The "Dead" Corridor (Charleston, North: foreclosure, income, income tax)

[oz in SC]

Because there is no NEED for a deepwater port in Jasper county right next to ANOTHER deepwater port in Savannah...

BOTH would be on the Savannah River.

One plan is to build a much smaller 'niche' port in Jasper county that might make sense....but again there really isn't a desperate need.

[karacarina11]

oz you're ringing the same bell - and I just ring back the same answer. But I'll take the judgment of a private corporation willing to put up a billion or so of their own money that a deep-water port at Jasper, if built 10-15 years ago when planned, would have been a money-making proposition.

Unless you're an expert in the shipping industry, so can make a convincing case that you know better, I think I'll leave it at that.

But I'll repeat: If the state of SC had any interest in improving economic and other conditions in the poor, rural areas of the state, they would do it.

[oz in SC]

A chronology of the events:

Chronology

And here is an opinion piece by State Senator Tom Davis:

http://www.islandpacket.com/2010/07/31/1323303/rethink-business-model-to-jump.html (broken link)

[Geechie North]

Um,


If anything, don't you think that the record presented establishes a need for a smaller, 'Blue Sea' port at Jasper, and shows (by implication) the obselesence of the Charleston port vis-a-vis Savannah?

Sort of like Kings Bay put the Naval Base at North Charleston out of business.

[oz in SC]

Originally Posted by Geechie North

Um,


If anything, don't you think that the record presented establishes a need for a smaller, 'Blue Sea' port at Jasper, and shows (by implication) the obselesence of the Charleston port vis-a-vis Savannah?

Sort of like Kings Bay put the Naval Base at North Charleston out of business.

I don't think Charleston is obsolete,anymore than Savannah.

I DO think building another port exactly like those two (and ON the same stretch of river as Savannah)was kind of silly.

This new idea might work...but right now where would the money come from?

Did Kings Bay put Charleston Naval base 'out of business' or was it simply the drastic reduction in the size of the Navy?

[Geechie North]

Originally Posted by oz in SC

I don't think Charleston is obsolete,anymore than Savannah.

I DO think building another port exactly like those two (and ON the same stretch of river as Savannah)was kind of silly.

This new idea might work...but right now where would the money come from?

Did Kings Bay put Charleston Naval base 'out of business' or was it simply the drastic reduction in the size of the Navy?

When James Earl Carter authorized the opening of a sub base at Kings Bay, the days of the base in N. Chas were numbered, because of the idea of uniqueness:

Subs would have a better spot in S. Georgia, and Norfolk, Va. had/has the Navy's largest supply center, so the supply base in Charleston wasn't needed. So the activity shuttered

But back to the proposed Jasper port.

From the data posted, it would go after a different kind of shipper than either Savannah or Charleston do, so the redundancy would be between those two.

[karacarina11]

Tom Davis - Now THERE'S an unbiased, straight-shooting, not-connect-to-the-GOBs kind of a guy

His op-ed just confirms the delaying tactics have worked. You keep talking about today, while Jasper has been talking about this since the early 1990s.

And here's an 2006 op-ed from Gladys Jones of Jasper County Council:

p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } "When Mark Sanford was elected, we in Jasper County had high hopes. He said all the right things, and it sure seemed that a man who claimed to be so pro-business would be a strong advocate for private economic development. But like so many in South Carolina, we have been disappointed in Governor Sanford.

First, a little background. More than 10 years ago, planning was begun for the South Atlantic International Terminal to be built in Jasper County on the lower Savannah River. South Carolina has been given a true gift at this site: 50 feet deep and 6 miles from the ocean, it is a nearly perfect site for a deep-water port. In fact, a 1987 report from the South Carolina Coastal Council said the Jasper County site was the best site for a port terminal in South Carolina.

In 2000, we signed a contract with SSA Marine, the largest American-owned stevedoring and marine terminal operator, and one of the largest in the world. They are willing invest more than $450 million—of their money, not state money—to initially build the port.

The Charleston Port is run differently. After World War II, when there was little private money available to build ports, many states, including South Carolina, created state-run ports authorities to build and operate marine terminals. So the Charleston Port is owned and operated by the state through the SC State Ports Authority (SPA). The governor appoints its members.

Now that private capital is available, most states are moving to a 21st-Century model of port operations: where the government acts as a landlord, but the port is actually privately owned.

For years, the SPA has objected to our plan for private development. As a result we have been mired in legal disputes and conflict as roadblock after roadblock keeps this plan from becoming a reality.

Independent studies show that neither Charleston nor Savannah needs to fear competition from a new port: Projected increases in demand will provide more than enough business for all three.

Make no mistake: This is not a local issue. This is a critical economic development project for the entire state of South Carolina. It is not an exaggeration to say that if South Carolina accomplishes this one economic development project, we will transform our state.

Why? Approximately 450 jobs will be created to start. But the Jasper Port will have a ripple effect. An inland port will develop up the I-95 corridor and stimulate growth, development and business investment all along the transportation route. Independent experts project that ultimately a Jasper Port will create 97,000 jobs in our state and generate billions of dollars in investment and revenue, most in counties hardest hit by mill and manufacturing closings.

Mark Sanford strategist Tom Davis in his op-ed piece focused on the small picture: the current legal dispute, just one of many. Unfortunately, that small-picture approach is exactly what we have been getting from the Governor’s office all along. ...


Time is running out. Georgia is sitting back, happy to let us fight among ourselves, while Savannah pursues dredging a deeper port. A 100% privately owned and operated terminal will begin operation next May in Norfolk, VA. North Carolina has announced its intention to build a major container terminal at South Port near Wilmington. Other East Coast ports have announced container terminal expansions.

South Carolina cannot let this opportunity pass us by. We need a governor who will take direct action to make this vision a reality and create a new future for our state. We disagree with Tom Davis; we believe effective, aggressive action from a governor skilled at building consensus and solving problems will make the difference. Mark Sanford has been in office for four years and no progress has been made.

[oz in SC]

And Savannah WILL get a deeper port...it appears it is better to spend money we don't have to reinvent the wheel a few miles from an already invented wheel in Savannah.

And that supposed increase in demand vanished in this depression...

[karacarina11]

Originally Posted by oz in SC

And Savannah WILL get a deeper port...it appears it is better to spend money we don't have to reinvent the wheel a few miles from an already invented wheel in Savannah.

And that supposed increase in demand vanished in this depression...

But that's the point. We wouldn't have spent ANY money. It was to be a private operation. (Isn't that what Sanford claims he's all about?) And if the Jasper Port had gotten done when it was planned to (i.e. not been blocked by the Charleston interests), our I-95 corridor and the people who live there would be benefiting from the business - and there would be no need for Savannah to deepen its port.

And this recession will be over before long and everybody's demand will go back up. But by now it's pretty much a moot point. Too late - and that, of course, was exactly what Jasper Port opponents were aiming for.

[oz in SC]

Originally Posted by karacarina11

But that's the point. We wouldn't have spent ANY money. It was to be a private operation. (Isn't that what Sanford claims he's all about?) And if the Jasper Port had gotten done when it was planned to (i.e. not been blocked by the Charleston interests), our I-95 corridor and the people who live there would be benefiting from the business - and there would be no need for Savannah to deepen its port.

And this recession will be over before long and everybody's demand will go back up. But by now it's pretty much a moot point. Too late - and that, of course, was exactly what Jasper Port opponents were aiming for.

Charleston and Savannah won't exceed capacity before 2024 now.

and if you think this depression is ending anytime soon,well you will be mighty disappointed.

There is NOTHING to lift this nation out of this depression,no more bubbles to inflate to get us out....

Consumer spending makes up 70% of GDP, I don't foresee that suddenly bouncing back when the next wave of foreclosures hits.