The South: Who Is Related to Whom?

The old saying goes, at least about Southern politics (and South Carolina is certainly no exception!), that you really don't know what's going on unless you know "who is related to whom," that is, what are the strong family connections that help to explain the successful political careers of individuals. Take Paul Thurmond, for example. If his last name wasn't Thurmond, would he have been taken seriously as a candidate, much less have been elected, to the Charleston County Council? Or, should I digress on the Ravenel family's grip on many aspects of South Carolina politics, now including even the CCSD?

Even those voters who did not grow up in the South (and their numbers are becoming legion in the state) can recognize these aspects of the "old boy" network, especially the famous last names, but myriad not-so-visible connections remain that are not well-known to transplants unaccustomed to thinking about family connections or even to those Southerners who do not travel in political circles. Think of them as spiders' webs.

Don't misunderstand me. These connections that grease the wheels of politics are not bad because they exist. I'm sure such webs have always existed and always will. In the days when everyone knew everyone else, such connections were a factor in everyone's vote. Today such is not the case.

So when I saw the Newsless Courier's "Know Your State Lawmakers" section this Sunday, I thought, "Good. Finally some factual information." S.C. Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell is profiled along with a brief bio and several questions posed by Yvonne Wenger. My favorite is "What are your political ambitions?" Now, that is a fair question. The problem is that the reporter treats Harrell's more obvious political connections that got him where he is today as though he had none.

What could they be???

Certainly being "Junior" hasn't hurt him anymore than it has hurt Strom Thurmond, Jr., a more famous name. To whit, the Robert Harrell Bridge at I-526 and US17 west of the Ashley named for Harrell, Sr., "Whereas, he has been especially active in transportation matters and [. . .] was instrumental in the development of I-526 known as the Mark Clark Expressway and twice served as a South Carolina Highway Commissioner from the First Congressional District." He is also one of the controversial second-term appointees to SCDOT, whom the courts recently struck down.

Family--just can't do without it.

UPDATE: Sunday, January 28th--the latest profile is of conservative Republican Jim Merrill of Daniel Island. Now, Merrill is from Florida according to his bio, but his wife's maiden name is Gaillard. Now, what are the chances that she is related to the former mayor? Nothing wrong with that; however, it makes my point.

Highways and the High Way

Highways first--

Everyone can sympathize with those who will be inconvenienced by the extension of Hungryneck Boulevard in Mount Pleasant [ http://www.postandcourier.com/assets/webPages/departmental/news/Stories.aspx?section=localnews&tableId=126777&pubDate=1/17/2007 in today's paper ], and especially with the older black community that must feel as though a tide of population growth is sweeping them away.

That said, George Freeman simply is incorrect when he says, "If you build a road, people will come. You will accelerate growth in the community." The part of Mount Pleasant he refers to couldn't possibly grow any faster than it already has by the addition of a road. All the road will do is prevent major gridlock in the area. As I said in a previous post in regard to extending I-526, they will build, road or not!

Having lived in other congested parts of the country, I have been impressed with the no-nonsense planning of road improvements on the part of the town of Mount Pleasant. So far the work done has been extremely effective. How can anyone could say that road improvements over the past five or so years have accelerated growth? What these improvements have done is improved the quality of life for those who live in the area or those who must drive through it daily.

To which I say, right on!

Now, as to the High Way--

Check out the op-ed page of the Newsless Courier today for a letter signed by former Episcopal Bishop Allison and the Cathedral's Rev. McKeachie for some good-sense reading on the crisis (I use the word advisedly) occuring in the Anglican Communion--developing even as I type.

I can't say better their following response to previous letters:

"Dozens of Episcopal Church dioceses today, in which biblically faithful Christians are marginalized, manifest this tragic irony. Dozens of Episcopal bishops in such dioceses have willfully forgotten that the original Episcopal consecration vows administered until the late 20th century included explicit assent to the following questions:

"Will you then faithfully exercise yourself in the Holy Scriptures, and call upon God by prayer for the true understanding of the same: so that you may be able by them to teach and exhort with wholesome Doctrine, and to withstand and convince the gainsayers?

"Are you ready, with all faithful diligence, to banish and drive away from the Church all erroneous and strange doctrine contrary to God's Word; and both privately and openly to call upon and encourage others to the same?

"The forgetfulness, indeed total disappearance, of such commitment since the new Episcopal Prayer Book was adopted in 1979 has caused many Episcopalians to seek the cover of overseas Anglican bishops in order to remain faithfully rooted in the Catholic order and Protestant freedom of the Anglican Reformation.

"Kevin Wilson's claim that under Queen Elizabeth "no one agreed on theology" is nothing but another example of forgetfulness and denial. The disagreements in that era were minuscule compared with those of Episcopal bishops today who have turned their backs on the theological content of the very vows they swore at their consecration.

"For her part, Barbara Mann has forgotten, in her claim that we are not a confessional church, the Thirty Nine Articles of Religion as integral to the well-being of Prayer Book Anglicanism and "established" by the bishops, clergy, and laity of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America in 1801. Her false claim allows her and others like her to accommodate the church to the world, rather than the world to Christ, against which St. Paul strongly warned in his Epistle to the Romans.

And the Episcopal Diocese of Charleston is indeed one of the fastest growing in the Episcopal Church.

They Will Build, Road or Not

The Newsless Courier's lead article today on extending I-526 was timely. No one is more in tune than I to the build up of traffic east-bound to Mount Pleasant; however, no one is more sure that extending I-526 to Johns Island is the only viable option.

Read this description from a local real estate agency:

John's Island lies due west of the Charleston peninsula, serving as a "gateway" island for its more famous neighbors, Kiawah and Seabrook. Technically an island because it is surrounded by the Intracoastal Waterway, the Stono River, the Kiawah River and Bohicket Creek, John’s is protected from the ocean by the islands surrounding it.
A patchwork of natural waterways separated by farmland, residential property and commercial development, John's Island has always served as the agricultural heart of the area. In fact, much of the produce that distinguishes the unique flavors of Lowcountry Cuisine is grown on John's Island. Spinach, sweet corn, broccoli, collards, okra, melons, pumpkins, cucumbers, strawberries, Brussels sprouts, zucchini, asparagus, blueberries and a variety of different lettuces, all make their way to the stove pots in homes and restaurants across the area.
John's Island is the largest tomato producer in the country, with a wide variety of different types of tomatoes suited to the area. Everything from the tried and true old faithful and heirloom varieties to the hot new designer varieties grow well in this Lowcountry climate. And Wadmalaw Sweet Onions, which are also grown on John’s Island, are said to rival Vidalia Onions for their sweetness and distinctive flavor.
In recent years, John's Island has not gone unnoticed by developers. With its diverse natural scenery and long stretches of ancient oaks, the island offers a quiet, country lifestyle in close proximity to the city of Charleston.

Not unnoticed by developers, tourists visiting Kiawah & Seabrook, and, in fact, natives of the Low Country.

I actually can remember Johns Island in the fifties because my mother taught home economics at the high school for a brief time. I remember the disgusting taste of the artesian-well water produced by its water fountains. As part of the curriculum, my mother visited the homes of the girls she taught. They were POOR; learning canning was a way to eat better, not an experiment in living close to nature. Later, when Charleston had too much rain and the tomatoes couldn't be shipped out, we had baskets of fantastic-tasting tomatoes sold by the side of the roads for practically nothing.

That world is gone and has been for a good, long time now. It's not coming back [and many people would say, thank goodness!]. The one that is coming will include very few farms so close to the coast and/or Charleston. Hey--there were pig farms in the New Jersey Meadowlands not sooo long ago--you could practically smell them from Manhattan. They're gone. New Jersey produced vegetables for New York City and Philadelphia. After all, why do you think it's called the Garden State? Now it's one of the most densely populated states in America. Not too many farms left, either.

Those who don't want to have I-526 extended--what is your alternative? There must be one, unless, of course, you look forward to sitting in gridlocked traffic as there is now on I-26 and Ashley Phosphate.

Not building roads is NOT an option; it's merely wishful thinking.

Building Bridges

Reading the comments on my last post about the Don "Halt," I was reminded of my better half's example of good transportation planning. When the George Washington Bridge was built over the Hudson River between New Jersey and New York, its designers actually planned for future development! I quote from Wikipedia:

"As originally built, the bridge [in 1931] offered six lanes of traffic, but in 1946, two additional lanes were provided on what is now the upper level. A second, lower deck, which had been anticipated in Ammann's original plans, was added, opening to the public [in 1962]. This lower level was waggishly nicknamed "Martha" by some. The additional deck increased the capacity of the bridge by 75 percent, making the George Washington Bridge the world's only 14-lane suspension bridge, providing eight lanes on the upper level and six on the lower deck."

When the Don Holt was built, I wonder if anyone thought that traffic during the next 20 years might increase to the point that more lanes were needed? Why was no provision made for adding lanes? If a bunch of Yankees can figure out in 1931 (actually, in 1926) that the GW Bridge might need more lanes for cars in the future, why not here in the 1980s when the Don Holt was designed? It's been open for a mere 14 years. Perhaps planning for future traffic is more expensive in the moment, but how much more will be spent because no one looked to the future?

The first image says it all--that's a penny (for wise) and a pound (for foolish).

Time for Critical Thinking--The Don Halt and Oak Terrace Preserve

Still puzzling over the lack of a halt on the Don Holt this am--maybe rubberneckers stayed home because it was raining?

On the subject of critical thinking, has anyone else noticed that articles in the Your Lowcountry section lack it? Could this lack be a policy of the Newsless Courier? Apart from being frustrated by lack of news from the West Ashley area where I grew up because I live in the "special to readers in North Charleston and Berkeley County" area, it does strike me that this weekly section of the paper presents entirely POSITIVE news / features on whatever appears. Consult Jasiri Whipper's feature called "Waste Not: Old Lumber Mulch for New Homes" that appeared in today's paper [not to be found on line, I'm afraid]. It touted the recycling of materials from the old houses demolished in the Century Oaks neighborhood in North Charleston where the Noisette Company is developing Oak Terrace Preserve.

It's admirable that recycling takes place, but isn't there some backstory to this phenomenon? What Art Titus, Noisette's VP, isn't going to bring up to the reporter? Namely, all of the controversy surrounding the selection of Noisette by the North Charleston City Council and the years of financial questions?

Yes, Noisette was selected [without a bidding process] on the basis of its expertise [limited at best] in using "green" methods of development. If it were not using them at this point, THAT WOULD be a story! Surely with a little digging the reporter could have found this out.

"Noisette Fulfills Promise to Build 'Green.'"

Given how many promises by Noisette have NOT been fulfilled, that should have been the focus--finally, good news!

The Don Halt Redux

Vacation's over. We need only experience the Don Halt Bridge at 7:35 am to know. Today's complete "halt on the Holt" was the result of a stalled car in the left eastbound lane and a disabled car just over the bridge in the right-hand lane.

I repeat myself: I-526 has reached capacity. The slightest anomaly sends it into gridlock, east or west-bound. We know this. We know growth continues. Are we going to wait until it mirrors Ashley Frustrate and I-26 before we even DISCUSS widening or building another highway to take the pressure off?

Yes, I know the picture is of a California traffic jam. That's what the Don Halt will look like next year.

Traffic Report: Mark Clark "Speed" Zone

Today--no halt on the Don Holt at 7:35 am, but the causeway was bopping along at 35 miles per hour--that's in a 65 mph zone. Don't expect to see the Mt. Pleasant police complaining about speeding there!

Same reason--HEAVY TRAFFIC, no accidents or rubber-necking delays. Surely someone besides yours truly thinks 526 has hit the saturation point.

I suppose it will (sigh) take the pols another 20 years to notice. Meanwhile, they build another interstate (I-73) to Myrtle Beach through the hinterlands.

Traffic Report--Don Halt Bridge

On a sunny day, no accidents, at 7:35 a.m., headed east towards Mt. Pleasant--today we stopped again at the top of the Don Holt Bridge. No reason. EXCEPT HEAVY TRAFFIC. It should be called the Don Halt Bridge.

When will the local pols & media get wise to the idea that another highway is needed? Or are they still lamenting the opening of the last one?

Gridlock in 2013: Navy Base Port or Not!

Which do YOU think is more important to Charleston and the Lowcountry: that the old Myrtle Beach Pavilion is going to close down or that "even if a cargo terminal isn't built at the former Navy base in North Charleston" in 2013 (that's seven years from now) "sections of I26 will come to a standstill during peak traffic."
http://charleston.net/assets/webPages/departmental/news/Stories.aspx?section=business&tableId=108943&pubDate=9/20/2006
This a dozen years sooner than the previous estimate, yet the news is buried in the largely-ignored (for good reasons) Business section of today's paper (that's 9B) while a large picture and headlines concerning the Myrtle Beach Pavilion were splashed all over the front page of Sunday's paper.

DOES the paper have a responsibility to educate and inform the public?

It won't happen this way.