Do not prohibit ebikes on Hilton Head pathways | Letters
A recent letter encouraged Town of Hilton Head Island leaders not to approve the use of ebikes on the island.
In the 30 years I have lived on the island, I have biked over 20,000 miles on the bike paths. There certainly are some behaviors that do create risk for others, but it is not ebikes. In fact, as I grow older and now own an ebike, I believe they are far safer than other forms of bikes.
I will offer a couple points in defense of ebikes.
The brakes permit ebikes to stop much faster than regular bikes.
There are three classes of ebikes. Class 1 and 2 have governors that limit speeds to no more than 20 mph. Class 3 has no governor and its typical top speed is 27 mph.
The cars I own all have the capacity to travel well in excess of 100 mph, but I have no desire to go that fast. Road bikers typically ride around the island on their lightweight bikes at speeds of 25 to 30 mph. I ride my ebike normally at 10 to 12 mph, which is the same for most of those traveling on the bike paths.
If fully explored, there is a long list of features that make the ebike safer than traditional bikes.
We have an aging population here and want to keep moving as long as we can. Ebikes help seniors keep exercising and doing it safer than traditional biking. Please do not outlaw their use.
Garry Reed
Hilton Head Island
Middle-aged white woman WOKE on racism: ‘I have not done enough’
I am a white woman from the South. I just turned 50 this year. I have lived most of my life in Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina. I’ve always considered myself not to be a racist and have gotten along well with black people I have worked with, and had black friends.
I’ve even been close enough with some black people to joke about our differences and poke fun at each other.
I’m educated. I’ve benefited from white privilege in many ways, but I’ve also had to put in a lot of work to get to where I am. I am a nurse practitioner and a professor. I treat all my patients, their families, and my students with respect, no matter their background.
Up until now, I thought I was doing enough about racism.
I am realizing over the past week that I have not done enough. I have been complicit. I have called people out on overt racism, but what have I done about systemic racism? How have I stood with my black brothers and sisters? I’ve thought, “What can one person do?”
It’s time for me to lean into my discomfort.
It’s time for me to quit worrying who I am going to offend by speaking out, in a white-privileged town, in a Southern state.
Why should I worry about people on social media not liking my posts, or what my neighbors or co-workers will think?
Now is the time for action. This middle-aged white woman is WOKE!
Jana Wheeler
Hilton Head Island
Bluffton wiping out too many trees
A recent article by Amy Chillag of CNN highlighted that U.S. cities are losing 36 million trees each year – causing as much as 10-degree temperature increases – as forests are being replaced by impervious surfaces.
I want residents of Beaufort County to rest assured that we here in Bluffton are doing our fair share to eliminate trees and keep things warm for the older residents.
Whether it’s major residential developments, commercial developments such as Washington Square, the Christian Academy, or our malls, we are not slackers.
We now have our eyes on the golf courses and paving them over.
Our current generation of leadership voices empathy for the plight of the trees, but fortunately are convinced by the developers to keep up their good work.
Tom Nickles
Bluffton
Who stole the plants at Gardens Corner?
It is with regret that I write to report that the years-long effort to beautify the Gardens Corner area has been placed in jeopardy by thieves stealing landscaping plants at Gardens Corner.
Not even a single day transpired before somebody engaged in grand theft of the landscaping at the Gardens Corner intersection. Over $600 worth of plants were stolen right out of the ground – in two days time!
Hundreds of hours of private citizens’ time (i.e., the Friends of Gardens Corner) was invested in making this project come into existence. The Beaufort County Council, thanks to the tree reforestation fund, pledged over $97,000 toward the beautification of the Gardens Corner intersection, which serves all citizens of Beaufort County because it is the gateway to Beaufort.
Now is the time to say enough is enough, because somebody knows something and can report to the Sheriff’s Office what they know. A report has been filed and an investigation can be pursued in this matter. Please help!
Tony Criscitiello
Sheldon
Hilton Head Town Council member Marc Grant tells public the truth on race
I would like to state my affirmation to Hilton Head Island Town Council member Marc Grant’s ending comment in a recent Packet story: “I’ve always been cautious as to how I interact on this council and in the community. I have never felt truly free (to an) extent in America.”
In my lifetime, beginning with childhood, I have (being Caucasian) had the privilege to befriend, both personally and professionally, several African Americans. We have had over the years, conversations regarding race relations. “Cautious” and “truly free” sums it up. Thank you, Mr. Grant. We have a lot of work to do.
Judie Whitmore
Hilton Head Island
Keep trash off the Hilton Head beach
I am so sorry that people are so disrespectful to your beautiful Hilton Head Island. My husband and I come every year and absolutely love it there. Continue the good work of trying to keep this trash off your beach.
Melissa Smith
Maryville, Tennessee
Bay Point Island: Leave it as is
I am writing to express opposition to the development planned for Bay Point Island. Here is why:
As a nationally designated Important Bird Area, this island supports up to 8,000 shorebirds during the winter. A recent study showed North America has lost almost 3 billion birds in the past 50 years. Projects like this hastened the decline of birds threatened by climate change and over-development.
This is a barrier island, which protects the mainland from the brunt of storm impacts. Sea levels worldwide have already risen 8 inches due to climate change, with the East Coast being among the highest.
We are experiencing stronger storms. Will FEMA insure this type of resort? If not, can the developer self-insure against storm damage? For how many storms? Will the developer then abandon the resort with Beaufort County responsible for clean up?
There is a new addition to the plan: septic areas! Are you kidding me? Most communities bordering bodies of water are required to connect to centralized sewer infrastructure for good reason.
There is already evidence of saltwater intrusion into groundwater. Rising seas and more severe storms will increase the risk of systems failure, causing pollution of waterways relied on by the Gullah-Geechee community.
Required infrastructure – emergency response, power and water – are all high-risk.
This development is risky to our environment and to the residents of Beaufort County, who will be responsible for financial support of negative impacts. Calling it “eco” does not make it so. Leave it be!
Paula Smith
Bluffton
Nonprofit the key to US health care
Why are people surprised at the lack of care and insufficient staffing in many nursing homes and health care facilities?
Most of these are run by for-profit corporate entities. Whose interests do you think come first in this sort of enterprise – the owners and stockholders, or the patients?
When health care facilities and nursing homes are nonprofit, the income is the same but there are no owners or stockholders to take their “share” and the emphasis is on the care of the patients.
This is why all nursing homes and health care facilities should be nonprofit. And why we should applaud fine local nonprofits such Beaufort Memorial Hospital and Dialysis Clinic Inc.
Barbara Temple
Beaufort
Democrats have double standard
As I read a recent letter to the editor I wondered how the writer could accuse Republicans of hating immigrants, slandering the poor, suppressing voters, and encouraging the rampant use of firearms, without citing examples or providing evidence.
It said Republicans hate gays, but it was Democratic President Bill Clinton who implemented the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy for gays in the service. He also signed the Defense of Marriage Act, a discriminatory anti-gay statute.
When I read that Republicans support legislation and policies that are harmful and divisive, I wonder. Why are the Democrats, media and Hollywood elites all so absolutely lacking of intellectual honesty?
For example, a Republican is accused of sexual harassment – guilty as charged. A Democrat is accused – she’s a lying tramp.
A right-wing billionaire supports a cause – dirty money corrupts. Left-wing billionaires – philanthropists supporting democracy.
Republicans are racists, but Sen. Robert Byrd and Jim Crow never happened.
Republicans are in bed with big business, but Democrats gladly accept their money for campaigning.
I’d go on but space is limited.
For decades, I’ve made a living driving a truck for big business. I put my daughter through medical school. I plan to retire soon. I’ve lived the “American Dream.”
The writer says only multi-millionaires should vote Republican. Former Vice President Joe Biden says “you ain’t black” if you are African American and vote Republican. Doesn’t this sound divisive?
I can’t be the only one who sees this double standard.
Lawrence V. Francese
Beaufort
Trump and GOP completely finished
Last November, I began my letters to editor campaign on the incompetent, corrupt, and failed GOP by outlining all that’s wrong with its leadership as it morphed into the party of Trump.
Now, I have come to the conclusion that our country is in far worse condition.
By mid-January, intelligence officials and the Health and Human Services department were telling President Donald Trump and his pathetic advisory team that the coronavirus was coming. It was a matter of when and not if the virus was going to become a major health problem. This was after the communist Chinese government’s failed attempt to cover up its colossal mess. The advice was to ban travel from China (40,000 arrived from China after Trump’s toothless ban) and Europe.
Our federal government, under Trump and the GOP Senate, his so-called advisors and appointees, is a failure of immense proportions.
In 2018, Trump and his National Security Council team decided to largely defund the World Health Organization pandemic response team established by President Barack Obama in 2014. Obama’s national security advisors in a transition meeting had said the No. 1 national security issue was the threat of a worldwide pandemic – ahead of terrorism and cyber warfare.
It would be helpful if the 25th Amendment were invoked and have the con man removed from office. Unfortunately, we have the weakest cabinet in place in American history.
The GOP is finished and needs a complete overhaul. We must elect Democrats to lead our states and country.
Mike Bartholomew
Hilton Head Island
Greatest voice is in the voting booth
I am angry, but negativity leads nowhere. In that light, I have a positive statement to make.
Vote!
Voting is not just a right. Voting is a responsibility.
Many of us are angry about a number of issues, but we all need to remember that protesting in June is of no value if we don’t protest in November with our vote.
We struggle to get 60% turnout of “registered voters” in a presidential election. For mid-term or local elections, it is even worse. This doesn’t even count the numbers of people who don’t bother to register.
I know it is easy to feel marginalized or unimportant, but that is not true. You have a voice, use it.
I have seen several signs in the past week that “white silence = violence.” I would add to that. Your silence at the voting booth is equal to voting for the status quo. A non-vote is a vote for the “other side.” It is a vote for the people who want to silence you. It is a vote for people who want to make it more difficult for you to register and vote.
We don’t live in a perfect world. Many times it seems like we are forced to choose between the lesser of two evils. Well, buck up, pal. A non-vote is a vote for the greater of two evils.
Don Foulke
Okatie
Elections still focus on the negative
I guess it is much easier to say something negative about your opponents than it is to find something positive to say about yourself.
Wayne Wicker
Beaufort
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