Residents in “progressive” Burlington, Vermont are complaining about the worsening conditions in the state’s most populous city.
Though Democrats have slammed President Donald Trump for highlighting a rise in crime during the Biden-Harris administration, the recent experiences of the New England town are proving particularly instructive in countering the Left’s narrative.
As Fox News reports, conditions in Burlington have deteriorated significantly in recent years.
Locals attribute the shift to homelessness, drug addiction, and rising rates of crime that remain unaddressed by federal policies.
Residents of Burlington spoke with Fox News, detailing their frustrations with the homelessness and drug use that have both gripped their hometown.
Many noted the unease with which they now approach the city’s downtown area.
Some are also expressing fears for their physical safety.
The influx of fentanyl, and the addictions it has spawned, have prompted a rise in crime that has left community members shaken and seeking solutions.
According to one young man from Burlington, “It’s really good during the day, but during the night, like people have said, it’s really dangerous.”
With drugs such as fentanyl and “tranq” becoming more prevalent, Vermont has marked a 500% increase in overdose deaths over the last decade.
Meanwhile, first responders are strapped for the resources necessary to properly respond to the volume of assistance needed.
Nancy, an elderly resident of Burlington, admitted, “I don’t walk at night.”
When pressed for a reason, Nancy stated, “Cause it’s dangerous.
“People get beat up at nighttime,” she observed.
She added that her neighbor was assaulted in such a brutal fashion that the attackers also tried to destroy the individual’s wheelchair.
A local entrepreneur placed blame on what she characterized as misplaced priorities among those in power.
She told Fox News that emphasis is being put on all the wrong things.
“There seems to be a lot of focus in this town and by the government on helping people who are addicted,” said the woman.
“There seems to be a lack of respect for people who are doing business, you know, who are trying to run a store.”
Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, Burlington’s current mayor, is a member of the far-left Progressive Party.
Democrats and Progressives make up the majority of the city’s council.
After slashing law enforcement budgets in recent years, the city is reportedly now attempting to hire additional police officers to address growing concerns about crime.
Burlington’s story is perhaps illustrative of Trump’s recent claims that, despite Democrats’ claims to the contrary, violent crime has been on the rise under the Biden-Harris administration.
Yet, despite the evidence, ABC’s David Muir attempted to “fact-check” Trump on that argument during his September debate with Democrat presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
Interestingly, the FBI itself recently had to revise its own figures, which were cited by Muir against Trump.
The FBI figures show an overall growth in criminal offenses for the year 2022, as the New York Post noted.
Although the federal agency attempted to keep the changes as quiet as possible, the figures serve as concrete validation of the troubling phenomenon with which Burlington residents are all too familiar.
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