Can Military and Civilian Communities in San Diego Work Together?
Is there a win-win scenario for the military and the San Diego civilian community when it comes to airport expansion? The issue of building a new airport has raised the question of whether San Diego would be better off with fewer military bases. But the Navy and the Marines are dead set against giving up any base land for commercial aviation. KPBS presents this town hall forum in partnership with Envision San Diego and the University of San Diego. It was recorded at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego.
Panelists:
- Abe Shragge has a PhD in history from the University of California at San Diego.
- Virginia Lewis has been teaching political science in the College of Arts and Sciences here at USD for 26 years.
- Major General Michael Lehnert is the commanding general for the newly formed regional command called Marine Corps Installations West.
- Retired Navy Captain Wade Sanders is a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy. That was during the Clinton Administration.
Additional Guests:
- Steve Peace is a former State senator who spearheaded the creation of the Airport Authority by breaking up the Port and the airport.
- Paul Nieto is vice chairman of the board of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.
- Admiral Bruce Boland is best known as San Diego's former Navy Mayor because of his role as Commander of all Southern California Navy Bases.
- Alan Gin is an associate professor of economics at the University of San Diego.
- Michael Stepner is the president of Stepner Design Group.
- Eric Germain is the president of the Tierra Santa Community Council.
- Sharon Thurston is the public affairs director for the San Diego Regional Airport Citizens Coalition.
