Sherman Condemns Decision On Naval Base Ventura County
Sherman Oaks - A commission evaluating Pentagon plans to close and consolidate military bases voted Thursday to shift thousands of jobs from Naval Base Ventura County to the Naval Air Weapons Station at China Lake.
œThis is an enormous disappointment, said Congressman Brad Sherman. œThe unfortunate consequence of this decision will be a brain drain because most of the civilian workers simply will not move to China Lake. It makes no sense to waste the skills of the talented people already doing these jobs in Ventura County.
The Base Closure and Realignment Commission voted 6 to 1 to go along with a Pentagon proposal to transfer functions from Point Mugu to the Navy station 150 miles away at China Lake. As many as 2,856 military and civilian government jobs and another 3,500 private sector jobs are at stake in the transfer.
China Lake is located in the district of Congressman Bill Thomas, the influential chairman of the House Ways and Means committee. œApparently, logic doesnt count when a powerful Republican is involved, Sherman said. œIt certainly didnt in last months transportation bill when House Republicans allocated more than twice as much to Bill Thomas Bakersfield as they did to all of Los Angeles.
The commission action also was at odds with its vote on Wednesday against a separate proposal to move jobs to Point Mugu from the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Corona. In that case, the panel reasoned that 850 employees would not relocate from Corona to Ventura County. œThe commissions reasoning is inconsistent, said Sherman. œThey say skilled technical experts wont move to Ventura County from Corona, but will move from Ventura County to China Lake in the Kern County desert. Obviously they havent been to Corona., Ventura County or China Lake.
The commission must send its final list to President Bush by Sept. 8. If he accepts the list, Congress has 45 days to reject it or the base closings and consolidations automatically take effect.
Naval Base Ventura County has played an important role in the national defense. After September 11th, Point Mugu supported aircraft patrolling the skies above Los Angeles. The base also has supplied fire fighting support and transport for civilian response forces during man-made and natural disasters in the Los Angeles region.
The facility that includes a naval air station, naval air warfare center, naval satellite operations center, and naval surface warfare center is credited with generating over 15,000 direct and indirect jobs by the local Chamber of Commerce. œThis base is important to the economy of the entire San Fernando Valley/Ventura County region, said Sherman.