Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Gaetz fights for SR island cut-through
Florida’s 1st
District Congressman Matt Gaetz reassured Navarre residents Nov. 27 at a town
hall meeting that he would continue to fight for a cut-through of Santa Rosa
Island that would allow faster boat access to the Gulf of Mexico from Navarre. The pass could infuse $1B into the regional economy, according
to Gaetz (R-Fort Walton Beach). "The new investment would make Santa Rosa
one of the wealthiest counties in Florida," Gaetz said. Eglin Air
Force Base leaders have opposed the idea for a pass, which they claim would
increase boat traffic and interfere with training along a 20-mile stretch
of military-owned beach between Navarre and Destin. Gatez indicated that
he was going to look at other options in the area for the military training,
including Gulf Islands National Seashore. Gaetz also suggested restitution
money paid by BP from the 2010 Gulf Coast oil spill could potentially be used
to fund the pass. (Source: Pensacola
News Journal 11/28/17)