Negativity, politics part of 'positive' article

Mayor Billy Keyserling, in his recent column ("Let's talk about naysayers? No, not during Thanksgiving," Beaufort Gazette Neighbors section, Nov. 17), spends the first two paragraphs spouting negativity and then says he refuses "to let negativity infect the fresh air in Beaufort." Get real. What an unabashedly political way to dump and run for cover.

The Tea Party Express was a nonpartisan gathering of people from California to South Carolina, admittedly conservative, but citizens totally exasperated with the actions of our Congress and President Barack Obama's administration, and they're speaking out.

Surely, there was a breakdown in the process of making their application and paying their fees for use of Waterfront Park; otherwise they would have known they had to pay a fee for vendors. For what it's worth, after they announced that "the mayor's office has shut down the vendors," I told someone in the organizing group that "in all fairness to the city, vendors are required to pay a fee, and it's clearly stated on the application."

The bottom line is that these people were customers for us. Many used our motels and restaurants; that means money for the city.

I believe the negative comments could have been avoided had the city of Beaufort properly greeted them, explained the policies regarding the park, and invited them to return to Beaufort another time for an extended visit.

So, Mr. Mayor, put aside your personal politics, develop a thicker skin, and stop using up the "coveted newspaper space" to schmooze possible voters.

Edie Rodgers

Beaufort