What would it take for Bethesda to secede from Montgomery County?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LOL it'll be the Vatican for rich people.

They already have this, it's called Monaco.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there is an argument that MoCo is just too damn big to be administered effectively. Unfortunately, no politician in their right mind would propose giving up part of his/her authority! Plus any attempt to subdivide the county inevitably smacks of elitism and even racism -- I don't believe that is what motivates most discussions along these lines, but think about it: how would it look for the richest, whitest parts of the county to try to secede?

It would look like they had finally started attending county meetings...where they got to hear gems like this: People who can afford more expensive apartments shouldn't be allowed to rent the cheap ones, like those along Battery Lane in Bethesda, or along Bradley, because those apartments should become MPDUs for families of four making < $70K.

Oh, and while you're at it, "We want quality. No window air conditioning." Thank you, Miss Unqualified Political Appointee. Go visit Bethesda and you'll see plenty of window air conditioning units still hanging in houses belonging to MIDDLE CLASS or FRUGAL people. You do know the middle class isn't entirely chased out of Bethesda, right?

Oh? And living in cheap apartments? There used to be a quaint American custom called "living beneath your means" which enabled young professionals (an earlier generation of Millenials) to SAVE their money to buy a house, rather than depend on hand-outs and entitlements.

Signed, a Democrat who is shocked at what is going on in MoCo under the guise of "urbanization" It is like urban renewal only this time they're throwing out the cave dwellers in Chevy Chase and Bethesda

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you willing to pay a lot in taxes for this? Think about all the county services you get -- 911, fire, police, school budget, etc.. Would they have to buy out all the county owned buildings like the schools?

Hate to break it to you, but Bethesda is pretty much supporting the rest of the county.

Because the rest of MoCo is "poor"? I didn't realize Potomac was "poor". Then let's see it try to support itself. I'd be happy to watch this unfold.

Potomac, don't let those developers move out of their manses. Otherwise MoCo Planning will come for you too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
What a stupid idea. I live in Bethesda and absolutely want to contribute and be part of the county.

You must not live in Luxmanor, Battery Park, Westbard, Westmoreland Hills, Chevy Chase, East Bethesda, or Rollingwood, do you?
No worries...the Council has plans for you too. Wake up!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does OP want Bethesda to be like Baltimore City? Why?

You are funny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there is an argument that MoCo is just too damn big to be administered effectively. Unfortunately, no politician in their right mind would propose giving up part of his/her authority! Plus any attempt to subdivide the county inevitably smacks of elitism and even racism -- I don't believe that is what motivates most discussions along these lines, but think about it: how would it look for the richest, whitest parts of the county to try to secede?

It would look like they had finally started attending county meetings...where they got to hear gems like this: People who can afford more expensive apartments shouldn't be allowed to rent the cheap ones, like those along Battery Lane in Bethesda, or along Bradley, because those apartments should become MPDUs for families of four making < $70K.

Oh, and while you're at it, "We want quality. No window air conditioning." Thank you, Miss Unqualified Political Appointee. Go visit Bethesda and you'll see plenty of window air conditioning units still hanging in houses belonging to MIDDLE CLASS or FRUGAL people. You do know the middle class isn't entirely chased out of Bethesda, right?

Oh? And living in cheap apartments? There used to be a quaint American custom called "living beneath your means" which enabled young professionals (an earlier generation of Millenials) to SAVE their money to buy a house, rather than depend on hand-outs and entitlements.

Signed, a Democrat who is shocked at what is going on in MoCo under the guise of "urbanization" It is like urban renewal only this time they're throwing out the cave dwellers in Chevy Chase and Bethesda

Taxpayers in Moco-CC, Bethesda, Potomac, N Potomac etc-might be sick of being treated as human checkbooks. I detest these county wide school districts. FX has the same issues. You earn by hard work being able to live in great locations. Disgusting to turn reasonable priced apt's for young people into subsidized housing. I guess they hope people's kids will live in their basements forever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there is an argument that MoCo is just too damn big to be administered effectively. Unfortunately, no politician in their right mind would propose giving up part of his/her authority! Plus any attempt to subdivide the county inevitably smacks of elitism and even racism -- I don't believe that is what motivates most discussions along these lines, but think about it: how would it look for the richest, whitest parts of the county to try to secede?

It would look like they had finally started attending county meetings...where they got to hear gems like this: People who can afford more expensive apartments shouldn't be allowed to rent the cheap ones, like those along Battery Lane in Bethesda, or along Bradley, because those apartments should become MPDUs for families of four making < $70K.

Oh, and while you're at it, "We want quality. No window air conditioning." Thank you, Miss Unqualified Political Appointee. Go visit Bethesda and you'll see plenty of window air conditioning units still hanging in houses belonging to MIDDLE CLASS or FRUGAL people. You do know the middle class isn't entirely chased out of Bethesda, right?

Oh? And living in cheap apartments? There used to be a quaint American custom called "living beneath your means" which enabled young professionals (an earlier generation of Millenials) to SAVE their money to buy a house, rather than depend on hand-outs and entitlements.

Signed, a Democrat who is shocked at what is going on in MoCo under the guise of "urbanization" It is like urban renewal only this time they're throwing out the cave dwellers in Chevy Chase and Bethesda

Taxpayers in Moco-CC, Bethesda, Potomac, N Potomac etc-might be sick of being treated as human checkbooks. I detest these county wide school districts. FX has the same issues. You earn by hard work being able to live in great locations. Disgusting to turn reasonable priced apt's for young people into subsidized housing. I guess they hope people's kids will live in their basements forever.

Listen, I used to live in Bethesda. I now live in North Central MoCo (Sandy Spring/Olney) by CHOICE. The location IS great and I worked DAMN hard to live where I live. There are a lot of people in other parts of the county that resent that Bethesda et al have gotten the lion's share of development and infrastructure resources until just a few years ago. Don't forget that BCC was one of the first schools to get redone even when other schools had a more pressing need for it. As someone who has lived there and in other places in the County, it works both ways. You want to secede? Fine. But do the math. My parents' town in the Midwest incorporated and took over a lot of functions from the county. They have trouble getting millages passed for schools. Also, things like snow removal and the benefits for the 'new" employees are more expensive because they no longer have economies of scale. Buy hey, do your thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there is an argument that MoCo is just too damn big to be administered effectively. Unfortunately, no politician in their right mind would propose giving up part of his/her authority! Plus any attempt to subdivide the county inevitably smacks of elitism and even racism -- I don't believe that is what motivates most discussions along these lines, but think about it: how would it look for the richest, whitest parts of the county to try to secede?

It would look like they had finally started attending county meetings...where they got to hear gems like this: People who can afford more expensive apartments shouldn't be allowed to rent the cheap ones, like those along Battery Lane in Bethesda, or along Bradley, because those apartments should become MPDUs for families of four making < $70K.

Oh, and while you're at it, "We want quality. No window air conditioning." Thank you, Miss Unqualified Political Appointee. Go visit Bethesda and you'll see plenty of window air conditioning units still hanging in houses belonging to MIDDLE CLASS or FRUGAL people. You do know the middle class isn't entirely chased out of Bethesda, right?

Oh? And living in cheap apartments? There used to be a quaint American custom called "living beneath your means" which enabled young professionals (an earlier generation of Millenials) to SAVE their money to buy a house, rather than depend on hand-outs and entitlements.

Signed, a Democrat who is shocked at what is going on in MoCo under the guise of "urbanization" It is like urban renewal only this time they're throwing out the cave dwellers in Chevy Chase and Bethesda

Taxpayers in Moco-CC, Bethesda, Potomac, N Potomac etc-might be sick of being treated as human checkbooks. I detest these county wide school districts. FX has the same issues. You earn by hard work being able to live in great locations. Disgusting to turn reasonable priced apt's for young people into subsidized housing. I guess they hope people's kids will live in their basements forever.

Listen, I used to live in Bethesda. I now live in North Central MoCo (Sandy Spring/Olney) by CHOICE. The location IS great and I worked DAMN hard to live where I live. There are a lot of people in other parts of the county that resent that Bethesda et al have gotten the lion's share of development and infrastructure resources until just a few years ago. Don't forget that BCC was one of the first schools to get redone even when other schools had a more pressing need for it. As someone who has lived there and in other places in the County, it works both ways. You want to secede? Fine. But do the math. My parents' town in the Midwest incorporated and took over a lot of functions from the county. They have trouble getting millages passed for schools. Also, things like snow removal and the benefits for the 'new" employees are more expensive because they no longer have economies of scale. Buy hey, do your thing.

I don't think secession is the answer at all - but Bethesda could potentially run more independently if it operated more like Rockville. Remember - Rockville had the clout to put a moratorium on building until school overcrowding was addressed. Actually, I think Bethesda would run very efficiently - we'd still be part of MoCo but have more say in local schools, zoning, etc. Maybe even allow charters? A lot of people in Bethesda would be happy to save money on private school tuition and instead send the kids to high quality charter schools like they have in DC.

[Anonymous]

A few years back, there was discussion of Upper NW DC leaving the District of Columbia. So temping to leave DC's dead-hand bureaucracy, mostly poor schools, legacy spending and Crack Mayor crony political culture behind!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A few years back, there was discussion of Upper NW DC leaving the District of Columbia. So temping to leave DC's dead-hand bureaucracy, mostly poor schools, legacy spending and Crack Mayor crony political culture behind!

Was this discussion before or after you drank the fifth bottle of wine?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there is an argument that MoCo is just too damn big to be administered effectively. Unfortunately, no politician in their right mind would propose giving up part of his/her authority! Plus any attempt to subdivide the county inevitably smacks of elitism and even racism -- I don't believe that is what motivates most discussions along these lines, but think about it: how would it look for the richest, whitest parts of the county to try to secede?

It would look like they had finally started attending county meetings...where they got to hear gems like this: People who can afford more expensive apartments shouldn't be allowed to rent the cheap ones, like those along Battery Lane in Bethesda, or along Bradley, because those apartments should become MPDUs for families of four making < $70K.

Oh, and while you're at it, "We want quality. No window air conditioning." Thank you, Miss Unqualified Political Appointee. Go visit Bethesda and you'll see plenty of window air conditioning units still hanging in houses belonging to MIDDLE CLASS or FRUGAL people. You do know the middle class isn't entirely chased out of Bethesda, right?

Oh? And living in cheap apartments? There used to be a quaint American custom called "living beneath your means" which enabled young professionals (an earlier generation of Millenials) to SAVE their money to buy a house, rather than depend on hand-outs and entitlements.

Signed, a Democrat who is shocked at what is going on in MoCo under the guise of "urbanization" It is like urban renewal only this time they're throwing out the cave dwellers in Chevy Chase and Bethesda

Taxpayers in Moco-CC, Bethesda, Potomac, N Potomac etc-might be sick of being treated as human checkbooks. I detest these county wide school districts. FX has the same issues. You earn by hard work being able to live in great locations. Disgusting to turn reasonable priced apt's for young people into subsidized housing. I guess they hope people's kids will live in their basements forever.

Listen, I used to live in Bethesda. I now live in North Central MoCo (Sandy Spring/Olney) by CHOICE. The location IS great and I worked DAMN hard to live where I live. There are a lot of people in other parts of the county that resent that Bethesda et al have gotten the lion's share of development and infrastructure resources until just a few years ago. Don't forget that BCC was one of the first schools to get redone even when other schools had a more pressing need for it. As someone who has lived there and in other places in the County, it works both ways. You want to secede? Fine. But do the math. My parents' town in the Midwest incorporated and took over a lot of functions from the county. They have trouble getting millages passed for schools. Also, things like snow removal and the benefits for the 'new" employees are more expensive because they no longer have economies of scale. Buy hey, do your thing.

I don't think secession is the answer at all - but Bethesda could potentially run more independently if it operated more like Rockville. Remember - Rockville had the clout to put a moratorium on building until school overcrowding was addressed. Actually, I think Bethesda would run very efficiently - we'd still be part of MoCo but have more say in local schools, zoning, etc. Maybe even allow charters? A lot of people in Bethesda would be happy to save money on private school tuition and instead send the kids to high quality charter schools like they have in DC.

Omg, now the Bethesda schools aren't good enough for DCUM???? Lord help us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A few years back, there was discussion of Upper NW DC leaving the District of Columbia. So temping to leave DC's dead-hand bureaucracy, mostly poor schools, legacy spending and Crack Mayor crony political culture behind!

Was this discussion before or after you drank the fifth bottle of wine?

Lol! This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually Bethesda can just incorporate, like Chevy Chase, Glen Echo, and Takoma Park. That puts a lot of planning in the hands of local government, while still leaving the larger areas (schools) to the county.

In the case of Westbard, the one thing that may help future projects (too late on Westbard) is some turnover in the County Council, who seem to be in bed with developers and also are involved in choosing who's on the Planning board. There will be a referendum on November's ballot to add term limits, which I think are sorely needed:

http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Beat/Web-2016/GOP-Activist-Says-Term-Limit-Question-A-Virtual-Certainty-on-November-Ballot/

It's all development - more houses, more retail. No parks, no community centers, no sports fields. Just more tax payers, overcrowded schools, clogged roads and tax hikes. There no sense of duty to give the people something for the community for their money.

This. +1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I increasingly feel that county-level governance is at odds with local preferences in Bethesda, or at least my pocket of it. The Westbard project is a good example.

I'm sure it's not super realistic, but what would it take for Bethesda to secede from the county and exist as an independent municipality? Any thoughts on the pros and cons?

It would be like the City of Falls Church. Eventually, the tax base would not be able to cover costs, and you would have to do objects like Westbard. Falls Church has rolled out the red carpet for developers to beef up,its tax base.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I increasingly feel that county-level governance is at odds with local preferences in Bethesda, or at least my pocket of it. The Westbard project is a good example.

I'm sure it's not super realistic, but what would it take for Bethesda to secede from the county and exist as an independent municipality? Any thoughts on the pros and cons?

It would be like the City of Falls Church. Eventually, the tax base would not be able to cover costs, and you would have to do objects like Westbard. Falls Church has rolled out the red carpet for developers to beef up,its tax base.

Falls Church City is accomplishing that by building luxury condos for single people who probably will not use the school system but still pay real estate taxes will go to the schools.