Resident says time to close Earle ammunition dump
Naval Weapons Station Earl was opened in 1943 when Monmouth County was mostly farmlands and small one-horse towns. It was ideal because of its access to railroads in the western parts of our state and beyond. At present, there are 130 miles of track on the depot.

I find this interesting because the depot reaches almost to Route 9 and a couple of miles north of Lakewood. The railroad track and limited access roadway crosses all of our major roadways in the county. This should be considered as another commuter rail route in addition to the three now under consideration. Very little private property would have to be taken. The Navy tracks cross just south of the commuter railroad station in Middletown.

The Navy road parallel to the railroad tracks could be expanded to a limited-access four-lane highway. We don't have a major road running from the northeast to southwest across the county. One is really needed and will someday be built. In the event of a disaster, we can't evacuate the Bayshore communities in a timely way. The federal government is trying to take Fort Monmouth and $5 billion out of our local economy every year after the fort closes. We deserve this and a lot more in return.

The Navy no longer homeports any ships here.All the sailors and ships are in Virginia. The ships are operated with civilian crews. They add nothing to our economy. They could load the arms cargo at their homeports and save the fuel coming up here. We don't need the ammo dump. Monmouth County isn't rural anymore. It's not the place to keep an ammo dump.

We're thinking green and open spaces. There are 10,000 acres of recreational parkland that they could give our county. They have 560 houses for young working families who need affordable housing. The schools are there. The navy kids went to the local schools around the base. Just think 560 young families and you don't even have to build a classroom.

David Hermanson

Middletown