By Andy Flynt
Director of Reference Services, Spartanburg County Public Libraries

Libraries across the country have been providing Internet access since the mid-1990s and wireless access since the mid-2000s. Spartanburg County Public Libraries (SCPL) has provided wireless access to the public since at least 2010 with access points inside all of our locations. Reception in our main library parking lot and branch library parking lots has been hit or miss. At one point, it was a safety issue to provide this access after hours in our parking lots. Bandwidth also became an issue. As people realized we had the service and streaming audio and video became more widespread, we began to use more and more bandwidth in providing our wireless access.

Things changed when COVID appeared. We had patrons sitting in our parking lots even as our libraries were closed due to the pandemic. The increased need was quickly evident and we responded. By the spring of 2022, the libraries had secured funding for longer range Wi-Fi access points at all of our buildings and by August 2022, we can confidently say that expanded Wi-Fi access is available at all of our locations and covers the greatest parts of all of our parking lots.

Another area that we saw a need was in lending MiFi hotspots. Many areas of our county still don’t have good broadband access to the Internet and we recognized that need several years ago. As the pandemic hit, we began our own MiFi lending program. SCPL’s MiFi lending program is called SCPL Hotspot. We started the program in 2020 as a partnership program through the SC State Library. The State Library provided MiFi devices and service via Kajeet. We started with 22 MiFi units in December 2020. We have a few requirements in place to borrow a device: 

1. Patron’s library card must be in good standing,
2. Patron must fill out a MiFi lending agreement form and
3. Patron must be 17 years of age or older.

The program with the State Library ended in June 2021, so we now have a subscription with T-Mobile. We started with 25 devices and rolled out an additional 30 units in June 2022. Currently, we have 55 devices. This year alone, we have had 680 circulations with a total of 932 lifetime circulations. The waiting list for these hotspots is about 60 holds as of November 15, 2022.

By Dr. Phillip Stone

​As League members, we recognize that not all of the information that’s spreading on social media and other outlets is good information. How do we make sure that we are reading and sharing accurate information, particularly as it relates to democracy, with our friends and families?

The Cybersecurity and Information Security Agency has a website that talks about misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation.  

• Misinformation is false, but is not created or shared with the intent of causing harm.  
• Disinformation is deliberately created to mislead, harm, or manipulate a person, social group, organization, or country.
• Malinformation is based on fact, but used out of context to mislead, harm, or manipulate.

The easiest thing for you to do when you see a story or social media post that just doesn’t sound right is to verify it on some other website. Think about what you are reading. Ask questions like:

• Is the source reliable?
• Does the source or poster have an agenda?
• Do they offer proof to support their claim?
• Does it rely on emotions, such as fear or anger, to stir you to action?  

A false story spreads faster than the truth online. Once shared, bad information doesn’t go away. It just keeps spreading. Stories about Bill Murray running for president, even when debunked and denied, spread for months. Dis-information in particular can be designed to cause harm or sow division. Some stories can manipulate the stock market or further polarize an already divided electorate. In recent years, issues that have become especially polarizing - stories related to Covid-19 or election denialism - have spread to willing audiences.  

The Rand Corporation has a site about what they call “truth decay” that has tools and links that can help you check information. Rand particularly notes an increasing disagreement about facts, a blurring between fact and opinion writing, and a decline in trust in formerly respected sources of facts. Too often, readers won’t even believe it when you challenge their post with facts, often responding that the site you are referencing is itself biased.  

Sometimes the best we can do as responsible citizens is make sure that we ourselves aren’t helping share bad information. If in doubt, don't share it!

By Charles Mann, Upstate Action Alliance
Shared in the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, 11-04-2021

Congratulations to all the winning candidates in Tuesday’s elections across the county. The City of Spartanburg, with the election of Jerome Rice as Mayor, now has a minority-majority City Council. Rice, Janie Salley, Erica Brown and Ruth Littlejohn now comprise that majority.  Also, the City Council has more women than ever before with Salley, Brown, Littlejohn and Meghan Smith.  With Rice as Mayor, the City now has its second Black Mayor in its history.

Again, congratulations to all the new and previously elected public servants. With that said, let’s take a closer look at the numbers.

• According to the Board of Elections, there are 36,721 registered voters in the City of Spartanburg. Of that, only 5,274 cast a ballot in the citywide election. So, only 14% voted.
• Across the county, only 20,868 registered voters voted. Of the 208,643 registered voters, that comes out to 10%.

That’s right Spartanburg, only 10% of the eligible voters in the county voted.
 
As the founding member of The Upstate Action Alliance I am asking …. "Why did so few citizens participate in our holiest, most scared democratic activity?" The principle of "One Person – One Vote." The principle that that our elders and ancestors died for. The principle of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The principle that people marched for. 

As a voting rights organization, we are truly perplexed as to why citizens refuse to exercise this constitutional right and obligation.

• We applaud Janie Salley’s 55% win, but she won with 259 votes in all of District 5. The Park Hills precinct alone has 1,639 registered voters.
• We applaud Jerome Rice’s 54.65% win, but he won a citywide election with 2,882 votes. Only 5,274 (14%) voted out of 36,721 registered voters.

While we celebrate the winners of our public discourse, we must also be concerned, gravely concerned, about voter disengagement. This lack of turnout and engagement is allowing a few to determine the fate of the many. In other words, 20,000 voters elected public office holders who will create public policy for over 327,000 residents.

Is this what you want? Is this what our democracy has come to? Have we become so callous, so “I don’t care”, so “my vote does not count”… that we are handing over our future to so few?

Are we better than this? I truly hope so. 

I am reminded of a statement from my son. "When people don’t vote, their lives don’t change. When people vote, their lives don’t change. So why should people vote?” Is this what has led our community to a 10% voter turnout? If so, we have a lot of work ahead.

While my organization and I are dismayed at the extremely low voter turnout, we are energized and committed to get more of our citizens willing to take 15 minutes out of their day on Election Day to select their representatives. Our community and our country deserve 15 minutes of your time, once a year, to show up and make a choice.

Too many people have died for our right to vote. It is a dishonor to their lives, their commitment and their dreams for a better tomorrow for us not to show up. And there are so many people trying to make it harder for you to vote. Let me ask you this... If your vote does not count, why are so many people working so hard to take your vote away… to dilute your vote… to minimize your vote?  Your vote is important. Your vote matters.
All elections matter.

So, join us to make a 10% voter turnout in our community an aberration. A mistake. Let’s work to make our community, a community that matters. A community that votes. 

https://www.goupstate.com/story/opinion/2021/11/04/charles-mann-slim-voter-turnout-spartanburg-concerning-municipal-elections-south-carolina-opinion/6281799001/

By Charles Mann, Upstate Action Alliance
Shared in Spartanburg Herald Journal - 2021-04-11

Now is the time to start evaluating Spartanburg's community servants, thinking about elections

This year you will be asked to vote in local municipal elections for Mayor, City Council, School Board and Water Commissioner.  Now is the time to start evaluating our potential community servants!!! In all, local elections will occur in 13 Municipalities in the county, including the City of Spartanburg.

The Upstate Action Alliance, a non-profit voter education, voter registration and voter turnout organization, is asking every registered voter and concerned citizen to participate in primaries, runoffs, and general elections.  While the General Election is November 2, 2021, a lot will be happening on the candidate front between now and then.

Voters in each of the 13 municipalities will have the opportunity to select who serves their community for the next electoral term.  These are the people who will decide how to allocate your local tax dollars, which industries get tax incentives, how much money gets spent on road repair and construction, how county health dollars are spent, what development gets approved for housing, how dollars are spent for local police, and so many other items that touch your lives each and every day.

The Upstate Action Alliance (UAA) believes we, as voters, should select the best persons possible to serve our communities. We believe you should consider their skills, past community involvement, and, of course, their character.

The UAA wants each of us to be proactive in deciding who should serve our community. It is time for us to not accept empty promises, but to tell those who want to serve, what we WANT.  So, after researching what other communities have done to select their community servants, we would like to propose candidates possess the following:

Honesty
It seems simple, but it is key to the character of any public office holder. And it should be evident in their actions and their intellectual approach to the issues in the community.

Balanced View
A public officer holder is a REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL THE PEOPLE, not just a champion of special interest groups. A good candidate is one that has and displays a balanced view of our community. For example, a good candidate/servant understands the value of the new housing development, but requires builders provide sufficient affordable housing in their developments. Or someone may support vital street infrastructure while understanding the need for alternative transportation.

Committed to the Job
Doing the job RIGHT requires a community servant to dedicate time and energy. This includes, first, being responsive to their constituents, not just to some, but to all. Commitment also includes attending meetings, reading volumes of materials, and speaking up on community issues when they arise.

Motivation
A good community servant should serve the public interest, plain and simple. If the person is agenda driven, power-hungry, or captive to special interests, this person may NOT perform their duties with integrity for the overall community now and in the future.

Experience
Does this person have the experience in their work or civic life that lends itself to the position? Does the person have the knowledge and the intellectual curiosity to be an effective community servant? Is this person really ready and prepared to take on the important and significant issues facing our community?

Electability
Above all, this community servant must have the personal traits and qualifications to deserve the support and vote of the electing public. Can this person WIN an election? Can this person raise the necessary funds to finance a campaign?

Communication
A good community servant is one who can communicate ideas and concepts clearly and concisely to their constituents, other colleagues, and the community-at-large. These skills must be both written and oral. Additionally, Covid has taught us that community servants must be technologically savvy. Does this person understand the need and requirement to function in a technologically changed environment? In today’s world, community servants must be able to operate beyond basic email.
 
Our community servants should also be AGILE LEARNERS, FLEXIBLE, and GREAT LISTENERS.

As voters, if potential candidates cannot meet the above requirements, should they deserve your support…your contribution…your VOTE?

Our community, like others, is facing tough issues every day.  We deserve to have community servants who are up to the task to create a better community for all of us and for our children’s children.
 
Respectfully,
Charles Mann
Founding Member, Upstate Action Alliance

By Charles Mann & Becky Slayton

The League of Women Voters has a nationwide focus on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), not only in our Leagues, but also in our society. With that in mind, we established our DEI Movie Club as a venue to consider our systems and interactions from a variety of perspectives.

Our first movie was 13th, named since its focus is the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution. We watched the movie then met online on March 2nd for a lively discussion. If you weren't able to join us, we've recapped a bit below and you can watch 13th online.

We'd love to hear your thoughts in our private Facebook group: LWV Spartanburg County, SC. If you're a member, just search for us on Facebook and ask to join! Not a member yet? It's easy to join. Check out our membership page.

Film Facts about 13th

• The documentary was produced/directed by Ava DuVernay.  She is one of this country's top directors and documentary producers.  Among her credits is the acclaimed film Selma. 
• The 13th Amendment states, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."
• During his presidency, Richard Nixon pushed a "Law and Order" theme and launched the War on Drugs. This marked the beginning of mass incarceration in modern day United States. 
• Our country represents 5% of the world's population, but 25% of the world's imprisoned population. 
• In America, 1 in 3 Black men will be imprisoned in their lifetime. For White men, it is 1 in 17. 
• The US spends about $80 billion in direct dollars each year to imprison people. The all inclusive cost is around $180 billion.
• In South Carolina in 2018, we spent around $10,000 per student and around $21,000 per prisoner. 
• In 2018, 34% of the nation's prison population were Black men, 29% were White men and Hispanics were 24%. 
• The documentary points out that the United States has moved over time from Slavery to Convict Leasing to Jim Crow to Mass Incarceration today with 2.3 million people in prison.

Our discussion focused on these facts and the images from the film, then moved into personal experience. Participants were all League members, both men and women, both black and white, ranging in age from thirties to seventies, in a variety of occupations, and having grown up in different states and regions of the US. The conversation was moderated by Charles Mann. Participants recognized the challenges people of color, especially men, must confront as a result of policies related to the crime and punishment as well as the loss of the franchise resulting from conviction. In some states, restoring an individual's right to vote once the sentence is complete is made difficult or even impossible. Our conclusion, then, was that we each need to take action to improve equity and conclusion as we have opportunity. We started a list of useful actions...

Calls to Action

1. If you see something, do something - in your family, among your friends, in public venues, when it's easy and when it's hard.
2. Vote in each election - whether local, state or national - to get leaders we need.
3. Fight to keep voting unrestricted and available to every citizen.
4. Learn about the experiences of people who aren't like you - whether in race, nationality, gender, socio-economic level, education, age, culture, political preference, religion...
5. Show respect to the people you interact with. We are each human and worthy of dignity and respect.
6. Listen...listen more...speak with openness and respect.

Stay tuned for future DEI Movie Club events and join the conversation about this and other topics in our private Facebook group: LWV Spartanburg County, SC, or in the comments below.

Some Relevant Links:

• "Filmmaker Ava DuVernay talks about her new documentary, 13TH, which explores the history of race and the criminal justice system in the United States. The film's title refers to the 13th Amendment." Excerpt from NPR's All Things Considered on 12/17/2016
• The official trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6IXQbXPO3I
• 13th is available at the library, on Netflix for subscribers, and Netflix has uploaded it to YouTube for non-subscribers here: https://youtu.be/krfcq5pF8u8
• Check out NPR's All Things Considered segment on the movie: https://www.npr.org/2016/12/17/505996792/documentary-13th-argues-mass-incarceration-is-an-extension-of-slavery

By Karen Mitchell, LWVS President, 2019-2020
 
You want to help move our democracy forward.   You keep thinking, “What else can I do?”
 
What if you decided to be a POLL WORKER?  You would help people to vote and get paid for doing it.  YOU ARE NEEDED.
 
We will be using a different voting machine beginning in the November 5th elections.  Why not attend the training and learn how they work? Then you will be ready to work at the polling places.  After that, you’ll be ready to help with these elections in 2020:

• February 29 - Democratic Presidential Preference Primary
• June 9 - Primaries for Political Parties
• June 23 – Primary Runoffs (if needed)
• November 3 – General Election, including Presidential Election

 
Our local Voter Registration and Election Office needs trained poll workers (called managers most of the time).   You get paid $135.00. You can do some online training and/or in person training. This will be probably be done sometime from mid-September to mid-October this year. 
 
Working the polls is a long, tiring day, no two ways about it, from 7am to 7 pm. The reward is that YOU have done one more thing to help our democracy work!
 
Having worked as a poll manager, let me say that it feels good to have helped democracy work.   You see and meet all sorts of people, all of whom want to vote and be heard.   Help them make it happen - Be A Poll Manager.
 
Call 864-596-2549 to get more information from the Voter Registration office.

By Keziah Washington

Today’s youth have a major responsibility that is being ignored and taken for granted: voting. Many people today are not taking the time to watch the news or figure out who is representing them. With all of the technology available lately, being informed about the society we live in is even easier than ever. Knowing this, the fact that we, as American citizens, don’t care enough to put in the small amount of effort needed to check voting polls and listen to the people who represent us is simply sad and very unacceptable. 

Though it may not seem like it, voting affects everyone, no matter what. Wouldn’t you like to have a say in the laws that you have to follow or the decisions made about problems in the community we live in? These things can change your life in as little as a second and it doesn’t matter if you like it or not because, by not voting, you are preventing yourself from having a say in how you live. No one wants all of their decisions made for them without being able to give reasonable insight to those making the rules for them.

When was the last time you watched the news? For many people, the answer to this question will be “I don’t remember” or “It’s been a while since I’ve taken the time to pay attention to the news.” This is a huge problem in society today. The feeling of wanting to be involved and informed has withered away. Some find the news to be pointless, sitting only for a few moments and being the most unentertained they have ever been. Others simply think the world is too cruel and don’t want to sit through news about the sad things happening around them. These reasons are common in everyone around us, but they still are no valid reason to remain uninformed.

As I stated, today’s technology offers multiple ways of staying connected and informed. Even so, we still choose to stay disconnected with our representatives and political issues. What is the reason for this? Could it be as simple an answer as laziness? Maybe. There has been a decline in voter participation* and it needs to be resolved. We aren’t benefiting from sitting at home. We have to go out and put in the effort to make a difference in our everyday lives.

If we do not make an effort to vote, we will eventually lose our voice completely. This can be prevented if we, as US citizens, take the time to get informed and care about what happens in politics. Teens are the main source of this change since they will be the ones who are voting for what happens in the future. Knowing this, teens need to become more consistent in watching the news and paying attention to the people who represent us. If teenagers take the time to do this, it would make a huge difference.

*For data related to civic health and voter participation, visit Spartanburg Community Indicators Project’s Civic Health web page.

By Linda Powers Bilanchone,
Past-President, League of Women Voters of Spartanburg County

On Saturday, May 11, from 8:30 am to noon, the League of Women Voters of Spartanburg County is offering a free workshop on how to run for an elected office or get appointed to an appointed office. The workshop, “Ready..Set...RUN!!!” will take place at the downtown campus of Spartanburg Community College, 220 East Kennedy Street, Spartanburg; it is non-partisan and open to the public.

Democracy is about the people’s choice. Elections are about the people’s choice.  But how can the people choose if there is only one candidate for an office?

When you think of the League of Women Voters, you probably think of members finding a variety of ways to get people registered to vote and then another effort to get them out to vote on election day. Yes, that is what we do year in and year out. However, registering and voting is only meaningful when the voter has a choice! And, of course, the choice comes when two or more candidates offer for the same office. Then the voter has a choice!

If we are to honor the notion of choice, then we must find more candidates to run for office.  So, another way to make democracy work is to urge citizens to consider running for office – local, state and national. People choose from a variety of ways to be of service to their community. One very significant way that is often overlooked is running for public office.  I say running for public office because that is the only way you can win! And even if you don’t win, you have given the voting public a choice and that is very, very important. And, you might find that it is an enjoyable way to be of service. The truth is that you don’t always have to run for office; you can be appointed and for many future elected officials, being an appointed official is the way they get started.  The City of Spartanburg has a number of boards and commissions to which you can be appointed; the County of Spartanburg also has boards and commissions to which you can be appointed --- and they deal with a variety of different subjects --- human relations, building regulations, historic preservation. You name it! I bet you can find something you would enjoy doing. You can go to the city’s website or the county’s website to see what might be available. And, by available, I mean that you will find that not all seats on every board are filled; the City Council or County Council has not been able to find anyone to fill that position. Maybe it could be you. It might be just as simple as letting your City Council representative or County Council representative know that you would like to serve.

Now, running for an elected position is admittedly a bigger commitment. You will probably have to raise some money and put together a team to help you educate the voters in your district about who you are and what you intend to do as an elected official. But that doesn’t need to be extensive or expensive – especially in a local race – and it is entirely within the range of possibility.  In fact, it can be enjoyable. If you enjoy talking to your neighbors and friends, you will probably enjoy campaigning – especially, if you can find a good and trusted friend who will “run” the campaign for you leaving you free to interact with potential voters.

Furthermore, being in appointed or elected office is a continuing education for you. You have an opportunity to learn about the subject matter that your board handles; you learn about how the local government works; you might even get interested enough to run for a higher office!  Of course, with most boards and commissions, there is no salary for those who serve, but sometimes there are trips to other places to learn new ways of doing things or a small expense stipend. And, surprisingly, there are salaries in some cases --- City of Spartanburg Commission of Public Works and the Spartanburg Sanitary Sewer District board are examples of boards with salaries; school boards are an example of boards without salaries.

The League’s workshop on May 11 includes a presentation on opportunities for appointment and how to run for office as well as a keynote address by Hope Blackley of Congressman Timmons’ office. Come on out; this is an opportunity for you to help give people a choice in our elections! 

This FREE workshop is non-partisan and open to the public, but to be sure necessary materials are on hand for you please register at EventBrite.

On November 11, 2016, a fountain at Spartanburg Water in downtown Spartanburg, SC, was dedicated to long-time LWVS member Linda Powers Bilanchone to commemorate her 24 years of service as a Commissioner of Public Works.  She shared the thoughts below on that occasion.

Women Hold Up Half the Sky

An old Chinese proverb asserts that women hold up half the sky and that truth has motivated women around the world to tackle the struggle to claim their place in decision-making and leadership.  American women have struggled to be represented in the chambers and halls and small, undistinguished meeting rooms where governance decisions are made and our community’s future is decided.  For Spartanburg women, that began with the Spartanburg Women’s Political Caucus in the 1980s.  We met and plotted and planned and ASKED women to run for office.  Sewer Commissioner Barbara Barnes and I met in the Caucus.  Then in the 1990s, there were the Daughters of Susan B. Anthony who met and celebrated the success of elected and appointed women.
Some of us took the quest statewide by establishing and serving as leaders of the South Carolina Advocates for Women on Boards and Commissions. I have two strong memories of those years. 

1. Every time we mentioned a woman’s name as a nominee, the response was, “Is she QUALIFIED?”  I don’t remember EVER hearing a question of whether a man was qualified.  There were NO qualifications except the mental picture in a person’s head – the picture of an individual wearing a 3-piece suit, possibly sporting a moustache or beard, and probably of pale complexion. 
2. My second memory is of a gathering of legislators at which the Advocates made a case for inclusion.  A legislator rose and said, “Oh, I think I understand what you want; you want us to be fair.”  And, I answered, “No, what we want is equal participation; if we wanted you to be fair, we’d ask you for ALL the seats on boards and commissions for the next 200 years! THAT would be fair.”

And so, we have worked hard to get women elected and appointed – BECAUSE women do hold up half the sky.  This fountain, I am convinced, helps to hold up half the sky.  If a little girl or a young woman enters this building and glances up, she may be inspired to think that she, too, belongs at the table where the decisions are made; at the table where the community is served; at the table where democracy plays out fully and inclusively.  Thank you, Spartanburg Water!!!! Thank you!