Where do I start? So many starting points to pick from but I’ll keep it short and to the point. The F-35 vote, to begin, was a terrible, non-productive, irrational, and hasty decision based on a DRAFT report without regard to the majority of the constituents. It’s not a secret that good, productive, well-thought out, and successful decisions are based not solely on draft reports but also on input from constituents, experience, expert testimony, weighing pro’s and consequences, calculations and good all-around dialogue with stakeholders. It’s also no secret that the majority of Vermont supports the F-35 Fighter (not Bomber – it is a Fighter hence the “F” please!). In a recent issue of The Other Paper, a constituent implied F-35 supporters to be financially motivated. Not true. The men, women and families of the Air Guard live in our communities and have a tremendous right to be considered. This decision affects their safety, security, morale, impact and survivability. God forbid should a future conflict arise and they’re deployed. I will gladly sacrifice a few moments of passing jet noise so that they have technological advantage, stealth and high survivability on their side rather than equipping them with antiquated, tired 35 year old technology that will increase their exposure to harm exponentially. The “Stop the F-35” coalition led by Greco and Juliet Buck could care less about our troops whether on the battlefield, in a conflict, or at home. To them our troops are expendable on foreign and home soil.
Second, the interim-zoning speaks for itself. Everyone is talking about it…Many are disappointed. It’s pretty evident that Greco and company are hell-bent on forcing and instituting their delusional vision on our city. They are adamantly opposed to growth – business growth, financial growth, technological growth. I ask one question : Is South Burlington not a City? Cities grow do they not? It’s safe to say that their primary goal seems to be to reduce our city to a town or village if you will. Make no mistake, Greco, Engels and Dooley are committed 100% to reverse growth, impede technology, and dissolve the Vermont Air National Guard Base.
Third, the anti-F35 council members have been pushing the phrase “Children Safety” (without backing of course – yep what a shocker) in their crusade against the Air Guard. They continue to spend considerable amounts of time, effort and resources fighting the F-35. They hired an attorney. However, when an announcement is made that a methadone clinic is opening next to 2 of our schools, they do and say absolutely nothing although a good number of constituents signed a petition against the clinic location. I trust that at the very least this should have merited some sort of questioning, dialogue, response from the Council on the grounds of “Children Safety”. Seems to me the phrase is being used to propel more exaggerations (rather than genuine care) in the Council’s crusade against the F-35. Otherwise surely genuine care would have surfaced with regards to the methadone issue as well. Hmm, sounds hypocritical in nature.
Fourth, Greco hires an already fired manager, gives him 117k per year of taxpayer money, gives him a severance pay of 117k again of taxpayers’ money in case they were to fire him, fires him and is now looking to hire a new manager at 117k (they cannot offer less) which effectively turns into 234k for one year with the severance + new hire. All this and my property taxes are going up. Outrageous, and appalling is it not?
Many more issues to list however if I were to list them all, I would be here until March…
To conclude, change is needed and welcomed. It is in our best interests to vote on March 5th, to vote for Pat Nowak and Chris Shaw. This is our opportunity to take our city back, back into the control of taxpayers. Last time I checked, this is a democracy however I do not sense it in South Burlington… Pat Nowak and Chris Shaw – for the people!
Faruk Hurer
South Burlington Resident
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