Friday, February 23, 2007
NO Spaceport for Brazoria County
Well the economic realities of life, and the voices of the people have spoken, the Proposed Gulf Coast Spaceport most likely is no more going to be a potential reality here in Brazoria County. I place no blame on the Residents of the Demi John Area and Hide Away on the Gulf,as American Citizens they had every right to voice their concerns. The fact that their concerns were not properly addressed in a timely and professional manner by the Gulf Coast Space Port Development Corporation is a shame. Why proper marketing techniques and fund raising from the private sector was not employed is an additional mystery to me. This whole " Not in Our Back Yard " attitude this county is taking is having a serious affect on our ability to compete in the Global Market. I am sure there were people who did not want the original jetty built over a 100 years ago when the Port of Freeport was conceived. There was opposition in the 1940s when residential and commercial sites were planned in the Freeport Area. There have been votes on expansions to the Port of Freeport, so obviously there were people in opposition to that too. But in the Greater Good progress moved on. I guess that is a spirit now somewhat limited in Brazoria County in the name of private party's backyards. The legislature determined that the Pecos Site was so far ahead of the Brazoria County Site, and had so much more support ,that to continue here would be fruitless. Would it have turned out this way if the GCSPDC had been more people friendly and technically astute,we will never know. Would it have turned out his way if the GCSPDC had some marketing skills ? Personally I feel the site selection , while ideal for over the water launches ,doomed this project. The residents were never educated as to the limited impact on their lifestyle and the magnitude of the economical benefits, they were practically left in the dark due to distant meetings and unorganized presentation of the facts by the GCSPDC. Our organization (Surfside Salvagers,Inc - A Texas Non Profit Corporation) had just allocated, from the limited funds we have for projects, funding for publication of informational flyers ( now destined to sit in a box) while the County Commisioners were planning to terminate the project without the least bit of warning. I just hope that the next time a potentially beneficial project of this magnitude comes Brazoria County's way, that it is handled in a much more professional way. I guess this area should be thankful that the Skills of the GCSPDC were not employed when the origination of the Port of Freeport was planned and executed.Enjoy your future Pecos Site.---------------- R.Dunsmore,Pres (979) 549-2113 --------- Surfside Salvagers,Inc --------------------------- 117 Hwy 332 W ( J-102)------------------------ Lake Jackson, Texas 77566
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2 comments:
Richard,
Thanks for your commentary although you arrived a bit late to the 'party'. We certainly appreciate you not blaming the residents near the proposed site and the other numerous visitors to the Natl Wildlife Refuge for the failure of the launch site to be accepted. I can assure you that we were fully informed and well researched as to the potential effects of preparing the site for a launch site which is why we are all so adamant about opposing it. The lack of the GCRSDC marketing was only a slight deterrant. There's an old saying in the car business---you can't polish a turd! There's no amount of marketing that would have convinced us that a launch site 1 1/2 miles from my back door is a good thing for the community where I live. Apparently from the newspaper article,over $800K was sunk into consulting and research for this proposed site. It is reprehensible that so many taxpayer dollars were spent to choose this proposed site considering the gravity of the objections to it. If this was the best site in Brazoria County for the site, then I must concede that Brazoria County does not have an optimum location for a Spaceport, and that no further State funds should be sought for such a project here.
Al Sterkx
I see the word " I " alot and "my" when I see comments about the Spaceport. Where are these Is and Mys going to be when the petro dollars are no longer greatly funding the economy of this area. Having lived about as close as you can get to the Cape in Florida, I find it concerning that we have lost the spirit that made this coutry great in the name of backyards and comfortability. In the Greater Good seems to be a term we have lost, not just as to this Spaceport, but in general, Why as a prosperous county are our food pantries having a problem, and our social services so lacking. Could the words greedy and selfish come into play. I live in the Demi John Area, and I certainly did not join this party late, I got involved when the level of nonfeasance by the GCSPDC raised to the level that I could no longer sit back and tolerate.
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