My Interview with Bram

by Haik Bedrosian

2 comments

1 Dan Sanchez { 11.10.11 at 9:02 pm }

Haik, in your opinion, what proposals from the candidates do you like so far, and assuming you were in their shoes and you were elected mayor, what would be done once in office? I don’t like Wright’s proposal to sell off BED, I’d rather get ride of BT, but there are all those liabilities and obligations to think about. All in all, I certainly wouldn’t want to run.

2 Haik Bedrosian { 11.11.11 at 1:40 am }

Other than selling BED, I haven’t heard any proposals from the candidates so far. Even proposing to put the sale of BED on the ballot if elected mayor makes no sense, since Kurt has more power to put something on the ballot now as a city councilor than he would as mayor anyway.

What would I do as mayor? I would keep BED. I would Keep BT and make it work- turn it into a full department run by a commission and market the hell out of it by making it awesome. I’d put a beeper inside every BT remote so you could find it in your couch cushions. I’d un-terminate the lease with Citi Financial and start paying back our debt to them and in doing so, reverse the decline in our bond rating.

I would put all of the city’s financials online with as much detail as possible. I would eliminate the position of CAO and go back to having a treasurer and a clerk. I would increase the pay of city councilors and give them staff and office space in city hall so they could act as more of a check against my power.

I would streamline and modernize the permitting process to make it much easier for homes and businesses to make improvements. Actually Bram propsoes this in the interview. I would publicly mock the developement review board when they behave in a needlessly punitive way toward people.

I would unify all the city’s websites, and make it easier to pay bills to all city departments online and in one place. I would convert the parking meters to allow folks to pay them with debit cards.

I would negotiate the option for new employees to pay into defined contribution retirement funds instead of into pension funds, and for those sticking with pensions I’d ask for higher contributions and/or lower payouts until we’ve eliminated the retirement account’s unfunded liability.

I would lobby hard for Amtrak to come though Burlington with routes to Boston, New York and Montreal. I would take a serious look at returning to the trolly cars we had 100 years ago.

I would seek to put a year-round indoor tropical botanical garden and visitor center in the Moran “Plant.” I would build an elaborate staircase from the large cannon in Battery Park to the waterfront to improve ease of access and synergy between the two parks.

I would invite discount retailers to fill space downtown. Remember that space in the mall on Bank street where Porteus used to be? I want a Target there. I want to welcome more stores that sell things people really need and bring more middle class people downtown.

I would do whatever possible to bring manufacturing and high tech jobs to Burlington though vigorous recruitment and tax incentives.

I would improve the fountains at the top of Church Street and in City Hall Park and add more fountains where possible. I would build a world-class marina on the waterfront.

I would increase the tax base by encouraging more housing development, mainly near UVM and downtown. I would build another parking garage and renovate memorial auditorium.

I would create a municpal endowment fund with private donations.

I’d reopen the mayor’s youth office and staff it with VISTAs.

I’d move forward with a district energy system that captures the wasted stream from the McNeil wood chip plant. I would encourage people to use residential wind generators and photovoltaic panels so BED has more energy to sell to other utilties, and our people pay less.

I would do a comprehensive audit of all the water pipes and do as much preventative maintainance of them as possible. I would look for higher quality street building materials.

I would underground utility cables in conduits wherever possible.

I’d hire an electrician and stop asking the school department if the city could borrow theirs, but I would pool purchasing with the school department, and all deparments wherever possible for better bulk discounts.

Those are just a few ideas off the top of my head.

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