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One local business owner shared with Santenello the frustrations of operating in a city that no longer seems to value accountability. Accused of being heartless for simply demanding “meaningful consequences for misbehavior,” the entrepreneur revealed that his store was losing around $75,000 annually due to theft. Worse yet, calls to law enforcement no longer scare away petty criminals. “It’s like they don’t care anymore,” he said, disillusioned by the state of affairs.
The issues go far beyond shoplifting. Santenello encountered other locals equally disillusioned by the city’s approach to homelessness. According to one Burlington resident, the permissiveness of local leaders isn’t helping those in need but instead exacerbating the problem. “What’s going to happen every day you take drugs, every day, every day, every day? What’s going to happen at the end? Two things, either you’re going to die, right? Or you’re going to overdose…” the man said, clearly frustrated by the lack of intervention.
And these concerns aren’t hypothetical. One citizen recounted witnessing people dying of drug overdoses right in his own backyard. “I’ve had people in my alleyway, right here in Burlington, OD-ing, dying in front of me,” he lamented. The harsh reality for many in Burlington has become a day-to-day struggle with rising crime, unchecked drug use, and a growing homeless population, all of which are seemingly ignored by city officials.
At the conclusion of his video, Santenello leaves viewers with a powerful takeaway: “Policies equal realities. … What currently exists doesn’t work in the long run,” he says. He urges citizens to dig deeper into the policies shaping their towns and cities, calling for greater scrutiny of those in power. “Dig into the policies, dig into the people behind those policies, dig into where the money comes from, and usually you’ll find an interesting story,” Santenello concludes.
The story behind Burlington’s struggles becomes even more revealing when looking at its criminal justice system. Like many other American cities, Burlington has fallen victim to what conservative think tanks like The Heritage Foundation have dubbed the “rogue prosecutor movement.” These are district attorneys, often funded by billionaire George Soros, who advocate for progressive, soft-on-crime policies. These policies have taken a devastating toll on public safety, prioritizing equity over enforcement and leaving law-abiding citizens to deal with the fallout.
In Burlington, State’s Attorney Sarah George, a known supporter of such progressive policies, has been at the center of controversy. George is affiliated with Fair and Just Prosecution, an organization funded by Soros’ Open Society Foundations, which pushes for a “more equitable justice system.” Yet, for many residents of Burlington, this focus on equity over enforcement has meant the collapse of their once-thriving community.
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George’s own words at a Harvard Law School event reveal the motivation behind her policies: “I went to law school because I wanted to dismantle the criminal legal system…” she stated. This focus on dismantling rather than reforming the system has left communities like Burlington in a state of chaos.
There’s a reason Lady Justice is depicted as blindfolded, representing impartiality. Justice is supposed to be about protecting the innocent and punishing the guilty, regardless of their background. But with progressivism and “equity” taking center stage, the result has been a system where wrongdoers are coddled, and victims are left without recourse.
As Peter Santenello’s video shows, Burlington is just one of many American cities feeling the effects of these misguided policies. And for Santenello, the lesson is clear: this is what happens when leftist ideology overrides common sense. The damage done to his hometown stands as a warning to others—don’t let this happen where you live.
