The Opinion Blog

Keeping Warm

Saturday's editorial describes Myrtle Beach's need to help the city's homeless population in the coming year.

Out of respect, perhaps, few of the sad circumstances surrounding the deaths of 18 men and women on the streets of Myrtle Beach this year were shared at vigil for them Thursday, but even the scant details mentioned as the mourning bell was rung and the memorial candles were lit were heart-wrenching.

Three apparent homicides, plus one man killed when his tent caught fire. Three heart attacks, two cancer deaths, one seizure and half a dozen who simply slipped away in their sleep.

Then there was Frank, "found frozen to death behind the old fish market."

Frozen to death. In March. In Myrtle Beach.

The latest Atlantic Beach liferaft

Saturday's editorial points out the opportunities for Atlantic Beach now that federal officials plan to close their public-housing units.

After a year of warnings, Atlantic Beach learned Thursday night that a federal study will recommend closing their 40 public-housing units permanently and giving residents vouchers to move away.

The loss of those residents will inevitably alter the makeup of the small town, where public housing addresses regularly contribute a 20 percent to 30 percent block of the core 80 or so voters in each election. But rather than a setback, the removal of those aging buildings presents the town with one of its greatest opportunities in years - if town leaders will recognize and embrace it.

Rat your credit-card company out to the Fed

Ripped from the wires ... In an editorial Saturday, the Philadelphia Inquirer notes that readers sick of sleazy credit-card-company tactics should comment on the Federal Reserve's proposed new crackdown rules. This piece includes a link to the Fed's public-comments section:

Consumers have plenty of reasons to be disgusted with credit-card companies these days.

Without warning, banks are tripling a cardholder's interest rate, to levels as high as 32 percent. Late fees, which averaged about $10 a few years ago, have risen as high as $39. Mailed statements seem timed to give the consumer the fewest days possible to return a payment by the due date.

Horry needs an affordable housing plan

Today's editorial cheers Habitat for Humanity's six-home Builders' Blitz this week while expressing regret that more such affordable housing initiatives can't quickly happen:

"That's God at work."

- Habitat homeowner

It does seem miraculous that six local families of modest means soon will be moving into homes of their own, even though uncertainty clogs the local economy. With the organizational help of Habitat for Humanity of Horry County, local contractors and construction workers have built six new homes since Monday. The final home should be occupant-ready by twilight time today.

The only thing wrong with this project is that Habitat, by itself, can't quickly organize more of them to meet the demand for decent stick-built homes. All around our communities, hardworking families yearn for affordable housing - a problem private and public leaders in our communities should try to resolve.