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Strictly Business
| July 6, 2009
Here's
To You, C-17
 It
can be difficult to find good news these days. Around
the entire country, business sectors in particular have
had a difficult year. Specifically, it has been
difficult to generate revenue and retain employees.
Long Beach has had no easy go of it, either. Pine Avenue
and other business districts have struggled and the
citywide unemployment rate rose above 12% for the first
time in more than a decade. And in the past month, the
city hung on baited breath, and more than 5,000 people
awaited the federal decision that would slash or save
each of their jobs – a potentially fatal blow to the
city’s middle class. But it never came. In Long Beach
today, there is cause for celebration.
In late June, an emergency defense spending bill
allowing almost $2.2 billion to purchase eight more
Boeing C-17 airplanes was signed into law by President
Barack Obama, effectively saving those 5,000-plus Long
Beach jobs and allowing the aircraft manufacturing plan
to continue until at least 2011. Surely, the law
benefits many in the Long Beach community who depended
on those jobs, but the move also allows Boeing to extend
its production in Long Beach and preserves a
time-honored history that extends back to real life
Rosie the Riveters.
A few weeks ago, we almost lost it. The C-17 is one of
the most versatile and effective in America’s fleet,
keeping more than 30,000 people employed around the
nation. But with the aircraft nearing the end of its
production life and the White House reluctant to approve
defense spending, it was almost cut. Long Beach took
particular notice, as the plane has been produced here
since its inception. But then things started to turn.
In my
May 15, 2009 Strictly Business I
encouraged our community to participate in a
letter-writing campaign that elicited an enormous
response. Those letters were sent to local and state
legislators, persuading them to lobby for increased
funding to continue the C-17’s run. Thankfully, that
extra $2.2 billion found its way into the defense
spending bill and the government committed to investing
in middle class jobs.
Last week, I spent some time at the C-17 facility with
Congresswoman Laura Richardson and high ranking Boeing
officials talking about the future of the project. I
want to thank Laura, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher and
our entire California congressional delegation for
stepping up to the plate to save an important economic
driver for our region.
So, appropriately as we just celebrated our nation’s
233rd birthday, we blow out the candles in honor of the
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and toast to its continued
success…
…and that’s Strictly Business.
Randy Gordon
President and CEO
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
May 15, 2009
Save The C-17
 Have you ever stood up close and personal to a Boeing C-17
Globemaster III? It’s a massive aircraft, an impressive blend of
technological achievement and good old-fashioned quality
manufacturing. Simply reaching out and touching one inspires a
rush of patriotism.
C-17s are assembled right here in Long Beach, each one carrying
with it the pride and sweat of thousands of men and women who
worked long hours to produce an aircraft worthy of our country’s
trust. Nobly serving in both military and humanitarian missions,
the C-17 is a symbol of America.
But now, it needs our help.
Despite assertions from Defense Secretary Robert Gates that
enough C-17s have been made to fit the country’s needs,
California and Long Beach officials, including our Mayor Bob
Foster and the entire City Council, have come together to insist
that C-17 production continues. These leaders effectively
recognize the advantages that the aircraft holds as a versatile
tool that can be used in both military and humanitarian
missions.
Other nations have recognized the need for this versatile
aircraft, and several have placed orders to bolster their own
strategic airlift needs (six to the United Kingdom, four each to
Canada and Australia, etc.). These limited orders help continue
the production, but are merely drops in a bucket that is quickly
evaporating. Without additional funding, the C-17 program will
begin the process of shutting down late this year. Boeing’s Long
Beach production facility will surely feel the sting, but the
federal government must understand that this situation is
avoidable.
Meanwhile, back at home in Long Beach, thousands of hard-working
residents depend on the continued survival of the program to put
food on their tables. Ceasing this project would force more than
5,000 people into a financial tailspin in Long Beach alone. And
in this uncertain economy, the Boeing C-17 is single-handedly
keeping many families financially secure. With businesses
leaving California left and right, it’s imperative to support a
program that contributes approximately $3.2 billion to the state
economy each year and $8 billion nationwide.
Terminating the production of C-17s would surely be
understandable if there was no longer a use for the aircraft,
but America’s airlift needs continue to increase with each
passing year. We are still involved in two combat scenarios that
require massive equipment and large groups of personnel to be
transported quickly – the C-17’s very purpose. The armed forces
have also expanded overseas operations in other parts of the
world, making it imperative that a large and mobile unit like
the C-17 is available. The C-17 should be kept alive simply
because of our nation’s immediate needs….
…and that’s Strictly Business.
Randy Gordon
President and CEO
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
 January
6, 2009
Chamber Urges
Federal Leaders To Support C-17
The Long Beach Chamber sent the following letter to Senator
Dianne Feinstein, Senator Barbara Boxer, Congressman Dana
Rohrabacher, Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, and Congresswoman
Laura Richardson today:
Dear Senators and Representatives:
The Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce respectfully requests
that the committee addresses the continued procurement of the
C-17 through the following actions:
1. Procurement of 15 additional C-17s in FY09 Supplemental
Defense Appropriation Bill
2. Urge the Department of Defense to address growing airlift
requirements by funding C-17s in FY10 budget and out years
The demand for airlift has not abated during our global war on
terrorism. The C-17 fleet flies more than 80% of all strategic
airlift missions. The aircraft flies directly from the United
States to the point of need in Afghanistan and Iraq delivering
vital supplies and equipment to soldiers engaged in combat
operations. The C-17 is capable of not only strategic missions,
but also sustained tactical operations into and out of austere
airfields at forward operating locations.
The C-17 has also been at the forefront of US humanitarian
missions in all parts of the world and is the primary aircraft
providing aeromedical evacuations of wounded soldiers from the
battlefield to hospitals in Europe and the US. The C-17 is the
world’s most reliable and cost efficient airlift and continues
to be the workhorse for the USAF.
Your support for these requests is important not only because of
National Security considerations, but they also have a
significant impact on the economic well-being of the State of
California. Over 10,000 jobs in our state will be lost if the
C-17 program is terminated.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Randy Gordon
President/CEO
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
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