Withholding the Routley report “was not the best”

An emotionally charged meeting

Everybody knows that Mayor Riley changed his mind about the release of the Routley report. Last Friday, the Mayor announced that the release of the report would be delayed indefinitely. By yesterday, he had changed his mind and announced that it would be released on May 15. For us, the surprise was not that he changed his mind. The surprise was the first decision, to delay issuing the report. Commissioned by the City, the report was expected to be the most definitive on last year’s tragic fire at the Sofa Super store. The Mayor surely was aware of the indignation a delay would stir among the citizenry, and particularly firefighters and the families of the fallen. The stream of citizens appearing before Council over the last few months seeking the release of the report can hardly have escaped his notice.

Continue reading "City Council, May 6"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 12:26 PM | Comments (0)

The Riley Conspiracy - A public deception and unpardonable disgrace

Lee Walton

Who will speak out for the citizens of Charleston and the survivors of the nine CFD firefighters so tragically and needlessly lost on the evening of June 18, 2007? Who will demand accountability of Charleston’s elected officials? Will the editorial staff and owners of the Palter and Chatter continue to stand idly by and shamelessly look the other way as the Riley Administration continues to rationalize the irrational and defend the indefensible? Will Charleston City Council finally find the fortitude to reach deep within its viscera and find the collective courage to say, “Enough is enough”? Will the taxpayers of Charleston ever know the real cost of Riley’s incompetent leadership that precipitated the ongoing CFD cover-up? Are there any other local elected officials on County Council or in the state legislature with courage and character enough to openly challenge Riley’s cover-up and conspiracy being perpetrated in City Hall and demand a full accounting of the events now being spun with overlapping webs of deception and tangles of blatant lies? Is it too much to ask that the governor of this state commence an immediate criminal investigation of the Watergate Style Conspiracy continuing to develop within Riley’s personal fortress of deceit, formerly Charleston’s City Hall?

Continue reading "Shrimp 'n Grits"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 11:12 PM | Comments (0)

Staff presents a balanced budget, and no tax increase for FY2009

Look out for FY 2010 though!

Staff has had its first crack at constructing the fiscal year 2009 budget. The results were presented to the Finance Committee last night, and understandably, it was pleased. For the General Fund, staff projected a balanced budget of $172.1 million, down $1 million or 0.6% from FY 2008 million. In achieving a balanced budget, staff had been mindful of maintaining quality services and including a cost of living adjustment (COLA) of 2.5%. Importantly there was no call for higher property taxes.

Continue reading "County Council, May 1"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 01:59 PM | Comments (0)

Approves rural grants totaling $2.6 million

Another 1600 acres protected

In its meeting today to consider the first round of applications for calendar 2008, the County Greenbelt Bank approved rural grants totaling $2.6 million covering nearly 1600 acres. The major portion of the grants went to finance the purchases of conservation easements. Of the five properties considered, three were on Edisto Island, one adjacent to the town of Awendaw and the other close to the town of Meggett.

Continue reading "County Greenbelt Bank, May 1"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 02:10 PM

Riley’s policy on city personnel accountability – Loose as a Goose

What is the rationale behind the City administration’s profoundly inconsistent responses to the killing of a single goose and the death of nine firefighters? In response to the former, the city terminated a personnel contract with a local employment agency that provided dozens of temporary employees to the City for over nine years because one of their workers killed a Canada goose at a City park. In response to the latter, Mayor Riley continues to extol his confidence and unwavering defense for an unqualified, uneducated fire chief whose gross incompetence resulted in the unnecessary and tragic death of nine city firefighters? How can a reasonable person reconcile the City administration’s divergent responses to these two events without drawing a comparison between them?

Continue reading "Shrimp 'n Grits"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 08:57 AM | Comments (0)

Looking to review the Tourism Ordinance

Tree roots, gum studded poles and Xmas lights

Warwick Jones

On the recommendation of the Chair, Cathy Forrester, the Tourism Commission agreed to take the first steps in reviewing the City's Tourism Ordinance. The Chair noted that the ordinance is 10 to 20 years old and in need of review. The review would take some time but she wanted the Commission to approve the intent. A number of subcommittees needed to be formed to deal with various aspects of the ordinance. Each subcommittee should consist of some Commissioners and experts in the particular provenance. We hope that representatives of downtown neighborhoods most affected by tourists also be included.

Continue reading "Tourism Commission, April 23"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 12:49 PM | Comments (0)

Council wobbles a bit over sofa store site purchase

Some proposed parking changes generate ire?

At one stage in last night's meeting, we thought it was unlikely the Council would approve the purchase of the Super Sofa Store site on Savannah Highway. The Mayor was “taken aback” by the criticism or lack of enthusiasm for the purchase and made an impassioned speech in its support. He reminded Council that it had unanimously approved the purchase at a meeting last year. He also declared that the City's reputation was at stake if it failed to move ahead with the purchase. The City needed the memorial for the fallen firefighters, and it would be a travesty if a car dealership or hamburger vendor were allowed to occupy the site.

Continue reading "City Council, April 22"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 12:12 PM | Comments (0)

$1.85 million for sofa store site - a high price for the Mayor’s absolution

Lee Walton

Although the idea was rumored to be floating about City Hall after the tragic events of last June 18th, Mayor Riley finally announced last week that he would recommend to City Council on Tuesday, April 22nd that the City purchase the former Sofa Super Store site for $1.85 million. As reported in last Saturday’s Palter and Chatter, Mayor Riley has no firm plan but only the intent to “…come up with the best way to design an appropriate memorial.” His personal guilt and that of his handpicked lackey, Chief Rusty Thomas, have now taken yet another twisted turn to deflect accountability while seeking atonement for the totally unnecessary deaths of nine City Fire Department (CFD) firefighters. Following on the heels of sweeping procedural changes within the CFD and the expenditure of millions of dollars for new equipment, training and increased manpower, the purchase of the sofa store site raises many legitimate questions regarding the Mayor’s true motives and his hidden agenda crafted to protect his own public image.

Continue reading "Shrimp 'n Grits"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 11:13 PM | Comments (0)

The Devil’s in the details of the City’s Maybank Highway Street Grid Plan

So now Mayor Riley, the Coastal Conservation League, the City’s Planning Director, and another “renowned traffic engineer” from off want to build a village-like grid network of latticed streets across Johns Island offering multiple travel options for motorists instead of a single, improved Maybank Highway. With interconnecting gathering places scattered from River Road to Main Road, “…modeled loosely like McClellanville and Rockville…” these visionaries propose a grid design of neighborhood-quality crisscrossing roads “…more in keeping with the island’s rural character.” Characteristic of most political hype emanating from RileyWorld, it sounds like a world-class vision, but, like making sausage, the process will likely be a bloody mess to implement, cost tens-of-millions more than estimated, and the results may not be palatable to those unfortunate islanders who happen to be in the way.

Continue reading "Shrimp 'n Grits"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 08:31 AM | Comments (0)

Issue over judicial staff wages

Discussion on underground wiring for County

There was lots of discussion at yesterday's meeting, but little action. Council meeting as the Finance Committee heard presentations from SCE&G on underground power lines, and from the staff on bonding relating to trucks using secondary roads. Earlier, when meeting as the Planning/Public Works Committee, Council heard from the Berkeley Charleston Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG) in relation to a waste water plan.

Continue reading "County Council, April 10"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 11:34 AM | Comments (0)

Debate over penalties for infringement of "smoking in work-place" ordinance

Village Green joins Long Savannah. What about traffic a citizen asks?

There were only two items of note on last night’s agenda – an amendment to the City’s smoke- free work place ordinance, and an amendment that effectively makes the Village Green Development part of the Long Savannah Project. Both amendments were passed by Council though the first had some dissenters.

Continue reading "City Council, April 8"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 12:00 PM | Comments (1)

Shrimp ‘n Grits - reflections upon the beginning…

Believe it or not, Shrimp ‘n Grits is celebrating the beginning of its third year as a thorn in the rear of the “powers that be” who think they rule the minds and hearts of the few caring “Charlestonians”, natural or naturalized, left in this fair City.