Town of Hilton Head Island, focus on the real problem: Visitors | Letters
I was impressed by the recent letter to the editor urging the Hilton Head Island mayor (and Town Council) to shut the island to all visitors for a period of time.
While I have doubts that the mayor has the power to do so, there are ways to accomplish this.
First, all hotels should be asked to close for a period of at least two weeks.
Similarly, all rental agencies should be asked to not allow rentals for two weeks.
Those who refuse should receive appropriate publicity of their failure to cooperate.
The problem with the mayor’s and council’s approach so far is that they have taken (closing of beaches) and propose to take (stay-at-home) actions that penalize residents while really not getting to the heart of the problem: visitors from high-risk areas coming to the island.
A lockdown at this point is unnecessary IF we focus on the real problem.
James A. Wood
Hilton Head Island
Gov. Henry McMaster needs to act
Gov. Henry McMaster, what are you waiting for?
For the coronavirus numbers to increase?
I think it’s expedient that you enter a “shelter in place” order.
Ordering people to stand six feet apart and not to congregate in groups of more than three is weak and irresponsible.
You have been elected to lead this state. Now is not the time to dither and abdicate your responsibility for keeping us safe.
Micki Lankes
Bluffton
Stand up or step aside
Hilton Head Island Mayor John McCann,
Your pledge when running for mayor was to “put the residents first.” How quickly you have forgotten that pledge.
While resort communities throughout the state and the country are telling tourists to stay away and tourist services to shut down, you continue to sit on your hands and blame the governor.
On Thursday, the Myrtle Beach City Council ordered hotels, condos, rental properties to be vacated by noon on Sunday unless the guests have been there since March 1. Amusement for tourists were to close as of Friday. They did not wait for the governor to take action to protect their community.
Sadly, you and the Town Council continue to put the needs of the resort industry ahead of the residents. If you and the council cannot or will not step up in this time of crisis, then it is time for all of you to step down and allow us to get the leadership we need.
According to the medical community, time is of the essence.
Eric Popky
Hilton Head Island
Open Hilton Head beach park to locals
Open Islanders Beach Park to Town of Hilton Head Island parking permit holders.
Why do island residents have to be punished with no access to the beach?
Open Islanders Beach Park to residents with a town permit only. It’s easy to enforce and lets us enjoy our island. We paid for the permit; it should be our right to use it.
David Neff
Hilton Head Island
A bad time to be using parking tickets in Beaufort
Dear city of Beaufort,
I don’t often complain but today it is necessary. I saw something that raises many questions and concerns of the example being set by the city. This one thing brings several questions into mind.
As I drove through a very subdued downtown I could see maybe eight cars parked on the street. I found this to be sad, seeing all the revenue being lost by the businesses down there.
Although, to my amazement, what I did see was a meter reader out writing parking tickets. My questions are as followed.
1. Is this an essential position for an employee that should be doing something from home at this point?
2. How come we can close the offices to pay this fine, but continue to issue this fine?
3. How can we freeze eviction notices, possibly car payments, and all due to so much loss of work, but continue to fine someone for parking to help support a business that is still functioning.
4. What kind of an example does our great city really want to set in such a time as this? Even the Cross Island Parkway toll has been suspended.
Come on, now. Let’s show the world that we are better than this. Please find something for this wonderful city employee to do from home and keep him/her safe while we help support our businesses downtown as much as we can safely do. I know we are better than this. #AwesomeBeaufort.
Cortney Pottenger
Beaufort
Hilton Head Hospital owes public basic information
Hilton Head Hospital is at the best grossly irresponsible, or at the worst negligent in not sharing COVID-19 information.
“Patients’ privacy”? No. I need not know the name, address, or travel history of a particular patient, but I would like to make an informed decision about visiting my friends, or the amount of personal protection I need going shopping.
I am denied that information for what? To serve our “cheerleader-in-chief” mayor or the secretive Chamber of Commerce agenda?
Kudos to those on the Town Council who voted for a full disclosure, and shame on those two members of the council and those on the hospital board who vote for secrecy. Have you no shame, sirs and madams?
Jan S. Stasiek
Hilton Head Island
Signs of change: Keep Bluffton Parkway a true parkway
I applaud Beaufort County and the town of Bluffton for spending money for parks and recreation facilities to benefit the people of our area.
However, I do want them to also focus on another “park.” That is our Bluffton Parkway.
This is a park of a different kind. It is (for the most part) a place to forget some of the traffic and busy-ness of U.S. 278 for us citizens of this area. It deals with less congestion of the Hilton Head Island tourists, commercial trucks, and traffic. It is almost a sanctuary in comparison.
But all we see on both sides of the parkway now are “For Sale” signs, which foretells more to come. We see more communities and storage facilities popping up.
I would like to suggest that our local governments take some time to consider zoning changes and the purchase of frontage property to maintain this safer haven for their constituents. Also, I suggest that we, the constituents, comment on this suggestion or offer other ideas.
It is never too late, unless we ignore it.
Susan Hansz
Bluffton
Watch for low gas prices
I have been watching the daily wholesale price of gasoline this past week. I see that it is hovering around 50 cents per gallon.
This price is known as the RBOB price. Generally speaking here in South Carolina, this price plus about 50 cents per gallon is the price you should see at the pump next month in the same window of time.
So, on average we should be paying at most $1 per gallon next month for gasoline at the pump.
Do you think our local stations will be charging us that price? I have my doubts, but we should hold them to it. Get mad if they try to cheat us. They are quick to raise the price of gas, but are extremely slow to lower the price.
Bruce Turner
Okatie