Union Pier, the proposed site for the new cruise ship terminal, is right next to Anson Field, an open park and green space where children’s sports teams regularly play.  Surrounding Anson Field are presently 223 condominium homes, and the city has plans to build another 140 homes at Anson Field.

One of the planned buildings is to house senior citizens, who often are in frail or failing health. Also at Anson Field is a multi-story office building and a planned hotel/condos.

A recent article in The Post and Courier quoted an Environmental Protection Agency official as saying that Pacific Ocean cruise ships’ emissions are harmful to the health of persons living as far away as North Dakota, 1,000 miles from the ships.

In view of the fact that around Anson Field these 363 homes and a public park will all be within 1,000 feet of cruise ships docked at Union Pier, how can it possibly be considered reasonable that these highly toxic emissions will be emitted in immediate proximity of so many people’s homes and a park used by children?

The entire Charleston peninsula is only two miles wide, a distance considerably less than the 1,000 miles the article cited. It is unconscionable that the State Ports Authority and Mayor Joe Riley want to push the cruise terminal through when the facts are clear that doing so will absolutely be harmful to the health of all Charleston families.