You'll see a lot of articles with the same complaints as soon as the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) gets going good. Many US bases will be closed too and our politicians will make the same claims.
The one common denominator of closed bases in the US is encroachment on 4 sides. Here in Wa state Ft. Lewis/Mchord has 3, with people not paying attention. Mr. Gary Brackett & some friends have finally been able to drive home the very real threat of closure. The (D) Governor, Gary No-see-'em Locke finally signed a bill protecting them from such encroachment, we'll see if it goes far enough to protect our bases.
In Pierce County, about 40% of our economy is military related - either in direct work or support services. The biggest nincompoop idea is a push (by developers both D & R) to actually cut a road THROUGH the base so as to make a shortcut for a few communters.
Yes, that ought to go over well. In the meantime politicians cover their eyes and pretend... Just as they did while Boeing - born in Washington - MOVED to CHICAGO. Shouldn't their be a basic intellignece test that must be passed by public officials? Or Economics 101?