Commanding Officer of Naval Base Coronado Addresses Community

The commanding officer of Naval Base Coronado hosted an invitation-only luncheon on Wednesday, speaking and taking questions about growth, likely budget cuts, and Coronado and Imperial Beach’s involvement with the Navy. It was the first such community gathering on base in at least five years.

About 75 people attended with Capt. Yancy Lindsay at the Island Club on Naval Air Station North Island.

Past commanding officers had discontinued the practice of inviting community members and elected officials to the base for similar events, and Lindsay wanted to resume it. He had compliments for the communities, saying that if there are any that are more patriotic, he would “be shocked to find them.”

He acknowledged, however, that tensions sometimes result for residents who endure noise from military maneuvers as the Navy readies sailors for combat.

Meetings like Wednesday’s, he said, allow the command to at least explain that “if we do things they don’t like, why we have to do them.”

Lindsay also said the current spate of construction on base could be the last for a while because of anticipated national cuts in defense funding. Operations spending would be the priority.

Local notables who attended the luncheon included Mayors Casey Tanaka of Coronado and Jim Janney of Imperial Beach, Todd Shallan, general manager of the Hotel del Coronado and Karen Finch, the top executive at the Coronado Chamber of Commerce.

The base issues a monthly newsletter to keep the community informed of what’s happening. To be placed on the list, email cnrswpaostaff@navy.mil.