The Pilot is reporting that:
Thomas Gimball, principal deputy inspector general of the U.S. Dept. of Defense, will meet with Sen. John Warner, Sen. George Allen, Rep. Thelma Drake and Gov. Tim Kaine at 2 p.m. today to explain his office’s assessment of Virginia Beach’s efforts to control encroachment around NAS Oceana.
I assume this is to explain why the plan presented by Virginia Beach to save Oceana is deficient. Anonymous sources are saying that the plan will be rejected.
Oceana is the Navy’s East Coast “master jet base” and Virginia Beach’s largest employer, accounting for about 12,000 jobs. City and state officials have said saving the base is vital to protecting the area’s economy; however, jet noise and other hazards have made Oceana increasingly controversial with some residents.
While it may take a while to relocate the jets, no doubt the ultimate loss of these jobs, in addition to those being lost at the Ford plant, will have a tremendous effect of our economy.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 