possibly might engage in offering some acreage to keep the airfield,
National Guard unit facilities and state emergency response center
capabilities intact. These specific roles will never leave this area.
Seal Beach may lose its value in time through technology.
Ammunition has improved over the last 60 years since this base was
built. Naval ammunition today is more stable and resilient to
temperature, corrosion and "trauma" than it was in the 1940s.
Transportation and packaging methods have improved by leaps and
bounds. It is possible to envision a Navy of the future that can
safely load ammunition by rail to the Navy docks of San Diego and
Coronado. This scenario could possibly exist in the next few years.
What does this mean to our cities?
This closure process was a good dry run for our future. The
concern of a civilian airport use for these two facilities will
likely not be an issue the next time base realignment considerations
return. Most pundits predict that decisions will have been made about
the future of civilian airport needs in the next few years.
These decisions will be made soon not because of political
leadership, but because of a strong economic need.
Discussion and debate about the future of these bases needs to
start in the "cool of the morning" when reasoned discussions may
offer solid, well thought-out ideas about development ideas and allow
time to thoroughly investigate jurisdictional issues through the
county offices.
Until then, the surrounding cities will continue to support our
military and work with them to assist them in their efforts to serve
our country, while helping each other continue to be good neighbors.
Who do we thank?
A long list: The first group we like to thank are the soldiers and
sailors who drill as reservists on these bases. They represent the
best of our ideals of patriotism, hard work and much sacrifice
(especially among their families here at home).
The California Council on Base Retention formed by our governor
deserves thanks. They organized our communities and lobbied the
Department of Defense with a message of unified support of our bases
from our communities.
The mayors and city councils of the surrounding communities
(Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, Garden Grove, Seal Beach, Cypress,
La Palma, Westminster and Rossmoor) came together on this issue and
all passed a letter of support for keeping these two bases open.
* MIKE MCGILL is the mayor of Cypress. To contribute to "Sounding
Off" e-mail us at hbindependent@latimes.com or fax us at (714)
966-4667.
