I rarely post to this forum unless some thing is just wrong. I rarely reply to posts. That’s just me. I do however want to post this letter that I am sending out. Some of you, may want to follow suit. Others could care less. Here it is, a long read.
8/27/2013
I find it interesting that there has been no letters addressing the windfall 1.5 million dollars that the City of Charleston is receiving for the Marina that they don?t even run to be extended into the Ashley River.
The grant is to promote recreational water access for the public, but given to a City that leases the property to a private firm that restricts access only to slip tenants and guests. It will be able to accommodate 40 to 80 foot boats that will be for the most part transient and not local water access for the public of Charleston and surrounding cities.
The average 20 foot boat sells locally for about $32,000 to $36,000 in the Charleston area. A 40 foot boat will start at over $200,000. An 80 foot boat will be in the $2,600,000 range. The median income in Charleston is $48,433 according to the last Google results. This is not public, recreational access. It is for private, members only accommodation if you can afford it.
I applaud Joe Riley for this deception that he has been able to pull off with the Federal government.
In the past 15 years, I know of zero public boat ramps being built to accommodate public access to the waterways around the Charleston area. I know of no upgrades being done to existing facilities that are in disrepair due to lack of funds. A prime example is the Bushy Park Cooper river access in Berkeley County that is two years away from dredging due to lack of funds.
It is my intent to forward this letter to all of our State and Federal representatives, to protest this grant.
If it goes oink, its pork. This is BBQ of the public and it doesn?t taste good.
W. Childers
115 Red Cypress Dr
Goose Creek, SC