New Orangeburg City Council member seeks constituents’ thoughts

“I was able to speak with some constituents and get some of their concerns and issues written down and hopefully I can do other events like this in the future to get more engagement from the people in District 4,” she said afterward.

District 4 residents were concerned about trains stopping for long periods near the Claflin and South Carolina State campuses, as well as crime, Grevious said.

Residents said they wanted a larger police presence on Magnolia Street to deter speeding and street racing on both Magnolia and Boulevard streets.

Constituents at the event included long-time residents and college students.

They were joined by several of Grevious’ colleagues from Claflin University, where she is a drama and speech professor. Friends, members of the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety, ODPS Chief Charles Austin and fellow councilmember Liz Zimmerman Keitt were also present

Keitt said she attended to show support for the new councilmember, who was elected in September.

Keitt said many long-running city developments and programs will come to fruition during the new council member’s term, including the city’s Railroad Corner redevelopment.

“She’s going to be in the midst of everything,” Keitt said. “And this is good for her, when she opens her heart to people. That’s what it’s all about – entertaining people, finding out what they would like to have, what their needs are. I’m so proud of her, because this is really good for a new council member.”

One District 4 resident who attended the meet-and-greet was Sallie Strong, who has spent her 70 years living on three different streets in the district.

Strong came out to meet the new council member and make sure they are on speaking terms so they can approach each other, she said. She felt very comfortable with Grevious after meeting her, she said.

“I am very excited,” Strong said. “I hope she does well. I know she will from just talking to her.”

Strong was one of several attendees who said they are concerned about crime as well as a lack of things to do in the city, which she said might contribute to the crime rate.

“We don’t have too much going on and we need something else in that department, build up something for our youth to do,” she said. “That’s the main thing right there, so we can keep them busy and stay out of trouble.”

Paula Payton, a resident of District 3 and assistant director of admissions at Claflin, agreed that having more things to do in Orangeburg might bring down crime.

“If they had more things to do in Orangeburg, I don’t think we’d be in the condition that we are,” she said.

She is also concerned with litter, homelessness and the city not seeing as much development as other parts of the county.

“It seems like we’ve been left behind,” she said.

Claflin’s campus is in Grevious’ district.

The event featured music, fried fish and Italian ice from Randolph Artisan Italian Ice & Gelato. Operator David Randolph said he would have attended the event to support his friend even if he hadn’t been there as a vendor.

Randolph lives in St. Matthews, but his brother lives in District 4. He would like to see Grevious and the council address homelessness and the lack of activities for children and adults in the city.

“There’s a lot of vacant buildings out there and I think that they need to get those filled,” he said.

Attendees were encouraged to bring a canned good for a local shelter. Grevious said 40 were collected.