Attorney Leon Rodriguez's fee is even higher than what the County is paying for legal representation in the Silver Spring Transit Center lawsuit. Yet, the specific purpose for retaining Rodriguez has yet to be articulated by either the Council or County Executive Ike Leggett.
This simply adds to the speculation that Rodriguez will be an expensive way for the Council to divert attention from its disastrous handling of the economy, and bad relations with many communities over unpopular land-use decisions. He will likely be utilized in what will amount to expensive PR stunts over federal immigration issues, to capitalize politically on the overwhelming opposition to President Donald Trump in progressive Montgomery County.
That may make for good politics, but it is a shameful abuse of taxpayer funds. Montgomery County is the only jurisdiction in the D.C. region to hire a separate immigration lawyer, which alone tells you how morally and ethically wrong the move is. County attorney Marc Hansen is fully-qualified to address any federal immigration issue that relates to Montgomery County, just as his counterparts do in every other local jurisdiction.
Just in today's Council session alone, councilmembers are set to approve over $1.5 million in new salaries, for frivolous new County government jobs ranging from security officers for the $1.6 million conversion of the County Council Building into a literal bunker, to a new small business office and staff - who wouldn't be needed if the County didn't have the most overbearing tax and regulation burden in the region.
Now we find out the immigration attorney hired with the non-specific purpose of protecting illegal immigrants, just 9 days before two illegal immigrants would be accused of gang-raping a 14-year-old girl in a bathroom at Rockville High School, will cost us $575 an hour. How much money has the County Council put toward the safety of children in our public schools since March 16? Zero dollars. What a public relations disaster.
Throw the bums out.
That's an average price for a big-firm lawyer in this area. We pay an attorney at a big firm in DC about $750/hour for corporate work he does for us.
ReplyDeleteStill, it does seem like a waste, especially if they didn't shop around. Robert, do you report it to the office of Inspector General? It seems like they would like to hear about it.
Actually, I'd say that $575/hr is a fairly reasonable rate for a highly-credentialedpartner in a prominent DC law firm. Leon Rodriguez's credentials are impeccable and singularly well-suited to this assignment. But I agree that the assignment should have been bid competitively.
DeleteDon't you mean Leo Mazzone, Robert?
ReplyDelete7:55: Nope, Lee Mazzilli of the Yankees was the one who "blew us away in the interview."
DeleteFor all saying this is the going rate, remember, this is by far the highest fee of any lawyer currently retained by Montgomery County.
Uhhh, hey Robert, the lawyer likely has a wife and kids he needs to feed. Why do you expect him to charge anything under market for his services and put his family's safety and welfare in jeopardy?
ReplyDeleteUhh, hey Robert, $575 per hour is not that much when your tax base makes an average annual income over $250K. Ever think you're the only poor one, birdbrain?
ReplyDelete8:00: Pretty ironic words from a dumpster-diving hobo who posts troll comments in exchange for sandwich-and-a-cheap-apartment wages from the Montgomery County cartel.
DeleteWill the trees stay standing outside of Silver Diner?
ReplyDeletemaybe he can keep a couple of MS-13 members from being deported.
ReplyDeleteOh, The Daily Caller, that's a credible source.
ReplyDeleteBTW, that's the going rate for law services. Also, depending on the job, for a plumber and electrician.
9:51: Daily Caller is a credible source. $575 is not the going rate - no other attorney is paid that highly by the County. Facts.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you keep assuming that the salary had not been finalized by the time the Council had actually voted?
ReplyDeleteIsn't that the going rate for a mid-range hooker?
ReplyDeleteDyer is calling someone else a hobo when he doesn't even have an actual full-time job. Wow.
ReplyDelete1:18: How would you know what my employment status is one way or the other? You have zero credibility as an anonymous man speculating in between dumpster-diving.
DeleteYou could dispel all the nasty rumors about your employmment status by actually disclosing it.
Delete4:17: There are no rumors. You just made a claim that you knew my employment status, but I've never publicly stated my 2017 employment status in any public forum. So where are you getting the idea that I'm unemployed? There are no "rumors," you're literally the only person bringing it up.
Delete$575 per hour? Can he live on that?
ReplyDeletewhy do you guys troll dyer so much, yet still read his blog? is it sport for you?
ReplyDelete4:37 - AHOY THERE CAPTAIN OBVIOUS!!!
ReplyDeleteAww...you're just being modest! Over the years there has been lots of talk about your employment status. You yourself have mentioned it. You've talked about things you have done in the past, and things you haven't done.
ReplyDeleteIt's talked about. And there ARE rumors. Someone needs to tell you the truth, and right now, that's me.
3:49: I haven't heard anyone but you talking about it. There are no rumors, and no talk. So where are you getting this idea that I am unemployed in 2017? I haven't made any public statements about employment. What is your source? You would have no way to know either way.
ReplyDelete"So where are you getting this idea that I am unemployed in 2017? I haven't made any public statements about employment."
ReplyDeleteLOL
The local homeless hate Dyer cuz he keeps stealing their bumwines that they've spent all day panhandling for.
Earth to Dyer. I'm the one who said you didn't have a job (1:18) and this is my first comment since. Why does you think that it's just one person on here who sees through your gibberish?
ReplyDeleteSpeculation? Any five -year-old can put 1+1 together and get 2.
1. There's clear evidence that you drive around Bethesda/Rockville/Silver Spring all day everyday, and spend the rest of your time writing either local stories of interest or nonsensical rants about politics or the economy that you have actually no clue about.
2. This isn't a news site, it's an opinion blog, like the 10 million other local blogs out there. News websites have subscription or ad-based revenue models. This blog generates no revenue.
So a) you're receiving income illegally b) you're receiving financial support from a family member/friend
7:24: You always say the pictures are taken at night or "at 3 AM." Now you're saying I "drive around Bethesda/Rockville/Silver Spring all day everyday." Which is it?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Nixon thought Woodward and Bernstein's coverage was "nonsensical rants," too.
This is a news site, and I hate to tell you, but your favorite competitor of this site doesn't generate any significant revenue from those ads. There's very little money in banner ads. That's why they have angel investors to keep them afloat so they can keep doing the bidding of the Montgomery County cartel without having to pay the bills.
The fact is, you're the only one who cares or is even talking about my job, and you have no source or information one way or the other about it. For reporters at the other site to be making $30,000 a year and living in this expensive county, they must be "receiving income illegally/financial support from a family member/friend." Are you investigating their situation? Can you at least engage in some wild speculation, as you do with me?
LOL @ Dyer, dancing around the obvious fact that he's never worked a day of his life.
ReplyDelete8:04: I'm sure my bosses and employees over the years would find your comment humorous. You know nothing of my employment history. Why comment? Are you mentally ill? Unlike the County Council (with the exception of Sid Katz), I've actually created jobs, and hired and fired employees.
ReplyDeleteNow with the MoCo cartel's need to create an alternative voice to my news websites, I'm indirectly still creating jobs at all of these fake news outlets they are now angel-funding. When Berliner has a press conference, about 70% of the people around the table can literally thank me for their jobs.
You're welcome.
"I have created many jobs during my lifetime of unemployment! saith Dyer the Aspie Confabulator.
ReplyDeletehttp://nototherwisespecified.typepad.com/blog/2009/12/confabulation-or-lying.html
What's the most you've ever been paid per hour, Dyer?
ReplyDeleteOne thing to disagree with Dyer's blogs and challenge any poor arguments or untruths.
ReplyDeleteQuite another to bludgeon him in personal attacks.
Grow up and learn some manners.
@ 9:40 PM - "Are you mentally ill?"
Delete-Robert Dyer
Remember "Angel funding" = a $300,000 loan that was paid back.
ReplyDeleteGoogle it. It's been reported many times. Even by the venerable Washington Post.
And to agree with @9:32, $575/hr is very reasonable. And if I remember correctly, it was dependent on learning the details of the assignment, and they knew the approximate rate when signed.
Hey, why are you stealing my "Your Welcome" closing statement? Tsk-tsk.
ReplyDeletesheesh... @3:49AM
9:09: How do you figure they're paying 3 full-time reporters, including living expenses, in expensive MoCo? "Tiny classified ads" like Don Lepre? In a world of shrinking print and banner ad revenue, it just doesn't "ad" up.
ReplyDeleteNo, the Council didn't know the rate when they approved the hiring of the attorney. $575 not reasonable, as it exceeds what any other attorney currently retained by MoCo is paid.
Really?
ReplyDeleteWhat are all the other attorneys currently retained my MoCo being paid?
How do you figure they are paying "living expenses?" What do you consider "living expenses?"
Why do you think their reporters are "full-time" and not contract based?
What evidence do you have that expenses are greater than income?
Have you looked at their Profit & Loss statement? Cash-flow statement? Balance sheet?
Do you know how much they charge for print and digital ads?
If you can't answer "yes" to the last 2 questions, then all you have is speculation.
And you know that the problem with speculation is that is makes a SPECK out of you and some guy named "Lation."
11:34: You can't live in MoCo on $35,000 a year,nor can you pay for 3 full-time reporters with tiny classified ads, Don Lepre. Somebody has to pick up the tab. Who is it?
ReplyDeleteWhere do you get $35,000? Who only makes $35,000?
ReplyDeleteHow do you know what the revenue consists of?
Do you know what kind of business structure they have?
I think you mean Don Lapre, the multi-level marketing guy? How is he germane to this discussion?
Dyer @ 11:36 AM - So how do you manage to live in Montgomery County on $0 income?
ReplyDeleteThere is a common statistic that states half of all marriages in the United States will end in divorce. If you find yourself preparing to divorce your spouse, or your spouse is preparing to divorce you, it is a wise idea to arm yourself with as much information you can get.
ReplyDeletedivorcelawyersg.com