Representatives from Conserving Carolina and the city of Brevard, after sharing the good news, requested a letter of support from a divided County Commission to apply for federal funds.
Thank you, yet again, Dan. How can we have gotten ourselves stuck with so many county commissioners who are regressive, unresponsive, and unable to envision the many benefits of this project for Transylvania County? We recently walked a good portion of the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Greenville, SC, and were thrilled to see the many many benefits of it to the neighborhoods of that city. Everyone there loves it, and so many small businesses along the trail have sprung up and are thriving. Have these negative commissioners bothered to go SEE how good this would be for our area? All that is needed from them is approval for a letter? They're strangling themselves and all of us in their contortions to avoid reaping the benefits of a Biden presidency.
Commissioner Teresa McCall cannot seem to move her thinking out of first gear. She appears stuck in a tiresomely old “property rights” ideology. Her claim that she is protecting the interests of property owners near the trail is laughable, in view of the comments by Commissioner David Guice. As you’ve reported, his family “owns land near the trail,” and yet said he “hasn’t heard the same [supposed] ‘groundswell’ of opposition” claimed by McCall.
McCall has a misguided idea of her role as a public servant, as it is safe to say that the majority in this county support the building of this wonderful trail. She needs to go.
The property rights argument confuses me. My understanding has been that much of the land that the trail will be constructed on is owned by an entity for the benefit of the trail I.e. not actually the “front yard” of many who’d oppose the trail. The property rights argument usually comes down to the opposition to the “Z” word in the form of those who don’t think land owners should be told what they can or can’t do with their land. Is the opposition to the trail not trying to tell someone what they can/can’t do with their land? Seems like the property rights advocates are talking out of both sides of their mouthes.
Now if only Polk County would wake up and see the benefits of a Rails to Trail program and connect Saluda, Tryon and Landrum. Really sad to see so much unused opportunities. Out with the old and in with the new progressive thinking!
I wholeheartedly support development of the Ecusta Trail and am angered at the lack of any consideration by members of the board of commissioners. As a longtime member of the Friends of Ecusta Trail Board, our efforts to see it completed in Transylvania County will be so much easier if they’d support this project that so many people want. We haven’t asked for local county taxpayer funds, only their support of a simple endorsement!
Thank you, yet again, Dan. How can we have gotten ourselves stuck with so many county commissioners who are regressive, unresponsive, and unable to envision the many benefits of this project for Transylvania County? We recently walked a good portion of the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Greenville, SC, and were thrilled to see the many many benefits of it to the neighborhoods of that city. Everyone there loves it, and so many small businesses along the trail have sprung up and are thriving. Have these negative commissioners bothered to go SEE how good this would be for our area? All that is needed from them is approval for a letter? They're strangling themselves and all of us in their contortions to avoid reaping the benefits of a Biden presidency.
Nice reporting. Thank you.
Commissioner Teresa McCall cannot seem to move her thinking out of first gear. She appears stuck in a tiresomely old “property rights” ideology. Her claim that she is protecting the interests of property owners near the trail is laughable, in view of the comments by Commissioner David Guice. As you’ve reported, his family “owns land near the trail,” and yet said he “hasn’t heard the same [supposed] ‘groundswell’ of opposition” claimed by McCall.
McCall has a misguided idea of her role as a public servant, as it is safe to say that the majority in this county support the building of this wonderful trail. She needs to go.
The property rights argument confuses me. My understanding has been that much of the land that the trail will be constructed on is owned by an entity for the benefit of the trail I.e. not actually the “front yard” of many who’d oppose the trail. The property rights argument usually comes down to the opposition to the “Z” word in the form of those who don’t think land owners should be told what they can or can’t do with their land. Is the opposition to the trail not trying to tell someone what they can/can’t do with their land? Seems like the property rights advocates are talking out of both sides of their mouthes.
Now if only Polk County would wake up and see the benefits of a Rails to Trail program and connect Saluda, Tryon and Landrum. Really sad to see so much unused opportunities. Out with the old and in with the new progressive thinking!
Fix the roads first!
I wholeheartedly support development of the Ecusta Trail and am angered at the lack of any consideration by members of the board of commissioners. As a longtime member of the Friends of Ecusta Trail Board, our efforts to see it completed in Transylvania County will be so much easier if they’d support this project that so many people want. We haven’t asked for local county taxpayer funds, only their support of a simple endorsement!
Thanks, Dan!