What is wrong with MOCO politicans?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:i one week they proposed a bill, renamed Montrose Parkway and put up the signs. for 15 months we have requested a new street sign that was stolen in our area and nothing has happened.

They are all about the spotlight. Hucker tweeted yesterday about the explosion in SS that he and his team were on their way there to check things out and will report back, glad they were able to take charge of the situation.

In the modern lingo we can call it “performative governance”.

I honestly believe that the county would be better off if we had a moratorium on passing any new laws, plans or anything else except a continuation of the same budget (making sure it’s balanced) for a couple years.

Renaming the street was a good move, but Casey Anderson's draft general plan is still racist.

Sure, but it’s a complete distraction when poverty and crime are rising, the school system is imploding and streets and sidewalks are not being maintained. They should prioritize focusing on these core competencies of municipal government before even thinking about a photo op to rename a street.

It’s hard to take anyone serious when they say crime is rising and schools are imploding and well crime everywhere is rising due to a f’ing pandemic and our school are amazing and way better than the 70’s/80’s/90’s.

You sound like you live in an altered reality,

Ficker was your candidate.

Come on man!

Stop making a fool out of yourself about topics you are ignorant.

You admit crime is rising. Murders have doubled. Is your point that you don’t think it’s appropriate to mention it because it has variously increased in other places? Why hasn’t crime increased in Fairfax? Do you see how stupid you sound?

MCPS is a school system that is struggling. Most people will point to rapidly rising FARMS rates and child poverty as the proximate cause. Poolesville, which gets frequently ranked as the top HS in the county has a building that is falling apart and parents have literally been begging the county for a new building for over a decades. MCPS has been falling down national rankings year after year and by all objective metrics it’s no longer the top school district in the state, that honor now belongs to Howard County. Furthermore, every candidate challenging for county council is saying that the quality of education at MCPS is an issue. But apparently you know different? Can you share with us your secret data that no one else seems to have that instead makes MCPS a top school system?

Its appalling that they got tons of covid money and didn't use it on school repairs. They had an entire year to get these schools fixed while the students were out of them.

What did they spend the money on?

Hazard pay (outrageous sums IMO and for too long), testing, enhanced cleaning costs for buildings, police cars, buses, homeless shelters, etc., technology to allow for more remote provision of services, rent relief, and on and on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who watches a fair number of Council sessions - echo chamber is the right answer. Really, everyone should be forced to watch a few sessions before voting. 75% of the time they are just restating what everyone else has already said, and then patting themselves and each other on the backs.

I'm actually a progressive myself and agree with a lot of what we do, but if I'm honest I can admit that the lack of diversity of thought on the Council is probably a negative. Not having one or two voices presenting a counter opinion or even challenge the Council members to defend their positions results in the Council members being very insulated

Hit submit too soon!

I have seen sessions where the attorneys will tell the Council that some action is illegal or highly suspect, and none of the Council members care. I mean, no one even bothers to debate it. I saw a session a few weeks ago where one Council member casually suggested just adding more money to a certain fund to cover the uncertain increase in costs of a proposed action. Several other Council members all enthusiastically agreed. Only one said "hold up - where are we going to get this money from?" No one had an answer and no one seemed concerned about that or inclined to seek further information. Even the member who raised it didn't seem particularly stressed. They will frequently.comment that they wish they had more information, but then go ahead and vote for something anyway. There is lots of discussions regarding equity (which are good) and surprisingly few discussions regarding finances (which concerns me). Bills are often rushed through the process and, IMO, the Council is regularly dismissive of concerns and questions raised by the executive branch employees who would have to administer the laws. Not the political people, but the "boots on the ground" employees who actually know how the trains run. I would think those viewpoints should carry some real weight (balanced with the knowledge that people are often resistant to change), but again, it's not even discussed. Just ignored.

I think that's the crux of it. The absence of real, meaningful debate that forces everyone to take a second look, rethink, amend if necessary, and just generally create more effective legislation.

Really, I encourage everyone to eat h a few Council sessions. It is unquestionably the best research you can do as far as determining who to support.

I didn’t watch that one but I have watched a few and this is pretty much the gist of what their meetings are like. Unfortunately, I think they are in denial to accept that this is what’s happening. There is no variety of thought and there is nobody to challenge anything. It’s not that I want everybody disliking and hating and arguing with each other but it’s a bunch of yes-men and women.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who watches a fair number of Council sessions - echo chamber is the right answer. Really, everyone should be forced to watch a few sessions before voting. 75% of the time they are just restating what everyone else has already said, and then patting themselves and each other on the backs.

I'm actually a progressive myself and agree with a lot of what we do, but if I'm honest I can admit that the lack of diversity of thought on the Council is probably a negative. Not having one or two voices presenting a counter opinion or even challenge the Council members to defend their positions results in the Council members being very insulated

Hit submit too soon!

I have seen sessions where the attorneys will tell the Council that some action is illegal or highly suspect, and none of the Council members care. I mean, no one even bothers to debate it. I saw a session a few weeks ago where one Council member casually suggested just adding more money to a certain fund to cover the uncertain increase in costs of a proposed action. Several other Council members all enthusiastically agreed. Only one said "hold up - where are we going to get this money from?" No one had an answer and no one seemed concerned about that or inclined to seek further information. Even the member who raised it didn't seem particularly stressed. They will frequently.comment that they wish they had more information, but then go ahead and vote for something anyway. There is lots of discussions regarding equity (which are good) and surprisingly few discussions regarding finances (which concerns me). Bills are often rushed through the process and, IMO, the Council is regularly dismissive of concerns and questions raised by the executive branch employees who would have to administer the laws. Not the political people, but the "boots on the ground" employees who actually know how the trains run. I would think those viewpoints should carry some real weight (balanced with the knowledge that people are often resistant to change), but again, it's not even discussed. Just ignored.

I think that's the crux of it. The absence of real, meaningful debate that forces everyone to take a second look, rethink, amend if necessary, and just generally create more effective legislation.

Really, I encourage everyone to eat h a few Council sessions. It is unquestionably the best research you can do as far as determining who to support.

I didn’t watch that one but I have watched a few and this is pretty much the gist of what their meetings are like. Unfortunately, I think they are in denial to accept that this is what’s happening. There is no variety of thought and there is nobody to challenge anything. It’s not that I want everybody disliking and hating and arguing with each other but it’s a bunch of yes-men and women.

I agree, this is an accurate representation about how the current Council works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who watches a fair number of Council sessions - echo chamber is the right answer. Really, everyone should be forced to watch a few sessions before voting. 75% of the time they are just restating what everyone else has already said, and then patting themselves and each other on the backs.

I'm actually a progressive myself and agree with a lot of what we do, but if I'm honest I can admit that the lack of diversity of thought on the Council is probably a negative. Not having one or two voices presenting a counter opinion or even challenge the Council members to defend their positions results in the Council members being very insulated

Hit submit too soon!

I have seen sessions where the attorneys will tell the Council that some action is illegal or highly suspect, and none of the Council members care. I mean, no one even bothers to debate it. I saw a session a few weeks ago where one Council member casually suggested just adding more money to a certain fund to cover the uncertain increase in costs of a proposed action. Several other Council members all enthusiastically agreed. Only one said "hold up - where are we going to get this money from?" No one had an answer and no one seemed concerned about that or inclined to seek further information. Even the member who raised it didn't seem particularly stressed. They will frequently.comment that they wish they had more information, but then go ahead and vote for something anyway. There is lots of discussions regarding equity (which are good) and surprisingly few discussions regarding finances (which concerns me). Bills are often rushed through the process and, IMO, the Council is regularly dismissive of concerns and questions raised by the executive branch employees who would have to administer the laws. Not the political people, but the "boots on the ground" employees who actually know how the trains run. I would think those viewpoints should carry some real weight (balanced with the knowledge that people are often resistant to change), but again, it's not even discussed. Just ignored.

I think that's the crux of it. The absence of real, meaningful debate that forces everyone to take a second look, rethink, amend if necessary, and just generally create more effective legislation.

Really, I encourage everyone to eat h a few Council sessions. It is unquestionably the best research you can do as far as determining who to support.

I didn’t watch that one but I have watched a few and this is pretty much the gist of what their meetings are like. Unfortunately, I think they are in denial to accept that this is what’s happening. There is no variety of thought and there is nobody to challenge anything. It’s not that I want everybody disliking and hating and arguing with each other but it’s a bunch of yes-men and women.

I agree, this is an accurate representation about how the current Council works.

It’s an institutional culture problem that has been going on for a long time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MoCo problem - desire to create a utopia, especially for POC by testing out any government solution that can be invented on academic campuses. If they would only focus on things like high quality education, good infrastructure, libraries, etc. like a normal local government, it would benefit EVERYONE. Becoming a magnet for illegal immigration did us no favors either.

Agreed.

And unchecked illegal immigration has has a prdound negative affect on our schools, our housing, our neighborhoods and our general quality of life.

[Anonymous]

^profound

[Anonymous]

I drove around Silver Spring yesterday and almost had a heart attack after seeing a bunch of yard signs for Kristin Mink.

For the love of all that is holy, please, please, please do not vote for this woman. She is not qualified to manage a WhateverMart, let alone make decisions for running the largest county in Maryland.

For the record, I actually know her and she is a very nice person. That being said, she is absolutely not qualified to sit on the County Council. I can't even think of a single department in the Montgomery County system that she would be able to run.

If you read her social media posts, she if far more concerned about scoring points on the national woke level than with the daily concerns of Montgomery County residents, like say, fixing the roads, tackling all of the MCPS problems, the increasing crime rates, the horrendous Purple Line and so on.

Her main platform seems to be fund everything. Of course, not even a decimal point to explain how it all would paid for.

She ought to stick with what she is good at- teaching and screeching. Protesting and advocacy is good for out political system. It does not mean that you are any good at running an organization.

If she wins, the hyperbole about Montgomery County may actually become reality. It will crater into a third rate county like a house of cards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I drove around Silver Spring yesterday and almost had a heart attack after seeing a bunch of yard signs for Kristin Mink.

For the love of all that is holy, please, please, please do not vote for this woman. She is not qualified to manage a WhateverMart, let alone make decisions for running the largest county in Maryland.

For the record, I actually know her and she is a very nice person. That being said, she is absolutely not qualified to sit on the County Council. I can't even think of a single department in the Montgomery County system that she would be able to run.

If you read her social media posts, she if far more concerned about scoring points on the national woke level than with the daily concerns of Montgomery County residents, like say, fixing the roads, tackling all of the MCPS problems, the increasing crime rates, the horrendous Purple Line and so on.

Her main platform seems to be fund everything. Of course, not even a decimal point to explain how it all would paid for.

She ought to stick with what she is good at- teaching and screeching. Protesting and advocacy is good for out political system. It does not mean that you are any good at running an organization.

If she wins, the hyperbole about Montgomery County may actually become reality. It will crater into a third rate county like a house of cards.

Sounds to me like she would fit right in on the council then.

Is anyone there actually concerned with getting the trains to run on time and good governance? Maybe, Friedson and Katz a little.

The rest are all about virtue signaling, nonsense, and equity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I drove around Silver Spring yesterday and almost had a heart attack after seeing a bunch of yard signs for Kristin Mink.

For the love of all that is holy, please, please, please do not vote for this woman. She is not qualified to manage a WhateverMart, let alone make decisions for running the largest county in Maryland.

For the record, I actually know her and she is a very nice person. That being said, she is absolutely not qualified to sit on the County Council. I can't even think of a single department in the Montgomery County system that she would be able to run.

If you read her social media posts, she if far more concerned about scoring points on the national woke level than with the daily concerns of Montgomery County residents, like say, fixing the roads, tackling all of the MCPS problems, the increasing crime rates, the horrendous Purple Line and so on.

Her main platform seems to be fund everything. Of course, not even a decimal point to explain how it all would paid for.

She ought to stick with what she is good at- teaching and screeching. Protesting and advocacy is good for out political system. It does not mean that you are any good at running an organization.

If she wins, the hyperbole about Montgomery County may actually become reality. It will crater into a third rate county like a house of cards.

She seems like a nice person but as far as politics, she is SO far out left that you need a telescope to see her.

[Anonymous]

I will never vote for Mink.

I know I have no way to prove this, but she and her husband once cut in front of a long line while I was waiting for coffee. They were talking to people on the side, then snuck up to the person at the front of the line for a chat, then miraculously ordered.

Now it is possible that the person at the front of the line 'saved' their spot, but it sure didn't look like that when I was there. It really rubbed me the wrong way - someone running for CC getting special treatment while the rest of us plebs had to stand in a busy line for almost 20 minutes waiting for coffee. I know it was Mink too because she and her husband were wearing her campaign shirts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I drove around Silver Spring yesterday and almost had a heart attack after seeing a bunch of yard signs for Kristin Mink.

For the love of all that is holy, please, please, please do not vote for this woman. She is not qualified to manage a WhateverMart, let alone make decisions for running the largest county in Maryland.

For the record, I actually know her and she is a very nice person. That being said, she is absolutely not qualified to sit on the County Council. I can't even think of a single department in the Montgomery County system that she would be able to run.

If you read her social media posts, she if far more concerned about scoring points on the national woke level than with the daily concerns of Montgomery County residents, like say, fixing the roads, tackling all of the MCPS problems, the increasing crime rates, the horrendous Purple Line and so on.

Her main platform seems to be fund everything. Of course, not even a decimal point to explain how it all would paid for.

She ought to stick with what she is good at- teaching and screeching. Protesting and advocacy is good for out political system. It does not mean that you are any good at running an organization.

If she wins, the hyperbole about Montgomery County may actually become reality. It will crater into a third rate county like a house of cards.

Sounds to me like she would fit right in on the council then.

Is anyone there actually concerned with getting the trains to run on time and good governance? Maybe, Friedson and Katz a little.

The rest are all about virtue signaling, nonsense, and equity.

How has Friedson gotten this reputation? He literally spends all his time posturing for the approval of the TPSS people on Twitter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The schools are amazing? Really?

-Test scores in the basement
-ES 3rd graders cannot read
-HS - no mid terms or final exams, you can write your name on an assignment and get 50% credit, and no one is allowed to fail - they just get passed along
-Teacher shortage - teachers are disparaged by parents and students and want nothing do with our county. Why? In part because we are spending tons on central office staff rather than teachers and mental health professionals. Central Office staff put more administrative mandates on teachers that take them away from actually teaching. In part because we have no consequences for students behaving badly and they know it.
-The buildings are a disaster, many are either falling apart or over crowded
-Our own Board of Education rubber stamps everything the MCPS staff tells them to (they have completely forgotten that their job is OVERSIGHT)
-Speaking of, not the Council, not the state, not the Board of Education, NOONE oversees MCPS. They do what they want, when they want, to whoever they want
-How much violence (guns, assault, secual assault) has occurred in our schools? Do you honestly believe your child is safe there? A security guard got beat up at BCC by a student. At Magruder a student shot another student.

MCPS used to be a great school system, but no longer. This is what is keeping businesses from coming to MoCo

I can’t imagine any parent not being at least a little concerned about their kids safety while at school. This should be a priority for every parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone there actually concerned with getting the trains to run on time and good governance? Maybe, Friedson and Katz a little.

The rest are all about virtue signaling, nonsense, and equity.

How has Friedson gotten this reputation? He literally spends all his time posturing for the approval of the TPSS people on Twitter.

You forgot kowtowing to developers, who continue to fund him every year. 15 years tax free to build at Grosvenor Metro station, and however many other gifts he has given them over the years