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<DIV>Would you ask the same question if General Electric, also a defense
contractor, wanted space in Riverdale Park? </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>If your question is that Raytheon is part of the great American
industrial military complex -- bingo -- you are right. But it's American -- our
side, remember us? And we still need to protect ourselves, particularly
after carrying out some less-than-thoughtful measures throughout the
world.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Marc, the answer is YES, we do want Raytheon to be a part of our
community. It pays taxes and it does for us what America wants it to do.
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>And, while we can all joke that Raytheon is "the people who brought
you Vietnam," and that it built the Patriot Missile, it is also
responsible for great advances in American culture and society. For instance,
Raytheon is the creator and manufacture of the first computerized news
system installed and used in The Washington Post
(1979), switching the last major newspaper in America to cold type from hot
metal. Raytheon also owns and operates a slew of technology manufacturing
companies including Bell Helicopter and Bell Helmet (protective head gear for
your children's heads), and much of the equipment used in hospitals
today. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>So, it's not all death and destruction, there's a whole lot of life and
resurrection going on in this company, too.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>My question is why only 90% of the space, why not 100% of the Riggs space
or even MORE space elsewhere in the town? </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Jeffrey Yorke</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 10/7/2007 10:27:36 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
mmolino54@hotmail.com writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>We spend
a lot of time debating about the types of businesses we do and don't want in
our town. Some of us are so fed up we'll take anything. Some of us believe we
can hold out for higher quality. Expanding our taxable base of businesses
seems desirable from all sides.<BR><BR>So I was wondering how people feel
about the 5th biggest defense contractor (Raytheon) leasing 90% of the old
Riggs building?<BR><BR>Here's how they describe themselves on their website
(http://www.raytheon.com):<BR>"Raytheon is a technology leader specializing in
defense, homeland security, and other government markets throughout the world.
With a history of innovation spanning more than 80 years, Raytheon provides
state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, and other
capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; command, control,
communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission
support services."<BR><BR>-Marc M.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
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