Letter: Who Is Paying For Solid Rock Police Barriers?

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Dear Editor,

I live around the corner from Solid Rock church in Myrtle Beach. On Saturday, the city placed barriers along the sidewalks on both sides of the street. Ostensibly, the barriers were placed to separate church members from demonstrators.

I’m puzzled as a neighbor. 

Why is the city erecting these stanchions (or barriers)? How much does it cost to have them erected and taken down? What is the purpose of them? How many police department personnel will be engaged before and during the timeframe of Sunday’s peaceful demonstration? What is the cost of paying for those personnel and why is the city (ergo, the taxpayers) picking up the tab for all this?

Sincerely,

Brian L. Long
Myrtle Beach, S.C.

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FROM THE EDITOR …

These are excellent questions, Brian. We are posing them directly to the city – and preparing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for a breakdown of the costs. Obviously this has something to do with all the recent drama at the church, but you are correct in raising concerns as a taxpayer.

Thank you for your letter!

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