WASHINGTON - A Metro bus driver has been arrested for assaulting a passenger. The incident happened around 5:30 a.m. Friday on an inbound #71 bus at the corner of Georgia Avenue and Van Buren Street.
A spokeswoman for Metro characterized the incident as an "altercation" between the driver and a "disorderly" customer. A witness, who declined to give his name, told FOX 5 that the passenger appeared to be elderly and developmentally disabled. Metro would release no details about the passenger.
In any case, Metro Transit Police were summoned to the scene, conducted an investigation, and proceeded to arrest the bus driver. Vento Mickens, who has been driving Metro buses since 1986, was charged with simple assault. Metro said the passenger was treated on the scene by an ambulance crew, and declined an offer to be checked out at a local hospital. Metro spokeswoman Cathy Asato said the transit agency trains its bus drivers to inform passengers of the rules, and not enforce the rules.
Mickens, the driver, has been suspended with pay until the transit system investigates the incident. There have been a series of violent incidents in recent years involving Metro bus drivers, including the case where one bus driver got out of his vehicle and punched a police officer wearing a "McGruff The Crime Dog" costume. Another Metro driver was convicted of assaulting a woman passenger who testified that he pushed her down a stairwell at a Metro station. Asato said the transit agency is developing new training for bus drivers to help them cope better with passengers in disruptive or dangerous situations. SOURCE: FOX DC
June 19, 2010
County News
District One Democratic Debate ˆ Mark your calendars - A debate of District One democratic candidates will take place on July 14 at 7:00 pm at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, 4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda, Md. This debate is hosted by the Bethesda Civic Coalition, the Edgemoor Citizens Association, and the Downtown Bethesda Condominium Association.
The Bethesda Civic Coalition is a group of residents of Bethesda who came together to oppose development in the CBD not in compliance with the Sector Plan who have expanded their mission to include the impact of all aspects of growth in downtown Bethesda on all Montgomery County residents. The Edgemoor Citizens Association represents neighbors bordering the downtown Bethesda area and is involved in a wide variety of issues impacting neighborhood development, livability, recreation and transportation. The Downtown Bethesda Condominium Association represents 825+ condominium and town house owners in our downtown.
Clara Barton Summer Fun Center - For families with children ages 5-12: sign up now! The Clara Barton Community Center, 7425 MacArthur Blvd., in Cabin John is hosting a summer of fun -weekdays, June 28th through August 6th, 9 am-4pm. There‚ll be indoor and outdoor activities for children, including arts and crafts projects (from tie-dye shirts to jewelry), pizza days (Tuesday and Thursday), and water play on Fridays. The Clara Barton Summer Fun Center is well planned and supervised by a variety of staff members. This is a fun way for kids to spend their days at different sports, music, arts, crafts, and more. The cost? Very reasonable! $240 for all six weeks. Children may come every day or whenever they wish. Remember to pack a lunch. No transportation is provided for the children, but there is a bus stop on MacArthur Blvd. near the Center for Ride-On bus, No. 32), and staff will escort children to the stop and wait with them. Questions? Call the Center at 301-229-0010. (The director of the Center, a facility of the Montgomery County Recreation Department, is Modestine Snead.) The Center‚s web site is http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rectmpl.asp?url=/content/REC/recipix/clara_cen.asp
End-of-Life Who Decides? - Planning ahead and making our wishes known can lighten the burden on our loved ones and help ensure that we can have death on our own terms. With only one in four people having an advance directive in place, critical decision making is and will be left to others at the end of life. Chevy Chase Town Hall (Lawton Recreation Center). 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase, MD 20815. Thursday, July 8th 2010. 12:00 pm - 3:30 pm. Guest Speakers: Donna Wagner, Ph.D., President of National Owl; Councilwoman Duchy Trachtenberg, Montgomery County Council; Paul Ballard, Asst. Attorney General, State of MD Counsel, Health Decisions Policy.
Public Notices for Rockville Housing Enterprises - Public Housing Wait List will be open to receive pre-applications from 8:30am June 22 to 5:00pm June 24, 2010 for 3 and 4 Bedroom Units. For more information go to: http://www.rockvillehe.org/notice.html
Give Blood Give Life - Every two seconds someone in America needs blood, and with every unit of blood you donate, you can save as many as three lives! Mark your calendars and give blood on Wednesday, June 30 (10:00am-4:00pm) at Suburban Hospital; or on Sunday, July 11 (9:00am-1:00pm) at the Bethesda Central Farmers Market and help make a difference. The summer is an especially important time for blood banks, so please pass this info on to your friends, families, and co-workers to make these drives as successful as possible.
The Bethesda Civic Coalition is a group of residents of Bethesda who came together to oppose development in the CBD not in compliance with the Sector Plan who have expanded their mission to include the impact of all aspects of growth in downtown Bethesda on all Montgomery County residents. The Edgemoor Citizens Association represents neighbors bordering the downtown Bethesda area and is involved in a wide variety of issues impacting neighborhood development, livability, recreation and transportation. The Downtown Bethesda Condominium Association represents 825+ condominium and town house owners in our downtown.
Clara Barton Summer Fun Center - For families with children ages 5-12: sign up now! The Clara Barton Community Center, 7425 MacArthur Blvd., in Cabin John is hosting a summer of fun -weekdays, June 28th through August 6th, 9 am-4pm. There‚ll be indoor and outdoor activities for children, including arts and crafts projects (from tie-dye shirts to jewelry), pizza days (Tuesday and Thursday), and water play on Fridays. The Clara Barton Summer Fun Center is well planned and supervised by a variety of staff members. This is a fun way for kids to spend their days at different sports, music, arts, crafts, and more. The cost? Very reasonable! $240 for all six weeks. Children may come every day or whenever they wish. Remember to pack a lunch. No transportation is provided for the children, but there is a bus stop on MacArthur Blvd. near the Center for Ride-On bus, No. 32), and staff will escort children to the stop and wait with them. Questions? Call the Center at 301-229-0010. (The director of the Center, a facility of the Montgomery County Recreation Department, is Modestine Snead.) The Center‚s web site is http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rectmpl.asp?url=/content/REC/recipix/clara_cen.asp
End-of-Life Who Decides? - Planning ahead and making our wishes known can lighten the burden on our loved ones and help ensure that we can have death on our own terms. With only one in four people having an advance directive in place, critical decision making is and will be left to others at the end of life. Chevy Chase Town Hall (Lawton Recreation Center). 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase, MD 20815. Thursday, July 8th 2010. 12:00 pm - 3:30 pm. Guest Speakers: Donna Wagner, Ph.D., President of National Owl; Councilwoman Duchy Trachtenberg, Montgomery County Council; Paul Ballard, Asst. Attorney General, State of MD Counsel, Health Decisions Policy.
Public Notices for Rockville Housing Enterprises - Public Housing Wait List will be open to receive pre-applications from 8:30am June 22 to 5:00pm June 24, 2010 for 3 and 4 Bedroom Units. For more information go to: http://www.rockvillehe.org/notice.html
Give Blood Give Life - Every two seconds someone in America needs blood, and with every unit of blood you donate, you can save as many as three lives! Mark your calendars and give blood on Wednesday, June 30 (10:00am-4:00pm) at Suburban Hospital; or on Sunday, July 11 (9:00am-1:00pm) at the Bethesda Central Farmers Market and help make a difference. The summer is an especially important time for blood banks, so please pass this info on to your friends, families, and co-workers to make these drives as successful as possible.
Montgomery County has burst of robberies
Maryland’s wealthiest county has seen a steady decrease in crime over the last decade. But one category hasn’t faired as well, robberies. Montgomery County has seen the number of robberies jump from 654 in 1999 to 1,100 in 2008. The reason, Police Chief J. Thomas Manger told the Washington Examiner, is gangs. Pack robberies in which gangs roam streets and attack unsuspecting residents is, “the biggest problem we’re facing right now,” Manger said. Despite a rising population, Montgomery County has been successful in keeping crime down. But authorities say that state laws against gangs and less stringent sentencing have kept them from being able to bring down the robbery rate. Fairfax County, Va., a twin county to Montgomery, has had more success in decreasing crime thanks in part to strict gang laws. Authorities believe those gangs that once resided in Northern Virginia have now moved into Maryland and Montgomery County.
“The fact is we don’t keep bad guys in jail as long as the state of Virginia,” Manger told the Examiner. “That never ceases to make my head explode. The solution for [Maryland] is we’d rather release [criminals] back into the community than pay the extra money.”
Officers often see the same people on the street that they arrested just days earlier, and many times they say those arrests were made because of robberies. A law broadening the definition of gang activity was passed by the Maryland General Assembly earlier this year. It also made it easier to prosecute gang related crimes. But those looking for more gang prevention say the law was needed years ago. The county is responding by putting more robbery detectives on the force and putting officers along the Prince George’s County line and in Gaithersburg, two problem areas. SOURCE: NBC
“The fact is we don’t keep bad guys in jail as long as the state of Virginia,” Manger told the Examiner. “That never ceases to make my head explode. The solution for [Maryland] is we’d rather release [criminals] back into the community than pay the extra money.”
Officers often see the same people on the street that they arrested just days earlier, and many times they say those arrests were made because of robberies. A law broadening the definition of gang activity was passed by the Maryland General Assembly earlier this year. It also made it easier to prosecute gang related crimes. But those looking for more gang prevention say the law was needed years ago. The county is responding by putting more robbery detectives on the force and putting officers along the Prince George’s County line and in Gaithersburg, two problem areas. SOURCE: NBC
June 18, 2010
Martin v. Bob and the Jewish vote
By Barbara Pash. For MarylandReporter.com
With two published polls showing the race for governor neck-and-neck, the contest to win “subsets” of voters becomes more crucial and this certainly applies to Maryland’s large Jewish community. Where its vote will go depends on whom you talk to.
“My sense is that Jewish voters remain overwhelmingly Democratic and overwhelmingly pro-O’Malley,” said state Sen. Jamie Raskin, a Montgomery County Democrat. “In every congregation in my district, O’Malley is very popular.”
Lee Cowan, active in the Maryland Jewish Republican coalition, sees it differently. “Erhlich had a lot of success working with and being embraced by the Jewish community of Maryland,” he said.
One estimate puts the number Jews at around 300,000 in a statewide population of some 5.6 million. The Jewish community is concentrated in Montgomery County (about 100,000) and Baltimore City-County (about 95,000 ). They appear to be overwhelmingly Democratic. Of the approximately 180,000 registered Jewish voters, they are said to break 70 percent Democratic, 20 percent Republican and 10 percent independent or in other parties. Raskin points out that this voting cycle, the state Democratic Party is even stronger than it was in the previous O’Malley-Ehrlich contest. For the 2008 presidential campaign, the party registered an extra 175,000 voters, a reflection of the enthusiasm for the Barack Obama.
The Democratic Party’s registration advantage has widened considerably since 2006 and Raskin, for one, does not expect Jewish voters to switch party allegiance for Ehrlich. “He hasn’t provided a strong rationale for ousting O’Malley and returning him to office,” said Raskin.
“If Ehrlich is counting on Jewish votes to win,” said Raskin, “it’s not going to happen.”
“Only praise” for O’Malley
Craig Zucker is on leave from the state comptroller’s Office, where he was deputy chief of staff, to run as a Democratic candidate for a Montgomery County delegate’s seat. Like Raskin, Zucker expects O’Malley to capture the majority of the Jewish vote. In the Jewish community, Zucker said, he hears “only praise” for O’Malley, who has visited Israel twice and promotes Maryland-Israel business ties. “That sits well with the Jewish community,” said Zucker.
Republican Cowen said it’s a bit early to be making predictions about gubernatorial winners and losers since political activists and voters are focused on the local council and legislative races. Still, Cowen feels that, given Ehrlich’s popularity in the Jewish community, if there is enough of a backlash among Jewish voters to what they see as Obama’s harsh treatment of Israel, they could well vote for Ehrlich.
Whatever the case, Cowen believes the election is going to be close and, needless to say, he expects Ehrlich to win. State Sen. Paul Pinsky, a Prince George’s County Democrat, dismisses the Israel argument. “This is state politics, not the U.S. Congress, where they get into Israeli foreign policy,” he said. Pinsky does not think that Erhlich has offered anything new to make Jews vote for him, but he does not believe that the community’s vote will play a major role in the election. The reason? Because they have consistent turnout and they consistently vote Democratic. Pinsky said the much larger African-American community, perhaps a quarter of the state population, is a more influential subset. “They’re mainly Democratic but the turnout is not as consistent,” he said.
Montgomery County role
Ronald Halber of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington begs to differ. The executive director of the political arm of the greater D.C. Jewish community believes Jews will play a major role, particularly how they vote in Montgomery County.
“Ehrlich has to get 35 to 40 percent of Montgomery County to win the election,” Halber said, and the Jewish community there, he has heard, “represents one-third of the Democratic voters.”
As it has in the past, Halber expects the Montgomery County Jewish community to vote largely Democratic, although he hedges his bets by noting that the poor economy and dissatisfaction with President Obama might move some Jewish voters to Ehrlich.
Arthur Abramson, executive director of the Baltimore Jewish Council, the political arm of The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, sees a different scenario. He calls both candidates “good friends” of the Jewish community and believes that they will split the Jewish vote throughout the state. SOURCE: MarylandReporter.com
With two published polls showing the race for governor neck-and-neck, the contest to win “subsets” of voters becomes more crucial and this certainly applies to Maryland’s large Jewish community. Where its vote will go depends on whom you talk to.
“My sense is that Jewish voters remain overwhelmingly Democratic and overwhelmingly pro-O’Malley,” said state Sen. Jamie Raskin, a Montgomery County Democrat. “In every congregation in my district, O’Malley is very popular.”
Lee Cowan, active in the Maryland Jewish Republican coalition, sees it differently. “Erhlich had a lot of success working with and being embraced by the Jewish community of Maryland,” he said.
One estimate puts the number Jews at around 300,000 in a statewide population of some 5.6 million. The Jewish community is concentrated in Montgomery County (about 100,000) and Baltimore City-County (about 95,000 ). They appear to be overwhelmingly Democratic. Of the approximately 180,000 registered Jewish voters, they are said to break 70 percent Democratic, 20 percent Republican and 10 percent independent or in other parties. Raskin points out that this voting cycle, the state Democratic Party is even stronger than it was in the previous O’Malley-Ehrlich contest. For the 2008 presidential campaign, the party registered an extra 175,000 voters, a reflection of the enthusiasm for the Barack Obama.
The Democratic Party’s registration advantage has widened considerably since 2006 and Raskin, for one, does not expect Jewish voters to switch party allegiance for Ehrlich. “He hasn’t provided a strong rationale for ousting O’Malley and returning him to office,” said Raskin.
“If Ehrlich is counting on Jewish votes to win,” said Raskin, “it’s not going to happen.”
“Only praise” for O’Malley
Craig Zucker is on leave from the state comptroller’s Office, where he was deputy chief of staff, to run as a Democratic candidate for a Montgomery County delegate’s seat. Like Raskin, Zucker expects O’Malley to capture the majority of the Jewish vote. In the Jewish community, Zucker said, he hears “only praise” for O’Malley, who has visited Israel twice and promotes Maryland-Israel business ties. “That sits well with the Jewish community,” said Zucker.
Republican Cowen said it’s a bit early to be making predictions about gubernatorial winners and losers since political activists and voters are focused on the local council and legislative races. Still, Cowen feels that, given Ehrlich’s popularity in the Jewish community, if there is enough of a backlash among Jewish voters to what they see as Obama’s harsh treatment of Israel, they could well vote for Ehrlich.
Whatever the case, Cowen believes the election is going to be close and, needless to say, he expects Ehrlich to win. State Sen. Paul Pinsky, a Prince George’s County Democrat, dismisses the Israel argument. “This is state politics, not the U.S. Congress, where they get into Israeli foreign policy,” he said. Pinsky does not think that Erhlich has offered anything new to make Jews vote for him, but he does not believe that the community’s vote will play a major role in the election. The reason? Because they have consistent turnout and they consistently vote Democratic. Pinsky said the much larger African-American community, perhaps a quarter of the state population, is a more influential subset. “They’re mainly Democratic but the turnout is not as consistent,” he said.
Montgomery County role
Ronald Halber of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington begs to differ. The executive director of the political arm of the greater D.C. Jewish community believes Jews will play a major role, particularly how they vote in Montgomery County.
“Ehrlich has to get 35 to 40 percent of Montgomery County to win the election,” Halber said, and the Jewish community there, he has heard, “represents one-third of the Democratic voters.”
As it has in the past, Halber expects the Montgomery County Jewish community to vote largely Democratic, although he hedges his bets by noting that the poor economy and dissatisfaction with President Obama might move some Jewish voters to Ehrlich.
Arthur Abramson, executive director of the Baltimore Jewish Council, the political arm of The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, sees a different scenario. He calls both candidates “good friends” of the Jewish community and believes that they will split the Jewish vote throughout the state. SOURCE: MarylandReporter.com
Virginia county chairman wants Arizona illegal immigration law in Virginia
WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Prince William County's Chairman of the Board of Supervisors wants Virginia immigration law to be a lot like Arizona's. Corey Stewart has started an online petition and a Facebook page for his "Rule of Law Campaign.” He says the county's controversial crackdown three years ago simply sent violators to other counties in the state. He believes the political climate is right. But opponents say Prince William County's crackdown had to be watered down to pass constitutional muster. They say immigration reform is needed but any new law should wait to see the outcome of the law in Arizona. It already faces a handful of legal challenges and the feds are also threatening to take the state to court. LINK: www.coreystewart.com/ruleoflaw
Virginia and Maryland talk tech firms and investors
Investors who fund tech startups in Virginia over the next three years won’t pay a dime in state capital gains tax on the eventual profits — part of the commonwealth’s aggressive bid to lure new technology investment through a package of new incentives and policy changes. State officials are betting that the benefits of attracting corporate relocations, startups and venture capital will outweigh the loss of immediate or potential tax revenue. And they’ve placed an especially heavy stake in the tech sector, offering a bundle of enticements geared specifically for IT, biotech, green energy and other related enterprises.
Maryland also queued up two key tax policy changes for July 1, passing a 10-year extension of the research-and-development tax credit and increasing funding for the coveted biotech tax credit to $8 million, from $6 million. Montgomery County has passed, but not yet funded, a similar supplemental credit. Virginia’s long-term capital gains exclusion will mean a venture capitalist who backs a successful startup, and the entrepreneur, could see millions in additional profits when they sell the company years later.
“That’s a pretty powerful message,” said John Backus, founder and managing partner of Reston-based venture capital fund New Atlantic Ventures. Every entrepreneur, he said, has big dreams when he or she starts a business. And though not all of them fulfill those dreams, “the ones who do are going to make a lot of money” under the capital gains tax break. Virginia taxes capital gains at the same rate as income: 5.75 percent. To qualify, the company must have had less than $3 million in revenue in the fiscal year prior to the investment, which must take place before June 2013. The exemption, sponsored by Sen. Mark Herring, D-Leesburg, passed nearly unopposed in both the Virginia House and Senate this year with
the heavy backing of Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell. Backus co-chaired the technology policy work group for McDonnell’s transition team. Virginia lawmakers also upped the $3 million cap for the perennially oversubscribed angel investor tax credit to $5 million. They put in place a $500 tax credit for each clean-energy job an employer creates, up to 350 jobs. Tech companies could also benefit from a change to the major business facility job tax credit, as the General Assembly lowered the job-creation threshold for receiving the $1,000 credit from 100 new employees to 50.
“For us, it’s all about competitive advantage,” said Josh Levi, vice president of policy for the Northern Virginia Technology Council. “These tools give us a competitive advantage in ensuring Virginia is the preferred destination for technology businesses.”
That escalating competition — fueled by more and more tax dollars — is starkly on display as Govs. McDonnell and Martin O’Malley, a Democrat, jockey for economic development bragging rights. Virginia recently won a high-profile headquarters relocation for Northrop Grumman Corp., aided by up to $14 million in state grants and proximity to the Pentagon, its biggest customer. O’Malley shortly after rolled out a vast proposal to kick-start tech investment — dubbed InvestMaryland. The blueprint seeks to raise $100 million in venture capital by offering deferred tax credits to insurance companies that invest in Maryland VC funds. Biotech in Maryland saw a 26 percent drop in VC funding in the first quarter of 2010, according to the governor. O’Malley’s proposal will require legislative approval.
Former Gov. Robert Ehrlich, who is running against O’Malley, has unveiled a competing plan to promote entrepreneurship. He wants to cuts the state’s corporate income and sales taxes. SOURCE: Washington Business Journal
Maryland also queued up two key tax policy changes for July 1, passing a 10-year extension of the research-and-development tax credit and increasing funding for the coveted biotech tax credit to $8 million, from $6 million. Montgomery County has passed, but not yet funded, a similar supplemental credit. Virginia’s long-term capital gains exclusion will mean a venture capitalist who backs a successful startup, and the entrepreneur, could see millions in additional profits when they sell the company years later.
“That’s a pretty powerful message,” said John Backus, founder and managing partner of Reston-based venture capital fund New Atlantic Ventures. Every entrepreneur, he said, has big dreams when he or she starts a business. And though not all of them fulfill those dreams, “the ones who do are going to make a lot of money” under the capital gains tax break. Virginia taxes capital gains at the same rate as income: 5.75 percent. To qualify, the company must have had less than $3 million in revenue in the fiscal year prior to the investment, which must take place before June 2013. The exemption, sponsored by Sen. Mark Herring, D-Leesburg, passed nearly unopposed in both the Virginia House and Senate this year with
the heavy backing of Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell. Backus co-chaired the technology policy work group for McDonnell’s transition team. Virginia lawmakers also upped the $3 million cap for the perennially oversubscribed angel investor tax credit to $5 million. They put in place a $500 tax credit for each clean-energy job an employer creates, up to 350 jobs. Tech companies could also benefit from a change to the major business facility job tax credit, as the General Assembly lowered the job-creation threshold for receiving the $1,000 credit from 100 new employees to 50.
“For us, it’s all about competitive advantage,” said Josh Levi, vice president of policy for the Northern Virginia Technology Council. “These tools give us a competitive advantage in ensuring Virginia is the preferred destination for technology businesses.”
That escalating competition — fueled by more and more tax dollars — is starkly on display as Govs. McDonnell and Martin O’Malley, a Democrat, jockey for economic development bragging rights. Virginia recently won a high-profile headquarters relocation for Northrop Grumman Corp., aided by up to $14 million in state grants and proximity to the Pentagon, its biggest customer. O’Malley shortly after rolled out a vast proposal to kick-start tech investment — dubbed InvestMaryland. The blueprint seeks to raise $100 million in venture capital by offering deferred tax credits to insurance companies that invest in Maryland VC funds. Biotech in Maryland saw a 26 percent drop in VC funding in the first quarter of 2010, according to the governor. O’Malley’s proposal will require legislative approval.
Former Gov. Robert Ehrlich, who is running against O’Malley, has unveiled a competing plan to promote entrepreneurship. He wants to cuts the state’s corporate income and sales taxes. SOURCE: Washington Business Journal
'Who Stole the Electric Car' movie hits Netflix!
I want to let everyone know of my friend in the movie business, Scott duPont, and yet another movie he has just produced: Who Stole the Electric Car? Here's the plot:
While attempting to show his girlfriend (Megan Brotherton) that he truly cares about the environment, self-absorbed Guy (Carl Fieler) ends up stealing the world's first electric car, taking a hostage (John Brody) and embarking on a wild cross-country road trip with the cops hot on his tail. This zany comedy inspired by the documentary Who Killed the Electric Car? co-stars Chris Shields as Guy's vegetarian sidekick.
Put it on your Netflix queue! To interview Scott duPont, call 407-738-1608 or email him at ScottDup@juno.com.
Thoughts about public safety employer-employee cooperation act
For clear evidence that the Senate Republican caucus contains a not inconsiderable number of lunatics, check out this story from Kris Maher in the WSJ (you’ll notice that I read the paper very closely today — blame the iPad app):
The Senate is moving closer to passing legislation that would require states to grant public-safety employees, including police, firefighters and emergency medical workers, the right to collectively bargain over hours and wages. The bill, known as the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, would mainly affect about 20 states that don’t grant collective-bargaining rights statewide for public-safety workers or that prohibit such bargaining.
And here’s the clincher:
The bill, backed by at least six Republicans in the Senate, prohibits strikes and leaves to states’ discretion whether to engage in collective bargaining in several areas, including health benefits and pensions.
My strong inclination would be to banish all six from the Republican caucus, but that could be too hasty a judgment. How can we understand the non-logic of those who are even considering voting for the scandalously bad bill? Sen. Mike Johanns of Nebraska dares to call the bill reasonable.
Republican Sen. Mike Johanns of Nebraska called the bill “reasonable.” “For several years now, we’ve seen the benefit of a similar policy in Nebraska which prevents public employees from going on strike while helping to establish reasonable compensation ranges.”
Many Nebraskans also tout the benefits of the state’s unicameral legislature. One wonders if Sen. Johanns will now impose unicameralism on the rest of the 50 states, or if he will decide, in what we might call the “Nebraskaization Initiative,” to identify policies that have succeeded in Nebraska and forcibly impose them on the rest of the country. And then we learn the following:
The other Republican co-sponsors in the Senate are Scott Brown of Massachusetts, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
I’ve long believed that the Republican Party should allow for more ideological diversity. But I’m not sure that principle should extend to the embrace of politicians who fail to understand the virtues of a federal system, in which states are given room to pursue a wide variety of different policy approaches. The extent of the power-grab defies belief.
If the legislation passes and states choose not to grant the minimum collective-bargaining rights outlined in the bill, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, which oversees labor-management relations for federal employees, would step in and implement collective-bargaining rights for these workers.
Organized labor — increasingly dominated by public-sector workers — sees this as compensation for the failure of their card-check effort. The losers in this scenario will be taxpayers.
“If states and localities have chosen not to go in the direction of collective bargaining, that should be their right to do so,” said Neil Bomberg, a lobbyist for the National League of Cities. Currently, 15 states don’t grant collective-bargaining rights to public-safety workers on a statewide basis, two states, Virginia and North Carolina, prohibit such workers from bargaining, and four states allow collective bargaining for firefighters but not for police.
Notice that Virginia is on the list. Remember that Washington Post editorial from a few weeks back, “A tale of two counties”?
Virginia law denies public employees collective bargaining rights; that’s helped Fairfax resist budget-busting wage and benefit demands. As revenue dipped two years ago, Fairfax officials froze all salaries for county government and school employees with little ado. By contrast, Montgomery leaders were badly equipped to cope with recession. County Executive Isiah Leggett took office proposing fat budgets and negotiating openhanded union deals after he succeeded Mr. Duncan. Then, as economic storm clouds gathered, he shifted gears and cut spending — while still trying to appease the unions.
Essentially, this legislation would deny other states the opportunity to escape the vise-like grip public employees have placed on taxpayers in Montgomery County and other jurisdictions around the country. Rest assured, the focus on police officers and firefighters is only an entering wedge. This legislation will also undermine Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels successful efforts to reduce spending and improve the cost-effectiveness of public services. A while back, Josh Barro suggested that police unions were becoming the new teachers unions. I’m a great admirer of the women and men who risk their lives to protect public safety. But I’m not an admirer of union leaders who use goodwill for public safety officers to negotiate wage agreements that really will endanger core public services. We shouldn’t accept bullying by public school teachers, and we shouldn’t accept bullying by police unions either. SOURCE: National Review
The Senate is moving closer to passing legislation that would require states to grant public-safety employees, including police, firefighters and emergency medical workers, the right to collectively bargain over hours and wages. The bill, known as the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, would mainly affect about 20 states that don’t grant collective-bargaining rights statewide for public-safety workers or that prohibit such bargaining.
And here’s the clincher:
The bill, backed by at least six Republicans in the Senate, prohibits strikes and leaves to states’ discretion whether to engage in collective bargaining in several areas, including health benefits and pensions.
My strong inclination would be to banish all six from the Republican caucus, but that could be too hasty a judgment. How can we understand the non-logic of those who are even considering voting for the scandalously bad bill? Sen. Mike Johanns of Nebraska dares to call the bill reasonable.
Republican Sen. Mike Johanns of Nebraska called the bill “reasonable.” “For several years now, we’ve seen the benefit of a similar policy in Nebraska which prevents public employees from going on strike while helping to establish reasonable compensation ranges.”
Many Nebraskans also tout the benefits of the state’s unicameral legislature. One wonders if Sen. Johanns will now impose unicameralism on the rest of the 50 states, or if he will decide, in what we might call the “Nebraskaization Initiative,” to identify policies that have succeeded in Nebraska and forcibly impose them on the rest of the country. And then we learn the following:
The other Republican co-sponsors in the Senate are Scott Brown of Massachusetts, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
I’ve long believed that the Republican Party should allow for more ideological diversity. But I’m not sure that principle should extend to the embrace of politicians who fail to understand the virtues of a federal system, in which states are given room to pursue a wide variety of different policy approaches. The extent of the power-grab defies belief.
If the legislation passes and states choose not to grant the minimum collective-bargaining rights outlined in the bill, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, which oversees labor-management relations for federal employees, would step in and implement collective-bargaining rights for these workers.
Organized labor — increasingly dominated by public-sector workers — sees this as compensation for the failure of their card-check effort. The losers in this scenario will be taxpayers.
“If states and localities have chosen not to go in the direction of collective bargaining, that should be their right to do so,” said Neil Bomberg, a lobbyist for the National League of Cities. Currently, 15 states don’t grant collective-bargaining rights to public-safety workers on a statewide basis, two states, Virginia and North Carolina, prohibit such workers from bargaining, and four states allow collective bargaining for firefighters but not for police.
Notice that Virginia is on the list. Remember that Washington Post editorial from a few weeks back, “A tale of two counties”?
Virginia law denies public employees collective bargaining rights; that’s helped Fairfax resist budget-busting wage and benefit demands. As revenue dipped two years ago, Fairfax officials froze all salaries for county government and school employees with little ado. By contrast, Montgomery leaders were badly equipped to cope with recession. County Executive Isiah Leggett took office proposing fat budgets and negotiating openhanded union deals after he succeeded Mr. Duncan. Then, as economic storm clouds gathered, he shifted gears and cut spending — while still trying to appease the unions.
Essentially, this legislation would deny other states the opportunity to escape the vise-like grip public employees have placed on taxpayers in Montgomery County and other jurisdictions around the country. Rest assured, the focus on police officers and firefighters is only an entering wedge. This legislation will also undermine Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels successful efforts to reduce spending and improve the cost-effectiveness of public services. A while back, Josh Barro suggested that police unions were becoming the new teachers unions. I’m a great admirer of the women and men who risk their lives to protect public safety. But I’m not an admirer of union leaders who use goodwill for public safety officers to negotiate wage agreements that really will endanger core public services. We shouldn’t accept bullying by public school teachers, and we shouldn’t accept bullying by police unions either. SOURCE: National Review
9:30 club sues over live concert venue in Silver Spring
The owner of the District's 9:30 club is suing to prevent Maryland from giving Montgomery County $4 million to help build a music venue in downtown Silver Spring, saying government officials are hiding the project's real costs. Live Nation, a major force in the music business with artists such as U2, Madonna and the Eagles, would rent out the venue on Colesville Road and hold rock-style concerts for about 2,000 standing patrons. Ground is expected to be broken this year on what will be known as Fillmore Silver Spring.
The lawsuit against the state, filed this week in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court by the club's parent company, IMP Inc., and that company's co-owner Seth Hurwitz, challenges the state subsidy for the project; Montgomery County is also spending $4 million in county funds. The suit says state officials would be breaking the law by paying the subsidy because Montgomery has provided only "skimpy" information about the project's costs, despite requirements by the General Assembly for more information.
"It's bad enough they're laying off teachers, cutting budgets and expecting everyone else to make sacrifices at the same time they're spending $8 million to build a rock club, but the least the government can do is follow the law in the process," Hurwitz said.
A spokesman for Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) disputed the claims and said the county has "met the conditions" required by the General Assembly, which also has been affirmed in writing by the chairmen of the budget and appropriations committees.
Hurwitz, whose company also books acts for Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia and Rams Head Live in Baltimore, has questioned the deal before. He says Montgomery officials should have put the operating agreement out to bid instead of privately negotiating with Live Nation after a deal with the Alexandria-based Birchmere went sour. He also has said his company could create a music venue in Silver Spring without public funds.
The Live Nation deal, crafted by the Leggett administration, would be the first for-profit arts venue to receive direct subsidies in Montgomery. The arrangement, approved by the County Council, compels Montgomery to absorb any cost overruns, which have occurred before in county construction of arts venues. During the administration of County Executive Douglas M. Duncan (D), the $100 million Music Center at Strathmore was $50 million over projections; there were also overruns at the American Film Institute and the Round House Theatre, both in Silver Spring. In most instances, public funds made up the difference in the overruns for those nonprofit ventures. SOURCE: Washington Post
June 17, 2010
Gaithersburg Rotary and CSAAC announce Monte Carlo Night with Miss Maryland
There will be fun for all at a Monte Carlo Night, June 25th at the Holiday Inn on Montgomery Village Avenue. The event will feature games of chance, amazing card tricks, your photograph with Miss Maryland International, a DJ for dancing, and silent auction prizes including a round of golf, club-level seats for a Redskins game and a new Gucci purse. This is an activity of the Gaithersburg Rotary Club to raise funds for its local and international service projects. More information, and on-line ticket sales, are on the website, www.gaithersburgrotary.org.
U.S. Senate debate for all Maryland candidates on 7/20
June 17, 2010 - The Montgomery County Chapter of Americans for Prosperity and the Montgomery County Young Republicans are proud to announce a scheduled debate featuring the candidates seeking to represent the State of Maryland in the United States Senate. All of the filed candidates including the incumbent Senator have been invited to attend. See the attached advertisement for the confirmed attendees to date. The debate will be held at the Earle Wood Middle School at 14615 Bauer Drive in Rockville, Maryland on Tuesday, July 20th at 7pm. This event will be moderated by Brian Karem, Managing Editor of the Montgomery Sentinel. This event is free and open to everyone! Please forward this event information to all interested parties.
Pollard begins at Montgomery College
Dr. DeRionne P. Pollard has been named as the next president of Montgomery College. The College’s Board of Trustees made the announcement on May 18 in a communication to students, faculty, and staff. Dr. Pollard brings 15 years of community college teaching and leadership experience to Montgomery College. She currently serves as the president of Las Positas College in Livermore, California.
“The Board of Trustees looks forward to the leadership that Dr. Pollard will bring to one of the country’s best community colleges,” said Dr. Michael Lin, chair of the Montgomery College Board of Trustees. “Throughout the search process, Dr. Pollard impressed both the board and the search advisory committee by her passion and devotion to the advancement of the community college mission and the students we serve.”
Dr. Pollard will officially start her role as president on August 2, 2010. She will become the ninth chief executive officer in the College’s 64-year history.
“I am thankful and truly honored that the Board of Trustees selected me as the next president of Montgomery College,” said Dr. Pollard. “I am impressed with the caliber of the faculty, staff, administrators and students at Montgomery College. I look forward to meeting and learning from them and the alumni, donors, business community and elected officials who support this wonderful institution and its mission of changing lives.”
Since 2008, Dr. Pollard has led Las Positas College as its president. Under her leadership, the community college has seen nearly a 15 percent increase in enrollment while also implementing an aggressive $230 million facilities modernization program. She pursued and encouraged new and expanded strategic community partnerships, which have led to the increased recognition of Las Positas College within the Tri-Valley region, the state of California, and the country as an institution dedicated to student success and community transformation. Additionally, Las Positas College recently underwent a successful reaccreditation process.
Dr. Pollard’s community college career began as a professor of English at the College of Lake County (IL) in 1995. She taught courses ranging from developmental reading and college composition to minority literature and early American literature. Additionally, she developed the institution’s award-winning New Faculty Institute and its Center for Teaching and Learning. After several progressive administrative positions, Dr. Pollard was selected as the college’s vice president of educational affairs. She served in the position until her appointment as president of Las Positas College.
Dr. Pollard received her Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies in higher education from Loyola University Chicago, and both her M.A. and B.A. in English from Iowa State University. SOURCE: Knapp website
Sadly, animal cemetery is in the weeds
The county's Humane Society is still struggling to care for Asp[e]n Hill Memorial Park, the historic cemetery for celebrity and local pets on Georgia Avenue. Waist-high grass blankets many graves laid decades ago among cedars and oaks on the 8-acre tract, which is also an oasis amid asphalt for deer occasionally seen loping around the grounds. Concerns about neglected maintenance at the site led county officials to insist last year that buildings there be repaired or boarded up, which the Montgomery County Humane Society has done as it seeks a way to preserve the property that it once imagined could be a center for humane education.
After a story in The Gazette last July, landscapers mowed and trimmed the cemetery for free. But weeds have outgrown donations again, and maintenance is not always regular, said Jo Ann Hoffman, the society's chairwoman. The society is looking for ground maintenance help, particularly from a company that would donate or deeply discount services, said Cris Bombaugh, the organization's president. In 2007, the county Humane Society became the third animal welfare group to take on responsibility for the property after Dorothy M. Shapiro of Potomac, who purchased it in 1988 to prevent it being developed, sought someone else to care for the cemetery, which had fallen into disrepair.
"They are under an obligation to preserve that property and restore it — that's a sore point," Shapiro said Tuesday.
Other charities have shown interest in taking over the property but have balked because of overdue maintenance that they would have to take on, while donations are lagging with the economy, Shapiro said. SOURCE: Gazette
Montgomery County has 7 schools on Newsweek list; Baltimore County has 12
The county public school system has seven high schools on Newsweek magazine's list of the top 100 public high schools in the nation, the most of any school system. High schools are named to the top 100 list based on their ability to provide all students with access to Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes. Last year, the school system placed four schools on the Newsweek top-100 list. The county school system is the only one in Maryland to have high schools on the top-100 list.
Richard Montgomery ranked the highest among local high schools, at 33rd; Poolesville ranked 59th; Bethesda-Chevy Chase, 63rd; Winston Churchill, 75th; Thomas Wootton, 83rd; Walt Whitman, 85th; and Walter Johnson, 95th. All 25 county high schools made Newsweek's rankings of the nation's top 1,622 high schools. To be eligible for the list, at least half of the students at a school must take the AP or IB classes in their junior or senior year. The 1,622 high schools to qualify represent about 6 percent of the nation's public schools, according to the Newsweek website. The other local schools on the list were:
-Montgomery Blair, which ranked 139th;
-Quince Orchard, 218th;
-Paint Branch, 263rd;
-Rockville, 299th;
-Albert Einstein, 361st;
-Sherwood, 364th;
-James Hubert Blake, 433rd;
-Northwest, 439th;
-Col. Zadok Magruder, 481st;
-Gaithersburg, 521st;
-John F. Kennedy, 538th;
-Wheaton, 541st;
-Springbrook, 546th;
-Damascus, 553rd;
-Clarksburg, 656th;
-Seneca Valley, 723rd;
-Watkins Mill, 741st;
-Northwood, 752nd.
Last week, the county school system was recognized for having the highest graduation rate in the nation among large school systems, according to a national report by Education Week. The publication's 2010 Diplomas Count report had the county with a graduation rate of 83 percent of its seniors in 2007, the top figure among the nation's 50 largest school systems.
The Fairfax County school system, in neighboring Virginia, had the second-highest graduation rate at 82 percent, according to the report. In last year's Diplomas Count report, Montgomery County's school system tied for first with the Cypress-Fairbanks school system in Houston. Both systems graduated 81 percent of their students. SOURCE: Gazette
Richard Montgomery ranked the highest among local high schools, at 33rd; Poolesville ranked 59th; Bethesda-Chevy Chase, 63rd; Winston Churchill, 75th; Thomas Wootton, 83rd; Walt Whitman, 85th; and Walter Johnson, 95th. All 25 county high schools made Newsweek's rankings of the nation's top 1,622 high schools. To be eligible for the list, at least half of the students at a school must take the AP or IB classes in their junior or senior year. The 1,622 high schools to qualify represent about 6 percent of the nation's public schools, according to the Newsweek website. The other local schools on the list were:
-Montgomery Blair, which ranked 139th;
-Quince Orchard, 218th;
-Paint Branch, 263rd;
-Rockville, 299th;
-Albert Einstein, 361st;
-Sherwood, 364th;
-James Hubert Blake, 433rd;
-Northwest, 439th;
-Col. Zadok Magruder, 481st;
-Gaithersburg, 521st;
-John F. Kennedy, 538th;
-Wheaton, 541st;
-Springbrook, 546th;
-Damascus, 553rd;
-Clarksburg, 656th;
-Seneca Valley, 723rd;
-Watkins Mill, 741st;
-Northwood, 752nd.
Last week, the county school system was recognized for having the highest graduation rate in the nation among large school systems, according to a national report by Education Week. The publication's 2010 Diplomas Count report had the county with a graduation rate of 83 percent of its seniors in 2007, the top figure among the nation's 50 largest school systems.
The Fairfax County school system, in neighboring Virginia, had the second-highest graduation rate at 82 percent, according to the report. In last year's Diplomas Count report, Montgomery County's school system tied for first with the Cypress-Fairbanks school system in Houston. Both systems graduated 81 percent of their students. SOURCE: Gazette
Newsweek lists 12 Baltimore County high schools among nation's best; Montgomery County has 7
Twelve of Baltimore County 24 public high schools have been named to Newsweek magazine’s annual list of “America’s Best High Schools, with nine repeat honorees being joined by two newcomers and another back after a year’s absence. The list 0f 1,622 schools, compiled in collaboration with The Washington Post, represents the top 6 percent of high schools in the nation, based on total student participation in highly rigorous coursework and exams. The 12 county schools are:
• Dulaney High School— ranked 253
• Towson High School — 334
• Carver Center for Arts and Technology — 470
• Eastern Tech — 564
• Pikesville High School — 590
• Hereford High School — 632
• Catonsville High School — 951
• Western School of Technology and Environmental Science —1,179
• Owings Mills High School — 1,240
• Loch Raven High School — 1,302
• Franklin High School — 1,457
• Perry Hall High School — 1,525
Perry Hall and Western Tech are new to the list. Loch Raven was named to the list in 2007 and 2008 but did not make it last year.
Catonsville, Carver, Dulaney, Eastern Tech, Franklin, Hereford, Pikesville and Towson were also named to the list in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Owings Mills was named to the list in 2008 and 2009. Maryland had 98 schools on the list, with seven from Montgomery County in the top 100.
While California (285 schools), New York (162 schools), Florida (135 schools) and Texas (127 schools) had more schools on the list than Maryland, no state had a greater percentage of its schools than Maryland (53 percent). Newsweek’s honor roll is based on an index which divides the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or Cambridge tests taken by all students at a school in 2009 by the number of the school’s graduating seniors. In 1992-1993, the AP participation rate for Baltimore County Public Schools was about 2 percent, according to the county. Last year, the system’s participation rate was 14.2 percent, more than double the national rate of 7 percent. For the complete list, go to http://www.newsweek.com/tag/americas-best-high-schools.html. SOURCE: Explore Baltimore
• Dulaney High School— ranked 253
• Towson High School — 334
• Carver Center for Arts and Technology — 470
• Eastern Tech — 564
• Pikesville High School — 590
• Hereford High School — 632
• Catonsville High School — 951
• Western School of Technology and Environmental Science —1,179
• Owings Mills High School — 1,240
• Loch Raven High School — 1,302
• Franklin High School — 1,457
• Perry Hall High School — 1,525
Perry Hall and Western Tech are new to the list. Loch Raven was named to the list in 2007 and 2008 but did not make it last year.
Catonsville, Carver, Dulaney, Eastern Tech, Franklin, Hereford, Pikesville and Towson were also named to the list in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Owings Mills was named to the list in 2008 and 2009. Maryland had 98 schools on the list, with seven from Montgomery County in the top 100.
While California (285 schools), New York (162 schools), Florida (135 schools) and Texas (127 schools) had more schools on the list than Maryland, no state had a greater percentage of its schools than Maryland (53 percent). Newsweek’s honor roll is based on an index which divides the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or Cambridge tests taken by all students at a school in 2009 by the number of the school’s graduating seniors. In 1992-1993, the AP participation rate for Baltimore County Public Schools was about 2 percent, according to the county. Last year, the system’s participation rate was 14.2 percent, more than double the national rate of 7 percent. For the complete list, go to http://www.newsweek.com/tag/americas-best-high-schools.html. SOURCE: Explore Baltimore
Ride On bus by Walt Whitman to change
The County Council decided May 27 to terminate or alter service for 14 Ride On routes. County executive Ike Leggett submitted a proposal March 15 to the County Council that included changes to 18 bus routes. The County Council voted to reject many of the proposed route cuts, including one to Route 29, which students frequently use the route to get from Whitman to downtown Bethesda or Friendship Heights. The County Council understands the effect terminations will have on riders, and worked to make changes with the least impact.
“Those routes that were proposed for elimination were generally our poorest performing services,” said Phil McLaughlin, Ride On operations manager.
The final decision constituted a two percent reduction in Ride On service, while the county executive’s original proposal would have reduced service by 5.5 percent had it been fully approved. The County Council already decided to end the “Kids Ride Free” program that allowed all Montgomery County students to take the bus for free between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays with proper school IDs.
“I work in Bethesda after school, so I take the Ride On once or twice a week,” junior Kristina Laukitaus said. “It would get really expensive to pay every time I take the bus to or from school.”
The route changes will take effect Labor Day. SOURCE: Black & White
“Those routes that were proposed for elimination were generally our poorest performing services,” said Phil McLaughlin, Ride On operations manager.
The final decision constituted a two percent reduction in Ride On service, while the county executive’s original proposal would have reduced service by 5.5 percent had it been fully approved. The County Council already decided to end the “Kids Ride Free” program that allowed all Montgomery County students to take the bus for free between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays with proper school IDs.
“I work in Bethesda after school, so I take the Ride On once or twice a week,” junior Kristina Laukitaus said. “It would get really expensive to pay every time I take the bus to or from school.”
The route changes will take effect Labor Day. SOURCE: Black & White
Judge throws out speed camera lawsuit; Leggett praises decision
A Circuit Court judge has dismissed a two-year-old class-action lawsuit against speed cameras in Montgomery County and three Maryland cities. Judge David Boynton ruled in favor of Montgomery, Rockville, Chevy Chase Village and Gaithersburg on Tuesday, calling off a two-week trial set to begin July 12. Bowie lawyer Timothy Leahy filed suit in May 2008 saying the jurisdictions have been operating their speed camera programs illegally by paying their camera contractors on a per-ticket basis.
In March 2009, Boynton permitted Leahy to pursue the claim as a class-action suit -- involving anyone who has received a ticket from Montgomery's cameras. Montgomery gives 40 percent of its ticket revenues -- or $16.25 per ticket -- to its contractor, Affiliated Computer Services. Maryland law prohibits per-ticket payments to camera operators to avoid financial incentive for issuing more tickets. Boynton ruled in each case that the jurisdictions, rather than the camera contractors, operate the systems.
"The message is clear," said Patrick Lacefield, spokesman for Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett. "Slow down." He said the county had been confident it would prevail. "We're the operators of the system because we are the final authority when a citation is issued," he said. Montgomery generates about $1.2 million in camera ticket revenue per month. Montgomery's contract with ACS says the compensation rate is based on ACS providing "digital speed camera vehicles, equipment and personnel to service the technology six days a week for two eight-hour shifts per day."
ACS also is responsible for recording, printing and mailing citations as well as collecting ticket payments. After two ACS employees verify a camera ticket and accompanying license plate photo, a police officer in the relevant jurisdiction will approve the citation for ACS to print and mail, according to the contract. SOURCE: Washington Examiner
In March 2009, Boynton permitted Leahy to pursue the claim as a class-action suit -- involving anyone who has received a ticket from Montgomery's cameras. Montgomery gives 40 percent of its ticket revenues -- or $16.25 per ticket -- to its contractor, Affiliated Computer Services. Maryland law prohibits per-ticket payments to camera operators to avoid financial incentive for issuing more tickets. Boynton ruled in each case that the jurisdictions, rather than the camera contractors, operate the systems.
"The message is clear," said Patrick Lacefield, spokesman for Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett. "Slow down." He said the county had been confident it would prevail. "We're the operators of the system because we are the final authority when a citation is issued," he said. Montgomery generates about $1.2 million in camera ticket revenue per month. Montgomery's contract with ACS says the compensation rate is based on ACS providing "digital speed camera vehicles, equipment and personnel to service the technology six days a week for two eight-hour shifts per day."
ACS also is responsible for recording, printing and mailing citations as well as collecting ticket payments. After two ACS employees verify a camera ticket and accompanying license plate photo, a police officer in the relevant jurisdiction will approve the citation for ACS to print and mail, according to the contract. SOURCE: Washington Examiner
June 16, 2010
Anna Bonnie Barrella, of Brookeville, is missing
BETHESDA, Md. - Police are looking for a Brookeville woman who disappeared after a doctor's appointment Tuesday. Anna Bonnie Barrella, 54, of the 2400-block of Honeystone Way has blonde hair and blue eyes. She is about 5' tall and 120 pounds. She drives a white Mercedes C cloass with Maryland tag 29499CD. Barrella was last seen leaving her doctor's office which is located in the 6200-block of Montrose Road in North Bethesda. At her appointment, doctors told her she would require treatment at a hospital for an undisclosed ailment. Police and family and concerned for Barrella's mental state and welfare. If you have any information on Barrella's whereabouts you are asked to call Montgomery County Police at 240-773-5530 or 301-279-8000. SOURCE: ABC2
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