Folly weighs ban in wake of beer litter cleanup

GermanyXO (anonymous) says...

Perhaps City Council should ban coolers and forbid beach patrons from bringing all beverages/food altogether to avoid having to deal with the hassle of beach patrons who contribute to littering on our area beaches.

There's money to be made if the City Council can lease areas of the beach to area restaurants to sell all kinds of food AND beverages. Restaurant employees would be responsible for picking up containers in their leased zone. And locals and tourists alike will no longer have the option to be lazy and discard containers irresponsibly. Think of all the additional Summer jobs Folly Beach will be able to create!

City Council: make beach clean-up dummy proof--we need to send a message to everyone who enjoys making our beach look like a landfill.

July 7, 2009 at 1:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SeaShark (anonymous) says...

People who are unable or unwilling to have fun at a family friendly patriotic July 4 "Honor America" celebration without consuming alcoholic beverages need counseling and therapy, not another beer.

Folly Beach should permanently ban the possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages at all city parks. Parks users shouldn't have to fear for their safety, and the city shouldn't have to spend precious tax dollars cleaning up after slob drinkers.

July 7, 2009 at 1:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

anonymousone (anonymous) says...

Here's an idea for all the beach towns to consider. In exchange for a fee (say $5.00 per day) that is used to cover trash pickup and the purchase and installation of more waste receptacles, allow persons of legal drinking age to consume alcohol on the beach from cups.

I was on the Isle of Palms on Saturday drinking alcohol from a cup. I caused no disturbance and picked up my mess. During that time, I counted at least five different officers driving around, including the two IOP officers in the Ford Ranger cutting through the crowd on the beach. Instead of wasting fuel and payroll, why not allow people that can legally consume alcohol to do so in a responsible manner and provide a means paid for by those consumers so they and other nondrinkers may dispose of all trash from their day at the beach? This may have the ancillary benefit of increasing sales tax collections for the involved municipalities because more people may come to their beaches and visit more shops and restaurants. During my stay on IOP, I stayed in a local hotel and paid $57 in taxes and ate and drank at 2 restaurants for another $5 in taxes. That is money that can be used for municipal services and other projects such as beach renewal.

This is not to pardon those that acted like hogs in slop and laid waste to Folly and Morris Island. My apologies to the people of Folly Beach for those visitors that have no respect for other's property and the common property of the people of South Carolina in the beaches we all love.

July 7, 2009 at 2:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

nickl (anonymous) says...

I agree with Beckmann in that I find it hard to beleive that people from the lowcountry can be so disrespectful of out beaches. I have enjoyed an occasional beer while sitting on the beach and always took my trash with me. It is a shame that people have gotten so lazy that they can't clean up after themselves. While I don't think it's fair to those of us that have always cleaned up our mess, I agree that something should be done. How about better patrols of FBPSD? If there aren't enough of them hire more and give immediate tickets with stiff fines to litterers. I know that there are already fines for littering but people can't get those fines if the PSD aren't around to catch them.

July 7, 2009 at 2:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...

"I was on the Isle of Palms on Saturday drinking alcohol from a cup."

I simply cannot understand why some people go out of their way to flout the law, in this case, Isle of Palms' law against having adult beverages on the beach.

July 7, 2009 at 2:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

mrtedingram (anonymous) says...

Folly Beach has been my home now for three years, i live under the boardwalk near the washout. I wish someone would of talked with me first before they threw out those half-full beer cans. I dont have the luxury of buying new beer, plastic cups, syrofoam coolers, clothes, beach towels, i could have eaten out of those take-out food boxes. I cant believe the gaul of bubber hutto to just throw away all that garbage. Mr. Hutto I live at the washout and I have lost all faith in surf Rider Foundation.

July 7, 2009 at 3:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

rhyno (anonymous) says...

I was at folly Friday. I arrived at 6:00 am. There was one garbage can (household size) at the parking station. it was full when I arrived and was full when I left at 4:00 pm. There has to be places to put garbage if you expect people to throw their garbage away. I'm not trying to make excuses for anyone but on weekends like the fourth you need to give up a parking space a place a small dumpster. I took my garbage home in a bucket.

July 7, 2009 at 4:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

pirate42 (anonymous) says...

sad now it will be ruined for us all what a bunch of filthy kids we raised in USA go back to this get caught littering u do a weeks clean up of our public areas even if u throw a ciggeratte butt out your window, or trash from your truck blows out u get 1 week clean up duty....

July 7, 2009 at 5:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

kath21445 (anonymous) says...

rhyno is right about needing more receptacles for trash- the photos on the FIVA website showed litter around the cans that were overflowing. Also, patrol and fine the litterers would be a good idea. The slobs who litter with beer cans would do the same with Coke cans.

July 7, 2009 at 6:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

remmiesmom (anonymous) says...

Hey, Just do like I did when I lived there for almost 40 years. When you see someone toss it, just get your nerve up and say HEY, "You brought it with ya-now take it home." I had no problem with saying that. Some would get mad, I told them to get over it or find another place to go :) I never have figered out why it took me so long to leave that rat hole anyway :)
I wouldn't start fighting over Folly or any coast very much--The last time talk like this happened, a friend named HUGO came by for a visit. He may have been the baby. Food for thought.

July 7, 2009 at 6:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

moonpie (anonymous) says...

Folly is a crap hole! Cig butts every where, trash every where, and yes the city is much to blame. Plan a little better for large crowds. Last time I was there some drunk was apprehended sitting 30 yds away carrying a nickel plated 9 mm. Had it in his possession when they arrested him. He looked like a fine citizen.

July 7, 2009 at 6:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

remmiesmom (anonymous) says...

Oops! oops! I goofed it is "figured"--it's early-but I did get "RAT HOLE" right.

July 7, 2009 at 6:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

dm (anonymous) says...

Trash can be removed (ideally by the person who brings it to the beach). The houses which Folly allowed to be built seaward of the renourishment line on the beach and in the dunes are, so far, not removable. Maybe the Mayor has an idea on how to remove the houses.

July 7, 2009 at 7:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

follygirl (anonymous) says...

Trash needs to stay off the beach, especially the two-legged kind. Folly residents work hard to live there and do not deserve this kind of disrepect. To the person who said there was only one can at each walk-over? So, take the trash with you. You had room to bring it, bag it and take it home to your trash can. We did this when I was small and went to a local lake. There is absolutely no excuse for what happend here over the 4th. A bunch of pigs would have made less of a mess. And don't even get residents started on dog dirt.... If you dont live there, leave anything trash-like at home. Go stink up your own neighborhood. I usually am not this vocal but I am totally disgusted by the visitors this past weekend. Thank God for Folly resident and officials who worked hard to clean up "our" beach.

July 7, 2009 at 7:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Neponset (anonymous) says...

I agree with just about every thing said above (a rare treat for me - lol)
1. More trash containers both on and off the beach (and empty them often)
2. More police patrols (not sure this is possible for a small town like Folly)
3. Community service for violators (Sunday & Monday morning cleanup)
If the town can't get this problem under control, ban all food and bev. on beach.

July 7, 2009 at 7:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

theronce (anonymous) says...

Crying over limited trash cans is a lame excuse. Take it home with you Whatever you bring, take out. Moreover, take an extra sack and pick up whatever else is around you. I also agree with challenging the pigs who get up and leave without cleaning up. Good people need to get a backbone.

July 7, 2009 at 7:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Neponset (anonymous) says...

I am not sure that we should challenge the pigs - there are some dangerous folks around us - just read the paper - violence surrounds us - let the police handle it.

July 7, 2009 at 7:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

lunasea (anonymous) says...

It is interesting that no one seems concerned that these people are driving on Folly, James Island, downtown, etc. with a significant amount of alcohol in their system. Litter is so much more dangerous!

July 7, 2009 at 7:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

mb300sl (anonymous) says...

The fine for drinking on the beach on Sullivan's Island is $1047 (which is outrageous)...why not just enforce the littering laws?

July 7, 2009 at 7:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ColdBud (anonymous) says...

It's quite common for the careless actions of a few to ruin things for the majority of people that are doing things right.

It's also quite common for some posters on here to chime in with ignorant reactions that make no real sense. Does drinking a beer or two on the beach hurt anything? No. Does throwing trash on the beach hurt anything? Yes. Go after the litter bugs, not the people drinking beer. I'd also like to point out that not everyone that drinks a beer on the beach or at the lake is drinking and driving, as one post would have you believe. Is drinking a beer a problem? No. Is driving while intoxicated a problem? Yes. Go after the drunk drivers (IN A BIG WAY!), leave the law abiding beer drinkers alone. Attack the problem, not the symptom. Attacking the symptom always leads to failure in correcting the problem.

Any time I visit anywhere, I follow a basic rule, leave the place in better shape than it was when you arrived. I've been camping in places that had no trash containers at all. Not only did I carry out my trash, I usually pick up other trash that was left by previous campers.

July 7, 2009 at 8:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Southern_Cousin (anonymous) says...

I would heartily encourage Folly Beach to ban alcohol on the beach.

Folly has become an alcholics paradise. There are so many nasty, nasty people living and visiting out there due to the liberal drinking policies that it has just ruined the beach. Folly is slam full of stupid loud trashy drunk people I don't want to be anywhere near.

What did they expect, hey, everybody come over here spend your money, get drunk, party! party! party! to celebrate the birth of our country (?) and now Folly officials are bitching because these same people made a mess?

Folly Beach, you are an embarrassment to all of Charleston - so sad, could be such a beautiful place.....if you hadn't traded your soul for the almighty dollar.

July 7, 2009 at 8:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

bullet (anonymous) says...

So what exactly is the law for drinking on the beach? I was at Sullivans and IOP over the weekend with my daughter and there was gangs of college kids downing cups of beer showing off to the girls around them, throwing footballs across families sunbathing and generally making an ass of themselves. Regular police patrols in those buggies didnt deter them.
Ive lived here three years and havent taken beer onto the beach yet as I thought it was illegal, but it seems it is ok if you can get away with it!

July 7, 2009 at 8:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

fred_durst1 (anonymous) says...

Some interesting comments here.

I'll leave challenging folks to pick up thier trash to you "tough guys". I'd prefer not to get into an altercation with a drunk who may or may not gun. Why not be a bigger person and just walk over and pick up the trash and throw it away. Set an example.

I drink and enjoy a beer quite often but allowing drinking on the beach results in exactly what has been mentioned earlier. A bunch of drunks that have no respect for themselves or anyone else.

July 7, 2009 at 8:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

remmiesmom (anonymous) says...

Respect and Folly Beach have never been used in the same sentence. Charleston and it's people have never shown James Island or Folly any respect and had even less for John's Island.
If you have lived here more than 20 minutes you would know that. 40 years ago-- Fact: I would place my thumb over my address to hide the fact I lived on Folly, when I wrote a check @ Sam's Red/White. I know you don't have a clue as to here it was. Remember Vick's Driving Range--McFadden's peanut shed-Dr.Evan's office and Sam's that was IT on Folly Road. Some things never change and some change way to much.

July 7, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Neponset (anonymous) says...

I like Folly. If I want a drink, I go to Planet Follywood (sp?). If I make it to the beach, for a swim, it is brief and then back to PF, since my philosophy is to never miss an opportunity to get in the shade lol.

July 7, 2009 at 8:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

vmirat90 (anonymous) says...

the problem is that so many people that go out to Folly are total pigs. The trash leaves their trash. It is kind of like their big family vacation- Bubba and Ethel leave their single wide in the woods and make the beach their own toilet.

There should also be a fine for dressing like an idiot on the beach- that is just as trashy.

July 7, 2009 at 8:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

OutbackSpecial (anonymous) says...

the rule should be cans only. no bottles --- they can't be crushed. no requirement for cups --- cups only lead to potential for additional trash. i've never understood the cup rule...

someone suggested pay-to-drink. i'd be willing to pay $5/day to get a bracelet that allows me to drink on the beach. this could put a few dollars in someone's pocket to help in the cleanup efforts, but I fear people will think their $5 cover charge entitles them to be even more lazy and leave more trash behind.

July 7, 2009 at 8:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

nopartisan_noproblem (anonymous) says...

As opposed to Southern Cousin, I love folly beach and enjoy it everytime I go there. I go there quite often and have never noticed a huge littering problem, but I can definitely see where there would be, especially for the residents. Any place you get a huge group together there is going to be litter of all sorts, regardless of the reason for gathering (Obama's inauguration for example).

I agree with Coldbud, you don't take away a privelege, because of the bad apples. You don't outlaw knives, because some people use them for stabbings, and don't outlaw beer because some people don't know how to behave. Neponset's rules are dead on.

July 7, 2009 at 8:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

charlestonian (anonymous) says...

The town knew that there would be 40k plus people coming to the beach for the 4th, and didn't have any plans for added trash. What did they think that 40k plus people were not going to generate trash? The pictures clearly show that people tried to dispose of trash properly but the cans were overflowing, you see sites like that and people start to care less about where they throw there trash since it seems the town dosen't care. They should have had more trash cans and a crew on Saturday making rounds picking up the trash. The town has garbage trucks, why not have plans to use them on the biggest day of the year for the town?

July 7, 2009 at 8:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

concernedalso (anonymous) says...

Folly Residents Wake Up! I don't like a trashy beach either...get involeved now for a common sense approach to the problem. I've lived as a resident on IOP for 15 years and have seen the island go to the extreme regarding the number of ordinances and police to enforce them. Our taxes support more policemen (women?) than most large cities and we carry this large force through the winter with no justification. Our accomadations tax just built a $9 million dollar police palace; not a pool for residents or better parking for visitors. There has to be a better way for Folly to handle this problem and keep it's character. All resident's should get involved!

July 7, 2009 at 9:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

TRODI (anonymous) says...

The picture says it all.its a staged pile of trash.im sure there was some trash around but i think the magnitude was exaggerated a bit.if they knew people were coming why not have enough garbage cans to support the crowd.im sure they love the money that many people bring and spend.

July 7, 2009 at 9:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

hightide (anonymous) says...

charlestonian, the City of FB DOES send their garbage trucks around on the weekend mornings to pick up trash. Every weekend in the summertime, from what I've seen anyway.

The problem is people LEAVING behind so much garbage. I pick up trash pretty much every time I'm on the beach, which is quite often since I'm a beach-loving surfer. I grew up going to FB and my family never left anything behind. I don't get today's selfish, "not my problem" people.

As many beers as I've enjoyed on FB, I would be happy for the Council to ban alcohol altogether. No one follows the cup rule anyway. I see people strolling down the beach with their Budweiser (etc) bottles and cans, proud to show everyone what they've got in their hands. And most of the time, it looks like underage college/high school kids.

What a shame.

July 7, 2009 at 9:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

FollySurfer (anonymous) says...

On Friday morning me and two friends were waxing up our surfboards next to the Holiday Inn in front of the Condos when a large family of 12 left the beach. They got to their two SUV's (which had out of state tags) and began knocking sand off feet and packing beach stuff into the SUV's. The next thing we saw shocked us so much we just laughed. The family started pitching their road trash out into the street. Plastic bottles, handy wipes, potato chip bags, and soda cans. We were shocked at how much was thrown out. Then they started closing doors and started to leave. We walked over and asked if they were going to leave all the trash, and that the trash cans were right there (literally ten feet away)? They said with a confused look... no. Then got out, picked up most of their trash and then got back in their SUV's and drove down the one way the wrong way.

Moral of the story.
1)People for the most part are lazy.

2)Nothing is being done to educate people about pollution. Remember the commercial with the Indian? Not anymore...

3)Taking away the beer drinking privilege is not going to solve the fact that people are lazy and will litter.

4)THE CITY OF FOLLY BEACH NEEDS TO ENFORCE THEIR LAWS.

5)A TOLL NEEDS TO BE IN PLACE TO CHARGE THE 40,000 PEOPLE WHO WANT TO COME TO THE BEACH. (was the 40,000 people a surprise?)

Is it me or does it seem that The City of Folly Beach is a little more concerned about the people who come to Folly Beach instead of the people who already live there? polluted, crowded, can't come and go because of the traffic, REMEMBER ALL OF THIS THE NEXT TIME YOU VOTE!

So glad I don't live there anymore.

July 7, 2009 at 9:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

GermanyXO (anonymous) says...

I disagree with the posters who want to believe we can maintain a utopian-litter-free society on any of our beaches. As the news article makes clear, beach fans exercising privileges to bring beverage/food containers onto a beach will always be accompanied by beach fans exercising opportunities to leave the same as trash on the beach. Residents and volunteers who take the time to clean up the beach throughout the year are fed up; it's time to eliminate all privileges because it's painly obvious locals and tourists alike have proven they can't police themselves when it comes to keeping litter off our beaches.

July 7, 2009 at 9:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Whopper (anonymous) says...

It's the me-first mentality of so many that leads to this problem. In addition to the do nothing and ask for everything James Islanders, the rest of the white trash comes down from I-26. You take those two groups out of the equation and the amount of litter will drop by 90%, the bone-headed me-first drivers will disappear and the rest of the people will get along just fine enjoying all of their freedoms responsibly. Don't let the stupid influence our laws--enforce litter laws and write some big tickets to pay the clean up crew.

July 7, 2009 at 9:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ColdBud (anonymous) says...

In looking at the picture, they should also consider a ban on red plastic cups, blue plastic cups, coolers that have lids, white pieces of paper, Sprite, cigarettes, clear plastic bags, orange boxes and shawdows...

July 7, 2009 at 9:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

pullmyfinger (anonymous) says...

Do they not charge 5 bucks or more for the pleasure of using a public parking spot? Money collected to better serve the needs of public use of a public beach. Where is that money being used??
How bout more public trash cans, with more trash pick ups on public land. Then start enforcing laws we already have on the books! If the public service officer is sporting around in his new 4 wheeler and see people having open containers....stop and enforce the current law and do what you are hired for. Or is it your job to ride the length of the beach to look at bikinis? You can do both!!
Mayor quit trying to enact more law when you dont try the to enforce the ones you have. Or we the people will vote you out!!!!!!!

July 7, 2009 at 9:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Uncle_John (anonymous) says...

Do Folly Beachers still call them "terrorists", or is that not PC since 9/11?

July 7, 2009 at 9:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

hightide (anonymous) says...

Don't blame the "James Islanders" - it's no one particular area that's causing the problem. I'm a James Islander who tries to help relieve the problem... as are many of the other James Islanders that *I* know.

Enforcing litter laws is what needs to be done.

July 7, 2009 at 9:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ysillyme (anonymous) says...

Sunday morning myself and others were really upset at the trash and debris left behind from the 4th. We cleaned a wide swath of everything sickening you could imagine. With my stomach ready to heave ho after picking up the last diaper, a 300 lb. woman strolled past walking her dog and she was wearing a skimpy 2 piece bikini. To my regret I left another pile of disgusting matter to be disposed of. To quote Al Bundy of "Married with children" She had jiggles where people shouldn't jiggle!

July 7, 2009 at 9:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

follydude (anonymous) says...

typical.

the few ruin it for the many.

July 7, 2009 at 9:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

pandorapinebox (anonymous) says...

All I know is that whether they ban alcohol or food on the beach, or anywhere for that matter, someone will still do it. I don't think ruining something (yet again) for the rest of us that pick up after ourselves and can be responsible, should be the way to go. I don't mind spending a few bucks to support more bins or more surveillance if it will help, but it's up to everyone.

July 7, 2009 at 9:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

nopartisan_noproblem (anonymous) says...

"it's time to eliminate all privileges because it's painly obvious locals and tourists alike have proven they can't police themselves "

GermanyXO, that sounds a little patriot actish don't you think. Things that you may consider a privilege are sometimes rights.

July 7, 2009 at 9:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

charlestonian (anonymous) says...

So they pickup trash normally on Saturday mornings. Well obviously on the 4th of July with 40k plus people that norm is not adequate. Someone like the city leaders should have thought of that. The garabage trucks at the very least should have done another round after lunch and then another on Sunday morning.

July 7, 2009 at 9:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

wjhamilton3 (anonymous) says...

We haul our recycling and trash home all the time from everywhere. The public bins are nearly always full anyway. You usually can't find recycling. We even have to haul beverage containers home from restaurants which don't recycle.

July 7, 2009 at 9:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

al (anonymous) says...

We too have changed our minds. Outlaw alcohol on beach now! Us locals can sip at home if we want and easily saunter to a

cleaner beach at anytime without hauling all that weight.
We're multi-decade permanent residents with deep roots here and we see the current law aiding this infestation of filth.

We marvel at the crowds each spring. Every Memorial Day weekend is last year's 4th of July and every Fourth of July sets a

new high and a new low. We look to the calander and ask, "Is it September yet?"
It is time to keep "the scum that scum scrape off the bottom of their shoes" elsewhere. If scum enjoys garbage so much they

can set up their umbrellas and chairs at the landfill. There's as much sun there and more seagulls and a closer drive from

points inland.
I also propose DUI checkpoints on the causeway and BUI checkpoints at the boat launch every weekend. Useful citizen tools

are a camara and cell phone. Take pics and carry cell phones. Tell the trashers you have just snapped a pic of them walloring

in their filth and you're one button from dialing the police if they don't bus their waste.
I have almost come to blows after demanding an arrogant group to pick up their trash. I can handle myself but having a

phone at the ready is less dangerous and more effective.
There are many other visitor issues. One of the major ones is traffic: Last year there was a traffic death. This year my

son saw an suv flipped over on one of the quiet back streets when a girl ran a stop sign. We hear sirens wailing all day and

night on weekends.

It is time for visitors to conform or stay off. Yeah, a few have ruined it for the many thus perhaps the clean and

responsible visitors could help us police the beach.

--al

P.S.: Thank you to my neighbors for cleaning up and maintaining their sections of beach. It hasn't gone unnoticed.

July 7, 2009 at 9:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

GermanyXO (anonymous) says...

nonpartisan_noproblem, thanks for your feedback. I laughed for a moment because it does sound like a Patriot-Act-like move. Do you or anyone think City Council could send the right message by enacting a temporary ban (not as in days or weeks, so I'll explain further)? I would support closing off sections of the beach throughout each day in order for volunteers and/or city employees to collect trash for processing (either recycling or landfill).

July 7, 2009 at 10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

nopartisan_noproblem (anonymous) says...

I would definetly support more city workers to cleanup, and you could charge that $5 to drink on the beach, to pay for the workers and bracelet dealers (sounds dirty). This would bring a little more revenue and control underage drinking because most underagers leave their ID's behind so if stopped they have no proof their underage. It also might reduce some drinking, due to the fact that some guys just plan on bumming off others for beer, and if they don't have that $5 for a bracelet, sorry buddy.

July 7, 2009 at 10:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

singleroni (anonymous) says...

ban all tourist and out of towners, no rentals to people from out of town.

July 7, 2009 at 10:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MattAllen (anonymous) says...

This has nothing to do with beer and everything to do with education, respect and morals.

Until 7-4-09 I thought $1040 tickets for alcohol on the beach (IOP) were out of control. I'm starting to reconsider that. Bubber Hutto is a champ, I'll be bringing him a beer this evening.

July 7, 2009 at 10:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Siava (anonymous) says...

I visited Folly on Saturday morning and was surprised to see so much trash in general on the beach: beer cans, discarded towels, broken foam boards, shoes, cups, bottles, and wrappers. It was embarrassing since my visiting grandmother had not been to a beach in decades.

July 7, 2009 at 10:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

EastCoaster (anonymous) says...

One garbage can every tenth of a mile is a joke...they are full on random summer days. What did the town officials think was going to happen on the 4th? If they need to hire extra help for these occasions why not initiate a beach fee. Fees for beach goers are common in more densely populated parts of the coast. $2/Day or $10/Week; free to residents. Tags are transferable and can be kept on beach chairs or soft coolers. This fee also pays for more trash cans along the beach and someone to empty them occasionally during the day. Obviously it's not a year round plan but it will help during the tourist crunch times.

Pack in - Pack out...Leave only footprints.

July 7, 2009 at 10:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

OldSouth (anonymous) says...

What is a nice day on the beach without a beer? Sure one can go without it, but its great to have one! I don't care for Folly for different reasons than the trash. When I go to the beach its Sullivan' or IOP, and I always take beer. Ive actually spoken to an IOP beach patrol cop, on the beach whilst not having beer of course, he said as long as you were not being a jackass, littering, and drinking from a plain non glass cup then no officer would question the contents of your drinking vessel.
In short the problem does not have to do with drinking on the beach its more the responsibility of the beach goer (drinker or not). When I was in college we used to drink on the beach all the time, but we always picked up our trash. Our society has made alcohol taboo even when consumed by legal drinking age adults. This compounds the problem into disrespect for alcohol which leads to disrespect for personal and public property.

July 7, 2009 at 10:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Shaboo (anonymous) says...

How about simply enforcing the existing law against littering. Drinking beer = litter? Seems people drink on the beach regularly without much of a problem. It might be more valid to say: 4 July = litter or Fireworks = litter. Perhaps we should ban those events. Write some hefty tickets for litter. I bet the word will get out.

July 7, 2009 at 10:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

junkman (anonymous) says...

Folly why don't you guys just stop taking my tax money every other year for "beach renourishment" and the governemnt subsidized flood insurance.

Then we can talk about "your" beach!

July 7, 2009 at 10:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

JLong (anonymous) says...

I don't think anything GermanyXO said sounded like the Patriot Act. NonPartisan Problem saying that just shows that the media never did a very good job of explaining the Patriot Act (and that analogies are not his strong suit). A better analogy for GermanyXO's statements would be that he sounds like an environmentalist (advocating for 'wilderness' designation for national parks...no management or humans allowed) or a nanny state 'consumer advocate' (think - banning soft drinks, fast food, etc...). Those are the people who advocate for bans on activities they disagree with - which in many cases is simply stuff that is not fashionable to them at the time.

With regard to the littering and drinking on the beaches - the easiest avenue is to put high fines in place and strictly enforce the law against littering on the beach and/or drinking on the beach. If the fine for littering on the beach were $1000 and strictly enforced...with highly visible public postings encouraging taking care of your own trash and reporting of instances of littering...then I bet the problem would clean up quickly (probably need to make it contingent on some sort of volume...so a harried mother who misses a bucket, or a shovel, or a paper towel or one cup while gathering several children doesn't the get the same fine as a egregious litterer). An alternative to that is to strictly enforce public drunk laws or disorderly conduct. Of course the city would need to get its act together first - provide abundant trash receptacles in convenient places (on the beach at public beach access for instance) - and have the public sanitation workers pull duty on the big weekends to keep them clean.

Of course, I suspect that the big problem is that people are less considerate of others and not responsible citizens. That problem is harder to fix.

July 7, 2009 at 11:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Zod (anonymous) says...

Traffic was bumper to bumper from I-95 on I-26 coming into Charleston Thursday and Friday. Traffic was bumper to bumper leaving Charleston Sunday and Monday. I saw more boats on the interstate than I have ever seen. This is tourism folks. It seems to me that some local lawmakers should take some notes from Florida on how to clean up the mess that they invited.

Stop pointing the finger at your local friends for an event that occurs on one day of a 365 day year.

July 7, 2009 at 11:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

zoomru (anonymous) says...

LOL....LOL !!!!

Citizens ....step back and THINK !!!!! What is really being REVEALED..!?! Most comments are understandable and justifiable..!! I LIVE ON FOLLY and instead of whining to MAYOR "Becks" or our City COUNCIL.......

I BLAST THEM WITH SOLUTIONS !!!!!!!

Well, what is being revealed.?

1) A person by the name of FENNELL wrote this article..?? Any RELATION to the FENNEL on the County "GREEN" Commission.?? Any Relation to FENNELL Container..??? BY BACKSIDE..!!!

2) Hutto...??? Hmm ....any realtion to ANN Petersen HUTTO...??? Brad Hutto...???? Well, BUBBER we appreciate you efforts in cleaning up the beach just as the visitors appreciated me mowing the right of way for them to be able to PARK. BUT I SMELL A RAT.......!!!!!!!

3) MAYOR Carl Beckmann.....(yes, you EYE-DEE-EYE-OH-TEE..!!) What you have just displayed to all reading and thinking citizens is your lack of Planning and Leadership....!!!!!! Get your head out of the trash can in front of CITY HALL.!! Grab a hold of yourself and get in the bathroom and have a "Stuart Smiley" moment..!!!! YOU ARE NO LOSER....!!!!!!

MAYOR do you realize what you should be Doing..??

STay....tuned....for ...your....SOLUTION !!!

July 7, 2009 at 11:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

goose29464 (anonymous) says...

I go to Sullivan's Island and while drinking is illegal, it is tolerated. I was talking to a police officer last year after the 4th and the guy said they had to bring 2 dump trucks out to pick up the trash the next day. The next day they were handing out $500 fines to anyone who was drinking alcohol as that was what most of the trash consisted of.

Should there be more trash cans? Yes.
Will that solve the problem? No.

If people had intentions to throw their trash away, they would most likely have some type of bag to put their trash in and carry to the can, but they just leave their bottles and cans on the beach for someone else to enjoy.

July 7, 2009 at 11:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

NakedYoga (anonymous) says...

fred_durst1: "I'll leave challenging folks to pick up thier [sic] trash to you 'tough guys'. I'd prefer not to get into an altercation with a drunk who may or may not gun."

Oh come on. Everyone knows not to bring your gun to the beach; you'll get sand in it!

"Why not be a bigger person and just walk over and pick up the trash and throw it away. Set an example."

Maybe because the only example that sets is that if some slob leaves his trash on the beach, it's okay because there is someone to pick up behind him without calling him out on his irresponsibility.

I'm actually very surprised at all the comments about the consistent levels of trash on Folly, because I never see much trash on the beach unless it's a holiday like the Fourth or Memorial Day. I've lived downtown for about 7 years and have consistently gone to Folly Beach. Most commonly I'll see cigarette butts or the occasional plastic cup that has blown away from some group's cooler. My experience has been that most people who visit Folly tend to clean up after themselves. At one time, I was one of those college kids who drank a lot on the beach (yes, underage at times), but my friends and I were religious about cleaning up after ourselves. Chasing a plastic cup down the beach after a gust of wind is sort of embarrassing, but necessary.

So I guess my question is: other than on holidays, is Folly really that trashed all the time? I never see it... and note: I almost exclusively go to the Washout.

July 7, 2009 at 11:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...

Thank you junkman. Folly the armpit of America

July 7, 2009 at 11:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

froglegs (anonymous) says...

There are never enough trash cans at folly. They cost 5-7$ at Wal-Mart. Instead of making another law that you cannot enforce find a work around. There is already a littering law and looks like Folly Beach Public Safety failed!

July 7, 2009 at 11:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

HolyMoley (anonymous) says...

Wait just a minute....we want to spend money to enact a law that nobody will obey - then spend money to enforce that law...then spend time, effort, and money to further clog up local judicial systems with folks fighting or flat out ignoring tickets? Does it always have to be so extreme?!

How about this - lets buy some additional trash cans....and enforce the LITTERING ordinances that are ALREADY in place.

I'm very sorry to be so transparent, but folks will always....ALWAYS enjoy a cold beer on the beach - be it from a cup, can, or camelpack.

Looks to me like a not-so-cleverly disguised attempt to prohibit yet another freedom.

July 7, 2009 at 11:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

NakedYoga (anonymous) says...

zoomru, please go to intervention and get off the crazy pills. Your rambling, incoherent post doesn't even make a point. Basically you established that the author of the article shares a last name with someone else, and that Bubber Hutto shares a last name with two other semi-public figures. Now what? What is the significance? If Bubber Hutto were Ann Petersen Hutto's brother, what point are you making?

And if you're talking about "blasting" the mayor with solutions, shouldn't you be doing that somewhere besides a user comment forum on the P&C website? Go to the next City Council meeting and speak up, although I have a feeling you might not be taken seriously...

July 7, 2009 at 11:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

srowen (anonymous) says...

Maybe the mayor should spend some more time enforcing the right of way along the streets and fining those that impede it with signs and potted plants and alleviating some of the parking issues and fining people who litter!

Those of us that spend a majority of our summer (and our money) on Folly as "daytrippers" are just as disgusted with the neophytes that trash our beach as the people that LIVE on Folly.

We are the ones that join Surf Riders and other conservation groups that help clean up the beach on a regular basis, we are the ones that make sure we pick up the trash we see every time we are on the beach whether it be for one of our much despised "daytrips", a run on the beach or a winter walk with our dog (which we pick up after).

And may I also point out that I have been on the beach many an evening when some week vacationer tent is littered with beach toys sun screen bottles and other beach wares that have been left on the beach to be taken by the tide because they are unaware that that too is litter.

Simply not having a Folly address doesn't mean that we aren't aware and don't care.

July 7, 2009 at 11:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

gamecockgirl1912 (anonymous) says...

Why didn't the cops riding up and down the beach ask them to pick it up then? Do something while it's happening. You'll write 5,000 parking tickets , but no tickets for littering?

July 7, 2009 at 11:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

NakedYoga (anonymous) says...

froglegs, good point about Folly Beach Public Safety. Which reminds me... what are these people doing downtown all the time? For the last couple weeks I have seen a FBPS pickup truck wandering around downtown, and most often see it driving up and down where I live (Broad St.). I'd be interested to know how they're enforcing Folly Beach ordinances downtown.

July 7, 2009 at 11:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

tj (anonymous) says...

why dont they just put out more and bigger trashcans?

July 7, 2009 at 11:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

flatswalker (anonymous) says...

This isn't anything new. I love Folly Beach, but have always been disgusted at the amount of litter. Whether it's beer cans, coke cans, or food wrappers I think is irrelevant. I've always felt that if Folly made it easier for people to dispose of their trash by placing receptacles ON THE BEACH every block like IOP this problem would be much less. Compound that with the fact that the few trash cans Folly does have are constantly overflowing and one would believe that Folly's waste program consists of a golf cart picking up trash once a month.
Instead of erroneously blaming the problem on alcohol and wasting money attempting to enforce a ban, Folly should take a cue from IOP and step up their waste management program. You would think that with the "progressive" attitude so often attributed to Folly, they would already have this.

July 7, 2009 at 11:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Edwin435 (anonymous) says...

I was there this weekend and am able to say that my family and friends packed in a cooler ( with adult beverages) 2 smaller collapsable coolers with ice, water, and snacks. Chairs, towels. radio, and all sunning products. we were there from 11 to 4 and guess what WE PACKED IT ALL UP AND WENT HOME. We left no trash. Thats all people have to do..Be considerate and pack up all the crap you brought and take it with you. Also provide more trash cans so that people can thow the trash away. Some people are lazy but I ask please dont let some trash ruin the good times that can be had by repsonsible people.... The town also bears some culpability here. Like it has been said so many times before...they know that alot of people were coming to the beach and that the 4th of july didnt sneak up on them....Folly beach town...get you act together and plan for events like this...labor day is coming. Beach people...PICK UP YOUR CRAP!!!

July 7, 2009 at 11:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

desspec (anonymous) says...

It is not an alcohol problem; it is a people problem. Ever been to a Citadel tailgating? Everyone picks up and bags their own trash. More people mean more trash, and that SHOULD mean more recepticles and more pick-up.

July 7, 2009 at 11:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

megaward (anonymous) says...

The only laws enforced at Folly World are speeding, parking and domestic violence. It has been this way since the dawn of time. They wanted a 'tourist attraction' beach, so don't cry why the tourists leave a mess for the city to clean up.

July 7, 2009 at 11:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

GeorgetownCountyRes (anonymous) says...

Is alcohol-related trash really the only litter problem at Folly? During the summer, the beach I frequent (Litchfield, in Georgetown County) is littered all summer long with juice boxes, fireworks debris, chip bags, plastic beach toys, shovels, shoes, plastic wrappers, soda cans, etc, that tourists leave on the beach every evening. Not to mention the giant tent structures they don't bother taking down. Sometimes they even leave town without bothering to dismantle the tent frames. Or the beach chairs, boogie boards, and other assorted crap they abandon at the dune walkovers at the end of their vacation week.

Shoot, beer cans are the LEAST of our problems.

July 7, 2009 at 12:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

OMGreally (anonymous) says...

I'm a solution kind of person. How about if a police officer paired up with a maintenance person, shared a beach buggy with an attached trash cart. Make the cart cute - like have a whale or dolphin on it so kids can put trash in the mouth, whatever. (teach the children from early on!) The police officer makes contact with each group on the beach, reminding beachgoers to remove all trash from the beach and, if they have any trash right now, feel free to take it to the trash cart. In conversation, the officer should say that trash has been an issue and the town is considering banning food/drinks/etc on the beach. Put the fear. Requirements: 1 cop and 1 maintenance person.

This is NOT THE SAME SITUATION but it's food for thought - in Hawaii, there is a snorkel bay called Hanauma that, in order to get to use it, you have to watch a video about keeping the bay clean, not feeding fish, not stepping on coral, etc. Then your name gets put in a database of having seen the video and you're good for a year. Maybe some organization can send someone to the beach. Every time they see a group getting ready to leave, they give them a parking discount/free ice cream/free coke/half-price burger/ - whatever can be funded by the town or private sector. Word would get around and the beach might look better (and people would have a positive experience).

Just a couple ideas!

July 7, 2009 at 12:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

yeahright (anonymous) says...

The "lack of trash cans" argument is weak. You found a way to get your beer cans to the beach when they were full, find a way to get them off the beach when they're empty. As well as the rest of your trash. Take a cooler full of beer, sodas, snacks to the beach, take a cooler full of trash home with you.

July 7, 2009 at 12:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

n4dhs (anonymous) says...

ok now that they are charging 7$ to park at the pier and $1 a hour to park at the beach access (which used to be free BTW) where is all THAT money going to???? - could someone let me know??? - no dogs, no booze, pay to park, pay to walk, do we pay to breath next???? - personally i go out on my sailboat to the harbor every year - anchor and watch the yorktown fireworks (have a few drinks - since we are already anchored - not a problem) - cook and eat a great dinner (45 foot ketch) - and sleep soundly all night long - and leave in the morning - and take my trash with me and put it where it belongs the next day - and I dont have to pay anyone except the fuel dock the liquor store and good old harris teeter.....

July 7, 2009 at 12:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

pdm317 (anonymous) says...

Man! Y'alls beer cans seem to be half empty. Consider the loss of tourist dollars from downtown to folly if you ban alcohol on the beach. It seems a little ridiculous in the middle of a recession to turn away tourist money because of this. Can we presume that a job or two was created to clean up after these folks???

July 7, 2009 at 1:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

chucktown4d (anonymous) says...

I agree that the trash is disgusting but this only happens 3 times a year! With the amout of fines that could be issued if FBPD would actually do some work, we could pay enough people to pick up the trash before it even hits the sand. Why take away our privledges to have a few drinks on the beach the whole year because of a few weekneds out of the year.

July 7, 2009 at 1:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

LG_charleston (anonymous) says...

The lack of trash receptacles on Folly Beach is an issue. No is not the entire reason for people being inconsiderate and leaving their trash (beer cans, soda cans, food, clothing, etc...) on the beach but it is part of it. I bring grocery bags to the beach and make sure I grab all the trash that I brought with me and my group but when I get to the trash cans, they are overflowing with trash already, and rather than driving with empty open containers in my car, yes I will leave them at the trash can or find a residents trash can on the street to put it in. Folly Beach needs to use all the money they collect from parking tickets and dog fines and all the other fines to get more trash receptacles. OMGReally had a great idea, why not hire a few maintenance people to ride around on the Club Cars and collect trash throughout the day like they do at Folly Beach County Park and have FBPS ride around ticketing those who do litter. Banning alcohol on the beach isn't going to help Folly's litter problem. Enforce the laws that are already in place. And to all those who seem to think it's because of certain people (ie james islanders and "white trash that comes down from i-26") its tourists and locals, all of which know better than to leave their trash on the beach or anywhere. And if you do see someone leave trash on the beach, simply ask them to take their trash with them and tell them of the trash bins at the boardwalks. It's really not that hard. Keep our beaches clean people!

July 7, 2009 at 3:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

theronce (anonymous) says...

This is a typical government reaction. Avoid fixing the problem by taking everyone's freedom. Well, let me tell you something. Banning alcohol will neither stop the booze nor stop the littering. Moreover, if you did manage to stop the booze to any great extent, the litter will still be there. The booze containers did not drive or walk to the beach on their own. (I know that is obvious, but, obviously, it had to be pointed out.)

July 7, 2009 at 3:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jt (anonymous) says...

Trash cans ON the beach at Folly would have to monitored/removed twice a day -- much of Folly has little or no beach at high tide. Trash (and shoes and wallets and towels) left on the beach frequently gets washed into the ocean. If you don't consider the public beach yours to respect and protect, perhaps you'll consider the ocean? Please don't think or act so locally -- your actions (good or bad) have consequences far beyond Folly Beach.

July 7, 2009 at 3:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

bornin43 (anonymous) says...

Litter is a problem EVERY WHERE, not just on the beaches. I live in North Charleston, and I have to pick up litter from the sidewalk in front of my house every day. When my neighbors walk down the street on their way home from the store or a fast food restaurant, they drop their cups and wrappers in the street rather than take the trash to their homes. AND THEY LIVE HERE ON THE SAME BLOCK.

The problem is that unlike the era when I was raised, when we were taught to respect for our homes and neighborhoods, people raised in the last thirty years or so have not been taught the same thing. Parents are too conserned about teaching their children that the world revolves around them to teach them consideration for others.

I remember going to Folly Beach, The Isle of Palms and Lions Beach as a youngster. The beaches were clean when we arrived and clean when we left. We were taught one simple rule to keep the beaches clean. "Pack it in - Pack it out". When my children were in Scouts, this rule was taught by the scouts for camping.

Now, our self-centered culture thinks it is OK to leave trash for someone else to pick up. You would think that with all the "Global warming" talk, that the damage trash does to the enviroment would make people think, but it always seems to be "SOMEONE ELSE WILL DO IT."

July 7, 2009 at 3:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

zoomru (anonymous) says...

WOW ... great comments...keep em' coming !!!

MAYOR Beckmann.....are you ready for SOLUTIONS to our problem....???

Are you ready..?? Come on Mayor....we know ALL Elected officials LUV to read and laugh at voterz poking and jabbing each other like LARRY, MOE and CURLY......!!!!!

Stay Tuned MAYOR......!!!!!!

Have you been outside today...???

July 7, 2009 at 3:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Cartmanne (anonymous) says...

It would appear that half the commenters did not even read the article. Folly does have garbage trucks and garbage cans and spends a great deal of money in an entirely fruitless effort to keep our island clean. If you think that the residents and government on Folly have not tried to keep up with the problem, consider how hard it is just to float the idea of a ban on beer. I promise you that most of the residents out here love having a beer on the beach and really dis-like laws that intrude on personal choice BUT NOTHING ELSE SEEMS TO BE WORKING! You think Mayor Beckman really likes the idea of banning beer on the beach??? I can assure you it is a measure of last resort.

People who do not live here have no idea how bad it has gotten. The amount of trash on the beach is just mind-boggling. Even worse, visitors regularly dump their trash and relieve themselves in our yards (THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME), drive like homicidal maniacs down our streets threatening our children's lives (every weekend I see dozens of people driving over 45 mph - the speed limit is 30), and stay up all night long (I mean after 2 am all night long) loudly carousing on the beach. And this is not just a few bad apples - it happens EVERY hour of EVERY weekend from May to September. Front beach and second row homes, as well as any home within a block of Center Street, are now virtually unlivable for year-round residents.

As for the trash cans, I got news for you - Folly Beach is not your personal trash disposal service. TAKE YOUR TRASH HOME. My god how much beer do you have to drink before it becomes a burden to carry it your car???? I am a three and half block walk from the beach, and I have never used the trash cans or even thought about it BECAUSE I HAVE A TRASH CAN AT HOME. But no, you lazy slobs want to put trash cans on the beach???!!!! You must be joking. Would it make you happy if we paid for a personal valet to attend to each beach-goer to rake your sand, apply your suntan lotion, and dispose of your trash?

I would hope that Folly can make one last effort to avoid the extremity of banning beer from the beach, but I have real doubts about if it would work. I would propose 1) getting rid of all trash cans at the beach access points because we will never be able to keep up with the amount of trash, 2) fining people $1,000-$3,000 for littering on the beach or anywhere else on the island based on the amount of trash left behind, 3) encouraging responsible beach goers to use their cellphones and cameras to alert police to littering, and 4) making littering and drunk driving on weekend afternoons the number 1 priority with the police (though I am sure they are already high priorities). If that does not work, ban the beer and say good riddance.

July 7, 2009 at 4:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

psyche444 (anonymous) says...

To Whom It May Concern:
As a local, I am disgusted at the amount of refuse left after the 4th of July. Being a frequent 'beacher' I, like most locals, clean up after ourselves and those around us. I find it exceedingly hard to believe that our locals left that amount of trash behind, especially considering this year we had a rather large tourist population. Banning alcohol on Folly is not necessarily going to solve the litter problem; just because most of the litter was alcohol related. There will still be the coke cans, cups, cigarette butts, towels, broken coolers etc. left behind from these inconsiderate, selfish jerks, just like the litter I pick up regularly. Personally I think they should consider creating a sort (or type) of 'local' pass that could be obtained; proving who should be worthy to grace our beautiful, peaceful Folly Beach, thus eliminating the main issue all of us 'locals' are thinking about: banning the tourists from coming to our beach and destroying it, (especially those from neighboring beaches). I hope that my opinion is received and considered before the council decides to ban alcohol and punish those like myself, my friends, family, and all other locals who avidly follow the rules laid forth by Folly Law. Thank you.

July 7, 2009 at 4:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Nicsun8 (anonymous) says...

Many people not from the lowcountry travel to our beaches for the holidays and often don't care about littering since its not their beach...also I agree with a previous comment that there are not enough trash cans for people to be able to clean up their mess. Even on any given Saturday during the summer, the trash cans are almost always completely full by 3:00pm...

July 7, 2009 at 4:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

larry0512 (anonymous) says...

One day out of the year! Give me a break! You wonder why our preteen's,teens and young adults try drugs. Because they have NO outlet because of people like you! So pick up the trash and shut up. It's not a big deal. Give it thought.

July 7, 2009 at 6:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Conrack (anonymous) says...

So, our youth does drugs because people like ME
don't like them urinating in my yard and leaving their garbage on the beach for ME to clean up?

Thank you for the most idiotic thing I've seen, read or heard today.

And I can assure whoever thinks the picture was a "staged" phot-op, it was not.

Buncha young kids living in a sphere of entitlement.

Hope and Change.

July 7, 2009 at 9:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Dennis4706 (anonymous) says...

Duh! Have a major summer holiday weekend at the beach,invite 40,000 people and do not provide for the easily anticipated increase in beach usage and subsequent spike in trash disposal needs. Leave a few easily filled trash barrels, and then act shocked when folks left disposals on the beach when there was no available alternative. I do not get the connect with drinking beer while enjoying the beach and the failure of the town elected officals and staff to handle a holiday weekend. Folly Beach is a wonderful, quirky place that welcomes visitors to enjoy our barrier island, shop and spend money in local businesses and restaurants. Your current elected government wants to be the funstoppers so they can pretend they are on Kiawah Island without the golf membership fees.

July 7, 2009 at 9:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

yeahright (anonymous) says...

According to some brilliant posters on this subject today, Folly Beach officials should have placed a dumpster at each beach access over the weekend. Bunch of BS. Pack your trash and take it with you when you leave.

July 7, 2009 at 11:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

GoHome (anonymous) says...

Imagine that you buy a house in a humble quiet neighborhood because its cheep and your family has lived there for decades.

Fast Forward thirty years.
Your affordable home is now worth 30 times more than what you paid for it and suddenly people think you are rich. Many of your friends and neighbors have been forced to leave because they can't pay insurance and tax. Now their homes are occupied by a different group of pale tourists every weekend...

But it gets worse...
Now imagine that there is one way to get in and out of your neighborhood, but during the weekends that road might as well not exist. Your life must be put one hold because this Ohioan with "SCBECHES" cleverly written in his custom license tag decided to bring thousands of his neighbors to come trash your backyard...

But it gets worse...
Every weekend in the summer(not just the 4th of July) the population of your neighborhood increase by about %500. While many are pleasant guests, many are not. Many Come to get drunk, act like trash, and leave their trash behind...

But it gets worse...
Your neighborhood is left with TONS of trash. And it is everywhere: your yard, the street, the beach, and every possible place someone can illegally park their car. These people expect you, the resident to pick up their junk. They blame you for creating the problem. They blame you saying you are rich and deserve it. They point the finger at your government saying they should fix it, but you finance your government.

That's what I am put through. I you want to make a mess, do it in your own yard.

To those that want more trash cans:
Put fifty trash cans in your front yard, pack up your beach trash, take it home, and stare at the cans in your front yard for the rest of your life. OO and we are gona raise your taxes to pay for the cans we are putting in your front yard.

continued...

July 7, 2009 at 11:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

GoHome (anonymous) says...

continued...
To those that think Folly the armpit of Charleston:
It is so stay at home or go elsewhere. Go anywhere but Folly. We don't want you here so just stay out of my neighborhood. And tell all your friends what a horrible place it is too.

To those that want to charge $5 to drink.
Sounds great, but how is that enforced and how does that solve the trash problem?

To those that want more police: Don't we all, but that requires me to pay more taxes to help all the people I don't like in the first place.

To the moronic Junkman: Folly excepts federal money for renourishment because it was the Army Corps of Engineers who cause the erosion problem with the building of the Jetties. I'm sure you enjoy the benefits of trade the Jetties have created.

The solution is simple. Keep people out of my neighborhood. A gate would be a dream. More realistically banning alcohol detours people, plus it eliminates the majority of the trash, beverage containers. In addition it will reduce traffic fatalities and accidents that are becoming way too common on 30mph residential streets.

There are only so many real residence of Folly Beach left. Those that have been here for 10,20,30 even 80 years. Those that have been around the block. I assure you we are not the ones to blame. Folly is our home and we want it to be a nice place, but when a mob out numbers us 40,000 to 2,500 its a hard battle to win.

I urge everyone to respect Folly and respect those who live here. Leave us be and if you must visit pack your trash and take it home. Even more commendable are those who go beyond and pick up trash others leave behind and police those who don't. The residents and police of Folly are simply out numbered please help keep Folly folly.

July 7, 2009 at 11:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ballachulish (anonymous) says...

Thanks GoHome, Perfect post.

July 8, 2009 at 2:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

rhyno (anonymous) says...

Hey yeahright, I'm sure Some people think of going to the beach on the fourth as an event. when you go to an event do you plan to bring your garbage home? NO! everyone assumes there will be a place for your trash.Today, sadly most people will not go out of their way to do the right thing.So a dumptser, more cans, BIG signs, BIG TICKETS, what ever it takes. folly need to communicate these actions will no be allowed. If you have 40,000 people visiting any one with commom sense knows you need advanced planning don't wait till the day after and complain about the results. I wonder what the economic impact is for a typical holiday weekend? Has Folly ever thought about public bathrooms and showers on the beach like in florida? OH, wait a minute South Carolina, like North Carolina allowed developers to build a house every 75 feet on the ocean so I'm sure there is no room for public facilities.

July 8, 2009 at 5:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

cates1013 (anonymous) says...

There has to be a place to put the trash. Put large cans at the end of the boardwalk on the beach side. People are lazy, but you have to plan for large crowds. Unfortunately people are used to Government taking care of everything for them. This is quite evident in the left leaning Folly anyway. Promoting self responsibility is difficult for a community that has promoted a loosely regulated set of laws anyway.

July 8, 2009 at 10:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

yeahright (anonymous) says...

Keep making excuses. There is no excuse for littering. Simple as that.

"Oh, I thought because it's the Fourth of July, that it was an "event" and therefore I'm no longer responsible for my trash."

Give me a break. Grow up.

I go to Folly Beach all the time, with a cooler of beer, sodas and lunch. My empties go right back into the cooler that brought them. Then they get recycled when I get home. It's really not that difficult. If you found a way to tote it to the beach, find a way to tote it home.

July 8, 2009 at 12:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )