Letters to the Editor - July 2, 2020

The Balance of Bikes and Motorists
As a concerned cyclist and motorist on the island, I would like to weigh in on the relationship between the two. DI is one of the more comfortable places to cycle on … but this is only true if both drivers and cyclists are responsible and aware of each other.
 
I have read complaints from both sides, however, it seems that I have heard more from motorists who are having a hard time sharing the road with cyclists. This is concerning as motorists are the dominant party!
 
It’s simple, there are just too many distractions these days inside a car … it gets the best of us.
 
So the point is that motorists have the biggest responsibility here — put down your phone, and please, please use your turn signal. And if you’re thinking that cyclists shouldn’t be on the road with you, you’re wrong! Give us room.
 
But also there are cyclists that believe they’re on the road all by themselves and are not paying attention to their responsibilities as well. Follow the same rules, indicate your intentions. Remember it is up to us as well.
 
One of the biggest reasons I chose DI to live was so I could open my garage, jump on my bike and pedal. I want it to stay this way.
 
Tim Pottridge
Daniel Island
 
Time to stand up
 
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
 
Every year, on July 4th, we celebrate these inspirational words. We thank Thomas Jefferson and John Adams for writing the Declaration of Independence and George Washington for leading us in battle and in country. We celebrate our leaders, from founding until now, for shouldering the burden of nation.
 
And that leadership should be celebrated.
 
But these words weren’t meant for all then and their leadership isn’t meant for all now.
 
Millions of Americans are not free and millions more are free in name only. The very system we celebrate was created at a time when White Americans were legally allowed to own our Black and Brown brothers. Yet, instead of recognizing the failures in this system, we blame those it punishes and ignore those it fails.
 
No longer.
 
Join us on July 4th as we demonstrate for action. We’ll be meeting at Etiwan Park at 10 a.m. and walking to the corner of Daniel Island Drive and River Landing where we’ll hold our demonstration. Please bring your sign and your mask. Observing social distance and wearing a mask will be mandatory.
 
We must recognize our privilege and use our voice for good.
 
Opting out isn’t an option.
 
Jay Shifman
Daniel Island
 
A sincere ‘thank you’
 
I just want to say thank you to everyone who supported me, volunteered their time, or offered an encouraging word during my campaign for State House. Your support means more than you know. Although we came up short, I’m proud of the race we ran. We exceeded everyone’s expectations — even my own.
 
I also want to thank each and every person who voted in the primary, regardless of how you voted. Participation by as many voters as possible is healthy for our community and the political process.
 
And I want to congratulate the winning candidate, Mark Smith. Mark is a good man, and I believe he’ll do an outstanding job as our state representative.
 
I decided to run for State House because I wanted to make a difference for the community I love, and because I believed I had something to offer. I still believe that, and I plan to remain active and involved – even as a private citizen – in working to make our area a better place and fighting for badly needed government reforms. That includes continuing to advocate term limits for state lawmakers, which I truly believe will help improve the quality of state government and move South Carolina forward.
 
Again, thank you for making this such a meaningful experience.
 
David Herndon
Daniel Island
 
A Vision Lost Along the Waterfront
 
As I walk along the Wando and watch the construction of the Waterfront development, I can only think about a presentation Matt Sloan gave at our neighborhood meeting about a year ago on the proposed waterfront development. I remember seeing a dreamy rendition of small clusters of townhomes and condos along with descriptions of improved waterfront amenities and food and restaurant venues. What happened to that vision?
 
I blame two factors: developer greed and abdication of responsibility by the DI Architectural Review Board and City Design Review Board. 
 
When the ARB holds residents to strict guidelines from everything from paint color to landscaping, they apparently turned a blind eye to building mass and compatibility with existing development. The ARB could have provided comment to the city in that regard. When Publix gets rejected from an expansion plan because of appearance, how does the Waterfront appearance fit in with the rest of the structures on River Landing? How does the building mass look alongside the sales center? Not good.
 
The Daniel Island ARB and City Design Review Board have let us down with this development.
 
Glenn Williman
Daniel Island

 

Daniel Island Publishing

225 Seven Farms Drive
Unit 108
Daniel Island, SC 29492 

Office Number: 843-856-1999
Fax Number: 843-856-8555

 

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