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May 9, 2016 Josh Swartz

Bernie Sanders' first foray into elected politics was as mayor of Burlington, Vt. in the 1980s. One of the most infamous moments of his mayoral tenure occurred in 1986 when a masked vigilante took to the streets to protest the potholes. "The Pothole Bandit" is now a party of Burlington (and Bernie Sanders) history. We revisit this curious event 30 years later.

  • Tito Heiderer made our original song "The Ballad of the Pothole Bandit," which is featured in the episode. Listen to the full tune below:
  • The other music you hear in the episode is from Adrianna Krikl ("Wednesday") and Podington Bear ("Netherland" and "The Window")
  • Maddie Dai made the episode illustration
  • This episode was produced by Josh Swartz with help from Sophie McKibben
  • Thanks to the following people for their help with this story:
    • Erik Esckilsen, Seven Days Newspaper (check out his essay about The Pothole Bandit here and his Pothole Bandit multimedia slideshow here)
    • Jaime Fuller, MTV News (check out her story about The Pothole Bandit here)
    • Kevin Scully, former Burlington Police Chief
    • Louie Manno, former Burlington Radio DJ
    • Jim Condon, former Burlington Radio DJ
    • Steve Goodkind, former Burlington Director of Public Health & Safety and City Engineer
    • Bruce Ploof, former Pothole Bandit
The Pothole Bandit and Bernie Sanders on the Winooski Bridge in 1986
The Pothole Bandit and Bernie Sanders on the Winooski Bridge in 1986

Courtesy of Rob Swanson and Seven Days Newspaper

A policeman uprooting one of the trees the Bandit planted
A policeman uprooting one of the trees the Bandit planted

Courtesy of Rob Swanson and Seven Days Newspaper

Bruce Ploof, aka The Pothole Bandit, in 1986
Bruce Ploof, aka The Pothole Bandit, in 1986

Courtesy of Rob Swanson and Seven Days Newspaper

Bruce Ploof and his grandkids, present day
Bruce Ploof and his grandkids, present day

Courtesy of Rob Swanson and Seven Days Newspaper

The story from the Burlington Free Press the day after the Bandit struck
The story from the Burlington Free Press the day after the Bandit struck

Courtesy of The Burlington Free Press

The Pothole Bandit and Bernie Sanders on the Winooski Bridge in 1986 A policeman uprooting one of the trees the Bandit planted Bruce Ploof, aka The Pothole Bandit, in 1986 Bruce Ploof and his grandkids, present day The story from the Burlington Free Press the day after the Bandit struck

February 9, 2016 Josh Swartz

download transcript

Bobby de la Rosa introduced Bernie Sanders at a rally in Tucson, Arizona. This is notable because Bobby is just 10 years old. Even at a young age, however, Bobby has become a powerful advocate for immigration reform, drawing on the experience of his mother getting deported.

  • Produced by Sophie McKibben with Josh Swartz
  • Sound design by Zubin Hensler
  • Episode illustration from Maddie Dai
  • Theme music from Podington Bear
  • Read Bernie Sanders' full immigration plan
  • Check out Arizona Public Media's multimedia portrait of the de la Rosa family
Bill de la Rosa (left) and Bobby de la Rosa (right)

Bill de la Rosa (left) and Bobby de la Rosa (right)

Sophie interviewing Bill while Bobby takes a quick nap

Sophie interviewing Bill while Bobby takes a quick nap

Bobby de la Rosa (left) and his older brother Bill (right) during our interview

Bobby de la Rosa (left) and his older brother Bill (right) during our interview

Gloria de la Rosa's neighborhood in Nogales, Mexico

Gloria de la Rosa's neighborhood in Nogales, Mexico

A view of Nogales from Gloria de la Rosa's neighborhood

A view of Nogales from Gloria de la Rosa's neighborhood

Driving through Nogales, Mexico

Driving through Nogales, Mexico

Approaching the U.S. border crossing from Nogales, Mexico

Approaching the U.S. border crossing from Nogales, Mexico

A view of the U.S./Mexico border fence in Nogales. Border security stands by. Snapped from the car right before crossing back into the U.S.

A view of the U.S./Mexico border fence in Nogales. Border security stands by. Snapped from the car right before crossing back into the U.S.

Cacti!

Cacti!

Bill de la Rosa (left) and Bobby de la Rosa (right) Sophie interviewing Bill while Bobby takes a quick nap Bobby de la Rosa (left) and his older brother Bill (right) during our interview