[CPEO-MEF] Next Round of Base Closings Article

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

FYI, here's an article from today's paper about the next round of base
closings: full article can be viewed at the following link:
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/011403/011403rfyBeale.shtml


 Tuesday, January 14, 2003

                    Strategy for Beale outlined
                    Plan devised to keep base off closure list

                    Rob Young
                    Appeal-Democrat

                           Business and government officials Monday
outlined a four-pronged strategy to save
                           Beale Air Force Base from the next round of
base closings expected in 2005.

                           The Beale Military Base Retention Committee
also discussed options in case the
                           base is closed.

                           "We need a Plan B in case (closing) does
happen," Yuba County Supervisor Dan
                           Logue said.

                           Beale has a $350 million impact on the area's
economy, said Tim Johnson,
                           executive director of the Yuba-Sutter
Economic Development Corporation, which
                           organized the retention committee.

                           The four-part plan includes:

                           Improving roads outside the base. The roads
are considered to be among the worst
                           outside any U.S. military base.

                           Strengthening ties between Beale and local
businesses. Businesses that deal with
                           Beale will be more willing to join a
community effort toward keeping the base open,
                           Doug Sloan, past Yuba-Sutter Chamber of
Commerce board chairman, said.

                           Make the base more important to the Defense
Department by enhancing its
                           mission, possibly by making it a base for
Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles
                           the U.S. Coast Guard wants to deploy.

                           The Coast Guard said recently it plans to
begin using Global Hawks in 2016 to
                           patrol coastlines. Funds have yet to be
approved.

                           Air Force Global Hawks are already scheduled
to begin flying from Beale in addition
                           to U-2 spy planes.

                           The Defense Department is sending "a very
strong message" that bases should
                           have multiple uses. Those bases will have a
better chance of remaining open, said
                           retired Army Maj. Gen. William J. Jefferds,
now director of the California Technology,
                           Trade & Commerce Agency's Office of Military
Base Retention & Reuse.

                           Failing to go after the Coast Guard Global
Hawks would be "foolish," committee
                           Chairman Bill Simmons said.

                           Lobbying officials in Washington, D.C., a
tactic that was helpful in bringing Air Force
                           Global Hawks to Beale, Johnson said.

                           One thing working in Beale's favor is the
area's climate, which offers more than 200
                           days per year of "perfect flying weather,"
Simmons said.

                           Comparatively inexpensive housing for Beale
workers who live off base is also a
                           positive, said Marysville City Councilman
Paul McNamara.

                           In the event Beale is closed, a move by the
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to set aside
                           land on military bases for endangered species
could prevent the land from being
                           sold and developed, Johnson said.

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