The Opinion Blog

Adult Rally Responses



Friday’s first editorial urges local leaders to act a little more like grown-ups on the upcoming May bike rallies:

Let’s be adults about this thing.

The decision by Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson to change the dates of its rally events obviously caught elected officials off guard. And the wisdom of such a change from a public nuisance perspective is dubious. Three straight weeks of rally traffic and noise is a tall order. But then, the dealership is a business, and as such is concerned more with making money than it is with the comfort of its neighbors. That’s not a slight on Harley-Davidson, just a reality of capitalism.

Seating Chart Diplomacy



Friday’s second editorial wishes more of our leaders on the federal level were willing to play nice with their opposites, even if just for a few hours:

It was disappointing Tuesday night to see South Carolina largely sit out as dozens of members of Congress crossed the aisle to sit with the other party for the State of the Union address. The initiative to mix the traditionally divided audience began last year after the tragic shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and was promoted once again this year after a notably contentious 2011.

FRIDAY OPEN FORUM

Be civil and enjoy.

Harrelson Complete at Last



Memo to Google: It’s time to update the map of Myrtle Beach. Thursday’s editorial displays our giddiness at the prospect of Harrelson Boulevard finally linking Kings Highway and the Bypass:

It could be easier to get to the airport by the year 2000 if City Council approves $3.2 million to extend Harrelson Boulevard as part of the 1998-99 budget.

– June 8, 1998, article in The Sun News

Well, it only took about 15 years, marked by a series of funding squabbles between the city and county and a brief hiccup involving the Community Appearance Board, but the Harrelson Boulevard extension is finally done. For drivers on the city’s south end, this is long-awaited and enormously welcome news.

THURSDAY OPEN FORUM

Be civil and enjoy.

United Way Drives Are on Track



Wednesday’s editorial offers an update on the United Way campaigns going on up and down the Grand Strand:

United Way annual fundraising campaigns in both Georgetown and Horry counties have reached or passed 80 percent of the goals, keeping volunteers confident about meeting expectations for nearly 70 nonprofit programs providing a wide range of services.

The Georgetown County United Way has 80 percent of its $470,000 goal; the United Way of Horry County stands at 84 percent of its $1,275,000 goal and passed the $1 million point earlier in January.

WEDNESDAY OPEN FORUM

Be civil and enjoy.

Winning the Teen Pregnancy Battle

Great news to share from the good folks who are tackling teen pregnancy in Horry County: Teen birth rates have hit an all-time low in the county. Details here. For teens 15-19, the rate fell 21 percent from 2009 to 2010. Over the past 10 years, it's fallen an impressive 38 percent. Nevertheless, 40 teens out of 1,000 still give birth, and that's too high.

We've written about the issue in the past, and it's one that continues to deserve our attention. The news out today is great, but there's still plenty left to do.

Let the Sun Shine In

Free Thursday evening? Come join me at Coastal Carolina University for a rousing discussion of the state's Freedom of Information law. The panel will be full of local notables, both from inside the media world and without. The open records law -- and the too-often struggle to see it enforced -- is one of our favorite topics as an editorial board. Here's where you can learn more about it, including why it's important and where it's going. More info below from the school:

The Department of Communication is hosting a panel discussion on the use and misuse of the South Carolina Freedom of Information law at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26 in the Edwards College Recital Hall. The event is part of the 10th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts.

Welcome to Budget Season



Tuesday's editorial offers some thoughts on the governor's budget proposal:

Poring through the 379 pages of Gov. Nikki Haley’s executive budget would take a while even when there isn’t a local presidential debate and state primary going on. But now that things have quieted down a bit, we’ve had time to pick out some of the best and worst of the governor’s budget proposal, released Jan. 13.

Lawmakers in the state House will be working on their own budget in the coming weeks, and they have no requirement to take any direction from the governor’s proposal. Nevertheless, it does offer both a good starting point for budget discussions and a window into some of our governor’s priorities and philosophy. The budget offered by Haley, her first as governor, certainly includes some bold ideas, such as her debatable proposal to phase out corporate income tax and her plan to bribe counties and municipalities to take over maintenance of what are now state roads. Whether those ideas will get much traction in an election year for the legislature is dubious, however.

TUESDAY OPEN FORUM

Be civil and enjoy.

The Important Thing



By Sunny Fry

I voted on Saturday.  Cast my ballot for a candidate who I know is just a person, who I don't really know at all except for what has been reported about him, hoping he would be a potential good, smart, honorable leader of the nation.

I also attended the funeral of a sweet lady who is not known nationally.  No one from DC was in the church with us.  We were all there because we wanted to be.

MONDAY OPEN FORUM

Be civil and enjoy.

Stub it Out, Myrtle Beach



Hey, Myrtle Beach City Council, it’s time to end smoking in restaurants, bars and other public places. Our Sunday editorial explains:

“We have a rather fingernails-grating-on-the-chalkboard saying: We would like for our coastal areas not to be the ashtray of the coast.”

– George DuRant, spokesman for Smoke Free Horry

Now that North Myrtle Beach looks to be on track to pass a public smoking limit of some sort in the city’s businesses, the next domino in the campaign to curb the dangerous habit should be Myrtle Beach.

Why? Smoking is dangerous to others, residents and visitors want limits, the change can actually be good for business, and it’s just the right thing to do for the employees who work in smoke-filled bars and restaurants.

SUNDAY OPEN FORUM

Be civil and enjoy.