| Growing up in South Carolina, I was taught certain values: love for God and country, respect for family and friends, and tolerance for people who are different. I promised the voters that I would take those values with me to Washington. I did. Unfortunately, many of our past government policies did not reflect those values. Consequently many of our citizens are receiving unequal education, inadequate health care and are living in distressed communities.
I am absolutely amazed at the hypocrisy and shamelessness of those who use opinion pages of newspapers and loud microphones of “Talking Heads” to articulate their intolerant views. Their “that’s good enough for them,” and “too good for their neighborhood,” attitudes get reinforced by others in high places who use such arguments as “esthetically incompatible” and “threats to the environment” to mask their real objections.
I am proud of my record of protecting the environment and preserving historically significant entities. But government policy is about balancing interests, which often leads to different views and opinions. But I have learned that to be free of criticism and controversy, one must be content with doing nothing or dedicated to maintaining the status quo.
I do not apologize for securing federal funds for the pedestrian crosswalk over I-277 in Columbia, the Honey Hill-Shulerville water project in Berkeley County, and the Connector over Lake Marion in Calhoun and Clarendon Counties. These efforts - and others of which I am proud - save lives, protect health, improve communities and enhance economic opportunities.
I-277 Pedestrian Overpass
When I-277 was constructed many voices were raised in opposition, but the “powers that be” did not listen. It was more important for them to provide a fast and convenient route for suburbanites to get from their communities to downtown Columbia without the inconvenience of the traffic lights on U.S. Highways 1 and 21 and State Highway 555.
Aside from saving lives and providing an attractive gateway to Columbia, the $3.9 million overpass will reconnect three communities on the East side of I-277 to five churches, the planned Burton Life Resources Center, and Farrow Road Galleria which will include a grocery store, drug store and branch bank on I-277's West side. It is interesting that I have yet to hear of a single objection to the $4.9 million being spent in downtown Columbia for pedestrian overpasses over Assembly and Blossom Streets.
Honey- Hill Shulerville Water Project
Objecting to my efforts to provide safe drinking water to this all-black community, an environmental group is making the specious claim that it will make the area more attractive to developers. One of them is reported to have said in a public meeting, “those people have been drinking that (contaminated) water for 200 years and they seem to be doing okay.” How is that from an environmentalist?
Calhoun/Clarendon Counties Connector
"Talk Show" bullies have criticized this Connector for months. But I maintain, and they know, that sooner or later, a bridge is going to be built in this area. The big question is will the indigenous population share the benefits? Or will future developments like Blackwater near Lone Star raise property taxes to levels current landowners cannot afford? Of course some speculators will not wait. They will file legal partitions that have successfully reduced black landownership in South Carolina to a fraction of what it was just 30 years ago.
I do not believe I was elected to perpetuate disparate treatment or to maintain substandard neighborhoods. Consequently, in all probability, I will continue receiving my share of criticism and controversy.
# # #
|
U.S. Congressman 
