>> BURLINGTON DEMOCRATS ELECT JOAN SHANNON AS THEIR NOMINEE FOR MAYOR.

SHE FACES PROGRESSIVE EMMA MULVANEY-STANAK AND PERHAPS OTHERS IN THE ELECTION.

>> ANYONE WHO GETS ELECTED WILL REPRESENT ALL OF BURLINGTON.

WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE OPEN MINDED, WE HAVE TO LISTEN AND MOST IMPORTANT LILIES SEND TO PEOPLE WE DISAGREES WITH BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY R-G RIGHT AND I DON'T EVER WANT TO LOSE SIGHT OF THAT.

>> PLUS THE VERMONT SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION OF FRANKLIN COUNTY SHERIFF JOHN GRISMORE.

>> THE STAGE SET FOR LEGALIZED SPORTS BETTING FOR LAUNCH IN JANUARY.

THAT AND MORE AHEAD ON "VERMONT THIS WEEK."

>> FROM THE VERMONT PUBLIC STUDIO IN WINOOSKI, THIS IS "VERMONT THIS WEEK," MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE LINTILHAC FOUNDATION AND MILNE TRAVEL.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US ON "VERMONT THIS WEEK."

I'M MARK JOHNSSON.

IT'S FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15.

JOINING ME ON THE PANEL, LIAM ELDER-CONNORS WITH VERMONT PUBLIC, FROM NBC 5 STEPHEN BIDDIX, AND COURTNEY LAMDIN WITH SEVEN DAYS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

LET'S START, COURTNEY, IN BURLINGTON ON SUNDAY THE DEMOCRATS PICKED THEIR CANDIDATE, JOAN SHANNON.

>> IT WAS A UNIQUE CAUCUS.

THE DEMOCRATS HAD 3700 PEOPLE REGISTER FOR THIS, WHICH WAS A RECORD BREAKING TURNOUT.

SO MANY PEOPLE SIGNED UP THAT THEY COULDN'T REALLY HOLD IT IN PERSON.

THERE'S NO MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM THOUGH HOLD THAT MANY PEOPLE SO A FEW FOLKS WENT TO EDMONDS MIDDLE SCHOOL INCLUDING ALL THE CANDIDATES AND THE VOTES CAME BACK IN THE FIRST ROUND PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WOULD GO INTO MULTIPLE ROUNDS.

JOAN TOOK 57% SO IN A WAY SHE SQUEAKED IN, GOT THE 50% PLUS ONE VOTE MAJORITY, MORE THAN THAT, TO WIN OVER CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT KAREN PAUL, WHO GOT 35%, AND C.D.

MADISON, WHO GOT 14%.

>> WHAT WAS THE BIG ISSUE?

WHY WAS THIS SO DECISIVE?

>> HARD TO SAY EXACTLY BUT PUBLIC SAFETY HAS BEEN A HUGE CONVERSATION POINT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW AND DEFINITELY IN THIS RACE.

JOAN HAS MADE WELL KNOWN HER POSITION ON POLICING, PARTICULARLY POLICE STAFFING.

SHE WAS ONE OF THREE WHO VOTED AGAINST THE STAFF REDUCING VOTE.

KAREN PAUL, HER MAIN OAPPOINTMENT, VOTED FOR THAT ALTHOUGH LATER VOTED FOR OTHER EFFORTS TO REBUILD THE DEPARTMENT.

JOAN REALLY PUSHED THAT MESSAGE AND IT WON HER THE ENDORSEMENTS OF BOTH THE POLICE UNION AND THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION.

I THINK THAT PROBABLY COUNTED FOR SOME OF HER VOTES.

>> WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT EMMA MULVANEY SPAN YECKE?

>> SHE'S BEEN A LONG TIME MEMBER OF THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY, RECENTLY A REP FOR ONE OF THE BURLINGTON DISTRICTS SO SHE HAD NOMINATIONS FROM BOTH PARTIES IN HER STATEHOUSE ROLE.

BUT SHE'S ALSO BEEN TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY ON THE CAM ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY ON THE C%-ú.

I THINK PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE ISSUE THAT WE HEAR ABOUT IN-BUR.

THERE ARE OTHER THINGS GOING ON BUT IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO IMAGINE ANYTHING ELSE WILL TAKE UP AS MUCH OXYGEN AS THIS PUBLIC SAFETY HOMELESSNESS INCREASING, OPIOID CRISIS ARE GOING TO DOMINATE THE BURLINGTON MAYORAL RACE.

>> IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE THE OLD ADD ACHES ABOUT REAL ESTATE BEING LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION.

I AGREE I THINK PUBLIC SAFETY WILL DOMINATE THE DISCUSSION AND ALREADY HAS.

ARE WE LIKELY TO SEE ANY OTHER CANDIDATES?

>> I THINK WE COULD.

I THINK THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THE CANDIDATES, C.D.

MADISON, DID NOT RULE OUT RUNNING AS AN INDEPENDENT ALTHOUGH HER STATEMENT SEEMED DEFINITIVE, WE JUST DON'T KNOW.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN 12 YEARS THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD AN INCUMBENT AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

THAT ALONE COULD GET PEOPLE INTERESTED AND IT'S A RANK CHOICE BALLOT.

THERE'S NO FEAR OF BEING A SPOILER LIKE IN OTHER ELECTIONS.

>> BRIEFLY TELL PEOPLE WHAT THAT MEANS.

>> ESSENTIALLY INSTEAD OF A TYPICAL BALLOT WHERE YOUR VOTE FOR ONE CANDIDATE YOU RANK ALL OF THE ONES ON THE BALLOT IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE.

IF NO ONE GETS THE MAJORITY OF A VOTE THE FIRST ROUND SOMEONE GETS IT THEY WIN, IF THEY DON'T THEY GO THROUGH AN INSTANT RUNOFF WHERE PEOPLE ARE ELIMINATED AND THEIR VOTES ARE ASSIGNED TO OTHER CANDIDATES UNTIL A PERSON WINS.

IT'S A NEW SYSTEM FOR BURLINGTON FOR MAYOR.

THEY GOT RID OF IT, NOW IT'S BACK.

SO WE'LL SEE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TOP STORY LAST WEEK, THE FRANKLIN COUNTY SHERIFF JOHN GRISMORE.

HE HEAT SEEMS TO BE TURNING UP ON HIM.

>> SHERIFF GRISMORE AND HIS ATTORNEY WENT TO THE STATE HOUSE MONDAY, THEIR FIRST TIME TESTIFYING IN FRONT OF THAT SPECIAL IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY.

THROUGHOUT THE DAY WE HAD THE SHERIFF ANDERSON, CHAIR OF THE VERMONT SHAEUFRBTS ASSOCIATION, TESTIFYING WHAT THEIR JOBS WOULD NOT WOULD LOOK LIKE IF THEY WERE NOT CERTIFIED.

THEY DO NOT SEE THAT THEY COULD DO THEIR JOBS WITH THAT CERTIFICATE TAKEN WAY.

BY THE TIME WE GOT TO SHERIFF GRISMORE AROUND 1:00 P.M. OR SO IT WAS TALKING ABOUT WHAT HIS JOB WOULD LOOK LIKE, TALKING ABOUT THE KICK THAT GRISMORE'S ATTORNEY CALLS A FOOT PUSH.

THEY GOT INTO SOME OF THE FINANCIALS OF SHERIFF GRISMORE WHICH CAN CAUGHT HIM OFF GUARD BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T SEEM AS PREPARED TO LOOK AT HIS FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS AND PAY STUBS AND QUESTIONING OVERTIME WHICH GOES BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE PASSING A SHERIFF REFORM BILL LAST SESSION LOOKING AT SOME OF THAT GOING FORWARD THIS COMING JANUARY.

>> LET'S HEAR FROM THE HEAD OF THE VERMONT SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION WINDHAM COUNTY SHERIFF ANDERSON.

>> CALLS FOR THE IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION OF FRANKLIN COUNTY SHERIFF JOHN GRISMORE.

IT'S TIME FOR NEW LEADERSHIP TO REBUILD PUBLIC CONFIDENCE TO MOVE FRANKLIN COUNTY FORWARD.

>> I'M THE LATEST VICTIM OF THE MEDIA OUTRAGE MACHINE APPEARED WEAK ROGUE LEADERS TO FACE THE WHIPPING BLOCK.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS CLAIM THAT HE'S A VICTIM OF THE MEDIA MACHINE?

>> HE CERTAINLY HAS THE RIGHT TO SAY THAT.

BUT THERE'S ALSO IT HE'S GOT A LOT GOING ON.

THERE'S THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY, HE HAD THE CASE IN FRONT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAINING COUNCIL.

ALSO HE'S FACING A CRIMINAL ASSAULT CHARGE FOR KICKING THIS DETAINED PERSON IN 2022.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT HIS ACTIONS HAVE RAISED AND AS SOMEBODY WHO IS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO IS FACING A CRIMINAL ASSAULT CHARGE, ALSO A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, HEAD OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION THE AMOUNT OF SCRUTINY HE'S RECEIVING MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

HE'S IN A VERY PROMINENT POSITION, HE'S GOT A LOT OF POWER, HE'S BEEN ACCUSED OF DOING SOME THINGS THAT ARE TROUBLING TO A LOT OF FOLKS.

>> AND THERE'S THE VIDEO ON STEPHEN ONE OF THE THINGS I'M HEARING IS WHETHER OR NOT THE SENATE WHICH WOULD BE THE JURY SO TO SPEAK ON AN IMPEACHMENT, HAS THE TIME AND REALLY WANTS TO TAKE UP THE TIME TO GET INTO WHAT COULD BE A LONG PROCESS.

>> YES, I'M HEARING WEIRD THINGS TALKING TO THE CHAIR OF THE SPECIAL IMPEACHMENT COMMITTEE HEARING, MARTIN MALONE.

THE TIMELINE HAS BEEN VOLATILE SINCE THE COMMITTEE KICKED OFF.

ORIGINALLY THEY HOPED BY THE END OF THE SUMMER, BY THE END OF OCTOBER, BY WINTER, BUT WHERE WE'RE AT NOW THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A DECISION MADE ON WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE A TRIAL BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION STARTS.

HE SAYS IF THAT'S NOT THE CASE WE WON'T SEE ANYTHING UP THE END OF THE SESSION NEXT SUMMER.

>> FROM ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IS DO YOU LEAVE IT UP TO THE WILL OF THE VOTERS BUT SHERIFFS HAVE A TERM OF TWO YEARS, NOT FOUR.

>> HE SAYS THE VIDEO WAS OUT, VOTERS COULD SEE IT AND THEY STILL ELECTED ME.

FRANKLIN COUNTY PEOPLE WANT ME TO BE THEIR SHERIFF, THE NUMBERS SAY SO.

YOU GO BACK TO THE JUSTICE COUNCIL THEIR CHAIR ARGUING MOST OF THEM WERE CURRENT OR FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THE GOVERNOR DOES NOT THINK HE SHOULD BE IN THAT POST EITHER.

THAT'S HIS BIG BACKING AT THIS POINT IS PEOPLE VOTED ME IN SO I SHOULD BE ABLE TO STAY IN.

>> I WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE CERTIFICATION.

>> IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BUSINESS TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF LIABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY THAT GOES ALONG WITH MANAGING PEOPLE THAT CARRY GUNS AND HANDCUFFS AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE PEOPLE'S RIGHTS AWAY OR TAKE THEIR LIFE AWAY.

>> LIAM, DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH GRISMORE OR IS IT SEPARATE?

>> I THINK GRISMORE OF A PIECE OF A LARGER STORY, WHICH IS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS OVER THE YEARS ON THE OVERSIGHT OF SHERIFFS.

THEY ARE UNIQUE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN VERMONT WHERE THEY ARE ELECTED BY VOTERS.

THAT'S INCREDIBLY UNIQUE.

NO OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITION ASIDE FROM STATES ATTORNEY IS IN THAT SPOT.

THERE ARE FEW MECHANISMS TO REMOVE A SHERIFF FROM OFFICE BESIDES THEM LOSING A VOTE OR BEING REMOVED THROUGH AN IMPEACHMENT PROCESS.

THERE'S ALSO BEEN COUNTLESS SCANDALS INVOLVING SHAVING RANKING FROM IMPROPER FINANCES, CRIMINAL CHARGES, FORMER ADDISON COUNTY SHERIFF PETER NEWTON WAS ARRESTED BEFORE HE LEFT OFFICE ON SOME SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGES.

THIS IS NOT A NEW THING SHERIFFS EMBROILED IN SCANDALS.

GRISMORE IS ONE OF THE LATEST ONES AND WHEN IT HAPPENED THE LEGISLATURE FINALLY IT WAS THE PUSH THEY NEEDED TO START LOOKING AT THE ISSUE MORE SERIOUSLY ASKING DO WE NEED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO CHANGE HOW WE OVERSEE SHERIFFS.

SHOULD THEY STILL BE ELECTED, HOW DO WE APPROACH THIS.

RECENTLY A STUDY CAME OUT THAT RECOMMENDED REQUIRING SHERIFFS TO BE LEVEL 3 CERTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CERTIFICATION IN VERMONT FOR A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

CURRENTLY A SHERIFF DOESN'T NEED THAT NOR DO THEY NEED TO BE A CERTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AS WE'RE SEEING WITH THIS WHOLE GRISMORE SITUATION.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

THERE HAVE BEEN FIVE MAJOR SCANDALS IN A RELL TEUFPL SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

>> AND BEFORE THAT TOO.

IT'S BEEN A VERY LONGSTANDING PROBLEM.

>> LET'S HEAD UP TO ST. ALBANS.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPOSAL, AN EFFORT TO COMBINE POLICE FORCES UP THERE.

ONE OF WHICH WAS COVERED BY THE SHERIFFS.

WHAT'S GOING ON UP THERE?

>> SO IT HAS TO BE VOTED ON IN TOWN MEETING BUT IT SEEMS TO BE GAINING SUPPORT FROM THE PUBLIC, THE CITY, ST. ALBANS TOWN.

CURRENTLY STILL UNTIL JUNE 30 OF 2024, ST. ALBANS TOWN HAS BEEN USING THE FRANKLIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AS THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY BUT AS THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS STRUGGLED WITH STAFFING AND WITH OTHER ISSUES WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THEY WERE FIGURING IT WAS READY TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, GO BACK TO THE ST. ALBANS CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT WHICH THEY HAVE WORKED TOGETHER BEFORE IN THE PAST.

BOTH SIDES ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PARTNERSHIP BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO NEARLY DOUBLE THE BUDGET OF THE ST. ALBANS CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT WHICH HELPS THEM BRING BACK A HIGHLIGHT SUCCESSFUL NARCOTICS UNIT THEIR CITY MANAGER TOLD ME ABOUT THAT ON OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS SAY THEY NOTICED IT BECAUSE A LOT OF THE CRIME IN ST. ALBANS IS SPURRED FROM DRUG CRIME AND THEY WERE PUSHING IT COMPLETELY OUT OF THE CITY.

THERE'S ALSO WATER AND SEWER ASPECT WHICH CAN'T BE UNDERSTATED.

SOMETHING UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP.

>> WATER AND SEWER IS THE BASIS OF JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING, ISN'T IT?

>> YES, IT IS.

>> IT'S INTERESTING.

ST. ALBANS IS HAVING SOME OF THE SAME PROBLEMS MANY COMMUNITIES ARE HAVING STATEWIDE WITH THE OPIOID ISSUE.

I HEARD A NEWSCAST TALKING ABOUT HOW THIS IDEA SEEMS A NO-BRAINER.

>> YES.

THAT'S WHAT THE TOWN AND CITY MANAGER SAID.

IT'S A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR BOTH.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS GETTING MORE MONEY, THEY CAN HIRE MORE PEOPLE, HAVE MORE RESOURCES AND THE TOWN IS NOW HAVING A FULL-TIME 24/7 POLICE SERVICE WHICH THEY ARE NOT HAD FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS SINCE THEY SIGNED WITH THE FRANKLIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

>> LAST NIGHT IN THE CITY OF BURLINGTON THERE WAS THE FIRST OF TWO COMMUNITY FORUMS TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

I FOUND THIS FASCINATING.

WHAT STOOD OUT FOR YOU?

>> YES, SO IT WAS A FULL HOUSE.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS OF THIS CITY HALL WHERE POLICE OFFICIALS, SENATOR BARUTH CAME TO THIS FORUM, THE FIRST OF TWO LIKE YOU SAID.

THEY SPOKE NOT A LOT OF NEW INFORMATION SHARED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN BURLINGTON.

TALKING ABOUT HOW THINGS IN BURLINGTON ARE NOT GREAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE HUGE NUMBER OF OVERDOSES THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE CITY AND GUN CRIME RISING TO NEW LEVELS.

BUT I THINK THE ATTENDANCE FOR ONE SHOWED HOW IMPORTANT THIS ISSUE HAS BECOME TO VOTERS AND POLITICIAN AND RESIDENTS REALLY SINCE THAT JUNE 2020 VOTE WE TALKED ABOUT.

IT WAS A GOOD DISCUSSION.

I THINK A LOT OF WHAT THE CHIEF TALKED ABOUT IS POLICE STAFFING AND HOW THEY WANT TO COMBAT A LOT OF THE ISSUES BUT HE FEELS LIKE THEY ARE LIMITED BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A FULLY STAFFED FORCE ALTHOUGH THERE ARE I BELIEVE SIX NEW OFFICERS COMING ON BOARD PRETTY SOON.

THEY JUST FINISHED AT THE POLICE ACADEMY.

>> HE SHOWED PICTURES OF ALL OF THEM.

I THOUGHT ONE OF THE LINES HE HAD THAT WAS PROFOUND LAST NIGHT WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW THE DROP-OFF HE USED THE TERM CLIFF, HE SAID IT'S EASIER TO FALL DOWN A CLIFF THAN TO CLIMB BACK UP.

THAT THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS THAT LEFT WILL TAKE A WHILE TO BRING THEM ALL BACK.

>> IT DOES.

EVEN THESE NEW RECRUITS THEY HAVE TO FIRST FINISH THE ACADEMY, NOT ALL OF THEM DO.

THEN THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH A FIELD TRAINING PROCESS, THAT'S A NUMBER OF WEEKS LONG, SO IT'S SOME TIME BEFORE THEY ARE OWN THE ROAD BY THEMSELVES WHEN THEY CAN BE COUNTED AS A MEMBER OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THAT'S HOW THEY ARE ADDED TO THE ROSTER.

IT'S GOING TO BE MONTHS.

THAT'S SOMETHING FOR SURE THE CHIEF BROUGHT UP AT THE TIME WHEN THE CITY WAS CONSIDERING CUTTING THE NUMBERS.

OBVIOUSLY THEY MADE A DIFFERENT DECISION.

>> THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER COMMUNITY FORUM IN A WEEK OR SO I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT DATE.

WHAT'S THE EXPECTATION OF WHAT'S GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS?

>> THERE IS ONE ON DECEMBER 19th.

THAT ONE WILL FOCUS MY UNDERSTANDING IS ON DRUG USE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE MANY CONCERNS ABOUT HOW IN CITY PARKS PARTICULARLY CITY HALL PARK PEOPLE ARE USING DRUGS OPENLY.

IT HAS MADE PEOPLE FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.

THEY ARE NOT USED TO SEEING THAT.

AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL WILL DO WITH THIS FEEDBACK BUT THE IDEA OF HOLDING THESE CAME FROM A RESOLUTION DECLARING THE DRUG CRISIS AS THE CITY'S LARGEST PROBLEM.

SO IN THEORY THEY WILL COME BACK AND DISCUSS WHAT THEY HAVE HEARD AND MAYBE WE'LL SEE NEW POLICIES COME FROM IT.

>> I WAS STRUCK TOO MONDAY NIGHT THE DAY AFTER THE CAUCUS THE BURLINGTON CITY COUNCIL HAD THIS PUBLIC HEARING TALKING ABOUT THE SITUATION IN GAZA, AND IT WAS A PRETTY WILD MEETING.

WHAT WAS THE TAKE-AWAY YOU HAD FROM THAT?

>> YEAH.

ON THE AGENDA THAT NIGHT THERE WERE TWO RESOLUTIONS.

BOTH OF THEM WERE MEANT TO CONDEMN THE RECENT SHOOTINGS OF THREE MEN OF PALESTINIAN DESCENT IN BURLINGTON ON THANKSGIVING WEEKEND.

THE SUSPECT HAS BEEN ARRESTED, HE'S IN JAIL.

BUT THE AUTHORITIES ARE INVESTIGATING THAT AS A POSSIBLE HATE CRIME.

IT MIGHT BE SOME TIME BEFORE WE KNOW ABOUT THAT.

THIS WAS THE CITY COUNCIL'S FIRST MEETING SINCE THAT HAPPENED.

SO BOTH RESOLUTIONS WERE MEANT TO SAY HATE HAS NO HOME IN WUERL TON.

THE PROBLEM, WHAT TOUCHED OFF THE VERY LONG DEBATE THEY HAD WAS THAT ONE OF THE RESOLUTIONS CALLED FOR A CEASE-FIRE.

THAT BECAME VERY CONTROVERSIAL.

PROPONENTS OF THAT RESOLUTION SAID THE COUNCIL NEEDED TO TAKE A STAND.

OPPONENTS SAID, YOU KNOW, PASSING A CEASE-FIRE RESOLUTION WOULD STOKE ANTI-JEWISH SENTIMENT ON THE RISE REALLY SINCE THE HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL IN OCTOBER.

SO THERE WERE THE THREE HOUR LONG PUBLIC FORUM AND IN THE END BOTH RESOLUTIONS FAILED ON A 6-6 TIE VOTE.

THE COUNCIL CLOSED THE MEETING WITHOUT HAVING CONDEMNED THE SHOOTING AND THAT'S WHAT NO ONE WANTED.

>> EITHER OF YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THIS?

>> I THINK IT'S AN INTERESTING AND SORT OF SHOWS A LITTLE BIT HOW POLARIZING THE DECISION ABOUT THIS INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT GOING ON IS HAPPENING IN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AS WELL.

I THINK LOOKING AT BOTH RESOLUTIONS CONDEMNING AN ACT OF VIOLENCE IN BURLINGTON AND THE COUNCIL WAS NOT ABLE TO GET TO EVEN A PLACE WHERE THEY COULD JUST DO THAT.

THAT'S AN INTERESTING THING TO SEE HAPPEN.

THAT IT GOT TO THAT POINT OF POLARIZATION WHERE THEY COULDN'T EVEN JUST COME TOGETHER APPEARED DO THAT ONE THING WITHOUT INVOLVING OTHER SORT OF ISSUES THAT ARE -- RELATED BUT NOT EXACTLY THAT.

>> THERE WAS DEFINITELY DEBATE DOES THE CITY COUNCIL HAVE A ROLE IN COMMENTING ON ISSUES OF GLOBAL RELEVANCE.

I THINK SOME PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE SAID YES.

IN THE PAST I THINK MARK YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER THIS WEEK, COUNCIL HAS PASSED RESOLUTIONS ABOUT NICARAGUA, OTHER KIND OF BIGGER CONFLICTS THAN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN BURLINGTON, BUT THAT WAS STILL SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE TALKED ABOUT.

IS THIS SOMETHING THE BURLINGTON CITY COUNCIL NEEDS TO SPEND ILL MANY OTHER ISSUES COUNCIL CAN HAVE AN EFFECT ON.

>> BROUGHT MY MEMORY BACK TO THE DAYS OF THE SANDERS ADMINISTRATION AND THAT WHOLE DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER THE CITY SHOULD EVEN BE DISCUSSING WHAT'S GOING ON IN NICARAGUA.

WILLIAM LIAM, TALK ABOUT THIS REALLY INTERESTING STORY ABOUT VERMONT AND THE REENTRY PROGRAM FOR FEDERAL PRISONERS.

I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THIS.

TELL US WHAT YOU FOUND OUT.

>> VERMONT IS ONE OF THE ONLY STATES IN THE COUNTRY THAT DOESN'T HAVE A FEDERAL RESIDENTIAL REENTRY CENTER ESSENTIALLY IT'S A HALFWAY HOUSE FOR FEDERAL PRISONERS WHO ARE COMING BACK FROM PRISON OR REENTERING THE COMMUNITY TO GET MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, DRUG TREATMENT, HELP THEM FIND JOBS AND HOUSING AND SO IT'S THE BRIDGE GOING FROM PRISON BACK TO SOCIETY.

VERMONT AND HAWAII DON'T HAVE ONLY TWO STATES IN THE COUNTRY WITHOUT THOSE CENTERS.

IN SEPTEMBER THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF PRISONS WHEN QUESTIONED BY SENATOR WELCH IN A SENATE JUDICIARY HEARING SAID VERMONT WAS GOING TO GET ONE OF THESE, THEY ARE PUTTING AN RFP.

THE RFP THE BUREAU ISSUED WAS FOR WHAT'S CALLED A DAY REPORTING CENTER, WHICH IS A NONRESIDENTIAL ESSENTIALLY PAROLE CHECK-IN.

PROVIDES A LOT OF THE SAME SERVICES BUT NOT RESIDENTIAL.

THIS WEEK THE DELEGATION RELEASE ADLER URGING THE BUREAU OF PRISONS TO GO FORWARD AND TO BUILD THIS HALFWAY HOUSE HERE IN VERMONT.

THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT PLANNING ON DOING THIS THEY WANT TO BUILD THIS DAY REPORTING CENTER BUT A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE FEDERAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM HAVE VOICED SUPPORT FOR THIS HALFWAY HOUSE INCLUDING THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF VERMONT'S FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM.

HE WROTE A LETTER THAT I RESWRAOUD THAT SAID STRONGLY WE NEED ONE OF THESE IN VERMONT.

IT HELPS PEOPLE REENTER SOCIETY AND NOT GO BACK TO PRISON AND REOFFEND.

>> WHAT'S YOUR BEST GUESS AT THIS POINT?

IS THIS GOING TO HAPPEN OR NOT HAPPEN?

>> HARD TO SAY.

THE RFP FOR THE DAZE REPORTING CENTER IS OUT.

THE DELEGATION SENDING THIS LETTER IS OBVIOUSLY TRYING TO EXERT SOME PRESSURE AND GET SOME PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

SO THAT COULD CHANGE.

IT'S EARLY TO SAY, BUT YOU DON'T SEE THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE DISTRICT OF VERMONT WEIGH IN ON ISSUES TOO OFTEN EITHER SO THAT MIGHT ALSO HAVE AN EFFECT.

>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

THEY GENERALLY TRY TO JUST NOT GET INVOLVED WITH THESE.

STEPHEN, YOU HAD A STORY TALKING ABOUT RAISING THE AGE ON CERTAIN CRIMINAL OFFENSES WHICH THE SCOTT ADMINISTRATION PUSHED BACK ON.

TELL US WHAT THIS IS ABOUT AND WHY THE PUSH-BACK.

>> RAISING THE AGE WAS PASSED BY THE SCHREIER AND SIGNED INTO LAW YEARS AGO, A ONE-OF-A-KIND LAW THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

THAT NUMBER FOR SOME JUVENILE OFFENSES EXCEPT FOR THE BIG 12 JUMPED UP TO THE AGE OF 18 IN 2020.

IN 2022 THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO JUMP TO THE AGE OF 19.

WE'RE ALMOST AT THE ENDS OF 2023 AND THAT HAS STILL NOT HAPPENED.

THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SAYS RIGHT NOW THEIR DEPARTMENT IS JUST IN FLUX.

THEY DO NOT HAVE STAFFING.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE FINANCES THAT THEY NEED.

IT'S ALSO BEEN A BIG STRUGGLE TO FIND PLACES TO PUT THE YOUTH BECAUSE EVERY SINCE WOODSIDE CLOSED YEARS AGO THEY HAVE BEEN VERY SHORT-HANDED WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDINGS.

THEY GAVE OUT A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS SAYING UNTIL WE HAVE A PERMANENT FACILITY FOR THE JUVENILES WHICH JENNIFER FITCH SAYS THE EARLIEST THAT COULD HAPPEN IS DECEMBER OF 2026 HE SAYS WE CAN'T RAISE THE AGE ASKING THE LEGISLATURE TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER KEEP DELAYING IT.

WE HAVE LAWMAKERS SUCH AS SENATOR SEARS ADVOCATING IT.

I'M CONCERNED THIS IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN, IT WILL KEEP GETTING PUSHED DOWN THE ROAD.

THEY SAY THEY CANNOT HANDLE MOVING THAT AGE TO 19.

>> THE STORY EVERYBODY REALLY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IS SPORTS BETTING COMING TO VERMONT.

THIS HAS TAKEN A WHILE TO HAPPEN.

>> YES, IT MA.

IN PREVIOUS LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS GOVERNOR SCOTT HAS TRIED TO GET MOBILE SPORTS BETTING INTO THE STATE AND THIS TIME IT WENT THROUGH.

ON JANUARY 11 WE'LL HAVE A PROBABLY TOWARDS THE END OF JANUARY, EARLY FEBRUARY ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT BUT THE STATE EXPECTS TO MAKE UP TO $7 MILLION THE FIRST YEAR.

THE MARKET IN GENERAL BEING WORTH ABOUT $55 MILLION FIVE FIVE YEARS OR SO DOWN THE LINE.

THE GOVERNOR DISCUSSED SOMEONE IS GOING TO NEW HAMPSHIRE, SO MAINE, TO MASSACHUSETTS AND WE HAVE A LOT OF TOURISTS THAT COME HERE.

WE WERE LOSING OUT ON REVENUE SO HE WAS LIKE IT'S A NO-BRAINER TO TRY TO BRING THIS INTO VERMONT.

>> LET'S HEAR FROM WENDY KNIGHT, THE COMMISSIONER OF LOTTERY.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK FIVE YEARS OUT, THE MATURITY OF A MARKET, WE'RE LOOKING AT UP TO $55 MILLION AS A MARKETPLACE.

WE DEFINITELY SEE THE REVENUE THAT THE STATE WOULD RECEIVE AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE REVENUE SHARE, WE WOULD SEE THAT GROWING OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS?

>> I'M VERY CURIOUS ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE OF THEM BEING THE RISE IN PROBLEM GAMBLING AND GAMBLING ADDICTION.

THAT'S CERTAINLY A CONSEQUENCE THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

MONEY FROM THE REVENUE THAT IS GOING TO BE GENERATED WILL GO IN TO FUND TO HELP PEOPLE WITH GAMBLING PROBLEMS.

I STILL THINK WE AREN'T GOING TO KNOW HOW THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT THAT UNTIL IT STARTS HAPPENING.

SO WE MIGHT BE GETTING MORE REVENUE DOWN THE LINE BUT THERE COULD BE A LOT MORE PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH THIS, WE HAVE TO SPED MORE MONEY -- THAT IS A CONSEQUENCE THAT WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A LOT OF DATA ON WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT'S SOMETHING I'M KIND OF INTERESTED IN TRACKING AND KEEPING AN EYE ON.

THE REVENUE SHARING IS PRETTY INTERESTING.

THAT'S NOT THE WAY ALL STATES HAVE SET UP THE WAY THEY GET MONEY FROM SPORTS BETTING, BUT VERMONT IS GOING TO BE GETTING ABOUT 30% OF THE REVENUE FROM THE THREE OPERATORS THAT ARE HERE, WHICH SEEMS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT AND BETTER THAN THE 20% MINIMUM REVENUE SHARE THAT THEY HE ESTABLISHED IN THE LAW.

THAT'S A WIN FOR VERMONT IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY WILL BE MAKING FROM SPORTS BETTING.

>> THE NUMBER I THINK I SAW WAS $250,000 WOULD BE DEDICATED OUT OF THIS LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR PROBLEM GAMBLING.

>> RIGHT.

THAT COULD CHANGE.

THEY COULD DECIDE TO REALLOCATE MORE DOWN THE LINE.

BUT THAT'S WHAT IT IS RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S LIKELY WHAT THEY WILL ALLOCATE NEXT YEAR AS WELL.

>> LET'S ENDS ON WHAT PERHAPS MIGHT BE SOME GOOD NEWS.

THERE WERE SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS THIS WEEK WITH UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WHICH SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN RESOLVED.

MAYBE.

>> THERE WAS A TECHNICAL GLITCH WITH THE UNEMPLOYMENT PORT THAL PEOPLE NEED TO FILE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT AND THEY COULDN'T GET IT FILED.

ANOTHER SIGN OF AN ISSUE THAT WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE WITH THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM WHERE THE AGING TECHNICAL INFRASTRUCTURE ISN'T WORKING.

THERE'S A PLAN TO REPLACE THAT THAT HASN'T COME THROUGH YET.

BUT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPENING IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

IT APPEARS TO BE FIXED NOW AND THE DEPARTMENT SAYS PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS FILED BY THE DEADLINE FRIDAY, TODAY.

>> IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE WE'RE WAITING FOR THE NEXT PROBLEM TO HAPPEN.

>> RIGHT.

YOU CAN IMAGINE THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL THE STATE UPDATES THEIR I.T.

INFRASTRUCTURE FOR IN IN.

THEY ARE PROBABLY HOPING IT WON'T AND WE CAPITAL SAY FOR SURE BUT IT HAPPENED ONCE, IN THE PANDEMIC THEY HAD ISSUE WITH THIS AS WELL.

THAT'S WHAT SPURRED THE CONVERSATION.

>> THE TIMING COULD NOT POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN WORSE RIGHT BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS.

>> PRETTY AWFUL.

>> THANK YOU ALL THREE OF YOU FOR JOINING US ON THE PANEL TONIGHT, LIAM ELDER-CONNORS, STEPHEN BIDDIX AND COURTNEY LAMDIN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M MARK JOHNSON.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.