Copyright Charleston Post and Courier
Spartanburg development Could it be that much of the reason some locals resisted the dismantling of the Spartanburg clock tower at Morgan Square to accommodate the construction of multiple new buildings is because folks struggle to accept change? Our faith in Spartanburg leadership is important now. Development plans are vast for our little city center. It's necessary to have faith that the folks involved — various city agencies and departments, banks, developers, architects, engineers, material suppliers and the many contractors and their crews — will succeed and master a change of this magnitude, perhaps the biggest ever devised in the Upstate of South Carolina. Three years ago, there wasn't a world-class baseball and sports field uptown. It took skilled dreamers and professionals and lots of hard physical work to put it all together. They had faith, and residents had faith, that it would all work out. Look at what we have now: Fifth Third Park, where there were once grain mills. Now we are being called upon again to have faith that those in charge and those who do the work are capable professionals who will deliver a new uptown that we will all be proud of, as Spartanburg moves ahead to the next level with progress not seen in the past. I feel it is important that Spartanburg’s mayor and City Council remain focused on seeing the joint city and county government administrative building, as well as Project Core in its entirety, brought to fruition. Please, say a prayer daily for those who are taking us into the future, and have faith that all will work out. DON BRAMBLETT Spartanburg Extend ACA subsidies According to a May report by the South Carolina Institute of Medicine and Public Health, more than 571,000 South Carolinians depend on Affordable Care Act Marketplace coverage, and more than 95 percent of those individuals receive federal premium tax credits that reduce monthly costs by $500 to $700 on average. If Congress allows these enhanced tax credits to expire at the end of this year, premiums could rise from 25 percent to 100 percent, putting affordable coverage out of reach for thousands of working families across our state. As a nurse practitioner and veteran, U.S. Rep. Sheri Biggs, R-S.C., knows firsthand how critical access to care is for South Carolina families. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., has long supported tax policies that help working people keep more of their paychecks. Extending the ACA tax credits reflects those same values of fiscal responsibility and family stability. Failing to act would drive up hospital costs and harm rural communities already struggling with limited medical access. Extending these tax credits would be a commonsense, bipartisan outcome to keep South Carolina families healthy and financially secure. I urge Rep. Biggs and Sen. Scott to support extending the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and promote affordable health care for South Carolina. MARCIA WONG Simpsonville Building accessibility It seems that the new Lowcountry Land Trust Center for Conservation, at 1362 Old Towne Road in West Ashley, is going to be a site where community members can hold meetings concerning local conservation. The building itself is quite nice and suits the wooded location. The problem is that it is not easily accessible to those with disabilities. The driveway and parking lot are made up of large, sharp gravel. There are only a few designated handicap parking spots, no paved sidewalks, and it is poorly lit at night. I'm surprised that the American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina has not noticed that only able-bodied individuals can easily access the building. Someone wearing heels can easily sprain an ankle or ruin a nice pair of shoes. Pushing a baby carriage or stroller? Not happening. I walked very slowly, with difficulty, using a cane. One would need a walker or wheelchair to get around. I think it would be very difficult to visit or attend meetings in this building. IMOGENE C. THOMAS Charleston Send us your letters What’s on your mind? Join our community conversations and let your voice be heard by writing a letter to the editor. Letters can be a maximum of 250 words, and are subject to editing for clarity, tone and libel. They must include the writer’s name and city for publication, and a daytime telephone number for verification. Email your submissions to letters@postandcourier.com or fill out the form on our online portal.
