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w«R w ix s_iuat:u.Sen. Juhn Tower, R-Tcx., assured Laredo residents last fall that the base was to be a per-manent installation. Civic lead-8 ers here point out that Tower’s s statement cumc during'the po-^ liticul campaign.c' One reason for concern overclosure is that Laredo has had an unemployment rate of n.2 ^ per cent, about double the na-d tional average.s» Baker, a leader in a group ofin businessmen who are seeking to fill Lhe economic gap, de-‘c scribed the action by the Punta-gon as “a kick in the teeth.” r♦ Defense Secretary’ Elliot T.a Richardson said there were’ four reasons for closing the° base. They were serious facil-c’ ilics deficiencies, a shortage ofe family housing, a major urban; encroachment that threatens ’ flight operations und the pro-* ximity of the Mexican border,J1 which imposes geographical1; limitations on flight operations.Rep. Abraham Kazen of La-ie redo Immediately issued apoinL-by-point rebuttal of Rich-ardson’s reasons, calling the decision '‘unjustified.”As Lhe shock began to wear off, a committee was formed U determine what can be done to utilize the base, which will be ^ sold eventually. Gov. DolphBriscoe sent a task force Wednesday from the Texas Industrial Commission to help the a committee in locating in-dustries that might want to use the sprawling 2,095-acre base, which has 154 military aircraft.“It’s not a death blow for Laredo. We will have fo work in harmony to develop a plan to utilize the property at the base,” said Max Mandcl of the Laredo Notional Bank.Mandel's bank had a branch at the air base with about $1 million in total deposits. The■ ■ i .. i r . ..___ t ’i_j
Newspaper Details
Victoria Advocate
Victoria, Texas, US
Sun, Apr 22, 1973
Page 11
Full Page
Clipped by
Texas A.
TX, USA 15 Dec 2023
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