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Charleston: most “livable” city in America

June 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment

The City of Charleston has been awarded with the 2009 City Livability Award by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, making it the most livable city in America. Much of the award was given to Mayor Joe Riley and the city for a program he used to turn a group of “aggressive” kids on the streets in to entrepreneurs.

Palmetto frond roseThey are known as the “Rose Kids.”

“They had some kind of reputation for exhibiting negative behavior,” says Cochran.

U.S. Conference of Mayors Executive Director Tom Cochran describes the Palmetto Artisan Program that Charleston Mayor Joe Riley and the city of Charleston created to turn this group of kids’ negative behavior around. In the past, business owners, residents and visitors of Charleston complained about the children’s aggressive behavior in stealing palmetto fronds from yards, and making them into roses to sell on the streets. However, the city wanted to shine a light out of the situation.

“People came together and decided rather than stop the kids from doing this, they promoted it. They promoted their creativity and their entrepreneurial spirit and provided an opportunity for the children to sell while serving as a complementary activity to tourism,” says Cochran.

The kids go through a week long program called Biz Camp, that certifies them to become legitimate business vendors, allowing them to legally sell these palmetto tree roses. Last week, Mayor Riley received a prestigious award, the City Livability Award, for this program that focuses on youth entrepreneurship. The veteran mayor received a standing ovation at the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting. Cochran says Charleston was deserving of the award.

“There are 200 applications and we have an independent group of mayors and archetects that come in from time to time to serve as judges. Mayor Riley won this year, and he was chosen because I think the program was an excellent example of mayoral leadership and innovation,” say Cochran.

Charleston also won this award in 2004.

Filed Under: Environment & Conservation, Human Interest, News

Governor Sanford:I have been unfaithful to my wife

June 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Governor Mark Sanford held a press conference to explain his actions of the past week, when he was missing and his staff and colleagues were unsure of his whereabouts.  Sanford was met at the Hartsville International Airport this morning by a reporter and he admitted he was returning from Buenos Aires.

At the press conference, Sanford, tearful at times, admitted that he was with another woman and that he deceived his staff into thinking that he may be on the Appalachian Trail. Instead, he was with a woman who he has been seeing for 18 months and that his family has known about the affair for five months.

Hear audio from the entire press conference: Sanford Press Conference -Argentina

Filed Under: News, Politics & Government

Project Safe Childhood a priority in SC

June 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment

A 29-year-old Lexington man plead guilty in federal court yesterday to possession of child pornography. Daniel Wayne Lindler will now await sentencing from U.S .District Court Judge Joseph F. Anderson, who accepted Lindler’s plea. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. First Assistant United States Attorney for South Carolina, Kevin McDonald, says the initiative began in 2006 and was started by the U.S. Department of Justice.

“In 2006, the (U.S.) Department of Justice, nationwide, saw approximately 1,600 prosecutions,” says McDonald. “Since the introduction of Project Safe Childhood, there has been a 33 percent increase. In 2008, more than 2,200 indictments were filed.”

McDonald says that prosecuting child predators is a priority for the U.S . Attorney’s Office in South Carolina. “We have four offices across the state and each one of those offices is very active in prosecuting child pornography or interstate sexual predator cases.

“So it is a priority of our office and it is a focus that we try to meet.”

He says that since the inception of Project Safe Childhood, there has been a positive impact. “The good news is that these prosecutions are a priority of our office. The sentences that come with these convictions are usually lengthy and we hope that the message gets out to anyone that might be considering in engaging in child exploitation or enticement that they’ll take notice of this and realize that they will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” he says.

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, News, Uncategorized

SC takes first at Smokefree Challenge Awards in AZ

June 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment

South Carolina has been recognized for its proactive approach to clean air and smoke-free workplaces. The state was awarded the Smokefree Challenge Awards on the National Conference on Tobacco Or Health on June 9 in Phoenix, AZ. South Carolina has 27 local ordinances statewide that protect workers from smoke in their workplace. Dan Carrigan, the Executive Director of the Smoke-Free Action Network says these local ordinances haven proven to be more powerful than any legislation that has been made at the state level. He says this a great achievement for the Palmetto State.

“The local ordinances tend to be stronger then the actions recommended at the (SC) statehouse,” according to Carrigan. “So, it’s really a rare public health achievement in a state that has a lot of very bad health statistics and health disparities when it comes to access to care and success in public health measures.

“We’re really proud of this achievement.”

Carrigan says these health organizations want to protect everyone from the dangers of second hand smoke. “That’s the major thrust behind these ordinances. It’s to protect workers. As a matter of fact, all of the health advocates that work on smoke-free ordinances in our state don’t support anything unless it protects all workers equally.

“That means, if an elected official gets the idea that they’ll exempt bars, for example, or exempt restaurants, we are opposed to any exemptions because we feel that everyone should be protected equally,” says Carrigan.

A State Supreme Court ruling last year was instrumental in these local ordinances. Carrigan says, “The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled that local government(s) do, in fact, have the right to pass their own smoke-free ordinances. The Hospitality Association of South Carolina and the Tobacco Industry Lobbyists were up there claiming that current state law prohibited it. The (SC) Supreme Court found otherwise and that really opened the door for local communities wanting to pass ordinances like those that had previously passed in Greenville and on Sullivan’s Island.”

The Smoke-Free Actions Network is working in partnership with the SC African American Tobacco Control Network and the SC Coastal Conservation League campaigning for cleaner air for indoors and out.

Filed Under: Environment & Conservation, Human Interest, Legislature, News
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