In a recent post, Pagnucco showed that, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Montgomery County has the lowest rate of growth of new business establishments in the region since 2000. Only the tiny City of Falls Church has fared worse, and think of how small they are in relation to Montgomery County (they have only 15,000 residents vs. our 1.4 million).
Who was ahead of Montgomery County in new establishment growth? [If you are a Montgomery County elected official, consider this a trigger warning, and an opportune time to slip a paper bag over your head before your constituents read the following list] Loudoun County with 134% growth of new businesses established, Spotsylvania County 86%, Prince William County 82%, Stafford County 79%, Culpeper County 58%, Arlington County 42%, Fauquier County 42%, Warren County 37%, District of Columbia 37%, Rappahannock County 32%, the D.C. region as a whole 32%, Frederick County 31%, Fairfax City 30%, Fairfax County 30%, Manassas City 28%, Manassas Park City 27%, Jefferson WV 23%, Calvert County 22%, Alexandria 20%, Clarke 19%, Charles County 16%, City of Fredericksburg 12%, Prince George's County 12%.
Montgomery County, by contrast, had a paltry 10% growth rate in new establishments.
Good God. Humiliating!
The Montgomery County Council again has their [briefcases] handed to them by...Culpeper County???? LOL. Fredneck??? LOL. Jefferson bleeping West Virginia? Bleep, yes.
We already knew that Montgomery County has failed to attract a single major corporate headquarters in two decades. And that the Maryland Retailers Association reported a net loss of over 2100 retail jobs in Montgomery since 2000. But Pagnucco has found even more staggering statistics to add to the Montgomery Moribundity.
Just looking at the post-recession years alone, 2011-2016, the District of Columbia and Fairfax County enjoyed a net gain of 3000 new establishments each. Over those same years, Montgomery County had a net gain of...6. That's a single digit folks. Six.
And how about this: Pagnucco discovered only 19 new business filings in Montgomery County were recorded with the State of Maryland in FY-2016. Nineteen.
Again, a total humiliation.
Who beat us that year within our own state? Worcester County was at the top, with 138 new business filings. Somebody call Rodney the Lifeguard to save our drowning County Council!
Pagnucco notes that 2011 was the first fiscal year completely impacted by the County Council's massive 2010 energy tax hike. He ends one of his reports with perhaps the most pertinent question in this election year:
"Which candidates for office do you think can help turn this around?"
Myself, for one. Visit my website to see why I am the best choice for the Montgomery County Council At-Large to turn around Montgomery County's utterly moribund economy.
When is your next public campaign event?
ReplyDeleteIt's time for Robert Dyer's Friday Morning #FractallyWrong #ArgleBargle, Kiddies!
ReplyDelete5:01: Are you claiming the U.S. BLS is wrong? The County Council has been caught dead to rights again as the creators of the region's most-moribund economy. Humiliating!
ReplyDeleteHave you ever established a business, Robert?
ReplyDelete5:05: More than one.
ReplyDeleteThe byline is kind of confusing for both articles. Are they by Adam Pagnucco, by David Lublin, or by both?
ReplyDeleteWhen is your next public campaign event?
ReplyDeleteI ask every day.
You ignore the question, every day.
You've changed this blog to align with your campaign:
"Authority: Friends of Robert F. Dyer, D. Dyer, Treas. Awesome Inc. theme. Powered by Blogger. "
Why won't you answer a simple question?
"More than one."
ReplyDeleteLike, what number? Two? Three? Four?
Do/did they have names?
Do they still exist? If not, what happened to them?
Why so cagey? Why wouldn't you brag about your accomplishments?
Small but important distinction: The data doesn’t actually tell us how many new businesses were established over the listed period. It shows the net growth rate. Without knowing how many establishments closed, we can’t say how many new ones opened.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, who would vote for someone who won't answer the most basic of questions? Like actual work experience.
ReplyDeleterobert dyer is not good at data analysis. he doesn't know anything about statistics... not even arm chair stats. the type of business you run is a youtube channel with fast food reviews and you get google ad checks. That's about it. You'll never say something more specific or major, because if you really did, you wouldn't leave it to run for office and you'd LOVE to claim it and brag just like you do about people who come here to chuckle at your nutty posts in droves.
ReplyDelete5:32: You seem to have forgotten about my music career, which is a business. Budgets, deadlines, project and employee management. All things 8 of the 9 current Council members have no experience at - and it shows.
ReplyDeleteRobert. You are delusional. Kids in middle school bands have better musical careers. Laughable. What are you 99,876,672nd best seller on amazon?
Delete5:14: Wrong. The set of stats in the second half of the article refer to the net gain/loss numbers for D.C., Fairfax and MoCo. (Spoiler alert: we lost).
ReplyDeleteWhat was your band's name? What were its most popular singles or albums? How many employees did it have during its history? How much did you earn from it?
ReplyDeleteThe ridiculously vague, cagey crap that you post like this is fodder for the local Alinskys.
Did you report your band's income to the IRS and the Maryland Comptroller of the Treasury?
ReplyDeleteWhat's your background, Dyer? Education? Your website says nothing. Why so secretive? Hiding much?
ReplyDelete(keep deleting. I've got all day...)
LOLOLOL "I've got all day..." Yeah, Dyer's the loser here!
DeleteHere’s a softball question. Direct question, direct answer please. Where did you record your most recent album, Robert? When did you record it?
ReplyDeleteI guess you missed this question.
ReplyDeleteI'll keep asking.
When is your next public campaign event?
Robert Dyer's 2006 campaign statement in the Gazette mentioned that his education was "A.A. Montgomery College; B.A. History University of Maryland." Yet this is not mentioned on this website nor on his campaign website.
ReplyDeleteVery strange!
5:50: I've complied with all local, state and federal tax laws - it doesn't get any clearer than that.
ReplyDelete5:52: I have a BA in History. You apparently don't realize that people can steal your identity if you put all your specific information out there. I'm one of the few who didn't give Facebook all my information, and now look who has that type of info on 18 billion people. We'd be better off with smart people like me in office, rather than the very stupid people in there right now.
5:53: In terms of a "Robert Dyer" album that was officially released under my name, in 2000. It was recorded at Avalon Sound Studio in Bethesda.
It's obvious that "anonymous" doesn't want to discuss the economic stagnation of MoCo and would rather debate Dyer's music. lol. Looking forward to the real debates on the issues this election season!
ReplyDelete6:00: I don't currently have any campaign events scheduled. There are election events I am participating in, such as candidate forums, which will be announced on my website.
ReplyDelete6:01: Not strange at all in the era of identity theft.
6:02AM #2 - because “People who fail to regard the truth seriously in small matters, cannot be trusted in matters that are great.” — Albert Einstein
ReplyDeleteThese figures don't make any sense. There are 19 new business filings in any single incubator or in any single zip code's restaurant scene, alone. Are you trying to say there's only a small NET gain of business filings every year, e.g. a NET gain of 19 in 2016? That'd make more sense, though it's a pretty worthless figure on its own - if Gaithersburg gains a new pharma company w/250 $100K jobs and Rockville loses an ice cream shop with 12 part-time workers that equals zero growth, according to the (not very useful) metric you're using.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you hit a nerve! What's that, nearly 20 council-bot posts within 1 hour of your post. Impressive!
ReplyDelete6:02: You can tell when the MoCo cartel has been bodyslammed through the coffee table - they go nuts, as you can see here. The above article, like Adam Pagnucco's reports, are completely devastating to the County political machine.
ReplyDeleteIf they’re so devastating why will Hans beat you by another 60,000 votes?
DeleteWhy not? There have been several in my area. Neighborhood meet and greets. They've been wonderful informative.
ReplyDeletewonderfully sheesh...sorry for being so anti-grammatical.
ReplyDelete6:04: Then I assume you are shortly going to write a letter to the editor of the Washington Post condemning Helpless Hans Riemer for his many lies and exaggerations? Such as claiming he was Obama's youth director in November 2008, when he had actually been terminated in April 2008?
ReplyDeleteOverexaggerating his role at AARP? On Council legislation (which his own colleagues have ripped him for)?
Claiming Westbard was "a mile from two Metros?"
Start typing!!
6:04: You don't think it matters that D.C. and Fairfax had 3000 net establishments since 2011, but we only had six?
ReplyDeleteIn what world is that a healthy and good thing?
6:07: Probably only if the Post continues to blackout coverage of me, and the cemetery precincts come in strong for Riemer again. That's why we need poll watchers at the precincts with suspicious activity this year.
5:49: No, you are delusional. Career does not equal success. Unlike Helpless Hans Riemer, I haven't exaggerated my resume.
Council-bots lololol. Good one sucka.
ReplyDeleteThere's 37 other people running, yet you ignore all the others to focus on one man. One lone man. Hans Riemer. Sounds personal to me. I'll tell you one thing, he NEVER threatened to bodyslam me face first into a glass coffeetable.
Residents do need to be vigilant and report any shady election dirty tricks, like what Reamer & Co. pulled in Randolph Hills.
ReplyDelete5:14: Wrong. The set of stats in the second half of the article refer to the net gain/loss numbers for D.C., Fairfax and MoCo. (Spoiler alert: we lost).
ReplyDeleteUm...you just proved my point, actually. The article refers to net gain/loss numbers -- that's right! -- but it does not break out the number of new business establishments.
And why must everything turn back to President Reimer? You're running against dozens of people -- why the obsession with him? By the way, you're the one lying about his resume. Mr. Reimer says he worked to get Obama elected in 2008. He did. He never claimed he worked for them for the entirety of the campaign.
ReplyDeleteLOL @ Shill @ 6:13 AM - Please state what that flyer in Randolph Hills actually said, and how it was a "shady election dirty trick" (which is kinda redundant).
ReplyDelete#DodgingUnsignedDyer
Nope. No dirty tricks. Like "fake news", it just means something happened that Dyer didn't like, so he pops out the conspiracies angle.
ReplyDeleteThe Washington Post people have no idea who he is. I've asked. A lot.
There is no "blackout" they aren't banned from using his name.
"In terms of a "Robert Dyer" album that was officially released under my name, in 2000. It was recorded at Avalon Sound Studio in Bethesda."
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of that. Can you tell us more? How many sales?
BA in history. It's a step. What's your work history? What, besides opinions, makes you qualified?
ReplyDeleteUsing Randolph Hills funds to distribute a flyer attacking one candidate (Dyer) is certainly improper.
ReplyDeleteIt didn't attack him. Why must you lie?
ReplyDeletePost it. Prove it.
@ 6:20 PM - Why is it so hard for you to say what the flyer actually said, and what law it actually violated?
ReplyDelete#DodgingUnsignedDyer
#BetterCallSaulAlinsky
Yeah, where is this flyer you speak of? I'd like to see it.
ReplyDeletePowerful headline: "MoCo worst in region in business growth"
ReplyDeleteOfficial Response from Council staff here: "How many record sales does Dyer have?"
6:20: You obviously haven't read my website - it doesn't just have opinions, but a partial list of accomplishments from over a decade of activism. The other candidates have suddenly appeared for an election, whereas I've had boots on the ground on the major issues for over 10 years. A few have been active in their own community, but this is a countywide seat. I have worked and gotten things done countywide, not just in Bethesda. So I am clearly one of the most qualified, and I would argue, the most qualified, for this office.
ReplyDeleteMore of the vague cagey crap without any specific employment or accomplishments.
ReplyDelete6:25: That would be my response probably, if I was in their sad position. But they don't have a record.
ReplyDelete6:24: It wasn't a flyer, it was the civic association newsletter, paid for by civic association funds, which is illegal to engage in political campaigning for or against a candidate with.
6:23: You better believe it attacked me - it said I was not in line with the best interests of Randolph Hills. It also falsely claimed that I had not offered any ideas, only "attacks." Total BS. And it cost me votes. Once the FBI investigates, it will cost them a lot more.
@ 6:25 PM - Dyer can't just run on "MoCo Bad. MoCo Bad. MoCo Bad. MoCo Bad. MoCo Bad. Recording Artist. MoCo Bad." He needs to demonstrate to the voters why he is a better candidate than the others (30+) who are running.
ReplyDelete6:29: The site has a list of specific accomplishments. If you are illiterate, that doesn't mean it isn't on there.
ReplyDelete6:32: Visit my site. It clearly explains why I am the most-qualified, and has a very detailed agenda. Is English your first language?
ReplyDelete"...paid for by civic association funds, which is illegal to engage in political campaigning for or against a candidate with"
ReplyDeletePlease diagram that sentence. LOL
But can you cite the law that was actually broken here? Also, the amount of association funds that were actually spent on said flyer? It's perfectly legal for citizens' associations to advise their members which candidates best represent their associations' interests.
"Got hole in wall filled in."
ReplyDelete"Got fountain turned on."
LOL
Mr Dyer, just this week you demonstrated that you don’t even understand how averages are calculated. This doesn’t make you most-qualified, it gets you disqualified.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand the vitriol here. Is there some perverse pleasure in ganging up on Robert? What do you want him to do?
ReplyDelete6:35: No, it's illegal to campaign for, or against, a candidate using a civic association mailer. You have to register a PAC and raise funds to do that legally. How would I be in a position to know how much the mailing and printing cost? Ask Mr. Riemer's henchman - he was the president of the RHCA!
ReplyDelete6:36: That, and a whole lot more. And yet, I did all this with no power, while the actual Council was unable to achieve the accomplishments listed there on my website. Imagine what I could get done if I had the power of a Council seat!
6:37: By claiming that a 1-month trend trumps a 3-month trend in temperature, you demonstrated you were functionally and scientifically illiterate. No one is taking you seriously, old sport.
Now back to the topic of the article, which is so devastating to your beloved stooges on the County Council. BOOM.
"By claiming that a 1-month trend trumps a 3-month trend in temperature"
ReplyDeleteDecember 2018 - slightly below average
January 2018 - average
February 2018 - way above average.
Sorry, Dyer. You can't look at these statistics with even the most basic arithmetic skills and claim what you just did.
"No, it's illegal to campaign for, or against, a candidate using a civic association mailer."
ReplyDeleteWhat law actually says this?
6:58: Your numbers are wrong.
ReplyDelete6:59: You seriously don't know the answer? LOL Then why would you question the illegality of it?
7:03: So if reality doesn't match with your view, then recordings of objective data must be wrong? The temperatures were what they were! Nevermind your false claims about the summer of 2016, which was one of the hottest ever.
ReplyDelete"You seriously don't know the answer? LOL"
ReplyDeleteTranslation: Dyer just made it up. LOL
Seriously, it's not my job to prove that Dyer's claim is wrong. It's Dyer's job to prove his claim.
I bet Council staff would rather talk about the weather instead of this bad economic data.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness for term limits.
Boy, that escalated quickly.
ReplyDeleteHard to understand why the trolls constantly bashing Dyer are so worked up about this. The post he is referencing is derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics data. His point is extremely accurate and shown in the data, MoCo's growth is much slower than neighboring areas. There really isn't anything 'controversial' about that.
7:30AM I don't see any "personal attacks" on councilmembers. Scrutinizing their record in office is not a "personal attack".
ReplyDeleteThese councilmen are certainly sensitive to journalists being skeptical. The legacy media doesn't bother.
7:30 AM "Didn't read the article, but here's my comment"
ReplyDeleteThat sums up the typical troll here.
"Is English your first language?" may not be the best approach if you're running for office. You do realize over 20% of MoCo residents were born outside the US right? They can vote, but things like that aren't going to endear them to your campaign.
ReplyDelete7:43
ReplyDeleteYou must be new here. Maybe he hasn't in this article, but Dyer frequently attacks members of the council on this blog, particularly Riemer. Just browse through some of the comment sections of recent posts.
"Riemer seizes Council presidency, declares war on his constituents"
ReplyDelete"A backroom political deal culminated Tuesday with a unanimous vote by the Montgomery County Council naming Councilmember Hans Riemer Council President for the final year of their current term. In a rambling seven minute speech, Riemer took aim at the County's established suburban neighborhoods of "cul-de-sacs," which he described as "appealing, if exclusive, suburban communit[ies]" that are home to "those who already have every advantage."
"Delivered with a sneering tone and slight smirk, Riemer's remarks echoed those of his colleague George Leventhal a few years ago. Leventhal declared the suburbs "a mistake," and during the Westbard sector plan battle, told residents angry about the plan to urbanize their neighborhood they should just be glad they were "lucky" enough to live there.
"People used to come here to get away from the city," Riemer said Tuesday, announcing a new "metropolitan" identity for a County where a majority live in leafy, suburban neighborhoods. Riemer appeared delusional when referring to the visceral anger displayed by residents toward the Council in the last several years - a backlash that culminated in the passage of term limits by an overwhelming margin in November 2016. Despite having his own term limited by that vote, in Riemer's world, "emotions in our community are charged" because of Donald Trump, not his own votes for tax hikes and urbanization of existing rural and suburban neighborhoods.
"Riemer's Trump-like reputation for falsehoods was on full display in yesterday's speech. Moments before casting a vote to pass the controversial Westbard sector plan in 2016, Riemer claimed the Westbard community was "a mile from two Metros." That was a four-Pinocchio whopper, given that Westbard is at least two miles from any Metro station, nowhere near the quarter-to-half mile distance universally agreed upon for "transit-oriented development."
"On Tuesday, Riemer stated that the Purple Line would place the University of Maryland "minutes away" from Montgomery County residents. In reality, the light rail's average speed between Bethesda and College Park will be less than 19 MPH. He came up with a new definition for the County's longstanding achievement gap between white and Asian students, and their black and Latino peers. Stunning observers active on education issues, Riemer falsely described Montgomery County Public Schools' gap as only affecting those between the ages of "zero and five." A clever scheme to absolve failed County officials from any blame, but unfortunately, completely false.
"Riemer was more honest about the County's hated government-controlled liquor monopoly, which he took steps to strengthen and preserve during his current term. "We may have a reputation for liquor control," Riemer acknowledged. That control has frustrated restaurant and bar owners, who are forced to pay higher prices while getting poor selection and service from the County. Meanwhile, residents are among the few in America who cannot purchase beer and wine from grocery, drug and chain convenience stores.
"Riemer's disdain for his suburban constituents, who represent a majority of County residents, raises questions as to how he intends to get anything done this year. It also brought to mind a quote from chef Anthony Bourdain:
"He’s a classic example of the smirking, contemptuous, privileged guy who lives in a bubble. And he is in no way looking to reach outside, or even look outside, of that bubble, in an empathetic way.”
Scrutinizing their record in office is not a "personal attack".
ReplyDeleteHow about making **** up out of thin air? Like claiming they've lied about their experience? That sure sounds like an attack to me.
8:18, 8:22 - that sounds like a much more serious ethical violation than simply pointing out that Robert Dyer is not the best person to represent Randolph Hills' interests.
ReplyDelete8:48 AM Distributing a flyer with false information on where one candidate stands on issues certainly isn't representing the neighborhood's interests.
ReplyDeleteThe flyer is evidence of dirty tricks.
1) "Riemer claimed the Westbard community was 'a mile from two Metros'."
ReplyDelete2) "That was a four-Pinocchio whopper, given that Westbard is at least two miles from any Metro station."
Actually (1) is closer to the truth than (2).
@ 8:54 PM - What was the "false information" in that flyer? It would be helpful if you could actually quote it directly.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of illiterate, the question above wasn't about activism. What jobs have you had? Real ones, with salaries and responsibilities and stuff.
ReplyDelete8:56 AM No real estate agent has ever or will ever say any home in "westbard" is "walking distance to two Metros". It's just false. Either Reimer is misinformed or not telling the truth.
ReplyDeleteComments are starting to disappear...
ReplyDelete8:28: What did I "make up?" Riemer being out as Youth Director for Obama in April 2008 was confirmed by an Obama campaign staffer. It's Helpless Hans who is known for exaggerating and lying, not me.
ReplyDelete8:48: They did more than "point out," which they are not allowed to do under the law, by the way. Using civic association funds to campaign is ILLEGAL. Period.
8:56: The Washington Post reported in May 2016 that Riemer's claim was totally false. You are geographically-challenged, but not surprising, since - like Riemer - you are a carpetbagger.
8:59: Already told you above. Are you illiterate?
9:02: Professional musician, songwriter, producer, internationally-distributed recording artist, YouTube creator, journalist, publisher and CEO Suburban News Network. And the most impressive countywide activism resume of any candidate in the race. More responsibilities than you, shilling for the County Council crooks for pizza money and a free, dingy apartment on the wrong side of town.
"Professional musician, songwriter, producer, internationally-distributed recording artist, YouTube creator, journalist, publisher and CEO Suburban News Network. And the most impressive countywide activism resume of any candidate in the race."
ReplyDeleteDo you have any references?
"it said I was not in line with the best interests of Randolph Hills."
ReplyDeleteIs that what it said, exactly? Direct quote? Is that all? How is that false?
It was researched and reported here a few years back.
ReplyDeleteThere was nothing to Dyer's claim.
It was perfectly legal, within campaign laws, and, as usual, blown out of proportion by Dyer.
It was printed here or a link was given and we viewed the actual paper.
Bill Turque said: "The shopping center is actually 2.2 miles from the Friendship Heights Metro station and 3.3 miles from the Bethesda stop."
ReplyDeleteGuess what, Turque is wrong, too. While "just a mile" is clearly understating the distance, it is actually closer than Turque's claimed distances for both stations. I don't know how he got those distances - the one for Bethesda in particular is way off. Heading southwest from Bethesda, "3.3 miles" gets you almost to Sibley Hospital, and going in the opposite direction from Westbard, gets you to Cedar Lane.
9:26: Horse****, Mr. Haiku. It was totally illegal, and the FBI will be very interested to read that "actual paper."
ReplyDelete9:30: Who would believe an anonymous troll over the Washington Post? LOL You need a GPS, old sport.
9:20: I got five of 'em right here.
9:21: Uh, because my questionnaire responses were all about protecting Randolph Hills from the White Flint urbanization. I already also explained how they falsely claimed I had only attacked, rather than offering policies. But most importantly, you can't say any of that in a newsletter if you are using civic association money (which they were), unless you want to go to prison. Remember the guy who went to jail for the robocalls?