Bad conclusion.

Base exchange is not a indicator. How about a construction program that that is replacing all the main office buildings for SMC.

Only launch vehicle programs have left the area. All the spacecraft manufacturers (the real bread and butter) are still in the area. Not to mention the real anchor that is going to keep SMC at LAAFB: Circle A ranch

NRO has had a few big expensive blunders with costly satellites that never make it to orbit due to cost overruns. So no shock that its a candidate for extinction.

All of this was bad enough when the Russians appeared to be partners and willing to live with the status quo along its borders. Now that the Russians have cleared the air on how they really feel, there will be added urgency to fix these complacent bureaucracies to address a much more dangerous world.

Almost certainly, any “major reorganization” has no chance of being considered during the waning months of this Administration. With Election Season upon us, any proposed giveaway would go to the front of the line but any suggested efficiency measure would go to the far back of the line.

But over the next several years we will probably see the slow leak of people going from Los Angeles to Colorado Springs. The AF has been having an internal discussion for a long time about who is in charge – this has been reflected in the debate about (for instance) building new housing for Los Angeles AF Station or closing it or whatever. But while the AF has debated about building a Base Exchange in LA, they have built a huge building or two in Colorado.

We see a lot of the manufacturing moving out of the greater LA area – Huntington Beach, etc. The hourly rate for that area is just way too high. It is funny to go there and see places that used to manufacture airliners that now have been redeveloped. The engineering and management will naturally follow the manufacturing.

One of these days all of Los Angeles will be one big amusement park for Japanese and Chinese tourists. The burger flippers and cops that keep the place running will all have a commute of an hour and a half to get home.