STATEHOUSE REPORT | ISSUE 20.37 | SEPT. 10, 2021
BIG STORY: SCETV backs off deal to lease space to another TV station
NEWS BRIEFS: State’s COVID-19 rate is 2nd highest in U.S.
LOWCOUNTRY, Ariail: He got his rites
COMMENTARY, Brack: Become the best person you can be
SPOTLIGHT: S.C. Senate Democratic Caucus
FEEDBACK: Throw them out or be doomed to repeat past
MYSTERY PHOTO: Six columns
SCETV backs off deal to lease space to another TV station
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | S.C. Educational Television (SCETV) has backed off an exploratory leadership proposal to lease space in its Columbia studio to a private broadcaster following pushback by staff.
The proposal to generate new revenue comes two years after a former board chairman and two others resigned after months of drama to try to get more money from SCETV’s nonprofit endowment that has pumped millions of dollars into the network to ensure South Carolinians get high-quality public programming.
This week, sources said the agency’s news and content staff members were edgy about a potential deal with WOLO-TV, an ABC affiliate, because it would put a news competitor in the same building with the public broadcaster. Additionally, they said the deal could threaten state funding if state lawmakers withheld money in the future.
Deal shared with staff
SCETV President and CEO Anthony Padgett announced the proposal to staff in a long Sept. 3 email that outlined what could happen in the short-term and long-term:
Short-term facility rental: “This appears to be an appropriate revenue-generating opportunity for SCETV. We will continue our conversations and are evaluating this opportunity with the hope of making a final determination in the next few days. If the short-term rental proves to be feasible and beneficial, we expect the WOLO team will begin using the studio on or about October 1,” the email said.
Long-term facility rental: “Exploratory conversations are also taking place around the WOLO team occupying space in the building on a long-term basis. At this time, these are preliminary conversations; nothing around this topic has been finalized.”
As of Wednesday morning, the state agency that provides fiscal oversight, such as approving leasing deals, did not know about the proposal, according to Grant Gillespie, executive director of the State Fiscal Accountability Authority (SFAA).
“I have not heard of this to date and to my knowledge, there are no plans to discuss today” at the authority’s Sept. 8 board meeting, he said.
Proposal called off
Late Wednesday, Padgett, through an agency spokesman, said the deal was off: “This has been a recent exploratory conversation, as we explained in the email to staff. Based on our review of the situation, including staff feedback, we will not be proceeding in this direction.”
When asked about keeping SFAA or the state Department of Administration in the loop, Padgett said, “We have been consulting with and following guidance from the Department of Administration throughout this exploratory process. Had there been a decision to move forward, we would have navigated the appropriate approval processes with state entities.”
SCETV commissioners reportedly also did not know about the proposal for WOLO to move into the agency’s space.
“We have kept our Commission Chairman informed of the conversations taking place as we explored this opportunity,” Padgett said. “This was intended to be a topic for discussion at the upcoming Commission meeting. Again, this was an exploratory conversation, and we would not have proceeded before discussing with our full Commission.
Finally, when asked about why there was a need to rent space to a private broadcaster, Padgett explained, “We were approached by a local broadcaster about the potential for renting space in our facility — an opportunity which held the potential to benefit our agency and create additional industry-specific partnerships. If another state agency (or another entity) would have approached us, we would have explored that opportunity as well. We will always explore opportunities that present a potential benefit or allow us to maximize the use and effectiveness of state resources.”
Jeff West, vice president and general manager of WOLO, said Thursday that the station’s lease of office space in a building across from the Statehouse was finished in six months. When asked where its news team would go after then, he said, “You’ll just have to stay tuned and see. That’s all I’ve got to say about it.”
- First published in the Charleston City Paper. Have a comment? Send to feedback@statehousereport.com
State’s COVID-19 rate is 2nd highest in U.S.
Staff reports | South Carolina has the second highest rate of COVID-19 with 94 cases per 100,000 people, according to data today from The New York Times. That’s up 9 percent from two weeks ago. The state’s virus rate is slightly behind Tennessee today, but had the top rate in the nation earlier this week, according to media reports.
Over the last two weeks, the virus has shown few signs of abating as hospitals are filled with unvaccinated COVID-19 patients, schools struggle to stay open and hospitalizations are increasing for children.
- S.C. nears 11,000 dead, surpassing 750,000 cases since start of pandemic. The Post and Courier
In other recent news:
Democratic attorneys general challenge S.C.’s abortion law. Twenty Democratic attorneys general have voiced their support for a lawsuit challenging South Carolina’s new abortion law, which requires doctors to do ultrasound to check for a so-called “fetal heartbeat.” If cardiac activity is detected, an abortion can only be performed in limited circumstances.
State roads, infrastructure are “subpar,” say engineers. The South Carolina chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers released a report blasting the state’s aging infrastructure, which is stressed by explosive growth. The report, which gave the state a D+ for infrastructure, said infrastructure in the state was “subpar” and leads to the state having the most deadly roads in the nation. Greenville News.
S.C. leaders say earmarks need accountability but no audit. An audit of state funds sent to pet projects has not been authorized despite top legislative leaders in South Carolina saying more accountability is needed for earmarks. The State.
Charleston again named top Travel+Leisure destination. Charleston edged out Santa Fe, New Mexico and Savannah for the top U.S. spot among Travel + Leisure‘s readers. Stuck between Jaipur, India and Tokyo, Japan, Charleston snagged No. 19 in the magazine’s top world city destinations. It was the only U.S. city named to the magazine’s worldwide list. Charleston City Paper.
S.C. one of hardest-hit states as foreclosure moratorium ends. Even prior to the July 31 federal foreclosure and eviction moratorium, South Carolina ranked in as one of the top states for current foreclosure rates and risk of foreclosure. GSA Business Report.
McMaster proposes using COVID aid to widen I-26. Gov. Henry McMaster has proposed widening nearly 70 miles of Interstate 26 between Columbia and Charleston to three lanes each way. The proposal suggests using $360 million in federal pandemic aid to get the project mostly completed by 2029. The Post and Courier.
- Want more headlines every business day that are like this? Visit our friends at SC Clips.
He got his rites
Cartoonist Robert Ariail always has an interesting take on what’s going on in South Carolina. His weekly “Lowcountry” strip is originally drawn for our sister publication, the Charleston City Paper. Love the cartoon? Hate it? What do you think: feedback@statehousereport.com. Check out the Best of Charleston 2021.
Become the best person you can be
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | Dear Avery,
Eighteen years ago when your eyes fluttered to see the world for the first time, you brought joy to your family. You still do. We’re proud of the young woman you are and look forward to the adult you’re becoming.
From the beginning, you’ve heard how South Carolinians are a warm and generous people with an independent spirit. On the day you were born, I wrote this to you: “You should know our people are generally good. Sometimes they stray and do bad things or forget to do what’s right. … Sometimes people forget the lessons of church to love their neighbors and, instead, love themselves too much.”
Those words are still true today as are those that followed, “Sometimes people need help — a hand up to get past hard times. There’s nothing ever wrong with asking for help and you shouldn’t look down on somebody who needs it.”
You and your younger sister have learned and seen a lot as you’ve grown. You learned to read, communicate with others and look adults in the eye. You’ve found things that interest you and make you interesting — playing the piano, learning Japanese, admiring sharks and more. You’ve shown you appreciate the value of hard work and travel. And like many of your generation, you’ve mastered using the mobile phone as more than a device to talk to people.
Through the years, you and your sister have gotten a lot of advice and guidance, such as encouragement to discern the difference between good and evil, truth and lies. You’ve heard how you should help to make our democracy strong by standing up for what’s right and for those who feel they have no voice.
Our state and nation have many challenges. We hope you and the members of your generation will become America’s next greatest generation to help fix our messes. As we wrote in 2003, “We hope you’ll be fearless in the midst of naysayers. We hope you’ll help make things better.”
As you move through life, here are a few more things to keep in mind:
Think. Don’t be rushed into doing something you don’t want to do. If you are unsure, call a personal time-out and think about what’s the right thing to do. In your heart of hearts, you will know the right direction.
Have fun. You’re only here once. Make the most of it. Enjoy each day.
Finish the job. If you start something, see it through. Do it correctly.
Try new things. Explore our world. Taste different foods. Smell lavender fields in France. Make art. Live beyond South Carolina — and then come back and make it better.
Fall forward. Actor Denzel Washington once noted that you shouldn’t be scared to fail. “Thomas Edison conducted 1,000 failed experiments,” he said. “Did you know that? I didn’t know that because the 1,001st was the light bulb. Fall forward. Every failed experiment is one step closer to success.”
Question. Don’t accept everything at face value. Question authority — and question those questioning authority.
Listen. Slow down and listen to what other people are saying. You’ll be surprised how much you can learn — and grow — just by listening.
Use common sense. Too many people seem oblivious about too many things. Whenever you encounter a decision point, examine it practically and use common sense to figure out the best choice.
Laugh. Don’t take things too seriously. The drama you have today probably will be forgotten by next year. Enjoy life. Laugh at it and yourself. A good sense of humor will take you a long way.
In the years ahead, become the best Avery you can be. Maximize your potential. Be a good friend to others. And enjoy yourself. Remember, we’re only here once.
Love, Dad
- Have a comment? Send to: feedback@statehousereport.com.
S.C. Senate Democratic Caucus
The public spiritedness of our underwriters allows us to bring Statehouse Report to you at no cost. This week’s spotlighted underwriter is the S.C. Senate Democratic Caucus. Organized almost 25 years ago, the Caucus has played an important role in many of the historic issues facing our state. As a vibrant minority party in the Senate, its role is to represent our constituents and present viable alternatives on critical issues. The S.C. Senate Democratic Caucus remains a unique place for this to occur in our policy process.
- Learn more about the Caucus at: www.scsenatedems.org.
Throw them out or be doomed to repeat past
To the editor:
Thank you Andy Brack, for your commentary on Sept. 4, 2021, in the Florence Morning News.
It was a breath of fresh air and good sense. Our “leadership” in Washington is an embarrassment to the citizens of South Carolina.
You tagged each one and were 100 percent correct on each. We as a nation are in serious trouble as the Republican Party abdicates its oath of office to follow the cult of Trump.
We MUST throw them all out of office or we are doomed to repeat history and the United States becomes yet another banana republic led by an unhinged leader. Thank you for your insight and courage to speak the truth.
— E.B. Suchland, Lt. USN (retired), Darlington, S.C.
Send us your thoughts. We receive a few comments a week and look forward to publishing. But often we can’t because we can’t verify the identity of the writer. To be published, you’ve got to provide us with contact information so we can verify your letters. Verified letters to the editor are published weekly. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity. Comments are limited to 250 words or less. Please include your name and contact information.
- Send your letters or comments to: feedback@statehousereport.com
Six columns
This week’s mystery sent in by a reader is a yellow building with six columns. Where is it? What is it? Send your guess to feedback@statehousereport.com — and remember to include your name, home city and contact information.
Last week’s mystery, “Great-looking garden,” is of the Janie Earle Furman Rose Garden at Furman University in Greenville.
Congratulations to several readers who identified it: George Graf of Palmyra, Va.; Penny Forrester of Tallahassee, Fla.; Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas; and Elizabeth Jones and Jay Altman, both of Columbia;
Graf shared that “the beautiful rose garden we see today started out as an expanse of dirt back in the 1950s not long after the current campus of Furman University opened. Over time, a set of brick stairs was built, and finally the garden was landscaped in the familiar pattern we know today.”
Peel added: “Created in 1961, this garden features over 800 rose bushes and a 19th century gazebo and fountain. It’s a photographer’s dream spot, and is a favored venue for many weddings and other special events in and around Greenville, S.C.”
Altman also shared this link as a place for more info.
- Send us a mystery. If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!) Send to: feedback@statehousereport.com and mark it as a photo submission. Thanks.
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We Can Do Better, South Carolina!
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