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WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Some Montgomery activists are worried a shift in County Council panel assignments has pro-growth leaders in the majority on a planning committee and could mean development plans will be rushed through.
County Council President Mike Knapp restructured council committees last week, after the death of long-time Councilwoman Marilyn Praisner left a vacancy at the helm of the Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee. Knapp ceded his position as chairman of the Education Committee to former school board member and current Councilwoman Valerie Ervin and made himself chairman of the planning committee, saying he wanted to take advantage of council member strengths.
Knapp joins Councilwoman Nancy Floreen and Councilman Marc Elrich on the committee.
As chairwoman of the planning committee, Praisner guided the council through extensive changes to the county’s growth policy last fall, tweaking it so developers will pay more to build in already crowded areas of the county and be barred from construction in others.
Elrich said having Knapp at the helm of the committee “certainly changes it” because Knapp did not support some early votes to make the growth policy more stringent, although Knapp did eventually support the final version of the new growth policy. Floreen was the lone vote against the ultimate package of revisions.
“We got out of the fantasy world the council was in before where development never had to wait,” Elrich said. “And I am just concerned about going back.”
Knapp acknowledged that he has been tagged with a pro-growth reputation but said he tries to take a balanced approach to issues.
“Everybody tries to define things as pro-growth or no-growth, and I find there are very few issues that fit in those categories,” Knapp said.
Drew Powell, head of Neighbors for a Better Montgomery, said he was worried about the changes.
“I believe a lot of damage could be done to the county in terms of longer commutes, larger classroom sizes and higher-density issues,” Powell said.
kmiller@dcexaminer.com
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2:55 AM MST on Fri., Jul. 25, 2008 re: "Conservative group objects to wording of referendum on transgender law"
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I still remember... said:
I still remember the days of segregation, when the EXACT same arguments were made about black men even using MEN'S restrooms that were sited next to restrooms used by white women. Honestly, this tactic isn't about being transgender as much as it is about the systematic presentation of ALL people born with a penis as being out of control sex crazed maniacs who would rape anything they saw if it weren't for being segregated from decent, innocent females and children. What is absolutely ludicrous about these kinds of claims is the notion that men who would dress up as women to lay in wait to harass and RAPE women and kids are waiting until a law passes allowing them to go into women's restrooms by claiming to be transgendered... yeah, predatory rapists are all really cognizant of the law like that, and have been holding off for years awaiting this kind of legislation. Get real.
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Amy said:
“They make it sound like we are trying to deny these individuals basic everyday rights,” said Ms. Turner Is not the ability to use a restroom a pretty basic right? As a mother of two boys, if Ms. Turner could show me a few instances from a verifiable source where "men in dresses" were breaking into a restroom harassing women and children, she might convince me of this need bar tranvestite individuals from using our restroom. Otherwise it seems like a witch-hunt. My understanding is that these people have a medical condition and as such must function in the world as directed by their doctor. This all seems very silly to me. Let these people pee.
6 agree | 0 disagree
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Why is DC getting FREE ambulance rides from MoCo? said:
Why isn't anyone reporting the free ambulance rides MD and MoCo is giving to ward 3 and 4 of DC? The MOU has been around since 95, saving DC over 2 million a year. This service is coming out of our taxes. Why hasn't Leggett stopped this fleecing of our citizens?
2 agree | 1 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Can you say soft billing? I thought that was on the top of the fraud list from CMS the last time I looked.
2 agree | 2 disagree
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Collections said:
I'd like to know how the county expects to collect from non-Montgomery residents. It's not worth the cost of suing non-Montgomery residents to collect. And the non-Montgomery residents won't be signing any contract when they call for service. This is just political posturing by Leggett.
3 agree | 3 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
It is a residential area not a business district. If you can afford $2700 mortgage become a real company and get a storage spot or a business location to park your truck. If you business can not afford a business address and unit then you should close the business. It is residentially zoned. THAT IS WHY WE HAVE ZONING. SAFETY AND RESPECT FOR NEIGHBORS.
2 agree | 2 disagree
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Robin Ficker Broker Robin Realty said:
Mike Knapp just voted to raise property taxes 14%, exceedig the charter property tax limit by more than the other 3 times he voted to exceed the charter property tax limit put together. Now he wants to ban parking of work vehicles in high density neighborhoods. Another bad idea. It is tough enoug to make a living in a recession as it is. Stop this overregulation of the lives of citizens, Mr. Knapp. Start spendng your time finding waste in the budget instead.
3 agree | 7 disagree
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Robin Ficker, Broker Robin Realty said:
Enough hand wringing by spineless elected officials. If there is any member of their employers(the public) who can't find $118 million to cut in thisd budget so that we do not have to exceed the charter property tax limit for the fourth time since 1990, call me and I will give you $10. If there is any member of the public who cannot find an additional $11 million to cut so that we do not have to increase taxes on fuel oil and natural gas while gasoline is $4 a gallon, call me and I will give you $15. If shouting is what it takes to get dollars in Rockville, are we going to have to hire people with electronic bullhorns to get homeowners a break? I'm willing to call Idol winner David Cook to see if he can bring ZZ Top and all their sound equipment!
6 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Who are the other 2 Council members that left?
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Examiner Reader said:
How many Cluster meetings did she attend at a BoE member? Attendance at Ed Committee meetings?
4 agree | 3 disagree
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Examiner reader said:
Last week Valerie Ervin showed her union card, and this week she's showing the race card. Just who does she represent?
4 agree | 4 disagree
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Robin Ficker, Broker Robin Realty said:
I agree with Valerie Ervin that race is still a factor in Montgomery County--especially in foreclosures. I look at every foreclosure case in Montgomery County every week and most involve minorities. And Valerie Ervin's District has more foreclosures that any other district. So why did Valerie Ervin vote for a 14% increase in property tax bills? Why did she vote to exceed the charter property tax limit? Did she think such a huge tax increase would slow or stop foreclosures?
6 agree | 3 disagree
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Robin Ficker Broker Robin Realty said:
Help is on the way. Mark Fennel, a slow growth candidate, is running in the special election of April 15 and May 13. And, unlike Don Praisner, Mark Fennel is opposed to the largest property tax n 20 years which has been proposed by the County Executive. Mark Fennel is opposed to exceeding the charter property tax limit. Don Praisner said at the Peoples Community Church on Saturday that he would vote to exceed the charter property tax limit.
4 agree | 3 disagree
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Mark D. Fennel, County Council Candidate said:
According to this article, Berliner who proposed this package of seven bills in November, said constituent concerns were causing the council to be more, "reflective and responsive" about measures which impose a financial burden. More likely, it's the advent of a special election and my entry into the race. Because Berliner and the entire council know very well, that I will shine a White Hot Spotlight on any council action, which contributes to a lack of affordable housing, adds to an already outrageous $400 Million county deficit, or places an undue financial burden on Montgomery's struggling and shrinking Middle Class. Mark D. Fennel, Republican Candidate for County Council in the Special Election
32 agree | 30 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
This is overdue and desperately needed. They need to move ahead with it ASAP.
111 agree | 106 disagree
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Grumpy Old Examiner Reader said:
Maybe this will keep those dang Blair students off my lawn!
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