Taylor on housing under flight path
Lemoore should put a moratorium on any expansion to the west of Highway 41. That would give them time to do a land use study which the Navy has suggested. During the last BRAC process, the Fresno Bee called me and asked what we would do if L.N.A.S. were to be shut down. My answer was, "I can't even imagine it, because it would be so devastating to our economy". We could never replace the jobs. Our Board has done everything to support the base as has the City of Lemoore. We have maintained a united front that says you are wanted and we will protect you from the first day the base was built. Now you have people who have not been around as long as most of us, and who believe that this is not that big a deal and that the Navy is overreacting, that the Navy has plenty of green belt to protect them from encroachment. These people are wrong. The base is competing for new aircraft, new aircraft tend to be louder; and speaking from a "hail cannon" perspective people are not understanding of loud noises that impact their homes. In balance, the risk of allowing growth in this area outweighs the benefit, period. In war, you cannot show weakness. We are at war with other areas of our country for military bases. We cannot afford to show any chink in what has been a united front for 45 years.