WCAX Newscasters

Memorial Auditorium on Path to Stabilization

On Monday, May 23, Burlington’s city councilors attended a work session to discuss Memorial Auditorium, with a presentation by CEDO Director Brian Pine and Assistant Director for Community Works Samantha Dunn. The agenda of this public meeting did not have a public comment agenda item, but councilors welcomed a two-minute statement: “You were elected to […]

Read more
Ivamae CD release performance

The Power of Cities to Serve the Arts Needs to be Harnessed

An ordinance passed last year in Burlington, Vermont, directs city funds for public art only to work that is permanent and purchased from individual artists. In December, 2021, Hyperallergic kindly invited me to re-draft the earlier ‘On the Percent for Public Art Ordinance’ commentary for an audience that is much wider than the City of […]

Read more
Floorplan, Youth-Led Space

242 Main: On A Good News Train

Sending word that the Save 242 Main petition has come closer to its goal since the last update over a year ago. The continual advocacy; petition signatures; and the important comments that were gathered via the petition all played a role in the year’s events.   The petition and its comments were shared directly with […]

Read more
Karen Mittelman & James Lockridge

The Margaret L. (Peggy) Kannenstine Award for Arts Advocacy

On October 24 the Vermont Arts Council recognized several Vermonters for their contributions to the arts in the state during a ceremony for The Vermont Arts Awards. François Clemmons of Middlebury received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. Douglas Anderson of Middlebury received the Arthur Williams Award for Meritorious Service to the Arts. […]

Read more
New Bulletin Board Installed

New Public Bulletin Boards Arrive in Burlington

The first of Burlington’s new public bulletin boards are appearing on St. Paul Street, with more to follow on Bank Street, Cherry Street, and City Hall Park in the future. The advocacy that argued for public bulletin boards was a marathon, joined by musicians and volunteers supporting their music scene over a period of close […]

Read more

An Apology to Others Who Responsibly Shine the Light

This post is meant for anybody who cares about other people. Some people seem like they’re born with the skills to act on their compassion in a way that is practical and effective and translates into actually making the world a better place. I’m not in that category, it turns out.  I’ve come into a […]

Read more

To build trust, a city must ensure that its landscape of potentiality is not divided by mountains of unfairness. If opportunity is perceived to be fairly distributed, then people will grow toward opportunity the way trees grow toward light.

Jonathan F. P. Rose

We cannot let our differences and disagreements divide us. We must lead by example: Show our youth how to engage in important, complex debates with both conviction and civility; prove that the strength of our nation is in its diversity of people and opinion... and that listening to, and learning from, each other is how we continue to build on our foundation as a nation.

Governor Phil Scott

Listening is the basis of empathy and empathy is the only way to think our way out of the stranglehold of the debilitating and outmoded forms of thought we have inherited from our colonial past.

Helen Molesworth

Thank You for Your Support

Sending heartfelt thanks out to everyone who voted for me in this election. Every vote was an affirmation. I have the gift of your encouragement, if not a city council seat, and you’ve inspired me. Sending special thanks out to those who supported the campaign itself — financially or with the treasure of your time […]

Read more

As trustees and servants of the people, it’s what we signed up for. We have a duty to let the sun shine in – to let the people we serve see what we are up to.

Jim Condos, VT Secretary of State
Socialism

Campaign Attracts Prominent Activist Endorsements: Burlington Democratic Socialists of America; Coalition for a Livable City; 05401 PLUS (Press Release)

Community groups highlight need for improved citizen participation; Ward 3 candidate champions change BURLINGTON February 22, 2018 The Burlington Ward 3 City Council campaign of James Lockridge, Independent, announces endorsement by the Burlington Democratic Socialists of America and the Coalition for a Livable City. “My fight for human dignity in Burlington — for a government […]

Read more
CCTV Candidate Forum

CCTV Ch. 17 Live Town Meeting Forum: Q&A With the Ward 3 Candidates (Video)

Tonight, I answered questions about policy and issues with my Ward 3 City Council opponents Lizzie Haskell and Brian Pine at the Channel 17 Live Town Meeting Forum for Ward 3 candidates. Morgan True of VTDigger moderated the live TV broadcast, produced by Kim Villemaire. The CCTV crew was kind enough to send the questions in […]

Read more
A Tenacious Changemaker

One Candidate Pursues a Better City Government, Tenaciously (Video)

Read more
Pine, Haskell & Lockridge

Ward 2/3 NPA Candidate Forum (Video)

With thanks to producer Charlie Giannoni and CCTV, video of the February 8 Wards 2 & 3 Neighborhood Planning Assembly Candidate Forum can be viewed online. It was a genuine pleasure to answer questions alongside my opponents Brian Pine and Lizzie Haskell. The conversation with Ward 3 residents reinforced our need for a City Council […]

Read more
Photo by Burlington Free Press

Town Meeting Day: Meet Your Burlington City Council Candidates

The Burlington Free Press kindly published a guide to Burlington City Council candidates, providing responses that were edited for space. Unedited questions and answers are below. 1. What concrete step can the City Council take to make housing more affordable for Vermonters? Please specify an actual action item. We need to live up to our […]

Read more
James Lockridge and Brian Pine

City Council Opponents Encourage Civic Engagement with Joint Video

I hope this short video — a project that my political opponent and I produced collaboratively — is a happy reminder of the quality of our local democracy. Happy New Year to all as we enter the adventure of 2018 together, making our city an even better place to live and grow! Press Release City […]

Read more
Mayor Weinberger on WCAX

WCAX Reports: Mayor Weinberger to Restore Memorial Auditorium; Building to Remain Public

A heavy debt of respect and gratitude is due to the people of Burlington who raised their voice to save Memorial Auditorium. That voice is noble and growing in power. WCAX reports tonight that Mayor Weinberger is committed to restoring Memorial Auditorium and keeping it in the public domain, “A plan to modernize Memorial Auditorium […]

Read more
Lifesaver Award Ceremony

Youth Safety Council Director Lockridge Receives Award

Thank you, Vermont Business Magazine, for sharing this news. The Governor’s Highway Safety Program recently presented its annual ‘Lifesaver of the Year’ award to James Lockridge, Executive Director of the Youth Safety Council of Vermont. The award was presented by Governor Phil Scott, Chief of the Vermont Governor’s Highway Safety Program Keith Flynn, Vermont Motor […]

Read more
VTDigger photo of SaraMoore

VTDigger: Pine, Lockridge to Compete for Open Burlington Council Seat

Sending a respectful welcome and congratulations to colleague Brian Pine for announcing his bid as an opponent for the Ward 3 City Council seat. It’s a pleasure to be a part of demonstrating how much commitment our Ward has to upholding progressive ideals at City Hall. Thank you for voting for me in March. See the VTDigger […]

Read more
Rights & Democracy Movement Politics Training Group

Rights & Democracy’s Movement Politics Training

Kiah Morris VT State Representative, Diana Gonzalez, and Debbie Ingram shared practical campaign knowledge and personal insights at the Rights & Democracy Political Revolution Burlington Movement Politics Training! on Saturday. I’m entering politics with humility, grateful for the lift. Thank you Shay Totten and Isaac Grimm for the schooling.

Read more
Energize Democracy Event

Energize Democracy at Vermont Law School

Sending thanks out to Vermont Law School and the team that organized the ‘Energize Democracy’ workshop yesterday. I’m entering the city council campaign as a citizen who’s ‘energized’ to move Burlington toward a fairer, more inclusive and empowering city government. Thanks to Kathleen Falk, former Gov. Madeleine Kunin, Randy Brock, Sen. Joe Benning, Ruth Hardy, VLS Professor […]

Read more
On CCTV with Preservation Burlington

Preservation Burlington: The Fate of Memorial Auditorium

Liisa Reimann Rivera and Ron Wanamaker of Preservation Burlington were kind to converse with me on their CCTV show about the “challenges and opportunities associated with preserving this nearly century-old landmark.” Find the video here https://www.cctv.org/watch-tv/programs/fate-memorial-auditorium

Read more
Memorial Auditorium by Matthew Thorsen

Seven Days: Burlingtonians Speak Out to Save Memorial Auditorium

Katie Jickling of Seven Days writes about how “Burlington residents came out en masse Tuesday night to advocate for the preservation of Memorial Auditorium.” Seven Days photo by Matthew Thorsen.

Read more
Glenn Russell photo of Memorial Auditorium

Burlington Free Press: Burlington Neighborhood Groups Want Memorial Auditorium Saved

Jess Aloe and Dan D’Ambrosio of the Burlington Free Press write, “About 75 members of neighborhood planning groups from across Burlington expressed overwhelming support Tuesday night for preserving Memorial Auditorium.” Read the article here http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2017/09/26/burlington-neighborhood-groups-want-memorial-auditorium-saved/703192001/ Burlington Free Press photo by Glenn Russell.

Read more
Close
Go top