by Don Moniak
January 8, 2025

Dear Chairman Bunker and Council, 

Aiken County’s efforts to better inform its citizenry are commendable. One of those means is via its Facebook page. 
However, Aiken County is not to be commended for its new policy of blocking comments on its Facebook page (Figure 1). This action of prohibiting comments is arguably a governmental infringement on our right to free speech. 

(Figure 1. Beginning on January 1, 2025, the County shut off the comment section on its FB page). 

Prior to January 1, citizens could comment on County FB posts, and that ability remains for pre-2025 posts (see Figure 2). The policy only began in 2025.

(Figure 2. Comment made on January 8, 2025 on a December 31, 2024 FB post) 

While it is somewhat understandable that the County may be leery of a heavy volume of citizen comments and a free-for-all forum, that has not been the case in the past.

Council should view any increase in citizen engagement as a positive development, not something to be avoided–especially at a time when the Aiken County Planning Commission has finally begun to actively seek citizen comments for our new 10-Year Comprehensive Plan. 

The County should return to the previous policy of an open and free forum. 

Thank you, 
Don Moniak
Aiken County Citizen