PRESS

THE POST & COURIER

Commentary: Why we won't give up on Gadsden Creek or Gadsden Green

“Not just a site of community history and recreation, Gadsden Creek also acts as a sponge and a heat sink, holding floodwater that would otherwise inundate homes, and helping keep Gadsden Green, a heat island, cooler on warm days.” Read on

CHARLESTON MAGAZINE

Environmental Justice Seekers: Friends of Gadsden Creek

“FOGC aims not only to “daylight” the creek (ie restore it as a viable natural waterway), which would revitalize its habitat and ecosystem and re-establish it as a flood mitigation resource, but also to highlight the history of racism and environmental injustice surrounding the Gadsden Green community.” Read on

LIVE 5 NEWS

sc stATE SUPREME COURT HEARS GADSDEN CREEK CASE

“The human side to the story is just as important if not more important. some of the legal arguments don’t effectively capture [that] it’s not just about permits and regulations but it’s an environmental justice issue and an opportunity to be on the right side of history,’ says Seb Choe, Friends of Gadsden Creek organizer and board member.” Read on

CHARLESTON CITY PAPER

chs 2030: NURTURING OUR URBAN CREEKS

“It’s very offensive to try to do this victory lap and, say, oh well, you know, we’re gonna help you out because it’s flooding and it’s polluted and we’re doing something good for you. It’s like, you created this problem? This is the definition of gaslighting.” Read on

POST & COURIER

Friends of Gadsden Creek appeal the SC Administrative Law Court’s Ruling in an effort to protect and preserve gadsden creek.

“…the city damaged the community repeatedly over the decades, and therefore the city must remedy that damage. Using high costs as an excuse to avoid doing the right thing merely extends the injustice.” Read on

ABC NEWS 4

LOCAL ADVOCACY GROUPS PROTEST DURING SEWE TO BRING ATTENTION TO GADSDEN CREEK.

“We Know that whatever is developed in the next few years, if the city moves forward, will lead to displacement of scores and scores of black families. We are asking the city to do right and save the Gadsden Creek.” Says Mika Gadsden, Friends of Gadsden Creek Co-Chair, City of Charleston Mayoral Candidate. Read On

ABC News 4

Gadsden Creek and SCLEP file an appeal against court's decision to side with WestEdge

“‘We reject WestEdge's paternalistic claims that presume to know what the community wants and needs, so by appealing, we're continuing to stand with the community and say no to the plan, which has been consistent since it was first proposed.,’ says Seb Choe, Friends of Gadsden Creek organizer and board member.” Read On

WCBD News 2

Local group files appeal over WestEdge development permit approval

“‘I’ve lived in this area all my life. Growing up, we used to fish, crab, swim and wade in Gadsden Creek,’ Audrey Lisbon, President of the Westside Neighborhood Association said. ‘We couldn’t get to the beaches, so we went to our creek in the neighborhood – it has a historic feeling and should be beautified.’” Read On

POST & COURIER

Commentary: More than an ‘environmental blunder,’ Gadsden Creek deserves to be restored

“There have been many occasions in the histry of Charleston… where past conduct has required correction… Using cost as an excuse not to remediate harm one directly inflicted on a community and environment is unjust.” Read On

ABC NEWS 4

'This area deserves a fair fight': Friends of Gadsden Creek plan to appeal court decision

“"The Friends of Gadsden Creek thought it was important to stand up – not necessarily on behalf of the communities on the Westside, but stand in solidarity with these communities both current and historically.” Read On

POST AND COURIER

The debate over Charleston’s Gadsden Creek flooding-remediation plan heats up

“But others, including the West Side Neighborhood Association’s current president, Audrey Lisbon, are angry...“Give us something we can enjoy instead of these big buildings.”” Read On

LIVE 5 WCSC

Debate reignites over fate of Gadsden Creek in downtown Charleston

“Debate has reignited over the fate of a tidal creek on the Charleston peninsula, one which activists say is important to the area’s Black community.” Read On

THE POST & COURIER

CAJM Nehemiah Action eyes Gadsden Creek, housing fund, mobile clinics, student discipline

“City Councilmen Jason Sakran, Stephen Bowden and Keith Waring each agreed with CAJM that filling the creek should be prevented, though they insisted on a solution that would address the flooding and landfill problems.” Read On

THE POST & COURIER

WestEdge project to fill Gadsden Creek in Charleston is challenged in court

“The legal move questions permits issued by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, but it also effectively blocks developers from securing other needed wetland permits from the Army Corps of Engineers.” Read On

CHARLESTON CITY PAPER

Lawsuit filed over state permit for Gadsden Creek construction

““We are alarmed that the state agency charged with safeguarding our precious coastal tidelands issued a permit that allows for the complete destruction of a tidal creek so that slightly larger hotels, condos and office buildings can be built,” said Ben Cunningham, an SCELP attorney.” Read On

South Carolina Environmental Law Project

‍Lawsuit Launched to Protect Gadsden Creek from Destruction

“A local group, Friends of Gadsden Creek, is challenging a permit and certifications granted by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control that authorizes the elimination of 3.923 acres of critical area tidelands known as Gadsden Creek, one of the last tidal creeks on the peninsula.” Read On

WCBD News 2

LAWSUIT LAUNCHED TO PREVENT FILLING OF TIDAL GADSDEN CREEK AS PART OF WESTEDGE DEVELOPMENT

“The request for the contested case by the law firm on behalf of the Friends of Gadsden Creek, a group consisting of 850 community members, comes after state health officials said the development could begin on Gadsden Creek back in June.” Read On

The Post & Courier

REVIEW: 2 EXHIBITIONS CAST A LEVEL GAZE ON LOADED ISSUES

“Based on this outstanding exhibition, which leverages facts and photos, flora and fauna, as well community partners like Redux, the group has plenty of wherewithal to guide the uninitiated in the gallery space and elsewhere on a clear, comprehensive and compelling journey of just how deep one tidal creek can go.” Read On

The Post & Courier

CHARLESTON’S WESTEDGE PROJECT EDGES TOWARD $12M-$15M DRAINAGE WORK PHASE

“[Friends of Gadsden Creek] have pointed to [the WestEdge development] as an example of “environmental racism,” where historically Black communities have been the victims of new development.” Read On

Avery Shorts

THE FIGHT TO SAVE GADSDEN CREEK AND DISMANTLE ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM BY SEB CHOE & BRIAN WALTER

“In solidarity with residents, we demand that WestEdge and the City avoid the mistakes of the past, and enact alternative futures that restore broken ecologies and respect the self-determination of Gadsden Green.” Read On

Bitter Southerner

COMMON HIGH GROUND: HOW CHARLESTON’S ARTISTS ARE RESPONDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE

“Take grassroots community group Friends of Gadsden Creek, which has been working for years to oppose the destruction of a tidal creek in the Gadsden Green neighborhood.” Read On

CHARLESTON CHRONICLE

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF

“I knew about the city’s dump which was located in my neighborhood, not far from my home, but I had no idea that was a pre-planned effort to later, landfill the area for commercial reasons.” Read On

IN THESE TIMES

Police and Affordable Housing Collide in Charleston

The Charleston Hous­ing Author­i­ty (CHA) said last month that it’s turn­ing over two pub­lic hous­ing units to the police depart­ment for a sub­sta­tion… Activists and orga­niz­ers see this as illus­tra­tive of a larg­er push to dis­place res­i­dents of the Gads­den Green com­mu­ni­ty. Read On

THE POST & COURIER

Gadsden Creek becomes a flashpoint in Charleston discussion on environmental justice

At the end of June, which was a month of protests for racial equality in the Charleston region, Friends of Gadsden Creek posted a message on their account titled: “An Open Letter on Environmental Racism to the Coastal Conservation League.” Read On

CHARLESTON CITY PAPER

Plans to fill Gadsden Creek seen as both an injustice and a last chance to help Westside flooding at public meeting

“All but a few of around 35 people who spoke at Wednesday night's 2.5-hour meeting at Burke High School were against a developer's permit application to fill about 4 acres of a tidal creek” Read On

GARDEN & GUN

SAVING THE SMALL PLACES

“As of now, the fate of Gadsden Creek remains undecided. But here’s hoping there’s a small victory in store for the small places.” Read On