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Burlington Voters Don't Want The F-35s. The Guard Says They're Still Coming.

An F-35B lifts off from the runway at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida in October 2017.
Samuel King Jr.
/
U.S. Air Force, Courtesy
An F-35B lifts off from the runway at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida in October 2017. Burlington will receive 18 F-35s starting in 2019.

Eighteen F-35 stealth fighter jets are set to come to Vermont next year, but on Town Meeting Day, a ballot question with language rejecting the fighters passed with wide support in Burlington. We're looking at what that vote means and what happens next for the F-35s in Vermont.

Fifty-five percent of Burlington voters called for canceling the basing of the F-35s at the Burlington International Airport. Ballot Measure 6 now tasks the Burlington City Council to "request the cancellation" of the F-35 basing decision, and "request instead" alternate "low-noise-level equipment" for the Burlington Air Guard station.

After surviving past council efforts to vote down the fighters and a legal challenge to the site selection process, the Vermont National Guard says the vote won't change their plans to bring 18 F-35s to Burlington starting in 2019. 

Vermont Edition? looks at what comes next for the F-35s with guests:

  • Sen. Patrick Leahy, recorded on Friday, March 9, 2018.
  • Retired Air Force Col. Rosanne Greco, an activist who's opposed the F-35 basing decision.
  • Joan Shannon, a longtime city councilor from Burlington's South District.
  • Maj. Gen. Steven A. Cray, adjutant general for the Vermont National Guard.
  • Jasper Craven, a reporter whose multi-part series for VT Digger traces the F-35's path to Burlington.

Broadcast Monday, March 12, 2018 at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m. 

Jane Lindholm is the host, executive producer and creator of But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids. In addition to her work on our international kids show, she produces special projects for Vermont Public. Until March 2021, she was host and editor of the award-winning Vermont Public program Vermont Edition.
Matt Smith worked for Vermont Public from 2017 to 2023 as managing editor and senior producer of Vermont Edition.
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