There Is A Co-op In Our Future

It has been some time since I have last put an entry into Seagrassroots, and for good reason. I am a strong proponent of the axiom, "Feel the force, don't force the feel." And before now, so much has been accomplished that there has been little reason to write!

In the past three weeks, the co-op idea has taken root. In order to keep Waterfront Market open, our movement to create a co-op had to move swiftly — from conception and formation to organization and implementation within eight weeks! — and through the growing union of this Island community's strengths and talents, it most assuredly has.

Today, we meet again at 11 AM at Blue Heaven restaurant. And while I have been out of town for a week, with this meeting I foresee a continued amassing of strengths and will. It is more than optimism that gives me this insight; it is experience.

You see, here I had gone for a week was to the community of Las Cruces, NM, population 86,000. In Las Cruces, an amazing thing has taken place. Their City has led the way and won the support necessary to build a spaceport.

Not just any spaceport, but Spaceport America. The way Las Cruces sees it, space is the future of our global economy. They have partnered up with Virgin Group, Richard Branson's commercial space tourism venture, and are breaking ground next October. In order to make this a reality, a capital gains tax was voted on and approved for the city of Las Cruces and county of Dona Ana's long-term commitment funds — to the tune of $200 million dollars.

One of the reasons I visited now is I had to learn: Why did the people who make up the community of Las Cruces — median per capita income $16,000; 20 % over the age of 60 — vote for yes on, of all thing, a spaceport.

I met with the mayor and had dinner with three council members. The answer unanimously: "For the future of our children."

This is precisely why I voted yes to keep Waterfront Market open, to support local industry and families, and for Key West to have community owned grocery story with an emphasis on empowerment.

The energy in Las Cruces is amazing. There are nay-sayers. But with the next generation and the ones after that in mind, the community voted 2-1 in support of the creation of a spaceport.

And I return to Key West filled with certainty that we will be able to make a grocery store happen.

There Is A Co-op In Our Future. I feel it.