A common originator and sharer of local news information and stories today in Montgomery County is MyMCM, or Montgomery Community Media.
Interestingly enough, it sounds like Montgomery Community Television, Inc. (which runs / oversees MyMCM) was founded in 1984. When scouring the inter-webs, I found this interesting web page from 19+ years ago at montgomeryschoolsmd.org of all places. Screen shots below. Notice the emphasis on “expressing diversity–diversity of thought, ethnicity, culture, religion, language, philosophy, talent, age, creativity….…And nowhere else do you find so many people representing that diversity teaming up to help one another create television that express each other’s vision.”
A refreshing blast from the past, when diversity of thought came first — and look at the emphasis on diversity in philosophy, talent and creativity to boot!
Anyways, I digress. Today’s MyMCM says it “is the only independent, nonprofit organization providing access to public media (public access television and broadband media) directly to Montgomery County’s over one million residents as well as the resident non-profit organizations, associations and businesses.”
The key word there is independent. Is it?
I reviewed the Board of Directors provided by MyMCM:
The President is noted as Jeffrey Slavin. Per JeffreySlavin.com he is “Third Vice Chair of the Democratic Party and President of the Montgomery County Media Board of Directors.” He also appears to be the mayor of the Maryland incorporated town of Somerset, which according to the 2010 Census has about 1,216 people. It (basically) borders Washington DC’s Friendship Heights and the incorporated area of Chevy Chase, MD. It appears Mr. Slavin has served as mayor for five terms now.
Interesting side note: the town appears to have engaged in de-annexation (basically relinquishing a part of its land territory) in 1988. This was done in order to “slice off a portion of itself, effective April 28, rather than risk being outvoted by newcomers with divergent interests.” according to an archived Washington Post article from the period. Secession, retro-cession or de-centralization you see… it is good “for them” but not for you!
The Vice President of MyMCM is noted as Vernon Ricks. Mr. Ricks is has a storied history in Montgomery County, and that is great. His local political career is noted as “the first black elected municipal official in Montgomery County, Maryland, serving as councilman and mayor pro-term in the City of Takoma Park, Maryland from 1972 to 1982.” Just a feeling, but it is doubtful he was ever a member of the Reagan, or even Connie Morella, coalition.
The Treasurer of MyMCM is Juanita Farmer, CPA. Owner of a local CPA firm, Farmer and Associates LLC. She writes helpful information for a blog hosted by MyMCM called Financial Cents. She has really good tax and financial advice. I wish the Montgomery County Council had people who understood dollars and cents like this.
The Board Secretary of MyMCM is noted as Jeannette O’Connor, of Woodside Park Strategies. Jeannette O’Connor served as “a regional political director at the AFL-CIO and Emily’s List.” Just another hunch, but it is doubtful she endorsed Larry Hogan for Governor of Maryland back in 2018.
And finally, the Board At-large of MyMCM is Valerie Ervin, who is the deputy chief of staff at the SEIU International Union right now but was on the Montgomery County Council as a Democrat, District 5, for 8+ years. She also tried to run for governor of Maryland in 2018 but lost in the Democratic primary.
Does any of this sound “independent”? Or does any of it scream “unbiased local news source ready to investigate whomever in local government and ask tough questions?”
Does this look independent at all? Why can’t MoCo residents and taxpayers get something better for their buck, something truly unbiased and investigative?
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