Everyone hits hard times, and when they do, the strength of a city shows in how it responds. Whether it’s help with childcare, mental health, recovery, or basic stability, people should be able to get support without jumping through hoops or feeling ashamed for asking. A healthy Burlington means making sure no one falls through the cracks.

• Support Should Be Easy to Find: When someone needs help, they shouldn’t have to navigate a maze to get it. We believe in making access to services straightforward, local, and timely—so people get what they need, when they need it.

• Dignity Matters: Everyone deserves to be treated with respect, especially in moments of vulnerability. Our city should be a place where no one feels ashamed to ask for help—and where support comes without judgment.

• Wellbeing Is a Shared Responsibility: Strong communities don’t leave anyone behind. From mental health to food access, from recovery to childcare, the services we invest in today shape the wellbeing of our city tomorrow.

• We Measure What Matters: If we want Burlington to be a city that works for everyone, we need to pay attention to how people actually feel. That means listening to residents, tracking community wellbeing, and using what we learn to do better.

Lately, a lot of people in Burlington don’t feel as safe as they used to—whether they’re downtown for work, running a small business, or spending time with their family. At the same time, we know that some of our neighbors are struggling with issues like addiction, mental health, and housing. Real safety means showing up for both. When we take care of each other and respond when it counts, we make Burlington stronger for everyone.

• Safety Belongs to Everyone: Whether you’re walking home at night, opening your shop in the morning, or raising a family, you deserve to feel safe. A safer Burlington starts with listening to people’s real experiences, and responding with care and urgency.

• Care and Safety Go Hand in Hand: Supporting vulnerable neighbors and addressing public safety are not competing priorities. We believe in a city that looks out for everyone and takes action when people are at risk, whether from violence, crisis, or neglect.

• Responsiveness: Safety means having the right people respond in the right moments. That includes mental health professionals, housing outreach workers, and first responders, each playing a role in a city-wide approach to public safety.

• Trust Makes Us Stronger: We can’t build safer communities without trust. That means being honest about what’s working and what’s not, and making space for community members to help shape the path forward.

Burlington’s local businesses are part of what make this city feel like home. Whether it’s a corner store, a coffee shop, or a small company trying to grow, these are the places that bring energy to our neighborhoods and keep people connected. But lately, it’s felt harder to get started—and even harder to stay. If we want a thriving city, we need to make sure the people building it have what they need to succeed.

• Support Local, Grow Local: We believe that a resilient economy starts with strong local businesses. When we support our neighbors’ work—whether it’s a storefront, a startup, or a sidewalk café—we’re investing in a Burlington that reflects and sustains its community.

• Downtown is Everyone’s Neighborhood: A healthy city center benefits all of us. Whether you work downtown, live nearby, or visit on weekends, a vibrant core brings people together and drives energy across the city. Let’s build a downtown that’s safe, welcoming, and full of life.

• Built by Burlingtonians: A strong local economy doesn’t come from the top down. It’s built by the people who live and work here. When we listen to business owners, workers, and neighbors, we shape a city that reflects our shared values.

• Let’s Make It Make Sense: Starting or running a business in Burlington shouldn’t feel harder than it has to. We believe in working together to make city processes easier to understand and more predictable—for everyone.

Housing in Burlington has gotten too hard to find, and even harder to afford. That’s pushing people out of neighborhoods they’ve lived in for years, and making it nearly impossible for others to move in. Whether you’re starting out, raising a family, or looking to stay close as you age, everyone deserves a place to call home. We need to make sure Burlington has enough housing, and the right kinds, to meet the needs of the people who live here.

• Everyone Needs a Place to Call Home: Housing is more than a market, it's the foundation of a strong community. When people can live where they work, raise kids near good schools, and stay close to their support networks, our city grows stronger.

• Neighbors Shouldn’t Be Pushed Out: Too many longtime residents are being priced out of the neighborhoods they helped shape. We believe in a Burlington where people can stay rooted, and where new neighbors are welcomed, not shut out.

• We Need More Options: From young professionals to growing families to older adults looking to downsize, people at every stage of life deserve access to safe, stable housing. That means making room for a wider range of homes across the city.

• Let’s Make It Possible to Build: We can’t solve a housing crisis without building more housing. That starts with removing unnecessary roadblocks and creating a process that’s clear, predictable, and focused on what’s best for our community.