“Hey, I have no problem with rehabbing military bases.
I had a problem with Rehabbing a military base with taxpayers dollars meant to rebuild infrastructure, and spending it on a fancy visitor center manned with Rangers at at time when we are going broke.
Or, using the same money to pay for teacher union and town employee health benefits when it is supposed to be going to fixing crumbling infrastructure.
That was what got me going...”
I honestly am not sure what you are driving at.
If taxpayer money was spent to help turn an old unused base into an industrial area with buildings that might be renovated, leased or purchased by investors looking to move industry in there, I would have less of a problem.
Spending money turning it into a recreational area with zero benefit is something else.
I should say, I support that kind of thing (turning an old base into an industrial area for business use) because they have done it to another old Army base near me, and I thought that was a fine thing. Businesses have moved in, etc.
Better than just having the old decaying barracks with peeling paint sitting there, IMO.
But a bike trail or a park? I love bike trails and parks, but if I am broke or behind on my bills, I am not going to build a swimming pool for my family.
As a town, city, state, or nation, I don’t think we should either.