WHY I’M RUNNING
I have decided to run for re-election to the Burlington City Council and would love your support. The decision is a serious one; running and serving are hard. To say these times make it more difficult is a gross understatement.
Burlington continues to face serious challenges, not unlike those everywhere: affording housing, health care, food, and other necessities. We continue to face serious safety and health issues and the cost of drought, floods and wild fires caused by climate change is enormous.
But what is new is that the foundations of our nation are being cracked in a spasm of hate and greed by Trump, his billionaire cronies, and their minions. These Oligarchs are ravaging our meager social democracy called the New Deal and the Civil Rights Movement-inspired Great Society.
They threaten Democracy. They rampage in cities similar to Burlington, ignoring, violating, and trampling due process, the rule of law, free speech, and human rights. They fund and arm genocide and embark on imperialist invasions and threats. Their rhetoric, typified by the perversion of language by Steven Miller and Kristi Noem, is meant to pressure us to cower and bow to them, the oligarchs, autocrats and fascists, as they repress, terrorize, invade, exploit, extract, and pillage, here in the US and throughout the world.
But the more I think about it the more I believe my work in city government as part of an independent progressive team inside and outside of government makes a difference.
People have told me that I have been a strong and effective voice for making local government work for everyone and not just a privileged few. With and for constituents, in committees and as part of the full council, I’ve been able to voice people’s needs and make decisions that have been good for them and the community as a whole. And I have been honored to be a voice aligned with the grass root community movement for justice and equity outside of government, amplifying calls for transformational change. You can find out more of this work on my website: www.genebergmanforcitycouncil.org
We all know nothing is accomplished by a lone elected official so thank you all for being my partners on this road to justice. The struggle would be very lonely without you. I do have a specific ask of you: Please give of your time and money so we can make the most of this campaign.
There are important city and state issues we need your help in activating people to help pass or press other elected representatives to adopt, things like:
- The 5 Burlington charter changes that voters overwhelmingly said yes to that are sitting on the wall of the Legislature, opposed by our conservative governor.
- The REIB Charter Change which will be on the ballot to codify our racial justice, equity, and inclusion work.
- The comprehensive programs and policies that are making the community safer and affordable and are saving individual lives.
You can answer this ask by volunteering and donating on the website. To sign up or find out more, go to: www.genebergmanforcitycouncil.org. To help us get this message out you can: Donate via check: Gene Bergman for City Council, 102 St Louis St, Burlington, VT 05401 or donate on line: https://secure.anedot.com/gene-bergman-for-city-council/donate
So in closing, though the times are dark I’m reminded of the freedom song We shall overcome. It harkens to Dr. King’s belief that though the moral arc of the universe is long, it bends towards justice. Like Dr. King, “Deep in my heart, I do believe, We shall overcome.” Together we can make it so.
With thanks, love and solidarity,
Gene
