Burlington City Council to Consider Asking Scott to Suspend F-35 Flights
By Courtney Lamdin
April 10, 2020
The Burlington City Council on Monday will consider a resolution asking the governor to suspend the Vermont National Guard’s F-35 training flights and reassign Guard members to coronavirus response efforts.
Introduced by Councilor Perri Freeman (P-Central District), the resolution calls on Gov. Phil Scott to direct “all 4,000 members” of the Guard to ferry medical supplies to hospitals; to deliver food to vulnerable Vermonters; and to “build decent safe housing for the homeless” near the airport.
“We are long-time opponents of basing F-35 jets at Burlington’s Airport. But, like many Vermonters, we are strong supporters of the men and women in the Guard in their proper role of protecting the people of Vermont,” the resolution reads. “If you focus on actions consistent with your stated goals and mobilize the full Guard in the fight, you might be able to halt the spread of the virus, flattening the exponentially growing curve, avoid overflowing hospitals, and save many lives.”