A business owner in downtown Burlington, Vermont, admitted that the city’s homelessness and drug crisis, as well as its spiking crime rate, has cost his sporting goods shop more business than at any point in its long history.
We definitely need support from our local Vermonters,' he said. The local business owner, like other members of the Burlington community, has been grappling with a combination of multiple problems plaguing the city, including upticks in homelessness, drug addiction and crime that have gripped the picturesque city.
data reveals that violent crime is also up in the city. Aggravated assault has increased 40 percent, and gunfire has gone up nearly 300 percent. Local residents told Fox News they find it 'dangerous' to be out in public at night. The shop owner described the mood of local business owners in the wake of these issues. He said that many are finding it tough but have found ways to band together and spread awareness of the problems and brainstorm solutions.
In the years since, the Burlington City Council has voted to increase police officer numbers as well as increase funding by $2.47 million. However, the city has struggled to fill the roles, as there are currently only 68 officers on the force. Pomerleau Real Estate CEO and Burlington community leader Ernie Pomerleau told Fox News that he believes the initial vote to defund the police was a 'mistake.