Dear Editor,
The people in leadership positions are trying to take away our civil and human rights. It seems as if Orangeburg City and Orangeburg County both seem to be running like a dictatorship. Recently, I attended the City Council meeting where Claflin University officials expressed concerns about student safety. Taxpaying citizens who live near Claflin University on Goff Avenue are not being considered in their own neighborhoods as the City of Orangeburg and Claflin University are proposing to close a portion of Goff Avenue. This is the proposal to address “student safety”. Some of the residents are concerned that this proposal would make them feel that Goff Avenue would become a gated community (like a prison). For instance, if there is a holiday, or celebration or any function at their residence, it would be as if they were in a prison.
The city should not take away taxpaying citizens’ freedom and/or lifestyles that they, their families and visitors are entitled and accustomed to. When speaking of the Universities, it is a complicated mess. For years now, residents haven’t felt welcome on the campuses. When it comes to sporting events on the campuses, the only thing they want is to get money from the community. We are one community, and we need to work as such. Everyone should feel welcome and not only when there is a football or basketball game happening.
I have known the Murdaugh family for years. They have worked in Orangeburg School District for a number of years and are a lawabiding family. Their house is located on Goff Avenue and has been in the family for more than 80 years. The city needs to let this family and others enjoy the freedom and lifestyle that they are accustomed to. This proposal will cause bigger division between the University and the citizens of Orangeburg. Nearly all HBCUs were built in historically black neighborhoods, where the communities embraced and wrapped their arms around them, to the point of renting rooms to students and faculty to help them with their education. It is wrong in so many ways to imprison people in their own neighborhoods.
There are other avenues or solutions that
could be discussed if officials would listen to the taxpaying citizens of Orangeburg. But how could you if no one informed the residents when meetings are held to discuss the issues. To keep residents out of the circle, is the same thing as racism in our own community, because they do not get an invite to sit down at the table. Another example is the fence built down the middle of Chestnut Street towards the bypass. Taxpayers and businesses were not taken into consideration of the families and businesses there. A family moved to Orangeburg, and they were very proud to build their restaurant from the ground up because they had a dream to own their business. Due to fencing down the middle of the road, their dream has been shattered, and the business is closed. There is also a barber shop in the same area that is struggling keep their customers because of the same reason. Once again, the business owners and the residents were not invited to express their concerns, but South Carolina State was. It is becoming more and more evident that the tax paying citizens of the city and county of Orangeburg are being left out. With all the fencing and the sidewalk curbing to SCSU, it is not inviting for citizens to walk on that side of the road. The sidewalk should be straight and accessible for any use.
Even speaking with people about the new development plans for the Railroad Corner, where they are planning to build student housing and nothing for the residents of Orangeburg. Shouldn’t the residents of Orangeburg be allowed to live in that area also? Will people feel comfortable on that corner? I have spoken with several people, and they expressed the fact that they would not. We feel that it’s going to be like an extension of the college campuses and not for the community. That would not be bridging the community and the universities together. It clearly is a division. No one should feel this way about their city, but a lot of residents do. The people making these decisions are not being held accountable and they should be. This is coming from the Voice of the People of Orangeburg.
William Green
