53 beers on tap

Sexual assault suspect in Howard County sought

Going off the board here this Turkey Day, because this is a topic I care about a lot.

A sick freak is being sought for making sexual advances on a 14-year-old girl yesterday.  This coverage includes a police sketch of the suspect.

I hope the police catch you before I see you, you lousy bum.  Because calling in that I've found you will be the second thing I do.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Marshmallow Man here, raising a glass and doffing the chapeau to you and yours for a Very Happy Thanksgiving!  Thanks for all your support and for reading my ramblings!

Let's remember that progress has never been the province of the skeptic!

Downtown Columbia thoughts, Part 3

On this day before Thanksgiving, I offer my third in a series of accumulations of thoughts regarding the legislation for the development plan of downtown Columbia.

The question I wish to answer is "Why are we better off with a plan than without one?"  Which is fair enough a question, and in fact a corollary to my statements in Part 1 of this series.

The answer is both simple and complex.  Columbia would be, as I am fond of saying, Maryland's second-largest city, if it were an incorporated city (and it should be!  Different subject, though.)  Anyway, a development plan is important to have on the books, for potential future stakeholders in Columbia (developers, businesses, etc.) to understand fully the climate for development and growth in Howard County and Columbia.  It is necessary in order to convince possible investors that Columbia intends to remain vibrant.

Ah, there's that word...vibrant.  Recently I had a conversation where I was told that Columbia shouldn't turn into another downtown Baltimore or DC.  No one is saying it should.  No one is saying that Columbia must have bars that stay open until 4pm, that it must have a Hard Rock Cafe, that it must become a town that doesn't sleep.  I doubt this would ever happen.  Look at Maryland's other cities close in size to Columbia.  Are Annapolis, Frederick or Rockville such places?  How about Bel Air, Salisbury, or Havre de Grace?  While all places with their own spirit and feel, none are exactly what one would call "cosmopolitan". 

Vibrancy in Columbia could mean housing for families.  It could mean nightlife-- 4-star restaurants, expanded access to fine arts, and-- gasp!-- maybe even a lakefront movie theater showing art films!  Maybe it could mean going to HCC on weekends to see some minor-league basketball or baseball team play-- a team called the Columbia "whatevers".  It could mean being able to lure amenities, businesses, and attractions away not just from Annapolis or Frederick, but from Baltimore or Washington.

In other words, vibrancy can lead to Columbia becoming an economic and social powerhouse in the state of Maryland.  And that's a good thing.

More after Thanksgiving...

More on this whole "standing" thing...

Just a quickie today about this matter of "standing" in terms of who can challenge a land use ruling.

I do feel, as previously posted, that more than simply those who live adjacent to a specific property be considered as being able to have standing.  However, it's not that simple.  You have to draw the line somewhere or else someone in Daisy could challenge something in Jessup!

There has to be more to it.  I suggest that interest of a person be considered in questions of standing.  For example, a member of a village board, if speaking or acting for the board (and in so doing, as an officer of the relevant community association), could be considered to have standing regarding matters within that particular village.

What do you think?

Downtown Columbia thoughts, Part 2

I would write "part deux" but I'm not a total smartass! : )

In looking at the legislation for the downtown Columbia plan, I see some items therein, that to me, seem like that to longtime Columbians, should be like mom and apple pie.  Or like Jim Rouse and plaid sportcoats.  (And before any of you long-term Columbians, you ill-named "pioneers", who hate me start forwarding my post bitching about me hating on Jim Rouse-- I have several plaid sportcoats and I LIKE plaid sportcoats!)

To wit: the legislation authorizes the study of a new connection to Oakland Mills from US29.  And before the scaredy-cats start talking about Oakland Mills becoming overridden with traffic from US29, check this-- US29 ALREADY has a direct exit into Oakland Mills.  Northbound US29 exits directly onto Diamondback Lane in Thunder Hill.  And that exit, to me, is pretty damn scary.  So any improvement there would be welcome.

Staying in Oakland Mills (at least partially), the legislation would direct GGP to plan and build a new, improved pathway that would connect Blandair Park with Howard Community College, by way of Oakland Mills, Town Center, etc.  This could be the backbone of a whole new system of improved pathways for Columbia.  As an avid walker and sometimes jogger, I'd love this, and I'm sure others would too!

Third, for those of you-- like me-- who would like to see more mass transit in Columbia and Howard County.  The legislation specifies land for a new transit center in Columbia, which could be used to connect Howard Transit, the MTA, Metro, and even, one day---wait for it--- a Baltimore and/or DC Metro station!

Sounds like three good reasons to support the legislation to me!  More later...

Downtown Columbia thoughts, Part 1

Over these many months that the development of downtown Columbia has been near the forefront of civic life in Howard County-- through the charrette, through the designing of the GGP, through the County's development of their vision for downtown, through the entire process-- I have amassed countless thoughts on the subject.  And such have been the subject of many posts to this blog.  But at this point I think it's a good idea to weigh in on the process as a whole, and on various facts and suppositions made throughout this process.  Especially as it would appear that the County Council is nearing a vote on the plan.

First off, there seems to be a mindset out there that when the Council votes on the plan, that that's it.  That the plan will be implemented as written and can't be changed.  Nothing is farther than the truth.  The fact is that under current land use law, each individual project within the plan would have to be considered as separate developments.  And of course, that means hearings by the Board of Appeals, Planning Board, etc.  So whereas our land use commissions certainly stand to be kept busy once the plan is approved (as if there was doubt they would be!), the fact is that the passage of this plan would be only the beginning, certainly not the end.  (BTW I'm thinking of the great Chicago song "Beginnings" right now.  Listen to it here.) 

There also seems to be a mindset-- largely promulgated by opponents of downdown development-- that it's hard for ordinary citizens to have the voice hard.  In reality it is quite simple.  All you have to do is go to the county's website, or even simpler, follow this link, click on "testify", and then specify you're testifying on CB 58 or CB 59, and then submit your testimony!  What's hard about that?

It's unfortunate that the perception's out there that CB 58 and CB 59 represent some sort of firewall in the downtown development process.  Then again, it's always easier to whip up the populace to attempt to respond to a perceived threat.

More later...

Sanity 1, Nimbys.... nothin'!

Word has come that the Planning Board voted unanimously to approve the Site Development Plan for the Walgreen's at MD 175 and Thunder Hill Rd.  Which strikes a blow against the foes of economic development in Oakland Mills.  Although I still have strong questions about the Planning Board's ability to manage its own affairs and control its meetings, at least they have shown that they are not afroid!

Let's hope now that the store goes forward as planned for the last three years.

Riddle me this????? Number 1

Time for a new 53 beers feature, called "Riddle me this?????"  Dedicated to the late, great Frank Gorshin!  Who, as wwe all know, played the Riddler in the 60s "Batman" TV show.

Anyway, I ask a question that, to me at least, is a riddle, and you, the loyal readers, give me your responses!  I'm sure there are reasonable answers to these questions, but...well... I don't know them!  Easy enough?  Here goes!

Why, along I-95 in the ICC construction zone, are there speed limit signs stating that the speed limit is "photo enforced"?  I thought speed cameras were only to be used in school zones?  What gives?  Or, as FG would say, "Riddle me this!???"

No, really? John Morgan isn't available?

The Howard County Republican Party continues its bizarre "Back to the Future" strategy for the 2010 elections.  First came the news that former Delegate Bob Flanagan was running for Howard County Council in District 1.  Now, news has come out this week that Trent Kittleman, a former wife of Senator Bob Kittleman, is eyeing a run for Howard County Executive.  OK, well,, the name's familiar, you may say, but unlike Flanagan Trent Kittleman hasn't previously served in elective office.  This pooh-poohs my retread theory, you say?

Gah!  Think again!  News has also come this week that Dennis Schrader, husband of former state Senator Sandy Schrader--- is eyeing a return to the County Council himself, from District 3, the ditrict he previously served.

I think that if I were an active Howard County Republican, I'd be amazingly annoyed.  I think I would wonder about my own self-worth to the party, if the best the party can do going forward is reach back into past decades and get former elected officials to run.

Despite the tone I sometimes convey, I ran for public partisan office and I have had a taste of what it takes to run for office-- which in turn, prepares you for the job of actually serving in office.  It's a hard job and ANYONE who does it is worthy of my respect.  And the GOP does have some first-time candidates on its roster.  But why, in the most important elections in 2010, are they turning to not new ideas, but people who had served before who bring with them name recognition, but also, a lot of baggage?

Well, they must know why.

AAA membership renewed

No, this isn't just an e-mail I received last week when my annual dues in the Automobile Association of America was paid.  It refers to the fact that despite the sagging economy, Howard County has been able to maintain its AAA bond rating, as this article so states.

The AAA bond rating is an extremely valuable tool in the capitalization of projects.  The very short version is that Howard County will be able to borrow money to pay for capital projects at the lowest cost commercially available.  This in turn assists with keeping low the amount of debt service necessary in the county budget.

Some have said that the county ought to use it's AAA bond rating as an opportunity to increase the county's debt ratio.  Not smart.  That is exactly the same sort of financial management that have gotten governments at all levels into holes of debt they are having huge troubles getting out of. 

I'm also sure we'll hear in next year's local elections, that we ought to use the county's bond rating as an excuse to cut taxes.  Cutting taxes, of course, would likely require the county to increase its debt.  That is also not the best idea, though I would support the cutting of local taxes if savings are achieved through the cost-cutting the county has done, if local revenues increase, and (and this is the biggest mystery) the state, by a year from now, is done with drastic cuts to its budget.  

The bond rating isn't a sexy, hot-button issue to talk about, but it does make wonks like me quite excited.  Sure, I need more of a life, but regardless-- the AAA rating is a good thing and we shouldn't do much to jeopardize it.