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

[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, for one, know that w/in the next 10 years, when the purple line destroys the city by bringing in more crime and congestion, people will be moving out our way. - toward Ashton, Olney, Sandy Spring and Brookeville.

As a Mo Co "native," I remember when my area was a small town with a two-lane street mostly surrounded by farms. It's definitely changed but b/c it's FAR FAR AWAY, according to DCUM posters, it's not everyone's cup of tea . . . YET!

The best little secret in town is no longer a secret.

Please incorporate and stay where you are, Bethesda-ites.

[Anonymous]

Why is bethesda considered one of the 'good' areas if there are robberies every week there? You don't hear as much about mclean or n. arlington having robberies weekly.

[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, for one, know that w/in the next 10 years, when the purple line destroys the city by bringing in more crime and congestion, people will be moving out our way. - toward Ashton, Olney, Sandy Spring and Brookeville.

As a Mo Co "native," I remember when my area was a small town with a two-lane street mostly surrounded by farms. It's definitely changed but b/c it's FAR FAR AWAY, according to DCUM posters, it's not everyone's cup of tea . . . YET!

The best little secret in town is no longer a secret.

Please incorporate and stay where you are, Bethesda-ites.

We're not coming your way. Never been there, frankly and no interest. However, DC is looking good. There is more green space right over the line. We can move 5, 10, 15 minutes to half an hour away and enjoy far more beautiful neighborhoods, shorter commutes, smaller class sizes or easy commutes to independent schools. Despite the license plates, we'd have far more representation - ANC Councils, City Council members with MUCH smaller districts who appear to know their constituents and neighborhood issues.

For those who live in more suburban parts of Bethesda - and don't want to wait around and see Leventhal et al "kill the suburbs," Great

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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, for one, know that w/in the next 10 years, when the purple line destroys the city by bringing in more crime and congestion, people will be moving out our way. - toward Ashton, Olney, Sandy Spring and Brookeville.

As a Mo Co "native," I remember when my area was a small town with a two-lane street mostly surrounded by farms. It's definitely changed but b/c it's FAR FAR AWAY, according to DCUM posters, it's not everyone's cup of tea . . . YET!

The best little secret in town is no longer a secret.

Please incorporate and stay where you are, Bethesda-ites.

We're not coming your way. Never been there, frankly and no interest. However, DC is looking good. There is more green space right over the line. We can move 5, 10, 15 minutes to half an hour away and enjoy far more beautiful neighborhoods, shorter commutes, smaller class sizes or easy commutes to independent schools. Despite the license plates, we'd have far more representation - ANC Councils, City Council members with MUCH smaller districts who appear to know their constituents and neighborhood issues.

For those who live in more suburban parts of Bethesda - and don't want to wait around and see Leventhal et al "kill the suburbs," Great

...Falls, certain parts of Arlington, Alexandria, and McLean are possibilities.
We are definitely not moving anywhere else in MoCo. Enough.

[Anonymous]

I, for one, know that w/in the next 10 years, when the purple line destroys the city by bringing in more crime and congestion, people will be moving out our way. - toward Ashton, Olney, Sandy Spring and Brookeville.

I will never understand the people here who hopefully realize that Bethesda has had a Metro station for 30+ years, and think another form off public transportation will "destroy" it.
- Bethesda native who is still here and has zero desire to move anywhere near you

OP, to answer your actual question, there is a process to incorporate in Montgomery County but A) I don't think any place has used it in many years and B) Bethesda would be starting at square 1 since none of it is incorporated at all right now and C) even among actual cities like Rockville and Gaithersburg, there is zero control of schools.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]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?

[/quote]

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. [/quote]

Wrong. Bethesda and Chevy Chase are far larger and wealthier than Falls Church, with an established business base. Completely different scenarios.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I, for one, know that w/in the next 10 years, when the purple line destroys the city by bringing in more crime and congestion, people will be moving out our way. - toward Ashton, Olney, Sandy Spring and Brookeville.

I will never understand the people here who hopefully realize that Bethesda has had a Metro station for 30+ years, and think another form off public transportation will "destroy" it.
- Bethesda native who is still here and has zero desire to move anywhere near you

OP, to answer your actual question, there is a process to incorporate in Montgomery County but A) I don't think any place has used it in many years and B) Bethesda would be starting at square 1 since none of it is incorporated at all right now and C) even among actual cities like Rockville and Gaithersburg, there is zero control of schools.

This is not just about the Purple Line or Westbard. It's a snowballing of issues including a proposed tax hike - for far reduced services, declining, crowded schools
and declining quality of life. Many of us regret moving here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is bethesda considered one of the 'good' areas if there are robberies every week there? You don't hear as much about mclean or n. arlington having robberies weekly.

It's real good if your family income is less than $70K and you're on the list to buy an MPDU. Then it's a steal. You can buy a 2 bedroom right in downtown Bethesda at The Darcy for just $150,000. Full retail price? 2 Bedroom/2 bath units start at $839,900 to $1,829,900. http://www.choicerealestate.net/the-darcy.php" target="_new" rel="nofollow"> http://www.choicerealestate.net/the-darcy.php

Don't like that? We definitely have the "QUALITY" our CASA lobbyist on the Planning Board demands. Nothing but the best. Check it out:
http://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/MPDUPublic/PropertyList.aspx

[Anonymous]

MoCo is too big- too many sq miles, too many schools, too many people - to be an effectively run county or school district. Hell, it even has more than one weather alert forecast it's so expansive in area!

[Anonymous]

Bethesda can join with the effort for New Columbia.

Be the 51st State!

[Anonymous]

The Post tries to answer the OP's question here:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/should-bethesda-become-a-self-governing-city-some-wonder-if-its-time/2017/01/09/668cbd14-d68b-11e6-9a36-1d296534b31e_story.html

[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.

No. Bethesda has higher income on average than Falls Church ever did; average value of a home is higher too. So it wouldn't be like Falls Church. It would be more like incorporated Chevy Chase, right next door.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is bethesda considered one of the 'good' areas if there are robberies every week there? You don't hear as much about mclean or n. arlington having robberies weekly.

Because it wasn't like that until very recently. Crime is nothing compared to NWDC, right down Wisconsin Avenue.

[Anonymous]

As the Wapo article mentions, there's a meeting at BcC tonight to discuss this. Should be interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First you would have to buy all the school buildings and land from the county...let us know when you are ready. And your teachers? They all work from MCPS.

Or rent the schools.