Caroline recently attended a forum focusing on the cruise ship industry and its environmental and economic impact on our historic district. The event was sponsored by the Coastal Conservation League, the Preservation Society of Charleston, Clean Support and the Committee to Save the City. Each of the 4 internationally renowned panelists spoke about air and water pollution, environmental regulations, economic impact of cruise ships and environmental monitoring of water and air quality. The cruise ship industry is the least regulated industry. As it stands now you are more regulated on the streets of your hometown than the cruise ships entering Charleston Harbor. The regulations that are in place have no monitoring or reporting requirements. 60-70% of cruise ships violate the existing discharge laws resulting in contamination of shellfish beds, risk of disease from folks swimming in creeks and oceans etc.. The risk to the health of our population from fine partical pollution that is given off from the diesel exhaust is staggering. Charleston received a “F” rating from American Lung Association 3 years in a row because of diesel emissions. The economic impact from ships calling on Charleston is exagerated. Most passengers spend less than $35 in port and spends on average more money on the ship than they do on their cruise ticket. The cruise ship industry employs no one on a local level for any task or uses any local goods on board. In a state with almost 12% unemployment, why can’t they be required to hire locally and use local products as much as possible? Our state and local governments need to take a serious look at changing the laws governing the cruise ship industry. We need to contact our local and state officials and push for Charleston Harbor and 4-5 miles out at sea to be an “EPA No Discharge Zone.” All of this evidence begs the question, do we want to have national publications saying that Charleston is “getting ugly” because of the cruise industry? This is what they are saying about Key West. For more information about the forum, please click the link below.
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/apr/01/regulations-sought-for-cruise-industry/
Caroline attended the Preservation Society of Charleston’s 90th Annual Carolopolis Awards celebration on January 28, 2010. The event was held at the historic Riviera Theatre in downtown Charleston and included an awards presentation and a reception that followed. Three properties received Pro Merito awards. The Pro Merito award is given to those properties that were awarded Carolopolis Awards not less than 20 years ago and have undergone a second major rehabilitation or have displayed an admirable level of continuous preservation. The 2009 Pro Merito recipients are 18 Lamboll Street owned by Bonnie and Edward Gilbreth, 42 Gadsden Street, the carriage house for 60 Montagu Street which is owned by Steven and Mary Caroline Stewart and 37 Hasell Street owned by Jim and Sue Scarborough. Caroline was particularly excited about 37 Hasell because she was the co-listing and the selling agent for this gorgeous property.
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