BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – What steps are other U.S. cities taking to address the kind of public safety issues Burlington faces?
The Burlington Business Summit Thursday brought in speakers from several states like Nevada and Colorado to discuss what solutions they use to address challenges like homelessness, substance use, and mental health.
Erik Hoekstra with Redstone Properties in Burlington says a rise in theft and vandalism at locations throughout the city can be attributed to the city’s growing drug problem. “People just looking for anything that they can turn into cash to buy that next fix. what everyone is here today — is to try to brainstorm about new and innovative ideas that we may be able to come up with to restore a better dynamic in the Burlington community,”
Throughout the event, businesses broke into sessions to discuss their ideas. Hoekstra says he’s hopeful these conversations will spark change in the Queen City.
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