SLOTS IN

MONTGOMERY COUNTY?

Montgomery May Soon Be Last

County in MD without a Casino

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

If you own the Arundel Mills Casino, you're having a bad weekend.

First, Prince Georges County announced plans to open a casino with more slots than a Vegas parlor.

Friday, multiple media outlets reported that Charles County wants a piece of the action. State lawmakers are quickly and quietly moving on legislation to allow the southern Maryland county to open a casino.

Here's the best part: it is located less than one foot from Virginia soil.

If you're not aware, starting at the low tide mark on the shore in Colonial Beach, Virginia, Maryland has jurisdiction over the waters of the Potomac River.

During the 1950s, several casinos operated on piers at Colonial Beach until the gambling was outlawed. On those perches over the water, they were technically in Charles County.

One such casino remained after the golden age ended. I happen to be very familiar with Colonial Beach, and I can tell you this place used to be called The Reno.

Today, it is known as "The Riverboat on the Potomac," and Virginia company Blueridge Ventures is asking for a license to add 1200 slot machines. It estimates these machines would raise $46.5 million annually for the state of Maryland.

The proposal would require the consent of Maryland voters on the 2012 ballot. We now know that Maryland voters will approve just about anything they are told to approve, given that those same "anti-casino" voters handily approved slots a few years ago.

So this legislation is near certain to pass. It should be especially appealing to Maryland politicians and voters, because Maryland gets all the revenue, while Virginia mops up any resulting crime or social problems.

At the same time, I can also tell you from experience, that Colonial Beach has been experiencing hard times tourism-wise since slots left town in the late 50s. Obviously, that was before my time, but the last nice stuff was crumbling away through the 80s and 90s.

So they'll be glad for the influx of gamblers. And the world doesn't seem to end in the many Canadian towns that host casinos. But it does pose a challenge to destinations that want to be known as "family-friendly."

It's funny that just a few weeks ago, I was raising the question of whether a casino would ever open in Montgomery County. The idea seems impossible now. But, as I mentioned, look what happened in Prince Georges County. Much like statewide opinion polls showed, Prince Georges overwhelmingly opposed slots when Gov. Bob Ehrlich proposed legalizing them. And Gov. O'Malley said slots were "morally bankrupt."

About a year later, O'Malley was the biggest backer of one-armed bandits on the East Coast. Ike Leggett and several councilmembers urged Montgomery's delegation in Annapolis to vote for slots - and most did.

And Prince Georges County? A recent poll showed a very slim majority of residents now support slots.

I mention these facts for your consideration, to realize just how quickly political machines in Maryland and local counties can flip-flop on a hot potato issue as contentious as slots.

And how quickly they can use the media to change public opinion.

National Harbor developer Peterson Cos. is supporting that massive casino, which would be located at that site. Peterson is now part of a smaller development here in Bethesda, called Rock Spring. It has been said that hotels at National Harbor and in Ocean City were pre-configured for slots, even though no official plans existed for such casinos at the time.

With casinos popping up in every large county in the state, politicians ready to flip-flop overnight, and county and state spending increasing rather than downsizing...

...how much longer will it be before someone asks for a casino license in Montgomery County?

You have to wonder. I'm predicting it now. Write that down, and tell me if I'm right in a few years.

What do you think about a casino (or more than one) opening in Burtonsville or Bethesda? Impossible? Terrible idea? "Brilliant, I'll be there every weekend?"

The news from Charles and Prince Georges County suggests the time to think about the issue is now.

MONTGOMERY MALL

TO

BETHESDA MEDICAL

CENTER

BIKEWAY UPDATE

$21,000 State Grant to Fund

Signage, Paint

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

As I reported a few days ago, Governor Martin O'Malley has announced a grant of $21,000 to fund an official state bikeway connecting Westfield Montgomery Mall with the Bethesda Medical Center Metro station.

I noted that the announcement was vague on specifics, and would update you on the project.

After contacting the appropriate office at the Maryland Department of Transportation, I know a bit more than I did, but much is still speculative.

I had guesstimated the other day that the relatively small amount of money wouldn't cover much more than signs and paint. That was confirmed by Kate Sylvester of MDOT's Office of Planning and Capital Programming, who said the funds would indeed go towards wayfaring signage, and possibly "pavement markings and bike-friendly drainage grates."

Regarding a map of the new bikeway, none currently exists, she said.

"The exact route is not finalized yet. MDOT will be following up with Montgomery County in the next few weeks to learn more about the exact route and the steps the county will take to complete it," Sylvester explained.

You might be wondering what a "wayfaring sign" is.

The Federal Highway Administration sets standards for "official" wayfaring signs.

Wayfaring signs include one or more of the following elements:

A directional arrow, the name of a destination (i.e. Medical Center), the mileage to the listed location, and a bicycle icon to indicate the information is for bicyclists.

The signs approved by the FHWA feature reflective, white text on a green background.

Chicago was the first jurisdiction in the nation to install FHWA-approved wayfaring signs. Northern Virginia has them in some areas.

Hopefully, in a few weeks we'll know the exact route, and a timetable for completion of the bikeway.

MD BOARD OF

PUBLIC WORKS

HANDS I-95

TRAVEL PLAZAS

TO

AREAS USA

Existing Operator HMSHost May Sue

The travel plaza soap opera appeared to reach its grand finale yesterday, as Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and Treasurer Nancy Kopp voted to approve a public-private partnership with Areas USA.

But just as the fat lady prepared to enter from stage right, Areas USA's Bethesda rival HMSHost stole the spotlight, threatening new legal action in what it says was an unfair process.

Comptroller Peter Franchot continued to enhance his growing reputation as an independent player, strongly questioning the wisdom of proceeding with the deal under such legal storm clouds.

The 2-1 decision puts the state in the awkward position of having evicted a Maryland company - with over 1,000 employees in the state - from its travel plazas. And doing so days after HMSHost was named "Best Overall Food and Beverage Operator" in the United States. And just won a ton of awards for its airport concessions at American airports nationwide.

Oops.

Now HMSHost may have to fire employees who worked at or managed the plazas. Not exactly a great PR move for the state during a time of record unemployment.

The other concern, and sadly, one that is all too common in today's Montgomery County, is that poor government relations with HMSHost will make them more likely to move their headquarters to a more business-friendly place. Like Northern Virginia? Here we go again.

Areas USA's bid is an impressive one. Should their very optimistic revenue projections be met, the deal would clearly be a winner for the state. O'Malley and Kopp are gambling that this will be the case.

It would be better, however, for the state to hear a matching offer from HMSHost and Airport Plazas/Tishman Construction. If they can't match it, then the taxpayer can be confident that they got the best deal from Areas.

I hope we can have that type of closure. That would avoid lengthy trials. And it would give Areas USA a chance to proceed with 110% effort on building two outstanding travel plazas, without this soap opera diverting company time and resources.

At this hour, however, it appears that only a judge can order such a resolution to this dispute.

MD TRAVEL PLAZA

SOAP OPERA

CONTINUES TO

GENERATE SUDS

Bethesda's HMSHost May File Suit,

Questions Raised About Areas USA

After the Maryland Transportation Authority's strong rejection of HMSHost and Airport Plazas complaints of an unfair bidding process, new questions have been raised about the Spanish subsidiary, Areas USA, primed to renovate and operate two I-95 travel plazas.

HMSHost may go to court over the matter.

One interesting note is that the Baltimore Sun coverage is now acknowledging that Areas is in fact a subsidiary of a Spanish firm.

That's one of the most compelling storylines about this matter. Even as state elected officials stress job creation, they would be choosing a foreign firm over one that pays heavy state and Montgomery County taxes.

Areas also lacks experience in managing travel plazas, though that doesn't mean they wouldn't be successful; the company has a large portfolio in related transportation services.

It is not known if Airport Plazas intends to pursue legal options in the matter, as well.

Meanwhile, losing bidders are questioning the Areas bid, saying that there's no way Areas can operate a plaza for the relatively small amount it has claimed.

One other twist to consider: when this matter goes to the Board of Public Works on February 22, all three board members hail from Montgomery County, home to HMSHost.

HMSHost I-95 TRAVEL

PLAZA CHALLENGE

REBUKED BY MTA

Recent challenges to the Maryland Transportation Authority's decision, to allow Spanish subsidiary Areas USA to redesign and operate two I-95 travel plazas, were batted down yesterday.

The MTA rejected complaints about the bidding process from Bethesda-based HMSHost, and a joint bidder, Airport Plazas/Tichman Construction, yesterday.

While restating that Areas USA had the best bid, officials did not provide much detail about the main issue raised; complaintants believed they had been denied a fair chance to counter Areas' final offer.

A final vote will be cast February 22 by State Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp, Gov. Martin O'Malley and Comptroller Peter Franchot.