Charleston Currents #13.19 | March 22, 2021
SPRUNGING. Spring, officially here since this weekend, is popping up all over the place. Despite last week’s strong winds, there is still more pollen — and flowers — to come. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
FOCUS: Charleston Parks Conservancy launches April litter cleanup program
COMMENTARY, Brack: Don’t buy specious logic on unsafe gun proposal
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Charleston RiverDogs
NEWS BRIEFS: $500 million fund is new to state’s $10 billion spending plan
FEEDBACK: Yes, budgets are important
MYSTERY PHOTO: Old church
CALENDAR: Learn about women creators at special history talk
Conservancy launches April litter cleanup program
Image provided.
Staff reports | The Charleston Parks Conservancy is launching a volunteer litter cleanup program in April to remove trash from the West Ashley Greenway and Bikeway.
“After conducting a community survey about the West Ashley Greenway and Bikeway, it was clear that litter is a big concern,” said Rachel Barry, volunteer manager for the Conservancy. “We are excited to give the community an opportunity to join us in cleaning up the trails and making them more enjoyable for everyone.”
The organization will give away 100 cleanup kits with bags, gloves, safety vests and trash pickers for volunteers to use in its Cleanup in the Parks effort to remove trash from any local park or public greenspace, according to a press release
The conservancy also is partnering with like-minded organizations to host community cleanup events along the West Ashley Greenway and Bikeway with a kickoff cleanup on Earth Day, April 22, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. In addition, Charleston Waterkeeper will host a morning cleanup along the West Ashley Bikeway hosted from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Keep Charleston Beautiful will host its own cleanup on the Greenway from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. An additional cleanup event is also scheduled for May 22.
Located west of the Ashley River and spanning a combined more than 10 miles, the West Ashley Greenway and Bikeway winds through tunnels of trees, residential neighborhoods and across marshlands. This linear park is widely used for walking, running and biking.
- To register for a cleanup kit or to participate in the Earth Day community cleanup, visit www.charlestonparksconservancy.org.
- Have a comment? Send to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
Don’t buy specious logic on unsafe gun proposal
Statue in Malmo, Sweden, via Unsplash.
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | Different day, same story: Man buys a handgun and goes on a same-day rampage, killing several people.
Everyday citizens say they’re shocked, but how can they be? This is the umpteenth time this narrative has played out.
This week it was in the Atlanta area. The lone suspect shot nine people Tuesday. Eight died. The shooter is described as a “super nice, super Christian” who told authorities he had a sex addiction and targeted three spas to eliminate temptation.
Next week? It could be anywhere. Guns are so ubiquitous and easy to get that it’s hard to find a place safe from the potential of random gun violence.
When will we learn? When will we learn porous gun laws and, even worse, expanding “gun freedoms” are a plague on our society. It’s a vicious cycle — people want more guns because they’re afraid. And they’re afraid because of all of the violence in America that can be traced back to what? Cotton candy? No, guns.
Legislators have chances to do something smart on guns, rather than the path they’re headed on.
At the federal level, a smart thing is to reinstate a national waiting period for the purchase of guns — something that responsible gun owners generally don’t oppose. At the state level, South Carolina legislators should close the so-called “Charleston loophole,” which firearms sellers take advantage of to sell guns if a background check has not come back in three days. This is the loophole that South Carolina racist Dylann Roof used to murder nine people at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston almost six years ago. U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., recently reintroduced a proposal to close the loophole by extending the background check period to 10 days. South Carolina lawmakers should do it now.
What South Carolina legislators do not need to do is to expand the pervasiveness of guns. Already on the books are processes and procedures for citizens who want to be armed to get concealed weapons permits if they want more security.
But is that good enough? Apparently not. Hours after the Atlanta slaughter, South Carolina House members threw caution to the wind and passed a bill that will thrust handguns into the open.
S.C. Rep. Phillip Lowe, R-Florence, actually had the gall to say on the House floor this week that open carry was needed because of South Carolina’s heat. Opening his jacket at the podium, he said when someone with a concealed weapons permit was carrying a gun they would violate the permit if they took off the jacket because it was hot … and that’s why open carry was needed.
Really? Was he serious? In my book, if you have a concealed permit and you want to carry, you should put up with a little sweat as the price to pay to feel safe. Guns that are out in the open are much more dangerous than one locked away at home.
The chief proponent of the open carry bill is Rep. Bobby Cox, a Greenville Republican who (surprise) works for a handgun manufacturer. His argument, equally as specious as Lowe’s, is we need the open carry rule to bring us in line with what goes on in 45 states. Hogwash. Just because other states are doing something wrong doesn’t mean we must, too..
“This is sending a message that these legislators and myself stand with the citizens of South Carolina to protect our constitutional freedoms,” Cox said this week.
Double hogwash. Citizens currently can legally purchase guns. Not having open carry does not impinge on their freedoms. Rather, they just have to follow reasonable rules — just as they do if they want to drive cars or live in a civilized society.
Democratic state Rep. Jermaine Johnson of Hopkins painted a dramatic picture.
Open carry, he said, is an example of white privilege. But any Black person like him — a former college basketball player with tattoos who is 6 feet and 7 seven inches tall — would be in real danger if he openly carried a handgun.
“This bill as it stands will be no more than legalized hunting for Black people,” Johnson said.
Call your state senator today and urge him or her to shut down open carry legislation that will make South Carolina far less safe.
Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Charleston Currents, and publisher of the Charleston City Paper. Have a comment? Send to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
Charleston RiverDogs
The public spiritedness of our underwriters allows us to bring Charleston Currents to you at no cost. This issue’s featured underwriter is the Charleston RiverDogs.
The Lowcountry’s leader in sports entertainment, Charleston RiverDogs baseball is an attractive, affordable medium for your group or business. The RiverDogs, now affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays, offer one of the finest ballparks in Minor League Baseball — Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.
Three short words sum up the everyday approach taken by the Charleston RiverDogs front office. The brainchild of club President Emeritus Mike Veeck, the nine-letter phrase “Fun Is Good” is meant to be a guideline and daily reminder of how employees should approach their jobs and in turn capture the imagination of the fans to turn them into repeat customers.
- Visit the ‘Dogs online at: RiverDogs.com
- To meet all of our underwriters, click here.
$500 million fund is new to state’s $10 billion spending plan
Staff reports | South Carolina House members will consider something new this week in the state’s $10 billion budget — a single line item that sets aside $500 million to keep agencies from making midyear cuts that could be brought on by unexpected pandemic expenses.
Source: S.C. House.
“That is General Fund money (or money from state taxes) that was set aside as a first line of defense should revenues not continue to remain positive and stable,” said S.C. House Ways and Means Chairman Murrell Smith, R-Sumter.
The state currently has two reserve, or “rainy day,” funds. But rules on those funds restrict spending to balancing the state budget at the end of the fiscal year. In other words, if an agency had a shortfall during the year from something, like say a pandemic, then it would have to make program cuts, lay off workers — or both.
Last fall, Senate and House staffers started discussing ways to give agencies more flexibility in case revenue streams are hit after July 2021 because of economic reactions to the pandemic. They came up with the notion of setting aside $500 million in surplus dollars if things go awry. But if nothing is spent by June 30, 2022, lawmakers can use the money for something else — or keep the reserve intact for other midyear rainy day needs as might come with a hurricane or flood.
Observers say this is smart budgeting because it anticipates challenges with a solution that will improve the stability of the budget so state agencies don’t have ups and downs with staffing and programs. Read the full story at our sister publication, Statehouse Report.
Also in recent news:
Students to have in-person high school graduations. The Charleston County School District has announced that local high schools will hold outdoor in-person ceremonies using COVID-19 protocols in mid-June. More information will be available from individual schools, according to a press release. See the schedule.
Epidemiologists worry about another state virus surge. With more than 50 percent of South Carolinians now eligible to receive a COVID vaccination under phase 1B of the state’s rollout plan, demand is high but supply remains low. According to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) vaccine allocation dashboard, 95 percent of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines and 60 percent of Moderna doses have been administered. Based on data from the dashboard, there are currently 653,944 Pfizer and Moderna appointments scheduled though roughly 450,000 doses of the two vaccines remain as of this morning. The state received 61,100 doses of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson Janssen vaccine, but with 52 percent of that vaccine already being utilized, the state needs to receive more shipments soon to keep up with demand.
S.C. House gives green light to open carry of handguns. House members voted 82-33 in favor of the open carry with training bill after hours of debate. Some Democrats joined Republicans in the vote. The bill would allow persons with concealed weapons permits to keep those guns visible in public. Hopkins Democratic Rep. Jermaine Johnson called the bill “no more than legalized hunting for Black people.” The bill now heads to the Senate. More: AP News.
S.C. has one of worst wage gaps in nation, study says. South Carolina has among the most severe gender pay gaps in America, ranking 40th among the 50 states in a new study. According to data from the Business.org study, the average annual salary in S.C. for women is $37,584 while men average $48,541 — a nearly $11,000 difference resulting in a pay gap of 23 percent. S.C. sits on the list between Montana and Mississippi, but our northern neighbor North Carolina ranked 7th in the nation with a gap of 14 percent. More: Charleston City Paper.
S.C. legislators add sexual orientation back to hate crime bill. A group of South Carolina lawmakers have added back protections for gay or transgender people to a hate crime bill, five days after removing them. More: AP News.
Hate crime bill urged by Emanuel AME Church pastor. The Clementa Pinckney Act, House Bill 3620, has passed the House’s Judiciary Committee and is on its way to debate on the House floor. The bill’s name honors one of the victims of the 2015 white supremacist rampage that killed nine people at a Charleston church. Pinckney was also a state senator. The bill seeks to add racial and other bias motivations for crimes to offenses. The state currently does not have any hate crime legislation, making it one of four in the nation. More: WCBD.
State flag design continues to spark debate. South Carolina senators may soon take up one of the most divisive issues to hit the state in years: standardizing the state flag’s iconic design. More: AP News.
- Have a comment? Send to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com
Yes, budgets are important
To the editor:
Government Financial Officers Association (GFOA) established the Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program (Budget Awards Program), but while it is technically correct the award budgets do not communicate well to the local citizen.
An attempt to overcome the budget denseness and reporting of it to overcome the obtuseness is found in the annual awards for clearer communication and relevance. Here are the 2020 winners: https://www.gfoa.org/2020-awards-for-excellence-winners .
Curtis Loftis is the state treasurer of South Carolina. He has made some attempts to better communicate his data. Budget presentation to the average non-financial person is not on his radar yet. It should be. Better stories can result.
— Fred Palm, Edisto Island, S.C.
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Old church
Here’s an old church in what looks like a Lowcountry setting. Where is it? Send your best guess to editor@charlestoncurrents.com. And don’t forget to include your name and the town in which you live.
Our previous Mystery Photo
Last week’s mystery, “Few clues to this stumper,” got three answers, only two of which were correct. The two sleuths, Justin White of James Island and Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas, came up with the answer in two different ways.
White said recognized the location, which was between 1572 and 1574 E. Ashley Ave on Folly Beach “because my boat hit oyster shells there at low tide.”
Peel relied on computer wizardry and detection: “First, I noticed what appeared to be both towers of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge Bridge in the far-right (about 1/3 down in the frame) of the mystery photo, and that the sunset was appearing to the left of the frame. This suggested the photo was taken facing northwest along the wetlands of Folly Island. I then searched close-up views of the area using Google Maps Satellite View, searching for boardwalks facing northwest across the wetlands in this area, and found a PERFECT match of length and type of boardwalks around the property at 1572 E. Ashley Ave. After searching for more information on this property, I found that it was listed for sale and purchased in April 2017. I was even able to find a YouTube video showing an aerial view of the property and the boardwalks near that location. If you would like to see that video, check it out here!”
Great job, guys! (Sorry about the boat, Justin.)
- 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.
Learn about women creators at special history talk
Staff reports | Celebrate Women’s History Month with a talk about women creators in the Lowcountry through the ages with a special March 25 talk at the Charleston Museum. Virginia Theerman, curator of historic textiles, will highlight women creators currently featured in Designers + Artisans: Made in the Lowcountry, now on view in the Historic Textiles Gallery. The talk will range from young girls stitching samplers in the 18th century to accessory designers in the 21st. Theerman will discuss what we know about each artist, how women are documented within the historical record, and how new sources can shed light on old stories. The suggested donation for the talk, which will be at the museum’s Arthur M. Wilcox Auditorium at 360 Meeting Street, is $10. Register online here.
Also on the calendar:
Wine Down Wednesdays: 5:30 p.m. March 17 and March 31, Old Towne Creek County Park, West Ashley. You can enjoy a glass of wine and explore Old Towne Creek County Park, a West Ashley gem, with the return of this evening event. Guests will enjoy wine and live music from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. from a local Charleston performer, while experiencing the beauty of this natural site. A commemorative wine glass is included with admission. Food truck fare will be available for purchase on-site. Cost: $15. Ages 21 and up. There is no onsite registration. You must purchase tickets in advance.
Little Black Dress initiative: March 22 to March 26. The Junior League of Charleston (JLC) is holding its 2021 Little Black Dress Initiative to draw attention to the local effects of poverty. Junior League members and other local women will wear the same black dress for five consecutive days during the initiative to illustrate the lack of resources many women face due to financial hardship. JLC members participating in the fundraiser will post to their personal social media accounts daily for campaign. In addition, each member will have their own supporter page through the online fundraising site, Just Giving.
Birding Day at Dill: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., March 27, Dill Sanctuary, 1163 Riverland Dr., James Island. You can enjoy a wide array of bird life at the Charleston Museum’s 580-acre sanctuary on the Stono River. Tickets are $10 for members, $20 for non-members. Learn more.
Safe Sounds: Series starts April 17, Firefly Distillery, North Charleston. Here’s a list of some of the shows at the beginning of the 15-concert series:
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- Saturday, April 17 – 20 Ride
- Saturday, April 24 – Randall Fowler with special guest
- Sunday, April 25 – The Allman Betts Band
- Thursday, April 29 – Sam Bush
- Saturday, May 1 – On the Border – “The ultimate Eagles tribute Band”
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- Head over to citypapertickets.com to secure a spot. Tickets are available now. (Editor’s note: City Paper Tickets, which is run by sister publication Charleston City Paper, is operating ticketing for Safe Sounds.)
Ongoing
Drawdy on display: Through March 31, Park Circle Gallery, 4820 Jenkins Ave., North Charleston. The representational and abstract paintings of Summerville artist Stephanie Drawdy will be on display this month at the North Charleston public gallery for free.
Like A Girl: Dare to Dream: Through May 2, City Gallery, Prioleau St., Charleston. Featuring portraits of more than 35 South Carolinian women, Like a Girl is a new exhibition by artist Fer Caggiano that brings attention to women who have excelled, each with unique and inspiring stories. In them, girls and other women will see on canvas their potential: they can be strong, smart and beautiful, and ready to make their mark on the world. Learn more.
Sunday Brunch Farmers Market: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., every Sunday, Charleston Pour House, 1977 Maybank Highway, James Island. While the market is discouraging people from spending too much time hanging out during the market, everyone is invited to shop their local vendors.
Bird-watching at Caw Caw. Every Wednesday and Saturday — particularly through the end of February — you can see a plethora of birds at Caw Caw Interpretive Center in Ravenel as they make their way through the Lowcountry. The two-hour regular walks, which start at 8:30 a.m., are through distinct habitats that allow participants to view and discuss a variety of birds, butterflies, and other organisms. Registration is not required. Participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars. A paid chaperone is required for participants ages 15 and under. Max. 10 participants. Fee: $9; free for Gold Pass holders. Open to all ages. More: Caw Caw Interpretive Center.
- If you have any online events, drop us a line (editor@charlestoncurrents.com) and make sure to put “Online event” in the subject line. Similarly, if you’ve got cool ideas for stuff to do while in isolation at home, send them our way.
- ORDER NOW: Copies of our new book, 350 Facts About Charleston, are in Lowcountry-area bookstores now, but if you can’t swing by, you can order a copy online today.
As more people stay home to deal with the coronavirus crisis, people are looking for things to do. You can find some fun things to do online in our calendar section below, but let us also encourage you to FORWARD your issue of Charleston Currents to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. It’s got a great price, as you know: Free! We hope they’ll enjoy our coverage.
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