by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
United States Rep. Ander Crenshaw, Mayor John Peyton and a host of other Florida representatives will be in New Orleans next week to plead their cases to the Base Realignment and Closure commission one
more time.
In some cases, the plea will be for the BRAC commission to change certain recommendations. In Crenshaw’s case, he, Peyton and others will attend the meetings to thank the commission for not only sparing the Jacksonville military community of cuts and closures, but for also bolstering the local military presence by about 3,000 military personnel.
“We are going to a regional hearing in New Orleans next week to meet with the Department of Defense who made all the recommendations,” said Crenshaw during a Thursday visit to the Daily Record.
Crenshaw said the area went from one practically holding its breath a few months ago to one celebrating an even more prominent military position among the nation’s military bases.
“Jacksonville probably fared better than any other community in the country,” said Crenshaw, who was in town during Congress’s annual Fourth of July week-long break. “NAS gained planes from Maine and the Navy Depot is being renamed as a maintenance center — all of which means 3,000 new jobs for the area.”
According to Crenshaw, the BRAC commissioners may change their minds about some of the recommendations that came down recently. That change of heart may help some communities that saw massive personnel cuts or complete closures. However, he said it was unlikely any BRAC decisions made next week would adversely affect the Jacksonville area. It takes a two-thirds vote of the nine-member commission to approve a change to a DOD decision.
“From our perspective, the realignment changes were fair and we feel they did a good job,” he said. “The recommendations are just right. We have plenty of room here for the additions and we are now even more vital to Homeland Security. We are the southeast hub of Homeland Security, and that’s good.”
The local delegation will be making one big pitch, though. Crenshaw has been lobbying hard to have Naval Station Mayport made nuclear capable, something that would allow Mayport to support a nuclear aircraft carrier. According to Crenshaw, BRAC has $1.6 billion in its realignment budget and the cost to make Mayport nuclear capable is about $137 million. Because a nuclear carrier draws more water, the Mayport basin and portions of the St. Johns River delta would have to be dredged. Other changes would also have to be made to the base, but Crenshaw is convinced the benefits would be worth the cost.
“Mayport is in great shape to be made nuclear capable. We have 12 carriers in the country and 10 of them are nuclear. Only two ports on the east coast are the home port to carriers: Norfolk and Mayport,” explained Crenshaw, adding that Norfolk is already nuclear capable, but faces logistical issues. Newport houses four nuclear carriers, but it’s a five-hour ride to deep water from the basin. “You can’t have all your assets on the east coast sitting in one place. We are not fighting to get a carrier. We are fighting just to make Mayport nuclear capable.”
Crenshaw estimated that it could take upwards of 20 years to complete the upgrade regardless of when the recommendation is approved.
Crenshaw also talked about a number of other subjects:
• On his visits to Iraq: “I’ve been to Iraq twice as a member of the Homeland Security sub-committee, once to Fallujah and once to Baghdad. When we flew over Baghdad, it did not look like a war-torn city because we were so precise in our bombing efforts. In Fallujah, our Marines killed 2,000 insurgents and captured another 2,000. I was wearing a bullet-proof vest riding around in the back of a Humvee.”
• On the attitude of American troops in Iraq: “I’m concerned about them, but our Marines are committed to what they are doing. One told me, ‘I am watching a democracy being born.’ They want to know what people back home think. When they are laying their life on the line, they just want to know someone back home cares. They care about each other is and the country.”
• On how long the U.S. will remain in Iraq: “We are clearly making progress in terms of training the Iraqis. We will leave when they can take over. We could be out by the next (presidential) election, but we can’t afford to fail. We have too much at stake. They are forming their own government and working out their own destiny. Today, we have 140,000 troops in Iraq. Maybe one day, that will be down to 10,000. I think we will always have a presence there. Hopefully, we’ll be out sooner than later. We will get out when the Iraqis can do for themselves what we are doing for them now.”
• On his next big agenda item for the Jacksonville area: “The veteran’s cemetery. I have been on that for four years. The VA (Veteran’s Administration) has looked at about 12 sites and selected two near the airport. There is money to acquire the land in next year’s budget process. That’s a big deal and it’s something the veterans deserve. There are four veteran’s cemeteries in Florida; three are full and the other is half a state away near Orlando.”
• On who’s going to run for president in 2008: “There will be about 10 Republicans, but I’m not sure the winner is in the race yet. On the Democratic side, Hillary (Clinton) is a slam dunk. Politically, she’s more ideological than her husband (former President Bill Clinton) and she’s smart.”
• On his Homeland Security sub-committee assignment (he really couldn’t say a lot due to the classified nature of a majority of the committee’s issues): “It’s interesting and I have learned where we are vulnerable — airports, seaports, cargo planes, nuclear reactors. I’m very impressed with what our country has done.”
• On running for office again: “I will run again, I’m planning on it. It’s a year and half away. I will not run against Bill Nelson for his Senate seat. Right now, I like it and I’m enjoying my third term. It’s a great experience.”
• On the local economy: “The Jacksonville unemployment rate is 3.9 percent (the national average is 5.1 percent) and the community is experiencing great growth. The state of Florida has gained more jobs than any other state except California. The local economy is doing very well and I think it’s arguably a result of the tax cuts in 2002 and 2003. People are able to keep more of their money, spend money on what they want and save.”
• On how often he gets back to Jacksonville and what he does: “This week is our Fourth of July recess and we will start again on Monday. When I’m home I speak to civic groups and give TV and newspaper interviews.”
• On life in Washington, D.C. as a U.S. congressman: “It’s a full-time job and Washington is a round-the-clock city. Last week, we were in session every night until about 11. My days start at about 7 or 8 and I have committee meetings, leadership meetings and constituent meetings. It’s a grind, but it’s stimulating. “
• On his five years: “We have been faced with so many issues, Iraq and the economy. It’s easy to be overwhelmed and it’s hard work, but I really enjoy making a difference in the community, the state, the country and even the world. I know one member of the House (of Representatives) that has been in for 20 years and he told me we have faced more in the past four years than the last 20. It has been intense and there has been a lot activity we have faced as a nation.”
• On the return of Major League Baseball to D.C. (the Washington Nationals moved from Montreal): “I haven’t been to a game yet, but the Nationals are doing great (leading the National League East) and it’s on my list of things to do. The ballpark is only about a 20-minute walk from my office. They are going to build a new park closer and that will really help the District.”