"There's joy in Jacksonville and Virginia Beach today, because BRAC has apparently struck out. In the latest bizarre twist in the fate of the fighters at Oceana Naval Air Station, Jacksonville's mayor on Thursday said thanks, but no thanks.
The Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission had decided to move Oceana's 250 jets to Cecil Field in Florida unless Virginia Beach bought and condemned 3,400 houses, hundreds of businesses, and turned over planning decisions across thousands of acres to the U.S. Navy.
But a funny thing happened between that decision and today. While [Virginia] Beach officials agonized over whether the sacrifice would be worth the thousands of jobs the Navy brings to the city, Jacksonville decided it didn't want the jets..."
"Outgoing City Council President Kevin Hyde never had to cast a vote on allowing the Navy to return to Cecil Field. But when he made his opinion known, it proved decisive. Hyde's stand against a Navy return, outlined in a memo sent to Mayor John Peyton and fellow Council members, seemed to be the last domino to fall in the debate. Hyde's opposition created a Council majority aligned against a military Cecil Field. Shortly after, the mayor's office turned against the proposal.....Hyde circulated the memo just as the Council was set to review a $50 million bond issuance that would have cleared out Cecil for the Navy. "I think it's part of the responsibility you have as Council president that, when you feel strongly on an issue, to get it out there when it can make a difference," he [Hyde] said..."