The Spokane Record

The Washington state Office of Financial Managment has some useful information regarding the economic impacts of Fairchild Air Force Base in Airway Hights, Washington (a few miles west of Spokane).  Go here.

The cutbacks announced over the last few days concerning defense spending alerts us to the need to have a plan for Fairchild Air Force Base.  It seems likely that Fairchild will be cut.  One has no basis for saying that, I am sure, but one must look to the possible future and what the new future in the United States foretells.  Does the Department of Defense really need Fairchild Air Force Base?

A prudent person would say no and that he hopes the base is not closed.  But, suppose it might be closed?  Would it not be wise, would it not be prudent to have some idea of what the community could do with the resource should it become available.

Surely it would.  And even if there is no danger of closure or the danger passes, a serious discussion about Fairchild would be a useful and beneficial process.

So, let’s get started.  One idea is to contemplate a the formation of a port district for Fairchild and perhaps the Spokane International Airport.