Winooski votes unanimously to request replacement for F-35
The document is a letter and resolution from the City of Winooski, Vermont, addressed to Vermont’s congressional delegation, including Senators Bernie Sanders, Peter Welch, and Representative Becca Balint. It requests their intervention to urge the U.S. Air Force to replace the F-35 fighter jet mission currently based at Burlington International Airport. The request emphasizes the harmful noise generated by the F-35, which negatively impacts the surrounding communities, especially Winooski. The letter cites health risks, particularly to children, and concerns about environmental and systemic racism, as low-income and minority communities bear the brunt of the noise pollution. Winooski residents, along with those from nearby towns, live in areas that exceed recommended noise levels for residential living.
The letter advocates for a new Air Force mission that would not cause noise harm, such as a transport or medevac mission, which would have less disruptive noise impacts. The resolution also highlights that other states have successfully transitioned Air Guard bases from fighter jets to other, less harmful missions. Winooski’s City Council passed this resolution in September 2024, continuing a long-standing opposition to the basing of the F-35 at the airport.