In a fascinating flip-flop from just a few years prior, with Covid / Flu virus variants reportedly on the rise nationwide (CNN claims the official numbers don’t do it justice), Montgomery County’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Richard Madaleno and the city of Takoma Park’s acting “Deputy City Manager” Andrew Bolduc have added their signatures to…
Montgomery County Exec Marc Elrich and County Councilmember Kristin Mink trekked up to the White Oak area of eastern Silver Spring, MD last week to take photos with a giant check of “Maryland State Legislative Bond” money (see photo below, courtesy of MontgomeryCountyMD.gov). Doling out other people’s money is a past-time of politicians – but…
The 2023-24 MCPS school year started 8/28/2023 and with it, some Montgomery County varsity football programs are getting a clean slate at the top. Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, MD is getting a new varsity football coach, Nick Coates. Per the website rmtide.com this past April, the team and school community sounds hopeful for…
Yesterday I came across a crowing tweet (sorry, “post” on “X”) by County Exec March Elrich discussing the long-awaited “revitalization” of the vacant, neglected Burtonsville Crossing retail center in eastern Montgomery County. CE Elrich was basically issuing a press release on behalf of the “MD14 Team” which consists of a slate of local MoCo politicians…
Did you know you can get a “free” shade tree (maybe, depending where you live) for your property in Montgomery County? It is true… the county runs something called “Tree Montgomery”. This government “program”, a part of the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, says people in the county can indeed get “free” shade trees:…
I came across a word the other day describing a form of government I had not considered before. I’d heard of kleptocracy, plutocracy, autocracy, etc. One form of government we seem to find ourselves facing today is a kakistocracy. What is that? Government by the “least suitable or competent citizens of a state.” “The American…
As one crosses over the county boundary into Montgomery County from Howard County, near Ashton-Sandy Spring, you’ll see a road sign that says “Welcome to Montgomery County: Building a Drug-Free Community”. It is a pretty standard sign – and has been there for years. A throwback to a time when MoCo – and Maryland –…
“Never let a crisis go to waste” seems to be the governing ethos of far too many elected politicians in Montgomery County (and nation-wide). That, and “never let a good ol’ taxpayer-funded trip to an exotic locale go to waste”. Now, over seven years on from an eyebrow-raising, taxpayer funded trip (over $11,000 in today’s…
I enjoy reading Adam Pagnucco’s “Montgomery Perspective” posts from time to time. Anyone who wants a helpful perspective on Montgomery County government machinations, Democrat machine “insider baseball” deliberations and some interesting takes on the ramifications of MoCo Council policy should read it. Adam was a former chief of staff for former Councilmember Hans Riemer. Yes, the…
Are you taxed enough already in Montgomery County? Most people, certainly most homeowners or property owners, would say “yes”. In late May, the Montgomery County Council voted to approve a new fiscal year operating budget, and with it, yet another property tax rate hike. On top of hitting MoCo families and taking more money from their…