Dawson’s Market, a higher-priced grocer (actually the only grocery store) in Rockville Town Square is departing, after threatening the same action about six years ago because of quote “declining sales” back in 2019. Per Sebastien Kraft with MoCo360 Media:
This isn’t surprising in the least. In fact, it goes to the heart of why government, even local government, should probably not be in the business of funding some enterprises over others. Straying away from the core functions of government (delivering actual public goods like public security, fire and rescue, roads, bridges, courts) rarely works out.
With the $2 million (if not more) sent to this enterprise, the city of Rockville could have probably funded, oh, a half dozen actual public good projects. Road surface repair is a better use of your hard-earned money.
Here is reporting on this very “deal” between Dawson’s Market and the city of Rockville back in 2019, by MoCo360 Media’s Glynis Kazanjian:
And wait, there was more on the table for Dawson’s Market back in 2019 as well. It wasn’t just Rockville city taxpayer / residents funding this, it was all of us, whether we were in the incorporated city or not. Again, per Glynis Kazanjian excellent reporting back in 2019:
“In addition, Dawson’s is receiving a five-year, $350,000 loan from Montgomery County’s Economic Development Fund that carries a below-market 5 percent interest rate for six years, according to county spokesman Neil Greenberger.
After a six-month deferment period, a $6,769 monthly repayment fee will kick in for Dawson’s new owner, Bart Yablonsky.”
How interesting. And the County Council and ol’ “Tax Hike Ike” Leggett approved all this prior to the swearing in of Marc Elrich as County Exec in December 2018. Wonder why? Maybe Elrich would have said “no thanks”? Elrich was a part-owner of the Takoma Park City Food Co-Op and that small city has delivered time and again to that business (?) with the taxpayer’s money. It is hard to see Marc saying “no” to something like this…
“Former County Executive Isiah Leggett and the County Council approved Yablonsky’s economic development loan before a new county executive and several council members were sworn in Dec. 3, Greenberger said.”
Oh and one more thing – if taxpayers / the general public wanted to see details on what the Rockville city grant agreement went to, specifically, well… Glynis tried and…
“Neither Rockville City or REDI would provide a copy of the contract that specifies requirements and uses of the funds by Dawson’s.
Rockville has denied a Public Information Act request for the contract and REDI officials said they do not consider the contract public information.”
Radical “transparency” (eye roll). “Democracy”. Lame duck politics delivering your hard-earned money to a single enterprise.
Tales as old as time in MoCo.
