Close Mugu but Keep Federal Funds

* Nearly 10 years ago, concerned citizens tried to block access of workers coming into Point Mugu, fearing that the continuation of work on the cruise missiles was an intolerable moral atrocity in terms of potential for mass human destruction, if ever the missiles were to be deployed.

Now, a decade later, again there is an attempt to close this base down. This time, however, the government agencies--in an attempt to save the taxpayers money and keep the national deficit under control--have undertaken a process to consolidate the military bases, of which Point Mugu is on the hit list.

With the scaling-down of the Cold War and with the realization that there can be no ultimate military victory in any part of the world without wholesale worldwide destruction and holocaust, the closing of all military bases in this country is inevitable.

Therefore, there must be immediate cessation of the military function at the base here at Point Mugu. But federal tax savings can be realized to the same extent as envisioned by closing the base down, while at the same time not laying off workers. How can this be accomplished? Quite simply by discontinuing the contracts made or being made with the big defense contracting firms which have used the base rent-free for years to test their weapon systems.

The total funding should be retained for the salaries of the present workers at the base. This funding should be in the form of block grants sent to the local agencies such as state, county and cities within the area, in order to fund projects which are determined to be useful to the citizens that reside in the area surrounding the base.

Let’s begin now to convert this institution into an enterprise that the whole community can be proud of and begin to truly develop a beautiful Gold Coast here in Ventura County.

NORM BAUER

Camarillo