Use these questions to think more about how you would describe your community...
  - Where do people in your community gather or socialize?
  - How and where does your community access services (healthcare, transportation, educational services, etc.)?

Examples of activities and services: Shopping areas, schools and universities, libraries, parks, lakes, rivers, places of worship, healthcare services, public transport, local nonprofit organizations, etc.

Your response: My community (North Forest Beach) used to be a neighborhood. It is now taken over by rental properties that are, in essence, mini-hotels/people warehouses, that could never be used as homes. Residents who aren't in gated communities (named "plantations") are most affected by tourism. We are being forced to leave the island because taxes have risen so high.

Use these questions to think more about how you would describe your community...
  - What are the cultural bonds in your community?
  - If your community has a shared history, what is it?

Examples of cultural or historical interests: Religious groups, ethnic groups, languages, age groups, immigration status, historic or arts districts, etc.

Your response: Prior to the civil war, this island was forest and slave-dependent plantations. Following that war, it was left to those slaves, called the Gullah. Lumber barons invaded in the 1940s-50s, followed by developers. The Gullah have now been pushed to the north end of the island, between widening street/highways and the airport. Their land area--and their political representation--continues to decrease.

Use these questions to think more about how you would describe your community...
  - Where are residents employed?
  - If there are environmental concerns in your community, what are they?

Examples of economic or environmental interests: Tourism industry, agricultural workers, mining town, manufacturing center, polluted natural resource, unemployment problem, etc.

Your response: I live--actually live--in a community that is increasingly devoted to encouraging tourism and construction, to the detriment of actual residents, the environment, the indigenous community (the Gullah), traffic, & the water system. The Town has increasingly ignored laws and limits , in deference to the interests of the tourism and developers. Current districting has contributedat to these interests having an undue share of representation at the Town, County, & State levels.

Use these questions to think more about how you would describe your community...
  - What should politicians and/or map drawers know about your community?
  - What are the needs of your community?
  - Is there anything else you want to tell us about your community?

Examples of needs or concerns: Keep community in the same district or separate into multiple districts, shared policy concerns, need for a social service, relationship to other nearby communities, issues with current district lines

Your response: This community is controlled by wealthy, politically conservative businessmen. Politically conservative candidates are virtually guaranteed to be elected--and often run unopposed. Minorities are subtly and overtly discouraged from voting and politically liberal candidates have little chance of being elected. I would like to see minority & politically liberal residents not involved in tourism and development to be represented in as many districts as possible.