City and county should work together to make Bull Street project robust service hub

Make Bull Street thrive

It is time for the City of Columbia and Richland County to work together toward a greater common good for the community.

The Bull Street Development should become the center for local government. County administration and a new courthouse could be built there along with a new City Hall. The development would then have a captive group of employees which would allow restaurants to thrive during the day, while the other overall development of Bull Street would allow those same restaurants to thrive at night.

Local businesses that work hand-in-hand with the city or the county would be motivated to occupy the office space being developed so as to have the added convenience of proximity.

For far too long, the city and county have seemed to want to operate independently of each other when the opposite is what would actually allow Columbia to thrive.

The area’s “me first” mentality from district to district is a hindrance, and Bull Street is the perfect opportunity to finally come together for the greater common good of the community.

Robb Brown, Columbia

Show the redline

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, statements which forecast or suggest redline activities that will catalyze ominous consequences have all come from Russia.

It’s past time for the United States and its allies to issue some redline dictates.

If chemical agents are used, Russia will pay the price.

If one more hospital, school, church, or civilian shelter is attacked, Russia will pay the price.

If NGOs are not allowed safe passage to deliver food, water and medical necessities to surrounded cities within the next 24 hours, Russia will pay the price.

It may be the case that Russia wants to know what the price is. We have to show them instead of telling them.

The U.S. and its allies are at a crossroads; lack of releasing the full measure of our joint capabilities to assist Ukraine will invite Russia to endlessly replicate this national pogrom.

Frank Caggiano, Columbia

No to rebate

There appears to be much discussion these days in the S.C. state legislature regarding the best use of funds made available by federal Covid-related largesse and settlements of legal actions which benefit this state.

One of the proposals being promoted by our Republican majority legislators and governor is an income tax rebate which, from my viewpoint, is merely a political ploy for votes in the upcoming mid-term elections.

I generally identify with Republican values but submit they could help the populace more by taxing all residential real property at the 4% assessment ratio, thereby promoting affordable housing.

Ed Billings, West Columbia

Support rebate

On behalf of the South Carolina Association of Taxpayers, we are writing in support of the income tax and rebate bill. In order to remain competitive in attracting new businesses and growth to the Palmetto State, lowering the income tax rate is essential, especially with our neighbors, Georgia at 5.75% and North Carolina at 5.25%.

In these uncertain economic times, it is prudent for our lawmakers to continue to be fiscally responsible, cut spending, and make decisions in the best interest of the citizens who work hard to make South Carolina a great place to live. We hope our lawmakers in the House and the Senate will work together in a bi-partisan manner to put this bill into law.

Katherine Robinson, Columbia