LEVENTHAL SAYS COLLEAGUES WERE AWARE OF SECRET NEGOTIATIONS ALL ALONG
Speaking at a public hearing on Bus Rapid Transit corridors last night, Montgomery County Councilmember George Leventhal (D - At-Large) took credit for negotiations between the Maryland Transit Administration and Columbia Country Club that resulted in a controversial agreement, made public by the Washington Post Thursday. The deal gave several concessions to the club in exchange for the club's written agreement not to protest, or file litigation against, the Purple Line light rail, which will bisect the club's 100-year-old golf course.
Leventhal contradicted fellow councilmember Roger Berliner (D - District 1), who had told the Post he had never heard of the talks until now.
In Thursday's Post, reporter Katherine Shaver wrote that Berliner "said he did not know about the agreement until The Post contacted him Wednesday." Yet, Leventhal said last evening that his updates to colleagues on the talks were so voluminous, that one councilmember, Nancy Floreen (D - At-Large), told him to stop emailing her.
Councilmembers Hans Riemer and Craig Rice were not on the council when Leventhal launched the negotiations in 2009.
Only Berliner and Leventhal have gone on the record about what they knew, and when they knew it. But their statements contradict each other.
1 comment:
This is a make-believe controversy Robert. They made minor adjustments to the route of the light rail and adjusted some greens on the course. They agreed upon crossings of the route, a chance entities such as the Town of Chevy Chase have been afforded but shot down because they didn't want the light rail raised a few feet behind their homes.
It's not as if MTA could have condemned four holes of a golf course (a course that has historic designation, by the way) like they will condemn all those business properties in Silver Spring and eastward.
Further, it shouldn't be shocking to anyone that a pro-Purple Line councilmember (Leventhal) would want to avoid litigation that could hold up the Purple Line.
As for Berliner, it's difficult to understand why he would say he had no idea about the agreement...that one I don't get.
Post a Comment