Hi--A coalition of groups will offer speakers/info on the F-35 nuclear capable bomber-fighter on Friday, September 6, 5-6 PM, starting at the top of Church Street near Bernie's office and proceeding down to Pat's office and gathering in front of City Hall. VT legislature SR-5 opposed basing any nuke capable weapons in VT. In August, Burlington City Council unanimously opposed same. The city owns the airport.

Originally it sounded like a good idea to some: jobs, increased Air Guard mission, real estate moves. Then Pat, Bernie, Peter endorsed as did the Mayor. Since then the Air Force reports came out and people began to research. Here are a few of the facts that came to light: 1) Nuke bases become priority targets 2) The Air Guard won't close: it has plenty of missions 3) Costs: a) nuke war risk and b) 1.5 trillion and counting 4) No new jobs: money spent on clean energy, health, education, transit create much more work 5) 6,600 people's homes placed in a "noise zone" AF designates as "unsuitable for residential use." Soundproofing homes begins a a year after the F-35 arrives! Home values drop. Folks in the streets/yards more vulnerable. 6) AF says repeated noise exposure from F-35 can damage hearing and impair learning in children 7) Flights degrade air quality and worsen climate: the plane burns near 1,100 gallons fuel/hour at .7 mpg 8) F-35 has higher crash rate than F-16; if crashes and pilot bails ok, emits thousands of pounds of toxics before "specially trained" fire crews arrive. A crash site at the end of the airport could take out Winooski. Actually, basing in a city is a violation of military law. --- There's more to learn. If you send a "delegate" on Friday for the neighborhood, group for organization, you can meet learned folk who have agreed to be there for you, and resources to help you study and help others. It isn't easy. If you send many people it shows some numbers strength to back up the facts. Four other states said "No." Here are some sites for the techies: https://www.canbvt.org/ https://saveourskiesvt.org/
https://www.pjcvt.org/seven-state-legislators-call-cancel-f-35-basing/

Thanks for giving this attention. Speakers from several organizations will be there.