FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 11, 2018
Contact: Katie Vane
802.734.0617
Mayor Weinberger Statement Regarding Continued Strong Support for the F-35 Basing at Burlington International Airport
Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger announced that, following a thorough review of concerns raised recently by the public and media, he will continue to strongly support the planned F-35 basing at the Burlington International Airport. His review included consultation with Vermont Air National Guard (VTANG) and Federal officials, who provided detailed answers addressing noise and public safety concerns. Based on the results of this review, the Mayor will not sign the City Council resolution approved on March 26, 2018 that requests the U.S. Air Force to consider an alternative mission to the F-35, the first time the Mayor will not sign a Council resolution.
“As I committed prior to the Town Meeting Day vote, I have looked anew at the specific concerns raised in recent months by the public and the media about the F-35 basing, and carefully considered the Council’s vote,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “After completing this review, I continue to strongly support the basing of the F-35s at Burlington International Airport and have concluded that I cannot responsibly approve the Council resolution.”
In a letter that accompanied the Council’s resolution to the Secretary of the U.S. Air Force on Monday, April 9, the Mayor noted that he would not extend the divisive debate at the City Council indefinitely by vetoing the resolution. Accordingly, the resolution will take effect on April 16 without the Mayor’s signature or support. In his letter, the Mayor also emphasized the importance of providing answers to the questions outlined by the Council to help alleviate many of the concerns in the community and contribute to the successful basing of the F-35s at Burlington International Airport.
In a separate op-ed published in Vermont Digger on April 11, the Mayor provided additional reasoning behind his decision, including a summation of the facts about F-35 noise and public safety concerns, the home buyout program, and the economic impact of the VTANG mission on the Airport and the region.
The op-ed is available here.
Please also see:
* Mayor Weinberger’s letter to U.S. Air Force Secretary Dr. Heather Wilson.
* City Council’s F-35 resolution approved on March 26, 2018.
* Dr. Jane Kolodinsky’s opinion on F-35 ballot item wording.
