Last March the Kerry's CA campaign was persuaded to call for opening

[question everything]

the military housing at the abandoned Marnie base at El Toro, see http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=440267

Many - Republicans and Democrats - responded that the marines themselves were not interested.

Today they confirmed it



Pendleton nixes idea of El Toro housing

Orange County base closed in 1999; long commute cited

By Rick Rogers
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

May 18, 2004

CAMP PENDLETON – An Orange County congressman and a small private group want Marine families unable to get housing at Camp Pendleton to live instead at the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro.

They argue that the families of lower-ranking Marines are hard-pressed to make ends meet living off-base because of a waiting list for military housing, and that they could use the dwellings at El Toro, which was closed in 1999 after being declared surplus.

But housing officials here say no thanks, citing a long commute and substandard housing at El Toro and ongoing housing construction at Camp Pendleton.... A total of 550 housing units are either being renovated or built for enlisted families, she said, and 528 of those homes will be available beginning in November.

Even so, a waiting list is likely.

"I think there will always be a waiting list no matter how many houses we have, because families choose to wait for certain areas or the right house by family size or rank,"

(snip)


Rick Rogers: [phone]; [e-mail]


Find this article at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20040518-9999-1m18eltoro.html