El Mirage fires back in Luke debate

El Mirage officials defended their position on Luke Air Force Base this weekend, saying that months of progress have been set back by recent criticism that the city has not fully embraced a new mission for the Glendale facility in order to get millions of dollars from the federal government.

El Mirage spokeswoman Stacy Pearson said comments last week by Steve Yamamori, executive director and CEO of Fighter Country Partnership, were both "unprofessional" and "misleading."

Speaking last week at the Sun City Home Owners Association annual meeting at Fairway Recreation Center, Yamamori said that El Mirage has been "mismanaged for 60 years" and has no "sustainable sources of income." Holding out its support for a new mission for Luke "is an attempt, I believe, for them to get money out of this process," Yamamori told the Sun City audience. "They have already been to Washington asking for $400 million."

Fighter Country Partnership is a not-for-profit corporation focused on supporting programs and services at Luke "that aid, support and honor airmen and their families in need." Of prime concern to the organization is pushing for the federal government to make Luke home to the new F-35 jets, which will replace the F-16s for which Luke now provides pilot training.

"This gentleman’s comments set back progress we have been making since September," Pearson said. "The dialogue between parties had been improving, with Luke Air Base, with (El Mirage) Mayor Michele Kern, with the city of Glendale. Yamamori’s comments are unprofessional and misleading."

Pearson criticized Yamamori for his continued claims that the F-35 is not noticeably louder than the F-16, a statement he repeated again at last week’s SCHOA meeting.

"(Fighter Country Partnership) is claiming the jet isn’t louder, a position now at odds with the Department of Defense, Senator John McCain, the Dutch government and even the United States Air Force," she said. "The military’s own studies do not support Yamamori’s position. El Mirage is not alone in this, not even in our own state."

Pearson said Yamamori’s suggestion that El Mirage officials have repeatedly changed positions is false.

"The current mayor and the current administration have been unwavering in their position," Pearson said. "They want to know more about the F-35 and the noise it will generate. This attempt to compile 60 years of history is inappropriate, and it flies in the face of what elder statesmen like John McCain are trying to do, which is to address the noise and the needs of the community."

Pearson reiterated the city’s position, which she said is not anti-Luke. The city simply wants all the information available before the F-35 mission is stationed at Luke.

"This approach (Yamamori) and others are taking — ‘If you’re not for us, you’re against us’ — it has to stop," she said. "And pretending that noise is not an issue will not make it disappear. Thankfully, I will say that with the exception of a few people, the dialogue has been elevated and progress is being made."