It is amazing how many people you will find in so-called military towns who hate the military and the military members, including local governments. I have seen firsthand when the Base Commanders and leadership had to do things to remind the local communities as to just how must the base actually contributes to their economy. I was at a base where all Active Duty personnel were ordered onto the base (including all married and unmarried) and the gates closed. One base marked every denomination of currency on the base, including the bills in the wallets of all personnel, to show the locals people the impact of the base. I also saw one other thing that made the local constabulary change hands.
More than one base commander, to get his point across to the local community, elected to pay the troops in $2 bills. They got the point.
I was living in a military town during Desert Storm and it basically dried up. And at that point all the people that thought the military needed to go somewhere else we’re crying the blues because sales were way down. I think it’s sort of brought them around to The Facts-of-Life regarding the monetary influence that a military base or two brings to a local area.