National Security & Defense

unhappycamper

(60,364 posts) Mon Jun 30, 2014, 09:22 AM Jun 2014

Economic fallout from Fort Carson troop cuts could be 'devastating' - if the worst plays out

http://gazette.com/economic-fallout-from-fort-carson-troop-cuts-could-be-devastating-if-the-worst-plays-out/article/1522098

Economic fallout from Fort Carson troop cuts could be 'devastating' - if the worst plays out
By Rich Laden Published: June 26, 2014

Fewer home sales and home construction. Lower housing prices. Declining apartment rents. More than 21,000 jobs lost. A nearly $1 billion reduction in wages, which would have a ripple effect of lost sales at stores, restaurants and other businesses. And a decline in tax revenue.

The fallout from a worst-case scenario of up to 16,000 military and civilian positions eliminated at Fort Carson could have a punishing effect on the economy in El Paso, Pueblo and Fremont counties, according to community and business leaders as they reacted to potential troop reductions outlined in Pentagon documents released Thursday.

"Clearly, that kind of reduction would have a devastating effect on our community," Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach said.

Yet, community and business leaders and an economist cautioned against pushing the panic button. The reductions laid out by the Pentagon might never happen, they said. While smaller Fort Carson reductions also could have an impact, they'd be less painful than the worst-case scenario.

6 replies

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Economic fallout from Fort Carson troop cuts could be 'devastating' - if the worst plays out (Original Post) unhappycamper Jun 2014 OP

Not to be nasty yeoman6987 Jun 2014 #1

Its a problem everywhere. HooptieWagon Jun 2014 #2

Very good point on redevelopment... making something useful out of it. kysrsoze Jun 2014 #4

They have to clean it up first. HooptieWagon Jun 2014 #6

This is bullshit. They can retrain and shift troops to domestic infrastructure projects... kysrsoze Jun 2014 #3

Colorado Springs is insanely overdependent on the Fed gov and their contractors. TwilightGardener Jun 2014 #5

yeoman6987

(14,449 posts)

1. Not to be nasty

Reply to unhappycamper (Original post)

Mon Jun 30, 2014, 09:55 AM

Jun 2014

but I remember Charleston South Carolina said it would be put out of existence when the federal government closed the Naval Base in Charleston.....city still here 20 years later. Not saying that I believe FT Carlson should lose personnel or close, but to say it will be devastating might be a bit overkill.

HooptieWagon

(17,064 posts)

2. Its a problem everywhere.

Reply to unhappycamper (Original post)

Mon Jun 30, 2014, 09:56 AM

Jun 2014

Every so often, word gets out that MacDill AFB (Home to CentCom and a tanker fleet ) is on the chopping block. Local congress critters fight to save it (it is important to local economy ), and it gets spared for another decade. But some of these bases need closing, domestic and foreign. At least in the case of MacDill, if the govt cleaned it up were they to leave, the site is a prime location for redevelopment. I don't know about other bases.

kysrsoze

(6,019 posts)

4. Very good point on redevelopment... making something useful out of it.

Reply to HooptieWagon (Reply #2)

Mon Jun 30, 2014, 10:23 AM

Jun 2014

HooptieWagon

(17,064 posts)

6. They have to clean it up first.

Reply to kysrsoze (Reply #4)

Mon Jun 30, 2014, 02:52 PM

Jun 2014

Rumors are soil at MacDill is contaminated. USAF is tight-lipped about it. I suspect one reason they haven't closed it is the cost of cleaning up. Location is ideal for redevelopment... its on southern tip of a peninsula that divides Tampa Bay. Great location for recreation (beaches, parks, marina), medium density residential, and light commercial.

kysrsoze

(6,019 posts)

3. This is bullshit. They can retrain and shift troops to domestic infrastructure projects...

Reply to unhappycamper (Original post)

Mon Jun 30, 2014, 10:20 AM

Jun 2014

as civilians in good, new jobs. It's a simple fix, and the change would rightly focus on CONstruction, rather than DEsctruction. Those who would argue against such a plan really don't give a shit about the country or the economy.

TwilightGardener

(46,416 posts)

5. Colorado Springs is insanely overdependent on the Fed gov and their contractors.

Reply to unhappycamper (Original post)

Mon Jun 30, 2014, 12:37 PM

Jun 2014

It's funny that they love Uncle Sugar so much, since it's so teabaggy. Just a different type of welfare queen, like Cliven Bundy and all the farmers who get subsidies.

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