Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, June 28, 1993 TAG: 9306280144
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From The Associated Press and Newport News Daily Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
The panel voted to shut down Navy offices in Arlington's Crystal City section, a warren of high-rise office buildings and underground malls that is dominated by the service's more than 11,000 employees. Officials said a Navy pullout would leave Crystal City a virtual ghost town.
"I'm disappointed in the commission's decision regarding Crystal City facilities, but hopeful that we have enough lead time to convince the Navy that our offer is too good to refuse," Sen. Charles Robb, D-Va., said Sunday.
Hampton Roads took another hit Sunday, losing an estimated 1,750 jobs in Suffolk and Portsmouth.
On the final day of deliberations over 238 military installations nationwide, the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission voted to close a $30 million Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Suffolk that hasn't yet had its official opening ceremony. It also voted to radically shrink the Naval Electronics Systems Engineering Center in Portsmouth.
The commission tempered the devastating loss of Charleston, S.C., military installations by voting Sunday to place a high-tech naval center in the city.
The panel also saved two Michigan facilities after closing a major air base in the state, bringing Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., to tears of joy.
"Michigan finally got a little break and we deserve it," he told reporters.
The seven-member commission has been meeting since Wednesday, voting to recommend closing facilities and realigning others. Its decisions carry great weight, but are not the final word.
The commission went along with most of the Defense Department recommendations to close 31 major installations and realign 12 others.
The panel's Crystal City decision was a painful one for Sen. John Warner, R-Va., who had the jobs moved there in the 1970s when he was secretary of the Navy.
"We're going to fight this decision," said Warner, who added that he was looking a possible legal action and legislation that would permit changes if a community could produce new information.
Warner said the Navy, which recommended the changes, may have thought it had to "hit the national capital region" so other communities would accept losses.
Commission Chairman Jim Courter said the panel did not have time to fully examine the situation in Crystal City, "and stated specifically that the Navy has the recourse to reverse today's decision when the commission reconvenes," Robb said.
The commission also voted Sunday to close a data processing center in Richmond that is affiliated with the Defense General Supply Center. It employs 235.
The commission must submit its list of changes by Thursday to President Clinton, who can approve or reject all or part of the report. If he disapproves, the commission has until Aug. 15 to submit another one.
When Congress receives a report from the president, it has 45 legislative days to enact a joint resolution of disapproval. Congress cannot make changes.
by CNB