Letters from Suzanne Oswald to the Commission Page: 1 of 4
This letter is part of the collection entitled: Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission and was provided to UNT Digital Library by the UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.
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BRAC Commission Members,
I am writing to request that you consider keeping Cannon AFB open!
Closing Cannon would have a devastating effect on our small community. Clovis is a
small town of approximately 35 thousand people. Clovis is a community with a big heart
and an incredible relationship with the military community at Cannon. We have 350 days
of sunshine, mild winters, no encroachment issues, plenty of space for expansion and
clearance for flying supersonic flights.
Closing a base isn't really a cost savings when you factor in all the money that has to be
spent to close a base, maintain buildings and environmental clean up. All personal will
have to relocate to other bases, where is the savings? In the past few years, millions
maybe billions of dollars have been spent on Cannon. Cannon has 2 new runways,
control tower, hangers, brand new front gate equipped with anti-terrorist devices, fire
department and dormitories. The majority of the buildings on Cannon have been
replaced over the last few years.
Where will planes flying over Melrose Bombing Range divert to when there is an in flight
emergency? Albuquerque is 224 miles, Alamogordo is 245 miles and Amarillo is 105
miles. Time is critical to the safety of Air Force resources when flying multi million
dollar aircraft during emergencies. The local airport isn't equipped to handle large
aircraft.
Retired military people in our community and people living in Roswell NM and Lubbock
and Amarillo TX have to travel to Clovis for medical care and prescriptions, they will now
have to travel to Albuquerque and Alamogordo.
Real Estate values will plummet when the housing market is flooded with mcanlt hu-a ing
Who funds HAP (Housing Assistance Program)? It is the DOD, again no savings! HAP only
pays 75% of the existing mortgage, creating further financial hardship on military members
that have purchased real estate. There will be approximately 700 houses on the market if
Cannon is closed. The 1644 military houses in Clovis and Portales NM will also be vacant
and will have to be maintained by the government.
Please consider Cannon AFB for expansion, not closure.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Oswald-HALLMAR KCENSING INC
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Letters from Suzanne Oswald to the Commission, letter, July 13, 2005; (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc17240/m1/1/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.