Bedford Minuteman
Wednesday, May 5, 2004

Editorial: Time to show Hanscom faith

Area officials are scrambling to cover the bases with the possibility
Hanscom Air Force Base might be shut down by the federal government.
Legislative leaders, including Sen. Ted Kennedy and Gov. Mitt Romney, are
doing what they can to preserve the base.

Now, it may be your turn.

With the federal government's Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process
under way, the possibility is very real that a substantial part of the
area's economy would be decimated. According to the Massachusetts Defense
Initiative, approximately 30,000 jobs and $3.5 billion in revenue is pumped
into the region's economy because of the base's operations.

MassDTI, which is chaired by Kennedy and Romney, is making the pitch to
federal officials that the base is a vital component to the nation's
defense. It's technological expertise, by far the biggest component of the
facility's operations, stands alone compared to military facilities around
the globe.

A new Base Realignment and Closure Commission will be appointed in March of
2005, with the Department of Defense to submit its list of base closures in
May, 2005. Final action on the recommendations could take place in September
2005, which will need the approval of the House of Representatives, the U.S.
Senate and the signature of the President George Bush.

Although the 2005 schedule could be delayed by up to two years, due to
recent legislation brought forth on Capitol Hill, the work to save the base
should not be left to the lawmakers.

Chris Anderson, the president of Massachusetts Defense Initiative, called on
area residents to show their support for Hanscom.

"The message we have to business owners and residents in nearby communities
is we have an uphill battle," said Anderson. "It's extremely important to
the community to express support for the Air Force Base."

Area residents have a big stake in the economic benefits the base presents
to the region. Not only would the tax base be hurt if the base closes, but
local schools could be effected as well. About 120 youth attend Bedford High
from Hanscom Air Force Base and the town of Lincoln is contracted to run the
elementary schools on base.

The threat, if realized, would hit residents in the pocketbooks, in the form
of higher property taxes.

Maybe that thought is enough to prompt a call or letter to legislative
leaders urging support for the base.

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