Women's Legislative Briefing Great Success

The annual Women's Legislative Briefing was held today at the University of Maryland, Shady Grove campus. It was a great success with hundred of attendees.

Speakers included MoCo Executive Ike Leggett, Senator Ben Cardin, Congressional Representatives Chris Van Hollen, John Sarbanes, and Donna Edwards, and Clinton adviser Ann Lewis. 

There were also several breakout panels where Maryland State Senators, State Delegates, and others helped attendees learn more about how everyone, especially women, can be more effective advocates.

I was surprised, though, that while there were hundreds of attendees it seemed that I was one of a very small number of men there. In one breakout session when another male came in, someone joked that the number of men in the room had just doubled.

MoCo Council President George Leventhal at District 18 Democratic Breakfast Club Meeting

President of the Montgomery County Council George Leventhal spoke yesterday morning at the District 18 Democratic Breakfast Club at the Tastee Diner in Silver Spring.

In my opinion George is one of the most intelligent and hard-working elected officials in our County and he seems to always know the facts about just about every issue he's asked about. He proved that again yesterday.

George spoke about his view of what's facing the County this coming year especially in view of the inauguration of Republican Governor Larry Hogan. He answered questions on all sorts of topics and then rushed to get to Rockville to preside over the County Council session. If you have not heard George Leventhal speak and answer questions from the public you should find the time to do so as you will learn and enjoy it.

The District 18 Democratic Breakfast Club should also be congratulated for arranging a good meeting with an interesting and important speaker. It is run by Susan Heltemes who is a frequent guest on "21 This Week" where she provides a Democratic perspective on the news.

More on the Aspen Hill issue with the MoCo Board of Education

In a previous post on this blog we mentioned what we heard at a community meeting two days ago concerning the MoCo Board of Education's decision to tear down a school to create a parking lot for buses, and move students to another school, all with no communication with people in the Aspen Hill community where this is taking place. 

They are concerned about potential for more overcrowding, increased traffic, negative environmental effects, safety concerns, and most importantly waste of money without any significant improvements.

I have now listened to the video and audio of the meeting of the MoCo Board of Education where these decisions were approved by the Board members. Dr. Joshua Starr, the Superintendent of Schools for MoCo, was asked by a member of the Bd of Ed if he had or would meet with people in the Aspen Hill community to inform them about what was being planned and answer their questions. His response:

Dr. Starr: “... we want to make sure we communicate with the community and talk to them give them a heads up so when the Board acts [the Board acted on November 14, 2014] we can have a conversation .... we will be as transparent and forthcoming .... Certainly once the Board takes action everything kicks into gear around how we communicate, who we communicate with.... and we’re happy to report back....”

It is now more than two months since this statement was made and people in the Aspen Hill community report that no effort whatsoever has been made to "kick into gear" any communication with them by Dr. Starr or his staff.

Aspen Hill Neighbors Opposing Waste of Money

Tonight my wife and I attended a meeting in Aspen Hill where the room was packed with people who feel insulted by a recent action by the MoCo Board of Education.

The Board of Ed's Capital Improvement Plan was approved unanimously by the Board with almost no information to or discussion with the homeowners in Aspen Hill. They are affected by a portion of the plan that would raze the Blair Ewing Center on Avery Road and build a bus parking lot there. The students currently at that school would be moved to English Manor elementary school which is currently unused.

This plans raises several concerns to homeowners: potential for more overcrowding, increased traffic, negative environmental effects, safety concerns, and most importantly waste of money without any significant improvements.

Most importantly, the Aspen Hill homeowners are upset that the Board of Education acted without talking with them and seeking consensus.

It is hoped that the MoCo Board of Education will reconsider its decision on this subject.

Jennifer Hosey Elected to MCDCC Position

The Maryland Democratic Party requires that all county Democratic Central Committees must have a balance of men and women. If the elected members are not so balanced, then additional "gender balance" non-voting members are selected.

At the MCDCC meeting tonight, the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee elected Jennifer Hosey to fill one of these gender balance positions.

Ms. Hosey has worked for Maryland Governor O'Malley, New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan, MoCo Council Member Hans Riemer, and U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy. She was a pledged delegate for President Obama at the 2012 Democratic National Convention and was active in Obama for America. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland at College Park.

Two Excellent MoCo Political Events Today

Photo of Legislators at the D20 event.
See below for names and titles.
Sorry that my photos of the D17 event
had my finger over the lens. I'm not a
great photographer.

My wife and I attended two excellent meetings today. One was the District 20 Breakfast (or Brunch) Club and the other was the District 17 Democratic Club.

Both meetings had members of the MoCo Annapolis delegation telling us what to look for in the upcoming legislative session that begins this coming Wednesday.

At the District 20 event, the elected officials in attendance included (in the photo above from left to right):

State Senator Roger Manno, Vice Chair of the MoCo State Senate Delegation

State Delegate Sheila Hixson

State Delegate Elect David Moon

State Delegate Kirill Reznik, Vice Chair of the MoCo State House of Delegates Delegation

State Senator Jamie Raskin

The District 17 event included:

State Senator Elect Cheryl Kagan

State Delegate Kumar Barve

State Delegate Jim Gilchrist

State Delegate Elect Andrew Platt

Both events were packed and everyone learned a great deal about what our MoCo delegation is expecting from Governor Elect Larry Hogan, what key issues they expect to come before their committees, and questions and answers on a wide range of topics.

These events, and all other MoCo upcoming political events, are now listed at http://bessel.org/government/upcoming.htm  Everyone is welcome to send me information about all upcoming MoCo political events and I'll add them to this list, so everyone can avoid conflicts and so every event can receive more publicity.