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June 30, 2011

Dirty beaches and frustrated chiefs

Two quick things this morning. First, yesterday came out the annual report besmirching the reputation of our area's beaches and calling them the dirtiest in the state.

052811_Dirty_Myrtle1060 
(Not quite the beach. Photo by Charles Slate, cslate@thesunnews.com)

It's hard to summon up the energy to write another editorial this year about this bit of ill-considered "research." So instead I'll just refer you to what we wrote when the report came out in 2008, in 2009 and in 2010. To sum up, we don't agree.

Second, anybody else read the Post & Courier interview with SLED Chief For Now Reggie Lloyd, who's resigning from SLED? He sure didn't pull any punches, on the new immigration law, on Gov. Haley's controlling manner or on the state's law enforcement priorities. If nothing else, it's an interesting insider's look at what goes on in the top ranks of our government. It doesn't sound like there will be any love lost between Lloyd and Haley.

LLOYD, Reggie 
(Reggie Lloyd in 2009. McClatchy file photo)

The attached letter from Haley to Lloyd after he announced his retirement is particularly intriguing. She tells him to immediately stop hiring and promoting, and run all large purchases and grants through her chief of staff. The letter, and its push for control, came up this month in the Senate, when Jake Knotts*, who's clashed with Haley in the past, took to the floor to denounce the move. Beyond Lloyd's personal gripes, this sort of thing isn't winning Haley many new fans in Columbia.

*My apologies, I initially incorrectly credited this to Hugh Leatherman instead.

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