Press Release

EL MIRAGE, ARIZONA
OCTOBER 21, 2009

Thank you, Mayor Kern. And thank you members of the City Council, distinguished guests, and residents of El Mirage. Thanks to all of you for being here and for your participation today. I’m delighted to see many old friends and to make new ones.

As both a historical review and a context for our discussions today, I would like to provide you with a brief overview of the relationship between the City of El Mirage and the Air Force.

El Mirage was established in 1937 as a migrant community serving the needs of local farms. Four years later, in 1941, Air Force began operations here.

Since the Air Force began its mission, El Mirage has consistently pursued two key goals for residents—economic progress and a high quality of life.

El Mirage enjoys significant economic benefits and other advantages from its relationship with the Air Force. However, the City also faces economic development challenges because of the base’s proximity.

The challenge of attracting businesses, investment, and jobs—and the tax revenues they generate—means that the City is often not able to provide the quality and quantity of services that residents need and deserve. You’ll hear more about this later from Mr. Scott Chesney, El Mirage’s Economic Development Director.

But I would like to address a few misconceptions concerning the City and its economic development efforts. Contrary to the views from some quarters, El Mirage’s economic development challenges are NOT the result of poor land use planning and development.

Unfortunately, the constraints on the City’s economic development are, in many cases, due directly to the obstacles and opposition it has encountered from the Air Force. Let me review with you some of the history:

In 1978, the Air Force tried to block the future growth of El Mirage. Glendale strip annexed land to the west of El Mirage that would have allowed orderly growth to the west. They did so at the time to provide a buffer zone for Air Force operations.

Since that time, the Air Force has opposed other important community developments. It opposed a childcare center. And it even opposed a new sewer treatment plant for El Mirage to replace its outdated septic system—one of the most basic human necessities.

In addition to opposing this school where we are meeting this evening, the Air Force opposed the Pueblo El Mirage Resort. Ultimately, the only reason it was built was because the developer withdrew a request for federal funding so the Air Force could not object.

Finally, the Air Force has changed its flight path numerous times over the years. Each change has directly affected El Mirage more than other West Valley communities.

All this information will be available tomorrow on the City’s web site.

In short, the Air Force has impeded the growth and economic development plans of El Mirage. No entity should be able to unilaterally block the legitimate progress of another.

But that’s the past. Going forward, what does El Mirage want?

El Mirage wants sustainable commercial and industrial development, growth that will create more jobs—even better-paying jobs—and growth that will generate increased tax revenue to fund important City services. We are not looking to build more houses or subdivisions. That’s not our goal. This is about jobs and sustainable tax revenues to provide for the basic needs of our citizens.

This means that El Mirage must have the unfettered ability to determine its own economic future. It needs more independence, flexibility, and creativity—to grow and to prosper.

We must abandon the mentality that what is good for El Mirage is bad for the Air Force and vice versa. As neighbors with a relationship stretching over nearly seven decades, we need now more than ever to work together for the benefit of all. Cooperation must be at the core of our relationship.

This cooperation—and whether it exists at all—will be tested by the issue that brings us here tonight: namely, the possible deployment of the F-35 at Luke Air Force Base. El Mirage and the Air Force must cooperate on this issue. We need open debate and full disclosure about the F-35 and its noise effects.

By all accounts it will be much louder than the F-16, impacting the quality of life for tens of thousands of residents. But how much louder will it be?

What can—or should—we learn from opposition to the F-35 in Florida and Virginia—and concerns coming out of Tucson that the F-35 will be too loud for residents there?

Let’s not prejudge the F-35. Let’s learn about it. Debate it. And support it if we should—and oppose it if the analysis shows we must.

And what if the F-35 doesn’t come to El Mirage after all? Is it wise for Luke to stake its future on this jet alone? Or does it make sense to explore new missions as other bases are doing around the country?

We should at least have this discussion. We should also not shy away from a dialogue about what the future holds if the F-35 is indeed too loud for a more urban setting like Luke. Some in Tucson are already talking about the unsuitability of the F-35 there.

So what kind of due diligence should we perform?
We start here tonight with this public forum. The next step is to meet with Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl, as well as other members of the Arizona Congressional Delegation. In fact, we deeply appreciate Senator McCain’s recent call to Mayor Kern.

We welcome and need the involvement, ideas, and input from everyone. This is why we requested information from all West Valley cities several weeks ago. So far, only Glendale has responded with a request for an F-35 noise study at Edwards Air Force Base.

We will also ask the Department of Defense for a full Environmental Impact Statement just as Senator McCain has already done. And we will ask for an open and transparent process just as most Americans expect from their government. This will analyze all potential adverse environmental impacts thoroughly, helping us to evaluate the F-35 and its noise profile. Rushing this study would be a disservice to our residents whose lives and livelihoods are affected by the ultimate decision.

Finally, we have requested that the Air Force bring actual F-35s to the base for demonstrations so we don’t need to rely on simulations or computer models to judge the F-35’s noise impact.

These are just a few of the many actions and initiatives we are undertaking.

We want the best for Luke Air Force Base, and a strong future for it. And we want to work together with the Air Force, not just co-exist, and address many issues of shared concern. This debate will be about the best options for El Mirage and the Air Force. A key to this is ensuring quality economic development in El Mirage, unencumbered by external constraints and obstacles.

We want a community that residents and families are proud to call home—where they can live, work, learn, worship, play, and pursue their dreams. And a place that offers great jobs in a strong, growing, and prosperous economy.

Achieving these goals, we realize, may require decisive actions in many different forms and forums.

It may include state and federal legislation, concessions from other cities, or compromises by El Mirage. And it may include land swaps or compensation for homeowners if property values are harmed by increased noise levels. There is a precedent for this in another community next to an Air Force base. You will hear more about possible solutions from Mr. Chesney later.

There are many goods ideas you can contribute as we embark on this process that will hopefully ensure a bright future for both El Mirage and Luke Air Force Base.

Again, I want to encourage all of you to get involved and to make sure your voice is heard. It’s critical that you do. Because what you do matters.

Thank you for your attention and attendance today.