[CPEO-MEF] Air National Guard may fly away

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California
MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE
Air National Guard may fly away
By Candice Shih
July 11, 2003

Like a scene from "Groundhog Day," the city has reawakened to the
possibility that the California Air National Guard's 129th Rescue Wing
may move from Moffett Field to Atwater, Calif.

On Tuesday, after the city council learned that Rep. Anna Eshoo and the
rest of the Bay Area's Congressional delegation had sent another letter
-- the second in just over a year -- to Air Force Secretary James Roche
pleading for it to stay, the council decided to send its own letter to
state officials stating a similar case.

Last spring, Eshoo and the city became aware that the Air Guard was
considering moving to Castle Airforce Base because its rent to landlord
NASA and the cost of living in the Bay Area were too high. She advocated
keeping the Air Guard at Moffett Field because of its security benefits,
and reminded Roche of the $16 million of federal money recently used to
build its new hangar.

Eshoo was given hope that the issues she raised would be taken
seriously, but the Air Guard indicated that it's still contemplating the
move, despite a $45 million price tag on a new hangar at Castle, which,
like Moffett Field, has toxics around the base.

"Were they to leave, they would leave a gaping hole in the Bay Area,"
she said. "This is not about keeping operations in one's Congressional
district. It's beyond that."

This article can be viewed at:
http://www.mv-voice.com/morgue/2003/2003_07_11.airgrd.html

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