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Comment Archives: Stories: News+Opinion: Last 30 Days
Re: “The Agenda: Johns Island TIF nixed, Capt. Sam's Spit to be reheard, SC-1 home stretch”
Vic Rawl votes to complete I526, as Joe commanded, then City Planners scuttle Vic's plan to build on his John's Island property, then Joe tosses the planning commissions unanimous nay vote so Vic can build and make his fortune.
A sterling example of 'you scratch mine I'll scratch yours' - - political pay-off. Boss Hog politics is/are alive and well here in Charleston. What! No Sled investigation - - - yet ?
Re: “Tough Titties: Lowry Beall stares down breast cancer”
Lowry!
I've thought of you often, and miss your fun quirkiness. Best of luck in all your future endeavors!!! <3
Re: “Charleston County considering a switch to paper ballots”
There is no reason that the electronic voting machines could not be programmed to create a printed copy of the ballot submitted, which then could be verified by the voter and dropped into a sealed box. If there were any questions about the electronic results, the printed ballots, all of which should be readable since they were printed by the machine, could be counted by hand. I think all election jurisdictions need to make this a requirement for the vendors of the electronic machines.
Re: “Charleston County considering a switch to paper ballots”
I've seen scanned paper ballots used in Florida, where they gave up on the touch screen machines after some very questionable election. People marked them in simple, card board table top booths, so time wasn't a huge issue. Then they were scanned. Valid votes got tabulated and dropped into a safe at the bottom of the scanner. Ones with problems like casting two votes for one office were kicked back and the voter got to try again with a new paper ballot. Whatever happened, all the hand marked ballots were locked up and safe for recount. Our touch screen machines aren't secure and can't be verified. There is absolutely no way to know what voters were ever cast on these machines in any reliable way. That realization is creeping through the SC political system despite the hostility of elected officials and both political parties. Republicans win on these machines, so they're OK with them. Democrats are afraid if people understand what is really going on that they'll stop bothering to vote. Increasing numbers of people don't bother to vote. South Carolina keeps them because we're cheap and because doubt in the mind of voters reduces turnout in disfavored groups.
Re: “Charleston County considering a switch to paper ballots”
There are no good voting methods. Let's not do it anymore.
Re: “City Council considers requiring bar security to patrol sidewalks, parking lots”
Joel... you wrote, "I am highly college educated." I think you have just made Foodmancing's point for them. Well said sir!
Re: “Mr. Sanford goes (back) to Washington”
Colbert Busch was supported by the unions that wanted to kill Boeing in the Charleston area. That alone should be enough to see that she didn't have the best interests of Charleston in mind. The district is largely conservative, especially in the fiscal sense and, all of his other faults not withstanding, that is the way that Sanford has always voted. ECB was evasive and vague about her positions so voters had to extrapolate her beliefs based on her supporters and donors such as the union support mentioned above. She had a very orchestrated campaign that largely only went to 'safe' situations. Like/agree with him or not, Sanford campaigned everywhere he could. Also, a bunch of her supporters were obviously not very informed as they thought they should be able to vote for her even though they did not live in her district. As for gerrymandering, it happens in every state, red or blue, and is done to benefit the party that was in power at the time redistricting happens. That is how I have the joy of being stuck in Jim Clyburn's district, arguably one of the worst Congressmen ever.
Re: “Charleston County considering a switch to paper ballots”
If you saw what happens to paper ballots (now absentee and provisional), you wouldn't want them. First, the Board of Elections throws out batches of them for minor flaws (I remember a case in which an elderly couple voted, and the wife witnessed both ballots. Hers was thrown out.) Then they are run through an old optical scanner which tears up at least one in 10 of them. Each damaged ballot is given to two election workers who painstakingly transfer the votes on it to a clean ballot, which is run through the machine (and perhaps torn up again).
Re: “Mr. Sanford goes (back) to Washington”
This district -- and all of the state -- was very carefully gerrymandered in 2011. This time, the GOP not only took out most Black folks, but also most Democrats -- for instance, Clyburn's district now includes the west side of the peninsula all the way down to Broad, because it's College of Charleston territory. There's not much that can be done about that. And your post says it -- "a rare vote to a Democrat." Colbert Busch was a strong conservative Democrat and a businesswoman. What is your definition of "stronger candidate"?
Re: “Clean energy activists to join Saturday for "Hands Across the Sand"”
"will stand along their coastlines in solidarity".......rotflmbo!
Re: “Late Night law would force bar owners to create powerless police force, endanger lives”
The little tyrant is loving his last days. He finally has a toady for a police chief without the guts to tell him this is an idiotic idea. City Council is simply a rubber stamp for this sort of Bloombergism.
Re: “City Council considers requiring bar security to patrol sidewalks, parking lots”
In this article, Boston, from the Rec Room, rightly states that bars pay higher taxes because its already recognized that we're more of a burden on city services. I think we pay like 1000% more for our business license than a similarly sized law office. What no one has mentioned yet is: 1). Liability insurance rates skyrocket when bars employ bouncers, I mean security personnel, because ins. co.s know that it leads to more lawsuits. 2). We are still gonna call the cops, only now we'll have more incidents, so we'll call even more. 3). Affected communities can already persue remedy against offending businesses: noise, nuisance, drug, and pandering laws are already on the books, and responsible business owners stay on good terms with their neighbors and avoid getting sued/arrested. Irresponsible business owners can be forced out. 4). There will be no geographical boundaries to this law. While it's aimed at upper King, it will apply equally to freestanding buildings in industrial zones and suburban shopping malls.
The city already has an arsenal of tools to affect change. Like the gun lobby says: "Let's start enforcing existing laws before we rush to write new ones".
Mike Kulick
Voodoo Tiki Bar & Lounge
The Tattooed Moose
Re: “Late Night law would force bar owners to create powerless police force, endanger lives”
In the related article, Boston, from the Rec Room, rightly states that bars pay higher taxes because its already recognized that we're more of a burden on city services. I think we pay like 1000% more for our business license than a similarly sized law office. What no one has mentioned yet is: 1). Liability insurance rates skyrocket when bars employ bouncers, I mean security personnel, because ins. co.s know that it leads to more lawsuits. 2). We are still gonna call the cops, only now we'll have more incidents, so we'll call even more. 3). Affected communities can already persue remedy against offending businesses: noise, nuisance, drug, and pandering laws are already on the books, and responsible business owners stay on good terms with their neighbors and avoid getting sued/arrested. Irresponsible business owners can be forced out. 4). There will be no geographical boundaries to this law. While it's aimed at upper King, it will apply equally to freestanding buildings in industrial zones and suburban shopping malls.
The city already has an arsenal of tools to affect change. Like the gun lobby says: "Let's start enforcing existing laws before we rush to write new ones".
Mike Kulick
Voodoo Tiki Bar & Lounge
The Tattooed Moose
Re: “Late Night law would force bar owners to create powerless police force, endanger lives”
It is in fact, Statistism
The City is passing this as an ordinance. A business must comply or face the loss of
their business license. As IP points out some of the reason this is happening is the progression of the city's intrusion into every aspect of our lives.
Re: “Late Night law would force bar owners to create powerless police force, endanger lives”
"Statism? It's the opposite of 'statism.' This is the privatization of a basic government function. Isn't this the stuff your libertarian wet dreams are made of?"
No, Travis, it isn't. This is government compelling private businesses to perform an act of law enforcement on its behalf. And, these businesses (and most everyone else) have already paid taxes to fund said government to perform this duty. Sounds like the opposite of libertarianism on both ends, to me.
Re: “School of the Arts tweet exposes Charleston County Schools' hypocrisy”
I absolutely can't believe I read what "and if elected..." wrote... It blows my mind the logic of racist people... I don't treat anybody different, and I respect all people regardless of any differences we have, on the other hand, I don't need to apologize for something someone I don't even know did... That logic doesn't make sense... You can't treat me bad for something someone else did to your distant relatives, or even you. I can't be held accountable for someone else's crimes.. If that's the case, then whose gonna be paying for your crimes of hate today? Your children? Your great grandchildren?
Re: “School of the Arts tweet exposes Charleston County Schools' hypocrisy”
It's not that they are doing something now, it's that they STILL DON'T DO ANYTHING, to address the racist actions done to whites by blacks. Those issues still exist and are VERY COMMON in charleston county schools. Black students are NOT punished for the things they say, or tweet, regardless of where they say or tweet them. They can be on school grounds & threaten teachers or students, but nothing is done.. Basically, you are only punished for racist comments if you are white...
Re: “Late Night law would force bar owners to create powerless police force, endanger lives”
Municipalities are an incurable social disease.
Re: “Mr. Sanford goes (back) to Washington”
It seems some 40 to 60 people in the Charleston area actually read these articles on-line. Perhaps some of them can explain to me why the likes of Mark Sanford gets elected to represent this district despite his apparent theft of public resources; his dereliction of duty as Governor; and his failure to keep an oath of fidelity made before God. Have I missed something here or would he not have served jail time in the private sector. As an independent I would have thrown a rare vote to a Democrat this time had they fielded a stronger candidate. Just what it is that 77,000 voters see in Sanford that escapes me?
- Summer's the right time for Txacoli1 comment
- Beer yoga, an Avondale house show, and coffee shopping2 comments
- Charleston County considering a switch to paper ballots5 comments
- Mr. Sanford goes (back) to Washington3 comments
- Clean energy activists to join Saturday for "Hands Across the Sand"2 comments
- Burbage’s sale in the works3 comments
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Oak Steakhouse
This is one of my favorite downtown restaurants. I have tried every appetizer and always… -brewengineer
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Craftsmen Kitchen and Tap House
I finally made it into the peninsula to visit Craftsmen Kitchen, after a couple month… -brewengineer
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Charleston Bakery
Web site advertising, sign on door, and telephone message says hours are 7 AM to… -Jim McKelvey
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Chopsticks House
This is truly the tastiest Chinese food in recent memory. After 10 years living near… -drval
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Phuong Restaurant
Yes! -Paul Cheney
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Charleston County considering a switch to paper ballots
Mt. Pleasant resident presents a bold idea for transparent, hacker-proof elections
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City Council considers requiring bar security to patrol sidewalks, parking lots
You Don’t Have to Go Home But You Can’t Stay Here
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Mr. Sanford goes (back) to Washington
A Very Special Election
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School of the Arts tweet exposes Charleston County Schools' hypocrisy
When the Tweet Hits the Fan
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New lofts in East Central could fill in the cracks of development
Hipster Haven
Re: “Charleston County considering a switch to paper ballots”
I've participated in the elections where scanned marked paper ballots were used in Florida, under the supervision of a Republican controlled election commission and there was no problem with them. Everyone was satisfied with the new system, which replaced a system similar to ours which was junked after weird results were noted in several elections. That system replaced the old butterfly ballots in Florida.
After six years of disputed results, Florida was determined to end the problem and they did.
Keeping a set of printers operating while supervising voting is no minor undertaking. They'll malfunction. One scanner/tabulator/safe can serve dozens of individual voting stations, which at that point only have to be simple cardboard privacy screens on tables. The current machines are now decade old relics and compatible parts are no longer available. There is absolutely no reason not to go to a fully verified, failure proof system.