Comments on: Welcome Center Roulette

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 22:34:29 +0000

Freddie

The only racial content I see here is what you are injecting into it.

By: Freddie Guy

Freddie Guy — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:14:16 +0000

“one lawmaker said. “Gilda and Bobby are in bed on a lot more than Welcome Centers.””

That is very Lee Atwater-ish of you to put the black lady in bed with the white guy.

Kudos.

Also enjoyed the Rusty DePass post! Playin’ the race card today are we?

One of the FITS lackey’s must have watched “Boogie Man” or read “Bad Boy” to Will last night?

Fred

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:52:58 +0000

Interesting figures on the “fiscal impact” of these welcome centers. Everyone knows that the Santee exit is one of the most popular overnight stops on the I-95 route from NY to FLA. I would bet that the yearly occupancy rates of all the hotels at the Santee exit well exceeds most other similar hotel exits along SC interstates. On that note, who actually still uses welcome centers to make their hotel reservations when traveling to a state anyway?

By: just another joe

just another joe — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:01:04 +0000

I agree there is no real need for the Santee Welcome Center as it is located in the middle of the state I do see a need for the other centers located along the state boarders. Doesn’t the tourist industry pay all kinds of special taxes to local and state gov’ts? If I am correct then it is in the best interest of the gov’t to promote the state’ tourist industry by staffing welcome centers. You fiscal Conservatives must be opposed to just about any gov’t expenditure no matter what benefit is provided. You guys must get a life.

CNSYD, you are right about Uncle Joe. He would have all on their knees out in the courtyard waiting for the bullet in the back of their heads. Talk about term limits.

By: Numbers, Numbers

Numbers, Numbers — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:50:58 +0000

Sic: If you got your numbers on the GM Gift Shop and SH Gift Shop from PRT, consider the source. They are not accurate. PRT added to the deficit amounts, purchases for inventory which are capital expenses and not debits. Those stores did not lose that amount of money last year. The State House Gift Shop is also unfairly cast as a loser because of PRT playing fast and loose with salaries. The salaries for the docents and others are lumped into that store. The docents at the GM are volunteers. These poor store managers have no control on the numbers PRT spews out for its own political purposes.

By: Zeke

Zeke — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:22:47 +0000

There are all sorts of funny numbers coming out of PRT. The favorite stores, parks and projects have one set of accouning standards for evaluation and those targeted have another.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:40:53 +0000

Two things:
First, the reasoning for the welcome center in the “middle” of the state is that it gives another chance to “sell” visitors that may have missed the center at the state line.
Secondly, look not only at influence from Orangeburg, but Charleston. The Santee center gives another shot at Charleston information before passing the I-26/I-95 interchange.
Having said that, it would be better to lease it to an private entity to run for profit. The state gets paid, the business sinks or swims.

By: CNSYD

CNSYD — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:05:40 +0000

I am SHOCKED to learn that politicians made deals. Why I bet this has never happened before, anywhere. I bet Joe Stalin wouldn’t have stood for it.