Leaders risk killing “golden egg” if real culprit of bridge traffic isn’t addressed | Opinion

Golden opportunity

People frequently complain about “the backup on the bridge,” but invariably it’s caused by backups beyond the bridge, not by the bridge itself.

The same is true for the Bluffton Parkway flyover and causeway leading to MacKay Creek.

I understand and accept that the MacKay Creek bridge has structural deficiencies that call for the bridge’s replacement, but beyond that, it seems far better to put funds into creative ways of alleviating tie-ups at the 278 intersections and for reducing commuter traffic to and from the Island, than to assume newly-constructed six-lane thoroughfares and bridges are the answer.

The enormous cost of the 278 project, its ultimate efficacy and impact on Jenkins Island have raised understandable public concern over the design and review process employed to date. A transparent review of the need for a new span over Skull Creek, conducted by a competent and politically independent engineering firm, seems essential.

It also seems better to “get it right” than to push ahead in meeting a construction timeline based on assumptions and plans of questionable validity.

The “build, baby, build!” mentality that has engulfed Beaufort County is endangering the goose that laid the golden egg.

The 278 project provides an opportunity to demonstrate to the public that proper checks and balances are in place to protect its interests.

I hope that we take advantage of that opportunity.

Kent Collins, Jenkins Island

Mace right on this

While Congresswoman Nancy Mace and I may not agree on a lot of things, I am grateful for her leadership in opposing the Ending Agriculture Trade Suppression (“EATS”) Act.

This bill, currently pending in Congress, could nullify over a thousand state laws, and it also threatens to subvert the will of voters by overturning ballot measures enacted by the people.

Rep. Mace co-led a sign-on letter with other members of Congress explaining why the EATS Act — or anything like it — would undermine important values like states’ rights, competition and national sovereignty.

Opposition to the EATS Act is broad, and over 4,500 entities (including more than 2,000 farms and over 200 federal lawmakers from both sides of the aisle) have spoken out against it.

Rep. Mace’s stance on this bill aligns with the interests of South Carolina voters and reflects a commitment to preserving decision-making at the state level.

Lew Brindle, HHI

Support fuel for school

Public schools provide not just physical facilities, but transportation, textbooks and materials to all students in support of the mission to educate.

Yet, while we require students to attend from early morning to mid-afternoon, we fail to universally provide fuel vital to the educational process – an adequate balanced diet.

If we don’t base textbooks, laptops or bus rides on income, why do we expend precious resources to obtain that information before providing meals?

Universal School Meals (USM) – nutritious meals provided without regard to income status – increase meal participation by students of all income levels, thereby reducing “lunch stigma,” administrative costs, and community food insecurity while increasing economies of scale, test scores, and attendance rates.

Research published just this month in Pediatrics (Localio, et al, 3/18/24) also links USM to modest decreases in obesity prevalence, which we know affects chronic disease development.

What a crucial opportunity to prioritize not only the education but also the long-term health of South Carolina citizens with one cost-effective initiative.

I urge support for passage of H5022 and S0148 to make South Carolina the ninth state, and first in the Southeast, to prioritize both education and health via school meals for our youngest citizens.

Sandra Daws, Rock Hill

Praise for values

We greatly appreciate the consistent teaching of the “RAISE” values in our public charter school, American Leadership Academy in Lexington (Unchartered Territory, March 11, 2024).

These core school values of respect, accountability, integrity, service and excellence mirror the values in our home but are sadly lacking in much of present-day society.

We are thankful that the Charter Institute at Erskine is leading the way in bringing high-quality education to South Carolina students while emphasizing traditional values with families.

Nathan and Emily Mains, Lexington