gathering area of City Hall Park, Mulvaney-Stanak said. The mayor also indicated plans to collaborate with state leaders on a response.
The debate in Burlington mirrors discussions in other small and mid-size cities confronting visible disorder, theft and substance-use issues in commercial corridors. Some advocates and city officials favor treatment, social services and restorative justice to address underlying causes, while many business owners and some law-enforcement leaders press for more uniform visible policing to deter immediate criminal activity.
Baldea acknowledged that Burlington’s level of crime is comparable to other cities of similar size, but he said resident concerns are legitimate and that local politics will play a key role in shaping responses. He urged residents to keep communicating with elected officials and said first responders statewide are committed to public safety and to encouraging tourism. "We don’t want anybody to not want to come to Vermont in fear of any reason," he said.
Mulvaney-Stanak and the Burlington Police Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on recent statements.
As Burlington officials consider a mix of policing tactics and restorative approaches, merchants and tourism-dependent businesses are pressing for visible, effective action to protect customers and preserve the downtown economy. City leaders say they face the challenge of striking a response that reduces crime while maintaining community trust and access to services.