The parks are always full of trash, the side walks have worn of paint and the roads aren’t always freshly paved after like the first 3 months of when they where fixing the roads
This will really help the enviroment so that we will have a clean and fresh environment.
Make “If You Were Mayor” permanent and link to Office of the Mayor as of public connection with government.
Leave a small, core portion of the College of Charleston downtown and move the rest of the campus further north, even all the way to the (former) Magnolia site. This would alleviate the bulk of the traffic and parking issues downtown, it would free up run-down and poorly maintained student apartments and put them in the hands of local residents, as affordable housing and who would be more likely to take care of them. I believe it would also encourage more locals from surrounding areas to come eat and drink downtown, who now stay away because of the crowded student scene. The College could continue to grow, if it wanted, without ruining what makes Charleston so charming, as it has already begun to do so.
Our children are not on an equal playing field. Unfortunately, it took an unbelievable tragedy to gain some insight into this reality. Since returning to Charleston about 6-1/2 years ago, this harsh realty hit me squarely in the face. I do not know all the solutions, but I do know one that is based solely on my belief as a Christian and as a person committed to treat each and everyone I meet with respect. My smile is perhaps my best gift, and I am extremely generous with it. So it is conceivable that my solution is to walk in love and show that you care. Impossible some may say, but to them I say, it is easier than you think. Simply imagine that it is a child that you love. What are the things that you would want for them? What are the things that you would say to them, and what are the things you would give to them? You would want people to treat them fairly to give them the benefit of the doubt, and to provide equality in all things – education, homes, and certainly in their community. Statistics prove that children who believe their communities care for them become more productive citizens of that community. I believe that if I were mayor, I would incorporate many of the ideals that I saw while my husband and I were stationed in the City of Chesapeake, Virginia. It is city that I miss; because, it is named, “The City that Cares.” I was so proud when I became a Prevent Specialist for the City of Chesapeake; because, I received this pin that told me the city care for me -” little old me.” I was shocked. I was from Charleston, and I know that my family cares for me, but I never ever thought Charleston cared for me. My supervisor came to me after only six months on the job and said, “I want you to be Co-Chair of Community Assessment & Planning Partners (CAPP). I was shocked. I could not believe this would happen – me a black girl from Charleston being put in the position of chairing agencies such as the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office and having them take orders from me – unbelievable, uplifting, incredible, and inspiring. I soared. I wish Charleston had given me this opportunity – it was my home. I became the Co-Chair for the City of Chesapeake, bringing together all different agencies and organizations to work to make sure our children and all of the residents of Chesapeake knew that everyone cared and everyone mattered. We had a stake in their future; because, they are our future. And, then I returned to Charleston, and after my first week of coming back to work, I often found myself behind the Old South Carriage Tours, My heart aches as I look at the drivers wearing the hat and uniform of the confederate army. My heart aches and yet you expect me to believe that you care for me. How can you care for me when you do not even know that my heart aches every time I see this sight? Every day I ache; because, I see talented young men who would never get the chance or the opportunity to soar. Did we as Charlestonians embrace them? I see this missing element of allowing all children/all people the opportunity to soar. I see its absence in the court system where I am employed as a legal assistant. Did we provide them with the same considerations? No, perhaps we did like President Barack Obama said, “Johnny got the call-back rather than Jamal.” Perhaps it is time to come together to figure out ways for Jamal to get the call-back. I know I would appreciate it, and my nephew, Jamal would applaud you for it.
As mayor, CAPP would be my first duty to the City of Charleston to show everyone that they matter. The City of Chesapeake also provided quality community centers where children could soar. The center I utilized for my Community Day Event was the Clarence Cuffee Community Center. It is adjacent to the library where children could soar in more ways than one. Give us an abandoned building and we will turn it into a community center devoted to loving and uplifting others as God so loved us and watch our children soar. A group of nuns did it for me at a small community center on James Island. It was there for a short time that I saw some members of Charleston (outside of my family) caring about and for me. A place where children can feel safe, loved, and uplifted by people who have no agenda other than the fact that they care – how radical is that.
Let’s build on the community gatherings that have come from tragedies in our city. Let’s find a forum to talk about race that is safe and constructive. Let our next mayor commit to building bridges between our folks, whatever they look like, and help us all find a way to be better neighbors and citizens in our beautiful city. The tragedies have brought us to our knees, let us find a way to be lifted up to work towards a better understanding. Not sure what it looks like but it is time to talk about race in a more open fashion so people feel heard.
The upper neck of the Peninsula is an area that has seen a great deal of change in the past years.. The Landscaping and rehabilitation of houses has made it a great area to live. With the addition of close by restaurants it has turned into an urban environment. My great Idea for this area would be to continue rehabilitating these houses, but to also fix the flooding problems associated with the area. As well as to extend the size of the sidewalks to promote more walking. There are also Historic Homes that could be landmarked. This would attract tourism to this area. These ideas could make the upper peninsula a new destination that could effect this area in an economically positive manner. Bike racks could also be put in to promote an urban environment. This all adds in to making the upper neck of the peninsula a sustainable community.
I would build parks and parkways connecting them. These would not be your Confederate memorials, they need to work for people, recreation, and to support the burden placed on the land by development. We need to take the fens and wayside areas and connect them to function ecologically, which in this instance means for draining, re-infiltrating, and connecting wildlife (and people). Then…we should finds way to celebrate what we have, perhaps an arboretum. Think about the Arnold Arboretum and the fens of Boston…
Teachers, students and the community at Ashley Hall are working collaboratively towards the goal of banning the use of single use plastic bags at checkout in Charleston. Plastics bags are frequently mistaken for food by marine organisms, and are having a huge impact on the marine environment. Plastic bag pollution clogs storm drains, increases downtown flooding, creates mosquito breeding grounds, and detracts from the natural beauty of Charleston. In short, the environmental and economic impacts of plastic bag pollution are detrimental to our city. All of the plastic that has ever been created still exists, is intertwined in the food web, and is having adverse effects on human health. Keep our city, our waterways and our bodies free of plastic. Support Banthebagcharleston and follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Banthebagcharleston/1604065396520276 and Instagram BantheBagCharleston!
In Ireland they have successfully harnessed the tides for power. Forget about drilling/spilling in our oceans and fracking our lands. The greatest re-newable resource is all around us here. Silent, invisible, predictable, cost-effective and in harmony with the environment. Let’s be the FIRST city in America to MOVE, let’s be business and environmentally progressive and take advantage of our beautiful tidal location. A simple google search can show you the videos and details. Check it out at openhydro.com and at www.youtube.com
in between Market and Calhoun Streets, the road is entirely too congested for two lanes of cars, a lane of parked cars, bicycles, and tourists who think they’re in Disney World.
The peninsula of Charleston needs more successful elementary schools and a successful high school. Good public schools are essential to keeping the middle class.
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Like the City of London, charge for all private/commercial vehicles that enter the Inner City zone. A sticker similar to the current parking stickers could be sold yearly to all taxpaying residents for an established fee. The fee for commercial vehicles and non-resident permits could be established by day, week, month. The highest fees could be those for non-residents, encouraging the use of transit. Emergency vehicles could receive “no charge” stickers.
This isn’t really such a “great” idea — it’s an obvious and common-sense one. I was recently forbidden by the City of Charleston from placing solar panels on my downtown roof for reasons of aesthetics. I, too, love this city’s aesthetics, but isn’t it time we realized that there won’t be a gorgeous city here for anyone to gawk at if we don’t change our energy sources . . . and if coastal cities that are under the most threat, like ours, don’t even bother to lead the way?
My God, it’s everywhere in our city. Trashing our roadways and screaming NEGLECT. Especially places like Ashley River Rd. leading to our beautiful historic plantations. I’m told the city and county don’t have crews to actually clean it up, so why don’t we contract these services out if we can’t/won’t do it ourselves. It’s not going to disappear on its own so something HAS to be done. So sad and so embarrassing…….
Transportation
Education
Economic
Arts
Neighborhoods, Parks & Housing
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