[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6053148,"mediaKeyId","3376324-89e7ba5b3cd740d189e60901647fa506","parentId",3376324,"title","Resident objects to Hindu invocation; mayor defends inclusive prayer at council meetings","audioSeconds",1303,"startMs",235000,"endMs",1538000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3376324-89e7ba5b3cd740d189e60901647fa506&start=235&end=1538","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3376324-89e7ba5b3cd740d189e60901647fa506/thumbnail_235000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6053148/Goose-Creek/Berkeley-County/South-Carolina/Resident-objects-to-Hindu-invocation-mayor-defends-inclusive-prayer-at-council-meetings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053148-5c3df694905fa3063be85d30586dfb86/orig.mp4?Expires=1771222588&Signature=NR~Oj3ZEp5~nhpy1sl1QRjj89GSbLZSm-Rc0pKcptY9vjWGErKcgZzzMl1nvWa81COXAQzS6D3gKOpWfLRoZcLiqR-7wOsbMya6lLBG7F54j86YONsWJ6Wi9uBCmOekXKn7k~DCDZvSALsMtJAxxgvR1dW17yAZFCh6JE7pyAdvqNv7sUX-~tuP5h6tNnBrGlXjTqJcQ~TyLcyIJBDHDCBw7EmA6-JixUVAUKpQwe87-xgsCwL-qXD3ifrL6Tlrh-R36qfF8jNTUnCdpCs0NZL3wvZQ2ogVVbQ2g3hg3KmD8eMUtdNoaV4MG6fAwtYe87h6oK3kzHVoagDamSFwe5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Goose Creek, SC","date","2025-05-13T00:00:00Z","article","A resident told the Goose Creek City Council on May 13 she was “alarmed” that a previous meeting had opened with a Hindu invocation and urged the city to avoid rotating among different faiths for invocations.

“Saw a notice…that the city council meeting for April 8 was opened up with a Hindu invocation. Is that correct?” Susan Vullo asked, and later cited scripture in explaining her concern: “Exodus 23 says ‘you shall have no other gods before me,’” she told council. Vullo said the matter was “rather alarming” and that her remarks came from a place of caring for the city and its residents.

The mayor responded directly to Vullo, noting the constitutional limits on government action regarding religion and saying the city’s practice was to allow different faith leaders to lead invocations if the council chooses to have prayer. “If we’re going to pray, and it has been my determination that we are going to pray, then you gotta let those pray,” the mayor said. He added that prayer presenters at past events had included representatives of multiple faiths and urged residents to “find what they need” while emphasizing adherence to the law. The mayor also thanked Vullo for speaking and acknowledged her concern.

No formal policy change or vote on invocation practices occurred at the meeting; the exchange took place during the public‑comment portion and was contained to statements by the resident and the mayor. The transcript records no additional public testimony or council motion on changing invocation procedures.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council\tMay 13, 2025 ","oneSentenceSummary","A Goose Creek resident told council she was alarmed by a previous meeting's Hindu invocation; the mayor responded that the city allows various faith leaders to lead prayer and cited constitutional limits on choosing which religion may pray.","taxTitle","Goose Creek, Berkeley County, South Carolina","taxId",52179,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6053153,"Council authorizes traffic‑calming projects to move forward pending county grants",145,1197000,1342000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3376324-89e7ba5b3cd740d189e60901647fa506&start=1197&end=1342","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3376324-89e7ba5b3cd740d189e60901647fa506/thumbnail_1197000.jpg","/articles/6053153/Goose-Creek/Berkeley-County/South-Carolina/Council-authorizes-trafficcalming-projects-to-move-forward-pending-county-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053153-92478c5936a926ec535c34126abf62fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771222588&Signature=NAfbPx2f5BQozL-gewqt8LLL~Gbs3WfxcB78WHSRXstuV70mCN9ALgtkYMPUs0UhRwb-yKIjoXlk7-WFB0C0AosGjkQ2s-qEXaI1ey0A-Hc6lDnwzzxOgc75Wg2Icp4YPxm7tyHy-Rzky6Dq23BOcsYz9CcqoOlGtkXNAXiWLpO~2~m4kpNj0YNK12ltp3h13kg-B0LMKiUW5FKQxTkmFrawvXuj~iEC3WoinvxAxz5XJKoEDM7qaL9Bp8-g07hF1DpZcQnXxlG~XYwoawaTRx9xDYFmumvLzuBv7Cdzd7UtuwtuGxQGdLc4mytmGt9amTqKyeDI~0J2GQfgbvCXxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Goose Creek City Council on May 13 authorized staff to advance traffic‑calming work for Amy Drive and Bridgetown Road, contingent on county grant awards that would offset the projects’ costs.

Traffic‑engineering staff told the council Amy Drive’s traffic calming met the program requirements and was estimated to cost about $29,348; the city has applied for a $17,000 grant through Councilmember Davis with Berkeley County to help fund that work. Bridgetown Road’s traffic‑calming request seeks about $26,000 from a grant sponsored by Councilmember Stern; if the county grants are not awarded, both projects would remain in the queue and be considered for future funding (Amy Drive first in line for 2026 and Bridgetown Road possibly not until 2027).

Councilwoman Enos moved to approve proceeding with Amy Drive if the grant is awarded and Councilwoman McSwain seconded; the motion passed on voice vote. The council took a separate motion to approve moving forward on Bridgetown Road and to group multiple calming requests for bidding to obtain better pricing; that motion also passed on voice vote after a second by Mayor Pro Tem Breen Fletcher. Council members and the mayor noted the city’s existing speed‑hump program is popular and that intergovernmental partnerships can increase available funds. No amendments or vote tallies beyond “aye” were recorded in the meeting excerpt.

The council’s approvals direct staff to prepare bids and to proceed with the projects only if the stated county grants are received. If grants are not awarded, the projects will remain in the city’s prioritized queue for future budgeting.","Goose Creek council voted to place two traffic‑calming projects in the city’s queue and authorized staff to solicit bids if county grant funding is approved.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6053158,"Goose Creek council approves annexation of parcel on Saint James Avenue",18,1178000,1196000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3376324-89e7ba5b3cd740d189e60901647fa506&start=1178&end=1196","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3376324-89e7ba5b3cd740d189e60901647fa506/thumbnail_1178000.jpg","/articles/6053158/Goose-Creek/Berkeley-County/South-Carolina/Goose-Creek-council-approves-annexation-of-parcel-on-Saint-James-Avenue","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053158-4607a5d095753c08cd0a3ff3f7446a28/orig.mp4?Expires=1771222588&Signature=W7~7EUYkMgDSn42AtGR3-aCSvraFawida854q0Heb2reV7f9GOAn9uAw0VtULfCvV4Uqcm9tpVf5ljZcVuy~6DGNJ-B7Ak8ZH~0-UoF7sYRgwXeufADwX9pxJHFaKyOK5t9oU6VlyBmGcc8Bw7JXBQDtbbPAKTRY-zjqnxYH81oZ2Q3Dw3YACd34kqVAiwzIee01w6niAHoUVesFqvEwJPPTFNZXPDBcSNvk1~b~BOd6ivw9LKNB~GzcISeq4SLOZku064FwC4zQ1y7D05I3SMui6UFJWx6oLzbwJ7BMShfFkZIgbx82h9wXL25yD-a~mc6F58ywMnwqrkPLJfDPnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Goose Creek City Council voted May 13 to annex the property identified as TMS 2231303038 on Saint James Avenue, approving the ordinance on its second and final reading.

The measure was introduced as an ordinance “pursuant to Title 5, Chapter 3, Section 5‑3‑150, subsection 3 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina, as amended,” the mayor said when presenting the item. Councilwoman Cox moved to approve the ordinance and Mayor Pro Tem Breen Fletcher seconded the motion. The mayor called the vote and councilmembers responded “aye”; the annexation was approved.

The council did not debate the ordinance during the second reading and took no additional votes or amendments on the item. No staff presentation or accompanying conditions were recorded in the meeting minutes beyond the standard second‑reading announcement and the roll call vote.

The approval completes the council’s second and final reading; the ordinance becomes effective according to the council’s adopted local procedures and any state statutory timelines for municipal annexations.","On second and final reading, the Goose Creek City Council approved annexation of the parcel identified as TMS 2231303038 on Saint James Avenue.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident objects to Hindu invocation; mayor defends inclusive prayer at council meetings

Council authorizes traffic‑calming projects to move forward pending county grants

Goose Creek council approves annexation of parcel on Saint James Avenue