What Are The Leaders Of Florence Willing To Risk To Further Economic Development?

Editor’s note:

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Community Times Newspaper, it’s staff or advertisers.

This week I am writing to inform some and discuss with others how the "powers that be" in Florence have organized around putting a Battery Plant right next to our greatest resource. To say there had to be some participation by Black folks in coming up with such a dangerous idea goes without saying. What troubles us is they should have given more thought to the fact that what they have agreed to is a development that could have long-range negative ramifications for their grandchildren attending school in that area.

At least two county council members are Black, but we noticed they were not front and center during the announcement of the battery plant coming to town. The mayor was one of those who lent credibility to the project. We didn't once hear any of them raise their voices in alarm over the recommendation. Maybe because neither of them has children attending the school located a rocks throw from the proposed sight.

Talking about lack of representation, this is a prime example of what it means to have go-along people in place. It seems to us some curiosity should have been aroused about the safety of such a move. There is plenty of vacant land on the west side of town. Why wasn't any of it considered for the location of the Battery Plant? All you need to know is who, more than likely, had something to do with such a callous plan. From what we could deduce from the articles published in the Morning News, the chairman of the county council and the governor strongly supported this thoughtless plan. Just the specter of such a plan should have raised concern in the Black community. But more than likely, a deal had already been made with the folks who were thought to have any say in the matter.

But now, let's take a moment to consider the ramifications of having something of that nature right next to a school. The two are not a match made in Heaven. Consider the far-reaching implications of having the two in such proximity to each other. We are reminded of a story told to us by an employee of G.E., of a battery facility having been put near the main operation and later being moved for various reasons. I hope someone has thought about the possibility of something going wrong with that facility and the ramifications of its closeness to a school. That is the kind of thing that happens when the people charged with representing the Black community sit silently while those dangerous presentations are made.

Some of the ramifications of having a Battery Plant in close proximity to a school are probably contained in the studies that were or should have been done to show the viability of such a project. We would like to see the results of the studies done. Certainly, this idea has yet to get this far without a viability study. What type of long-range planning or thinking has gone into the likelihood of some unforeseen and dangerous occurrence arising from this endeavor? Why wasn't this matter discussed with the Black community? And if it was, who approved such a facility being built that close to a school? The only thing left to ask is what is next if we don't do something about this.

My recommendation for you this week is to call your representative and have them give you a legitimate reason for why there was no pushback against such a project. What are the leaders of Florence willing to risk in furthering economic development? Our children are too expensive of a price to pay in the name of progress. This plan seems like something coming right out of the playbook of someone with a history of thinking they can push anything off on the Black community with little to no trepidation.

So, for those who still have an ounce of concern for your community, WAKE UP!

P.S.- What kind of study was done to reflect the impact on traffic? Why weren't softer commercial developments or residential developments considered for the land? Someone may have stood to benefit from the thoughtless proposal offered. Why didn't they consider putting such a potentially dangerous facility in an area that is touted for Business and Economic development? It seems Black people are never seriously considered when these matters are being developed.

We understand that land was a part of a planned development long ago called the White Hawk Project. It further suggests the lack of an organized Black agenda predating this debacle. Because either there was poor decision-making done when Wilson was built in an area marked for business development, or someone didn't follow up with zoning.

The question now becomes, will anything force us together to do the almost unthinkable? In this case, that would be to develop a think tank where issues of significance can be considered before they are put into action, such as a Battery Plant being placed adjacent to a Black school.

We know BlackLives don't matter to some on the county council, but obviously, BlackLives doesn't matter to the others either.

Sincerely Yours,

If This Is Allowed To Go Unchallenged Maybe There Will Be No Future To Protect.

Elder James W. Williams

Chairperson, Advocacy Organization, Lifelineplus