Burlington City Council candidate Genese Grill seemed more hostess than politician at her campaign kickoff last month in Burlington’s Old North End. She eschewed electoral convention, jumping up to serve tea to six or seven supporters, and espoused a populist vision for the city. “This is about bringing power back to the people,” she told those gathered as they snacked on free pastries at Nunyuns Bakery and Café.
But the group seemed more interested in grumbling about the city-sanctioned redevelopment plans for the Burlington Town Center. Grill, an artist, translator and writer who is running as an independent, listened and nodded empathetically as they disparaged the administration for “building downtown high-rises” and derided “the mayor’s developer friends.”
The attendees included several members of the Coalition for a Livable City, which has vociferously opposed the tall mall. For Grill, who belongs to the group, the Burlington Town Center is a symbol of the sway of corporate interests within city government and a key example of councilors “compromising at the expense of the people they serve.”
Grill’s criticism was aimed at her competitor for the Central District seat, incumbent council president Jane Knodell, who was kicking off her campaign at precisely the same time a few blocks south. At least six city councilors of various political leanings came by Three Needs Taproom & Brewery to order a pint — and to voice support for Knodell.
There, too, the discussion returned again and again to the mall. Bob Wright and his wife, Sylvia, live in the New North End — outside the Central District — but came out to support Knodell because she had backed the Burlington Town Center redevelopment. “We can’t vote for Jane, but we would if we could,” Wright said. The mall is necessary for growth, he said, reasoning it’s better to accept the inevitable evolution of the city rather than resist it. “Things have to change,” he said.
In remarks to two dozen listeners, Knodell highlighted her record of promoting growth. She vowed to increase the number of affordable housing units in Burlington and to work to create more livable-wage jobs in the city. Predicting that Grill would link her to Democratic Mayor Miro Weinberger, Knodell countered by describing herself as a “strong Progressive” with “an independent streak.” That line also appears on her campaign literature.
Despite 18 years on the city council, Knodell said she’d be campaigning hard on the streets of Burlington’s Old North End, where she’s lived for almost three decades. “I’m taking this race very seriously,” she said.
No doubt that’s because of how voters in her Central District — made up of Wards 2 and 3 in the Old North End — voted on mall-related questions last fall. While they passed a tax increment finance measure 52-48 percent, the same voters shot down a bid to increase allowable heights in the downtown area where the mall is meant to go, 53-47 percent. Citywide, both measures passed.
The Central District council race illustrates a growing conflict in Burlington politics: pro-growth Progressives and Democrats versus antiestablishment forces represented by Grill. In the past four years, the 51-year-old has increasingly devoted herself to grassroots activism opposing city development projects. And she does it without a cell phone. Grill gets around town on a three-speed bicycle — her only means of transportation — and shares a home with other artists.
Grill, a New York City native, came to Burlington in 1997, after friends on a cross-country road trip had car trouble in the Queen City. They wound up staying, and wrote Grill a letter, urging her to join them. She did. By 2002, Grill, who earned a PhD at City University of New York, had a regular gig teaching literature and writing at Burlington College. Six years later, then-president Jane O’Meara Sanders fired her.
Now she pieces together a living as a freelancer: translating German literary texts, penning essays and pursuing her art. In her South End studio, she’s working on a room-size book — more of a sculpture, really — that displays her writings. Grill lives below the poverty line, she said, but manages to make ends meet with a “very economical” lifestyle.
When she initially considered the prospect of running for city council, “I was terrified,” said the candidate dressed in a vintage flowered dress with a stopwatch pendant around her neck. Although the prospect of campaigning does not appeal, “The more people I talk to,” she said, “I just feel called.”
While Grill advertises herself as a political outsider and neophyte, Knodell is anything but. Since coming to Burlington in 1986, the University of Vermont economics professor has served nine terms on the city council — though not consecutively. She took a break from city politics between 2009 and 2013, when she held the number-two job — of provost — at the University of Vermont.
Stanford-educated Knodell, 62, looks the part of a stern academic: The bespectacled council president runs meetings with authority; she knows her Robert’s Rules of Order. And, unlike Grill, she embraces institutions and bureaucracy and touts her political connections as key to getting things done. Her wry sense of humor often serves to lighten the proceedings.
A devout Progressive, Knodell touts her ability to work across party lines. On the mall and other projects, she’s asked the mayor “hard questions,” which, she noted, “weren’t always welcome, frankly.”
Burlington has stagnated for decades, Knodell said. “Now things are starting to happen. We’re actually starting to break through the stasis and go ahead and develop new houses and jobs.”
Grill believes those projects are moving too fast, and, in some cases, in the wrong direction. And she’s not the only candidate for city council who opposed the Burlington Town Center project.
Progressive Charles Simpson, who played a prominent role with the Coalition for a Livable City, is running in the South District. And outgoing Burlington Progressive Party chair Charles Winkleman, also against the mall, is running in the East District.
An antidevelopment faction within the Progressive Party prompted Weinberger to speak out at last month’s Democratic caucus. The Burlington mayor urged the Dems to endorse Knodell, while lambasting what he called the Progs’ “reactionary fringe.”
City Dems went ahead and nominated Knodell, who is now trying to balance her allegiances. She’s grateful for Democratic support, she said, and plans to acknowledge it in her campaign. But she is not adding a “D” next to her name on the ballot.
Knodell refused to comment on the mayor’s “reactionary fringe” statement. “I don’t really have a take on it one way or the other,” she said. “I’m just trying to focus on the race.”
She also downplayed tensions within the Progressive party. “Probably, the Democrats are also split on issues of housing and job growth,” she said matter-of-factly during an interview in her UVM office.
That pragmatism has earned her support across the aisle. Democratic Councilor Joan Shannon, who was city council president before Knodell, described her successor as “fair.” Of Knodell’s views on development and growth, the South District councilor said, “She’s been largely consistent in her votes, I would say, and in her outlook and opinions and values.”
John Franco, a Burlington attorney representing the CLC in a mall-related lawsuit the group brought against the city, said he backs Knodell in spite of their different positions on downtown development.
He served in the administrations of mayors Peter Clavelle and Bernie Sanders and sees Knodell as a strong advocate for Progressive values. “The loss of Jane on the city council would be a tremendous loss to Burlington and a tremendous loss for Progressive issues,” he said.
While she’s not a Progressive, Grill said she felt stung by Weinberger’s comments at the Democratic caucus. She protested by speaking at a council meeting on January 30, calling his remarks “Orwellian doublespeak at its most sinister.”
Though Grill insists there’s more to her campaign than opposing development — “This is not about the mall,” she told the group at Nunyuns, to no avail — she feels like Weinberger has backed her contingent into a corner.
“We seem to be on the defensive because the mayor is constantly assaulting the city with projects we did not ask for,” she wrote in an email to Seven Days. “We need a minute to breathe so that we can establish neighborhood priorities.”
If elected, Grill said she would prioritize the preservation of Memorial Auditorium, keep Burlington Telecom local, scale back the Champlain Parkway and increase funding for public transportation and childcare.
For some, at least, that platform has struck a chord. “Genese will really serve the whole population,” said Caryn Long, who was handing out flyers at a press conference Grill held at the McClure Multigenerational Center. Long lives in Ward 1 but is helping out with Grill’s campaign. She pointed out that the bicycle-riding candidate understands and has empathy for people. “She gets it,” Long said.
Amanda Hannaford was also at McClure but she hadn’t yet decided whether Grill or Knodell would get her vote. The Ward 3 resident said she grew disillusioned during the hearings for the mall. “No one in city government tried to involve people,” she said.
“I like Jane; I’m not against her,” she clarified. “I just think we should have a choice.”
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JK needs to be ousted.
She is long past her expire date.
She is a dinosaur.
What she is not, despite her claims, is a progressive.
Progressives do not support giving multi-millionaire real estate developers special zoning variances and tax giveaways so that they can make even more money – and foist an out of scale behemoth on the city –
she and the rest of the mayor-developer’s enablers need to be ousted
Please stop referring to support for the redevelopment of that crappy old mall into a mixed use town center as supporting ‘the mall.’ It is precisely the opposite of that, and haven’t heard any alternative vision from the antis…
and @NBRH and @knowyourassumptions:
Here’s a great film: The African Doctor http://worldcinemaamsterdam.nl/en/portfoli…
about exclusion, fear, diversity, resilience and perseverance. It make sense that those that may be different from you engender discomfort, which can lead to people lashing out. Let’s stop that and we all know that 2 wrong’s don’t make a right! Unless you’re President you know who….
btw, @know yourassumptions, what issues are important to you in this City Council race of the CENTRAL DISTRICT? and real names appreciated 🙂 if you are comfortable with that-
Maggie Standley
Ward 3
@NBRHD News – regarding your apology,
Given that your anonymity creates an “imbalance of power,” which is, not so ironically, greatly in question, in this contested CENTRAL DISTRICT City Council Election for Wards 2 & 3 in Burlington’s Old North End, would you mind sharing who you are so we can continue this discussion on more even footing? .
I would appreciate being able to have a productive discussion regarding the issues:
– The lack of diversity and ward representation on the volunteer Boards & Commissions
– The zoning policies in place to ensure equity and smart development/growth that is sustainable
– “What is affordable housing” anyway? How many units do we need, to meet the demand?
What issues are important to you?
I hear you are scared and have issues of concern, and I would encourage you to gain the clarity you would like in a more open manner to improve solution generation and a stronger community. Isn’t this what this is about? To make our community the best it can be? To disagree respectfully and to at least have the intelligence and integrity to agree on the facts…
We live in times where “The bully” is winning, where Trump’s money and scare tactics have worked to make him President~ let’s not stoop to that level in Burlington. Who is the unstable one there?
Many thanks,
Maggie Standley
Ward 3 Resident
Educator, Artist, Small Biz Owner, Spread Your Wings Nonprofit Founder, Myrtle St Avant Garden Co-Founder,
Burlington Community Arts Award Recipient 2016
Truth Fairy 😉
I apologize if my comments came across as overly harsh. Perhaps, taking a page from the Trump playbook, all unpleasant facts about a person running for political office can now be labelled bullying?
I respect kindness, fairness, and truthfulness. Is it fair for a candidate not to disclose the fact that she belongs to (and heads) a self-described cult with a “vision of civilization?” With a written manifesto that lays out a clear agenda for spreading its values through means *including* legislation?
This is not a personal attack against this candidate; this is offering information (with links and citations!) about a candidate for public office, who some may argue appears unfit for the job, and personally unstable, as evidenced through other, public and verifiable actions. Several others have noted this, too- unaware of Aesthesia and its anti-technology/development agenda. This is concerning, given the current political climate, when Democrats and Progressives, even at the municipal level, need to be taken seriously to keep and hold relevance at the city, state, and national level.
Again, I am sorry if that was not worded gently enough the first time. Perhaps my frustration that no one has commented on that (publicly, anyway…) got the better of me!
Maybe this candidate can address the issue of her cult leadership, and assure us that there are no personal conflicts between its stated values (which are extremely relevant to city politics) and her potential job as city councilor?
The fact is, when you run for public office, you open yourself up for possibly harsh scrutiny and evaluation, so the community can decide if you are qualified to serve. People deserve facts. THAT is only fair.
@ Standley
Require posters here to use real name only? You’re joking, right? You obviously aren’t aware that your hero Ms. Grill has posted on this very site repeatedly under a pseudonym!
And it’s not a personal attack to inform people of the beliefs and behaviors of candidates for public office.
Neighborhood Power – I think Genese is the candidate for that.
In our beautiful Burlington, it is too oft an insiders “club” and it’s time for more diversity represented not only on the City Council, but also on the multiple citizen volunteer Board & Commissions. The seats are not equally distributed by Ward/District. Those that have divergent views are often silenced, think Lee Buffington from the Planning Commission, much as Elizabeth Warren was just silenced two days ago in the US Congress.
Genese welcomes a diversity of views and people. Genese welcomes development, within current zoning. What she does not welcome is throwing our zoning laws out the window.
As far as the comments from NBRHDNews, it is not ok to bully someone you disagree with. Your comments are mean-spirited and personal attacks. I’m an educator and what you write is a classic case of bullying. Pls 7 Days, require commentators to use their actual names as does VT Digger.
I stand by Genese. I have respect for her opponent too. Let’s have a respectful debate about the issues at hand. With everyone having a seat at the table, and building new tables if need be.
Go Genese! All power to the imagination. All power to beauty. All power to truth. All power to follow the political processes laid out, in order to ensure more democratic procedures. All power to disagreeing respectfully. All power to liars, that they may have the courage to act more truthfully.
In education, we spend much time emphasizing the importance of kindness, fairness and truthfulness. It’s a real shame when adults among us have not learned these lessons. Is there hope? I hope so. There is always beauty- and there is always fact checking, in honor of the late Gwen Ifill, esteemed political journalist.
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/201…
Scrape Grill from the ballot! Jane Sanders called it- this woman was not fit to be influencing the minds of young people, and she certainly has no business in politics, or the experience to be guiding city projects. Please investigate her actions in this city, since she decided to involve herself in anti-development projects. Please see her prior attacks and self-promotional posts in the comments section of other articles covering this race. Yes, she rides around on an old bike. So did the Wicked Witch. Do not be taken in by her tea-dispensing theatrics and feigned timidity about running for office, but look at her aggressive actions that say otherwise.
Furthermore, PLEASE be informed- investigate the self-described “cult” that she leads, which (please see excerpt of their manifesto here: https://sites.google.com/site/joelschlemowitz/aesthesia) declares its mission to “affirm the primary human value of beauty before the secondary convenience of utility….through LEGISLATION” (among other things). Yes, that’s right: Grill and an older, more reclusive but influential man lead this self-described “cult of beauty, an individual and social idealism, and a progressive vision of civilization.” Her staunch opposition to progress and development comes straight from the agenda of the self-led “cult” of Aesthesia, which dubs itself a “utopian sanctuary” in a rented house with strict rules about who/what belongs and what doesn’t. You can find links to Aesthesia on her blog here: http://genesegrill.blogspot.com/
She and her “Aesthesians” are free to live as they please, but we should become concerned when one of them runs for public office on a hidden “Aesthesian” platform, with the potential ability to not only affect public policy and decision-making, but also the public image of Burlington and its sanity in an increasingly unstable nation.
Just remember, Jane Knodell is a “lifelong Progressive” who voted FOR the basing of the F-35 at BIA without proper legal or environmental review and participated in the stonewalling of dissent. I guess her Progressive values don’t apply to working-class families in Winooski and South Burlington.
Yay Genese! Thank you for running and it’s time for a change on the City Council. 18 years on the Council is too long….time for some new ideas and faces. And thank you to Charles Simpson too for running in the South End. Good luck to both of you!