VENTURA : City OKs $4,350 More to Protect Navy Base
Saying that the Point Mugu Navy base is too important a resource to lose, the Ventura City Council on Monday agreed to donate an additional $4,350 to help keep the base off a proposed federal closure list.
After a presentation by members of a task force formed to help shelter Point Mugu from military cutbacks, council members agreed to contribute a share of the $50,000 the committee is trying to raise.
A federal base-closing commission last month placed Point Mugu on a list of bases recommended to be shut. Point Mugu supporters say the economic impact to Ventura County of closing the base would be devastating.
“We would prefer to invest the money ahead of time,” Mayor Tom Buford said before Monday’s meeting.
Point Mugu “has a role and it seems to be doing a good job in terms of what the military needs,” Buford said. “A contribution is in line with protecting our interests.”
The task force charged with lobbying federal officials to keep Point Mugu open plans to ask each city in the county to contribute additional money toward its effort. A number of corporations also have been approached about donating to the cause.
The final list of bases recommended for closure will be submitted to President Clinton next month.
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