Letters to the Editor: Feb. 23, 2021 Local retail stores are dying: Florida must implement internet sales tax Our local retail stores are dying on the Treasure Coast and throughout Florida, Closed and shuttered stores are the rule, rather than the exception. The local mall has become like a ghost town, where additional stores are closed every time my wife and I visit. And this has only accelerated since COVID-19 arrived in January. Our local stores collect sales taxes that our online sales businesses almost never pay. While I have never supported state sales taxes on online purchases previously, it is apparent that Florida must implement internet sales taxes, ASAP. We should call our state representatives and senators and request strategic help for all local businesses in Florida.