Six-lane bridge decision points to prejudicial issues in officials’ traffic knowledge | Opinion

Island culture at risk

Three traffic studies by the state, county and town have failed to address the reality that a lack of alternate routes is creating Hilton Head’s congestion issue and out of ignorance declared that a single six-lane bridge to the island will solve the congestion symptom.

It cannot.

The well-understood “Fundamental Law of Traffic Congestion” states that adding lanes in a congested area increases congestion.

Adding lanes to existing streets cannot substitute for adding avenues.

Political prejudice for a six-lane design solution has subordinated engineering logic and ethics.

To overcome this prejudice, the Town Council must understand that congestion is not the problem.

The concentration of bureaucratic staff on development projects with a lack of in-house understanding of transportation and other utility issues is the problem.

The current bridge plan severely impacts the Stoney area, home to the Gulla Geechee community, the center of early island culture.

A study focused on this senior community and all island residents’ lifestyles within a managed tourism industry is sorely needed.

The Town Council must recognize this need and reform the town workforce to manage a healthy, but limited, tourism market, and maintain the island cultural vision that Charles Fraser created.

Hilton Head Town Council must not approve the current state/county six-lane bridge

proposal.

A fundamental review and analysis of “culture and capacity” should be undertaken prior to specific major projects that threaten our island identity.

Joseph Kernan, HHI

For shame

Note: The writer has been a member of the S.C. Bar Association since 1968.

Many Republican leaders of our state who are members of the bar have made public statements condemning the verdict of the jury in New York in the Trump criminal case.

They have repudiated our judicial system, our fundamental and vital jury trial system, and the cornerstone of our democracy, the rule of law.

Shame on them.

Joel Collins, Columbia

Lowcountry voters beware

Note: The writer is former co-chair of the Lowcountry Immigration Coalition.

Here in Congressional District 1 we have heard much from two House candidates about resolving the immigration problem in the country; however, we don’t live on the Southern border, which does need to be controlled.

At the same time, an individual running for president has said he will build a wall and deport up to 11 million immigrants.

Watch out, Lowcountry. Much of the lifestyle we enjoy here in our area is highly dependent on immigrant labor.

There may be more than 85,000 immigrants working in South Carolina, providing services such as contracting, housing, roofing, stuccoing, food preparation, health care, food service and resort care.

Many of these individuals may have been in the Lowcountry for 12-15 years or more (not to mention their American-born children), and who have paid state and federal taxes totaling more than $5 billion statewide in recent years.

I fail to see the purpose in millions of such people being deported, not to mention how they will be lined up and shipped away in cattle cars or buses.

What does that remind you of?

Vote appropriately in the Lowcountry.

George Kanuck, Bluffton

Stop the deluge

The Biden Administration is waking up to a harsh reality of its own making: in the name of saving the climate, they’ve driven US manufacturing into the arms of China’s warm, coal-fired embrace.

And we can’t blame them.

China knew to pursue green technologies, because they knew we’d jump through hell and high water if it meant rejoining feel-good agreements like the Paris Accords.

Luckily, Republicans have an opportunity to deliver clarity on the climate issue: make polluters like China play by the rules.

Make them pay for the costs of labor and environmental compliance that they otherwise face in a true market economy.

For too long, we’ve been complacent in letting China deluge our shores with cheap, pollution-laden goods.

Politicians pointed to the price tags on these items and made it seem like we won. Yet, the condition of our workforce, environment, supply chains and global standing clearly indicate the opposite.

So, the key question is this: will Congress stand with Senator Graham, former President (and presidential candidate) Trump and the American worker, or are they with the Chinese Communist Party? That is how clear this issue should be.

Jay Lester, Inman

This story was originally published June 2, 2024 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Six-lane bridge decision points to prejudicial issues in officials’ traffic knowledge | Opinion."