NC official promoting opposition to Navy field

They are NOT closing Oceana immediately when the jets are gone, as they do many thing out there people don't know about. They simply move them to the Marine base in Beaufort, SC and it's a closed case. And an OLF is NOT the answer. We have the F35 (JSF) coming out in a few years and it makes the FA-18 SH sound like a prop plane, and it will NOT be stationed at Oceana. BRAC wants Oceana shut down and eventually it will be. The city of Virgina needs to be courting manufacturing firms to move in, and they should be doing this now.

I beleive that there are some important economic factors involved that may be being overlooked in VB. I agree that the Navy and VB should have bought all the land aroung fentress when it was land no one wanted but the farmers. Has anyone done the math as to what will happen if they close Oceana?? How many homes will go on the market at one time??? how many jobs will go?? Remember if they move the jets the carriers will not be far behind! Jacksonville Fla. is begging for carriers. There is probaly no place on the east coast that is suitable for an OLF. Between the bird lovers, and enviromentalist. I am in favor of closing Oceana and making it Farmland again we need more open space. Remember the Govt. dosen't give land away anymore it has to be sold so all the TAXPAYERS of the US get the benefits of the sale as the money goes back to CONGRESS to BLOW! Has VB figured what the TAX Rate will be without OCEANA, if so th

I'll never concede. I'm more than 3 miles from the base. I've contacted my representatives and told them their support of the Superhornets to Oceana would lose them my vote. I have too much invested in this city to leave. I empathize with your past. But I stand up to the name callers and the rah rah "I heart jet noise" crowd, they're entitled to their voice too. Let's move into the 21st century; a new OLF is not the answer even though the superhornets turned Princess Anne Plaza into >75db noise zone sometimes 14 hours a day. I support the folks in NC and Western Tidewater and their opposition to a new OLF. They have a choice, I didn't. That's my stance and I'm sticking to it.

To alfarkas, I too was in your position. I had a home within 3 miles of Oceana. The noise levels were horrific, this among other things eventually led to my divorce and a sale of my home. Painful as it was, you cannot imagine the joy and peace of mind that I had once I moved away from Virginia Beach. If you really want to solve this problem, move and sell your home to someone who loves the "sound of freedom." In my previous post I blamed local city officials and the navy for the current dismal state of affairs. There is one more group to blame: Your federal representatives. Congresswoman Drake fought to bring more fighters to Oceana and Senator Warner worked to close Cecil Field to consolidate fighter jets at Oceana. You might consider your support to them and the party that they represent during the upcoming elections. But don't be surprised to see them returned to office. Lastly, if you live next to a

Here is the reply you receive. It is for NC residents to contact the govenor. You have to insert your address as well. I am told it is verified by staff. I also encourage VA residents who support he OLF to write in as it will provide a clear picture of of waht NIMBYism really is and how this action victimizes NC's residents.

"Thank you for contacting the office of Governor. We appreciate hearing from you. Your e-mail will be directed to the appropriate individual for a response."

Just write http://www.governor.state.nc.us/email.asp?to=1

To the Navy that they can't find a better way to train their pilots. why not? Because they say so? This is 2008 not 1958. I bought my house in 1987 with noise zone of <65db (no noise disclosure needed). With the arrival of the Superhornets I'm assaulted every day in my >75 db noise zone (disclosure now needed at sale or re-finance). Who encroached on who? As a 20+ year Navy veteran it's now my turn to speak out. It isn't VB love it or leave it. I love it and contend that this city and area boomed despite the jets, not because of them. Same tired arguements by the same tired people who just resort to name calling when they can't answer "why does the Navy continue to train over populated areas?" NC and western Tidewater, you have a choice, I didn't.

More of the same old NIMBY. Please. . . You are right the NIMBYs live in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. As a tax payer, I have already paid for Oceana and Fentress. Why should I have to pay again for a new outlying field? Virginia residents are selfish, they want the tax dollars that Oceana brings in, but they want to export the noise to North Carolina. The people of North Carolina are right to fight this, and I hope that they win. The problem was created in Virgina Beach and Chesapeake when the local governments failed to manage development properly and the Navy was to cheap to buy up the adjacent land when they had the chance. I love the sound of freedom, we need to keep it in Virginia where it belongs.

Having a MJB located in the most densely populated cities in Hampton Roads is plain stupid. This isn't even a question of "oh, you knew about the jet noise. ." That argument is pointless, as this isn't the 1940's anymore, the jets are louder and more powerful, and Virginia Beach's population exploded. Now a days the pilots cannot do their proper training because of the population issue. The Navy should have bought up everything in a 5 mile radius in the 1970's and they didn't. Case closed, so it's time to move the jets.

I am "local" to Tidewater. I probably pay more taxes in Virginia than you. I guess the imaginary line 4 miles away now dictates what I can read and write? Nah, I think it is just you. Now run along, the adults have issues to discuss.

Glad to see you live in NC. Based on this and several other posts of yours I really didn't think you lived in Tidewater. No local "rags" you can read??

More of the same old NIMBY. Please. I understand that people don't like jet noise. I understand people moved away from the area to get away from jet noise. I'm sympathetic even. However, I am more concerned about where the pilots will be able to train. They need reliable OLF's to practice and without them there is no training. Sometimes it's having to give a little to get a lot. I for one moved away from the noise out in Virginia Beach because I didn't like it. However, if it came down to having to listen to that noise or the pilots get no training, I'd take the noise any day of the week. We all have to do our part, even if sometimes we don't like it.

"live close to Oceana and while I admit it took just a bit to get used it when I first moved in, I miss, truly, the "sound of freedom" when it's gone."

It will still be there for you regardless of if any OLF is ever built. Your over flights will not decrease. You should be very happy. I applaud your sentiment for the jets to remain over your home. I will do everything in my power to assist you in keeping your wonderful noise.

I also applaud Camden and Currituck Counties for their resistance to such an idiotic plan. Why would the Navy choose a site they have already said was a bad choice? Why would you put a base on the border of some of the fastest growing counties in the state? Did the Navy sit around trying to drum up the stupidest possible scenario and ran with it? It is good we have leaders who defend us from such tyrany here in North Carolina. On that note, let's help Gov. Easly end his political career for his part in this mess.

In conclusion, ask yourselves; why would we get flak from the VA side of the line to accept the OLF if it was so wonderful? Isn't it true they want to bully us w/ their false arguments of fear and patriotism to reap benefits at our expense

To say anyone who bought near Fentress/Oceana didn't properly do their homework is a gross oversimplification of the topic. What about the people who bought before some idiot (Drake) got all those squadrons of FA-18s at Oceana? This is like someone putting a garbage dump a half-mile from your home AFTER you bought your house. The jet noise complaints went through the roof when all they dumped all the FA-18s at Oceana. That's why the homeowners won that lawsuit, and I agree they should have. It's one thing to accept living at 65db sound levels, and totally another to try to live at 75db and above. The Navy likes to lie and strong-arm citizens, and it's nice see those in NC are not dumb enough to take it. Besides BRAC will get Oceans jets gone soon, as the JSF will soon be out and it will not be stationed at Oceana.

I beg to differ with davetul. There are also the people who researched potential homes, found them in areas that were not in the "fly zone", and now the Navy has expanded that zone dramatically to include their homes. When I purchased my home in the mid-90's I was not in the fly zone of Fentress airfield. Now jets are flying directly above my house almost daily. Am I to be viewed as an unpatriotic citizen? I'm a 20 year retired Navy vet and I sure don't consider myself to be unpatriotic. And I hear all of you that are spouting the "I Love Jet Noise" rhetoric. How many of you that intentionally searched out and found a nice home in a quiet area and now have had that peace and quiet shattered are still claiming your love of the "Sound of Freedom"?

I post whenever there is a story about the OLF. I served the Navy for over 10 years, 5 of that was on an aircraft carrier where my birhting was two decks under the arresting gear and 1 deck up from the jet shop...talk about noise. When I lived in Va Bch I made a choice not to live in a flight path or near Oceana/Fentress. When my family wanted to move we decided to move even further from the noise and the hustle and bustle so we moved to NC. We have enjoyed the peace and quiet for over two years now. We have a great neighborhood, free of sirens, car stereos, and most importantly jet noise. It's easy for all of you to call us unpatriotic but it's also throwing stones. There was a time when Oceana used to fly day and night until the fine citizens of Va Bch decided they didn't want to hear the sound of freedom past 10 at night. The new OLF will be specifically for night ops. How many of you would want to hear that kind of noise all night. I would bet not many....

There's the people who at one time lived near Oceana / Fentress and have since moved away because they didn't like the noise (like me). These people are supposedly unpatriotic because they don't want the noise to follow them after they researched and chose a quiet place free of noise?

And there's the people who live near Fentress / Oceana, who want the noise to go somewhere else. Bundled into this group are people who failed to adequately research their choice of location, and instead of moving, choose to demand the Navy inhibit it's training, and spend billions of taxpayer dollars to train somewhere else.

You are wise to fight on North Carolina! The DOD is simply looking for a “band-aid,” as BRAC said. . .”The future of aviation is NOT Oceana. . .” I don’t know why these idiots (NAVY brass) don’t do the intelligent thing which is to move Oceana’s jets to the Marine base in Beaufort SC. They have more than enough infrastructure, and were receptive before to taking them. With a MJB comes a poorer quality of life, and those in Virginia Beach have to live it everyday. You people in North Carolina need to preserve your un-disturbed airspace.

When the government forces citizens off their land, it's not the sound of freedom It's the sound of tyranny. I, for one intend to fight that tyranny.

By your logic the military should be able to move to/train anywhere they so desire. I though this was America where one could voice their opposition. The NC official has every right to protest a new field. That area of NC is pastoral. I would think they could value their peace and quiet AND still be patriotic citizens. Keep the jets here - we as beach residents knew what we were getting into when we bought hones in 23456.

Can't have it both ways folks! Want the protection from highly trained military folks, they gotta be able to TRAIN! I live close to Oceana and while I admit it took just a bit to get used it when I first moved in, I miss, truly, the "sound of freedom" when it's gone. Let's call a halt to all of this ridiculous whining! Phil Graham was right, too many whiners who need to direct that energy to a worthwhile cause. Have a good day Tidewater.