LABOR DAY

This is a historic moment in the history of union negotiations in Montgomery County. After a year of balancing the budget with smoke and mirrors, and breaking labor contracts, the county executive and council face another massive budget shortfall.

Yes, smoke and mirrors. Not only did the council fail to address the county's structural deficit, but it used only a few techniques to achieve a "balanced budget," as required by law:

1. It used minor budget cuts overwhelmingly devastating to seniors and the disabled.
2. It violated labor agreements (albeit with the agreement of the unions) by slashing COLAs and other salary increases for teachers, firefighters, and police officers. It also sought savings by attempting to deny retirement benefits to disabled police officers.
3. When all else failed, it charged the Montgomery County Public School system $80 million - in other words, it cut $80 million more from education, beyond the previous budget and salary cuts.
4. The county, like all Democrat-run local and state governments, received Federal "funny money," from the $1.3 trillion printed by the Obama administration. This enabled them to limp ahead one more year, in hopes that the President's economic plan ends the recession before the 2010 election.

That's all. That's how they did it. We all knew it would be impossible for them to literally balance declining revenues (resulting from high taxes, falling home prices, and the 2008 "recession" that was designed to defeat John McCain once he moved ahead in the polls) with the outrageous level of spending this council has sustained.

So in the end, they didn't have to. They couldn't! Only by sleight of hand - cheating, if you will - did they "balance" the budget. Notice that the state Board of Education has so far given the council a free pass on its failure to maintain the necessary level of education funding for MCPS. Political? Oh, of course not!

But with that background, consider the labor contract issues ahead. When the stimulus "funny money" runs out, and O'Malley cuts funds to the counties, the council and executive again will be on the hot seat in union negotiations.

The council and executive won't have it so easy this time. Not only do all union contracts expire in June 2010, but the recent Federal court ruling has reinforced the binding nature of union contracts. After all, a contract is a contract.

When I went to testify in support of our county police officers in the disability case this year, the council smugly asserted its ability to break the contracts. Now, of course, the council will turn to furloughs.

Not so fast, said U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams, Jr., when Prince Georges County tried the same thing. Judge Williams noted that P.G., much like Montgomery, had plenty of funds that could be cut in order to pay employees. In essence, Judge Williams asked P.G. county what I asked the Montgomery county council that evening: when is a deal not a deal?

Et voila! The stage is set for a historic showdown. Will the councilmembers be able to wave their magic wands again?

More video from the Celebrate Damascus parade - including a Ford Model T - is on the Robert Dyer Channel this morning at www.RobertDyer.net!

This morning on the Robert Dyer Channel: more Celebrate Damascus fireworks, and a new video of vintage tractors in the parade. Watch at www.RobertDyer.net

68 CENT

INCREASE IN

ALLEGHENY

POWER

BILLS

PROPOSED

The need for competition in utilities continues to fuel our crusade for lower utility and cable bills. Stay tuned for further news...

CLARKSBURG

ROAD BRIDGE

OVER BENNETT

CREEK TO BE

REPLACED

Bids are being accepted for a replacement bridge at this crossing over Bennett Creek in Damascus by the county government. It involves an unspecified "land acquisition."

ANOTHER

BLACKOUT

I apologize for the lack of updates over the last few days. Once again, my internet service was either partially working, or completely lost for several days. This is the worst service provider in the world.

Expect new videos to be uploaded very soon.

CAN DELEGATE

JON CARDIN

REALLY GET

AWAY WITH

THIS?

Now that the jokes have been made, and politician of priviledge Jon Cardin has dropped a mere $300 on the Baltimore Police chief's desk, there are serious questions that must be answered.

And there should be consequences for Mr. Cardin, who must be held accountable for the full amount of taxpayer resources he spent staging a marriage proposal with city police officers and vehicles.

We all know that it would literally be impossible to stage a scene like that for $300! Can you imagine the average citizen trying to do this? The insurance alone would break the bank. What would have happened if an officer had been injured during the stunt?

And the use of a violent "raid" to propose to a girlfriend? That doesn't sound very romantic to me. In fact, it was a fake scene that would surely have caused concern among witnesses who weren't in on the "proposal." This was reminiscent of the Air Force One flyover that caused panic in New York City.

Given the perversely out-0f-control violent crime situation, and lawless atmosphere of Baltimore under the "leadership" of O'Malley and Dixon, the diversion of police to Cardin's foolishness was truly a crime.

The bottom line is that Mr. Cardin has more explaining, more repayment, and more apologizing to do. Del. Cardin is clearly a man used to getting what he wants, thanks to his last name.

Now there is actually some backlash starting in the Baltimore Sun - I found a great comment where somebody posted a list of crimes that occurred while Cardin & friends were playing around in the Inner Harbor.

While Cardin was taking up police resources, 5 people (5!!!) were shot, and a police officer was struck by a car.

According to the Sun, city councilmembers William H. Cole IV and Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake are demanding answers - the real answers this time.

It's clear that after the full financial cost is repaid by Mr. Cardin, and a full investigation is completed and we know how in the world he was able to pull this thing off, he should then submit his resignation and get a real job. Instead of living off the wages of the rest of us.

It's outrageous.

New!

See a photo of the first ripe Roma tomato on my photos page at www.RobertDyer.net.

Watch a new video of 3 classic American sports cars in the Celebrate Damascus parade on the Robert Dyer Channel at www.RobertDyer.net right now! A Corvette Stingray, and 2 1957 Ford Thunderbirds.

HEIRLOOM SUCCESS!

I did get to eat the last heirloom tomato (the other 4 were lost to various complications, see entry below). It was mostly ripe, and tasted better than the Roma tomatoes. One major difference between this heirloom and a grocery store tomato is the amount of juice inside. I was used to eating store-bought tomatoes, so I was surprised when I bit into the heirloom tomato and juice went spraying in every direction. It seemed like there was a gallon of juice inside.

The Washington Post recently trashed heirloom tomatoes, and they were wrong again. I don't know where they got their heirlooms from, but mine was far superior to the average tomato. It was the same writer who wrote an amateurish article on the "best" crab cakes - which happened to leave many of the D.C. area's, and Maryland's, best crab cakes off the list!! Shows you how much they know. They're probably just trying to dumb down their formerly-gourmet shopping lists, now that Post employees can't shop at Whole Foods anymore.

And today there was a surprise: an additional heirloom was "born," as a new green heirloom has appeared on the vine.

Speaking of new tomatoes, check out a photo of the Roma tomatoes from back on July 13, when they were small and green on my photo page at www.RobertDyer.net.

DAMASCUS

HIGH SCHOOL

FUTURE

FARMERS OF

AMERICA

TOMATO HARVEST

I am nearing the end of one of my summer projects - growing the tomato plants I purchased in May, from the Damascus Future Farmers of America plant sale in Mount Airy.

After some misfortunes and novice mistakes, I have finally been able to eat several of the Roma tomatoes. They did taste good. Some of them were attacked by birds and bugs. Some had a strange dark green inside, near the base of the stem. Those had to be discarded, unfortunately.

Part of the problem was learning when to pick them, and gauging how red they will actually get. I let some go too long, when it seems that these Roma tomatoes will not get evenly red no matter how long you wait. And then they either develop spots, or get attacked by tomato predators. Of course, troubles were more likely when I made the choice to not use any pesticides or chemicals on my plants.

The heirloom tomatoes were not very successful in terms of getting to eat them. My FFA heirloom plant produced 5 large tomatoes. That, according to my research, is normal, because heirlooms don't produce as much fruit as commercial hybrids. But when they started to turn pink, the problems began.

First of all, I don't know what a ripe heirloom looks like. Then the first half-red heirloom vanished. It may have been stolen by a tomato burglar or animal. That left four. Then heirloom #2 fell under the weather, developing an odd appearance. Heirlooms 3 and 4 never would turn entirely red, only the bottom 2/3rds. Then they went bad overnight, including a large split on the lower part of each. Disaster! Heirlooms are very susceptible to pests and disease.

That leaves the last one, and I've picked that and brought it in. I know it is doomed if I leave it on the vine. So I had to bring it in. I hope I will be able to eat it, but can't be sure yet. I think the plant was a good one, and I just have to learn from my mistakes in the future.

I've learned quite a bit already. Did you know that crickets can be tomato pests? I do now.

The main thing is, these tomatoes are much better than any you buy at the grocery store. The fruit and plants also have a fresh scent.

So we are nearing the end of this small effort to support Montgomery County agriculture, and the future farmers who live in the county.

You may have read prominent articles touting a supposedly-new farmland preservation effort by the county and state governments. They said, as usual, that everything is "wonerful, wonerful, wonerful," as Lawrence Welk used to say.

Talk to a real farmer in Montgomery County, and you'll find that is anything but the truth. And that we are in danger of losing farmland, while farmers are being cheated out of their livelihood and property value. By Big Government. Due to circumstances often not covered in these puff piece articles taken straight from county press releases. Who wins under current county and state policies and regulations? Guess who? The developers, although you would never guess that listening to your elected officials. The same ones who are beholden to the developers and special interests that got them elected.

We'll be talking about that, and a lot more in the future. But we'll also be continuing to enjoy the fresh foods produced by our current - and future - farmers in Montgomery County.

Be sure to visit the Robert Dyer Channel at www.RobertDyer.net to watch a short video of the Roma tomato plant, and to see pictures on my photo page from day 1 of the tomato plant experiment (more to come).

SPECIAL REPORT:

ACCESS TO

RICKENBACKER

DRIVE FROM

WOODFIELD ROAD

*CLOSED*

SAT. 8/22, 6 AM-4 PM

"Weather permitting," according to the Maryland State Highway Administration.

CHRIS VAN

HIDDEN?

Where is Congressman Chris Van Hollen? He has not held any of the traditional August recess town meetings in his 8th Congressional District. Therefore, his constituents have been unable to discuss the health care issue - among many other issues - with their Congressman.

DAMASCUS

LIGHTSABER

DUEL...

THE SEQUEL!

By popular demand, there is more footage of the lightsaber duel that took place during the Celebrate Damascus fireworks display. See if you can figure out what was going on, because I still can't.

Go to the Robert Dyer Channel at www.RobertDyer.net, and May the Force Be With You.

Have you watched the new videos from the Celebrate Damascus parade and fireworks I've uploaded recently? Visit www.RobertDyer.net and click on the Robert Dyer Channel now.

This morning I have a video with a 1967 Ford Galaxie in the parade. They don't make cars like that anymore.

"SHHHHH!!!"

COUNTY RESIDENTS

PUNK'D BY FCC,

CONGRESS, STATE, &

COUNTY POLITICIANS

ON

DIGITAL T.V.

"REVOLUTION"

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

It wasn't a "revolution," but it ought to be the catalyst for one. The much-hyped transition from broadcast to digital television has been confirmed as the scam of the century. My four testers across Montgomery County have reported in 2 months later. The results? American TVs not wired for expensive cable or satellite TV have been left as pre-1960s relics.

Now, you haven't heard much about the transition since the week it happened, right? Do you know why? It's because the powers-that-be (elected officials and their dear friends in the Cable TV industry) want you to think that you're the only one who is too dumb to figure out the new TV/converter box.

Count on RobertDyer.net to once again bring you the stories you cannot read anywhere else.

You may have cable or satellite TV hooked up to every TV in your home. If so, congratulations, and you're probably not going to understand what this blog entry is about. You, at significant cost per month, are receiving what passes for the finest in television in 2009.

However, if you are in the majority of county residents, and have TVs without cable (or are one of the many low-income residents, senior citizens, or just the average citizen who doesn't have cable at all - yes, Richie Rich, they do exist! - you have just been Punk'd by your elected officials and the cable industry.

My exclusive Montgomery County test panel reports that they have less digital channels today than they did one week after the switch. What are the "sure things" on DTV? Retro TV and 3 weather radars. Wow. Welcome to the future of television.

Let's get this straight: Fewer channels, greater expense, and lots and lots of time adjusting those antennas (which cost extra) and rescanning all channels. Pause while I run down to the store and see if the TV dinners are in aluminum trays again.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the politicians of Montgomery County (all Democrats, by the way) told you it would be better than broadcast. Most significantly, they joined Congress, the FCC, and cable companies in a boast that DTV would provide more TV for seniors and the Latino community.

Uh oh.

Didn't happen.

Of course, you haven't heard about that on TV or in the Washington Post (which has a business relationship with Comcast).

But it didn't happen. Not only did seniors lose up to 60% of their old channels, but Latinos lost 'em all! Except for Univision on Channel 14.

Latino viewers lost Telefutura, Telemundo, and Galavision.

Is that how our elected officials improve service for Latinos in Montgomery County? They've got a lot of explaining to do. But, "shhhhhhh!!!!!!!" It will have to be whispered, because no politician in the county is capable of standing up to monopoly Comcast.

Perhaps Ike Leggett can have his "liason" to the Latino community address the issue? Hasn't happened, either.

This transition to DTV was fueled by greed, and all involved - politicians and cable providers -made a vast sum from the switch.

And the rest of us? Stuck with pre-1960s channel options, and forced to purchase cable or satellite TV to restore even a basic level of television entertainment.

We've been punk'd.

And once again, the hypocrisy of our "green" politicians has been laid bare. The enviromental catastrophe of millions of useless TVs entering the ecosystem is beyond imagination. And worst of all, the whole thing was entirely unnecessary.

It's outrageous.

But county residents, and all Americans, should return the favor - bigtime - by voting every politician who voted for this switchover out of office.

And by electing candidates who will finally stand up for the consumer against monopoly utilities (that includes TV) in Montgomery County. Consumers should have choices. And elections give you choices, as well.

The best part is, those affected by the switch are already angry! You just haven't heard about it, because the media is blacking out the truth about the DTV switch. Citizens affected don't have to read my blog to know they've lost channels. But hopefully they'll feel better knowing that they are not electronically inept, but rather, in the majority. It's not you; it's the TV.

Angry people vote, and we are going to have a world of change in Montgomery County in 2010.

OH NO!

TOMATO

SETBACK

Remember that first Roma tomato I took off the vine to ripen indoors? It was very slow to turn completely red. Just as it was about ready to eat, spots appeared on it. Very disappointing. I don't know what the problem is. Unfortunately, I've never done this before. My last gardening experience was in grade school, when I planted watermelons, corn, and pumpkins in the backyard. All that came up was a watermelon vine. But no watermelon.

Now I've brought in a second Roma tomato, and I guess I'll have to eat it before it is fully ripe... I don't like bitter tomatoes; I want a red tomato. If I wanted a bitter tomato, I would go to the grocery store. They've said there are major problems with tomatoes in Maryland this year. But I think this may have been caused by what appeared to be two attempts to peck the tomato by a bird. There was a small puncture near the top.

So I'll try again, and report back the results of tomato #2.

Don't forget to visit the Robert Dyer Channel at www.RobertDyer.net for more exclusive footage of the Celebrate Damascus fireworks display.

Visit www.RobertDyer.net to watch a new video of the Damascus Theatre Company in the Celebrate Damascus parade on the Robert Dyer Channel.

I have a new video of a classic convertible on the Robert Dyer Channel this morning. You may have missed some of the new videos and photos, so go to www.RobertDyer.net right now!

TRACTOR

MYSTERY

SOLVED!

Remember that mysterious open-engine tractor at the Montgomery County Gas & Steam Engine show back in April?

According to someone who knows the vintage machine's owner, who just posted this information on the Robert Dyer Channel, it is a Rumley Oil Pull Tractor.

Refresh your memory by watching the video right now on the Robert Dyer Channel at:

www.RobertDyer.net

FIRST TOMATO!

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!

The latest development with the tomato plants I bought from the Damascus High School Future Farmers of America plant sale is about as exciting as a tomato plant can get - I have pulled the first almost-ripe tomato off of the Roma vine.

Now it is going to finish ripening indoors, and will be ready for a full evaluation very soon. Of course, I will share the results with you as we continue to support Montgomery County agriculture. And the future farmers of Montgomery County in Damascus, the only FFA chapter in the whole county.

Unless you were in Damascus on July 10, you missed the fireworks after the Celebrate Damascus parade. But now you can watch the best fireworks display in Montgomery County on the Robert Dyer Channel at www.RobertDyer.net. Part 3 is online now! Plus another new Damascus landmark photo, exclusive to RobertDyer.net.

Finally! New video from the Celebrate Damascus parade and the next special Damascus landmark photo uploaded to www.RobertDyer.net.

MONTGOMERY

COUNTY'S

SENIOR

MOMENTS

Is Montgomery County still a great place for senior citizens to retire? It's getting harder to answer that question each day, under the "leadership" of our current elected officials.

Consider the draconian measures implemented against senior citizens in the county this year:

• Property Tax increase
• Dentures taken from low-income seniors; were formerly supplied by the county
• Friendship Heights Post Office targeted for closure by Obama administration
• City of Gaithersburg begins to charge seniors for use of senior center (and sparks a well-justified strike by senior citizens who patronized the center)
• which reminds me of that recent county budget, which had $250,000 for senior centers but $1,000,000 for an immigration non-profit which is heavily involved in partisan political activity
• continued attempts to implement an Ambulance Fee
• RideOn bus services heavily cut in locations, and at times, most utilized by seniors

Once again, the hypocrisy of "green" elected officials is revealed. Friendship Heights is one of the few successful communities where a person can walk to everything - including the Post Office! Now, the Obama administration's Postal Service is planning to close the location and telling patrons to drive into D.C. to mail letters and packages.

The village manager of Friendship Heights, understandably, is protesting this outrageous proposal.

It will be interesting to see if senior citizens across the county (and within Leisure World) will continue to reelect the politicians who are taking their funding, and giving it to developers and the special interests instead.

In a county where poor seniors have had their free dentures taken away by their elected officials, stranger things have happened.

============================

SPECIAL MESSAGE:

Major internet service problems have prevented me from uploading photos and videos this week. Today is the first day I've been able to get on my blog. Please be patient, and new videos and photos will be coming very soon. In the meantime, I apologize for the lack of updates here, which was entirely beyond my control.

You can find today's special Damascus landmark photo, and an exclusive video of the Damascus 4-H club in the Celebrate Damascus parade, at www.RobertDyer.net.

THE MYSTERY

OF THE

DRUID THEATER

The Druid Theater in Damascus is one of the most intriguing landmarks in town. It ranks right up there with the water tower in my book. Only it's not a theater, it's a drugstore.

How did that happen?

I have found so many fascinating things, just by accident, around Damascus. As a history major, I naturally feel compelled to investigate.

The first time I walked down Main Street, I was struck by this large and very unique building. You literally cannot miss it. It very obviously, from the architecture, was a movie theater. But today, it is a Rite Aid. Still, prominent letters that spell "DRUID" continue to grace the front of the building. Since "Druid" has nothing to do with Rite Aid, that was a clue.

I found out that the Druid Theater was named after its owner, who lived in Damascus. The grand Druid Theater opened in 1947(!) and closed in 1990.

The biggest mystery to me is, how could a theater like this fail in Damascus? You would think it would have been a date spot for young people, as well as a place for families.

So I'm fascinated to find out if/why the Druid Theater failed financially. Was the selection of films so poor that people felt it was worth driving to theaters outside of town? Was the theater poorly maintained? Or...?

I am sure to get to the bottom of this, and will share it with you when I do so.

But right now, I will share with you a photo of this historic landmark at my website, www.RobertDyer.net. I think you'll agree it is a very impressive building. It's just too bad it's a drugstore now, because only the exterior is left.

So here is today's special Damascus landmark photo for your enjoyment.

Starting today, I am uploading some special photos of landmarks around Damascus. You can see them at www.RobertDyer.net when you click on the "Robert's Photos" link on the Main Menu.

I also have a video of a 1937 Farmall tractor, and other Merritt Landscaping Farmall tractors, for you this morning on the Robert Dyer Channel at www.RobertDyer.net.

"WHAT'S THAT?"

IT'S THE MONEY

WASHINGTON POST

DIRECTOR COULD

BE MAKING WITH

"KIDSPOST"

GEICO

ADVERTORIAL

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

The Washington Post and Warren Buffett have done it again - low ethical standards of journalism, and the use of the newspaper as a business vehicle for Buffett's financial interests!

This time, they've reached a new low by directing an advertorial for Buffett and his insurance company, GEICO, to kids on the KidsPost page.

Ostensibly a feature on a team of skywriters, the team just happens to be the GEICO-sponsored "Skytypers." And GEICO just happens to be a major financial interest of the Washington Post Co. Director, Warren Buffett. Importantly - and sadly - nowhere among the "fun facts" on the page can a disclosure to this effect be found.

To top it off, another small feature about Warren Buffett is in a sidebar on the page. It touts Post Co. Director Buffett as having made "some of the best investment decisions in the world over many years." Again, no disclosure that Buffett is a director of the newspaper you are reading these words in.

They assume adult readers are naive, but they know that kids have no idea who the Post Co. directors are. Hence, they place a GEICO advertorial and Buffett puff piece on a page used in many classrooms as a "teaching tool."

But thanks to the investigative reporting of RobertDyer.net, you've learned something today as well: The Post will stoop to new lows to promote the business interests of its director - even on the page for kids. It's outrageous.

More exclusive video from the Celebrate Damascus parade is available this morning at www.RobertDyer.net. Including some kind of experimental miniature hot rod. It's one of those things in the parade that you can only speculate as to what it is.

DAMASCUS

HIGH SCHOOL

FFA TOMATO

PLANT UPDATE

I'm always one step behind on these updates, but the tomatoes have gotten bigger. The heirlooms are starting to take on the characteristics of heirlooms. On www.RobertDyer.net, however, I have a July 5 photo update. You can see the plants are much bigger than they were on May 20; but they are twice that size now. More photos coming soon...

Also today, new video from Celebrate Damascus - St. Paul's Catholic Church and the Damascus Lions Club.

Celebrate

Damascus

Extravaganza

Continues on

RobertDyer.net

Make sure to visit www.RobertDyer.net for the latest uploads of exclusive videos and photos from the Celebrate Damascus parade and fireworks.

POSSIBLE

BREAK-IN

AT

WOODACRES ES

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!

Last evening, between 7 and 8 P.M., Montgomery County Police were called to WoodAcres ES, and were eventually joined by county government facilities personnel and a K-9 unit, according to a neighborhood eyewitness. By the time I passed by the school at 8:30, there was only someone out front watering the trees.

If a break-in occurred, it should be in an upcoming county police crime report. All I can deduct from the timeline is that either way, the situation was taken care of quickly by the police. There have been some suspicious vehicles and persons in the neighborhood recently, so make sure to keep all doors and vehicles locked. That is a good policy to have at all times, anyway.

CORRIDOR

CITIES

TRANSITWAY

Yesterday I was reading the Corridor Cities Transitway concept proposed by the Action Committee for Transit, and it addresses at least one of the two flaws in the existing plan. Namely, the current CCT's misguided and minimized route. ACT's suggestion is based more in reality: that what is really needed is a modern transit system that goes beyond Clarksburg.

ACT's route extends to Urbana and Frederick, which would increase connectivity between Montgomery and rapidly-growing Frederick counties.

Still, the CCT in either incarnation would not address the needs of those in the rural areas of the Upcounty. The Purple Line will immediately connect to all of the existing infrastructure downcounty; this infrastructure simply is not in place in the Upcounty.

It could be argued that, for the sake of preserving the Upcounty's green space, we may not want to connect those areas to rail transit - which usually brings increased development near its route.

But in any case, those residents will not be able to get out of their cars because the bus lines don't exist to take them the rest of the way home. And they may never exist, even though Upcounty residents are paying the same taxes as those who have bus and rail transit nearby.

As we modernize our transportation system (and we don't have the forward-thinking elected officials in office yet to do that) we cannot fail to recognize the realities we face - traffic will increase throughout the region and we need modern mass transit to address that. However, we also must continue to make road improvements as well.

One other 270 issue is the stretch which coincides with the local lanes up through Germantown - and happens to be the major bottleneck. There is a way to address that without the CCT or widening so far that houses are demolished, and I am working on my own proposal for that. It's one of many exciting new ideas on which we will work together as citizens to accomplish in the coming years.

Have you checked out the newest exclusive videos and photos from the Celebrate Damascus parade? Go to www.RobertDyer.net right now to see them. New videos, and there are new photos of a classic Chevrolet pickup truck, a Pontiac Firebird, and a Montgomery County Police motorcycle.

PLANNING BOARD

GOES HOG WILD,

SERVES DEVELOPERS

DESSERT BEFORE

THEY FINISH THEIR

VEGETABLES

Disaster is on the horizon in Montgomery County if we continue on the course further solidified this week by our Planning Board. Total traffic gridlock has become an accepted part of life for Dr. Yes and his Yes People on the Planning Board, for Rollin Stanley, and for their allies on the county council.

The new message this year, even from the "End Gridlock" Team on the council (please don't laugh), is that laws can be ignored (mandatory moratoriums, school population targets, even Planning Board terms!!!!), overcrowded schools are the future, and immobilized traffic is here to stay - plus you'll get to pay tolls for the priviledge of sitting in it.

It's outrageous.

Just recently, your county council turned its collective head and allowed a Planning Board commissioner whose term was up to illegally stay on the board.

Did I already say, "It's outrageous?"

Outrageous, but true. Why was this illegal move allowed by the enablers on the council? So that the developer-beholden member could break multiple tie votes on controversial decisions that profit large developers at the expense of you, the citizen.

Will councilmembers refuse to leave office in 2010? I think you, the voter, will have something to say about that.

What this Planning Board was able to do, with this member staying on past his term, was to pass terribly-flawed master plans, approve poorly-designed projects for big developers, and forward new rules that devastate county public schools and the environment to their council buddies for approval.

Will they approve the new rules that will allow massive overdevelopment, crowd classrooms, and eliminate green space?

The Science City and White Flint Master Plans are environmental catastrophes and harbingers of total traffic Armageddon.

Why?

Because the developers and their puppets on the Board and Council are going right to the dessert of big profits for vacant buildings and campaign kickbacks in 2010. Meanwhile, they've avoided the vegetables on the plate - the infrastructure improvements that are essential to even somewhat handle the massive development they've ordered.

Witness the simply wacky I-270 corridor proposals. Here you have a highway that is in total gridlock, representing the utter and complete breakdown of our transportation system. A transportation system I rightly referred to in 2006 as "a national laughingstock." Because it is a national laughingstock. Thousands of articles have been written nationwide, and Americans everywhere know of our elected officials' failure to fulfill their basic obligations regarding transportation.

What is the plan for 270? Reduce - yes, reduce! - the number of lanes, add Lexus Lanes for the rich, and build the Corridor Cities Transitway. The CCT should be built when the funds are available, but not instead of making the needed improvements to the highway first, or simultaneously.

I've covered in a previous blog the serious flaw of the CCT, which is that the plan does not fit the geography of the Upcounty. If you live in Poolesville or Damascus, how do you get to your home once you disembark from the CCT? I rest my case.

So the CCT may help on the small scale, but it will not reduce traffic on 270.

Meanwhile, you're going to have all of those new cars going home around the Science City west of 270 clogging exit 6B on 270. The Johns Hopkins element of the plan is very positive, and we should welcome those new facilities. However, the mixed-use part is not ready for prime time.

Our planning process should forbid the approval of such a master plan when the transportation infrastructure is not in place. Period.

And yet, Dr. Yes & Co. have said, "Yes!" again.

Any truth to the rumor that Dr. Yes (Royce Hanson) will swoop in as a "surprise" Democratic candidate in 2010?

You heard it here first.

I have a new video from Celebrate Damascus for you this morning - it's the one where I'm getting hit by a piece of candy thrown from a parade vehicle. You will see it as if you were me; the difference is, I couldn't see it coming at the time.

There is also a new photo of a Montgomery County Police motorcycle at the parade.

Just go to www.RobertDyer.net to see both right now.

NO LEXUS LANES

ON I-270

The County Council is currently reviewing transportation improvements for the I-270 corridor. One specifically calls for the highway to have 2 toll lanes (a.k.a. Lexus Lanes, as they are only affordable to the rich on a daily basis) and 2 regular lanes.

Essentially, this proposal would reduce the highway by one lane at a time when it needs to be widened. It is already ridiculous enough to have one lane taken during rush hour by an HOV lane gimmick. Now they are going to take another lane, and gain revenue they can turn over to their developer buddies and the special interests.

It's outrageous.

No one should ever be charged to use the roads they have already paid for with their tax dollars.

CELEBRATE

DAMASCUS

FIREWORKS...

AND A

LIGHTSABER

DUEL?!

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!

By popular demand, here it is: the exclusive video of a lightsaber duel that broke out during the fireworks display which concluded the July 10, 2009 Celebrate Damascus event.

Just click on the link to the Robert Dyer Channel on the menu at www.RobertDyer.net and watch this before you hear about it from someone else!

DAMASCUS HIGH

SCHOOL FFA

TOMATO PLANTS

PRODUCE TOMATOES

A www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!

I have the latest update on the 2 tomato plants I bought back in May from the Damascus High School Future Farmers of America chapter plant sale in Mount Airy.

The tomatoes are out! Each one has two marble-sized green tomatoes on it. I was starting to worry about them, but I think July is when these were supposed to bear fruit. So they are on schedule so far.

If you remember, one is a Roma tomato plant and the other is an heirloom plant.

Stay tuned, and let's hope there will be red tomatoes in a few months.

Don't forget to visit www.RobertDyer.net to see the latest video and photos from the Celebrate Damascus parade and fireworks.

This morning, I have uploaded the Damascus Volunteer Fire Department video from the Celebrate Damascus parade.

You can also see the classic car nearly running me over at the end of the video - and I kept the cameras rolling and got my shot anyway. Now that's impressive.

Also, check out the new parade photos. All of this can be found at www.RobertDyer.net

CELEBRATE

DAMASCUS

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!

This is the biggest weekend in the most All-American town in Montgomery County: Damascus. The annual Celebrate Damascus event began Friday evening, July 10, with the parade.



When I arrived in town, the parade was being lined up in the Damascus High School parking lot. Eventually, I found a great spot on the parade route on Lewis Drive. It's hard to tell in the photos and videos I took (which are now starting to appear on the Robert Dyer Channel, as well as my photos, which can both be found at www.robertdyer.net), but you can see my favorite landmark - the Damascus water tower - and the cell phone tower in the distance from this spot.



The one bad thing was the angry bee who was either very angry at me or found me quite appealing. Whatever the case, this bee (and, of course, angry bees are rarely bees - more likely hornets, yellowjackets, or killer bees) suddenly was after me. Was this a Swarmin' Hornet?



I don't know, but I kept the camera rolling, as you will eventually see when I upload that clip.



The parade route started at the high school and followed Route 27 to Lewis Drive. It ended near the American Legion building.



I did miss getting the high school marching band, and I apologize for that. Also, I did not get the honor guard, but managed to take a picture of them walking back from the American Legion.



It would have been nice to just record the whole thing, but I like to keep the videos reasonably short, so that everyone can enjoy them. Even if they don't have a fancy, high-speed internet connection.



If you liked tractors, you were in luck. There were several John Deere and Farmall tractors of various years. Speaking of John Deere, Gladhill Bros.' John Deere dealership was represented in the parade.



If you liked fire trucks, you were also in luck. Not only did the venerable Damascus Volunteer Fire Department participate, but so did the Laytonsville VFD and Mount Airy VFD, as well.



Classic car afficionados found many vintage American cars in the parade. Of course, the Cruise-in the following morning was a highlight for them. I forget what that other muscle car was, but it was a classic and I have it in one of my videos. So you will see that, eventually. There was a Corvette Stingray, and a red 1970s Pontiac Firebird (which you can see now on my photos page).



There were all kinds of community groups, and also many local businesses (or businesses that wished to appeal to the locals). Damascus is a very religious town relative to the rest of our county. The town's churches are greatly involved in community service not only within Damascus, but across the country and around the world. In the parade, I saw Damascus United Methodist Church and St. Paul's Catholic Church, and got those on video.



One of the great moments in the parade was when veterans of World War II, Iraq, and Vietnam passed by. Noticing that I was filming, the WWII veteran gave a salute, and you will see that when I upload it.



One of the strange moments was when a child on the back of a parade vehicle threw a piece of hard candy at me. It was thrown in a manner that was apparently supposed to hurt. Well, I seem to have survived. The problem was that I was looking at the screen on the camera, and never saw it coming. Suddenly, I felt a hard projectile hit me right in the stomach, and I was trying to figure out what was going on. This kid had no idea he had hit a Montgomery County elected official, but you are going to have a chance to watch that moment yourself soon in that particular clip.



At another point, when I was trying to film a fire vehicle, a classic car turned out of the parade and slowly drove towards me. The driver evidently wanted to enter the driveway I was standing in, and couldn't wait. I managed to sidestep the car, all while keeping the camera on the fire truck.



But I didn't let these things get in the way of enjoying the parade, and I am glad I was able to capture much of it for your enjoyment, as well.



Later, the fireworks display was held near the American Legion. But I was in a good spot in the parking lot of the Weis Markets grocery store. Most people who were lining the parade route along Route 27 kept their good seats for the fireworks display. I've uploaded the first part of the fireworks display to the Robert Dyer Channel so you have a good seat, too.



You can see and hear some of the crowd on the hill in front of me. It was interesting that the Damascus VFD went out on an emergency call after the parade, and passed right in front of those of us at the Weis Markets. People were also cheering the 18-wheelers that passed by on 27, including 2 that came out of the Weis Markets. That was another bonus at that location: lots of Weis truck activity that evening. One headed north on 27, and then turned on to Main Street and back on to northbound 27. It must have been headed to either the Weis Markets in Mount Airy, or to I-70. Weis is based in Pennsylvania.



During the wait, someone set up a lemonade stand at the shopping center entrance. Later, an enterprising lightsaber salesman worked the roadside on 27. Two new owners of the Jedi weapons proceeded to have a duel while my camera was rolling. I don't even have the Lucasfilm budget.



Eventually the fireworks show ended, but the weekend was just beginning with the car show, Damascus VFD open house, Damascus UMC flea market, and much more the next day.



Stay tuned to RobertDyer.net for all of the photos and videos you could want and more from the 2009 Celebrate Damascus event!

CELEBRATE

DAMASCUS

Parade and Fireworks Photos and Videos

Will Begin Uploading Soon

Prepare yourself for an extravaganza of Celebrate Damascus coverage on www.RobertDyer.net!

I was at the event last night, and if you weren't, I have just about everything you would want to see on video. It will be just like being there.

There is so much video that the battery was drained. Which has delayed the uploads, because I have to recharge it in order to transfer the files. But not to worry, you will have it for your enjoyment very soon. As well as the whole story here on the blog.

You're going to see fireworks, tractors, classic cars, fire equipment, a lightsaber duel (I'm not joking), me getting drilled in the abs with a piece of candy thrown from a parade vehicle (still not joking), a classic car trying to run me over, and me being chased by a killer bee. All from a first person perspective, as I was filming at the time all of these things happened.

I did manage to survive, and you won't find the video and photos I have on any other local media website.

FIRST LOCUST

OF SUMMER

HEARD

YESTERDAY

The locusts, or cicadas, are out in Bethesda. Do they come out earlier in rural areas like Poolesville, Damascus, or Barnesville? Are they out in your part of the county? Post your locust reports here as a comment.

And don't forget to visit the Robert Dyer Channel today at www.RobertDyer.net, where I have uploaded the fourth and final part of the exclusive fireworks video.

PART 3 OF

FIREWORKS

VIDEO NOW

BROADCASTING

ON

www.RobertDyer.net

More exclusive video from the Kenwood Golf and Country Club's fireworks show can be watched on the Robert Dyer Channel this morning.

NEW FIREWORKS

VIDEO!

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!

Part 2 of the fireworks display from the Kenwood Golf and Country Club in Bethesda is available to watch on the Robert Dyer Channel at www.RobertDyer.net.

Don't forget to watch Part 1 if you missed it over the weekend.

EXCLUSIVE

FIREWORKS VIDEO

FROM KENWOOD

COUNTRY CLUB!

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!

Watch Part 1 of this exclusive video recorded last night outside of the Kenwood Golf and Country Club in Bethesda.

Visit www.RobertDyer.net and click on the Robert Dyer Channel link right now.

Happy 4th of July!

HAPPY 4th OF JULY

WEEKEND FROM

RobertDyer.net!

But the weekend is just beginning, and there will be lots of new 4th of July coverage here and on the Robert Dyer Channel at www.RobertDyer.net!

ANGUS BURGER UPDATE:

I've done a second round of testing on the new McDonald's Angus Burgers this week, and there is some news to report:

First, the Mushroom & Swiss has an additional ingredient that was not on the first one I received. It is an essentially flavorless white dressing. It has no scent, either. I have no idea what it is, but now that I have gotten 2 sandwiches with this added condiment, it is apparently an actual ingredient. Despite its lack of flavor, it does seem to add something to the sandwich when combined with the other ingredients.

Second, it turns out that the upscale pickle slices and onions are supposed to be on the Bacon & Cheese version. This really improved the sandwich.

GEORGETOWN

CUPCAKE TO

OPEN IN DOWNTOWN

BETHESDA

Cover your ears again, George Leventhal! Another forbidden food is coming to downtown Bethesda this year: Cupcakes. That's right, the all-American cupcake - formerly the dessert of choice at school birthday parties... ...until the Democratic Party became the Food Police and Fun Police.

Apparently, even our far-reaching Food and Fun Police on the County Council cannot stop all-American greasy burgers and fries (Five Guys), nor cupcakes (Georgetown Cupcake) from being sold in downtown Bethesda.

Have you watched the latest programming on the Robert Dyer Channel? The Angus Burger Unboxing has a lot of hits, but you've missed out on Westbard, Episode 6: Giant Truck; Damascus, Episode 9: Damascus Recreation Center; Ride On Bus 29; and 2 videos of Carroll Creek in Frederick.

So hurry to http://www.robertdyer.net/ to watch them now!

EDUCATION

IS NOT A

"BUSINESS"

I have to disagree with Jay Mathews' argument that schools are businesses going through tough times like the newspaper industry.

Mathews made this assertion in a Washington Post column on the situation at Baltimore's KIPP Ujima Village Academy. Ujima Village is one of the highest performing schools in Baltimore, and is a majority-black charter school. Now of course, there are all kinds of arguments about the KIPP program nationwide. Some believe that those scores are inflated by keeping the school's population limited to the best students.

But right now, I'm just talking about his offhand comment regarding schools as businesses. Especially when we have an education crisis, and a minority achievement gap nationwide.

In education, a product is not being produced for profit. Instead, human beings are being given the tools and opportunities to advance themselves in life. We all know that success in America also involves luck, who you know, etc. But a good education gives everyone a chance if they have the determination and are willing to work. We have to control costs and have a fiscally responsible budget. But we can't take the position that schools are a place to cut big when our politicians have mismanaged the county budget. There is plenty of other wasteful spending to eliminate elsewhere. Yet our county council took $80 million away from schools this year, in defiance of state law.

Often today, the scope of education goes beyond the classroom. The Montgomery County Public Schools program to provide free meals to disadvantaged children this summer is an example. Many students in the county are not even receiving the nutrition they need to be successful in school. This and other early childhood education programs will reduce the number of those living in poverty, the number of juveniles in our criminal justice system, and increase the number of Americans attending college.

Proper nutrition, free access to internet resources from home, more assistance to parents who wish to home school their children and other initiatives will help to close the gap. Searching for profits, or charging kids for the budgetary failures of the county council, will not.

NO WAY,

KEMOSABE...

Johnny Depp as Tonto in

Lone Ranger Movie?!?!!!

I read in USA Today that Johnny Depp is going to play the Lone Ranger's sidekick, Tonto, in a new movie. If true, that is ridiculous!!

The Lone Ranger was one of my childhood heroes, so I am not pleased to hear about inaccurate casting like this. Tonto, of course, was a Native American. What "updates" do they have planned for the Lone Ranger himself? That would be tampering with an American hero. Something that Hollywood and comic book publishers have enjoyed doing in recent years.

As Bob Dole would say, "where's the outrage?"

Are Native Americans going to embrace a white man as Tonto? (Yes, I know that Depp is claiming a fraction of Cherokee heritage, according to the newspaper - but he appears as Cherokee as Chevy Chase did "Comanche indian.")

This sort of thing happens in Hollywood all too frequently because TV and movies do not cast Latinos or Native Americans in many starring roles.

Is Hollywood saying that there is no Native American actor who can play Tonto? Don't young Native Americans - many of whom grow up in difficult environments on reservations - deserve to have a hero onscreen? Especially when the character was a hero on the screen already?

How is it that we claim on the one hand to be making progress on race relations, when on the other hand, our self-proclaimed "morally-superior" Hollywood liberals are casting a white man as Tonto?

That was your cue, Mr. Palance....

Johnny Depp as Tonto.

"Believe it... or not!"

FIVE GUYS

TO OPEN ON

BETHESDA ROW

Are Damascus and Poolesville Next?

I've just heard that a new Five Guys restaurant will be opening on Bethesda Avenue this year. Perhaps those areas which have gone without for many years - such as Bethesda, Damascus, and Poolesville - will finally have a Five Guys location.

While you're waiting, you can see the Carroll Creek location of Five Guys in the video on the Robert Dyer Channel at www.RobertDyer.net.

DR. YES & COUNCIL

SAY "YES!" TO

BETHESDA SCHOOL

FUNDS; "NO!" TO

UPCOUNTY SCHOOLS

It is Dr. Yes' natural response to say, "YES!" to developers - and predictably, he's done it again. I'm following a two-track power grab by the developer-beholden County Council and Planning Board.

On the Planning Board side, the law makes clear that a development moratorium must be imposed when schools reach a certain level of overcrowding. That was not convenient for a developer with a project going forward in downtown Bethesda. So Dr. Yes (a.k.a. Royce Hanson) and other developer allies on the Board have rushed to approve that questionable project - without regard for the design or the impact on Bethesda ES and other schools.

It seems that Amy Presley, one of 2 members to vote "NO" on that, is the only objective member of the board. Former delegate and fellow Republican Jean Cryor does offer much hand-wringing, but virtually always goes ahead and votes with Dr. Yes and the developers.

We hear all of this doublespeak from Dr. Yes and Rollin Stanley, but the results going forward are clear: our current officials have no intention of making substantive road and highway improvements, have no regard for the quality of education nor the environmental conditions in our school buildings, and have set a mad course for radical infill overdevelopment countywide.

Meanwhile, councilmembers Nancy Floreen (D - at Large), Mike Knapp (D - Upcounty), and Marc Elrich (Marc Elrich - helping developers?!) (D - at Large) are planning to wave a magic wand and generate generous new funds for Bethesda school construction.

Improvements to recently-built schools in wealthy areas would then take precedence over improvements to old buildings in Gaithersburg, Damascus, and Silver Spring, for example.

And the goal of these councilmembers is to ignore the law and lift the moratorium in Bethesda, not the one in Clarksburg - putting councilmember Knapp in the position of betraying not only the schoolchildren in his own district, but residential development and business interests in the Upcounty, as well.

What does this mean in the most basic sense?

It means that older schools, such as those in the Damascus cluster, will not receive emergency funds while new schools in Bethesda will. Those schools - Damascus ES, Baker MS, and Damascus HS - all have specific facility needs which have been delayed for "lack of funds." Yet, we are to believe that funds can magically appear for Bethesda school improvements?

But it also reveals again what I said in 2006: the school population estimates have been set too low. Here in Bethesda, Woodacres ES will install its sixth portable this fall. And that is a brand new school, built a few years ago.

Same for Bethesda ES and the renovated Westland MS. Schools which could have been built larger.

Biased reporters laughed off my comments at the time, but look like fools now.

It's outrageous.

EXCLUSIVE

REVIEWS OF

MUSHROOM & SWISS,

BACON & CHEESE

MCDONALD'S

ANGUS BURGERS

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!

As you read here earlier this week, the McDonald's Angus Burger has arrived in Montgomery County.

Now that I have had a chance to try the other 2 Angus Burgers, here are my thoughts:

Having eaten one of each, so far I think the Mushroom & Swiss version is the best Angus Burger. The similarities of the Deluxe version to the existing Big & Tasty can make the Angus Burger seem more familiar. Like a more upscale Big & Tasty, so to speak.

The Mushroom & Swiss version seems like it was designed specifically for the Angus hamburger. It has only the burger, 2 slices of Swiss cheese, and plenty of mushrooms, along with a hint of a sauce for the mushrooms. Not only is this the best combination of the 3, but - for the reason mentioned at the start of this paragraph - it emphasizes the unique flavor of the 100% Angus beef burger.

You can more easily tell that this is a superior burger to the Big & Tasty. This one was also juicier than the Deluxe, but cooked all the way through.

The Bacon & Cheese could have been the return of the McJordan (anyone remember the Michael Jordan sandwich of the '90s?). All it would need is the McJordan barbeque sauce.

Instead, this has the Angus Burger, 2 bacon strips, ketchup (not Michael Jordan's BBQ sauce!!), mustard, and... wait a minute... the regular McDonald's pickle slices and onions. Instead of the more upscale pickles and onions I received on my Deluxe Angus Burger! Was this just a mistake, or is that what they meant to put on the Bacon & Cheese version? I won't know until I've ordered them all a few times. But it would seem a better branding strategy to use the same ingredients across the Angus Burger line. So I'm subtracting a star for the lack of premium ingredients on the Bacon & Cheese version.

Bacon strips were limp and tough to chew. It may be a personal preference, but I like my bacon crispy. The Angus Burger wasn't quite as juicy, but still more flavor than the Deluxe, and well done.

I can summarize by saying that if you want to get the best impression of the Angus Burger, order the Mushroom & Swiss first. I'm usually a Deluxe (mayonnaise, [real] onions, pickles) kind of guy, so I'm surprised that the Deluxe wasn't the best of the 3.

Final scores for this first round of testing:

Angus Burger Deluxe: ****
Angus Burger Mushroom & Swiss: *****
Angus Burger Bacon & Cheese: ***

I know my readers in Damascus are getting a bit impatient; so don't worry, I have a new Episode of Damascus on the Robert Dyer Channel for you this morning. And, as a bonus, a photo update on the Damascus High School FFA tomato plants I bought last month. So go to www.RobertDyer.net right now!

OMG!

WASHINGTON POST

COPIES USA TODAY

GOSSIP GIRL

FEATURE

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!

We know that the Washington Post is running low on original ideas (and pages per copy!). But now they've resorted to reprinting material from other newspapers the next day.

Tuesday's USA Today Life section had a chart comparing Gossip Girl with new reality show NYC Prep.

24 hours later, the Post printed a similar comparison chart, with some of the same categories, and even some of the same quotes from the program NYC Prep.

The Post gave the byline to its self-described "Gossip Girl correspondent" Emily Yahr. (Let's get this straight: The Post has fired all of its copy editors [or at least it seems that way from all the errors printed each day], many editors, and apparently cannot afford to hire a reporter who will cover the full spectrum of opinions and political developments in Montgomery County... ...and yet it can afford to employ a "Gossip Girl correspondent?").

I guess reprinting features from USA Today is what that Post editor meant when he told me they want only "fresh content" for their newspaper.

TTYL

ANGUS BURGER

HAS ARRIVED!

A www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!

Close your ears, George Leventhal! The McDonald's Angus Burger has landed in Montgomery County. It is a full 1/3 pound of 100% Angus beef.

The signs went up over the weekend at my neighborhood McDonald's, with a "Coming Soon" note taped over them.

But last night, after years of waiting, I finally got my hands on a Deluxe Angus Burger. I definitely earned it, after a long night at Republican headquarters. Where I was "doing the business the People elected me to do," as Bill Clinton once said. We pretty much were appointing new members to about half of the Central Committee, it seemed like.

So after I brought it home, I opened the box. You can watch the exclusive video of this on the Robert Dyer Channel at www.RobertDyer.net! You can also see a photo of the Angus Burger there, too.

Now it was finally time to eat the sandwich, after years of testing, rumors, hype, and speculation.

This was the Deluxe version; you can also get Bacon & Cheese or Mushrooms & Swiss.

The Deluxe has one 1/3 pound Angus burger, 2 slices of American cheese, a tomato slice, pickles, onions, lettuce, and mayonaisse.

I guess you have to consider the burger first, as it is the star of the show here. It is a big burger, but not the world's biggest. There is plenty of Angus beef flavor. It is not all that different from the Big & Tasty, except in size. Overall, it is a good-tasting burger, although a little tough for a gourmet burger.

The pickles and onions, as well as the bun, are the most upscale elements. These pickles and onions are more like the ones President Barack Obama has on his upscale burgers, than the ones you usually find at McDonald's.

What does that mean? It means that the dill pickle slices are crinkle cut, and a bit crispier than the usual flat pickle slices. The onions are red instead of plain white.

The bun is upscale, but not sweet like the recent chicken sandwiches' buns. It is toasted with sesame seeds, and tastes very fresh. As do the other ingredients in the Deluxe Angus Burger.

Mayonaisse is mayonaisse. The cheese, tomato, and lettuce are virtually the same as you find on the other McDonald's sandwiches.

My verdict is that it could have been even better, if every ingredient was upscale. I also wonder if the Deluxe version will battle it out with the Big & Tasty, which is quite similar.

But overall, I enjoyed the Deluxe Angus Burger, and look forward to trying the other two flavors.

All of the tractor photos are finally uploaded now at www.RobertDyer.net.

Be sure to visit www.RobertDyer.net to see the final photos from the Montgomery County Gas & Steam Engine show. And a new video featuring the Ride On 29 bus in Bethesda.

COUNTY COUNCIL,

NON-PROFIT

STILL CANNOT

ACCOUNT

FOR

MISSING

TAXPAYER FUNDS

$900,000+ of Taxpayer Funds Missing in Weird

Web of Conflicts of Interest & Mismanagement (or Worse)

Capital Properties' Westbard Lobbying Firm COO

Embroiled in Centro Familia Investigation

The Washington Post and county Inspector General are certainly taking their time investigating what happened to over $900,000 of taxpayer funds gifted to non-profit Centro Familia by your County Council.

As I said when this came up a few months back, don't you think the average citizen would be in some major trouble if they couldn't account for $900,000 in public funds? So what is taking so long to get answers in an age when senior citizens are thrown out of foreclosed homes onto the street on short notice?

According to the Post story, a whopping $450,000 of Centro Familia's $700,000 is county taxpayer funds from the council. That's more than half!

We often hear - just the other night on Channel 6, in fact - that we need to fund non-profits in order to save money in the county budget.

Now, that is absolutely true.

However, that theory is absolutely not true when a) the non-profit is a partisan political actor, and b) the non-profit is providing its services with taxpayer monies exceeding what it would cost the county to provide those same services directly.

You could argue that Centro Familia is guilty of "b."

Again, according to the Post, Centro Familia provides "an early childhood program to about 30 preschoolers." Okay. I'm all in favor of that. In fact, I was recognized by the director of a local early childhood education for my proposals in that area during the 2006 campaign. It is also of special importance to have these programs for very young citizens whose parents' first language is not English. They often have neither the environment conducive to learning, nor even the meeting of basic nutritional needs, that most county children have at home.

But would it cost $750,000 a year (or even the $450,000 per year given by the county) to provide an early childhood program for 30 (30!) children?

I daresay, no.

It also says they have trained over 300 in-home child care providers for children. But that doesn't add up either.

So why is the county council spending your money so freely on Centro Familia?

The Westbard Connection

You may remember I broke the story last year that Capital Properties (now owner of most of Westbard) had hired lobbyists from the firm of Lerch, Early & Brewer to - what else? - lobby the county council to do the bidding of Capital Properties on Westbard.

According to the Washington Post, Lerch, Early & Brewer's Chief Operating Officer is also Chairman of the Centro Familia board. And as such, is mentioned in regards to - and quoted on - this mystery of the vanishing public funds.

This County Council has Zero Fiscal Responsibility

If you run into your local councilmember, you might just want to ask him or her why he or she is giving away your tax dollars with no accountability whatsoever.

For services they could provide directly for less!

And ask them about the portion of that $900,000 that went to "activities 'outside the country.'"

What's that about? What's going on here? Councilmembers?

And where do representatives or employees of Centro Familia "travel" at taxpayer expense?

Gee whiz, I'd like to do some traveling myself! How about giving us citizens a free vacation, councilmembers?

Apparently, the council keeps funding the organization without even examining or requesting the appropriate documentation for the expenditures!

We need fiscal responsibility! And that's going to be the voter's responsibility in 2010, at the county and state levels.

Let us keep that money so we can take vacations this summer.

It is the first day of summer, after all.

INCOMPETENCE

WITHOUT

CONSEQUENCES

New County Budget Method: "Punish the Kids"

County Council Cuts $79.5 Million from

Public Schools; Washington Post Applauds,

Endorses Council's "Inspired" Budget Disaster

Leventhal on Charging Schools for Council's

Budget Mistakes:

Let's Do This Again in the Future!

Can a county executive and council run the county's budget into the ground, take COLAs and step increases from teachers and public safety employees, take away senior citizens' dentures (I'm not making that up), slash education by $79.5 million dollars...

...and avoid media criticism, public outrage, and possibly civil unrest, in a county supposedly obsessed with services and public schools?

The answer, so far, is apparently "Yes!"

Witness yesterday's bizarre editorial in the Washington Post.

After defying state law which requires the county to maintain a minimum level of education funding, the county council then turned around and charged MCPS $79.5 million dollars. Essentially, the council and executive decided to "punish the kids" for their own fiscal incompetence (kind of like how they tried to punish disabled police officers earlier this year).

Over a barrel, Superintendent Jerry Weast agreed to a one-time deal of this sort. This was probably a mistake, in light of the state mandate.

But realizing what a boon this could be, to move school funds over for general kickbacks to political allies and developers, the council soon backed away from the original deal.

In fact, member George Leventhal (D - At Large) was quoted in the Gazette days ago on his enthusiasm for repeating the "punish the kids" practice in future budgets.

The Post's response to the council's disgraceful actions?

The Post says derelict councilmembers should take "justified pride" in their final budget. You know, the one that not only introduced this new "punish the kids" budget method; but also the one that cut compensation for teachers, police, and firefighters.

"Justified pride?!" As Bill Clinton would say, "Give me a break."

Of course, in making such a shady budget move, the council has now risked not only Wall Street's wrath, but a $40 million fine from the state.

You would think that such hubris, such brash disregard for the law and the welfare of the children of Montgomery County, would bring about a tragic end. Schools would lose not only the $79.5 million, but then the county would take another $40 million blow.

And then, you would also think, there would be heck to pay for the county council among parents, the media, and eventually, the voters.

But the Post thunders, Don't you dare punish our county council! in so many words. The Post attempts to shift blame to Dr. Weast, stating that he is "grandstanding," taking "jabs at the council," and "feuding" with our hard-working councilmembers - the same councilmembers that just ran the county into the ground!

In truth, you could argue that Dr. Weast has actually accomplished some things over the last 3 years, unlike our "justifably proud," do-nothing council.

The Post subtly endorses the "punish the kids" accounting method, mainly by stating that the council "didn't want to limit future options." "Punish the kids" is a future option, according to the liberal Washington Post.

As long as there is more money for the developers, special interests, partisan non-profits, and political allies, the Post and assorted Chambers and Boards will heartily endorse our council's "Punish the Kids" budget method.

It's outrageous.

The state board of education should absolutely hold the council accountable, so that their hubris and self-serving contempt for the law - and the residents of Montgomery County - can be known to all.

And shame on the Post for another despicable display of politics-as-usual.

I have a new video from Carroll Creek in downtown Frederick for you this morning on the Robert Dyer Channel. If you wondered whether or not the water is really moving in the creek, you will know for sure after watching this video.

The rest of the many tractor photos from the April Montgomery County Gas & Steam Engine show are finally going up as well. Today you will find a picture of a great open cab John Deere tractor.

So visit www.RobertDyer.net right now!

I-270:

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

ELECTED OFFICIALS

COMPLETELY

OUT OF TOUCH

WITH REALITY

If you believe the Montgomery County Councilmembers quoted in yesterday's Washington Post, a new rapid bus or light rail transitway will solve gridlock on Interstate 270.

I just fundamentally disagree.

First of all, you have to actually drive up 270 in the late afternoon. And try it again now, because the congestion I've encountered on 270 and 355 over the last 45 days is beyond anything I have witnessed before.

What is causing the delays? First of all, volume of traffic has increased - and will continue to increase, in contrast to the Gazette letter writer's opinion this week.

But frankly, it's also highly suspicious. You keep waiting (and I mean waiting!) to find out what it is up ahead that everyone is stopping for. A lot of cars are just going real slow. When a light finally does turns green, some people seem to take their time starting forward. What are you driving 25 or 30 MPH on 355 for?! What are you waiting for?

You think there must be a terrible accident ahead, but mile after crawling mile, there is absolutely no obstruction. Except for the lights, which are intentionally mistimed by the county. You literally stop at every block.

Ultimately, their goal is to convince you that gridlock is inevitable and you must relinquish your automobile to Big Government. And pay higher gas taxes! Big Government even wants to install a GPS in your car to monitor your location and mileage - and then tax you on that basis. Somebody get George Orwell on the phone.

The truth is, both 270 and 355 need to be widened. This has become an absolute crisis where it used to be just a major inconvenience.

Importantly, the new lanes must be free to use by all of the taxpayers who pay to have them constructed. No toll lanes! And unlike 355, there simply may not be enough room for transit lanes on 270.

Why does a mass transit proponent like myself feel that transit is not the solution on 270? It's very simple. Unlike downtown D.C. or even the downcounty, the infrastructure does not exist to conveniently get home once you disembark from transit at the CCT station. If you live in Damascus, for example, how would you realistically get home? Most of the upcounty is dependent on the automobile. And retaining the rural areas' character precludes many urban transit options.

What's embarrassing is that our county executive and council just drastically cut many of the few bus route schedules available in the upcounty.

That's not only hypocritical, but also proves my point: the powers-that-be are trying to fool you about the CCT's potential. It should be built, but it will not solve 270 or 355 gridlock. They are simply trying to grease the wheels for their developer buddies to build wider and higher beyond Shady Grove.

We need new leadership that will put fiscal responsibility first, by recognizing that we have failed to put federal, state, and county funds where the highest priority is: widening 270 and 355.

EXCLUSIVE

DIGITAL TV

UPDATE!

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!

Here is the latest from my TV testers across Montgomery County:

Viewer A - Digital television is still receiving all channels, but the Retro TV channel went out yesterday.

Viewer B - Still struggling with old TV and converter box.

Viewer C - If you remember, Viewer C has a digital TV like Viewer A, but could not receive channels 4, 20, 22, 26, 32, or 50. Viewer C reports no improvement either; in fact, now Channel 5 has disappeared as well! (But returned hours later).

Still don't believe you've been had? Well, you probably have digital cable or satellite connected to every TV in your home.

But if you're part of the audience that doesn't, enjoy these headlines from the Land of Greed:

The electronics industry predicts that, as a direct result of the digital TV transition, 25% of homes in the United States will purchase a new, digital TV this year.

The cable industry projects a huge increase in subscriptions to basic cable service over the next 4 years. Basic cable just happens to be the logical step up from a broadcast TV gone dark.



Don't forget to check out the new photos from the ice cream social, and the latest videos on the Robert Dyer Channel at www.RobertDyer.net!

By the time you read this, there should be a new video of Carroll Creek in downtown Frederick on the Robert Dyer Channel. And a new, exclusive photo from last month's Ice Cream Social. So go to www.RobertDyer.net right now!