Beaufort reader irritated by lack of schedule for openings of Woods Memorial Bridge
Bridge frustration
Ridiculous. Outrageous. Scandalous. These words apply to the present policy of random opening of the Richard V. Woods Memorial Bridge for the smallest sailboats.
It only takes minutes for traffic to back up on Carteret Street all the way to Boundary. On Lady’s Island, traffic will back up on Sea Island Parkway to Sam’s Point Road.
Why inconvenience thousands of people so one or two people in a sailboat can go under the bridge any time they wish? Why can’t there be designated times for the bridge to open so everyone will know and can avoid the bridge at those times?
I ask: Who among you has not been stuck for 10-15 minutes while rushing to an appointment or meeting? Come on, let’s do something about this unnecessary problem.
Terry Gibson, Beaufort
Disappointed reader
Shame on you for running the photo of the three “bored” teenager tourists mounted on an alligator in Hilton Head. While their reckless action is newsworthy and a timely reminder for locals and visitors alike, you missed the heart of the issue.
Such actions are unlawful and dangerous.
All you accomplished was to give them a stage, sending them home with the glow of accomplishment — not just for having subdued the young (but large) alligator, but with the added feat of having made front page news.
They learned nothing from the encounter . . . except that their boorish behavior earned them a place in the spotlight.
This journalistic error could be excused if the responsibility lay on the shoulders of a young cub reporter, but we all know that editors make decisions about what goes on the front page.
Alas, the resulting tragedy played out a week later on Aug. 16 with the front page report in The Gazette that a woman had been found dead after an alligator attack in Sun City.
We don’t want sensational news, we want news that helps inform us so that we can grow into a vibrant, caring society. You can do better.
Brenda Hood, Beaufort
Defend democracy
I won’t forget what I have learned from the Jan. 6 hearings thus far — that what happened that day wasn’t an isolated attack on our Capitol, but part of an ongoing criminal conspiracy to undermine our freedom to choose our elected leaders.
Trump and his pals worked together to try to stop the peaceful transfer of power because the 2020 presidential election didn’t go their way. Now, they’re working to make sure all of our elections go their way in the future, whether we vote in their favor or not.
Never before have we seen so many candidates running for office on a platform that promises to destroy our democracy from the inside out. Worst of all, many of these extremists are looking to take over election administration, running for offices like secretary of state and county clerk. Once they’re sworn in, many won’t hesitate to overturn future elections if they or their MAGA allies lose.
It’s up to us to hold election deniers accountable at the polls and elect democracy defenders up and down the ballot on Nov. 8.
Susan Baukhages, Bluffton
Stop the waiting
Across the U.S,. more than 800,000 people with disabilities remain stuck on waiting lists for services they need to live in their homes and stay in their communities.
Funded by Medicaid, home and community-based services (HCBS) provide support for independent living, employment, meal preparation, money management, and health and safety. Worsened by the pandemic, people with disabilities and their families are forced to wait years or even up to a decade for these critical services.
More funding would mean more resources (job training/coaching, etc.) for my autistic adult son and others like him.
Our country needs to invest in the Medicaid HCBS system. This funding would be a game-changer for the hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities.
We need Senators Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham to enact legislation that will help people with disabilities and their families.
Danni Bloom, Chapin
