To the editor:
In the March 23 Lincoln Squirrel report on the Lincoln candidates’ forum held on March 15 (see video of entire forum here), a quote was attributed to me. Unfortunately, the quote was limited to a statement that implied the opposite of the thrust of the question I was asking.
The quote in the Squirrel was accurate as far as it went: “Mattes, who was a key local official in the 2005 BRAC (base realignment and closure) process, said that as a result of negotiations at that time, Lincoln would be essentially indemnified from any changes that would have impact on us regarding housing.”
That mitigation—an agreement to offset the cost of 730+ new households in Lincoln—was relevant only for the potential outcomes of 2005 and no longer applies.
I went on to express concern that in the recent climate, where there would be no BRAC, there is the potential to physically separate the housing on the base from the office buildings and business operations. The base, as an economic engine for the region, would be saved while the housing and schools could be off-loaded from military responsibility and become the responsibility of Lincoln. Every Democratic gubernatorial candidate, including the attorney general and the state treasurer, affirmed this concern at a recent Lincoln forum. All urged Lincoln to prepare for this potential
After stating the above, I asked, “Have we negotiated and received any such mitigation now, before offering unqualified support?”
The danger of not receiving pledges for mitigation before lending support is that we may have given away all leverage and we may not be insulated from the financial impacts of adding 730+ households to our town.
Sincerely,
Sara Mattes
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