Burlington City Council with a full agenda Monday, focused on issues residents might see on the Town Meeting Day ballot.The Council held a separate public hearing, ahead of the vote on whether or not the approved language change for the city’s sex work charter would be voted on in March.Advocates for sex trade survivors said this language could be dangerous and possibly create an environment that invites more trafficking and sex tourism into the state.”We’re deeply, deeply concerned that the harms and the dangers of the sex trade are being minimized,” Rachel Foster, World Without Exploitation, said. “We feel like survivors aren’t being heard.”Those in favor of the change believe striking the language will protect sex workers and that the trade needs to be destigmatized.”It’s past time we stop criminalizing humanity, stop criminalizing the efforts of hurt or disabled people to reclaim our humanity,” one representative of a sex worker testified. “Thank you for beginning this process to help Burlington do that.”Two other issues were voted to go on the ballot as well: an increase to the General Fund Tax Rate, a 10-2 vote, and whether to issue General Obligation Bonds for Capital Projects, an 11-1 vote.The city did decrease the tax rate for Fiscal Year 2022. Covid-19 impacts, the Board of Finance believes, calls for an increase to help city revenue sources that have still not rebounded from the pandemic.The Capital Project bonds aim to update, replace or repair several city facilities and equipment.
Burlington City Council with a full agenda Monday, focused on issues residents might see on the Town Meeting Day ballot.
The Council held a separate public hearing, ahead of the vote on whether or not the approved language change for the city’s sex work charter would be voted on in March.
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Advocates for sex trade survivors said this language could be dangerous and possibly create an environment that invites more trafficking and sex tourism into the state.
“We’re deeply, deeply concerned that the harms and the dangers of the sex trade are being minimized,” Rachel Foster, World Without Exploitation, said. “We feel like survivors aren’t being heard.”
Those in favor of the change believe striking the language will protect sex workers and that the trade needs to be destigmatized.
“It’s past time we stop criminalizing humanity, stop criminalizing the efforts of hurt or disabled people to reclaim our humanity,” one representative of a sex worker testified. “Thank you for beginning this process to help Burlington do that.”
Two other issues were voted to go on the ballot as well: an increase to the General Fund Tax Rate, a 10-2 vote, and whether to issue General Obligation Bonds for Capital Projects, an 11-1 vote.
The city did decrease the tax rate for Fiscal Year 2022. Covid-19 impacts, the Board of Finance believes, calls for an increase to help city revenue sources that have still not rebounded from the pandemic.
The Capital Project bonds aim to update, replace or repair several city facilities and equipment.
