Charleston Currents

Post Tagged with: "Fred Palm"

Charleston’s Darius Rucker was the Country Music Association’s New Artist of the Year in 2009. In addition to his albums with the rock and roll band Hootie and the Blowfish, he’s recorded five solo country albums.

10/7, full issue: On whistleblowers, Tecklenburg for mayor, optimism

IN THIS EDITION:

FOCUS, Palm: Whistleblowers, inspectors general and the common good
BRACK: Tecklenburg has earned a second term
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Charleston International Airport
MY TURN, Sakran: The power of optimism
GOOD NEWS: Local schools to get $5 million for mental health support
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
MYSTERY PHOTO: Old picture of old building
S.C. ENCYCLOPEDIA: Country music in South Carolina
CALENDAR: Chick Corea’s legendary jazz to grace Charleston Oct. 29

by Charleston Currents · 10/07/2019 · Comments are Disabled · Full issue

7/8, full issue: On flood-damaged areas; 2020 presidential primary; FFF mural; More

IN THIS EDITION OF CHARLESTON CURRENTS

FOCUS, Palm: Much more work needed on flood-prone areas
COMMENTARY, Brack: February primary is still a long way away
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Morris Financial Concepts, Inc.
PALMETTO POEM: Lady in White, by John L. Byrne
GOOD NEWS: 500 years of Chicora Cherokee history in 50 feet
FEEDBACK: Send us your letters
MYSTERY PHOTO: Big old pot
S.C. ENCYCLOPEDIA: Mexican War and South Carolina
CALENDAR: Podcasters to offer live show at Gaillard Center

by Charleston Currents · 07/07/2019 · Comments are Disabled · Full issue

3/25, full issue: Environmental leadership, gun reform, spring flowers, more

IN THIS EDITION, March 25, 2019
FOCUS, Cantral: S.C., Charleston County need environmental leadership
COMMENTARY, Brack: Lack of gun reform in U.S. is downright embarrassing
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Charleston Gaillard Center
PHOTO ESSAY: Spring in the mountains
GOOD NEWS: Interstate 526 extension up for debate this week
FEEDBACK: On a lesson from Coach Swinney, Nerf candidates
MYSTERY PHOTO: Not for climbing purposes
S.C. ENCYCLOPEDIA: Mepkin Abbey
CALENDAR: DigSouth to attract 2,000+ to area in April

by Charleston Currents · 03/25/2019 · Comments are Disabled · Full issue

FOCUS, Palm: I-526 Extension is a huge boondoggle

By Fred Palm, contributing editor | The S.C. Joint Bond Review Committee last week sent Charleston County’s funding application to extend Interstate 526 to a four-person subcommittee to provide the due diligence of the facts of the financing. Why? Because years of skittish details about the project just do not fly.

Core issue: The basic problem that caused the delay by the Joint Bond Review Committee is found in the half-truths, equivocations, shell games, bait and switch, balderdash and peekaboo funding sources draped with inchoate statements about other displaced projects from the majority of Charleston County Council that backs the I-526 extension (I-526X). Through proposed no-see-em fiscal sleights of hand, the council’s Majority of Five offers to push through this incredibly expensive highway with zero contingency built off of a well-founded cost estimate because at its root, the extension is unjustifiable.

by Fred Palm · 02/25/2019 · 1 comment · Common Good, Focus, Good news, Views

2/25: The I-526 boondoggle; Pass the ERA; More

IN THIS ISSUE of Charleston Currents #11.15 | Feb. 18, 2019

FOCUS: I-526 Extension is a huge boondoggle
COMMENTARY, Brack: When being last can do the nation some real good
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
GOOD NEWS: Gammons named Charleston Bar’s first black president
FEEDBACK: Reform bill provides some optimism
MYSTERY PHOTO: Top of building shows wear and tear
S.C. ENCYCLOPEDIA: Union County
CALENDAR: Last-ever Junior League Whale of a Sale set for March 2

by Charleston Currents · 02/25/2019 · Comments are Disabled · Full issue

Photo courtesy of Charleston International Airport.

7/2, full issue: Zombie highway; Gubernatorial politics; Fireworks

IN THIS ISSUE | July 2, 2018

FOCUS, Palm: I-526 extension is a zombie highway project
COMMENTARY, Brack: Age, Trump will drive fall gubernatorial election
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Titan Termite & Pest Control
GOOD NEWS: Busy airport, teacher pay hike, book drive
WHAT WE LOVE: Tell us what you love about the Lowcountry
FEEDBACK: City on a Hill commentary draws reactions
MYSTERY PHOTO: Something is under construction, but what?
S.C. ENCYCLOPEDIA: Elmore v. Rice
CALENDAR, July 2+: Lots of activities for your Fourth of July

by Charleston Currents · 07/02/2018 · Comments are Disabled · Full issue

FOCUS, Palm: Local business leaders need to step up now

By Fred Palm, contributing editor | The Lowcountry is a dysfunctional area because in many situations, the business community organizes “business councils” that serve as sounding boards and advocates for enlightened public policy for the common good to achieve a turnaround. Unfortunately, they’ve been mostly dormant and now is the time for our business leaders to step forward to contribute community service for the common good. Here is why.

The fiction that ‘growth is good’ and that ‘growth pays for itself’ is exposed in Summerville for the shams that they are. All elected politicians know them to be big lies. Only some have the courage to give voice to truth and the reality of numbers – and to come up with workable solutions.

by Fred Palm · 06/11/2018 · Comments are Disabled · Common Good, Focus, Good news

6/11, full issue: Business leaders should step up; Governor’s race; Alaskan cruise

IN THIS ISSUE of Charleston Currents #10.31 | June 11, 2018

FOCUS, Palm: Local business leaders need to step up now
COMMENTARY, Brack: Governor’s races pit establishment versus grenade-throwers
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Morris Financial Concepts
PHOTO ESSAY, Bledsoe: Alaskan cruise
WHAT WE LOVE: Long, languid weeks of summer
FEEDBACK: On Wentworth’s authentic wisdom, ferries and bridges
MYSTERY PHOTO: A gazebo or maybe something else?
S.C. ENCYCLOPEDIA: South Carolina’s governors
CALENDAR, June 11+: Primary elections, jazz, yoga, more

by Charleston Currents · 06/11/2018 · 1 comment · Full issue

September flooding in Sea Pines on Hilton Head Island. (Photo by SCDOT)

5/7 issue: On real flooding management; On The Table’s success; more

IN THIS ISSUE:

FOCUS, Palm: Moving flood control beyond more trees
COMMENTARY, Brack: Engaging in community discussions may help us move forward
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Titan Termite & Pest Control
WHAT WE LOVE: Tell us about something you love
FEEDBACK: Ready, Get Set, Vote
GOOD NEWS: Charleston Forum releases list of June 21 speakers
MYSTERY PHOTO: Extreme close-up
S.C. ENCYCLOPEDIA: Mules
CALENDAR, May 7+: Greek Fest, Mother’s Day and more

by Charleston Currents · 05/07/2018 · Comments are Disabled · Full issue

FOCUS: Interstate 526 completion isn’t actionable plan, but smoky scheme

By Fred Palm, contributing columnist | Charleston County’s new plan to finish I-526 remains secret but includes recent half-cent sales tax money. Seemingly, we should not care about nor want to know the details of this plan that has yet to find a financing source in the county budget. Smoky at best.

There is just some number – let’s call it “$X” — developed years ago given as the “estimated” cost. This number, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, has been repeated enough times that it seems to be true. $X has never been worked up by a reputable engineering firm. $X has not been adjusted for years of inflation. $X has never been bid out thus lacks the market’s reaction. $X is pushed by the current crop of elected leaders for inexplicable reasons with ill-defined benefits, and to whom.

by Fred Palm · 04/09/2018 · 1 comment · Common Good, Views