Mayors, help the residents: ‘Close this island to ALL tourists’ | Letters
Hilton Head Island Mayor John McCann’s duty and obligation is to protect the citizens of this community. By his actions so far in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, it is clear he is more concerned about tourism than the protection of the residents who put him in office.
A prime example is his statement last week that he would “absolutely” encourage visitors to come to our small community in the midst of a pandemic.
New York is the epicenter of infections in the U.S. and exploding in numbers so alarming that the federal government is asking for anyone leaving New York to self quarantine for 14 days. Florida is now requiring anyone who travels to their state from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to self isolate for 14 days upon entering the state.
The mayor of Charleston just announced a mandatory stay at home order to protect his citizens.
We may be able to avoid these drastic measures if our mayor would take decisive action and close this island to all tourists.
Instead, he asks visitors to “re-evaluate” their plans. He then asks that they “volunteer” to quarantine themselves for two weeks. Seriously?
I have a suggestion for Mayor McCann and Bluffton Mayor Lisa Sulka. Due to the fact that you are so hesitant and uncertain about what to do to protect your citizens, immediately vacate your offices and let someone else take over who will know what to do.
So much for McCann’s “residents first” campaign promise.
Donna Thompson
Hilton Head Island
The coronavirus dilemma
It is pretty simple to understand why President Donald Trump wants a return to normalcy as soon as possible. A good economy and supercharged stock market were to be his main arguments for re-election.
No one knows how fast either can be brought back, but for better or worse, Trump wants to roll the dice and end the semi-shutdown we have in place. However, an attempt to do so also raises another issue regarding the potential for greater loss of life of the elderly and vulnerable.
Trump has argued that the cure should not be worse than the disease. I agree, but I suspect that we disagree on how bad the cure is, and how bad the disease is.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has argued that no additional loss in life is tolerable. I find that ridiculous, though I have agreed with much else that he has said.
There is no way to know the additional loss in life caused by “standing down.” It could be that disaster simply cannot be avoided, or it could be that if continued, the current measures will drastically reduce the death count.
In the end, I am taking the same approach with this problem as I am with climate change. I am going to accept the learned opinion of those best prepared to have an informed opinion. Folks like Dr. Anthony Fauci, the CDC, and WHO.
In any case, the future looks bad, regardless of who’s predictions you believe. I pray we can dodge this bullet.
William Griffith
Lady’s Island
Hilton Head Hospital shines in dark time
My daughter had to have an outpatient surgery March 25 at Hilton Head Hospital.
When she and her husband arrived they were instructed to enter by the emergency entrance. They were escorted to a tent for a verbal screening. Safe distances were in place. Questions ranged from whether they had been out of the country or state, to their health, which was fine.
They were escorted to pre-op area. Her husband was asked to leave the hospital with no waiting in a lounge. The physician herself called and reported how well the procedure went. Her husband was called later to pick her up at the entrance in a wheelchair.
They both felt the hospital procedure was professional and my daughter felt well cared for. Hats off to the hospital for this commitment to safety during these most troubling times.
Connie Johnson
Bluffton
You’re critical to 2020 Census
As we shelter in place and practice social distancing, we are also experiencing American compassion. Members of the League of Women Voters of Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Area are practicing these measures for the safety of all. And, we continue our efforts to defend our democratic rights and responsibilities.
One very important responsibility is the 2020 Census mandated by our U.S. Constitution.
This count of every person in our nation, Beaufort County included, citizens and noncitizens, will bring federal money to our community for education, health care, infrastructure, state and federal representatives in our legislatures, and more.
No one in our community should fear completing the Census since the Supreme Court ruled that there would be no question on the form about the citizenship of people living in a house. If parts of the community do not participate in the count, we won’t get federal dollars to move us ahead.
Don’t fail to participate in the 2020 Census:
▪ Online at https://2020census.gov.
▪ By calling 844-330-2020 for English and 844-468-2020 for Spanish from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.
▪ By mail if you received the short questionnaire.
Our community’s counting on you.
Patricia Felton-Montgomery
President
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Area League of Women Voters
Bluffton
Honesty, goodness still alive here
Thank you to the person who found my purse in the parking lot of Harris Teeter Thursday morning. I so appreciate that you returned it to the store.
There are so many good, honest people out there, but we usually hear about the less-than-honest ones. Thank you for being one of them. I wish you and your family well during this scary time!
Kathy Nowak
Hilton Head Island
Face reality of coronavirus impacts on Beaufort County
Occasionally the Packet publishes editorials from national news media for us to consider for our community’s well-being.
Recently, I was impressed with the Wall Street Journal page in the Opinion section that addresses the other major effects of this coronavirus crisis, such as the continuing shutdown of our economy, the inadequacy of replacing our private economy with borrowed federal money, the massive costs of these shutdowns and and later recovery, and allowing the young and healthy to get back to work without the undue delay of government.
Also, people’s differences, how to avoid destroying American livelihoods and the disproportionately adverse effects on non-white, lower-wage groups.
I question whether we should delay because neither our federal nor state governments is likley to sufficiently address these issues for us.
The economic return of Hilton Head Island and Beaufort County and our dominant tourist industry will likely take longer than we might hope.
My suggestion is that the Town of Hilton Head Island, together with our business community, address these other virus-related problems as soon as possible.
I question whether we should delay because neither the federal and our S.C. state governments are likely to address these issues sufficiently for our community’s unique environment and businesses.
Walt Schymik
Hilton Head Island
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