A fraudulent letter that began circulating on social media this week is causing problems for small business owners in downtown Burlington.The phony letter began being shared online on May 19, just days after more than 100 small business owners in Burlington wrote to Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak on May 9 imploring her to take action to make changes downtown.This letter outlined concerns they had, and how the city can take immediate action to ensure public safety and foster public unity in the face of ongoing construction and issues with crime.Meanwhile, the fraudulent letter that appeared this week on social media claims be written and signed by the same businesses that sent in the May 9 letter. That fake letter states that small business owners in downtown Burlington were acting in their own self-interest, and that they only wanted change to boost their profits.In a post on social media, “dear lucy” owner Melissa Desautels wrote “the letter now circulating is a fabricated attempt to sow division and hurt the very community we’ve worked hard so hard to support. It is hurtful, inflammatory, and entirely untrue.” Other local business owners emphasize that this letter was not written or signed by them in any way, and that they want to work with the community to alleviate social issues and create open dialogue about the future of community wellness. Many said the original May 9 letter made space for a public conversation and gave them hope for more community-driven progress. However, several business owners say the fraudulent letter has severely impacted the way community members have interacted with downtown businesses, especially online and on social media platforms.
A fraudulent letter that began circulating on social media this week is causing problems for small business owners in downtown Burlington.
The phony letter began being shared online on May 19, just days after more than 100 small business owners in Burlington wrote to Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak on May 9 imploring her to take action to make changes downtown.
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This letter outlined concerns they had, and how the city can take immediate action to ensure public safety and foster public unity in the face of ongoing construction and issues with crime.
Meanwhile, the fraudulent letter that appeared this week on social media claims be written and signed by the same businesses that sent in the May 9 letter.
That fake letter states that small business owners in downtown Burlington were acting in their own self-interest, and that they only wanted change to boost their profits.
In a post on social media, “dear lucy” owner Melissa Desautels wrote “the letter now circulating is a fabricated attempt to sow division and hurt the very community we’ve worked hard so hard to support. It is hurtful, inflammatory, and entirely untrue.”
Other local business owners emphasize that this letter was not written or signed by them in any way, and that they want to work with the community to alleviate social issues and create open dialogue about the future of community wellness.
Many said the original May 9 letter made space for a public conversation and gave them hope for more community-driven progress.
However, several business owners say the fraudulent letter has severely impacted the way community members have interacted with downtown businesses, especially online and on social media platforms.
