McLean also noted the quick access to three major highways, key to a manufacturer, and that "8435 Progress Drive provides a lower cost of ownership than our previous [Montgomery County] facility, and we can remain close to Washington, D.C. and three major airports." "Whenever you can attract 100 tech jobs, especially filling 45,000 square feet of space, it’s a great opportunity for the city," Frederick's Director of Economic Development Richard Griffin said, according to the Frederick News Post.
This was yet another clear example of our draconian taxes, red tape regulations and poor business climate costing us jobs and tax revenue.
But it got worse: Fannie Mae announced it has leased a whopping 850000 SF at Boston Properties' Reston Gateway, and will be the anchor tenant there. Tons of jobs will move into the site in 2022, Boston Properties said in a press release, bringing more revenue and business foot traffic for Virginia.
How did this happen? We have a County Council clueless about how the world of international business works in 2018. They are ideologically-opposed to making the common sense changes in taxes and regulations, and building the necessary transportation infrastructure, needed to make Montgomery County competitive in the region again.
Look no further than the Council's brainless decision to loudly broadcast they intend to cancel funding for the Montrose Parkway East. The Council, at least in public, claims they want Amazon to choose the Pike District for its HQ 2.
What better way to impress a logistics company like Amazon, than to announce you are canceling the main infrastructure project near their potential headquarters, right?
It's amateur hour at 100 Maryland Avenue again, folks!
I generally agree with you, but Fannie already has offices in Reston - are those the jobs moving to the new building? If so its not really fair to blame MoCo as I'm sure Fannie and its employees preferred to not move far.
ReplyDeleteRoger and Hans cementing in a Sanctuary welfare county..
ReplyDelete5:16: There were two decisions by Fannie Mae, as I recall. First to lease space in Reston. Then this decision was to consolidate their other jobs outside DC at Reston Gateway. So half the battle was lost earlier, and this was the other shoe dropping - on the head of the County Council.
ReplyDeleteCompanies move all the time; the desires of the employees are not usually taken into account, as the Knoxville-bound Discovery employees can tell you.
Do you have permission to use those pictures?
ReplyDeleteAlso, do you plan on telling your readers that you are a candidate for County Council? This is a conflict of interest.
5:41: Tumblr, Facebook and Twitter would be out of business if all memes had to be purchased and authorized. Welcome to 2018.
ReplyDeleteThe interns took time to explain to me what a meme was.
ReplyDeleteI doubt that Jimmy Fallon or Michael Palin would be comfortable with someone who is running as a Republican in 2018, using their photos in an election campaign.
ReplyDeleteI approve this message.
Delete#ResistHans
What's wonderful is that Robert's entry in the race means that any anti-Riemer vote will be divided between 31 candidates.
ReplyDeleteAs county council member, do you have details on how your improved economic development plan might work?
ReplyDeleteI agree that this is a problem. Can you provide us with a detailed proposed solution?
Looks like the DC City Council lost Fannie May just as much as the MoCo Cartel. Perhaps much more so.
ReplyDelete5:54: Jimmy Fallon probably can't find the doorknob to get out of his dressing room without help, so I doubt anyone is turning to him for election advice.
ReplyDelete6:20: I'm not a County Councilmember, but I do have a detailed plan on my website, RobertDyer.net about how to improve the County's economic development position in the region.
6:09: Riemer has no base in the County, a bad spot to be in when there are 31 people running against you, and the margin of victory is a small percentage.
"Jimmy Fallon probably can't find the doorknob to get out of his dressing room without help, so I doubt anyone is turning to him for election advice."
ReplyDeleteSo why do you have his picture at the top of your article/campaign ad?
6:29: Because the caption works for this article?
ReplyDeleteSo, yesterday, it was announced that:
ReplyDelete1. 100 manufacturing jobs are moving up 270 to Frederick
2. 100 new biotech jobs are coming to Gaithersburg
https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2018/02/28/medimmune-announces-250-million-spinout-plan-to.html
You decide to whine like crazy re: #1 and completely ignore #2, even though the hundred new biotech jobs pay 4-8x the salary of the 100 "lost" manufacturing jobs. And you wonder why people give you so much crap, Dyer.
Factories require more land than offices. Land is cheaper in Frederick (and in Fredericksburg too) because they are less desirable than Montgomery County and other closer-in areas.
ReplyDelete@ 5:16 AM is correct.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2018/02/28/fannie-mae-picks-new-reston-site-for-nova-hub.html
"Fannie Mae has agreed to lease a large block of space in Boston Properties' proposed Reston Gateway as part of a planned consolidation of its Northern Virginia footprint."
6:40: Read the fine print - there might be 100 jobs over 3-5 years. The 100 manufacturing jobs were real and here now.
ReplyDeleteYou also left out the other 900 jobs from the Fannie Mae headquarters, and the thousands of jobs lost from losing Discovery, Intelsat, Hilton, Volkswagen, Northrop, CEB, Nestle, etc.
Either way, we have a net loss in jobs from yesterday's developments, old sport.
"You also left out the other 900 jobs from the Fannie Mae headquarters, and the thousands of jobs lost from losing Discovery, Intelsat, Hilton, Volkswagen, Northrop, CEB, Nestle, etc."
DeleteThe only one of those companies we "lost", was Discovery. And they didn't go to Frederick or Virginia.
Oh your website has been updated, much nicer now! I see you are officially running for at large. Best of luck to you!
ReplyDeleteYour section on economic development doesn’t go into details if you can clarify the “how” part.
“DECLARE MONTGOMERY COUNTY IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS
DeleteWe must reform our draconian taxes and regulations that scare away major employers. We must end our international reputation as a jurisdiction hostile to business. Robert will promote a business-friendly climate. He will propose a requirement that two regulations be struck from the books for each new regulation passed on business.”
I really don’t disagree but can you clarify a bit.
Which specific regulations are scaring away major employers that you will reform, and into what new policies?
What exact plans do you have for promoting a business friendly environment and ending our international reputation as a jurisdiction hostile to business?
What regulations do you want to strike? And which ones will you introduce?
JOBS/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Delete“Even incumbent councilmember Hans Riemer's former chief-of-staff admits Montgomery County's private sector economy is "stagnant."” Again I do not disagree. Do we have actual data on that from a reputable source?
“Robert will turn our moribund County economy around by focusing on attracting high-wage jobs in aerospace, defense and technology.”
How do you propose to attract these jobs? What specific plan will you focus on?
“Our current Council has chosen to "fight the future," penalizing and stifling innovations like Uber and airbnb, rather than encouraging them. Robert will do the opposite, ensuring our residents enjoy the benefits of innovation, while encouraging the companies who are developing those innovations to relocate here.”
Can you explain what the council is doing now and what you would do instead?
“Montgomery County has lost over 2000 retail jobs, according to the Maryland Retailers Association, and has a net loss of jobs over the last decade even as the jurisidictions around us enjoyed a net gain. "Going out of business" and "Everything must go!" signs are now ubiquitous around the County.”
Didn’t you say folding jeans isn’t what’s going to save the economy or something like that?
How does Montgomery county compare to regional or national trends in this specific category you’re focusing on?
"He will propose a requirement that two regulations be struck from the books for each new regulation passed on business.”
ReplyDeleteThis is utterly ridiculous. Do you think regulations are implemented just to annoy people?
The push-back against AirBNB isn't coming from the County. It's coming from HOAs, condos, and apartment owners who do not want their residential communities and properties being used as motels.
ReplyDeleteThose HOAs, apartment owners, etc can pass bylaws limiting short term rentals if they so choose.
Delete"Going out of business" and "Everything must go!" signs are now ubiquitous around the Country.”
ReplyDeleteFixed it for you.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retail_apocalypse
LOL @ Dyer saying MoCo needs to be more competitive with attracting businesses while his NIMBY on Westbard prevents businesses from relocating. F'ing hypocrite!
ReplyDeleteFunny how someone who has never paid property taxes in his life, is so upset about them.
ReplyDeleteDyer would be the first Bethesda resident on the Council in a generation.
ReplyDeleteI've been very detailed about what I would do:
ReplyDelete"I will lead the effort to give us direct access to Dulles Airport with a new Potomac River crossing, and strongly support Gov. Larry Hogan's Express Lane congestion relief plan. I will propose Zero-Based Budgeting to address our structural deficit and massive debt, and repeal the Council's 2016 property tax hike and 2010 energy tax over 4 years. Finally, I will introduce a bill to require elimination of two existing regulations for each new regulation imposed on County businesses."
I will also get government out of the liquor business!
7:19: I would be supporting innovations like Uber, airbnb, etc., not trying to run them out of the County like the current Council.
Embarrassingly, it was revealed that, in the time prior to the de facto airbnb ban, Silver Spring airbnb hosts had made over $3.6 million, according to the Baltimore business journal.
Now, thanks to Helpless Hans Riemer, those hosts - and our County's dwindling tax coffers - will take a major financial hit.
Heckuva job, Brownie!
7:23: Much like Uber, I don't hear anyone I know complaining about airbnb - they're too busy using them!
Does any millennials roll up on the club in a Barwood cab? LOL
7:29: "LOL" I call BS - There is literally no office space in the Regency Centers or Westbard sector plans, Einstein.
ReplyDelete"I will also get government out of the liquor business!"
ReplyDeleteA worthy goal, but how will you accomplish it?
"our County's dwindling tax coffers"
ReplyDeleteGot any actual numbers?
Barwood's solution to be competitive with Uber was to paint their cars black.
ReplyDeleteYeah, they think the old blue paint was the problem.
7:42am MoCo's business friendly? Lol.
ReplyDeleteFunny...ask anyone trying to open a business here about that.
@ 7:45 AM - Has Robert Dyer ever tried to open a business here?
Delete7:36: Yeah - $120,000,000 budget shortfall this year, ongoing structural deficit as far out as the forecast goes.
ReplyDelete7:35: End it. All liquor sales will be private.
What would a second crossing to VA cost us?
DeleteI’m all for private liquor sales also, but how do you make the transition? Don’t we have bonds against future sales? Also the loss of revenue will increase the existing budget deficit. Mister Dyer, how do you propose to close that gap?
Delete"End it" is a great idea, but how will you accomplish that?
ReplyDeleteFrom the discussion here, it seems residents are hungry for change.
ReplyDeleteGood point- The "going out of business" signs are ubiquitous. Too many darkened, empty retail spaces around town.
How come the only people who praise Dyer, do so in anonymous comments?
ReplyDeleteHow come the only people who criticize Dyer have their comments deleted?
ReplyDelete8:40am not true- plenty of debate right in this thread
Delete"Does any millennials roll up on the club"
ReplyDeleteWut???
8:15 AM - Agreed. Montgomery Mall sucks. I stopped shopping there years ago.
ReplyDeleteIts Retarrrrrrrrrdddddddddddd hour!!!!!!! qith quesaaaaaaaa dilllluhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh dyer
ReplyDeleteSo many nonsense and lies in the article and in Dyer's comments.
ReplyDeleteLow-paying manufacturing jobs have never been a priority in Montgomery County. Every one of the biotech jobs announced (which you purposely did not report on, since it contradicts your ridiculous claims) probably pays two-three times more than the jobs leaving Germantown.
"I will lead the effort to give us direct access to Dulles Airport with a new Potomac River crossing"
How exactly do you propose to do that when Governor Hogan and any potential Democratic replacement is opposed to this idiotic idea?
There's a lot to ridicule here, but we should be pressing candidates on how they plan to address the structural deficit and why they think their plans for economic growth will produce better outcomes than the current council's plans, which failed to deliver revenue at the same pace as they produced costs.
ReplyDelete"How exactly do you propose to do that when Governor Hogan and any potential Democratic replacement is opposed to this idiotic idea?"
ReplyDeleteAnd the leaders in Virginia oppose it, too.
The Bridge To Nowhere would give "direct access to Dulles" only for areas north of Gaithersburg.
It's a good thing that the developer of 1812 North Moore Street was able to entice Nestle to move there. But how many years will it take them to break even, given that this building, the tallest office building in the region, remained completely vacant for four years after it was built?
ReplyDeleteSaith Dyer"
ReplyDelete"I will also get government out of the liquor business!"
"7:35: End it. All liquor sales will be private."
Again, how will you accomplish this? You can't just write an executive order when you are one Councilperson out of nine*.
*Assuming, just for the sake of argument, that you will actually be one of the four out of 32 candidates who is elected.
10:30 AM You can disagree about another Potomac River crossing, but it isn't "idiotic" to propose it. If access to Dulles was not relevant, why does Montgomery County highlight having "direct access" to Dulles in their Amazon HQ2 proposal? (and presumably in all of their other corporate HQ proposals).
ReplyDelete10:58AM Also, traffic is quality of life issue for residents. Another river crossing is part of the solution.
ReplyDelete"Volkswagen of America began its move from Auburn Hills to Herndon in April 2008. The company anticipated that 600 of the 1,400 staff would remain at Auburn Hills in the call center and technical services positions, while 400 jobs would transferred to Virginia. About 150 employees in Michigan were expected to move to Herndon, Volkswagen of America President and CEO Stefan Jacoby said. The 400 remaining jobs were to be cut."
ReplyDeleteGeneral Dynamics headquarters - 200 employees.
ReplyDeletepunk punk punk punk punk
ReplyDelete#oldsport
DYER! DON'T LET THE FUCKING DOORKNOB HIT YOUR SPLIT ON THE WAY OUT. Bye Felicia! Er, bobby.
ReplyDeleteIt's been shown that the typical Fortune 500 headquarters has about 500 staff. It would be useful to know how many of these actually require international flights on a regular basis.
ReplyDelete1:10pm well... Volkswagen definitely.
DeleteI read this site daily. One observation:
Dyer has been advocating for corporate headquarters consistently and people argued here that they weren't important. Same people are now saying Amazon HQ2 will be a game changer.
Can we admit Robert Dyer was right all along?
1:18 I don’t think many people arguing against Dyer actually disagree with some of his points, just the way he says it, his logic getting there, and his insistence that his way is the only way and he’s always right.
DeleteSpecifically on Fortune 500 headquarters, as a daily reader I see it more as readers saying it’s not the *only* thing that matters, and that’s what Dyer is constantly harping on.
2:33pm Maryland and MoCo are talking like they're betting the farm on Amazon HQ2.
Deletealpaaaaaaaaaacaaaaaaaaaa reeeeeetaaaaaaaaaaaaaardo
ReplyDeleteBetween 200 employees at General Dynamics, 400 at Volkswagen, and 50,000 at AMZHQw, most would agree that the last is a much bigger deal.
ReplyDeleteIf there’s any debates or town halls for the at-large County Council spot it’ll be interesting to see how Robert justifies calling people hobos and the litany of other insults he’s lobbed. Let’s hope Robert won’t threaten to bodyslam anyone if there are debates. Hans beat him by 40,000 last time? What’s the over/under this time 75,000 votes?
ReplyDelete3:26pm should be an interesting period of time. Long list of names running, but where have they been fighting for their communities the past several years? Meanwhile, Dyer has been leading the fight on many issues.
Delete3:49 More anonymous Attaboys for Dyer.
ReplyDeleteI'm voting for Tarnation Bob.
ReplyDeleteThe questions get too difficult for Dyer to answer and he disappears.
ReplyDelete#DodgingDyer