West Pelzer, SC| Upstatenewstoday.com has tried for several weeks to reach the Mayor of West Pelzer. On September 28, 2024, 83-year-old Bobby Foster was killed on Main St. in West Pelzer after going into oncoming traffic due to a tree being down in the roadway and was hit head-on resulting in his death.
Many community members worked directing traffic and cutting the tree that was in the roadway meanwhile, nobody could reach the Mayor. Mayor James Riddle has a City-paid cell phone that goes directly to voicemail. Upstatenewstoday.com has called two different numbers attached to the Mayor, and both go to voicemail.
The Mayor of West Pelzer per citizens is a hands-off Mayor. Per recent stories, during the time of the crisis surrounding the storm and damage from Hurricane Helene, the Mayor states he was working behind the scene. No departments of West Pelzer were willing to be out on Main St. as members were clearing the downed tree. No traffic control, no cones, no police, no Mayor, and no public works department. Citizens risked their lives protecting others when the City abandoned them.
Mayor Riddle has recently stopped Prayer in city council meetings. Under Mayor Riddle, there has been a moment of silence but never prayer. Looking back on the Facebook page for the Town of West Pelzer under Former Mayor Blake Sanders there was an invocation. Many businesses in West Pelzer say that the Mayor has zero contact with them. Meanwhile, the City receives a hospitality tax from these local businesses. Upstatenewstoday.com has sent many Freedom of Information Requests (FOIA) to the City of West Pelzer requesting financial documents, phone records, and certifications of current officers of West Pelzer.
We have also received reports that members of the West Pelzer Police Department are not certified by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.
The Community wants to know when is their Elected Official going to be a Mayor for the people.
Stay with us as we unravel the woven webs of the Town of West Pelzer.
