Pentagon hears community concerns
U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is pleased to announce that the West Gate of Fort Huachuca will remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week until Sept. 30th, 2007. At the request of the congresswoman and the leaders at the Fort, the Department of the Army has agreed to reverse its decision to immediately close the gate.
“Since being elected to Congress, no other community issue has generated more concern from my constituents as the proposed closing of the West Gate at Ft. Huachuca,” Giffords said. “It has prompted numerous residents from Sonoita, Elgin and Canelo to write, call and email my office. Many spoke to me in person at my recent Congress on Your Corner event. At a town hall meeting in Canelo last week, General Fast and I heard powerful testimonials about the impact of closing the West Gate. We heard them loud and clear.”
In direct appeals to senior Army officials at the Pentagon, including the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations and Environment, Keith Eastin, Giffords argued against a “one size fits all” approach to gate closures. She maintained that such an approach hurts rural communities because busier installations near large cities could have all their gates remain open while more remote bases like Fort Huachuca could be drastically reduced.
Giffords also told Eastin of the concerns raised by many at the town hall about how closing the West Gate could mean life and death in medical emergencies, and how it could create a homeland security risk because of the trafficking of drugs and people so close to the Mexico border. Eastin agreed that these concerns were extremely valid.
After speaking with the congresswoman, Eastin agreed to provide the funding necessary to extend service at the West Gate through the end of the fiscal year. At the same time, he said the Army will conduct an Army-wide study to determine the effect of the gate closure policy on rural installations. The Army has said it will cost $300,000 a year to operate the gate around the clock, seven days a week.
“The citizens who live on the West side of Fort Huachuca are very relieved because this decision will provide for their continued health and safety,” said Ross Romeo, a former Army colonel who lives in Elgin and has worked to keep the gate open. “On behalf of our community, I want to express our gratitude to Congresswoman Giffords for resolving this issue so quickly. After a long journey home from Iraq, she traveled to our community to listen to the citizens. She heard our concerns, then she acted on our behalf.”
Army leaders at Fort Huachuca are working quickly, in light of the Pentagon's decision to keep the gate open, to modify the gate contract. They will soon be announcing the exact date when the 24-7 operations will resume at the West Gate. In the meantime, the gate will remain open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 pm. Saturday and Sunday. Emergency services will remain available by contacting 911.
The Department of the Army has also announced that a further study will soon begin to determine the future of the West Gate operations beyond September 30, 2007. Giffords will be submitting testimonials, letters from elected officials and information regarding the communities that surround Fort Huachuca in an effort to keep the gate open permanently.
“My job is to fight for Southern Arizonans and their interests in Washington,” Giffords said. “I am pleased that this important matter has been resolved for now.”