Charleston Currents #12.13 | Feb. 10, 2020
NEW RECRUITS. The Charleston Fire Department on Friday welcomed 22 new graduates from the second recruit class of 2019. This photo, provided by the department, shows part of a ceremony held Friday at the International Longshoremen’s Union Hall. “We are excited to welcome our newest firefighters to the CFD family as they enter the next phase of a rewarding career,” said Fire Chief Dan Curia. “The recruits have developed an excellent foundation of basic training from our dedicated Training Division members. These recruits will now move to probationary status, spending the next six months honing their skills. We are very proud of their hard work and dedication.”
TODAY’S FOCUS: Advice on how to avoid identity theft during tax season
COMMENTARY, Brack: Don’t count out Uncle Joe, South Carolina
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Charleston International Airport
NEWS BRIEFS: Former lawmakers hold informal reunion
FEEDBACK: Enjoy Brack’s columns
MYSTERY PHOTO: The sea life
CALENDAR: Symphony quintet to perform March 21 for Parks Foundation
Advice on how to avoid identity theft during tax season
With tax season in full swing, the S.C,Department of Revenue (SCDOR) reminds South Carolinians to be on the lookout for identity theft schemes.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, tax-related identity theft occurs when someone uses a Social Security number (SSN) and other personal data to file a bogus tax return and receive the refund.
The IRS warns taxpayers to look for the following signs of identity theft:
- Receiving a letter from the IRS or the SCDOR asking about a tax return you did not file
- Learning you cannot file a tax return online because of a duplicate SSN
- Receiving an IRS notice that an online account has been created in your name or an existing account has been accessed or disabled
- Receiving an IRS or SCDOR notice about collection efforts for taxes from a year you did not file a return
What should you do if you learn you are a victim of tax-related identity theft?
- If you receive a notice from the SCDOR or the IRS related to problems with your return, respond immediately by calling the number provided on the notice.
- If your return is rejected because of a duplicate SSN, complete Identity Theft Affidavits with the IRS and the SCDOR.
- If you believe someone filed a fraudulent return in your name, request a copy of the return from the IRS.
- Call the IRS Identity Theft Resource Center (1-888-400-5530) to receive free assistance from a victim advisor.
How to prevent tax-related identity theft:
- File your return early in the tax season. If you file first, then thieves – not you – will get the duplicate SSN notice.
- Protect yourself from phishing scams. Be wary of opening links in an email you were not expecting. Do not give out personal information to those unauthorized to receive it. The IRS never initiates contact with taxpayers by email, text, or social media to request personal information.
- File your tax return only on secure HTTPS websites. Ask your tax preparer if they have checked their system for malware.
- Keep software on your machine updated, and back up your files.
- Use strong, unique passphrases, and do not duplicate them across websites. Consider using a password manager.
Did you receive an Identity Verification Notice from the SCDOR?
You may receive a letter from the SCDOR asking you to complete either the Identity Verification Quiz or Individual Code Verification after filing your return. This is just another step the SCDOR takes to ensure fraudsters are not using your information to file a false return and steal your refund.
Learn more and stay connected
For more security tips, visit IRS.gov and the SCDOR’s Security Center. Connect with the SCDOR on Facebook and Twitter to stay up-to-date with the latest news and tax tips.
Don’t count out Uncle Joe, South Carolina
U.S. Air Force photo.
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | With all of the confusion after the Iowa Democratic presidential caucuses and creeping nastiness seeming to shape the party’s New Hampshire primary, look for South Carolina to come to the rescue to former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign.
Biden, long at the top of national polls, came up short in Iowa, but that’s not surprising. He got a late start there and had not spent as much time as in other places. Plus, it was a caucus, meaning most people didn’t participate, leaving the results — or whatever you call the Iowa mess — to tilt toward activists.
New Hampshire, which heavily skews white like Iowa, is less of a bellwether this time around as two major candidates on the left, U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren, will duke it out to be hometown favorite.
Then there’s Nevada and South Carolina. Nevada looks more like the rest of America but is a caucus state, too, meaning it will provide an incomplete snapshot of Democratic sentiment.
But South Carolina, where more than a third of voters overall are minorities, will be home to the first real contest with a truly representative cross-section of Democrats to evaluate presidential contenders at the polls.
And so far here, Biden has multiple advantages. First, he’s got experience in governance, which is something South Carolinians tend to reward. Look at how many years they elected Strom Thurmond, Fritz Hollings and Joe Riley.
Second, he’s familiar, having made South Carolina a kind of second home through the years. He’s developed deep relationships that have paid off in a huge number of endorsements. In a state like South Carolina, those endorsements — particularly from black leaders and ministers — are vital.
Finally, it doesn’t hurt in the black community, which will have more than a majority of voters in the Democratic primary, that he served as President Barack Obama’s second-in-command. Obama has god-like status among black voters and Biden gets a huge spin-off from that.
These positives don’t mean it won’t be tough for gaffe-prone Biden, but his more moderate, establishment views should prevail over the party’s left, highlighted by Sanders and Warren. The guy in second place in the state, Tom Steyer, has spent millions to push a message that blends traditional politics with climate change.
ALSO IN THE NEWS recently was a plot by some Upstate Republican leaders to interfere with the Democratic presidential primary on Feb. 29 by encouraging GOP voters to show up at the Democratic polls to vote for Sanders. Their logic: Sanders would be an easier candidate for President Donald Trump to beat and that could help dispense with Biden at the same time.
Let’s hope these shenanigans don’t happen. Republicans had a chance to have a presidential primary and punted. A former state governor, Mark Sanford, launched a bid against Trump, but couldn’t get the backing of state Republicans to offer voters a choice.
What’s ironic about the whole primary meddling thing is that those calling for it are trying to encourage state lawmakers to have closed party primaries — to make it so that only registered Republicans or registered Democrats can vote in party primaries. The Palmetto State currently doesn’t have voter registration by party.
Not only would this disenfranchise independents, who comprise about a third of state voters. But it’s hypocritical to the core. Perhaps some of the new-arrival Republicans don’t have the historical framework to understand that the reason the Grand Old Party was able to flourish in South Carolina was exactly because it allowed white voters to pick between primaries in the 1960s and 1970s. In days when Thurmond and others switched to the Republican Party, it helped their efforts to have old-time Democrats have the ability to decide which primary to cast their ballot in.
Now, these Upstate yahoos want to change this, which will make things even more partisan in a place that’s too partisan already.
Let South Carolina’s Democrats pick the candidate they believe will best serve the country. Republicans will get their chance at the polls in November.
- Andy Brack is the editor and publisher of Charleston Currents and Statehouse Report. Have a comment? Send to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com
Charleston International Airport
Today we shine a spotlight on Charleston International Airport, which provides a first impression of the Charleston metropolitan area to over 4 million passengers a year who visit for business and leisure activities. One of three public airports operated by the Charleston County Aviation Authority, Charleston International Airport is committed to providing an unparalleled passenger experience while continuing efforts to support economic development for the Lowcountry and State of South Carolina.
Eight airlines currently serve Charleston International Airport, which have jobs that create more than $200 million in income for workers in the region. Visiting passengers also spend about $450 million a year directly in area businesses, which sustains an estimated 6,000 jobs locally. The total economic impact of the Charleston International Airport is over $1 billion dollars to the Lowcountry and State of South Carolina.
- To learn more about Charleston International Airport, please visit iflyCHS.com.
- To meet all of our underwriters,click here.
Former lawmakers hold informal reunion
Several former Charleston-area legislators held a reunion this week at Bowen’s Island, the seafood joint run by former state Rep. Robert Barber near Folly Beach. They enjoyed laughs, old war stories and, according to former state Rep. Jimmy Bailey, “no arguments!”
Pictured from left are: former state Reps. Lucille Whipper, a daughter, Sen. Robert Ford, Barber, Bailey, Sen. and Lt. Gov. Glenn McConnell, Rep. Bob Kohn, Sen. Ernie Passailaigue, Sen. Larry Richter, Rep. Ted Mappus and Rep. Steve Gonzalez.
Also in recent news:
State has big revenue growth over eight years. The state’s revenue forecasters reported data this week that showed South Carolina has seen an average annual revenue increase of $409.2 million in the eight years since the Great Recession, Statehouse Report’s Lindsay Street wrote Friday.
The S.C. Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office’s Executive Director Frank Rainwater made the agency’s annual presentation Tuesday to the Senate Finance Committee. One of the slides, showed eight years of revenue increases, ranging from the lowest of $108.4 million in 2014 to the giant $696.1 million in 2019.
Ports Authority recognized. Two significant S.C. Ports Authority projects recently received recognition during the 2020 Engineering Excellence Awards for innovative, creative and environmentally focused approaches to engineering.
The awards, given by the American Council of Engineering Companies of South Carolina, honor the year’s most outstanding engineering accomplishments.
- The S.C. Ports Authority and Collins Engineers Inc. received the Engineering Excellence Award in the Environmental Category for their joint work on the Drum Island Marsh Restoration Project.
- S.C. Ports Authority and Infrastructure Consulting and Engineering received the State Finalist – Engineering Excellence Award in the Transportation Category for their joint work on the Wando Welch Terminal Traffic Flow Improvements Phase 2 Project.
“Our engineering and operations teammates are creative problem solvers and innovative thinkers who dedicate themselves to their jobs every day and still find time to push the envelope with impressive environmental projects and infrastructure solutions,” S.C. Ports COO Barbara Melvin said. “These projects not only positively impact our operations, which are busier than ever, but they also benefit the broader community through restored wetlands and improved traffic flow. It is truly a great privilege to work with this team and our project partners.”
- Have a comment? Send to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com
Enjoys Brack’s column
To the editor:
I look forward to your column every week. They’re thoughtful and thought-provoking. Thank you.
— Marian Greely, Charleston
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Tell us what you love about the Lowcountry. Send a short comment – 100 words to 150 words – that describes something you really enjoy about the Lowcountry. It can be big or small. It can be a place, a thing or something you see. It might be the bakery where you get a morning croissant or a business or government entity doing a good job. We’ll highlight your entry in a coming issue of Charleston Currents. We look forward to hearing from you.
The sea life
It won’t be long before we return to beaches from Hilton Head Island to the Grand Strand. Here’s a pier somewhere along the state’s coast, but where? Send your best guess to editor@charlestoncurrents.com. And don’t forget to include your name and the town in which you live.
The last time we published a Mystery Photo was on Jan. 20. It showed the Rose Pavilion at Hampton Park in Charleston. Congratulations to several sleuths to correctly identified it:
Phil Avery, Stephen Yetman, Catherine LaFond and Marian Greely, all of Charleston; George Graf of Palmyra, Va.; Charlie Morrison of James Island; Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas; Don Clark of Hartsville and Jay Altman of Columbia.
Peel shared, “Hampton Park is one of Charleston’s largest city parks and contains the largest number of floral displays of any park in the city. Many of the park’s flowers are planted and maintained by the Charleston Horticultural Society. The building depicted in the photo was originally a concession stand for the park that had been shuttered for many years, but was renovated in 2019 and renamed the ‘Rose Pavilion’ and now serves as a public gathering place.
“The park’s origins began in 1906 and was named in honor of Confederate General Wade Hampton III who, at the time of the Civil War owned one of the largest collections of slaves in the South. A zoo was added to the park in 1932, but by the mid-1960’s the zoo had become run-down, eventually closing in 1975. Redevelopment of the park, including the addition of the concession stand, began in the early 1980’s, focusing its efforts on landscaping and floral displays. The refurbished park re-opened in June 1984.”
- Send us a mystery: If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!) Send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
Symphony quintet to perform March 21 for parks group
Staff reports | McLeod Plantation Historic Site on James Island will host “LIsten to Spring,” a March 21 fundraising performance by a quintet of the Charleston Symphony for the Charleston County Parks Foundation.
Guests are invited to enjoy popular music under the stars at the historic site from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Charleston Symphony Brass Quintet will take attendees on a musical journey from New Orleans to Broadway, with detours to Europe and South America.
The concert will take place at the historic site’s riverside pavilion, which offers beautiful views of Wappoo Creek. Tickets are $75. Proceeds will go to support the foundation’s Pass It Forward Project, which provides opportunities for community members who encounter barriers to access county parks, programs and services. Among other initiatives, the project facilitates summer camp scholarships.
- Hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be included. Tickets are available at CharlestonCountyParksFoundation.org.
Also on the calendar:
Old Slave Mart Museum open Sundays: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays in February, 6 Chalmers St., CHarleston. As a part of the celebration of Black History, the museum will be open on Sundays in February to share its role in telling Charleston’s full history. Admission to the museum is $8 for adults and $5 for seniors, students, teachers and military personnel.
Good Catch Oysterfest: 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Feb. 21, S.C. Aquarium, Charleston. The aquarium’s Good Catch series opens with an oyster event with Folly River Shellfish as the purveyor for a range of culinary preparers. Tickets are $50 to $75. For more information on Good Catch Oysterfest and the aquarium’s entire After Hours series, visit scaquarium.org/afterhours
Charleston Museum’s roast: Noon to 3 p.m., Feb. 22, Dill Sanctuary, James Island. The Charleston Museum will host its annual oyster roast and allow guests to enjoy Dill Sanctuary. Tickets to this event are all inclusive and include two tours with Museum Archaeologists, oysters, BBQ, sides, live music with the Paul Quattlebaum Jazz Band and a cupcake and coffee or hot cocoa courtesy of The Holy City Cupcakes! And of course, one of the best Lowcountry views Charleston can offer.
Pet Fest 2020: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 21, Mount Pleasant Palmetto Islands County Park. This year’s Pet Fest will feature a day of exhibits, demonstrations, experts, contests, adoptable pets, and more at Charleston’s premier pet festival. Pet Fest attendees who adopt a pet from the Charleston Animal Society at the event will receive an Individual Park Pass (value $30) to select county parks. Admission to Pet Fest is $8 per person.
ONGOING
Lights of Magnolia: 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., through March 15, 2020, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, West Ashley. Enjoy nine acres of Chinese lanterns, dragons and more at the venerable garden’s new evening attraction. The lantern festival includes custom-designed installations of large-scale thematically unified lanterns, a fusion of historic Chinese cultural symbols and images that represent the flora and fauna of Magnolia. Learn more online. Tickets are $11-$26. Parking is easier now. For more information and frequently asked questions, click here.
Early morning bird walks at Caw Caw: 8:30 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday, Caw Caw Interpretive Center, Ravenel. You can learn about habitats and birds, butterflies and other organisms in this two-hour session. Registration is not required, but participants are to be 15 and up. $10 per person or free to Gold Pass holders. More: http://www.CharlestonCountyParks.com.
- If you have an event to list on our calendar, please send it to feedback@charlestoncurrents.com for consideration. The calendar is updated weekly on Mondays.
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Charleston Currents is provided to you weekly by:
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