Alder Samba Baldeh Statement on the F-35A Beddown at Truax: “It turned out to be a bug, not a bomb.”

This decision (to site F-35s at Truax) comes at a time when the entire nation is in an unprecedented crisis due to a viral infection that has thus far killed 30,000 Americans and sickened over one million more. Our economy is in near-collapse with tens of millions unemployed. Clearly, the nation was and continues to be unprepared for this or any other new virus or bacteria.

Even as the first wave of this pandemic continues to climb, the government does not seem to understand that the greatest threat to the nation turned out to be a bug, not a bomb. SARS, Ebola and many as yet unknown viruses and bacteria will threaten our well-being in the years to come.

Instead, the Administration will station bombers costing billions in our community. They will more likely do greater damage to our local communities than any foreign one.

The decision of the Air Force to site 18 F-35A fighter jets at the Truax Base in Madison shows an arrogant disregard for the views of the community and the health and well-being of thousands of Madison residents.

In response to the USAF’s own Environmental Impact Study, over 2,000 residents wrote to the Air Force and requested that they not place the F-35’s in their community. This outpouring of concern is primarily due to the conclusion of the study that the new jets will render over “1,000 homes incompatible for residential use.”

The Air Force states that it has no responsibility to assist the families or mitigate the damage caused by the noise, vibration, pollution, etc. from their jets.

I will call upon the city, county and state governments to work together to seek necessary assistance from the federal government to compensate property owners for their losses. Most of these homes are low- and middle-income families that need a coalition to advocate for their relief.