To the Editor:
We are writing in support of Peter Braun’s reelection as a Lincoln selectman. We, the selectmen of Bedford, Concord and Lexington, serve with Peter on the Hanscom Area Towns Committee (HATS).
HATS is the four towns’ alliance that coordinates our policies and activities regarding Hanscom Air Force Base and Hanscom Field. This includes maintaining and growing effective relationships with the U.S. Air Force, the National Park Service, the governor’s office, Mass Development, our U.S. and state senators and Representatives, Massport, Lincoln Labs, business entities and non-profit organizations.
The four HATS towns have shared interests in maintaining Hanscom’s contribution of billions of dollars to the economy of the region and the Commonwealth, as well as its important contribution of electronic systems to our national defense.
The towns also share a strong interest in maintaining the base as a federal enclave. When the base was targeted for closure in 2005, a study concluded that discontinuation of the base’s federal enclave status would cause Lincoln to incur a substantial and likely unaffordable increase in its net operating budget and real estate taxes. Lincoln would have to bear the costs of providing schools, public safety, road maintenance and other services to the residents of the 700+ base housing, all of which are located in Lincoln, without receiving sufficient tax revenue.
A base closure could also cause the other three HATS towns to experience substantial negative land-use effects without local control. The four towns also share an interest in preventing Hanscom from becoming the site of commercial or cargo flights, as well as in reasonable control of noise from existing flight activities.
In his term as selectman, Peter Braun has been an articulate spokesman for HATS. He is the primary link to our state and federal legislative delegation on Hanscom-related matters, including the governor’s vital Military Assets Task Force that focuses on preserving the Base. We hope that Lincoln’s voters will support Peter’s reelection and his continued valuable contribution to the long-term interests of Lincoln and the other three HATS towns.
Sincerely,
Mike Rosenberg, Chair, Bedford Selectman
Elise Woodward, Concord Selectman
Deb Mauger, Lexington Selectman
Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic. They may be edited for length, grammar/punctuation, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor.
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