F-35 Citizens' Hearing

On Thursday May 30th, hundreds of Vermont residents participated in a citizens’ hearing surrounding the potential arrival of the F-35 aircraft in Burlington. Immediately after the Burlington airport was chosen as the base for the F-35 aircraft, Vermont residents came together to express their opposition. Many people expressed their concerns about the noise pollution that the jets would bring to their neighborhoods as well as the enormous costs and technical flaws of the aircraft. If the F-35 aircraft is based in Burlington, over 7,000 lives will be negatively affected. Many residents also spoke about legislators’ continued support for the F-35 and expressed their concerns about how they were not given the opportunity to take part in a decision that greatly affects them and their neighbors. Residents at the hearing called for policies that put people first.