A collection of this week’s letters to the Editor:
Yes, Carol Lucas
Hatred – I’m 71 (and I) remember well when Republicans and Democrats could work together for the good of our country. Sadly, the Tea Party came along, and Donald Trump. Things went south in a New York minute. Now nothing gets done except investigating each other.
I voted Republican for years until they lost their minds and turned to “Alternative Facts.” What happened to the truth of Walter Cronkite? I wish everyone could take a breath, educate yourself from various news sources including those you don’t agree with. And make your own decision instead of being a Lemming
Debate – I think (Nikki) Haley pretty much handed (Tim) Scott his exit ticket. Why, oh why, oh why do Republicans always blame Democrats for an open border and want to build a wall and send thousands of troops to the border at a cost of hundreds of billions of dollars?
Republicans cry fentanyl, rape, murder. Eighty-five percent of all fentanyl is brought in by Americans. Ninety-nine percent of all rapes and murders are committed by Americans. But let’s go after the brown people. Excellent thinking by Republicans.
Immigration – I’ve said many times, send more judges to the border, hear the cases, send back those not worthy; provide housing, health care, transportation to those who are worthy. America saves hundreds of billions of dollars. Plus massive tax income from them working!
– Don Cass, Beaufort
Graham’s rhetoric misleading
After reading the article reference the wall breaking ceremony for expansion of Beaufort Memorial Hospital’s surgical pavilion, I have an observation. Lindsay Graham commented that the money was taxpayers’ money and that it was his job (to decide) how to spend that money and that he had made a great decision to bring it here to Beaufort.
The article called it out, but Lindsay Graham failed to say that the $18 million to finance the expansion came from the infrastructure bill that President Biden pushed through for projects throughout the nation. Also, this bill (as I read from the article) includes $150 million for Beaufort County.
It appears Lindsay Graham is taking all credit for a bill that President Biden was responsible for, a bill that he and his cohorts all voted “No” on.
– Perry Allmond, Beaufort
There are better solutions than a quid pro quo
I question why so much attention is being given to a topic that has already been discussed at great length in public forums and voted on three times by the county in support of the St. Helena CPO (Cultural Protection Overlay), denying one developer’s requests for exclusion from the CPO. Nothing has changed for the majority of St. Helena residents.
I attended the large rally earlier this year to protect St. Helena and the CPO, which has been in place for more than 20 years. As reported by The Island News on April 5, 2023, “The rally was held at St. Helena Elementary School on St. Helena Island, and community members lined up outside of the school building, waiting to get into the school’s cafeteria. According to Fire Chief Bruce Kline with the Lady’s Island-St. Helena Fire District, about a thousand people came out to support the cause, although not everyone was able to get inside of the building.”
If the St Helena community is relying on the current owner of Pine Island to be the answer to the local economic challenges, it seems concerning. Perhaps there are better solutions to boost St Helena’s livelihood, led by the community, that follows the CPO, with the assistance of local, state and federal government representatives and true philanthropists, without a “Quid Pro Quo”, that undermines local zoning.
P.S. Contrary to what was stated at last Monday’s Beaufort County Council meeting, not all residents of Dulamo support the construction of a golf course on Pine Island.
– Jane Caffrey, Dulamo
No one’s losing their soul
No disrespect intended, but former State Representative Rev. Kenneth Hodges’ Voices column errs by trying to conflate the development of a private golf community for Pine Island with a biblical scripture about a person losing his soul. One has nothing to do with the other. And to suggest that they do insults the intelligence of The Island News’ readers.
Like many of us, developer Elvio Tropeano is a God-fearing Christian who believes in helping others. His word is his bond.
Since 1999, the St. Helena Island Cultural Protection Overlay has been a doubled-edged sword that’s kept Gullah families from developing the only valuable asset most have to even attempt to create generational wealth. It’s kept them trapped in poverty, struggling to pay their bills and property taxes, and often traveling hundreds of miles per week to work at businesses, resorts, and gated communities elsewhere.
Beaufort County officials already know that the CPO is legally indefensible for several reasons pointed out by past and current county attorneys. The CPO is highly unlikely to survive constitutional scrutiny. So, it’s unwise for Pine Island golf opponents to push the county into a losing court battle, when mediation/negotiations with Tropeano will suffice.
One need look no further than the five gated communities with golf courses that already exist on non-contiguous islands wrongly considered to be a part of St. Helena Island for proof that Gullah culture, land ownership, and property taxes will not be threatened by Pine Island’s development. It’s time to stop misleading the public and press about that.
Development that displaced Gullah Geechees in other communities won’t happen here because of St. Helena Island’s rural zoning, and Pine Island’s isolation, among other things.
Romans 15, 1 teaches us that, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak …” We now know better. It’s time to do better.
– Tade’ Oyeilumi and Roy E. Brown, Co-Founders of The Community Coalition Action Network of St. Helena Island
