UNIVERSITY OF

VIRGINIA TRAGEDY

PUTS

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

NEWS AGAIN, WITH

DEVASTATING

CONSEQUENCES

The University of Virginia homicide is the third prominent, Montgomery County-related domestic violence incident in the news over the last two weeks. Latest developments include the suspected killer claiming it was an "accident." Another sad reminder that we must promote a proactive agenda to combat domestic violence. In cases such as this, all of the victim services in the world are useless. The question is, what agenda items could have prevented a tragedy such as this? We must take action here in Montgomery County, where the General Assembly has failed year after year to do so at the state level. I very much look forward to advancing this domestic violence agenda during the campaign this year. I hope all of you will join me in this effort.

A top trending topic this morning on Twitter is #HappyBDayChrisBrown. But today is a day to remember the victims like Yeardley Love, not celebrate abusers like Mr. Brown.

Before enjoying the weather this weekend, don't forget to watch my announcement speech, if you haven't already. And to email it to 10 of your friends.

English: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnvmm1YNWfM

Spanish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78sXxNGmELc

Finally, if you're tired of the Washington Post's biased coverage, you have to enjoy this: The Post has an Ahab-like personal beef with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (and of course, that doesn't have anything to do with Warren Buffett's energy investments that compete with PDVSA oil, right? Right!), and is always publishing one negative editorial or article after another about him.

Well, President Chavez has started his own Twitter account, and in only 2 days, has more followers than the Washington Post!!

Washington Post: 97,310

Hugo Chavez: 119,359

AUSTIN GRILL

CLOSED IN

BETHESDA?

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

Austin Grill in Bethesda has apparently closed. All mention of the Bethesda location has been removed from the Austin Grill website. I wouldn't have expected this, but I would imagine the increasing costs for the restaurant industry - and many popular alternatives nearby, such as Jaleo, Raku, etc. - could be two reasons for the closure. The restaurant appeared to be closed Tuesday evening.

Robert Dyer
Anuncia su Candidatura
para El Consejo del
Condado de Montgomery

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78sXxNGmELc

I HATE TO

SAY I TOLD

YOU SO

At this rate, I am going to put Walter Mercado and Kenny Kingston out of business.

Remember when I told you that nuclear power wasn't safe, and that drilling for oil off the coast of Ocean City was a terrible idea?

And that diesel trains would be a more fiscally responsible way to bring more transit to Montgomery County by substituting new MARC routes for light rail?

I hate to say it, but I told you so!

First, there is the frightening oil rig explosion that just took place off the coast of Louisiana. While all attention has correctly been placed on rescue operations, a second wave of horror is right behind - the tremendous oil spill to come. Imagine if this had happened near the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay. Our fishing industry out of business. Ocean City tourism? Forget about it, with oil coming ashore. Assateague Island national park? A wildlife and ecological catastrophe would have been underway.

Second, how about that "safe" nuclear power? Witness it in action at the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant, where tritium has leaked into soil and groundwater around the plant. Yes, a dose of that a day will surely keep the doctor away, right?

Finally, did you hear that the Silver Line Metro extension rail cars are going to cost $4.1 million apiece? Well, here in Montgomery County, we could buy passenger coaches for new MARC routes for less than a fraction of that apiece. We can't be worried about what kind of train it is; if diesel trains can allow us to build more rail lines in the county at a lower cost, we have a responsibility to consider that option. And again, without overhead wires, trees do not have to be cut down as they will be for the light rail lines.

Continue to visit www.RobertDyer.net for the latest news, and psychic predictions.

WIMPY

TAKES ON THE

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

STRUCTURAL DEFICIT

4 and 8 Year County Council Incumbents

Resort to Infamous, Well-Worn

Election-Year Playbook

Wimpy, you well-mannered scoundrel!

You remember Wimpy, of course? He was a character in the old Popeye comics and cartoons.

Wimpy was most famous for approaching someone and saying, "I will gladly pay you tomorrow, for a hamburger today."

Well, the tired and budget-busting incumbents of the Montgomery County Council have updated Wimpy's line...

In a taxpayer-funded press release, they have floated a very predictable trial balloon: they will appoint a "blue ribbon commission" (again, at taxpayer expense) of political cronies who will tell them how to restructure the county government - in 2011!!

"I will gladly balance the budget next year, if you will reelect me this year," the council is saying.

Only, this isn't as new of an idea as it seems.

Set the Wayback Machine for 2006, when many challengers in that year's election were gaining major traction on the issue of portable classroom trailers. These "trailer parks" are outside almost every school in Montgomery County. It is well-known that these trailers are unsafe for a variety of reasons. With Election Day approaching, Councilmember George Leventhal suddenly announced that the county would phase out portable classrooms - by 2012!

Ingenious, right?

True? Wrong. It wasn't worth the paper the press release was printed on.

But, the gimmick! "Reelect us today, and we will fix everything we messed up tomorrow!"

Good deal, eh?

Only for the failed leaders of Montgomery County.

The time to fix the structural deficit is NOW. We are in a fiscal crisis NOW. Real leaders don't wait. Real leaders don't delegate. Real leaders act like mature adults, roll up their sleeves, and get to work.

The other cop-out in this Wimpy scenario is that "delegating" issue. We've had this happen at the Federal level, where a "blue ribbon panel" is going to report -after the 2010 election! - that we need higher taxes, a VAT, and more, to reduce the deficit. The President and Congress will say, "they made us do it."

Recently, the Rockville mayor and council did the same thing. The city's professional budget staff presented a budget outline that took into account the current issues, as well as the real possibility that the state would make further cuts in the coming months. This meant that certain politically-popular items and tax credits were not affordable.

It was now time to make the hard decisions. The new councilmembers and mayor then voted to appoint a commission that would make recommendations, rather than take an unpopular position. The staff recommends, the council decides - or at least, that was the old theory.

The county council has done this the last two years: refuse to make the tough decisions. Last year, they were literally able to "cheat" to balance the FY2010 budget. They made minimal cuts (like taking dentures from low-income seniors, eliminating weekend and holiday transit in Damascus), got a sweetheart giveaway of COLAs from the unions, and then threw in a bunch of stimulus funny money. Finally, they illegally cut $90 million from the MCPS budget. They were able to officially break the law on that when their cronies in the Montgomery County delegation rammed a lawbusting measure through the General Assembly. That new law has shattered the claim of county politicians that they are committed to education, as it makes it possible to cut the MCPS budget every year in perpetuity.

Cheaters can win in Montgomery County, especially with the help of the Powers That Be and the local media lapdogs.

But they won't be able to do it this year - the deficit is $1 billion dollars!!!

They're getting ready to wave the magic wand again, but that doesn't solve our structural deficit.

The council doesn't plan to solve it. They will make minimal changes such as combining the Recreation and Parks Departments. But that won't solve anything. They won't anger the unions or politically-connected non-profits by making any real structural changes this year. They won't cut the waste at the management/executive level.

Then next year, their Blue Ribbon cronies will report: raise taxes. We'll have the same structural problems, but they'll try to just increase revenue to cover it.

Unfortunately, while the council has studied much about politics, they've proven they know nothing about economics.

We've reached the tipping point, where you can raise taxes as much as you want, and revenues will continue to decline each year. Meanwhile, if you fuse a few departments and leave all the political payoffs on (or under) the table, your expenses continue to increase.

This is what is called a budget catastrophe. And they're doubling down on the same failed tax-and-spend policies that got us here. The AAA bond rating will be gone, and only the most passionate limousine liberals among the rich will remain, further reducing revenue. Bankruptcy will loom, and that is a real possibility at this point.

You simply cannot tax your way out of this mess.

What's sad is that, in this case, Wimpy won't pay you tomorrow for that hamburger today.

You'll pay the taxes tomorrow, and the council will be laughing all the way to the bank. They may even believe that the Washington Post, et al will continue to passionately defend and rationalize the county's financial situation through bankruptcy and beyond.

We can't go on like this.

I urge you to consider the reality of our situation, and vote for Change Beyond Belief on Election Day.

Watch my campaign announcement video to hear about a new approach to responsible government in Montgomery County:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnvmm1YNWfM

Change Beyond Belief, transforming our government into one that serves the People, not the other way around.

ROCKVILLE BOARD

OF APPEALS

MEMBER SOUNDS

OFF ON

BRIGHTVIEW

"SHENANIGANS"

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

What was happening at that Rockville Board of Appeals meeting a few weeks ago? One member had resigned in a fit, while a second - Alan Sternstein - had recused himself. That left two voting members. Rockville's mayor and council then appointed a "temporary" member for one meeting. To break tie votes?

Considering that the Board's decisions are ostensibly final, this tactic on a controversial project like Brightview certainly would not reassure residents who live near the site in question.

In a very difficult to follow proceeding, the "temporary" member appeared to take the role of temporary chairman, and quickly pushed through votes that could not have succeeded without his presence.

I've been unable to locate any analysis of what happened that day on any newspaper website or blog. However, in doing some research, I found something posted publicly on Facebook that the usual media suspects apparently missed.

Board of Appeals member Peter Mork spoke out on his Facebook page, and I believe the quote speaks for itself, regardless of your position on the merits or negatives of the Brightview proposal:

"Peter Mork does not like being used as a political tool. So, I hope
whatever shenanigans were being pulled at this morning's Board of Appeals
meeting don't happen again. (A temporary appointment was made by the mayor and council, ostensibly to fill an (optional) vacancy, but it quickly became
apparent that the temporary board member came with a political agenda and a
prepared speech!) ... April 10 at 4:43pm"

It seems to me there is more of a story to that "temporary" appointment, and it's not being covered by the press or shared with the citizens of Rockville. When the local media fails, turn to RobertDyer.net for the real story.

UPDATE:

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

POLICE ARREST

KIDNAPPER

Montgomery County Police report the arrest of David A. Vallecillo, age 23, of the 7000 block Brookdale Drive in Elkridge. The kidnap victim, Kiara Nicole Snipes, was found with the suspect at the Hillside Motel, 6330 Washington Blvd, in Elkridge. She had only minor injuries.

According to detectives, Vallecillo had violated a protective order in the process of committing 2nd-degree assault, and kidnapping Snipes at a Wheaton gas station. Please read my previous blog entry for the full story.

Have you watched my announcement speech yet?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnvmm1YNWfM

If you are dissatisfied with a $1 billion dollar deficit, new taxes on top of our existing Draconian taxes, a whopping cut in education funds that the council has just made "permanent" (unless you vote them out of office), the dismantling of the Ride On bus system and much more than I can type here now...

...then you must watch this video to find out how we can resolve this crisis in our county.

URGENT!

WOMAN KIDNAPPED

IN WHEATON BY

EX-BOYFRIEND

AGAINST WHOM SHE

HAD A PROTECTIVE

ORDER

County Police Seek Public's Help in

Locating Kidnapper, Victim

Montgomery County Police are asking for the public's help in locating Kiara Nicole Snipes, age 20, and her ex-boyfriend, David A. Vallecillo, age 23, of the 7000 block of Brookdale Drive in Elkridge, Maryland. Detectives say Vallecillo allegedly kidnapped Snipes at 2:20 am yesterday at the Exxon gas station, located at 11310 Georgia Avenue in Wheaton.

If you know where either individual may be found, call the Montgomery County Police 4th District Investigative Section at 240-773-5530, or leave an anonymous tip at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

There is a Crime Solvers award of up to $1000 for information leading to an arrest or indictment in this case.

This is another reminder of the everyday presence of domestic violence in our community, but hopefully this particular case will be solved with citizens' help without leading to tragedy.

CHANGE BEYOND

BELIEF

Robert Dyer Announces Candidacy for

Montgomery County Council At-Large

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

I am excited to officially announce that I am a Republican candidate for the Montgomery County Council (At-Large). Here is my personal video message, exclusively on the Robert Dyer Channel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnvmm1YNWfM

If you agree with what I say in the message, please email the video to 10 of your friends today, especially if they live in Montgomery County.

It was one year ago today that I predicted in this very space that you would have new taxes to pay in Montgomery County. And once again, I was correct!

Among several new taxes in the works at the county level are an energy tax increase, and an ambulance ("fee") tax. Check past years' entries to find my exclusive report that detailed how county elected officials were able to use your taxpayer funds to create slick commercials and brochures promoting the dangerous Ambulance Fee - not even law yet!!

As I mentioned at the time, does this mean a councilmember could suggest a law, and then use taxpayer funds to print up brochures and produce TV ads to promote his or her pet project?

The ethics book is out the window again.

But back to the taxes!

Last year, I gave you one of the greatest quotes about taxes ever, from Ronald Reagan:

"If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. If it stops moving, subsidize it."

This year, I have another one of the greatest tax quotes ever to celebrate your Tax Day:

"The power to tax involves the power to destroy."

- U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall

(back in the early 1800s! - This guy must have had a crystal ball in his possession).

The County Council's power to tax has given it the power to destroy.

To destroy the lives of senior citizens who are forced out of their homes by the county's immoral and Draconian property taxes.

To destroy the county's small businesses, and scare away large firms (although I want to predict on the record, that Northrop will come to Maryland as a "[name of month here] surprise" to shake up the governor's race. Because a Virginia victory would be hard for O'Malley to overcome in the election, and the lapdogs in the local press are desperate for that Northrop to Maryland, O'Malley back to Annapolis headline. Don't you sense that deal's getting done?).

To destroy the basic services citizens pay taxes for - transit, libraries and education funding - because tax collections are down, and the county has less revenue. Despite all evidence showing that high taxes always bring in less revenue, the county executive and council are raising taxes anyway. Most of the county's millionaires have moved away, taking all the revenue with them. Apparently, the council heard that there are 4 or 5 millionaires left, and they're going to try to convince them to move as well.

They just need to get through this year, and get reelected. That is their only concern. And then, you will have the most massive tax increases you have ever paid. Will you prevent that on Election Day this November?

MARC MY

WORDS

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

One more thing I'd like to add to the list of reasons why MARC commuter rail would be a better alternative to light rail for the Purple Line and Corridor Cities Transitway:

Remember my comparison of the cost, efficiency, all-weather capability and lifespan of diesel locomotives vs. light rail? (Diesel won all categories, by the way).

Those older, cheaper locomotives can also be modified to run on alternative fuels, including waste vegetable oil.

Which makes them more "green" than light rail, which runs on what the "green" people always tell us is "dirty" energy: electricity generated by coal-burning power plants.

I'm not anti-coal; in fact, it is the most affordable and efficient source of electricity. And it employs Americans, unlike the Chinese-made mercury light bulbs and Chinese-made nuclear reactors that our "green" politicians are promoting/mandating today.

But the classic American locomotives are actually more "green" than "light" rail! Who knew?

DAMASCUS

CENTRE

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO!

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

Watch a moment in Damascus history in an exclusive video on the Robert Dyer Channel at www.RobertDyer.net! See the old Safeway sign lit up at night, on a night when the store was actually still operating in the summer of 2009. Damascus history preserved once again, exclusively on the Robert Dyer Channel for your enjoyment.

Also, read why the Damascus Centre is an example of how to redevelop a shopping center, in contrast to the high-density, paid-garage-parking madness being forced upon us by the County Council, Planning Board and some developers.

DONATE TO

FAMILY OF

FALLEN OFFICER

Montgomery County Police Officer Hector Ayala (District 4) died in the line of duty Easter Sunday, while responding to a fellow officer's request for assistance at the scene of a fight.

He leaves a widow expecting triplets and a 1-year-old child. If you would like to assist them, you can donate to the fund set up by the FOP Lodge in Montgomery County:

"If you would like to donate to the Ayala Family please send your donation to the below address :

Montgomery County Law Enforcement Officers Relief Fund
18512 Office Park Dr.
Montgomery Village, MD 20886

Checks can be made out to MCLEORF and please write "Ayala Family" in the memo area.

All Donations to MCLEORF are *tax deductible and 100% of donations with "Ayala Family" in the memo line will go to the Ayala family.

*Contributions to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Officers Relief Fund, a tax exempt organization under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, are deductible for computing income and estate taxes."

MARC:

NO STRINGS

ATTACHED

A new Washington Post article discusses the controversy of having overhead wires installed across downtown Washington to power the city's new streetcars:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/05/AR2010040502927.html

Here in Montgomery County, it is widely assumed that we will have such overhead catenararies along the planned routes of the Purple Line and Corridor Cities Transitway. However, the growing budget difficulties and dysfunctional Metro system - along with the poor to nonexistant performance of Metro and light rail during the 3 blizzards - continue to make an expansion of MARC commuter rail an affordable and efficient alternative.

The controversial Science City and other developments previously built along I-270 have all been touted as "smart growth" based upon the far-off construction of the CCT. Not only is the ridership of the non-existing CCT far overstated, but the current size of the Gaithersburg West plan far exceeds the capacity of current and future transportation infrastructure in that area.

Meanwhile, Watkins Mill Town Center is emerging as the only real smart growth development in that corridor. Why? In addition to a planned interchange with 270 (of course, it's not yet built in our cart-before-the-horse county council's mode of planning), Watkins Mill already has a MARC rail station on site.

North of the county, MARC trains take a spur into downtown Frederick. There are a variety of possible MARC configurations that could provide the rail service needed in the 270 corridor, at a greatly reduced price.

Not only do diesel locomotives require no overhead wires, they also are less expensive, easier to maintain, and keep going in all weather conditions. Furthermore, did you know that the electric Acela trainsets have a shorter lifespan than regular diesel trainsets? The original Acelas, only in service this past decade, have already reached their mid-life crisis and have a decade of service left. Meanwhile, diesel locomotives from the 60s and 70s are still running across the country.

Also, laying the track will be far cheaper with MARC expansion. Although the Powers That Be have already decided the future for us, our county and state's structural deficits demand that we examine every cost-saving measure. And as I've mentioned before, a MARC Purple Line would allow the entire tree canopy to remain with the exception of station sites. (I can't help also pointing out that, had elites and the Powers That Be left the CSX tracks in place, we could have gotten FRA funds to upgrade them to Class I status. More inept planning in Montgomery County!)

I truly believe that MARC is currently an underpromoted and underappreciated part of our minimalist transit network. We can do better, and our county deserves better. MARC expansion can give us one piece of a modern transportation system, which along with road construction and improvements, can address the gridlock that wastes our time and scares business away from Montgomery County.

JAIME ESCALANTE,

AND

THE FUTURE

OF EDUCATION

IN

MONTGOMERY

COUNTY:

A www.RobertDyer.net Special Report!

"Hi, I'm Conrad Bain, and this is a very special episode of RobertDyer.net. Now, here's Robert Dyer with a special message for the citizens of Montgomery County..."

A great American, educator Jaime Escalante, has just passed away. Of course, you've probably heard about that already.

One of my favorite movies of all time is Stand and Deliver, which as you probably know, is based on Mr. Escalante's life story. This is a movie that should be shown on the first day of school every year in Montgomery County. For the benefit of not only the students, but the teachers as well.

Anybody can cut and paste the Escalante obituary into an article or blog. I'm not going to do that here. Rather, I just want to post my own feelings and observations.

First of all, Mr. Escalante's story is one of those "only in America" stories. A native of Bolivia, he emigrated here and did what all successful immigrants do: he learned English, and worked hard.

And, in the process, a teacher from Bolivia became perhaps the most influential, successful and respected educator in the history of the United States.

Only in America.

Stand and Deliver is a movie you must screen. Sadly, it is only available in a horrid DVD version that has the quality of a camcorder filming a VHS tape version off a TV screen. I hope that the sad passing of Mr. Escalante, combined with all the fervor over Blu-ray movies, will finally give this film the full treatment it deserves: high quality picture and sound, but also lots of extras about the movie and the real man.

What do we learn from Jaime Escalante's story?

First, like any great teacher you or I may have had, he helped his students do what they thought they weren't capable of. He showed that CEO salaries for teachers, Federal control, charter schools and "school-reform" shell games aren't necessary to get results. Students need to be motivated to learn, especially when they are getting all the wrong messages in today's world.

Many students in the county who are getting the wrong message: that there is power and a future in a gang, could learn a lesson from Stand and Deliver.

What was Mr. Escalante's message to an aspiring tough guy?

"Tough guys fry chicken." In other words, it may seem appealing to be in a gang now, but what about the rest of your life? Is being a gang member a career? Of course, everyone in Montgomery County needs to ask themselves, what opportunities are being offered to young people to channel their energies into productive pursuits and lucrative careers? What is being done to extract actual violent criminals and their influence from the community? I hope we can answer that in this election year.

You also find in his real life story - and vividly so in the film - that, sadly, there are those in society who fear minority empowerment. And hence, are not too concerned with the state of education in disadvantaged schools today.

The clear message is that education is power. And that students of all income levels and backgrounds have the right to equal opportunities in education. When those are available, many of the disparities in our society today will be overcome.

Mr. Escalante's death comes at a pivotal time in the history of our county.

Our county schools are among the best in the nation. But not all of them rate the same. Not all students are able to access the same opportunities. And many begin their academic careers at a disadvantage as a result of economic and language barriers.

Some progress has been made. But much more remains to be done.

Special education is another area where Dr. Jerry Weast and MCPS have made great strides, and I believe they have the best of intentions. However, there are many legitimate issues that need to be addressed. Much like gifted and talented education, in special education, parents and students are finding that education is not a one-size-fits-all proposition.

But just as this need for new and stronger programs is being recognized, there are dark forces at work attempting to permanently reduce the education budget. These elected officials at the county and state levels are supported by some developers, business interests and assorted special interests, and backed by media and extragovernmental organizations that don't answer to the voters of Montgomery County.

Just this week, we hear that County Executive Ike Leggett, the County Council, and - sadly - even Dr. Weast, are marching in partisan political lockstep to reduce the MCPS budget.

They are requesting from the state the ability to chop $137.7 million from the MCPS FY2011 budget.

It's outrageous.

I don't have a problem with cutting wasteful spending from the school system; in fact, that has to be done. But the cuts need to be made from wasteful spending, not essential programs. Someone is going to have to get the compensation issues under control before we go bankrupt. School construction contracts have been too favorable to the builders, as we saw when MCPS ended up wasting $500,000 just at Bells Mill in Potomac. Dr. Weast once spent $80,000+ a month fighting to defend an unconstitutional flyer policy.

Like Dr. Weast, our county council appears to have difficulty understanding, interpreting and upholding the law. Even though the Washington Post and other powers tell us that these councilmembers are the only ones who possess the elusive experience and vast knowledge to serve on the county council. Average citizens need not apply!

Yet that vast knowledge and wizardly understanding of "the law" seemed to fail our elite councilmembers last year!

Last year, the council asked for a $79.5M budget cut from the state for MCPS. When the state correctly spurned the request, the councilmembers placed themselves above the law, and illegally went ahead and charged MCPS $79.5M. Under Maryland state law, that was illegal, and the county was, again, correctly slapped with a $23M fine.

That was to ensure that the money was returned to MCPS for FY2010, but also to ensure that the county council would follow the law in the future.

That's where it got really scary. Partisan politics took the place of education. Now you have the governor, the Montgomery County delegation of delegates and senators to the General Assembly in Annapolis, Ike Leggett, the county council, the county school board(!!) and Dr. Weast, in unison, all supporting hundreds of millions less for schools now and in the future.

It's outrageous.

That partisan team succeeded in getting the fine revoked. Now, with all of those partisan players still in power, there is absolutely nothing stopping the county council from cutting education every single year from now on.

In a cynical county, where the local media lapdogs report only what the elected officials and special interests tell them to, this immoral action is potentially a cynical "win-win" situation for these officials in the 2010 elections. Except there will be losers: the children of Montgomery County. And frankly, the incumbent officeholders couldn't care less.

I believe this action, to deny the funds urgently needed to address the education disparities across our county, is a civil rights issue of paramount importance. Do you?

With no accountability in the press, or from education "advocates" who don't seem to care, even though they've been screaming about education funding for decades (but have suddenly lost interest now that their beloved politicians have bankrupted the county and can't get reelected unless they balance the budget on the backs of children, seniors, the poor and the disabled), who is going to hold these anti-education politicians accountable?


You are.

The people of Montgomery County. You've got to get upset about this. I question who you are and your basic sense of decency and humanity if you are just going to sit there and let these people get away with this.

Are you?

I challenge you to challenge your elected officials on this. And if they succeed in robbing the public schools of Montgomery County while transferring these funds to their cronies in the budget, I challenge you to hold them accountable at the polls on Election Day.

The death of Jaime Escalante could not be a positive development. But what an appropriate time to bring his example to the public's attention once again. A time when we in Montgomery County are making decisions that not only determine the future of education, but also what our basic concept of morality is.

TAX FEVER!

Tax Fever is more contagious than H1N1 in Montgomery County right now. The County Executive and County Council have almost reached the breaking point in bankrupting our county through their irresponsible spending. Our AAA bond rating is in danger, according to one of the rating firms.

They can't get reelected if they don't close the budget deficit. But they also can't get reelected if they raise taxes - and they promised they weren't going to raise taxes, remember?

We know that our county council believes it is above the law, as we found during the school funding debates for FY2010 and 2011. And when the law is inconvenient, just have your cronies in Annapolis rewrite it for you, right? Even if children end up paying the price for your reelection!

They'll do whatever it takes.

And that also includes being out of touch with reality.

$800 million shortfall? Wave the magic wand and cut $173 million from MCPS! Wow, that was so easy!

Can they wave it again? Uh oh. They're willing to steal money from children, seniors and the disabled in the budget. But they're not willing to steal from the special interests that got them elected!

So they may just have to raise taxes, and hope the local media will cover for them as usual.

Risky strategy, but then, this is the council president who proposed a $250 parking tax, right?

So here comes the energy tax increase! Local media lapdogs have not questioned or researched the real cost of the energy tax for the average working family. I have, and can tell you it will be far higher than the laughable $3-5 a month Ike Leggett has claimed. He's so glad he has those media lapdogs to just cut and paste the press releases into the newspaper!

Hold on!

A business tax is coming! From guess who? Nancy "$250 Parking Tax" Floreen!

She's calling it an Economic Development Authority, but now it's become clear that this is simply a ruse to add a new tax on county businesses.

That ought to jumpstart us out of a recession! That ought to create jobs!

Or, at least, that's what some of Floreen's uncomfortable political allies on the county Chamber of Commerce are kind of, sort of telling the Gazette.

Survey says?.......... BRRRRRRRRNTTTTTTT!

It seems the authority will not only create more government, more bureaucracy and more salaries and benefits for you, the taxpayer to finance, but it will also be more of a tax collector than a business creator. After all, government doesn't create business or jobs - businesspeople do.

And they can't do that if they're being taxed!

It's not even April 15 yet!

"We may be calling upon the business community to make a contribution to this, and I think over time we will," says Floreen.

As my Spanish professor used to say, "?Voluntarios o victimas?"

Take a guess.

NEW DETAILS ON

WHEATON PLAZA

SUSPECTS RELEASED

BY MONTGOMERY

COUNTY POLICE

Here is the latest information on yesterday's shoplifting incident at Wheaton Plaza, which ended with two suspects escaping and one in custody. The escapees attempted to strike a county police officer with their silver Honda getaway vehicle, which has since been recovered.

The following statement was issued by the police department:

"Detectives from the Montgomery County Police 4th District Investigative Section continue to investigate a shoplifting incident and potential assault that occurred yesterday evening outside of the Westfield Wheaton shopping center and caused a Montgomery County police officer to discharge his service weapon.

The officer-involved shooting continues to be investigated by the Major Crimes Division of the department.

On Tuesday, March 30 at approximately 5:54 p.m., 4th District officers responded to the report of a shoplifting incident that had just occurred at the Target store in the Westfield Wheaton shopping center located at 11160 Veirs Mill Road in Wheaton. Responding officers were given a description of the getaway vehicle, a silver Honda, from store security officers. It was learned that one suspect had already brought stolen items to the vehicle and had returned to the store.

Two 4th District officers located the vehicle leaving the Target parking lot and attempted to stop it. Detectives are investigating the circumstances that caused the officer to shoot, including a potential assault caused by the suspect driver attempting to strike the officer with his vehicle.

The vehicle fled from the officers. It was located a short time later unoccupied near the Bally’s fitness center in the shopping center. Based on the preliminary investigation there is no evidence that the suspects received any injuries from the shooting. No officers were injured. One shoplifting suspect was taken into custody inside the Target store.

Terry Maugans, age 66, of no fixed address, was charged with theft under $1,000. He is currently being held at the Montgomery County Detention Center on a $3500 bond.

The two remaining suspects who fled in the vehicle, bailed out of that vehicle, and then fled on foot, remain at-large. They are described as two Hispanic males, in their early 30’s, approximately 5’9” tall, and weighing approximately 160 pounds.

As is standard procedure, Officer George Saoutis who fired his service weapon, has been placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation is being conducted. He is assigned to the 4th District Police Station in Wheaton and has been with the department for approximately two and a half years. Anyone with information about the shooting incident is asked to call the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070. Anyone with information about the shoplifting and/or assault and suspects is asked to call the 4th District Investigative Section at 240-773-5530. Callers may remain anonymous."

MONTGOMERY

COUNTY POLICE

SEEK YOUR HELP

IN FINDING

SUSPECTS AT LARGE

IN WHEATON

The Montgomery County Police Department has issued the following bulletin, and seeks the community's help in capturing two suspects currently at large:

"Detectives from the Montgomery County Police 4th District Investigative Section are investigating a shoplifting incident that occurred this evening outside of the Westfield Wheaton shopping center and caused a Montgomery County Police Officer to discharge his service weapon.

The officer-involved shooting is being investigated by the Major Crimes Division of the department. Today at approximately 5:54 p.m., 4th District officers responded to the report of a shoplifting incident that had just occurred at the Target store in the Westfield Wheaton Shopping Center located at 11160 Veirs Mill Road in Wheaton. Responding officers were given a description of the getaway vehicle from store security officers.

Two 4th District officers located the vehicle fleeing from the Target parking lot, attempted to stop it, and one officer fired his service weapon. The vehicle continued fleeing from the officers.

It was located a short time later unoccupied near the Bally’s fitness center in the shopping center. Based on the preliminary investigation there is no evidence that the suspects received any injuries from the shooting. No officers were injured.

One white male shoplifting suspect was taken into custody inside the Target store. The two remaining suspects who fled in the vehicle, bailed out of that vehicle, and then fled on foot. They remain at-large and are described only as two Hispanic males.

As is standard procedure, the officer who fired his service weapon has been placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation is being conducted. The involved officer is assigned to the 4th District Police Station in Wheaton and has been with the department for approximately two and a half years. Anyone with information about the location of the remaining suspects is asked to call the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070. Anyone with information about the shoplifting incident is asked to call the 4th District Investigative Section at 240-773-5530. Callers may remain anonymous."

FORECAST CALLS

FOR RAIN TAX

FOR YOU, TAX

CUT FOR

DEVELOPERS...

AGAIN!

Just last week we received word that the Montgomery County Council had voted unanimously to give developers a tax cut, while your taxes went up 8%, and a new energy tax is on their agenda.

Now, the state government wants in on the take.

USA Today reports that some in Annapolis want to force Montgomery and other counties to collect a "tax on rain" from... ...you!!!

That's right. Big Government will arbitrarily determine how much stormwater runoff there is from your residential property. And then charge you a tax of $24, $120, or ??? per year!

Wait a minute, aren't these the same lawmakers who are about to give developers a tax cut of sorts, by exempting them from the 2007 stormwater regulations?

Yes!

Once again, a tax cut for the developers and a tax increase for you!

What are you going to do about it on Election Day?

THE PRICE
ISN'T RIGHT

You may not have heard much about a bill that was quietly passed last week by the Montgomery County Council. But you'll likely notice the results of this "procurement reform" law in the near future when you receive your county tax bill.

Among other provisions that could raise the cost of procurement in Montgomery County Government is one that definitely will: The new law applies the existing county "living wage" law to every county contractor - including the smallest of small businesses. That means, even a 1 or 2 person operation.

What this will do is raise the cost of purchases in two ways: First, some contractors will be unable to pay the living wage ($11-something dollars - to call that a "living wage" in Montgomery County is a joke) and will no longer contract with the county. That will reduce the number of contractors or vendors for any given product. Simple economics (not the strong suit of the county council these days) tells us that less competition will make prices skyrocket. The county will still need those supplies, and will be more than happy to pass the cost on to you, the taxpayer.

Second, the remaining contractors - faced with what is essentially a tax - will do what business does in the real world: pass the tax on to the customer. That customer - the government - will again pass that on to you.

Once again, the council has made their bloated budget bigger, and raised the cost of living in Montgomery County.

"NO DEVELOPER

INFLUENCE," PART

IV

I just have to say, "I told you so." Remember how Councilmember Marc "No Developer Influence" Elrich was calling for a tax cut for developers(!!)?

Well, I was reading the puff piece on the White Flint "victory" in the Washington Post yesterday...

(Holy smoke, that article sounded like it was written by the developers and county council themselves. One phrase to describe reporter Miranda Spivack's downright gushing praise of the plan, and glossing over of the gaping financing and infrastructure issues? "Over the top," maybe? I have to admit that JBG building they pictured is a design we need more of in the county, instead of those horrid cookie-cutter, two-tone brick "town center" structures - though I'm bewildered as to why we can't have more buildings like that in downtown Bethesda - But I digress...)

...and it appears that there are tax cuts for the developers in the plan! So get this: developers got a tax cut, while you got an 8% property tax increase AND Ike Leggett has a new Energy Tax on the way for you! How do you like them apples?

LEGGETT,

LEVENTHAL

FIND

$700,000

IN HHS

SOFA CUSHIONS

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

We have no money, they say. They try to deny disability benefits to disabled police officers, they've cut disabled transportation in half, and - still my favorite - literally took the dentures away from low-income senior citizens.


They need a waiver to break the law so they can spend less money on education now and in the future.


They're about to complete a dismantling of the Ride On bus route system, even while claiming they will boost mass transit use as they approve every project their developer buddies bring before the council dais.


But developers and the special interests have proven to be high-maintenence relationships for Ike Leggett and the County Council.


Keeping the cash flowing, even as they claim there's no money for roads, schools and public safety, is a major challenge. Or is it?


"We just don't have the money." Well, it's true. But they make money by shifting funds from basic services like snow removal, police and fire, libraries, and transportation to political pet projects run by organizations with strong ties to the politicians, and to developers.


The Webb Tract (almost $200M cash) is one poster child for that technique.


Now, here's another:


I have some surprising news for you. Did you know that you are now the proud owner of an apartment building in Takoma Park?


Well, ok, the decision was made for you. But... it's yours! Purchased with $700,000 of your taxpayer dollars. Isn't it great that we have these superior minds, enlightened leaders, who can make all the decisions that we, the unwashed masses, simply don't have the ability to comprehend?


Now, we have no money, right? So Leggett and Leventhal, we're to believe, went through the sofa cushions at HHS and - golly gee - all those quarters added up to $700,000!


It's enough to make you want to buy stock in CoinStar!


“I am proud that we are committing County resources and efforts towards Housing First and the project we are opening today,” said Leventhal.


But they're not done! HHS will also be "funding case management services."


Many residents who have foreclosed homes, have been laid off from work, and in some cases, don't know where all the meals are coming from this week... ...wish that they could make money appear like Leggett and Leventhal. But they don't have the ability to shake citizens upside down until the last coins drop out of their pockets like our county elected officials do!


What we have here is four more apartment units off the market and in the hands of government. For those of you with the misfortune to only learn about the economic theories of Karl Marx and Keynes in school, let me explain what that does: 4 more units off the market makes every other unit still on the market worth more. So what Leggett and Leventhal do in these cases, is to actually increase the cost of housing by driving up prices using taxpayer funds. It's outrageous.


Leave the foreclosed properties to the market, and for far less than $700,000, the government could have assisted a private investor to buy and renovate the property.


I've heard about, but not read, a Gazette story on "workforce housing" (that phrase is so 2006) at King Farm. It talks about an IT employee moving in. Last time I checked, IT and tech people earn higher than average salaries. Our county government has no business subsidizing self-sufficient wage earners to live near their work, when cheaper homes are available elsewhere in the county. And yet, here are more housing units off the market, and in government hands.

Now the county could lower the cost of housing by reducing its immoral, Draconian property taxes. Mr. Leggett and Mr. Leventhal have defiantly refused to do so.

Why? What do they prefer about their affordable housing "plan?"

I'll tell you.

By having government use your money to gobble up homes, they can drive up prices as they reduce supply. As prices rise, less working people can afford housing in the county. And that means... ...more people dependent on Government for housing.

Isn't that clever?

"NO DEVELOPER

INFLUENCE" UPDATE:

EVERY COUNCILMEMBER

VOTES FOR GRIDLOCK

Marc "No Developer Influence" Elrich and every one of his County Council colleagues voted to approve the White Flint sector plan.

Throughout the council's press release, it claims that infrastructure will be built, but never offers one single example of any such project. The fact is that there is over $1 billion of infrastructure necessary to even begin to support this plan, and that would still leave 355 gridlocked north and south of the White Flint "sector."

Once again, every councilmember showed they could be bought off.

And once again, this council puts the cart before the horse on new development. Note carefully that Councilmember Duchy Trachtenburg states in the PR that, "I look forward to working with my Council colleagues on the development of a sustainable financing plan for the White Flint plan area and a development coordination mechanism which will give comfort to our neighbors and the business community about infrastructure and financing issues.”

In other words, there is no "sustainable financing plan." Councilmembers got their donations, made the political payoff, and they'll get another check this year. That check will ensure 3 things: 1. Kick the can down the road again. 2. Make sure that the "financing plan" is laid on the backs of unsuspecting future White Flint residents with a Clarksburg-style tax. 3. Building will begin immediately, without the infrastructure.

At least they have Harris Teeter! Clarksburg and Rockville Town Center are still waiting for even one grocery store.

Interesting that well-planned, traditional commercial developments like Little Falls Mall and Damascus Centre both got brand-new, upscale Safeway stores.

What does that tell you about our council's foolhardy development schemes?

They think you're the fool. Prove them wrong in November at the voting booth.

THE NEXT LEVEL

OF CORRUPTION

IN

MONTGOMERY

COUNTY

County politicians are already known for having been bought off by developers and special interests. If you examine the campaign contributions of each politician, you will find their votes match up precisely from White Flint to Piney Branch. And, of course, there are the political kickbacks that might even give Ben Nelson pause. All part of the game here in Montgomery County.

But the Powers That Be are about to take the game to a whole new level. The Washington Examiner reported last week that Montgomery County's delegation to the Maryland General Assembly is trying to ram through a bill that would - get this - allow the Montgomery County Council and Department of Economic Development use your tax money to invest in county startups.

It's no wonder Gordon Gekko is coming out of jail.

Alas, the Examiner missed the scariest part of the story: While it may be wrong and unethical for county politicians to "gamble" with taxpayer money they've robbed from schools (no wonder they want out of the Maintenence of Effort law), police and senior citizens, there's a more insidious aspect to this plan.

If politicians can take donations from developers, and then vote to approve their projects as a councilmember, what will stop them from investing taxpayer money in businesspeople and businesses that donate to their campaigns?

Apparently, nothing.

Should councilmembers who don't understand basic economics, or how to balance a budget, be trusted with millions more in taxpayer funds to waste on politically-connected startups?

Absolutely not.

But this proposal reveals that the level of arrogance and hubris among county elected officials is at an all-time high. Invincible politicians + unlimited taxing and spending = fiscal catastrophe. County residents are living with the consequences right now.

The last thing we need is taxpayer-funded gambling where the house - and the house's campaign contributors - win every time.

This proposal should be stopped in Annapolis, and its backers stopped by the voters in November, for daring to believe they could pull a fast one over on the public by keeping this quiet.

"SENIOR" HOUSING:

IT'S NOT JUST FOR

SENIORS ANYMORE!

When it comes to tricks, the Powers That Be in Montgomery County - and their media supporters - are the experts. Remember when a developer testifying before the Rockville Planning Commission used his Blackberry to electronically jam the microphone, thereby preventing those watching at home from hearing the details of his project? Then you are probably a new reader, and missed that exclusive report a few years ago!

So let me talk again about another trick: "senior" housing. This is used to win support for new, mixed-use condo buildings, especially when they are being proposed for an inappropriate area. It's done to convince nearby residents that only law-abiding elderly folks will be moving in, they'll be quiet, they won't commute to work in cars, and they won't have kids to crowd the neighborhood schools.

This is being used in Rockville right now, to replace a forest near the Town Center with a Victory Housing "senior" apartment complex. One of the few remaining green spaces in downtown Rockville is being turned into a paved complex, thanks to the county, which sold the land in a sweetheart deal. The same county government that always claims to be green, and says you should pay a 5 cent grocery tax to "clean the rivers," is clear cutting the last forest in the City of Rockville. I recommend that during "Corporate Ca$h Hour"... er, sorry, "Earth Hour," our county elected officials take the Hypocritical Oath, to continue wasting taxpayer money on wacko projects like toxic mercury lightbulbs and powering your home with those little pinwheels like you got at Ocean City when you were a kid. While trashing and devastating our environment with unlimited development and toxic waste!

I've written years ago about a "senior" housing tower rammed through the planning process by Dr. Yes on River Road. To refresh memories, it is a wonderful site for the elderly, or anyone else to live. I mean, who doesn't want to step out on a balcony high above an industrial area, warehouses, self-storage facilities, and gas stations? Ah, yes, take in the fresh air. Now it's time for Grandpa to walk to the store. It's quite a walk. Don't trip, Grandpa! Maybe take the bus instead? First walk down the industrial alleys to River Road. Then... oh no! It's quite possible that the county council will have eliminated all bus service on weekends and holidays along River Road! Walk back up and call Peapod, Gramps.

They say they're going to install a signal on River Road. Any real engineer knows that is ridiculous - 4 traffic signals in one block of River Road?

Yes, it's a dream site in a dream location, ladies and gentlemen. County planners should be proud.

But this may never happen. The truth is, as I've mentioned before, "senior" housing comes with no guarantee. Often, it is simply a Trojan horse used by developers to build in a sensitive area. Then, once it's built, the mission changes, and - like Park Bethesda or the Fenestra - you have frat parties going all night.

"Well, some of these kids are seniors in college, so, technically that's senior housing."

Sorry, I couldn't hear you - your Blackberry's jamming the microphone.

What got me started on this senior housing thing again?

A fantastic article in USA Today that totally backs up what I've been saying for years!

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2010-03-21-age-restrictions-lifted_N.htm

Read it yourself, but here's my favorite part:

Sherwood Lakes in Virginia Beach was going to build a third of 180 homes for
55-plus buyers. "As we were building, we realized the market for
age-restricted was almost non-existent," says Dustin Little, sales
consultant for Sherwood Lakes and a real estate agent. "We went to the
City Council and lifted the age restriction."

Boy, that was so easy! Just remember that the next time you're told it's "just senior housing." You know, for which the market is nonexistent.

Another example was in the very appropriately named Surprise, Arizona. Don't fall for this "surprise" in your neighborhood.

DID YOU PAY FOR

THEM TO PARTY?

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

Regular readers are aware that the County Council's late Spring Break beach trip (officially referred to as the Maryland Association of Counties meeting) comes at the taxpayer's expense. Gov. Martin O'Malley famously called off a $12,000 taxpayer-funded bash at Seacrets nightclub due to "tough times." It just wouldn't be right to party at "Jamaica USA" on the taxpayer's dime during a recession (but OK at other times?!), right?

Have you been invited to Ike Leggett and Council President Nancy Floreen's next party?

You ought to have been, because you're paying for it!

Actually, it's not one party... it's three parties! In one day!

On March 27, Leggett and Floreen start partying early at Gaithersburg City Hall. It's a "Breakfast and Books Census Celebration!" For what we've paid, I hope it's not just one of those hotel Continental deals.

Then hit the road to Wheaton Plaza! It's time for the "Cuenta Conmigo Fiesta Census Celebration!" While you're at it, cuenta conmigo how big the county's budget deficit is!

If you still have enough energy left, it's off to Langley Park, for the "Count on Me Census Celebration!" Where Leggett or Floreen should tell the crowd, "count on me to tax and spend the county's finances into oblivion!"

In an election year, these "rallies" sound awfully like campaign rallies. So shouldn't these two candidates pay for them, instead of the taxpayers? It's outrageous.

They don't know how to balance a budget. They don't know how to provide basic services. But, ladies and gentlemen, they sure know how to party! Especially when you're picking up the tab.

BOB EHRLICH

SURPRISE APPEARANCE

IN

MONTGOMERY COUNTY:

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO!!!

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

Last evening, Gov. Bob Ehrlich made a surprise appearance at the Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner at the Hilton Rockville Hotel.

Watch EXCLUSIVE video of his speech on the Robert Dyer Channel at www.RobertDyer.net right now!!!!

The Post doesn't have it, the Gazette and Sun don't have it, TV doesn't have it; only RobertDyer.net has this exclusive video from the most anticipated candidate of the 2010 elections!

"NO DEVELOPER

INFLUENCE?:"

PART DEUX

When we last heard from Montgomery County Councilmember Marc "No Developer Influence" Elrich, he was proposing a tax cut for developers. Okay...

Now the Gazette is crediting Mr. Elrich as one of the biggest supporters of one of the biggest developer projects in the county: the new White Flint.

The lowball, overly conservative numbers say that this project will create 9,800 new housing units, and 6 million square feet of commercial space. And best of all, it will do all that while increasing congestion on 355 and other roads, and crowding classrooms. All of this construction is great for the environment as well! Thanks to politicians in Annapolis, stormwater runoff will be allowed, and in fact, encouraged!!!

Marc "No Developer Influence" Elrich cannot wait, and neither can his developer-beholden colleagues, whose campaign accounts are filled to the brim with developer dollar$.

Every single councilmember has endorsed the plan. And endorsed the zoning change to mixed use, without which this development would have been illegal. So that "developer influence" really paid off, didn't it!!!

Importantly, you the voter now know that every incumbent on the ballot supported this traffic jamming, classroom crowding sector plan. Your choice in November will be clear.

Let Marc "No Developer Influence" Elrich tell you about his concerns in his own words, with no developer influence on those words!!!:

"I think the bigge$t i$$ues got re$olved."

Well, the article makes it sound that way. In fact, the building of a new school and MARC station to support even a fraction of this development are anything but resolved.

But with enough "developer influence," you might $tart to believe ju$t about anything!!!

A tax cut for developers, but tax increases for you, including 8% Property Tax increase last year, and now a new whopper of an energy tax on the council's agenda.

No developer influence, but how about some old-fashioned voter influence at the polls this November?

BUDGET NUMBERS

DON'T ADD UP

The FY2011 budget released by Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett this week cannot realistically close the $800+ million shortfall.

First of all, like Gov. Martin O'Malley's state budget, it assumes funds that are not certain to be available. Specifically, it relies on the dangerous Ambulance Fee, which will only pass the county council if its members plan on not running for reelection.

Second, it relies on an energy tax increase that will cost much more than $3 a month for the average Montgomery County homeowner. This would require Ike Leggett to break his promise to not raise taxes this year, and for the council to pass a flat, regressive tax increase on the poor.

Third, the budget (as predicted) cuts in all the wrong places. It eliminates police officers in schools at a time when many schools are facing serious gang problems. It reduces funding for transportation and eliminates Ride On routes, two core government services.

Fourth, the claim of eliminating full-time positions is a false one. The Washington Post's Michael Laris credited Ike Leggett for terminating hundreds of employees over the last few years. That is simply not true. The county itself has stated that almost every one of those jobs was an unfilled position. 0 - 0 = 0. (At least it did when I was in school). This week's claim of new "axings" is mostly false, as well. County officials have promised to move almost every one of these employees into "other positions." These "other positions," of course, draw salaries, benefits, and pensions. Hence, there are no budgetary savings realized by these "firings." It is just a PR stunt, and with reporters willing to boost these stunts, it's hard to get the facts out. That's why you're reading this blog, to get the information you cannot get from the local media.

Finally, the budget makes plain that these are the first executive and council in the history of Montgomery County to seek less money for schools, eliminating $173 million while ensuring less education funds in the future, and larger class sizes.

Meanwhile, Health and Human Services emerges intact, and we had plenty of cash on hand to buy the Webb Tract in Montgomery Village to benefit developers at Shady Grove - Hmm. Does that kind of sound like what I predicted in previous blog entries? Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it does.

Again, these councilmembers and their dear friends in the media will tell you they are the experts. They have the birthright, divine right, and only right to public office in Montgomery County.

So how do they explain an $800 million deficit?

How do they explain a tax increase when high county and state taxes plainly have caused tax revenues to tank over the last 3 years?

How do they explain their budget decisions when we have a structural deficit forecast for the next several years, with tax revenues never catching up to spending?

How do they explain giving over $400,000 to a non-profit already under FBI investigation(!) for being unable to account for $900,000 in taxpayer funds?

How do they explain cutting core government services like mass transit, education, police, and more, while retaining massive funds for purely politically-motivated budget spending?

How do they explain their beyond-belief spending, when a true budget expert would have known our current crisis was inevitable?

Don't say there's a national economic crisis!

Because Montgomery County's busted budget shortfall is several times that of the next-worst county's shortfall.

If it was the economy, every county would be in the same boat.

This one's called the Titanic.

RECKLESS

What's Behind the Washington Post's,

County Politicians' Crusade

Against Montgomery's Finest?

Montgomery County's police, fire and rescue personnel protect the public from criminals and respond to auto accidents, fires, medical emergencies, natural disasters, and just about every other crisis you can imagine.

What is the thanks they get for their services and sacrifice from the Washington Post and our elected officials?

Slanderous headlines, and a reckless, poisonous effort to undermine the public's trust in their police department.



As regular readers of this blog know, this is hardly the first time the Post has attacked Montgomery's Finest. It's bad enough that the Post is known for its anti-police bias. Rarely are any heroics or positive profiles printed. But anytime there is a police "scandal," real or imagined in any jurisdiction, it is sure to get a bold headline at the top of the Metro section's front page.



Nothing quite compares to the amount of ink the Post has expended going after Montgomery County officers in the two phony "scandals" over the last year: disability benefits, and the county's Executive/County Council Approved tuition assistance program.

During the former, Councilmembers Phil Andrews and Duchy Trachtenburg claimed that there were "convicted felons" in the ranks of the county police department. Yet, they have so far been unable to name names of actual convicted felons on the force. In the process, they recklessly gave the public the impression that some county officers were convicted felons. Is there any more dangerous way to undermine the public's trust in its officers?

I've challenged them, and the Post, in the past - and again today - to produce a list of names to back up their claims.

They are unable to do so, and therefore have no credibility.

But they and the Post (and others) are not done yet. Seizing on an entirely legal tuition assistance program fully approved by County Executive Ike Leggett and the members of the Montgomery County Council, they are announcing that there is yet another "scandal." This one is as fake as the last.

Please read my blog from last week to get the full facts on that:

http://robertdyer.blogspot.com/2010/03/county-council-executive-make.html

But the Post & Co. never have time for the facts when it comes to smearing police officers with false charges and hyperbole.

Check out some of the words and phrases the Post used in yet another disgraceful editorial:

"Cheat!"

"Crooked cops"

"These courses...were in fact (sic) scams."

The inspector general's report "makes for lurid reading." (Really?)

"the officers' greed"

"fraud, waste and abuse"

"officers were able to evade the county's scrutiny"

"blatantly abusing"

"schemes"

"is it too much to expect that cops would know right from wrong?"

"schemes that allowed officers to score guns on the taxpayers' dime"

-The Washington Post Editorial Board

This Post editorial, like others, was simply beyond the pale. As you have read, the attempt to sully the reputations of police officers was a shameless one.

So what's going on here?

I've said it before, and I'm going to keep hammering the point home until citizens realize that some elected officials, the Washington Post, and special interests are behind a move to shift local government budget funds from public safety to developers and other political considerations.

What's happening cuts to the core of fiscal responsibility and the basic definition of American-style government.

Under this new scheme, money is to be moved from basic government functions (public safety, education, transportation, and even assistance for the disabled!) to massive development projects, "green" environmental scams, and "non-profit" contractors with ties to elected officials, among others.

Apparently, those behind this campaign are willing to stoop to new lows, and try to undermine the public's trust in its police department at a time when gang violence is at an all-time high, and the area is under constant threat of terror attacks.

It's outrageous.

Tell the Post and your elected officials you're not buying it. Support our police officers and firefighters. And get ready to express that support when you vote this November.

CRYBABY

CHRIS BROWN

Boo Hoo! Domestic Violence Convicted Felon

Begs Fans to Help Him Make Money Again

When recording artist Chris Brown was convicted of felony domestic violence charges, what did he do? Most cynically-smart Hollywood types would have crawled under a rock out in the middle of nowhere for awhile. But Brown was ready for more bling, and put out a new album instead.

To their credit, many (former) fans and radio stations said, "no, thanks," to this embarrassing and shameless attempt to cash in on the worst possible publicity.

Now, the still-rich Brown is a bit peeved that he's on the verge of irrelevancy. He's posted an audio message online (that's about as web 2.0 as Montgomery County's website!).

"Bring me back," Brown pleads.

"Some radio stations aren't playing my records," he said. "They're not being that supportive and I wouldn't expect them to. But it's on the fans...It's in your power to bring me back."

"It won't be possible for me to be an artist if I don't have support from people who give me an artist outlet," Brown said. "I can't be an underground mixtape artist."

Oh yes, he can! Chris Brown should be an underground mixtape artist. Or at least go "underground" to talk and meet with victims of domestic violence living in shelters across America. He doesn't seem to understand that his mostly-female fans don't want to hear from a man who beats women up.

Maybe Chris Brown would be more warmly received in the Maryland General Assembly. There, a majority of legislators don't feel that domestic violence is much of a problem. Once again, the lawyer lobby (which includes many legislators themselves) has killed a bill that would have made it easier for women to obtain protective orders against domestic abusers like Chris Brown.

The bill would have reduced the requirement for a protective order from "clear and convincing evidence" to "a preponderance of the evidence."

This would be one of the most effective things that could be done to prevent domestic violence tragedies. And it has failed again.

We hear from the local media, and legislators themselves, that only they have the birthright, divine right, and elusive "experience" to serve in Rockville, Annapolis and Washington. No challengers need apply. They don't know how the legislative bodies "work," and would be unable to get anything done.

Hogwash.

A simple compromise was never even posited by these "master legislators." Why not make a deal: pass the protective order bill, while allowing protective orders to be stricken from an innocent person's record once cleared, and eliminating the right of judges to seize guns when the standard is only "a preponderance of the evidence."

The latter two concepts - allowing falsely-accused citizens to carry a scarlet letter of an unjustified protective order, and seizing guns in violation of the U.S. Constitution - do nothing to help victims of domestic violence.

Easier access to protective orders could do everything to reduce the number of domestic violence fatalities in Maryland each year. And if we are going to make it easier to get these orders, and save lives, we can certainly afford to lighten up on the falsely-accused. Let the justice system take its course. Those who may be innocent will be exonerated. But we know that many women and children have lost their lives in Maryland, simply because the standard of evidence for protective orders is too high.

Thus we could have a fair compromise between victim advocates, and the defense attorney lobby, to achieve a beneficial result guaranteed to save lives.

These are the moments when the ineptness of our elected officials is revealed. And when the hidden agendas - such as gun control - behind some domestic violence "advocates'" efforts come to light.

I will have a not-so-hidden agenda this year: proposing a set of proactive solutions to domestic violence. Proactive, because I want to stop domestic violence before it happens. Too many are focused solely on what to do after a woman has become a victim. While that is important, and will be part of my agenda, it cannot be the only priority.

If the state won't act, we need to do all we can at the county level.

It's time for our legislators to stop partying in Annapolis, and start solving problems.

LEGISLATING

THE OBVIOUS

Wasting the People's Time and Tax Money is

Job One for Councilmembers, Legislators

A county government supposedly lacking funds for basic government functions has spent a fortune on an infantile "pedestrian safety" campaign.

Did we really need government to spend millions of dollars to tell us to look both ways before crossing the street?

Don't text (or read texts) while driving. Don't talk to strangers. Keep household chemicals and medicines out of the reach of children.

There either is a law for each of those common sense ideas, or there soon will be.

Now, who thought it was a good or safe idea to text while driving? It's something I've never done. And guess what? Nobody ever told me not to do it! I just use common sense about safe driving.

Like me, you can probably think of a long list of things one ought not to do while driving. It's a no brainer, as Dr. Weast says. Does this mean we'll have a new law for each one? Most outrageous, is the fact that it already was illegal to text while driving. If a police officer saw you driving down the street while obviously texting on a cell phone, and not looking where you were going, he or she could already have pulled you over and issued a warning or citation for a more general traffic offense. Do you seriously think it has been legal all this time for a driver to be in motion while fully engaged in another activity? If you aren't already, you should be insulted that your councilmembers and legislators think you are not only a child, but not smart enough to know existing law, and that they are pulling a fast one over on you!

Most political experts tell us there is a rash of these simpleminded laws because politicians have no more money to spend, and this is a cheap way to show they are "doing something."

But they would be wrong. Not only do these regulations - such as George Leventhal's restaurant "menu reform" and trans fat ban - cost businesses money, but the time, staff hours, and other associated legislative costs actually are costing the taxpayer. After all, we pay not only the legislators' salaries, but those of their staff, as well.

They believe you are incapable of making the basic decisions everyday life requires. Show them how skilled you are working the voting machine this November.

GOVERNMENT

2.no

Find the Budget!

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

Can you find the Montgomery County budget that your tax dollars fund? It's not available in public in print. So let's check the county's "award-winning," and "popular" website....

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/

OK, we're at the home page. Nothing about the budget here.

Let's try this link at the bottom, which says "Additional Information About Important Issues and Topics," because the budget is pretty important, isn't it?

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgtmpl.asp?url=/content/home/home2.asp

Hmm. Nothing about the budget here, either.

Try clicking on "Departments" to find the budget department.

Now click on OMB.

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ombtmpl.asp?url=/content/omb/index.asp

Nothing about reading the budget on this page.

I'll click on a link for the FY2010 budget from last July(!!).

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ombtmpl.asp?url=/content/omb/fy10/appr/psp_toc.asp

It's taken forever, and a lot of independent thinking on my part. But I've finally found a budget.

Oh, no! The citizen can only download about 100 large PDF files in order to read the county budget. That's Web 1.0 from 10 years ago!

Isn't it time the county website was updated to Web 2.0, where citizens can study the budget in HTML or Flash or some other realtime format? And made available in print so that those without home computers can review it as well by picking up readily accessible copies at local libraries?

Let's turn Government 2.no into Government 2.0. Unless someone fears the public having easy access to how their taxpayer dollars are being spent by the County Council...

GREEN BEAT$ "GREEN:"

MDE, LEGISLATORS

GIVE DEVELOPERS A

FREE PASS ON NEW

WATER RUNOFF RULES

Once again, the environmental hypocrisy of our elected officials has been laid bare in Annapolis. After extensive lobbying by developers and their puppet legislators in the General Assembly, the Maryland "Department of the Environment" has issued "emergency" rules that obliterate the water runoff restrictions passed in 2007.

These restrictions were not only for the benefit of streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay, which are partially polluted by soil and chemical runoff from construction projects, but also could have slowed the destruction of strip malls across the county and state.

Apparently, your developer-beholden delegates and senators didn't realize that the new guidelines would be especially costly for developers who want to wipe out neighborhood shopping centers and replace them with mixed-use condo/retail projects. Aside from the traffic impact of doing this without improving nearby roads and highways, these projects are designed to turn neighborhood amenity centers into regional destinations.

The new rules would likely have slowed this "infill" development, strongly promoted by Dr. Yes and Rollin Stanley.

Several of the biggest environmental hypocrites in Annapolis were preparing bills to postpone changes indefinitely.

But then an even bigger hypocrite stepped in: MDE.

Yes, the same MDE that stonewalls me every time I inquire about environmental incidents that residents were never told about. The same MDE that has O'Malley campaign interns working the phones, and don't even know how to transfer your call to another department. "Dude, is it OK if just tell you the number, and, um, you just, like, call it yourself?"

Same MDE!

The "compromise" is that developers can now pollute away until 2017 anywhere, and indefinitely in "smart growth" areas. AKA, infill projects at your neighborhood shopping center.

This means that already-polluted Little Falls, Seneca, and Ten Mile Creeks will be getting a fresh flush of filthy runoff from new projects. And your legislator is laughing all the way to the bank.

It's outrageous.

"We're pleased," said MDE spokeswoman Dawn Stoltzfus.

"Environmentalists" are "satisfied," according to the Baltimore Sun.

"1000 Friends of Maryland" (or is that 1000 Developers of Maryland?) and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation say it's a mighty fine piece of work by MDE.

Wonder what they'd have said if these rules were issued by a Republican administration?

And that's hypocrisy for you.

This reminds me of the time Attorney General Doug Gansler responded to questions I raised on this blog re: his lack of action against polluters, by commissioning an article in the Washington Post. When the reporter asked "environmentalists" for comment, they all said they had no problem with Gansler, and thought he was doing a great job. Not busting polluters = a great job? Hypocrisy.

Even the Sun printed an Orwellian headline above the fold: "Tougher MD Pollution Rules Survive." Doublespeak 101.

Dying fish are encouraged to call the MDE from polluted waters.

"Glub glub."

"Um, dude, can I like, give you the number, and then you can, um, call it yourself?"