This is the sixth in a series of guest columns debating whether Doña Ana County voters should approve a 1/4 percent gross-receipts tax increase to help fund Spaceport America. Public officials and other readers are invited to participate in this debate. To submit a guest column for publication, e-mail me at heath@haussamen.com. Baseless personal attacks will not be published.
By Tamie Smith
The idea of travel beyond the boundaries of the Earth – into outer space – has always been an exciting concept to many persons. I am one who has dreamed about soaring into space.
As a child, I recall being in about the 4th grade, and I loved reading “Amazing Stories” by Hugo Gernsback. I think those were the beginning of science fiction tales. As years passed, science fiction posed the real possibility of space travel with captivating tales by well-known authors such as Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein and A.E. van Vogt. Later, the familiar Ray Bradbury and Arthur C. Clarke developed even more plausible stories of men and women in space.
Then, as huge advancements in space exploration bewildered the mind, human beings cruising into space became only a question of technology, time and costs. Technology that will enable (wealthy) Joe and Jane Citizen to take that trip seems pretty well solved. It seems the time might be soon. But the cost for such a joy trip is, sadly (at this time) beyond the reach of the average citizen – not just the citizens of the less-than-affluent Doña Ana County, but also beyond grasp of the majority of citizens in the very affluent Marin County, Calif., touted as being the most affluent in the nation with a per-capita income of $44,962, according to the 2000 census.
The spaceport in Sierra County (not Doña Ana County; remember that) is promoted as being a government enterprise – not a private enterprise – even though, initially, this project will really accommodate the pleasures of rich folks – very rich folks.
Although the taxpayers were not given an option, they actually have already lent their financial support to the spaceport with the $114.5 million appropriated by the state. Uh, state money comes from each of us, right?
The state has already used some of that money to lease the land from ranchers – a rather substantial amount of money up front with an ongoing yearly payment.
It appears that the citizens of the counties directly involved, as well as all citizens of the State of
Doña Ana County has many needs to meet in order to properly serve and protect its residents, and we must prioritize needs and budget our monies carefully, just as one tries to do in managing one’s personal affairs. You don’t (hopefully) buy a Maserati when you have yet to find the money to pay your utility bill.
With or without further contributions, if this is the best place for the spaceport, I believe it will be here. In the meantime, we must solve our flooding problems: levees, dams and other flood-control measures identified by the county as costing $400 million to upgrade and repair. We are already committed to $23 million for a
From whence will come all these monies? I guess we could just pretend this is really another
Smith is a