Sanders had hoped for Vermont kickoff, but weather sent him to New York
By Xander Landen and Kit Norton
Feb 26 2019, 2:10 PM
Sen. Bernie Sanders had been planning to hold a rally to kick off his 2020 presidential campaign in Burlington this weekend — but a forecast for continued icy conditions has forced a change in plans. His campaign called off the Burlington launch after deciding that difficult winter weather could make holding the event challenging, according to city documents obtained in a public records request.
Emails between Sanders’ campaign and the Burlington Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department show that since the day Sanders announced his campaign, Feb. 19, the senator’s staff had been trying to plan a rally on or near the city’s waterfront. But after being told by city officials that icy conditions might make it difficult to hold the rally, the campaign decided to postpone the Burlington event until a later date.
“Given the forecast I can’t guarantee a safe walkable surface for the event over the entirety of the site,” said Deryk Roach, superintendent of park operations. “With the warmup over this week and the weekend, along with rain the early part of the week, there is no way we can achieve what you’re asking for.”
“We had been hoping that last week’s rain would have melted some of the ice out there but it didn’t. It’s Vermont in the winter,” Jackson said. “It was the right call.”
“Jane and the senator are very enthusiastic about the Burlington event and it will be happening soon,” Jackson added.
https://vtdigger.org/2019/02/26/sanders-hoped-vermont-kickoff-weather-sent-new-york/