Space coast could be new "Silicon Valley" letter published 09-2007It is time for action. I agree wholeheartedly with David Hosley’s guest column on getting Florida’s decision makers to do something to aggressively promote Florida’s role in the space industry. Our current Governor and Legislature seem to be fiddling around pretending to reform this and that, trying to squeeze some spare change out of gamblers and lottery addicts. Meanwhile we are missing a huge opportunity to turn Brevard County into a new “Silicon Valley”. We have NASA in our backyard and the only thing our leaders seem interested in promoting is space tourism- DisneyWorld in outer space for millionaires! We need to get serious about public-private partnerships in creating a massive research and development corridor surrounding the Kennedy Space Center. If Florida gets serious the Nation will follow- where is that Apollo spirit? We should have a way for private individuals to invest in a state-controlled fund that is focused on long-term investments in progressive technological ventures that are geared to solving real-life challenges- e.g. space exploration and colonization, getting beyond fossil fuels. The State needs revenue to jump start this ambitious vision- so let’s look at reversing some of those 250 sales-tax exemptions. Some modest taxes on Florida’s super-wealthy residents and most profitable corporations would help as well. Yours Sincerely,
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10.16.2007.