July 2, 2021
Peter Moore, P.E., F.ASCE, ENV SP, LEED AP
President, Chen Moore and Associates
Last week: As (I believe) the only licensed engineer in the South Florida 100, I must say that the tragedy in Surfside very much hit home. Everything we do is for public safety, health and well-being, and to see such a tragedy unfold is our worst nightmare. Unfortunately, I’ve seen several professionals weighing in with their opinions. That’s not how engineers do things. We base our work on facts, and conjecture ought to be the opposite of our nature. I know those that felt loss want closure, but forensic engineers will get to the bottom of this. Until then, just pray.
Looking ahead: One of the most significant revenue increases in many years for the state of Florida was the online sales tax. An estimated $1 billion in revenue would come from the new enforcement of sales taxes technically already owed. Right now, few Floridians pay in-state sales tax on purchases made from out-of-state sellers, in part, because they are required to send a separate check to the Department of Financial Services after they make their purchase. It’s about time that we leveled the playing field for our brick-and-mortar retailers. Let’s see how it helps in the coming weeks.
