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Downtown business owners urge the city to act after MMDC removes downtown development staffer
Summary
Multiple business owners told the commission they were upset that MMDC abruptly dismissed a downtown development staffer (Luke Castle) and urged the city to keep him involved or reconsider support for the organization; commenters cited his role in convening merchants and supporting new businesses.
Several downtown business owners addressed the commission during public comment to criticize the abrupt dismissal of a downtown development staffer they identified as Luke Castle and to urge the city to keep him involved.
Mary Hutter, a returning resident and small-business owner who said she had bought and was rebuilding buildings on Broadway, said she and her husband moved back to Mount Pleasant to invest in downtown. "I was really, really upset to hear this past weekend that he was abruptly let go from MMDC," she said, asking the city to help preserve the downtown connections he built.
Other business owners described Castle as central to merchant meetings and local networking; one speaker said Castle had introduced them to many people and had been instrumental in launching local events and volunteer initiatives. Several commenters asked the city to find a way to keep Castle involved in downtown work, or to consider moving merchant meetings and related programming outside MMDC if the organization will not retain that role.
Commissioners heard the comments but no formal action was taken at the meeting; staff indicated they would place follow-up items on future agendas as appropriate.
