County Funds Urged to Fight Base Closure

Explaining the “serious threat” facing the Point Mugu Navy base, the leader of a local task force of base supporters asked the Ventura County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday for more money to help fight the base’s proposed shutdown.

Cal Carrera, co-chairman of the BRAC ’95 Task Force, said the Navy and the Defense Department remain solidly behind Point Mugu.

But an independent base-closing commission has decided to study whether the Navy could save money by closing the base and moving its missile-testing functions to another installation in the Mojave Desert, he said.

Carrera said such a move would be very costly. “We think you would save money by keeping the base open,” he said.

Board Chairwoman Maggie Kildee suggested that the supervisors consider giving the task force another donation next week.

Last fall, the board contributed $10,000, office space and some staff time to help the effort.

In a related matter, the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission has tentatively rescheduled a planned tour of Point Mugu for May 30, a spokesman said.

But the new schedule does not address the concerns of Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) who wants the commissioners to visit the base before a regional hearing May 25 so they can better grasp the testimony being prepared by base supporters.

“We try to accommodate everyone,” said commission spokesman Wade Nelson.

“But we can’t always.”

As the May 30 visit is now planned, Commissioner Benjamin F. Montoya, a former Navy admiral, will be accompanied by Commissioner Rebecca Cox, an airline executive and wife of Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach).