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August 24, 2005 03:53 PM
BRAC votes to spare Naval Support Activity

"Louisiana is still in the game," Gov. Kathleen Blanco said late today. "This is a significant victory for us. The BRAC commission voted unanimously for New Orleans Federal City concept."

Blanco said the commission saw Louisiana "as the only state with a plan to position itself as a leader in consolidating its military and federal offices ... ."

Local officials have promised millions in additional savings compared with the Defense Department’s original proposal to close the NSA.

“We have preserved thousands of jobs for the New Orleans area, but we have also saved the federal government money because our proposal is better than their original proposal,” said Sen. Mary Landrieu. “Federal taxpayers are going to benefit, the people of New Orleans and the region will benefit and it’s going to be a huge economic boost.”

Landrieu, Blanco, Mayor Ray Nagin, City Councilwoman Jacquelyn Clarkson and others held a morning press conference to applaud the panel’s decision. Officials have been lobbying to save the base for more than a year by asking the government to consolidate several agencies into one campus. The state has offered to finance the $166 million project. It could pay as much as $100 million of the construction cost and lease space to the government for a reduced rate.

Last month at a public hearing in New Orleans, Blanco told three members of the commission that the state could come up with the funding within two years if they decided to spare the base. The commission added an amendment giving Louisiana until Sept. 30, 2008 to come up with the money to build the project. If the state doesn’t come up with the funding, the base would then be closed.

“Let’s not underestimate the significance of the state’s contribution to this effort,” Landrieu said. “Yes, we at the federal level did our best to put this presentation before the commissioners in a way that they could grasp it and understand it, but the governor’s commitment to put the state’s money up and these legislators to make federal city a reality is what is going to basically seal this deal.”

The Federal City plan calls or the construction of a government complex on the Algiers campus of the NSA that would bring together: the national headquarters for the marine reserves, the offices of the Naval Reserve Force Commander, the 377th Army Theater Support Command currently stationed at the Lakefront, and the 8th Coast Guard District headquarters downtown. It could also house homeland defense operations should the city be chosen for a regional office. The campus would allow several agencies to share support expenses and other administrative costs to further save money.

The NSA houses headquarters for the Army and Marines reserves and employs more than 4,000 on campuses on both sides of the Mississippi River. It has an annual payroll around $142 million.

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"We have some hard work ahead of us to meet the commission's requirements," Blanco said. "But, with a great team already in place, I know we can execute a rapid and smooth development of Federal City."