Despite another anti-jet election, no end in sight for F-35s

After the latest successful vote against F-35s — this time a non-binding resolution to stop F-35 fighter jets from training over densely populated areas such as Winooski — not much has changed. 

The Town Meeting Day vote passed 723-354. 

This is not the first time a non-binding resolution to stop the F-35s has been passed.  In 2015 Winooski residents voted in favor of the city of Winooski joining an anti-F-35 lawsuit.  In 2013, the Winooski City Council voted unanimously against the F-35s being based near the Burlington Airport.

Retired Air Force Intelligence Officer Rosanne Greco has been involved in the ban the F-35 movement for 10 years.  She says that while it is possible that this vote will make a difference, she doesn’t think it is likely.

“There is a possibility, but not a probability, that the F-35s could be removed and replaced with another [mission],” Greco said.

“I don’t think it’s a probability because the decision makers, that for the last ten years have been obstinate in their approach to dealing with the people on the F-35--and by those I mean Senator Patrick Leahy and Senator Bernie Sanders, ” Greco said.

Greco doesn’t believe that Senator Leahy or Senator Sanders will change their minds based on her experiences with them.

“They have never engaged with the people in the nine, ten years I’ve been working on this, ever, so that’s why I think the probability is slim, because these two men are not interested in doing anything or using their power to get rid of the F-35s,” Greco said.

Although Greco doesn’t think Leahy and Sanders will change their stances, she does acknowledge the probability of this vote making progress for banning the F-35s.  She says that in 2013 the Air Force did decide to base the F-35s in a different location, but this decision was reversed at the behest of Senator Leahy.

Greco says that even though the Air Force has previously sided with the movement, the F-35 base won’t move unless Leahy and Sanders change their minds.

“Even if the city of Winooski’s vote is transmitted to the Air Force, the Air Force will not do anything unless the senators, Leahy or Sanders, support it,” Greco said. “They will never contradict what the senators want.”

Although Senator Leahy has not expressed interest in moving the base, his summary of the Defense Appropriations Bill does include funds to help mitigate the noise of military aircrafts. 

According to a 2019 CNBC article, Senators Leahy and Sanders and Rep. Peter Welch released a joint statement regarding a situation in which they would oppose the F-35s.

“We are unaware of any intention or proposal to equip the Vermont Air Guard’s current or future aircraft with nuclear weapons.  Should such a proposal be made, we would vigorously oppose it,” the statement read.

Documentary to capture pain caused by jets 

In light of another recent Burlington vote to ban the F-35s, documentarians Patrick McCormack and Duane Peterson III are releasing a short film at 7 p.m., April 15. The film features voicemails from those affected by the F-35s.

In a one-minute preview of the film, scenes shot around Vermont are contrasted with voices of concerned citizens.

“In one week, my wife and I are going to be leaving Vermont,” one man says in the video. “The daily assault of the F-35s over our home is just more than we want to live with.”

Greco doesn’t believe that there is much more that can be done to remove the F-35 base from the Burlington area.

“I don’t know that there’s any other action that people could take that we haven’t already done in the past, and have been unsuccessful,” Greco said.