Letters to the Editor 2/26/14
Gross mischaracterization
A recent letter writer tries to perpetuate the myth that only a couple of disgruntled residents oppose the recent actions of Sullivan's Island Town Council.
In view of the 49.3 percent of islanders who voted last May for someone other than Mayor Mike Perkis, that is a gross mischaracterization of the island-wide disquiet about the direction in which this town council is taking Sullivan's Island.
Town council is considering several projects that will have significant and long-term impacts on the entire community. Property taxes and fees would be increased for every islander to pay for these projects.
Major quality of life issues are at stake. With all of the potential changes, Sullivan's Island could well be unrecognizable in a few short years – not to mention unaffordable.
In spite of numerous requests for greater transparency and more opportunity to provide feedback, islanders continue to be frustrated by the difficulty in getting timely information from town council.
No one who attended the February workshop or listened to the tapes of the meeting could accurately describe any of the questions asked by residents as “outbursts.” The same could not be said of some of the council's responses, however. But residents have a right to know and comment on what public officials are doing. And public officials have a responsibility to tell them. It's the law.
In fact, a Berkeley County resident was just awarded a reported $65,000 to settle a lawsuit filed after he was denied his right to speak at a school board meeting.
The problem on Sullivan's Island is not residents who ask uncomfortable questions.
The problem is a town council that wants to parcel out information only as it pleases and shut down dissent by attempting to disparage and embarass the questioners.
Barbara Spell
Sullivan's Island
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