Since I was part of the last mayoral election, I feel the need to respond to Coble’s article ( http://www.free-times.com/index.php?cat=1992912064033858&ShowArticle_ID=11012708084021605) last week. Kevin is still making the same “rants” as he did during the election, and they are still valid, even more so now that the city still has not balanced its books, hired a finance director, does not know what money it has available, finds itself with a $10-20 million employee insurance liability it had no idea it had, has crumbling water and sewer lines (Huger St caved in last week due to a faulty pipe), has no money for Christmas lights this year and is asking the Main St. and 5 Points merchants to contribute, the bus system is coming to an end, and… and…Need I say more? So Kevin has every right to point out the obvious, and the hidden.
As for the Pee Wee Gaskins memorial, I find that a stretch. I found the destruction of the old CCI facility a travesty as it was a very historic facility and architecturally significant. According to what I have read, it was built by black slave inmates in the 1800’s. This facility should have been kept as a museum, and could have been frequently used by the movie industry, as promoted by Temple Ligon. It would have been as monumental as Alcatraz, the impact enormous. I believe Kevin was pointing out the lack of vision of city leaders and how Charleston would never have destroyed such a significant structure, along with the benefits of preservation.
The bus system is another issue. Yes, the system was very poorly run. SCE&G wanted it that way as an out. But they were obligated to run it as long as they had the Columbia electric franchise, as ruled by the US Supreme Court many decades ago. Coble’s statement that the SC Legislature could dissolve that ruling is questionable at best, and more an excuse for his and council’s mistake. Any mayor worth his salt would take legal action against any state attempt to overturn a federal ruling, but why would the legislators even attempt such? It could be political suicide. The $71 million was also not all cash but real estate and other considerations, meaning there was not enough cash to invest to return even $3 million yearly at 5% interest. The point is, the system did not have to be taken over by the city. SCE&G was required to operate it, and the city could have taken it back to court to force an adequate system. it may have been poorly run, but at least it was running, not like the death it faces over the next few months. (As a side note, someone politically connected told me that council voted to release SCE&G as they were threatened with well funded election opposition if they did not, which reinforces my instinct that someone/s benefited at the expense of many.)
As for the renaissance Coble keeps touting, it isn’t happening, unless you call rebuilding what you destroyed a renaissance. Not only has Coble presided over the greatest financial disasters in Columbia’s history, he also presided over the greatest destruction of Columbia since Sherman. In 1990, downtown was still the activity center of Columbia. Then we lost Macy’s, Belk’s, Penny’s, many glorious movie theaters and homes, most small retailers, and wide streets. Now we are losing SCANA, the VA, Lourie’s, the Capital Newsstand, the Capital Café, and more. Projects such as Vision have been scrapped, the Main St revitalization (is this the 6th over 30 years?) is going to cause more to be lost, as it did in 5 Points, and it is not certain that enough money is available complete it anytime soon. The Eau Claire revitalization will not happen soon due to lack of money, Innovista has not yet become the cash cow city planned, yet spent millions building parking garages for USC Innovista that will not be filled anytime soon (shouldn’t USC have built the garages with its own funds?). Adesso and other condo projects are still sitting unfilled, neighborhoods (especially north Columbia) are living in fear of real, not perceived crime, the water and sewer lines are crumbling, causing sink holes all over town and requiring water boils due to ingress of contaminants, multi-millions of dollars lost on projects such as Airsouth, trolleys, Canalside, and on and on. If renaissance is trying to rebuild what you destroyed, yes, we are in one.
As for constructive advice Coble is right. Kevin could offer more. I know I have over many campaigns, and Coble and council have taken personal credit for all of it: council meetings on channel 2, evening council meetings, city/educational institution cooperation, summer concerts, all city information online, a functional transportation system, regional cooperation, timely accurate financial information and more.
Of course, if Kevin offered more, council would probably adopt it and claim the ideas as their own.
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