City of Simpsonville officials and staff continue to work diligently on the stormwater flooding issues affecting our residents. This is an update on my recent activities and efforts.

In May, I spent most of a week in Washington D.C. with the American Flood Coalition to advocate for Simpsonville and other communities in Congress. It was a good trip. It’s important to note that  no taxpayer dollars were spent for this trip. The American Flood Coalition is financed through philanthropy by individuals and foundations concerned about flooding. At the event, there were 43 local elected officials advocating for federal awareness and increased funding for flooding resilience. Our combined voices are far more powerful than my voice alone.

We met with senators, congressmen, and their staff. I personally met with Senator Tim Scott and Congressman William Timmons, and with staff members from the offices of Senator Lindsey Graham and Congressman Jeff Duncan. I am honored and proud to represent Simpsonville in our Nation’s capital. I never thought my life would lead me to a place where I’d be interviewed on television with the White House as a backdrop.

Meeting with mayors and council members from other places gave me a greater appreciation and an important calibration of just how bad flooding can get. Simpsonville’s problems are small in comparison to others. That’s a good thing. It means they are easier to fix. Not easy, just easier.

You don’t swoop into Washington with your hand out and fly home with a bag of money. It just doesn’t work that way, and thank goodness it doesn’t. On the other hand, being face to face with our nation’s lawmakers can spark some creative ideas. Congressman Timmons came up with an idea on the spot that could possibly benefit the entire state, without spending extra tax dollars. It’s his idea to share. It was encouraging to see enthusiasm on our behalf.

Maybe our combined efforts will yield some results. 43 local elected officials from 6 states. I encourage you to add your voice to ours. Contact our legislators and encourage them to support improved flooding resilience.

Thanks for the support.

Back to work,

Mayor Paul