Defense sec. to visit turbulent Airbase

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) - The future of operations at the Niagara Falls Air Base remains up in the air, but the fierce battle to save close to a thousand jobs rages on. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta now plans to come to Niagara Falls, himself.

If the decision to cut the 107th Airlift Wing was a done deal, the Defense Secretary may not be making to time to come and see it for himself. His promise to come happened Wednesday night, during a meeting where Congresswoman Kathy Hochul was urging Panetta to reconsider a plan that would eliminate the 107th Airlift Wing, and the nearly one thousand jobs that go with it.

"So I was talking about this, and it just occurred to me, I said, 'Why don't you just come up and see for yourself, Mr. Secretary and you'll know what I'm talking about?' And he accepted on the spot and so now in the process we have no idea of the timetable at this point, but I thought that was a great sign he would at least come and let us make our case in person," beamed Rep. Hochul.

So what could the Defense Secretary see that might change what was decided in Washington?

Niagara Military Affairs Council Vice-Chair John Cooper said, "The men and women and the professionalism that they show and the job they do here in the 107th and the 914th I think is a great thing that he's coming here and seeing it for himself."

Not to mention the millions of dollars in recent improvements at the base. Within the past year, they opened a new $9 million Community Activity Center, and a year before that they opened a brand new lodging facility that houses 200 visiting Airmen. And construction is still under way on a $6 million indoor firing range that'll open in a few months.

Niagara Military Affairs Council Chairman Merrell Lane said, "The base itself has received many improvements. Louise Slaughter has worked diligently over the last 15 years on upgrading facilities out here."

Rep. Hochul is on the House Armed Services Committee and was also talking with the Defense Secretary about Iran and Syria.

"I certainly know he's got a lot on his plate and that's why I was delighted when he would find the time to come up and visit our base, so the timing, we'll make sure you know as soon as we know," assured Rep. Hochul.