85+ conversations you want to have this year in Charleston

Since our readers are what drive us here at CHStoday, at the beginning of January we asked you what you wanted to talk about this year. We’ll be using your questions + conversation topics to create our content in 2019– helping you be more entertained, informed + engaged.

We were blown away when we heard from over 30 of you. Without further ado, here’s what you asked (verbatim, without editing for spelling + punctuation).

5️⃣ of our favorites:

• Charleston History– quirky things about our city, like why things are the way they are (for example: similar to the article you did as to why our state flag is designed the way it is). Things you don’t learn in history books.
• Where does our 11% sales tax revenue go?
• Brief summaries of mayoral candidate platforms.
• Charleston is growing A LOT and there are lots of new people (like me). It would be great to have tips for newbies on really basic stuff. I feel like I needed an orientation when I got here. Personal property tax? License plate renewal fee? Boring stuff like that.
• Best spots to live in town– neighborhood descriptions.

And my personal favorite request: Ways that people can be kind to each other.

Keep reading below for more 2019 conversation starters.

What do you want us to talk about this year?

• Cruise ships
• Roadside litter
• Suggest you keep pulling fun facts from the history of Chs
• keeping tabs on I-526 extension and particularly the words and actions (or inaction) of our elected local and state officials on the subject relative to their campaign promises.
• Pedestrian infrastructure planning and spending, especially as it relates to community connectivity in the Neck area of Charleston. Due to recent multi-family developments and the proposed bike path/park utilizing the abandoned rail line, what is the overall master-plan for that area?
• Charleston History-quirky things about about our city, like why things are the way they are (for example-similar to the article you did as to why our state flag is designed the way it is). Things you don’t learn in history books.
• 2019 Mayoral Elections!
• Clemson Football !
• Overbuilding in/around the city, traffic, flooding
• The half penny sales tax and what Charleston area projects were funded by it in 2018 and what projects are foretasted for 2018.
• restaurants, history
• Flooding
• Infrastructure Charleston and Mount Pleasant especially Rt 41 and 17N debacle. Builders Must pay for new roads.
• Info for new residents - I’m relocating this summer!
• Family friendly stuff, easily one-day trips from CHS, free stuff (especially meetup type stuff), cultural events (highlighting diversity), food (affordable + local),
• Improved race relations
• Improved mass transit
• Discussing local events for all ages! Also, sharing these events before the day-of. I like the events but can’t make everything if I just find out about it day-of
• flooding around MUSC and Crosstown
• More Art Galleries and Restaurants
• I would like to talk about the gentrification of the Lowcountry and how this threatens heir’s property.
• Local philanthropy
• As one of the many new residents of Charleston (my wife and I retired here from Knoxville in 2016) I would like to learn more about the people and events that have helped shape the Charleston of today. I visit a lot of the local museums and historical buildings and there is certainly a lot of colonial and civil war history (and I enjoy learning about it) but I am talking about, really, the last 75 years or so...when something (and someone) sparked the preservation and revival of the entire Downtown area that not only continues today but has driven (for good and bad) the development of the entire surrounding areas. That “vision” didn’t happen on its own or overnight, and learning about that process will help me, as a new member of this community, contribute to it’s ongoing success and relevance for future generations.
• local fishing - how to support/where to get local (shrimp/oysters/whatever) both at restaurants and fish markets/roadside stands
• Affordable housing for those that don’t make 6 figures.
• the roadside debris and garbage; cars and inspections; our environment and making and keeping it clean
• Local development causing flooding in the West Ashley
• Ways that people can be kind to each other
• True mini-biographies of unknown elderly who have experienced all that Charleston was and is.

What can we help find out for you?

• Status of a cruise ship pier.
• What govt agency is responsible for cleaning up roadsides?
• Where does our 11% sales tax revenue go? CHS is not cheap and the services (sidewalk maintenance) are often at time less than sub-par.
• Brief summaries of mayoral candidate platforms.
• Please stay on top of the progress of the new train station in N.Chas. Saw the new building & it is first class but landscaping has not been completed .
• What the city is doing about the overbuilding and how its impacting the flood situation
• When the azaleas and camellias are peaking at the plantations. Mainly middleton and magnolia plantation. I’ve called and have always been told wrong info
• Who is running for mayor besides the mayor?
• How can MP residents really influence unbridled construction of apts and new homes.
  Updates on developments. Especially if we have an opportunity to oppose them, if they’re impacting the environment/wildlife. So maybe environmental issues too?
• Events going on throughout the Charleston area
• Who is in charge of COORDINATING efforts between City/ County/ DOT and all others.?
• Who is in charge of reducing runoff from construction dirt vs. litter. Do street sweepers coordinate with storm sewer clean out? If construction on an adjacent property causes flooding .... who can help? When I start to figure it out, it changes— drainage is different than flooding(?)
• Evaluation of programs/overhead/population served/how to volunteer
• Who are the real decision makers and policy “wonks” that drive the major cultural, governmental and political realities we all live with every day. Pick a topic or an area and drill down on the people and institutions that have great influence on these locally.
  local-curated list of things to do. Not a list you can find on conde nast or traveler mag or any “mainstream” publications
• There should be a local discount pass for those that have visitors come often so we can save on going to a tourist attraction for the 10th time.
• who is responsible for cleaning our roads, why is it not being done and doesn’t anyone care about the environment? All this stuff goes into the rivers!
• Keep us up to date on the meetings and agendas. A link would work.
• Can the city bring back the old fashioned trolley buses? The new large buses detract from the flavor of Charleston
• How do we keep independent retailers on King St, there are too many big retailers.
• Sad to see the smaller art galleries closing. 5 years ago there were so many artsy shops/galleries I would come to town regularly. Now I don’t.
• Homeless on king St must go. That’s another reason I don’t come down as much.
• Must stop the meter feeding at 6:00. Really puts a damper on eating downtown.
• I don’t feel safe walking downtown when it’s dark. I would like to see low key community security patrolling.
• What messages can people give to each other that will make someone smile
• I’d love to know more about the Irish heritage here in Charleston as I know they were considered originally to be the lowest class.

Want to know how something works?

• The drawbridge schedules for opening/closing.
• Charleston is growing A LOT and there are lots of new people (like me). It would be great to have tips for newbies on really basic stuff. I feel like I needed an orientation when I got here. Personal property tax? License plate renewal fee? Boring stuff like that.
• Zoning and planning --- or the lack there of sometimes -- particularly when it comes to long range transportation issues. What is the process and who are the decision makers? How can citizens plug in to and influence it?
• Free education system for over age 60.
• Yes, I would love know who has been in charge of the downtown Charleston and Mt P Route 17 landscaping choices and design because it is spectacular. I tried researching it with no luck.

What can we help you understand?

• The City’s annexation process as there are random land parcels in and about the West Ashley area that fall under County Jurisdiction and others (often adjacent) that fall under City Jurisdiction. This to me appears to be an issue when it comes to development in the area as land use and design guidelines varies greatly with the City vs. County
• Why , after spending millions over the past 10 years, isn’t our flooding situation NOT improved ?
• why they can’t fix intersection at Central Park and Riverland Drive on JI
• Drainage on the peninsula
• Local cultural “quirks”
• Best nonprofits to support
• A clear explanation of the various nicknames, local labels, and sections of the entire downtown peninsula and surrounding communities. For example, where exactly are the borders for the “French Quarter”? etc., etc.
• Why is there no system for car inspections? Traffic is snarled by disable vehicles regularly.
• What makes people smile
• With our enormous population growth and changes in the last ten years and no real up to date resource of what demographics such as industry professionals, cultures, race, average age groups, I would love an update.

What about upcoming developments or construction you’ve seen around town?

• I enjoy your updates and links to major development projects and would like to continue to see these.
• What about the Citadel Mall redevelopment?
• Why no NEW Cruise Terminal yet ??
• some strange pool on upper meeting or king?
• When will the Jasper pile driving stop?
• I am appalled at the greed of developers here. We need strong leaders to keep them accountable for lousy construction which ends in homeowners having to sue irresponsible developers. Where are the code enforcers?
• That HUGE new hotel on the park...more about it
• Yes, the huge complex that is being built just off of Broad and behind the Colonial Lake area. What is it, what is it going to house and what is the time-line.
• Scary to see the land and skylines change so much with all this construction to the point it is blocking ocean views. Can you share what these bldgs are going to be, some I have read about, and of any future scenic blocking construction that will happen? I would like to take time to enjoy the views that may not be there tomorrow.

What don’t you know that you’d like us to investigate?

• Why are there no seaplanes here? Out in Vancouver area you see them quite a bit.
• When mega ships will be using Charleston harbor.
• why road construction seems to expand in Mt. Pleasant and Daniel Island (sometimes in advance of planned development) but not Johns Island with its rapidly expanding population. What if anything can be done about it?
• The Folly Road bike path. There was some joint meetings between Charleston County, SCDOT and Folly Beach met in 2018 and have developed some conceptual plans for the path, but nothing has since happened nor any further developments.
• Stay on top of the misuse of P-Cards by county officials ! These things seem to come out in the news but are quickly swept under the rug !! This is Fraud & needs to be treated that way ? I’m sure politics will prevail & nothing is done !
• Best spots to live in town- neighborhood descriptions
• I don’t know a lot, so I’m sure you’ll enlighten me on lots! But I especially don’t know anything about local politics.
• How are so many developments around this area able to clear-cut large swaths of older trees and forests for their new subdivisions? I thought, apparently in error, that the grand live oaks were in some way protected yet I see them cut and cleared out regularly on Johns Island where we live. What is the story and are developers manipulating or skirting around any such regulations? I am not against responsible and careful new developments and understand they are both necessary and important to our City, but their must be some appropriate way to balance everyone’s interests for the long term health of the community.
• Where the education money is going and why are we providing meals at school if parents already are getting food stamps. Should that money be in education?
• I would like to learn more about whether a passenger train or some efforts to reduce vehicle traffic is at least being discussed.

Have a question you didn’t submit? Just drop it in the comments below– or let us know on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. We’ll add it to the list. And keep checking back to see what we’ve answered so we can continue this conversation.

Now, we’re off to start finding out answers for you.

– Nicole + the CHStoday team