Hilton Head Town Council also must represent travel industry and visitors | Letters
Excerpts from my letter to Hilton Head Island Mayor John McCann:
I have owned property on Hilton Head since 2009. I understand that Town Council is elected by the residents but do not feel that they have adequately represented all interests, including local business owners and owners who rent their homes. There is a “them” vs “us” mentality that is pervasive. My observations:
1. Passing town ordinances that need to be later retracted is both time-wasting and embarrassing.
2. There is no known barrier to preventing the COVID-19 coronavirus from impacting the residents. The choices are either quarantine inside and wait for the vaccine, or contract the virus and hope that you are in the majority to be able to cure. Trying to stop the virus at the bridge isn’t going to happen.
3. We should not be cavalier and dismissive on the value of travel and visitors to the island. We spend millions of dollars attracting tourists, which can be destroyed by poorly-worded road signs and vigilante citizens. We need an economy to come back to after this passes. We need to carefully consider the impact on the businesses and the impact on their employees and their families. Decisions to “close shop” are devastating to these families.
Are these trade-offs going to be popular? Perhaps not with the vocal “at-risk” citizens who enjoy the benefits of the tax revenues while demanding isolation. Banning visitors will not solve problems but will create economic damage for years to come.
Glen J. Villano
Elk Grove Village, Illinois
Hilton Head short-term rental ban will haunt you
For those who are applauding the short-term rental ban on Hilton Head Island, have you considered your own property value when these same short-term rentals become affordable housing?
As we all know, the island is in need of such accommodations. Enjoy it now while it lasts, because I assure you, the ever-increasing property tax has to be paid one way or another.
John Montgomery
Greenville
(The writer is a Hilton Head Island property owner.)
Is SC Gov. Henry McMaster paying attention?
Gov. Henry McMaster may need hearing aids and glasses.
Did he not see South Carolina’s crowded beaches and bars? Did he not hear in early March the clarion call to stay at home and limit large gatherings? Does he not attend the almost daily virtual meetings among U.S. governors to discuss the coronavirus pandemic?
Does McMaster not believe the models that predict what the virus could do to citizens of S.C.? Does the anticipated shortage of hospital beds and medical supplies across the state keep him awake at night? Does the limited ability for citizens to be tested for coronavirus bother him? Without data, how can he plan?
Perhaps his focus has been solely on the economy – dollars and cents, not blood and guts. How can we expect major industries or small businesses to relocate here, or stay here, if it isn’t clear their employees will be adequately protected?
No matter the stripe – red, blue, or purple – I consider our governor to be in a localized outbreak. Testing is needed to see if he is a leader we can really trust to look out for us. I miss Nikki.
Susan Baukhages
Bluffton
Be appreciative of what you do have ... not what you don’t have
As we quarantine and distance ourselves from others, we have to sacrifice space and socialization. This isolation is something we each adjust to, depending on our own circumstance.
The fact that you can ride a bike if you have one, can walk on the beach because you have friends who share access, or golf in your own cart or one person per cart, is how we adjust and stay healthy with exercise.
There are certainly safe parameters for all physical activity, but to express a will of denial for others to enjoy whatever they can do in their space of isolation is selfish and reflects how others wish misery to join their company.
Be appreciative of what you do have ... not what you do not. Don’t perpetuate a jealous spirit. Accept that we are all trying to do our best to cope with a difficult situation.
Carrie Maglich
Hilton Head Island
Give a voice to the first lady
Every day we see President Donald Trump addressing the nation. How about an appearance by the first lady? We do have one?
Perhaps she could offer some understanding and encouragement to the millions of women who are finding themselves in exposed medical conditions, the caregivers, mothers providing full-time child entertainment, becoming a “Magic Chef,” and home schooler.
Just a thought.
Bette Taylor
Hilton Head Island
It’s the Trump virus now. Don’t let them shift the blame
The rapidly compounding errors of the Trump administration are costing American lives.
Failure to take the coronavirus threat seriously, beginning in early January; the CDC’s failure with test kits and continuing rollout problems; the lack of clear, coordinated direction from a central authority – all are are the fault of the wholly unprepared Trump administration.
He thought closing air traffic from China was sufficient to stop the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. For weeks following, the president minimized the threat, with comparisons to the flu and assurances it was well controlled.
Jan 21: “Totally under control.” Feb. 2: “We pretty much shut it down coming in from China.” Feb. 10: “Looks like by April, you know, in theory, when it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away.” Feb. 25: “We’re very close to a vaccine.” Feb. 26: “When you have 15 (U.S cases), and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero, that’s a pretty good job we’ve done.” Feb. 26: “This is a flu. This is like a flu.”
Soon, we were told that if only 100,000 die, “We’ll have done a good job.” By what metrics?
And putting Jared Kushner into another position for which he is unqualified and unprepared is not re-assuring. The Strategic National Stockpile statement was re-written to reflect the federal government’s plan to blame the states for the failings of the Trump administration.
It’s the Trump virus now. Don’t let them shift the blame.
Hal Cherry
Hilton Head Island
Remember who exploited the pandemic
First, let me say that President Donald Trump has made mistakes in his handling of the COVID-19 disaster. He is far from perfect. There’s a bone for Trump haters to chew on.
But just when we thought the Democratic leaders in the House and Senate could not get any more despicable, they did. The coronavirus brought out the worst in them. There’s some red meat for the Trump zealots.
With that out of the way, I would like to give the rest of us some food for thought.
The country that we all love is in trouble. COVID-19 doesn’t know the difference between political parties, race or economic states. We are all at-risk and should be pulling together to do what is necessary to get us through this crises, and I think that most of us are.
Americans have always come together in times of crises, because we are basically a good and caring people and I don’t think this time will be any different. We will get through this, and come back strong.
I just hope that we all have long memories when it comes time to make decisions about who should lead us in the future. Please remember who exploited this for political advantage or financial gain. Those who put their political agendas before the welfare of the country should be voted out of office or not elected in the first place. We can do better!
Jim Dickson
St. Helena Island
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