Spokane County Comments of FEIS
May 1, 2013
Letter of Opposition from United States Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers
May 1, 2013
Resolution from the Spokane City Council Opposing STEP
March 30, 2012
Letter of Opposition from Spokane Mayor David Condon
February 27, 2012
Letter of Opposition from United States Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers
February 8, 2012
Greater Spokane Inc. Continues to Support Fairchild AFB
January 2012
In a letter to members, GSI once again sets the record straight regarding their support of Fairchild Air Force Base while a casino is proposed for construction mere miles from the base.
Greater Spokane Inc. goes on to assure its members that they are fully committed to jobs and business investment.
You can download a PDF of the letter by clicking here or you can read it below.
GSI Member,
We feel compelled to set the record straight regarding our support of Fairchild AFB (FAFB) while a casino/resort is proposed for construction on property adjacent to the base. Supporters of the casino/resort have described Greater Spokane Incorporated (GSI) as disingenuous given our role in economic development, and misinformed as we discuss encroachment as a threat to the base.
The first rule in economic development is to support the companies and organizations that are already in your region providing good family-wage jobs while fostering investment in the area. In 1940, the Spokane Chamber of Commerce (now GSI) and City and County invested $10,000 to convince the War Department to establish a military air depot in Spokane. Then, the Chamber raised more money to purchase 1400 acres on the West Plains for the base that became Fairchild APB.
The return on that investment is dramatic: More than 5,000 military and civilian jobs, a population of 10,000 on the base, 18,000 military retirees and $500 million in annual, direct economic impact. Add to this more than $400 million over the past 20 years in construction projects to modernize airfield and support facilities. Many local construction firms have been prime or sub-contractors on those projects, creating additional jobs. We can expect up to $200 million in additional construction when the new KC-46A tanker comes to F AFB.
Support for this base and its jobs, economic impact and national security mission is the sole purpose of Forward Fairchild being established by GSI in 2003. Forward Fairchild is a – committee of GSI that advocates, protects and defends Fairchild-AFB. In 2003, we worked to defend the base during the 2004 Base Closure & Alignment Commission (BRAC). GSI and civic leaders have met with U.S. Air Force officials at the Pentagon and Air Mobility and Air Education Training Commands each of the past 14 years to support FAFB. The first thing they tell us in every meeting is to protect our base from encroachment. We have faced encroachment threats before and have worked tirelessly with local and state officials to purchase lands, expand or limit zoning capacities, and remove potential security threats to the base.
The proposed casino/resort is the latest threat to the base due to its proposed location, size and height. The proposal is for a large, densely populated complex that is in the flight path for an estimated 800 training flights per month, most of which are at 500 to 700 feet in steep climb-out and full power above the site of the proposed hotel. Since Spokane International Airport is east and south of F AFB, flights only have clearance north and west. While the FAA has determined that there is no “flight hazard”, it is not the final word on encroachment and BRAC – the Department of Defense is.
Spokane is in competition for these good family-wage military jobs, just like we are with every private sector company. The United States Air Force is in a strategic siting process to determine which bases will host the new tankers, and it’s a competition with five other bases. The Defense Department is considering another round of base closures and F AFB will be competing with every other USAF base to stay open and operational. We cannot afford to risk losing FAFB in our community.
GSI’s Board of Trustees is fully committed to growing jobs and business investment. That commitment should apply to the region’s largest employer – Fairchild Air Force Base.
Sincerely,
Tom Fritz
Chairman, GSI
Greg Bever
Chair, Forward Fairchild
Letter of Opposition from City of Cheney Mayor Tom Trulove
September 30, 2011
Letter of Opposition from Washington State Senator Curtis King (14th Legislative District)
September 15, 2011
Letter of Opposition from Washington State Senator Michael Baumgartner (6th Legislative District)
August 19, 2011
Letter of Opposition from Washington State Representative Charlie Ross (14th Legislative District)
August 12, 2011
Greater Spokane, Inc. Supports Fairchild and Opposes STEP
August 11, 2011
The following message, expressing clear opposition to the Spokane Tribe Economic Proposal (STEP), was sent to GSI members in a BIZStreet e-news update on Thursday, August 11, 2011:
GSI Supports Fairchild
The Board of Trustees of Greater Spokane Incorporated recently voted to support and protect Fairchild Air Force Base from possible encroachment issues.
Recently, the Spokane Tribe of Indians proposed a casino and hotel project on the West Plains, which is directly in the flight path of Fairchild aircraft. The proposed 145-acre development presents an encroachment issue to Fairchild Air Force Base. There are also concerns about lighting and potential noise complaints that could affect current flight operations.
Encroachment issues can result in possible reductions in operations or base closure. Losing the region’s largest single-site employer is too great of a risk. In 2003, the Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce (now Greater Spokane Incorporated) established Forward Fairchild in support of the base during the Department of Defense’s latest round of base closures. Forward Fairchild’s mission is to defend and advocate for the base. GSI will continue to support Fairchild.
Letter of Opposition from Washington State Senator Michael Padden (4th Legislative District)
August 8, 2011
Letter of Opposition from Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed; Washington State Auditor Brian Sonntag; Former Washington State Governor Mike Lowry; and, Former Washington Secretary of State Ralph Munro
August 1, 2011
Letter of Opposition from Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn
August 1, 2011
Letter of Opposition from Washington State Representative Roger Goodman (45th Legislative District)
July 11, 2011
Letter of Opposition from Washington State Senator Lisa Brown (3rd Legislative District)
July 1, 2011
Letter of Opposition from Washington State Auditor Brian Sonntag
June 27, 2011
Letter of Opposition from Pend Oreille County Commissioners Diane Wear, Laura Merrill, and John Hankey
June 27, 2011
Letter of Opposition from Washington State Senator Mark Schoesler (9th Legislative District); Washington State Senator Brian Hatfield (19th Legislative District); Washington State Representative Matt Shea (4th Legislative District); and, Washington State Representative Marko Liias (21st Legislative District).
May 24, 2011
