Penny For Progress Tax Allocation For Replacement Of the Manning Avenue Bridge A Smoke Screen For Regentrification Plans A Decade In The Making

A close inspection of the Penny for Progress (P4P) replacement of the Manning Avenue Bridge Plans shows that these funds are not designed for the replacement of that bridge at all, but will be used for "aesthetics and pedestrian safety." This is what the City of Sumter, Sumter County and the South Carolina Department of Transportation have in mind, according to the Sumter County's website under the title of Manning Avenue Bridge Replacement.

Now, according to the Sumter County's website, which by the way, is a recent addition/modification of the site, shows the $2.5M that were originally allocated for the Manning Avenue Bridge approximately nine years ago will not be used for the replacement of the said bridge at all, but will be used for "aesthetic and for pedestrian safety."

Furthermore, the same Sumter County website states the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has added the Manning Avenue Bridge replacement on its list of bridge replacements. and the construction of this bridge will commence in the late Spring of 2024 and should be completed in 24 to 36 months. This projected date of starting construction of the bridge is actually a year later than that proposed by the Sumter Area Transportation Study (SUATS).

This means the Manning Avenue Bridge's replacement has been placed even further back than originally stated by SUATS.
One has to analyze the dynamics involved here and figure out what is transpiring right before our eyes, and how it relates to the Penny for Progress (P4P) funding voters in the City of Sumter and Sumter County are really and truly voting for; and furthermore, who will be the beneficiaries of these tax dollars.

There is a blatant and clear distinction between renovation and replacement. This fact can be found by just researching the definitions of the words. To renovate means, among other things, to change or improve or to bring about or manifest regentrification. Replacement on the other hand means to do away with and substitute something or someone in the place of something or someone.

Being cognizant of these definitions of renovation and replacement and also fully aware the P4P funding for the Manning Avenue Bridge has changed in its proposed originally intended goal of replacing the bridge into plans to make the bridge more "aesthetic and safe for pedestrians." In other words, the P4P tax dollars are going to be spent by the City of Sumter and Sumter County governments to make the aforementioned bridge beautiful or more pleasing to the eye and safe for people to stroll and ride bikes to a "revitalized" Manning Avenue Corridor from the "revitalized" North Main Corridor.

It becomes obviously clear the City of Sumter, Sumter County and the SCDOT had no intention of replacing the Manning Avenue Bridge, but planned on using it as part of the Shot Pouch Greenway attraction for newcomers to Downtown Sumter and to the revitalized Manning Avenue Corridor. As a matter of fact, page 74 of the Shot Pouch Greenway projected plans, written in 2014, which also can be found on the City of Sumter's website, there is mention of the following statement: "Views of the city and architectural features such as old bridges add visual and historical interest along the greenway."

Our tax dollars must be used for the betterment of our community and for the improvement of roads and bridges for the safety and well-being of the people who live in and travel through this city, county, state and nation.

Roads and bridges are integral components to connectivity and travel and by all means must be safe. secure and sustainable for all motorists as well as pedestrians.

The P4P tax dollars must be used in essential and sensible ways which promote and preserve the health and safety of the residents of the City of Sumter and Sumter County.

People who are of low to moderate-income and their communities suffer significantly where matters of roads and bridges are concerned. This is true locally, statewide and nationwide. It is a matter of economic segregation coupled with discrimination and prejudice.

The worse kept roads are in communities where low to moderate-income people live and raise their families.

It is apparent that the City of Sumter, the Sumter County governments and the SCDOT want to preserve the Manning Avenue Bridge and make it pleasing to the eye, and safe for bikers, joggers and pedestrians to enjoy the scenery of a new, revitalized Manning Avenue Corridor connecting to a new, revitalized North Main Corridor.

In the meanwhile, the elected and appointed officials of the City of Sumter and Sumter County governments are busy working to displace and replace the current low to moderate-income residents of South Sumter, South Carolina...most of whom are African Americans.

Our tax dollars must be used to help improve the living conditions and well-being of all people. This is especially important and absolutely urgent when people of low to moderate-income are concerned. These individuals already suffer disproportionately from medical entities such as the breast and prostate cancer, coronavirus, diabetes, chronic lung disease, heart disease, stroke, and from extremely high maternal morbidity and mortality... just to name a few.

Our community does not need roads and bridges to be "pleasing to the eye." We need roads and bridges to be safe, secure and sustainable and not dangerous and impassible.