Puerto Rico started going downhill after they kicked the US Navy out of Vieques. Coincidence? I think not.
It couldn’t have helped.
One woman I knew complained that some states received more federal dollars than others. She just had numbers. I told her that she had to look deeper. I gave her an example with which I was familiar.
Congress and the military services were conducting base realignment and closure (BRAC) meetings. Huntsville AL lobbied vigorously to receive added missions, putting their best foot forward, explaining that the cost of living was low, schools good, the community welcoming, etc. Having someone meet delegates at the airport doesn’t hurt, nor did having scheduled presentations by the Mayor, General Officers, and a member of the US Congress. St. Louis, MO, by contrast adopted the attitude “whatever.” Was it “unfair” for mission work to leave St. Louis and go to Huntsville? I don’t think so.