In a statement released to the media but not to County Council Members, MCPS Superintendent Jerry Weast puts the blame squarely on the council for the county's setback on school funding. Weast has long run an empire at MCPS, with an independent line to the Washington Post's editorial writers and a condescending attitude to his board and local elected officials. But the blunt language and threatening final paragraph in his statement is sure to draw fury from Rockville.“I’m disappointed, but not surprised, at the Attorney General’s ruling. We had serious concerns that the County Council’s plan did not meet the Maintenance of Effort provision and, unfortunately, we were correct. Now, we may face a fine from the state and the brunt of that burden will be felt by our students and teachers at a very critical time.”
“We were trying to do the right thing: We wanted to help the county with its budget problems. We asked the state for a waiver of the MOE provision and we were denied. We offered suggestions and ideas to the County Council for legal ways we could help them and we were not listened to. In the end, we had a solution pushed upon us that, it turns out, was illegal. I guess no good deed goes unpunished.”
“Over the next several days, we will be discussing the impact of this ruling. I can promise you this: We will have a full Maintenance of Effort budget in fiscal year 2011. Never again will we put our employees and students in this position.”
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Weast Throws Council Under the Bus on School Funding Dispute
Funeral Arrangements for Jean Cryor
TO: All Members of the Maryland General Assembly
FROM: The Chief Clerk’s Office
RE: Death of Former Delegate Jean B. Cryor
DATE: November 4, 2009
It is with deep regret that we inform you that former Delegate Jean B. Cryor passed away Tuesday, November 3, 2009. She served in the House of Delegates representing District 15, Montgomery County, from January 1995 until January 2007.
Funeral Arrangements are:
Monday, November 9th 11:00 am
St. Raphael’s Catholic Church
1513 Dunster Road
Rockville, MD 20854
A Reception will follow the Funeral at Normandie Farm, 10710 Falls Road from 1-3 pm
Memorial gifts may be made to the
Society of the Sacred Heart Retirement Fund
4389 West Pine Boulevard
St. Louis, MO. 63108
Condolences can be sent to:
Ms. Deirdre Cryor
11700 Ambleside Drive
Potomac, MD 20854
Friday, November 06, 2009
A Tribute to The Honorable Jean Cryor (1938-2009)
By Delegate Bill Bronrott (D-16).
The death of Jean Cryor is a very sad loss for everyone who knew her and for the community that she served so ably and honorably as a newspaper editor and a policymaker for two decades.
I had the good fortune of sitting next to Jean on the House Floor during her final four years in the General Assembly. In a line of work known for sharp elbows, long knives and ambitious climbers, Jean Cryor was widely admired as a class act, a decent human being, and a thoughtful legislator. She was all about grace, charm and wit, and had a grown-up's perspective about life and a wonderful sense of humor to go along with it.
During her last term, Jean was the only Republican in the 32-member Montgomery County Delegation. At times, she joked about her status as the “chair” of the county delegation’s “GOP Caucus” and its remarkable harmony under her leadership. In fact, Jean’s natural ability to analyze an issue on its own merit and reach across the aisle was proof that once in a while party labels really don't matter.
No matter how tense the moment or difficult the task facing us, Jean never lost her smile or generous spirit. Her words were measured, and when she spoke people listened. Jean also knew instinctively when less said was better. She also had a certain sparkle in her eye that could speak volumes without having to say a word.
Jean Cryor will be greatly missed, but how fortunate we were that this Philadelphia native made Montgomery County, Maryland, her home and professional passion.
May she rest in peace.
Bill Bronrott
House of Delegates
District 16, Bethesda
MPW Reader Translates Leggett Statement on Traffic Lights
OK, we shouldn't print this. Absolutely not. It's a sin! But we have to do it because it's too damn funny.
Many of our readers have suffered through the abominable Montgomery County traffic light crisis, which the county now claims is fixed. Following is the statement from the County Executive on the problem's resolution.Statement of Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett Regarding Breakthrough in the Repair of the Traffic Signal Computer System
Walt Bader, Immediate Past President of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 35, provided this translation:
November 5, 2009; 6 p.m.
"I am very happy to announce that there was a breakthrough during the evening rush hour today in our efforts to repair the County's traffic signal computer. Engineers have isolated the problem and have been successful in reestablishing the connection between the computer and the traffic signals, with the result that most of the intersection signals are now responding to our commands.
"The system is fixed, but we continue to work on individual signals that are not consistently responding. We will continue to monitor it throughout the evening and overnight but we anticipate that tomorrow morning's rush hour will be much smoother.
"To continue to assist commuters, Ride On buses will be free again on Friday.
"For the longer term, I have directed staff to provide me with a plan as to how we can accelerate my ongoing $35 million project to upgrade and modernize our traffic management system
"I appreciate the patience of our residents and commuters: I know it has been a rough couple of days in Montgomery County. I know because I've been stuck in traffic too.
"And, I especially want to thank Montgomery County's dedicated and talented workforce, and especially our traffic engineers and technicians. They have made an incredible effort and worked tirelessly 24/7 since this problem occurred to get it resolved."TRANSLATION -- Statement of Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett Regarding Breakthrough
Since being elected, I have avoided the responsibilities of leadership, hid behind the county council, and followed my subordinate department heads. Now the friggin traffic lights are out of sync and the masses, I mean voters, are pissed. Lookin' for somebody to blame. My ass is hanging out 'cause I'm the Executive and this week's elections look like the voters are holding elected folks accountable. Hate that word, "accountable." What to do?
Got it! I'll do like normal and pretend I'm not responsible for the problem. Then, once it gets fixed, the masses, I mean voters, will be happy as hell. At just that moment of elation, they will hear that I too "am very happy to announce that there was a breakthrough," that's right, a "breakthrough," and I have fixed the problem that I am responsible for in the first instance!
Brilliant.
The people will be happy that I am happy.
Now that we are all happy, I want you suckers to know that I'm going to monitor this bitch. Even better, I'm throwing in an extra day of free bus service for you people who never have, and never will step onto a RideOn bus. I don't care if you RideOn or not -- just like when you get the coupon from a plumber who offers a free toilet unclog, although your toilet isn't clogged, you think what a great plumber this is -- you will feel good about me.
Yeah, I have neglected and delayed an upgrade to our traffic systems, but here's the beauty in my failures. I can get some political mileage by declaring that, "For the longer term, I have directed staff to provide me with a plan as to how we can accelerate my [Tim, need a better word than 'delayed', yeah, 'ongoing'] ongoing $35 million project to upgrade and modernize our traffic management system."
"I appreciate the patience of our residents and commuters: I know it has been a rough couple of days in Montgomery County. I know because I've been stuck in traffic too."
Only you suckers had to drive yourselves. Chumps. I have drivers. Bet you'll never figure out who pays for that perk!
MoCo School Funding Dispute: A Way Out
The intense school funding dispute now raging between the Montgomery County government and the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) may be headed to court. But it does not have to go that far. There is real potential for a settlement that gives each party what it needs without giving either everything it wants. Here’s what a deal looks like.
What the County should give the State
MSDE is overseen by the State Board of Education, whose members are appointed by the Governor and in turn appoint the State Superintendent of Schools, Nancy Grasmick. One of the principal responsibilities of MSDE and the Board is to monitor state aid to public schools, now totaling $5.5 billion or 40% of the state’s general fund. State aid to local schools has gone up by 83% since the passage of the 2002 Thornton Act, a factor credited by many for the state’s number one public schools ranking by Education Week. But increases in state aid come with a catch: the recipient counties must not cut their own spending on their schools, a provision known as “maintenance of effort” (MOE). The Board is very protective of this requirement since it is a cornerstone of the state’s education policy.
After the Board rejected Montgomery County’s waiver request to excuse it from sending $79 million to its school district, the county responded by charging the schools $79 million for debt service on capital projects. At the Board’s request, Attorney General Doug Gansler issued an opinion denouncing the county’s move as “artificial.” The county has responded with strong language against the Board’s action and the Attorney General’s opinion and has threatened to sue.
The county must understand the Board’s position. It is the Board’s responsibility to enforce state aid requirements impartially across all counties. Montgomery was not singled out as the Board also rejected waiver requests from Prince George’s and Wicomico Counties. When Montgomery claimed in its request that the tax-limiting Ficker Amendment prevented it from raising revenues, the Board responded that local tax caps were no excuse for evading state law.
Montgomery’s leaders must also understand that a lawsuit would pit them against State Superintendent Nancy Grasmick, the ultimate survivor of state politics. Grasmick has friends in both parties across the state and thwarted an attempt by Governor O’Malley to eject her, a rare defeat for a Democratic Governor on a personnel matter. Grasmick’s political capital is also high because of the state’s number one schools ranking. Finally, Grasmick has a difficult relationship with MCPS Superintendent Jerry Weast, with each believing that they are the top school official in the state. She is a formidable opponent for any adversary and may prove too much for Montgomery’s leaders to handle.
For Grasmick, the Board and MSDE, this is more a matter of policy than money. The county must recognize their legitimate role in overseeing state aid and enforcing state law. County officials must cease their excessive rhetoric against the state, stop defending their budget gimmick that Gansler rejected and that would not stand much of a chance in court and promise to never do it again. All of this would allow the state to move towards responding to the county’s legitimate needs.
What the State should give the County
What so outrages Montgomery’s leaders is that the county has been a leader in local school funding for decades, a fact that has been ignored by the state during this dispute. In FY 2007, the county was third from the top in per capita spending on its schools.
Meanwhile, the county is third from the bottom in per capita state school aid among Maryland’s twenty-four jurisdictions.
Montgomery County residents pay billions for their own schools and hundreds of millions more for schools in other parts of the state every year. Indeed, the state’s financial structure has depended on huge transfer payments from Montgomery, Howard and other “wealthy” areas for decades. But Montgomery is not as rich as the state believes and its current budget crisis is real. After two bad budget years, the county is looking at another giant deficit that could total $410 million, and that is before any more state aid cuts. County employees are likely to go a second consecutive year with no cost of living increases. Layoffs and/or furloughs are a real possibility. If the state forces the county to transfer $79 million to the schools and adds penalties to that amount, it will force the county to either ravage its police, fire, planning and human services or endanger its bond rating. How can the state not see the county’s fiscal calamity as legitimate grounds for a waiver? And how is further budgetary mayhem in the state’s interest?
And so if the county concedes the State Board of Education’s role and promises to not repeat its discredited budget gimmick, the state should respond with a symbolic, non-monetary penalty. Precedent will be respected, the principles of the Thornton Act will be preserved and the General Assembly can revisit the circumstances under which maintenance of effort waivers should be granted during the next session.
This deal can happen and should happen. And if the parties cannot resolve the matter themselves, the Governor should step in. It’s time to shut up, sit down and work it out. Lord knows there will be more to fight about soon enough.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Delegate Kathleen Dumais on Jean Cryor
By Delegate Kathleen Dumais (D-15).
Maryland lost an elegant and effective Stateswoman with the passing of Jean Cryor on Tuesday. I lost a very dear friend. Jean and I met on the campaign trail in 2002 when I first ran for the House of Delegates -- and we became companions in the legislature for the four years we served together. She was a wonderful mentor to me and an excellent role model. We shared the District 15 office suite and, since we were both workaholics, would often be in the office late in the evening after long committee hearings. It was wonderful to sit in her office and share my day with Jean on those evenings. We would commiserate about the legislative process, our respective parties, committees and politics in general -- local, state, and world. We confided in each other about personal and professional trials and tribulations -- and generally solved the world's problems (at least for that day). I knew she would always keep my confidence (and I hers). Between legislative sessions and after the 2006 election, we continued our friendship and regularly stayed in touch and had lunch at Hunters, one of her favorite local places.
Jean was emminently fair and kind. What was always most remarkable about her was how she personally took the time to respond to every E-mail, letter or phone call she received as a State representative. No issue or question from a constituent was too small or insignificant. When in Annapolis, one seldom saw Jean when she wasn't working on a stack of personal notes in response to contacts with her office. Jean's passion was education. She believed in her heart that providing a good education to all children was the key to a better life for the child and a better world for us all. She was loved and respected by Delegates and Senators from both parties. Her sharp intellect caught nuances in legislation and issues that were missed by many. Jean always listened and reviewed both sides of an issue and then voted her heart and her principles. Although all of us took "party line" votes on occasion, Jean never hesitated to vote her principle, regardless of how controversial. She did not speak on the floor of the House of Delegates often but, when she did, it was eloquent, pointed and passionate -- and the entire chamber listened.
But, as indicated by so many others over the past few days, her legacy is much broader than her legislative experience. She overcame adversity and excelled professionally and personally during a time when the role of women in society was in flux and changing. Jean will be remembered as a trail blazer --- though she blazed the trail in a quiet, gracious and persistent manner. Widowed at a young age and mother of three young girls, she worked and raised her children -- who, by the way, are each now competent, successful professionals in their own right. Her professional career is stellar and beyond compare --- journalist, publisher and editor, followed by her election to the State legislature and subsequent appointment to the Planning Board. Additionally, throughout her life she served on multiple non-profit boards and a myriad of committees -- she gave her time freely and unselfishly to any number of good causes. Jean made a difference while she was here; she is an inspiration.
What those of us that knew her will miss the most is her friendship -- her kindness, her intelligence, her wonderful sense of humor, her laughter and the shoulder she offered when needed. With all of the above said, however, what was always most important to Jean was her family. Nothing made her happier than her daughters and their families -- she was a devoted grandmother. My thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time and I hope they know how much Jean was admired, respected and loved.
O'Malley's Key to Victory
The Post and the Sun have already covered the Clarus Research Group poll on Governor O'Malley's re-election chances. We have just one thing to add.
The only region of the state in which O'Malley leads former Governor Bob Ehrlich is the D.C. suburbs. We hope he remembers that during the next round of budget cuts.
John McCarthy at the BCC Breakfast Club, Part Two
By Marc Korman.
Last time we reviewed two of the priorities State’s Attorney John McCarthy discussed at a recent visit to the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Breakfast Club. Today, we will look at what the State’s Attorney had to say about his third priority, Internet Safety, and other issues.
Internet Safety
McCarthy expressed concern about two issues involving what he called Internet safety, both affecting school children: sexting and cyber-bullying.
Sexting is the practice of sending explicit pictures electronically, typically by cell phone. The problem becomes acute if the recipient shares the pictures broadly. As with senior awareness, McCarthy has visited schools and tried to emphasize to students that anything they send electronically could end up exposed to the public. Cyber-bullying involves a young person being impersonated online or being harassed online through negative comments and messages.
As with his senior outreach, McCarthy is working with Superintendent Weast and Police Chief Manger on outreach to public schools.
Other Issues
McCarthy touched on a few other issues important to his office.
On gangs, McCarthy said there are 40 gangs in the County with 1600 to 1800 members. However, the three biggest are the Bloods, the Cryps, and MS-13. Although the amount of gang members incarcerated is going up, McCarthy estimated that only 5% of the crimes committed in the County were actually gang related. He also emphasized that gangs and undocumented immigrants are not synonymous.
McCarthy also talked about the need for more engagement with students. 56% of juvenile crimes occur between 2pm and 6pm. The State’s Attorney believes that decreasing the rate of truancy could reduce juvenile crime. Of course, 2pm is usually the end of the school day so there is a need for more after school engagement as well. One idea McCarthy advanced was sending attendance records to juvenile parole and probation officers on a daily basis so they can see how their charges are doing.
In 2006, the major issue McCarthy’s competitor raised was the poor state of IT in the State’s Attorney’s office. McCarthy acknowledged that IT advances have been slow due to the goal of an interoperable system where the prosecutors, law enforcement, social workers, and others could all access the same case management system. However, McCarthy said the new, integrated system would be online within 30 days to monitor and manage the State’s Attorney’s 30,000 annual cases.
But all is not rosy administratively. The State’s Attorney’s budget, provided by the County, has been cut by 9% over two years. One way McCarthy has tried to mitigate this is an increased emphasis on seeking grants. His grantwriter is Seth Zucker, McCarthy’s spokesperson, one of the architects of his 2006 campaign, and brother of D14 Democrat Craig Zucker. Despite the cuts, the office still has a $12.5 million budget and 125 full time employees.
Maryland’s Black Hole Gets Bigger
In March, we referred to the State Retirement and Pension System (SRPS) as “Maryland’s $10 Billion Black Hole.” Recent data proves we were too conservative: the black hole is now $17 billion.
The state’s latest Spending Affordability Briefing illustrates significant deterioration in the state’s already troubled defined benefit plan for its employees. In our earlier post, we showed how the plan was 101% funded as recently as FY 2000. But the state reduced its contribution rate from 100% of the level needed to maintain the plan’s funding ratio in FY 2002 down to 89% in FY 2008, resulting in a $10.7 billion unfunded liability.
And then the bottom of the market fell out.
In FY 2009, the collapse of the stock market reduced the actuarial value of the pension plan’s assets from $39.5 billion to $34.3 billion. At the same time, the plan’s liabilities were driven upward by a 2006 pension benefit increase, salary increases and beneficiary increases from $50.2 billion to $51.4 billion. The unfunded liability had soared from $10.7 billion to $17.1 billion in just one year. As of the end of FY 2009, the state could fund just 66.7% of its promised pension benefit to its employees.
How bad is that? Wilshire Consulting analyzed the performance of 323 defined benefit plans sponsored by S&P 500 companies in calendar year 2008. Wilshire found that they had a cumulative funding ratio of 80.6% - far better than Maryland’s ratio of 66.7%. And the state has an advantage in this comparison since its fiscal year ended on 6/30/09, a six-month interval during which the broad Wilshire 5000 stock index gained 5.0%.
The ever-growing black hole has serious consequences for the state budget. In order to keep the system from becoming even more insolvent, the state will have to increase its annual contribution amount from $994 million in FY 2009 to $1.201 billion in FY 2010 and $1.429 billion in FY 2011. That’s a 44% hike over just two years. The majority of that money is necessary to finance teacher pensions.
This is a grim financial reality and will no doubt fuel more calls to pass down pension costs to the counties. But that ignores a central fact: the state’s pension fund is in trouble because of decisions made by the state government on benefits, contribution rates and investment allocations. Making the counties pay for the state’s mistakes is patently unfair. But regardless of which level of government has to fix the mess, one or both of two groups will get hit at the end of the day: public employees or the rest of us.
MoCo Threatens to Sue the State Over School Funding
An increasingly explosive dispute between Montgomery County and the state government over public school funding looks like it may be headed to court.
This morning, the Post reported that Attorney General Doug Gansler had found the county's attempt to meet state requirements on school funding to be illegal. We explained the state's rules on school funding last May: counties are required to spend at least as much of their own money on public schools each year as they did in the prior year, with only exceptional circumstances allowing for a waiver. Last spring, Montgomery County applied for a waiver based on its poor economy and the tax-limiting Ficker Amendment and was turned down by the state. The consequence was that the county owed $79 million more to the school system than it had budgeted. We argued that the county should use money it had set aside for reserves to pay the school system, but the county opted for a budget gimmick instead. The county decided to send $79 million more to the schools, but then charge them the same amount for debt service related to construction projects, a practice it had never instituted in the past. We called that move a "desperate budget gamble" and Gansler's opinion now threatens millions of dollars in penalties.
The response by County Executive Ike Leggett and County Council President Phil Andrews to Gansler is two-fold. First, they criticize the school funding law (called "maintenance of effort") and repeat their claim that the state was wrong to deny the county's waiver request. (We analyzed the state's reasoning for denial here.) Leggett and Andrews discuss the need for unspecified "legislative remedies," but they are not likely to come for many months if they come at all. Second, the Executive and Council President openly threaten to sue the state. Maryland's schools are currently ranked as the best in the nation and MCPS is its biggest local system. Any school-related lawsuit between the nation's top-ranked state and one of its top-ranked counties would be a disaster for all sides.
We reprint the press release from the County Executive and the Council President below.
Statement by County Executive Isiah Leggett and County Council President Phil Andrews on the Attorney General’s Opinion on the County’s Compliance with the Maintenance of Effort Provisions of State Education Law
November 5, 2009
“The opinion by the Attorney General that Montgomery County did not meet the State’s Maintenance of Effort school funding requirement is disappointing – and wrong.
“This opinion second-guesses local efforts to fully fund the needs of County school kids and meet critical County needs during this unprecedented fiscal time and limits the flexibility of local County and school officials to craft responses to the challenges before us.
“This opinion ironically could penalize our school children. It potentially forces cuts in school programs, and even further cuts in critical services such as public safety, libraries, and help to the most vulnerable County residents.
“That’s why Montgomery County will exercise all options to challenge this opinion. We are prepared to sue the State of Maryland – and we will aggressively pursue legislative remedies to a law that is fatally flawed.
“Montgomery County has shown its strong commitment to public education by devoting nearly half its budget – year in and year out – to K-12 education, far above and beyond what has been required by the State of Maryland. Over the past decade the County’s support for our schools has exceeded the State’s Maintenance of Effort requirement by a total of $576.8 million. To be penalized now for this outstanding support would be nonsensical.
“During the past decade, MCPS enrollment has risen by 5.4 percent while our local contribution to the schools increased 75 percent. For the past two years, even with fiscal challenges, we have significantly reduced both the overall capital and operating budgets of the County government in order to ensure that our schools had the necessary resources.
“Only the severity of the economic downturn and the dire consequences for the County’s overall budget caused us to request a waiver this year and ultimately to pursue a sound way to meet the Maintenance of Effort requirement. Despite these challenging conditions, we still funded 100 percent of our School Board’s education request. Any penalty imposed by the State on the County school system for ‘inadequate’ local support of public education would defy common sense and would be a gross waste of scarce funds in hard times.
“Montgomery County continues to support our world-class school system while sustaining critical programs in public safety, safety net services for our most vulnerable County residents, and initiatives to support our children and youth.
“We cannot accept this opinion as the final word. Too much is at stake – for County students and for County residents dependent on critical services.”
# # #
Contact:
Patrick Lacefield, 240-777-6528
Neil Greenberger, 240-777-7939
What Does the Rockville Mayor Race Mean for the Rest of Us?
We don’t normally scrutinize the meaning of municipal races for county and state races. But Rockville is no ordinary municipality. It is the county seat and home to some of Montgomery’s most prominent players. And Challenger Phyllis Marcuccio’s upset win over incumbent Mayor Susan Hoffmann is a noteworthy event. Is there some message here for the rest of us?
Marcuccio, a two-term City Council Member, ran a populist campaign that knocked off freshman Mayor (and former three-term Council Member) Hoffmann by 313 votes, or five percentage points. Marcuccio was aided by departing Council Member Anne Robbins, 2005 Mayor candidate Brigitta Mullican, Board of Education Member Laura Berthiaume and former Neighborspac leader and 2007 Mayor candidate Drew Powell, who went after Hoffmann’s developer-sourced and out-of-city finances. Hoffmann, who had worked for Doug Duncan’s first County Executive campaign and was hired by him to work at the Silver Spring Regional Services Center, was the candidate of the county’s establishment.
We asked a few of our informants in and near the city what they thought of the implications of Marcuccio’s win for the District 17 Senate race and the county as a whole.
District 17 Senate: Incumbent Jennie Forehand vs. Challenger Cheryl Kagan
Spy #1:For the D17 race, I think this is good news for Jennie and bad news for Cheryl. The grass roots won tonight. I stopped by parties for Bridget [Newton], Phyllis, and John Britton, and almost all of the opinion leaders and long time activists in Rockville were at one or more of those events. Jennie’s grass roots go deep. D17 is larger than Rockville, but I don’t think Cheryl has any large advantage in Gaithersburg and I don’t think she has a lot of fans among the people I saw tonight.
Spy #2:Be careful about projecting the defeat of incumbent Hoffmann to portend the defeat of incumbent Forehand... you could just as easily say the victory of the grandmotherly Marcuccio against the feisty, brassy, younger Jewish candidate with a propensity for self-promotion portends Forehand’s victory over Kagan. In any event, I think the electorate in the Democrat-only primary in Garrett Park, Rockville and Gaithersburg next September will be completely different than the nonpartisan Rockville election yesterday.
Spy #3:If it reflects a broader anti-incumbent sentiment in Rockville, that doesn’t bode well for Forehand next year. On the other hand the two incumbent council members were reelected (though a new candidate got more votes than them).
Spy #4:Traditionally, municipal elections have had no effect on the legislative elections in District 17.
Montgomery County
Spy #1:For outside of Rockville, it’s a little harder to draw conclusions. Part of this was a taxpayer backlash at perceived overspending/non-targeted, silly spending. Part of it was a general discomfort with the discord on the city council over you-name-the-issue, but a lot of it was that Susan took developer money and people understood the impact of that. People here like business, they want a thriving town center, but they do not want their neighborhoods destroyed by over-development or too much traffic. So, Nancy Floreen will need to think hard about whether she is going to face the same kind of backlash. I think this looks good for council members who take a fiscally conservative approach and who do not take developer money.
Spy #3:Whether this means the end for Hoffmann is hard to know. Conventional wisdom is that if she couldn’t even win reelection as mayor, she won’t succeed at running for something else. And she’s no spring chicken. On the other hand, if she wants back in the game, she may consider another office (county council or maybe D17) in 2010 though I think it’s unlikely. And remember, Rockville terms are only two years, so if Phyllis falls short of expectations, Susan could always seek mayor again in 2011, but I think it’s more likely someone more relevant would challenge Phyllis in 2011 if appropriate, like a city council member.
Spy #5:
I’d caution that we should be careful not to overstate the facts of a local municipal race and apply them to an entire district or county. It was a Rockville race about Rockville issues. Also, the voting base is influenced much more by Republican and independent voters because there’s no primary vote at the local level. So it’s a different universe of voters than in other races. Voter turnout is also generally much lower than other races.Here’s my take on the Rockville mayoral results: the campaign that works harder and smarter wins. That’s the only take-away for District 17, Montgomery County and anywhere else. It wasn’t “throw out the incumbents” because Marcuccio was an incumbent councilmember and the other 2 incumbent councilmembers won re-election.
Our Take:
Incumbents did well in Gaithersburg and Takoma Park, so at the most local level there’s no “throw the bums out” mentality. Bear in mind that it takes time for federal, state and county challenges, particular those of the fiscal variety, to filter down to the municipal level. But I wouldn’t yet conclude that the sentiment doesn’t, or won’t, exist come next primary season, when voters are asked to re-hire or fire those who are more directly involved in service cuts and tax increases. If presented with viable alternatives and the right message, voters may turn out a surprisingly high number of incumbent office holders.
The principal reasons for Hoffmann’s defeat were local issues relevant only to Rockville. Hoffmann had problems. First, the struggles of Rockville Town Center reflected badly on the incumbent, whether fairly or not. The inability to open a supermarket was especially troublesome. Second, Hoffmann’s alliance with City Manager Scott Ullery, whom the council rehired shortly after Hoffmann’s 2007 election, rankled some who were unhappy with Ullery’s performance. Third and most importantly, the incivility on the City Council had reached epic proportions. It is entirely possible that some voters did not maintain a play-by-play on who said what, but instead decided to punish the council’s presiding officer for its embarrassing public conduct. Finally, the fact that Hoffmann’s 2009 vote percentage of 47% was almost identical to her 2007 performance in a three-way race indicates that she did not use two years of incumbency to consolidate her support. She simply did not add to her base.
Hoffmann’s defeat may have an impact on the future of County Council District 3. The incumbent, Phil Andrews, has been in office for three terms and is a good bet to return for a fourth. But Andrews could be seeking higher office in 2014. Hoffmann would have been a strong contender for that seat if she had multiple terms as Mayor under her belt. Her contributor list reads like a who’s-who of Montgomery County politics, including Delegates Luiz Simmons (D-17) and Sheila Hixson (D-20), former Senator Ida Ruben (D-20), former County Executive Sid Kramer, Kensington Mayor Pete Fosselman, Somerset Mayor Jeffrey Slavin and numerous government staffers and lobbyists. If Hoffmann cannot make a comeback, many other people could pop up to make a run for Andrews’ open seat.
The implications for the Senate race are indirect at best. As many of our sources say, a non-partisan municipal election drawing independents and Republicans is a very different animal than a district-wide Democratic primary. And neither Jennie Forehand nor Cheryl Kagan made any public endorsements, though Forehand appeared in a Marcuccio mailer that we reprint below.
The biggest third-party beneficiary of the election may be Laura Berthiaume, a Board of Education Member who endorsed Marcuccio and three of the four winning City Council Members. Berthiaume was MCEA’s choice to take out former school board member Steve Abrams last year, but she has caused the teachers some heartburn since then. Berthiaume showed that she was willing to take some risks, play ball in city politics and pick winners – one of whom (Bridget Newton) was her 2008 campaign manager. If Berthiaume runs for Delegate or another office again, she might have an alternate route to victory than the Apple Ballot.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Shower Nut Leader Testifies Against D.C. Gay Marriage Bill
Thanks to Teach the Facts' Jim Kennedy and Metro Weekly for finding this incredible video showing Ruth Jacobs, leader of the Shower Nuts, testifying against the D.C. gay marriage bill. The money quote is "The anus was designed for exit, not entrance," but that's just the start. Bear in mind that D.C. Council Member David Catania, who questions Jacobs, is one of two openly gay City Council Members.
John McCarthy at the BCC Breakfast Club, Part One
By Marc Korman.
On November 2nd, John McCarthy visited the Bethesda Chevy-Chase Breakfast Club. He announced, though not for the first time, that he was seeking reelection and discussed three of the key issues he has worked on over his three years as State’s Attorney: domestic violence, senior fraud, and Internet safety. He also discussed a few other issues facing his office.
The visit was McCarthy’s third to the BCC Breakfast Club. The first came during his campaign, where he jointly appeared with the other Democratic primary candidate, Dan Fox. That visit and some of the comments made during it were part of a defamation suit Fox filed against McCarthy. The suit was dropped and Fox paid McCarthy’s legal fees. McCarthy also visited the Club in 2008 to describe some of his office’s work.
Domestic Violence
According to the State’s Attorney, Maryland had 72 domestic violence homicides in 2008, with 5 of them occurring in Montgomery County. That was a bit lower than previous years, as in some years domestic violence homicides make up half the total homicides in the County. In 2008 there were 21 total homicides throughout the County.
In 2010, McCarthy will head the Maryland State’s Attorneys. That means he will be the point person on legislation in Annapolis affecting the State’s Attorneys, primarily criminal laws. But he was also active during the last legislative session and touted the state’s passage of a law allowing judges to remove guns from those who have temporary domestic violence protective orders against them and requiring their removal for final protective orders.
The County has also opened the Family Justice Center in Rockville. The center houses 40 different organizations and agencies, both government and private, who can provide services for victims of domestic violence ranging from food, career counseling, and legal services. After a similar center was established in San Diego, their domestic violence homicides dropped from 32 to 4. All of those should not be attributed to the center, but providing victim services likely does help the abused escape terrible circumstances and avoid repeat incidents.
Senior Fraud
Elder abuse crimes are on the rise. While the term usually refers to physical abuse or neglect, there is also a good deal of exploitation against seniors through financial crimes. McCarthy usually emphasizes crime prevention, but in this case he has a particular concern with crime reporting. Only 4% of crimes committed against seniors are reported by those seniors, though McCarthy did not elaborate as to whether that was due to embarrassment or lack of awareness that a crime had occurred. McCarthy has been touring the County and speaking to seniors groups as part of a Senior Exploitation awareness program to try to improve that statistic.
Crimes that are reported are prosecuted using evidence based prosecution. Due to the specific nature of the victim, who may be elderly and in some cases infirm, the prosecutors put more of an emphasis on other evidence besides the victim’s statement.
In Part Two, we will see what else the State’s Attorney had to say.
More on Ivey vs. Edwards
Roll Call and the Examiner both report that State's Attorney Glenn Ivey is seriously considering taking on Congresswoman Donna Edwards. The latter publication asked for the opinion of yours truly. It's also worth reviewing our readers' take on the incumbent's performance in office. If this race happens, it will be a helluva contest.
Nancy Floreen on Jean Cryor
Council Member Nancy Floreen sent us these comments about former Delegate Jean Cryor, who passed away yesterday.
The thing about Jean Cryor. She twinkled. She epitomized Maya Angelou’s memorable observation “ I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Jean Cryor made people feel good about themselves. Who cared what party Jean belonged to - with the possible exception of Craig Rice? Buoyed by her years as a reporter, and as a member of the General Assembly, Jean knew how to really listen. And she had the rare skill of conveying to others that she valued what they had to say. She could sense the tension in a room and break it with a smile and a thoughtful question. She could look you in your eye, pleasantly explain why you why you were wrong, and you didn’t mind. She conveyed an inner strength, an absence of ego, a genuine interest, a spirit of problem solving that was infectious. Was it that smile? The lilt in her voice? Her grasp of information and issues that she didn’t let intrude on her tremendous ability to truly connect? Jean was the sum of her wonderful parts and I am so sorry I didn’t tell her this myself. Sleep well, my friend. And let us all remember to tell our friends why we love them. Before they die.
Prince George’s Girl Power
The Post and the Gazette have reported that Delegates Aisha Braveboy (D-25) and Gerron Levi (D-23A) are considering running for Prince George’s County Executive. Normally, two freshman Delegates would not be considered top-tier contenders but we believe it is unwise to count them out.
First, many of the more established candidates have serious issues. Former Delegate Rushern Baker and Senator C. Anthony Muse had crippling financial problems the last time we checked. Sheriff Michael Jackson has yet to get past the dog-shooting scandal that has since resulted in a lawsuit. State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey has been hurt by his failure to prosecute anyone in the jailhouse killing of Ronnie White. And can any incumbent Prince George’s County Council Member mount a strong defense of that body’s performance?
Neither Braveboy nor Levi have been tainted by any of the above issues. Their challenge will be financial. Baker has raised $1,570,999.56 in contributions alone since 1999. Ivey has raised $550,663.67 and Jackson has raised $424,232.02 over the same period. None of those figures include loans. Levi has raised $116,557.55 and Braveboy has raised $56,440.61 for their campaigns so far – small potatoes in a County Executive race.
Still, everyone must bear the following in mind. Our database geeks report the following voting patterns in the last two Prince George’s Democratic primaries.
2006 Primary
Total Voters: 109,832
Women: 67,065
Female Percentage: 61%
2008 Primary
Total Voters: 176,682
Women: 109,158
Female Percentage: 62%
Our hunch is that if the Prince George’s County Executive contest turns into a race between several problem-plagued male candidates and one credible female candidate, girl power could win out. Mark these words!
U.S. Senator Ben Cardin on "Political Pulse" on Ch. 16 TV
Ben Cardin, United States Senator from Maryland, will be on the "Political Pulse" TV Show on:
Thursday, November 5th at 9:00 p.m.;
Friday-Sunday, November 6th-8th at 6:00 p.m.; and
Tuesday, November 10th at 9:30 p.m.
Topics that will be discussed include:
-The Health Care Debate;
-The Afghanistan War;
-The Climate Bill;
-The Purple Line transportation project in Montgomery and Prince Georges' Counties and the Red Line in Baltimore City;
-The federal budget deficits and national debt; and
-Senator Cardin's relationship with President Obama.
"Political Pulse" is on Channel 16 TV in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Marcuccio Defeats Hoffmann in Rockville
Challenger Phyllis Marcuccio has defeated incumbent Mayor Susan Hoffmann by a 3,311-2,998 (52.2%-47.3%) margin. Incumbent City Council Members Piotr Gajewski and John Britton were re-elected and joined by 2007 Mayor candidate Mark Pierzchala and Bridget Newton. Newton served as Laura Berthiaume's campaign manager in her successful campaign for the Board of Education and finished first in the council race. Berthiaume, who endorsed every winning candidate except Gajewski, took a risk by getting involved and won big.
The repercussions of this race will extend outside of Rockville and we will have more in the near future.
Former Delegate Jean Cryor Passes Away
Former Delegate Jean Cryor (D-15), who later became a member of the Montgomery County Planning Board, has passed away at the age of 70. Cryor served three terms in the House starting in 1994 and was the only Republican Delegate from Montgomery County in her last four years. Craig Rice edged her by 152 votes in 2006. Cryor was respected by legislators from both parties and even appeared on the Apple Ballot. Following is a statement from County Executive Ike Leggett and County Council President Phil Andrews.
For Immediate Release: November 3, 2009
Statement by County Executive Ike Leggett & County Council President Phil Andrews on the Passing of Jean Cryor
“Montgomery County has suffered a terrible loss.
“Jean Cryor served the people of the County in several capacities – as a local journalist, a State Delegate, and as a member of the County Planning Board. Her absence will be deeply felt in many ways and in many communities.
“We mourn her loss and extend our deepest condolences to her family, her friends, and her colleagues on the Planning Board.”
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Kagan on MoCo as State's Cash Cow: "We Need Legislators Who Will Stand Up and Say No"
This video comes from Cheryl Kagan's fundraiser last week. Note her view of the state's budget situation.
Reznik and Barkley: Build CCT Now, Study More Transit Later
Here's an interesting take on the CCT/all-transit debate from District 39 Delegates Kirill Reznik and Charles Barkley: they want to build the CCT now and study the other transit options named by Action Committee for Transit later. We reprint their letter to the County Council below.
Delegate Sheila Hixson's Son Passes Away
Following is the notice from the General Assembly.
TO: All Members of the Maryland General Assembly
FROM: The Chief Clerk’s Office
RE: Death of Son of Delegate Sheila Hixson, Colonel Todd Hixson
DATE: November 2, 2009
It is with deep regret that we inform you that the son of Delegate Sheila Hixson, Colonel Todd Hixson, 50 years old, died unexpectedly Sunday, November 1, 2009.
Funeral Arrangements will be forthcoming.
Condolences can be sent to:
Delegate Sheila Hixson
6 Bladen Street, Room 131
Annapolis, MD 21401
Powell Takes on Hoffmann's Contributions
Former Neighborspac leader and one-time Rockville Mayor candidate Drew Powell has released an analysis of incumbent Mayor Susan Hoffmann's campaign contributions. Powell is concerned with development-related contributions and we have quibbled with him over that issue before. But it's hard to disagree with his conclusion that a great deal of Hoffmann's money has come from outside the city. Contributions to her challenger, Phyllis Marcuccio, have come almost entirely from inside the city. That fact is newsworthy. The City of Rockville's website has the original finance filings from Susan Hoffmann and Phyllis Marcuccio and we reprint Powell's analysis below.
Hard Hats and Small Politics in Rockville
What does the mock hard hat below have to do with the current relationship between Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett and the County Council? Quite a bit, actually.
At last week’s unveiling of the new Silver Spring library, Executive Branch staff handed out the above hats calling for a pedestrian bridge between the Wayne Avenue parking garage and the library. (Just Up the Pike posted a picture showing the director of the library system holding one of the hats.) Leggett advocated for the bridge to enable greater accessibility for disabled people. The County Council voted down the bridge in July by 8-1, with George Leventhal dissenting, citing the bridge’s $750,000 cost and the fact that the library was ADA-compliant without it. There is no indication that the council will reverse that vote in the near future, if ever. But Leggett made a point of noting that the building’s design would accommodate the bridge and had the above hats passed out to make a point: namely, that he is right and the council is wrong. Advocates for the disabled, who favor the bridge, are no doubt applauding.
We express no opinion on the merits of the bridge, but this episode is part of an evolving pattern of the Executive’s budgetary conduct and his relations with the County Council. On the one hand, Ike Leggett is definitely running for a second term as a fiscal conservative. There is no question that he has moved to limit the growth of spending to match the county’s anemic revenues, as he is required to do by law. The FY 2010 operating budget recently passed by the County Council contains the first tax-supported budget cut since FY 1992. But Leggett also negotiated the most recent union contracts with MCGEO, the Fire Fighters and the Police that have been criticized by Council President Phil Andrews and others as unaffordable. And the council trimmed $20 million from Leggett’s charter-limit-breaking tax increase in 2008 at the behest of Andrews, Duchy Trachtenberg and Roger Berliner, all of whom believed “labor savings” were important at that early stage of the budget crisis.
At the same time that Leggett is preaching fiscal conservatism, he is supporting small but prominent spending items sometimes aimed at noisy constituencies. The Silver Spring library pedestrian bridge, which appeals to the disabled, is one example. Two others include the $150,000 appropriation for Sligo Creek Golf Course, which was approved by the council, and the new police helicopters, which will probably never get council approval. Leggett shows no sign of backing off on the bridge or the helicopters despite their massive unpopularity with the council. This is smart politics since small, highly motivated constituencies make for excellent field soldiers in an election. But some Council Members will see this as little more than posturing that is inconsistent with the Executive’s attempts to acquire the high ground on the issue of fiscal prudence. It is the council, after all, that has the responsibility for deciding the ultimate fate of the budget.
And so when Ike Leggett’s people pass out “Build the Library Bridge” hats, they are poking eight Council Members in the eye over an issue that has already been decided. That has not escaped their notice. Leggett is still the Executive, and likely will still be the Executive after 2010, but his current politics of going small will only shrink his political capital with the council.
Punches at the Post
This goes into the category of "you gotta be kidding me." Politico has details on a fist fight at the Post and the Washington City Paper has the background. Somewhere, the Boy King is telling people to grow up.
Monday, November 02, 2009
Berthiaume Makes Endorsements in Rockville City Races
Laura Berthiaume, who finished fifth of seven candidates in the 2006 District 17 Delegate primary and was elected to the Board of Education last year, sent out this mass email naming her endorsees in tomorrow's Rockville city races. Berthiaume may one day run for higher office, so her chances are obviously helped if her chosen candidates win. She told us that her endorsements are issued as an individual and not in her capacity as a school board member.
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Rockville city council and mayoral elections are tomorrow, with polls opening at 7 a.m. and closing at 8 p.m. I urge you all to take the time to vote. Some of you have asked for my recommendations, and I do have a few strong opinions. Let me preface my endorsements by saying that I want a city government that works well and serves the taxpayers in a fiscally sound way. More than that, I want a mayor and council that I can be proud of as a citizen of this city. I love Rockville. There are so many great things about this very unique place - it deserves political leadership of the highest quality. It deserves a mayor and council members who can get along with each other, respect citizen input, be honest about city finances, and make sensible budget decisions.
Taking the council race first, I will be voting for BRIDGET NEWTON and MARK PIERZCHALA. Over the past couple of years, I have gotten to know both of them very well. As you may know, and in the interests of full disclosure, Bridget was my campaign manager in this most recent election. The reasons that I asked Bridget to be my campaign manager are the same reasons I support her for city council. Bridget first came to my attention when a city development issue arose in my neighborhood and I asked around for names of people who could help. Someone said something like, "You should go talk to Bridget Newton. She has been really involved in the West End Civic Association, and she is so impressive. I remember when they put an addition on their house and there she was - just completely in control and directing the project with a baby on her hip. She is organized and she's knowledgeable, and she would be a great person to have on your side." She is indeed. Bridget has already contributed a huge amount to Rockville. She has walked the walk, whether as Chair of the Compensation Commission, a leader in TCAT, or President of the West End Civic Association. Bridget is sincere, honest, and impassioned about continuing to work for a Rockville that protects its neighborhoods, encourages business, and maintains it character. I hope you join me in voting for her, because she really would be a great person to have on our side for the next two years.
I first met Mark when he made his run for Mayor in the last election. Throughout that race his calm demeanor, his sensible answers, and his logical approach to issues convinced me that he would be a top-notch public servant. Mark is an extremely hard worker - I can vouch for the fact that when he commits to do something, he does it, no-holds barred. I know he will take the same approach to serving on the council. I appreciate his dedication to environmental issues, and he has a strong record of service in College Gardens. I believe he will work well with other council members even in the most trying of times because he knows how to disagree without being disagreeable.
For the third council seat, I continue my support for JOHN BRITTON. I think John has earned another term. Amid all the news reports of this last mayor and council that sometimes had me cringing, John has largely stayed out of the sniping and grandstanding. I appreciate his service, and I know he serves in office for all the right reasons.
For the fourth council seat, we have a good crop of high quality candidates in Virginia Onley, Carl Henn, Trapper Martin, and Max van Balgooy. I do not think you could go wrong voting for any of them, particularly if Bridget, Mark, and John are serving and have the right mayoral leadership.
In the mayor's race, after much thought, I urge your support for PHYLLIS MARCUCCIO. Many people whom I respect in Rockville who are politically active have endorsed Phyllis, and those endorsements carry a lot of weight with me. I know Phyllis well enough to know that she will always be honest - sometimes to the point of being blunt, but always completely honest. I think her stands on city finances are correct for this economy. In tough budget times, we do not need to be wasting taxpayer money pursuing awards or designing logos. When so many residents are having a hard time paying their mortgages, and when so many are losing jobs, we need to think hard about balancing taxes against residents' own needs to keep more of their money in their pockets. Beyond that, I just took a look at the campaign finance reports for both mayoral candidates. Phyllis's support is very much grass-roots, and very centered in Rockville. There are no LLCs on her campaign donor list. By contrast, this string of contributions appears on Susan Hoffmann's donor report:
10/16/2009 Nathan Landow, 4710 Bethesda Ave., Suite 200, Bethesda 20814: $1,000.00
10/16/2009 PMAS, LLC 2701 Tower Oaks Blvd., Suite 200, Rockville 20852: $250.00
10/16/2009 PMAS, LLC 2701 Tower Oaks Blvd., Suite 200, Rockville 20852: $250.00
10/16/2009 Realty ManaQementServices, Inc. 7910 Woodmont Ave., Suite 350, Bethesda 20814: $250.00
10/16/2009 Scott Roth 7910 Woodmont Ave., Suite 350, Bethesda 20814: $250.00
10/16/2009 Germantown Walter Johnson Prop., LLC P.O. Box 61220, Potomac 20859: $1,000.00
You can get a quick link to both reports on Rockville Central - go have a look for yourself. The above list is of course an excerpt and does not capture everything. Looking over the names on both donor lists, I drew my own conclusions about who would have Rockville and its neighborhoods' best interests front and center. While this is not the only factor in my decision to support Phyllis, it certainly had an impact.
Again, I urge everyone to go vote, whoever you may be supporting.
Thanks,
Laura Berthiaume
State Legislators Urge Council to Back Rail CCT, Question ACT All-Transit Option
A letter organized by Senator Rob Garagiola (D-15) and signed by seven other state legislators representing areas along the CCT's alignment urges the County Council to support rail for the project and expresses skepticism about Action Committee for Transit's (ACT) all-transit option for the corridor.
The County Council will soon make a recommendation to MDOT about its preferred option for the I-270 widening project as well as the CCT. In July, the council's Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment (T&E) Committee recommended adding express toll lanes to I-270 and using bus rapid transit (BRT) for the CCT. But the committee said it might change its mind about the CCT if higher density numbers from the pending Gaithersburg West Master Plan made rail feasible. That same month, a group of state legislators wrote MDOT in support of adding toll lanes as well as a light rail CCT. But ACT opposes widening I-270 and proposed an all-transit plan for the corridor instead. Another group of state legislators wrote MDOT to urge them to study the all-transit plan. Five legislators inexplicably signed both letters - one favoring extra lanes and the other opposing them.
Now MDOT has complicated the matter by insisting that ACT's all-transit option would delay the CCT for years because it would re-start the planning process for the corridor. That did not sit well with Senator Garagiola and seven of his colleagues, all of whom represent the area in which the CCT would be built and support light rail for the project. In the letter below, they urge the County Council to back a light rail CCT and they criticize ACT's proposal because - according to MDOT - it would delay the CCT "well over a decade."
Interestingly, two Delegates - Kathleen Dumais (D-15) and Jim Gilchrist (D-17) - signed all three letters. Those letters, respectively, called for widening I-270, studying ACT's all-transit plan and rejecting ACT's all-transit plan (below). Delegate Luiz Simmons (D-17) signed the latter two letters.
We reprint the newest letter below.
Details on MoCo Equal Benefits Bill
Following is the press release from the County Council.
Montgomery County District 4 Councilmember Nancy Navarro at 12:30 p.m. TODAY, Monday, Nov. 2, in Rockville will announce details of an “equal benefits” bill she will be introducing before the Council that would extend to employees of many contractors and subcontractors performing work for the County the same benefits already granted to County employees. Among those speaking Monday will be Morgan Meneses-Sheets, executive director of Equality Maryland.
Neil H. Greenberger
Legislative Information Officer
Montgomery County Council
240-777-7939
Contact: David Moon 240-777-7953
Montgomery Council to Consider Bill That Would Provide Equal Benefits to Same Sex Domestic Partners of Employees of County Contractors
At Event TODAY, Monday, Nov. 2, Councilmember Nancy Navarro Will Detail Bill to Give Employees Working on Certain County Contracts Equal Benefits as Others
ROCKVILLE, Md., November 2, 2009—Montgomery County District 4 Councilmember Nancy Navarro at 12:30 p.m.
TODAY, Monday, Nov. 2, in Rockville will announce details of an “equal benefits” bill she will be introducing before the Council that would extend to employees of many contractors and subcontractors performing work for the County the same benefits already granted to County employees.
Councilmember Navarro will join other supporters to discuss the legislation at 12:30 p.m. in the Third Floor Conference Room of the Council Office Building at 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville. Among those speaking Monday will be Morgan Meneses-Sheets, executive director of Equality Maryland. The bill will be officially introduced before the Council on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
The County has a longstanding policy, in law and practice, against employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. Montgomery County already grants equal benefits to a same sex domestic partner of a County employee that are offered to an employee’s spouse, through Bill 29-99, effective March 3, 2000. Navarro’s bill would simply extend this law to many employees of County contractors and subcontractors.
Councilmember President Phil Andrews, Vice President Roger Berliner and Councilmembers Marc Elrich, Valerie Ervin, Nancy Floreen, George Leventhal and Duchy Trachtenberg are co-sponsors of the legislation. The equal benefits bill also has the support of County Executive Isiah Leggett.
What It Does: The legislation would extend equal benefits to a same-sex domestic partner of a covered employee recognized under a marriage license, domestic partnership or civil union granted out of state or to a same-sex domestic partner as defined under Maryland law. The legislation would only cover employees who perform work for the County on a contract that is currently covered by either the County’s Wage Requirements Law or the recently enacted Prevailing Wage Law.
Benefits that may be extended under the legislation could include bereavement leave, family medical leave, sick leave, health benefits, dental benefits, disability insurance, life insurance and retirement benefits.
“When it comes to civil rights, it is critical that we treat contract employees with the same respect as County employees when it comes to something as important as same-sex benefits for their domestic partners. This is a matter of basic fairness,” said Councilmember Navarro. “Because we are a large County with a diversity of employment situations, we have people who provide services and do outstanding work over long periods of time, but who do it working as contractors instead of as County employees. This should not stop them from receiving the same benefits as their opposite-sex counterparts.”
Some of the important exclusions from this Bill would be:
· Non-construction services contracts for less than $50,000
· Contractors with less than 10 employees
· Contracts with government agencies or non-profit organizations
· Contracts for public utility services
· Emergency contracts
· Bridge contracts based upon a contract awarded by another government agency
Construction contracts valued at less than $500,000 or financed by State or Federal grants
“Equal treatment for individuals who have domestic partners in Montgomery County is a right, and I strongly support efforts to provide equal treatment for those partners of employees of companies who do business with Montgomery County,” said County Executive Leggett.
Maryland currently grants limited rights to same sex couples through legislation passed in 2008 to establish “domestic partnerships” in the state. According to Equality Maryland, the 2008 State laws included 11 protections for domestic partners, including hospital visitation and the making of funeral arrangements for each other. The organization said the State laws also make allowance for a domestic partner's name to be added or removed from the deed of a residence, without incurring a tax liability, as with married spouses.
Montgomery County’s law granting equal benefits to County employees has been upheld in the Maryland Court of Appeals after it was challenged in the case Tyma v. Montgomery County, 369 Md. 497 (Md. 2002).
“I am joining with Councilmember Navarro to support equal benefits for same sex-domestic partners who have formalized their civil unions,” said Councilmember Ervin, who represents Kensington, Silver Spring, Takoma Park and Wheaton. “For me, equal protection under the law is a civil rights issue. Benefits such as health insurance, maternity leave and dental and vision coverage are critical for all working families. Same-sex couples should have the same protections.”
Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg said: “While the County awaits the Attorney General’s opinion recognizing the valid marriages of out-of-state same-sex couples, as well as action from the General Assembly to recognize the humanity of all Marylanders by providing equal access to marriage and its rights and responsibilities, I fully support Councilmember Navarro’s bill to extend domestic partnership benefits to those who work for contractors doing business with Montgomery County.”
Councilmember Nancy Floreen said: “As a long time advocate of equal rights, I’ve always felt that the LGBT community has been underserved. I’m very proud to support this bill as another small step toward full equality in the workplace for Montgomery County’s LGBT community. I hope that, moving forward, LGBT couples and individuals are able to realize true equality under the law, both in Montgomery County and the State of Maryland.”
Councilmember Roger Berliner said: “This legislation builds upon Montgomery County’s proud tradition of fighting discrimination. Committed same sex partners do not have the same rights to basic health care that married heterosexual couples have. Our County extends these benefits equally; those who work for us should as well.”
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Who is Behind Marylandreporter.com?
Marylandreporter.com is a new online-only state politics news site founded by former Baltimore Examiner editor Len Lazarick. The site contains information on Lazarick, who is publishing it, but no information on its backing. Let’s shed some light on that.
Len Lazarick is an experienced political reporter in Maryland. His resume includes stints as a reporter and editor at the Washington Post and the Business Monthly, a business newspaper covering Howard and Anne Arundel Counties. He was the statehouse Bureau Chief of the Baltimore Examiner, which was founded in 2006 and closed in early 2009 by conservative billionaire Phil Anschutz. Lazarick started Marylandreporter.com a couple weeks ago and is seeking office space in the statehouse that is normally accorded to press outlets like the Post, Gazette and Sun.
Lazarick told the Gazette that his site is financed by the Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity, a non-profit formed to encourage investigative journalism. We are unable to confirm any affiliation between Marylandreporter.com and the Franklin Center, which does not mention Lazarick or his operation on their site. But Marylandreporter.com’s Articles of Incorporation provide a hint about the company’s backing because they list three officers on its Board of Directors: Lazarick, Daniel L. Gainor and Cathy L. Yost.
Cathy Yost is the co-owner and General Manager of Business Monthly, which has employed Lazarick as a contributor.
Dan Gainor is a former editor at the Washington Times and the Baltimore News-American who is the “T. Boone Pickens Fellow and Vice President of Business & Culture” for the Media Research Center (MRC). MRC describes its mission and origins this way on its website: The mission of the Media Research Center, “America's Media Watchdog,” is to bring balance to the news media. Leaders of America's conservative movement have long believed that within the national news media a strident liberal bias existed that influenced the public's understanding of critical issues. On October 1, 1987, a group of young determined conservatives set out to not only prove — through sound scientific research — that liberal bias in the media does exist and undermines traditional American values, but also to neutralize its impact on the American political scene. What they launched that fall is the now acclaimed — Media Research Center (MRC).
Gainor works for MRC’s Business & Media Institute (BMI) subsidiary, which describes itself as being devoted to “analyzing and exposing the anti-free enterprise culture of the media.” BMI puts out a steady stream of criticism targeting the “liberal media.”
The MRC, headquartered in Alexandria, VA, began modestly with a handful of employees, a black and white TV, and a rented computer. The first order of business was to organize a research operation second to none. For years, conservatives could only present the anecdotal evidence of liberal journalists’ bias — a question in this interview, a statement in that report. However, anecdotal examples of bias do not prove a liberal agenda. Only through thorough, comprehensive, and ongoing analysis based on quantitative and qualitative research can one document liberal bias in the media.
From a $339,000 initial annual budget, the MRC has grown to be the nation's largest and most sophisticated television and monitoring operation, now employing 60 professional staff with a $10 million annual budget.
The result of the MRC’s work is a mountain of evidence to use in combating the undeniable bias. The key to the MRC’s effectiveness is the ability to prove bias by using scientific studies and word-for-word quotes from the media.
Through the MRC’s successful implementation of the largest, most comprehensive media monitoring operation in the world, the MRC serves as the checks and balances on the Fourth Estate. Through its divisions, programs, and a marketing effort that never rests, the Media Research Center has become an institutionalized machine on the issue of balance in the press.
The missions of MRC and BMI interface very well with the Free State Foundation, where Lazarick serves as a “Visiting Fellow.” The Free State Foundation describes itself as a “Free Market Think Tank for Maryland” and says: Its purpose is to promote, through research and educational activities, understanding of free market, limited government, and rule of law principles at the federal level and in Maryland. FSF focuses on eliminating unnecessary and counterproductive regulatory mandates, especially those applicable to the communications and other high-tech industries, and on reducing overly burdensome taxes, protecting individual and economic liberty, reforming civil liability laws, and making government more effective, efficient, and accountable.
Len Lazarick is seeking recognition for Marylandreporter.com as a legitimate, objective news source for state politics on par with the Post, Gazette and Sun. If that is his wish, he must answer two questions.
1. What is Marylandreporter.com’s relationship with the agenda promoted by Dan Gainor, MRC, BMI and the Free State Foundation? Are Lazarick and/or his website receiving financial support from any of these entities? Do any of them have input or control over the site’s content?
2. Why does Lazarick not disclose any of these relationships on his website?
The future of Marylandreporter.com as a viable concern depends on how these questions are addressed.
We reprint the company’s Articles of Incorporation below.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Democratic Women's PAC Holds Campaign Training
Following is their release.
Ten days until the training, and seats are limited! Register now for our intense and comprehensive campaign training for women candidates, potential candidates, elected officials, campaign staff, volunteers and activists.
Click here for more information and to sign up.
You can also email training@democraticwomenspac.org with any questions.
The curriculum addresses four primary themes: Fundraising, Message, Planning & Strategy, and New Media, including:
Campaign budget & finance planning
Fundraising: call time, events, donor research
Organizing your campaign
Self and opposition research
Netroots & online organizing
Elements of a campaign plan
Technical components: Organizing donors, volunteers & required financial filings
Press & Earned Media
Messaging
Paid media: TV/Mail/Radio
Field: Volunteer recruitment, targeting, GOTV
Date: Saturday, November 7, 2009
Time: 9:00am – 5:15pm
Location: The Laborers’ Training Center, 3200 Wilkens Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21229
Cost: $50 per Person. Scholarships are available. See contact information below.
Please RSVP By November 1, 2009 at: www.democraticwomenspac.org
Or email training@democraticwomenspac.org with any questions or to request a sign-up form by mail.
Thank you to all our training partners:
Maryland Democratic Party & The Women’s Leadership Network
Progressive Maryland
American Federation of Teachers, Maryland
Laborers’ International Union Mid-Atlantic Region Organizing Coalition
Maryland State Educators’ Association
Teachers' Association of Baltimore County
Paid for by Democratic Women's PAC of Maryland.
Elizabeth S. Glenn, Treasurer
PO Box 6763
Towson, MD 21285
Friday, October 30, 2009
Delegate Bill Frick Comments on Credit Card Vampires
By Delegate Bill Frick (D-16).
Thank you for sharing your experience at the hands of credit card vampires with MPW readers. The situation you faced is exactly what motivated me to introduce House Bill 1048 in the 2009 legislative session.
Like you, many thousands of Americans are discovering that the major credit card companies are jacking up their interest rates to astonishing levels, often more than double the rate the customer previously enjoyed. In most instances, these increases are being made to consumers that have always behaved responsibly – like you they have not missed payments and have not engaged in risky behavior to justify these dramatic changes. Even worse, the rate increases are not limited to future charges. The increases also apply to existing balances that consumers incurred in reliance on the lower rate.
It is important to remember that credit card companies do not profit from responsible lending. With credit cards, the most credit-worthy borrowers never carry a balance and therefore never pay interest. The credit card companies make their money from those borrowers that cannot afford to eliminate their debt, and are stuck paying monthly finance charges and other fees. Not surprisingly, when the economy faltered last year and many Americans lost their jobs, credit card defaults skyrocketed. In need of cash, the card companies began jacking up rates on everyone.
My bill would have prevented many of the worst abuses. We would have required banks to live up to the terms of their deals with consumers, but preserved their right to make prospective changes to account for bona fide changes in risk. We knew that federal law would eventually catch up with the rampant abuses, but we also knew that those changes would not come until 2010, long after many Marylanders had been victimized by the card companies. To help protect our consumers, the House of Delegate passed HB 1048 by a 136-1 vote. The Maryland Senate, however, killed the bill. Based on comments from one Senator on this blog, the Committee believed the banks’ allegations about the scope of my bill and preferred to wait until July 2010 for federal protections to take effect.
I’m sorry to say that we were right on this one. After Congress passed federal legislation on this subject with a 2010 effective date, the credit card companies began raising interest rates on millions of existing cardholders. Like you, the federal rules will be too late to protect most cardholders from these abuses. Had H.B. 1048 passed, Marylanders would have been protected.
Thanks to Congress, this battle is essentially over. But I know that there are many more rampant abuses of consumers and businesses in the world of credit. For example, why do businesses pay such enormous interchange fees to Visa and Mastercard – fees that increase costs to consumers? Why do tax preparation firms like H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt charge outrageous interest rates to our poorest taxpayers for access to their own tax refunds, when those loans have zero risk?
In this session and beyond, I hope to tackle some of these issues. I hope that with your support and others, we’ll be able to provide vital protections to Marylanders.
Shifting Funds
By Marc Korman.
Last week I wrote about campaign finance reports for Maryland House of Representatives candidates. I received some questions about the ability of a state candidate to transfer money to a federal account. Today I will try to address the inquiries.
The context in which I discussed the issue was Delegate Herman Taylor. He is a rumored candidate for the House of Representatives against Congresswoman Donna Edwards. Back in January, Delegate Taylor’s state campaign committee had $19,000 in the bank. I found no record of a federal account and wrote that a “federal campaign committee cannot accept funds from a nonfederal campaign account.”
My meaning was that Delegate Taylor could not transfer the whole $19,000, plus whatever he has raised since, to a new federal account. But there are some things Delegate Taylor may be able to do.
FEC regulation 110.3(d) species that transfers from a nonfederal to a federal campaign account are prohibited. However, the nonfederal committee can coordinate with the federal committee to refund the state contributions and have them donated again as federal contributions. That is exactly what is unfolding in Illinois, where State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias has been refunding state donations and having them resubmitted for his US Senate campaign.
Some people also asked if Delegate Taylor could make a donation, as opposed to a transfer, from his state account to his federal account within the federal limits. I have not been able to find a definitive answer to the question.
Several people who have worked on Congressional campaigns told me that the answer was no for various reasons. One asserted that state committees could never give to federal campaigns. Another said state committees could donate to federal campaigns, but not if the committees are controlled by the same candidate. Other campaign sources said a state committee could donate to a federal committee up to the legal limit for an individual contribution. Another source said state committee could give up to $1,000 a year in the aggregate to federal candidates, including themselves. All I can say is Delegate Taylor should find a good campaign finance lawyer or spend a lot more time researching the issue than I did before donating to himself.
Incidentally, Maryland has its own rules for the reverse scenario. Federal committees cannot make transfers to state committees, but they can make donations up to the legal limit of $4,000.
If Delegate Taylor or other state legislators are serious about challenging an incumbent, the clock is ticking on getting their campaign finance house in order.
MDOT Goes Schizo on Gaithersburg West
So would the Planning Board’s proposed Gaithersburg West Master Plan be a bad idea because it would gridlock local roads and require vast sums of money to redo intersections? Or would it be a good idea because it would make a light-rail CCT cost effective? According to the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), the answer is both.
In September, we reported that two MDOT subsidiaries, the State Highway Administration (SHA) and the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), wrote a letter of concern to the County Council about the Gaithersburg West plan. In language expressed in an unusually strong dialect of bureaucratese, the agencies objected to the $1.3 billion cost of rebuilding interchanges that would be necessitated by the plan. They also stated their belief that the plan’s reliance on commercial space over housing would draw in commuters from other areas, thereby increasing the strain on the regional transportation network. The implication of these arguments is that the plan’s density, currently proposed at 20 million square feet of commercial space, should be reduced.
However, there may be a positive impact of the plan’s density: it could help build the Corridor Cities Transitway (CCT) as light rail. In July, we reported that Gaithersburg’s current density level generated ridership that would make bus rapid transit (BRT), but not light rail, competitive under federal cost effectiveness criteria. But in a new letter that we reproduce below, MTA believes that if the CCT were re-aligned through the bulked-up Science City proposed by the Gaithersburg West plan, it would gain a 15-40% boost in ridership. Since capital costs would only go up by 11-16%, the CCT might now be viable as rail. The Gazette reported that MTA’s CCT project manager told the council that the new alignment through the dense area of the plan would have a cost effectiveness range of $18-19 per hour of user benefit, which is superior to light rail on the Purple Line. But the density proposed by the Gaithersburg West plan is required to make these numbers work.
This poses an interesting question to the County Council, which will soon decide on the density to be allowed in the Gaithersburg West plan. On the one hand, almost everyone prefers rail to BRT. The County Executive, the business community, many state legislators and Action Committee for Transit are all on the record for rail. And even though the council’s Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment (T&E) Committee recommended BRT, it reserved the right to change its mind if higher densities permitted the feasibility of rail. The county’s pro-rail mindset does not apply to the CCT alone, but reflects a general sense that BRT cannot handle long-run high ridership capacities and is a “second-class” option compared to trains.
But there is also intense resistance to both the scale and the form of the Gaithersburg West plan from the civic and smart growth communities. The former will fight endlessly against a “city” in their midst while the latter has not yet acknowledged the tradeoff between density and transit mode.
How will this play out at the County Council? Let’s remember that Council Members are not planners. They are unlikely to whip out spreadsheets and plat maps and rewrite the Gaithersburg West plan wholesale. But they will adjust the density levels. The current allowable density in the plan is 20 million square feet of commercial space. The County Executive would like to see 18 million. Some on the council would like to go lower. In these sorts of situations, the natural inclination of politicians is to pick a number that everyone can live with.
But this is not a conventional split-the-difference issue. The problem is that MDOT’s schizophrenic messages reflect the actual facts on the ground. The Gaithersburg West plan would require huge infrastructure costs and it would enable a light-rail CCT. Density reductions would lower costs but might also result in BRT. Council President Phil Andrews, who represents Gaithersburg, sees this tradeoff clearly. Andrews told the Gazette, “I don’t think that light rail can be the tail that wags the dog, or is the Holy Grail here, either. It’s not the end goal. The end goal is to build a better community for everybody and to figure out what that balance is." For Andrews, that means cutting density no matter what the consequences for transit mode.
How will the rest of the council see this? We’ll find out soon enough.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Van Hollen Prods DOD on BRAC Traffic
Congressman Chris Van Hollen has inserted language in the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2010 calling on the Department of Defense to pursue traffic mitigation measures for the expanded Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda. The bill has been passed by the House and Senate and awaits President Obama's signature.
The relevant language exists in two sections.
First, Section 2714(a)(8) instructs the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a master plan that:includes a community development plan that incorporates multiple options to alleviate traffic congestion related to the expansion of the National Naval Medical Center and Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, including a review of options
Second, Section 2714(d) contains this statement as a Sense of Congress:
(A) to expand adjacent highways;
(B) improvements to nearby intersections;
(C) on-facility site queuing; and
(D) multimodal expan-sion that could include expanded support for buses and subways.(d) SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING TRAFFIC MITIGATION IN VICINITY OF NATIONAL NAVAL MEDICAL CENTER.-
This is not the end of the story. The county government and the surrounding communities will still have to wrangle with the military and the state government to complete the improvements on a pretty tight schedule. The old Walter Reed facility in D.C. is scheduled to close by fall 2011 and the Bethesda expansion should be finished by then. But Van Hollen has made it clear that Congress expects this work to proceed without excuses. That's a useful statement for county officials and for residents in Bethesda and Chevy Chase.
Given the anticipated significant increases in local traffic in the vicinity of the National Naval Medical Center, and the unusual impact that such traffic increases will have on the surrounding community due to the planned expansion of the installation, it is the sense of Congress that--
(1) multiple methods are available to the Department of Defense to implement the defense access roads program (section 210 of title 23, United States Code) to help alleviate traffic congestion, including expansion of adjacent highways, improvements
to nearby intersections, on-base queuing options, and multi-modal expansion, including expanded support of buses and subways and other measures; and
(2) all of the efforts to alleviate the significant traffic impact need to be pursued to ensure readily available access to health care at the installation.
We reprint the text of this portion of the bill below.
Low Rate Credit Card Balance Transfers Available: Save. Money. Now.
By Delegate Saqib Ali (D-39).
As an elected official, I have a unique perspective to the grinding recession facing our nation. I unfortunately get to hear from too many of my constituents who are suffering from the poor economy. Day after day after day my inbox is filled with depressingly similar stories: Down-on-their-luck families facing lost jobs, mortgages slipping into foreclosure and utilities threatening shutoff. Too often the most I can do is lend a sympathetic ear or refer them to a County/State/Federal programs that might or might not help. It's not a very satisfying feeling.
But I am aware of one easy way that my constituents can save some serious cash. And I think I owe it to your readers to share it far and wide. In advance of the stringent rules enacted by the Federal Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights, credit card companies are raising their rates. A lot. My constituents have gotten notices saying that their APR will be rising to a mind-blowing 29.9% within 30 days. These constituents have balances that cannot be readily be paid off. What can they do to avoid being hammered?
If they have good credit, they can apply for - and will likely be approved for - a platinum credit card from the Pentagon Federal Credit Union. This card offers a sweet 4.99% APR on transferred balances (not new purchases) for 24 months. The one-time balance transfer fee is 2.5% but capped at $100. They are offering generous credit lines. One happy constituent was just approved for $25,000. On a $10,000 balance, that's a savings of as much as $2,400 per year. It works for me, so it could work for you.
BTW, you needn't be a member of the military to join this credit union. Anyone can join for a measly $5 over-the-phone payment. Do it now. Call: 1-800-247-5626. They are even open late: until 1 am EST for nocturnal people like me!
- Saqib
PS.
If you are wondering, No, I'm not making a penny off of this recommendation. PFCU doesn't even know that I'm blogging about them. It's just a good little secret that I heard that I didn't think I should keep to myself. If this helps you, please post a note in the comments. Please remember to sign your full name in the body of your comment otherwise it may not be printed.
Credit Card Vampires Out for Blood
Ever think that even though the credit card companies are going after everyone else, they won’t come for you? I used to believe that too until I received the following notice in the mail. But these vampires came after the wrong blogger, and I am fighting back!
Check out the following notice that arrived in an unremarkable, non-descript envelope. I almost threw it out without looking at it.
Citibank informed me that they intended to jack up my rate to 29.99% unless I opted out. Bear in mind that I have had this credit card since 1990 and make payments on it every month, usually every two weeks. They offered me a chance to be eligible for a payback of 10% of my interest as long as I paid once a month, making the rate essentially 27%. If I turned down the terms, the card would lapse on its expiration date, which in my case is November 2010.
So I called them to opt out. Their representative informed me of the “opportunity” for the 10% interest payback, which did not sway me. Then his manager got on the line to offer me a “special” deal: a rate of 27.99% for six months, after which the 29.99% would become effective. When that didn’t work, he offered me a “super” deal: 25.99% for the first six months. None of that would make me put down the garlic.
So I asked him why I was targeted. He admitted that I was “an excellent customer” with “zero chance of default,” but claimed that Citibank’s lenders were raising their interest rates, causing the bank to pass them on to customers. So a pair of fangs is buried in Citibank’s neck, driving them to search out the tender necks of others.
Back, forces of evil! I opted out despite the “special” and “super” deals, but only because I was lucky enough to open the envelope. Otherwise I’d be a nightwalker myself.
Can’t anyone stop the relentless march of the undead?
Inside the MPW Datafile
Once again, we are releasing the results of our leading posts and search terms as measured by Statcounter. Here are the most-read stories from August 23 through October 25, which represents approximately our last 100,000 page views.
Top Stories, 8/23/09 – 10/25/09
1. Montgomery College President Wanted for Arrest in Arizona
2. Pols Party While Budget Burns
3. A Voice from the Other Half: Montgomery College Part-Time Faculty Member Speaks
4. Zina Pierre and the District 30 Dilemma
5. Hunk of the Hill Runs for Delegate
6. Johnson Arrest Warrant Case Gets Stranger
7. MoCo Primaries to Watch, Part Three
8. Gazette Makes More Cuts
9. Montgomery College Arrest Warrant Story Explodes
10. State Legislators Get Free E-ZPasses
11. How to Save Money on Your Electric Bill Right Now
12. O’Malley Cuts, Perez Slices
13. Compassion Trumps Pocketbook: Maryland Voters Support Increase in Alcohol Tax
14. Forehand Fights Back
15. Montgomery County’s Most Influential People, Part Three
16. Smoking Out Saqib Ali
17. What the Montgomery College Board of Trustees Should Do Now
18. Saqib Ali and Nancy King Discuss Progressive Issues, Part Three
19. Herman Taylor Closer to Running Against Donna Edwards
20. Fireproof Fred
Now here are the most-read stories since May 30, when our Statcounter subscription started. This period represents roughly 200,000 page views, or about one-third of the total activity on this blog.
Top Stories, 5/30/09 – 10/25/09
1. Pols Party While Budget Burns
2. Montgomery College President Wanted for Arrest in Arizona
3. A Voice from the Other Half: Montgomery College Part-Time Faculty Member Speaks
4. How to Save Money on Your Electric Bill Right Now
5. More Warnings of State Budget Apocalypse
6. Zina Pierre and the District 30 Dilemma
7. People with Developmental Disabilities at Risk of Losing Services
8. Hunk of the Hill Runs for Delegate
9. The MACO Moment
10. Is WMATA Management Starting to Crack?
11. Johnson Arrest Warrant Case Gets Stranger
12. MoCo Primaries to Watch, Part Three
13. Young Guns of MoCo, Part Two
14. Gazette Makes More Cuts
15. MACO Mushroom Cloud
16. Funniest Facebook Status of the Day
17. Saqib Ali and Nancy King Discuss Progressive Issues, Part Two
18. Eli El’s Domestic Abuse Record
19. Montgomery College Arrest Warrant Story Explodes
20. Young Guns of MoCo, Part Four
Statcounter allows us to see the search terms used by people to access this blog. We published a list of the leading terms from May 30 through August 23 in a previous post. Here are the leading terms from August 23 through October 25.
1. Montgomery
2. Brian Johnson
3. Montgomery College
4. Sligo Golf
5. Budget
6 (tie). Pagnucco
6 (tie). Taxes
8. Disabled/Disability
9. WSSC
10. Saqib Ali
11 (tie). O’Malley
11 (tie). Electric
13. Helicopter
14. Baltimore
15. E-ZPass
16. Jeremy Rosendale
17. Facebook
18. Slots
19. WMATA/Metro
20. I-270
Once again, cyberspace sensation Saqib Ali leads all other Maryland politicians! Will he be able to maintain his spot? We’ll find out in a couple months.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
O'Malley: State Agencies Should Prioritize Transit-Oriented Development
Governor Martin O'Malley has just issued an Executive Order directing state agencies to consider proximity to transit stations as a criterion in planning their office space. In Maryland, land-use planning is a function of county governments and local agencies like M-NCPPC, so the state's ability to influence development is limited. But the Governor's action is an important way to promote transit use because state agencies can serve as anchors for bigger projects. We reprint his press release and a copy of his order below.
GOVERNOR O’MALLEY ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE ORDER PROMOTING TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT
State agencies directed to consider the proximity of transit as a key factor when determining placement of State office space and laboratories
ANNAPOLIS, MD (October 27, 2009) – Governor Martin O’Malley today announced the issuance of an Executive Order designed to focus future development around the state’s transit facilities. The order directs state agencies to formally evaluate the potential of locating state office space and laboratories in developments adjacent to transit stations when seeking space in the future. The order outlines specific criteria that must be considered as part of the selection process.
“Transit Oriented Development is a critical component of our Smart, Green and Growing initiative aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions, sprawl development and traffic congestion, while fostering economic growth,” said Governor O’Malley. “State government must lead by example. When building or leasing space for offices in the future, we will be prioritizing sites that are within walking distance of transit stations.”
Under the Executive Order, it is now a policy of the state to locate state office or laboratory space within a half-mile radius of transit stations at a TOD whenever appropriate and feasible. The order also directs the Department of General Services and the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) to include a transit evaluation factor in all requests for proposal to lease or purchase office or lab space. The Executive Order does include exceptions if it is determined that locating state office space or labs near transit is not appropriate.
Transit Oriented Development creates compact, walkable neighborhoods around transit stations. TOD increases transit ridership by creating destinations within a short walk of stations. It also offers residents a convenient commute to jobs, shopping and entertainment in the region. MDOT is currently focused on six TOD projects located in Baltimore City, Owings Mills, Savage, Odenton, Laurel and Wheaton. MDOT is also working with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to promote TOD at its stations.
Governor O’Malley’s Executive Order is the latest step taken by the state to make TOD a reality in Maryland. During the 2009 legislative session, the General Assembly granted local governments greater authority to use tax increment financing and special taxing districts at TODs to enable the financing of critical infrastructure for TOD projects. In 2008, the legislature declared TOD as a formal “transportation purpose.” The measure removes legal road blocks to TOD, giving MDOT greater flexibility to use its capital budget and property to support TOD projects.
A copy of Governor O’Malley’s Executive Order is attached. Additional information on the O’Malley-Brown administration’s TOD initiative can be found at the following link: http://www.mdot-realestate.org/tod.asp
###
Perez Golf Story: Follow-Up
Back in August, we revealed how the staff of former Secretary of Labor, Licensing and Regulation Tom Perez organized a 1:30 PM golf outing for him on the same day that the Governor announced millions of dollars in budget cuts. But a Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) spokeswoman told Sun columnist Laura Vozzella that the employees who went golfing during business hours took leave. So we submitted a public information request to verify the story and found out:
Almost nothing.
In our request, we asked for the following information:1. All documents related to a golf outing scheduled for Department staff on or about August 25, 2009.
The Assistant Attorney General assigned to DLLR sent us this response:
2. All invoices and records of payment of state funds related to the above event.
3. A list of all state employees who attended the event.
4. All records relating to requests by state employees for use of vacation time, unpaid leave or comp time in connection with the event, including the dates on which any vacation, leave or comp time was both requested and approved.
5. An itemized calculation of the total amount of state resources used for the event, including direct expenditures, allocated staff time costs, the use of state-owned vehicles and any other costs.
While the Assistant AG says, “I have been advised that no state funds were used to pay for the eight individuals who played golf that day,” he informs us that no records exist to verify DLLR’s claim.
The emails are exchanges between staffers who wanted to participate in the event. No one asked for or was granted leave. The eight business-hours attendees included:
Secretary Tom Perez
Deputy Secretary Leonard Howie
Special Assistant to the Secretary Scott Jensen
Commissioner of Labor and Industry Ron DeJuliis
Office of Budget and Fiscal Services Administration staffer Dave McGlone
Commissioner of Occupational & Professional Licensing Stanley Botts
Chief Information Officer Richard Pragel
Director of Legislative & Regulatory Affairs Jay Hutchins
Following is a list of the cuts to DLLR that were announced on the same afternoon.
In the future, we ask that government officials making claims to the Sun concerning this blog’s investigations be ready to back up their statements with relevant documentation.
SEIU Local 500 Declares Impasse with Montgomery College
SEIU Local 500, which won a campaign to represent Montgomery College’s adjunct professors in June 2008, has reached deadlock with the administration on a new contract. That does not bode well for the new college President who replaced Brian Johnson in September.
Union organizing in the public sector is supposed to be easier than in the hard-as-nails private sector. (Disclosure: your author has tossed around a few of those nails and has also sat on a couple of them in fifteen years in the labor movement.) But SEIU’s campaign put the lie to that myth. When the adjuncts began organizing, former President Johnson brought in a union-busting consultant to spread negative propaganda about unions to their colleagues. The college also claimed that the adjuncts were not really public employees and thus were not eligible for collective bargaining. But Johnson eventually backed down and SEIU won a 365-105 vote to represent the adjuncts.
Johnson dragged his feet on a contract until various revelations prompted his ouster in September. But new interim President Hercules Pinkney has not concluded a contract with the adjuncts either, prompting a declaration of impasse by SEIU. The local told the adjuncts:After more than a year of difficult negotiations with the Montgomery College Board of Trustees, we’re disappointed to report that we’ve reached an impasse with the college over just one issue: money.
The pay issue was one of the most critical reasons why the adjuncts sought out SEIU for representation. Prior to the organizing campaign, adjuncts were paid $880 per credit hour, much less than the $3,038 per credit hour paid to full-time professors for the same work. That means an adjunct teaching four three-hour courses in each of two semesters would make just $21,120 per year, a poverty-level income in Montgomery County. The issue is particularly acute considering that adjuncts outnumber full-time faculty by two-to-one.
We’ve resolved all the other points of contention. Our contract, once approved by you, will bring part-time faculty higher ESH limits and greater job security then we've ever had. It also includes a commitment from the college to work with us toward a permanent solution to pay inequity between full-time and part-time faculty for in-classroom instruction, as well as to explore health insurance options for us.
However, the college has proposed no improvements in pay for part-time faculty this year, despite the fact that the college provided pay increases and bonuses to full-time faculty and classified staff.
It’s intolerable that a county that emphasizes education as much as Montgomery would sanction poverty level incomes for professors who teach at its community college. The new administration must strike a deal on the contract and put this issue to rest.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Creative Campaigning
Former Delegate Cheryl Kagan (D-17), who is challenging incumbent Senator Jennie Forehand, held a contest among her supporters to craft a new drink called a "Cheryl-tini" in her honor. The drink's recipe was unveiled at her fundraiser tonight. Just tell us this isn't the most creative campaign flyer so far of the 2010 cycle.
Ben Kramer is Raising Money
Delegate Ben Kramer (D-19) is holding a fundraiser on November 8. So what's unusual about that? Plenty.
Kramer is a wealthy commercial property owner and developer whose family has long been a force in the county's political and business communities. His family's company, Kramer Enterprises, owns over 100 commercial properties across the region and has served as a cash cow for the family's political races. In his runs for Delegate in 2006 (which succeeded) and the County Council District 4 seat in 2009 (which did not), Ben Kramer received $220,450 from himself and just $14,326 from outside contributors.
So why is Kramer now interested in raising money? His father, Sid, the former County Executive, recently said this about the commercial real estate industry:Sid Kramer, president of Kramer Enterprises in Silver Spring, Md., runs more than 100 commercial real estate properties throughout the region. A former county executive, Kramer took part in Berliner’s March 26 summit: He said this is the worst economy he’s seen in decades.
Does this mean the family business is hurting and unable to finance six-digit campaign bills?
“I would estimate that 30 to 40 percent [of area businesses] have either closed, are on the brink of closing, or are being carried by their landlords,” meaning tenants aren’t paying rent. “It would be very helpful to both the tenant and the landlord to carry the responsible tenants through this downturn in the economy.”
Of course, there may be another reason. Ben Kramer may be preparing to run a race that's more expensive than a Delegate contest. Like, maybe, just maybe... County Council. And maybe even At-Large.
Here's his solicitation.
Too Rich for Furloughs
As we wrote yesterday, we believe that state legislators are paid too little relative to their job duties. That threatens to shrink the pool of competent people willing to serve and it is one reason why we have not made a big deal about their giving up furlough days in line with state employees. But a few state legislators are genuinely wealthy and would not miss the money, so they have no excuse not to give their pay back to the general fund. Here are three who spent at least $50,000 on their own political campaigns but have turned up their noses at giving back any part of their salaries to the state.
Senator Edward J. Pipkin (R-36)
Caroline, Cecil, Kent & Queen Anne’s Counties
Self-Financing, Federal Campaigns: $2,579,057
Self-Financing, State Campaigns: $573,000
Furlough Days Given Up, FY 2009: 0
Furlough Days Given Up, FY 2010: 0 (So far)
Few people in Maryland’s history, if any, have spent more on their own political races than E.J. Pipkin. A Wall Street trader who made millions selling junk bonds, Pipkin loaned himself $573,000 to knock out six-term Democratic Senate incumbent Walter Baker in 2002. Two years later, Pipkin contributed $1,591,057, or 70% of his receipts, to his unsuccessful U.S. Senate campaign against Barbara Mikulski. But Pipkin was not through trying to buy elections, giving himself another $988,000 – 92% of his receipts – to run unsuccessfully in the Congress District 1 primary against Andy Harris.
Pipkin’s ability to turn on the cash spigot is unparalleled. He once lived in a 9,792-square-foot mansion in Stevensville which he sold for $4.5 million on 9/25/06. Whether he used those proceeds to pay himself back for the race against Mikulski or to finance his race against Andy Harris – or maybe both – is unknown. But Pipkin hasn’t gone to the poorhouse. His new spread in Elkton is right next to “The Club of Patriots Glen,” described as a “must-play course” by Washington Golf Monthly.
Pipkin lives by the rules of the super-rich: do what you want, when you want. And while other legislators send their pay back to the state, Pipkin feels no such obligation. He is just too rich for furloughs.
Delegate William Anthony McConkey (R-33A)
Anne Arundel County
Self-Financing, Federal Campaigns: NA
Self-Financing, State Campaigns: $200,950
Furlough Days Given Up, FY 2009: 0
Furlough Days Given Up, FY 2010: 0 (So far)
Tony McConkey is a lawyer, real estate broker and property manager who spent $107,950 to get himself elected to an Anne Arundel Delegate seat in 2002. He followed up with another $93,000 in self-financing in 2006.
It’s a mystery how McConkey makes his money since he spends so much time in court as a defendant. He has been sued in 22 different cases in Prince George’s and Anne Arundel County courts since 1991. Among the parties who have sued him are the IRS, the State of Maryland and Prince George’s County, all of whom filed tax liens against him. The state’s lien totaled $12,703.54; the other amounts are not listed on the dockets.
The most infamous anti-McConkey suit was filed by Pasadena resident Teresa Milligan, who alleged that he tricked her into selling her house to him when it was threatened with foreclosure in 2006. Two years later, McConkey filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy to delay his jury trial. The jury ultimately found him guilty of violating state law, but only required him to pay $10,800. A triumphant McConkey proclaimed, “I feel vindicated.” A judge later hiked the penalty to $109,000 in damages and attorneys fees.
Unlike Pipkin, McConkey may have a good excuse for not surrendering furlough pay to the state. He could very well need the money for the next lawsuit.
Senator Andy Harris (R-7)
Baltimore and Harford Counties
Self-Financing, Federal Campaigns: $0
Self-Financing, State Campaigns: $65,000
Furlough Days Given Up, FY 2009: 0
Furlough Days Given Up, FY 2010: 0 (So far)
Andy Harris is a three-term Senator who is an obstetric anesthesiologist by trade. He earns a comfortable living that has enabled him to make one $10,000 contribution and four different $10,000 loans to his state campaigns. Unlike Pipkin, he did not self-finance his run for the First District Congressional seat.
Harris is one of the most conservative Senators in Maryland, especially on economic issues. He has lead-sponsored bills calling for a super-majority to raise taxes, a super-majority to pass new spending and a reduction in the sales tax. He describes himself on his website as “a leading advocate for taxpayer rights” and “a fiscal conservative, fighting to keep taxes low and limit government expansion.” Besides running for Congress, Harris is best known for waging his “Porn War” against the University of Maryland.
Andy Harris is anti-spending except when the state’s money is headed into his pocket. Like Pipkin and McConkey, he has not given back furlough days to the state last year or this year.
Some legislators who have not given back furlough days say they will donate their pay to charity instead. Delegate H. Wayne Norman (R-35A) made that argument while comparing his state government to the bankrupt General Motors. There are two problems with that position. First, payment to a charity is inherently unverifiable unless the legislator produces a copy of a canceled check. Second, conservatives like Pipkin, McConkey, Harris and Norman rant endlessly about the need to reduce government spending. Paying a charity rather than returning furlough money redirects spending rather than reducing it. It’s a hollow argument with little credibility given that the legislators’ wallets are involved.
So why make excuses? Act like a conservative, give back the money and cut the budget. Otherwise, these fellows are conservatives only with regard to other people’s needs and are free-spending liberals when it comes to their own.
Monday, October 26, 2009
SHA Answers Council’s Questions on I-270
The County Council sent a list of questions to the State Highway Administration (SHA) about the I-270 project and SHA has responded. Here are the questions and answers that caught our attention.
Question:
The Alternative Analysis/Environmental Assessment stipulates that the funding strategy for the I2-70 widening would be a combination of Federal highway funds, State transportation funds, and toll revenue. What are the anticipated funding amounts from each of these revenue sources? (An estimated range for each would suffice.)
Answer:
There are insufficient future federal allocations to the State of Maryland to accommodate a project of the magnitude of the entire I-270 improvements. As the CCT is funded through the next phase and the highway portion is not, the highway portion will be slightly different and proceed at a different pace. The highway portion of this multi-modal study will progress as several breakout projects once we are in a position to look at allocating funding for future phases of the project. At that time, MDOT will assess the appropriate funding sources (Federal, State, bonds, etc.) that are available to fund the various types of breakout projects, including the transit portion.
Our Take:
MDOT does not know how it would fund I-270 widening, but it plans on breaking the project up into smaller pieces. That might make it easier to schedule financing, but it will delay completion of the entire project by years.
Question:
Please identify the Federal aid programs from which funding the I-270 widening is anticipated. Which of these programs currently allow funding to be “flexed” from highways to transit and which do not?
Answer:
The majority of federal highway funds can be flexed either between specific highway programs or from highway to transit. To provide one example, up to 50 percent of the National Highway System (NHS) funds can be transferred to the Surface Transportation Program (STP) category. Up to 100 percent can be transferred to the STP category if approved by the Secretary of USDOT to be in the public interest. NHS funds cannot be flexed directly to transit; however, any amount of STP funds can be flexed from highways to transit. Because of the insufficient future of funding allocations, it would be premature for MDOT to specify the programs from which funding for the project is anticipated.
Question:
Are these statements about the Transportation Trust Fund, from MDOT’s web site, still true? “All funds dedicated to the Department are deposited in the Trust Fund and disbursements for all programs and projects are made from the Trust Fund. Revenues are not earmarked for specific programs…” “The Transportation Trust Fund permits the State tremendous flexibility to meet the needs of a diverse transportation system.”
Answer:
This comment is true for the State funds. Federal funds, however, are disbursed through the FHWA and FTA, independently. On the State level, while the flexibility is there, there is a limit to the funds available for highway and transit projects and how they will be distributed throughout the state. FHWA funds can be used for bus/HOV lanes where they are feasible, or for creating park and ride lots, or other Transportation System Management/Transportation Demand Management (TSM/TDM) measures. FHWA funds cannot be directly used for transit-only capital improvements on new alignments; they come under the purview of the FTA, and funds would need to be shifted at the federal level.
Our Take:
This addresses a key question: can highway money be moved dollar-for-dollar to transit projects? The answer is yes for state money. But there are restrictions on how the state can spend federal money that can only be resolved by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation.
Question:
If toll-backed bonds (i.e. GARVEE bonds) are used for this project, what is the anticipated debt service/interest obligation that the State will incur (expressed either as a range or absolute dollars or as a % of the total principal financed)? Will bond-financing for this project limit the ability of the State to bond-finance transit projects, and if not, what would be the impact on its bond-rating?
Answer:
GARVEE bonds are backed by future federal-aid allocations to the State. State law currently caps the amount of GARVEE bonds that can be issued in Maryland to the $750 million committed to the ICC project. Because of the insufficient future of funding allocations, it would be premature for MDOT to specify the financing from which funding for the project is anticipated.
Our Take:
The General Assembly normally has no control over which transportation projects get built. But if toll-backed bonds are used to finance I-270 – a virtual certainty if the project goes forward – the legislature will have to approve a hike in the state’s debt limit. That guarantees some interesting politicking down the road.
Question:
What is your initial analysis of the cost and benefits of the all-transit alternative offered by the Action Committee for Transit (attached)?
Answer:
The proposal set forth by Action Committee for Transit (ACT) is of such a magnitude as to require considerable time and effort to fully analyze costs and benefits. Our initial preliminary analysis of the all-transit alternative proposed by ACT is such that it would not benefit the full range of transportation-system users within the I-270 Multi-Modal Study project area, such as freight carriers and through route long distance travelers. It also appears that the Vision 270 plan has not been analyzed using a recent transportation and land use model that reflects future conditions, whereas the corridor alternatives in the I-270 study were analyzed using the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ (MWCOG) land use and transportation models which do take into consideration future conditions.
Question:
What would be the time-delay and cost of studying this or other all-transit alternatives in comparison to the I-270 widening options?
Answer:
The study team already performed a preliminary study of an all-transit alternative prior to the issuance of the DEIS. Based on capital costs and proposed ridership, none of the all-transit alternatives, other than the use of express bus on an improved I-270 linked with the Corridor Cities Transitway, provided user benefits that would meet both the cost effectiveness criteria established by the FTA and the purpose and need for the Multi-Modal Study. The results of the all-transit alternatives that were dropped from further study prior to the DEIS only provided a modest decrease in vehicle miles of travel (VMT) on I-270.
Essentially, this would re-start the NEPA process for each project, including the CCT. These projects would need to go through NEPA and each be independently developed using the FTA New Starts project planning and development process in order to receive federal transit funds. The process is time consuming to complete and can require well over a decade to get a project through planning and design, construction and initiation of operation, and would cost several millions of dollars.
Our Take:
MDOT believes ACT’s all-transit plan could not meet federal cost effectiveness criteria. Further, MDOT claims that studying that plan would delay the CCT by restarting the planning process for the entire I-270 corridor. Did anyone tell the state legislators who signed the letter advocating for the all-transit option about this?
This response gives ammunition to both supporters and opponents of the I-270 project. We reprint it in full below.
The Real Scandal of Legislative Pay
The recent talk about which state legislators are giving up part of their salaries to match state employee furlough days obscures a much, much larger issue with legislative pay. The real scandal of legislative pay is:
It’s way too low.
During this term, state legislators are paid $43,500 while the presiding officers (the Senate President and Speaker of the House) make $56,500. Here is how those salaries compare to a few other occupations in Maryland as of 2008 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Dentists: $145,060
Lawyers: $125,980
Management Occupations: $105,450
Civil Engineers: $80,540
Architects: $79,800
Registered Nurses: $74,370
Senate President/Speaker: $56,500
Electricians: $50,040
Paralegals: $48,490
Chefs and Head Cooks: $44,130
Correctional Officers: $43,890
State Legislators: $43,500
Truck Drivers, Heavy: $39,770
Hairdressers: $30,690
Security Guards: $30,430
Construction Laborers: $30,290
Retail Salespersons: $25,140
Janitors: $23,130
So state legislators are paid about as much as prison guards. And paralegals are actually paid more than the people who pass the state’s laws!
But wait – aren’t legislators part-time officials? Not really. While it’s true that the General Assembly is only in session for three months every year, many legislators spend lots of time answering emails, attending community events and holding large and small meetings all year round. Maryland’s legislators estimate that they spend 70% of the time they would devote to a full-time job to their state duties, about 30 hours per week. But because they earn pennies from the state, many of them are forced to seek outside employment to pay the bills. Those legislators have to hold down two jobs, not an easy feat when an employer has to give up three months to satisfy the demands of the General Assembly. Many bosses will not give up those months, further shrinking the employment options of legislators.
And so smart people with families and successful careers are actually deterred from seeking office. Who has the time to raise staggering amounts of political contributions, perform two demanding jobs at a high level and deal with the spouse and kids? Think about the pool of people who don’t face those sorts of constraints: the independently wealthy, the self-employed, retirees, the unemployable and the self-obsessed. Is it in our interest to give these folks an advantage over everyone else?
We do not write this essay from the perspective of coddling the politicians. Lord knows we have zapped them many, many times on this blog. But legislative pay is important for citizens who require high quality public service. It is high time that we act like employers, which is exactly what we are in relationship to our elected officials. Smart employers pay competitive salaries, have high expectations, give their workers the tools they need to perform their jobs and fire them when they don’t work out. Our current system for employing state legislators, which features low pay, low expectations and low accountability, bears no resemblance to that model.
Take it from a building trades guy: when it comes to labor, you get what you pay for. If you underpay the roofers, you’ll get a wet attic. If you underpay the plumbers, you’ll get a wet basement. If you underpay the electricians, you might get an electrical fire. And if you underpay state legislators, you will get a statehouse dominated by leadership, lobbyists and bureaucrats, which is pretty much what we have in Maryland.
And so we have not previously pressed the issue of legislators’ giving up pay to match the state employees’ furlough days. When people who are expected to sort out complicated issues, write legislation, debate it, cast informed votes, perform constituent service and put up with rogue bloggers are paid as much as prison guards, they are clearly not compensated in line with their job duties. But we are not going to let them all off the hook.
You see, there is a sub-class of legislators who are independently wealthy and don’t need their state pay at all. Three of them have spent over $50,000 of their own money on their political campaigns but don’t see fit to give back any part of their state salaries when the budget, and the state’s workforce, are in dire trouble. If anyone can afford to give up some pay, it’s these people. Tomorrow, we will reveal who they are.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Slots and Reality Still Don’t Mix
By Rob Annicelli.
In a desperate attempt to help aid the faltering Cordish bid for slots zoning approval at Arundel Mills, Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold “decried a proposal for a new site for a casino in the county as a de facto ‘prohibition’ on slot machines.”
This is a pretty incredible statement for him to make given that he helped to stop slots legislation as a state delegate for a number of years by opposing former Governor Bob Ehrlich’s attempt to locate slots at racetracks. But he then went on to make the claim that not permitting slots at the Arundel Mills Mall would cost the County $30 million dollars per year, making a flawed assumption that there will be no slots in Anne Arundel County if they are not at Arundel Mills. Well, not quite. For Leopold to be correct, one would have to suspend reality and assume no one would want to bid on the closest slots license to the Washington D.C region simply because Leopold did not get his way and slots were not permitted at his preferred site.
Slots have a long and sordid history in this state. The ‘False Choice’ of Arundel Mills or nothing being presented by some politicians is another example of the corrupting influence of gambling. Leopold was correct for the many years before he became a slots supporter, and should have never switched.
Mr. Leopold, is $30 million per year, or 1.5% of the Anne Arundel County budget, really worth all the harm in the form of increased traffic and crime it will bring to the residents of your County?
Rob Annicelli
Stop Slots at Arundel Mills
