Local

By Barney Blakeney The 2020 S.C. Legislative session is slated to begin January 14 and continue through the first week of June. Local legislators predict this session likely will be lackluster. Because 2020 is an election year, local legislators say their colleagues likely will be focused on re-election. Legislative matters will be a secondary priority.…

By Barney Blakeney In response to the recent rash of hate crimes perpetrated against Jews, the National Action Network last week asked its local chapters to conduct press conferences to emphasize the organization’s support of and solidarity with the Jewish community. January 2, South Carolina NAN President James Johnson, along with Charleston attorney Larry Kobrovsky…

By Barney Blakeney Like the sand in an hourglass, so too are the days of our lives. Retiring Charleston Deputy Police Chief Jerome Taylor thinks of the new phase of his life in much the same way as the sand in an hourglass passing from one vessel into another. He considers his January 3 retirement…

By Barney Blakeney North Charleston community activist Jesse Williams has earned a reputation among the area’s most proactive proponents for safe progressive neighborhoods. And despite two unsuccessful bids to get elected to North Charleston City Council, Williams vows to continue his activism. For Williams, community activism isn’t about media attention, hidden agendas or soft money.…

By Barney Blakeney Jerome Heyward in North Charleston and Jason Sakran in Charleston both were elected November 5 in upset wins over two incumbents. Todd Olds and James Lewis Jr., respectively. Their wins signal changes beyond just in the representation of the districts, but also how their will impact their new constituents. In North Charleston,…

By Barney Blakeney Just two years after being named North Charleston’s first Black police chief, Reggie Burgess has been nominated to become top cop at the S.C. Highway Patrol. I asked several North Charleston residents what they think. Pastor Thomas Dixon just lost a bid to become the city’s mayor November 5. Dixon said Burgess…

By Barney Blakeney Efforts to address crime and policing continue as area homicides increase. Earlier this month, the Charleston Police Department received the final report of the Racial Bias Audit conducted by CNA. But even as the department vowed to use the opportunity to show its continued commitment to transparency and engagement with the community and to…

By Barney Blakeney For many the November 19 Charleston municipal runoff elections came as no surprise – Mayor John Tecklenburg retained his seat against challenger Charleston Councilman Mike Seekings. For others the election was as surprising as Christmas morning to a kid. In the early polling, Tecklenburg held a 2:1 lead over Seekings as 26 percent…