How has MoCo declined since you’ve lived here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a good article on just that topic:
https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/opinion-is-moco-becoming-a-second-class-county/

I think gov't spending has gotten out of control, and the leaders need to learn the meaning of cutting spending instead of just raising taxes.

This article makes a clear case that the county is in decline and poorly managed

The problem is not with the county. It’s with Maryland state law on school funding. School funding is half the county’s budget and we cannot control it. By state law, we cannot control it. Where does that lead? Tax increases to fund things like libraries, fire department, and trash collection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The litter. The litter.

Why is America so dirty? Why? Trash is everywhere. Its become like a third world country.

Geez. Then you've never been to a 3rd world country. I'm from one and this is not only an extreme over exaggeration but it sounds so grossly bougie.

Or Baltimore City....in the nice parts. Filthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The purple line will make things better too

But I admit I am worried about the future of the county

Don't want us to become a county where you move in when you have little and need much and move out when you have a lot and are tired of paying for stuff for other people

+1. There seems to be no recognition that if the tax burden and job situation worsens relative to DC and VA people will move or never come in the first place. People who bombastically claim they will leave the country when a president they don't like is elected are mostly full of it - it is a huge deal to move to a new country, leave your friends (and often family), find a new job, etc.

But moving from MoCo to DC or VA is pretty easy. I can be in each in 10 minutes. I wouldn't need a new job; my commute might even improve. I could keep my existing social circle. Culturally, things are the same. Life just would not be different.

I like MoCo and I moved here for a reason, even knowing it was more expensive in some ways. But if the difference becomes too extreme, it will be hard to justify staying. And if too many people with the means to easily leave do, then you lose the tax base needed for the social services desired.

Who is they? County government is very aware - it was an issue in this last election.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There have been so many threads about it on DCUM..it must be real!

It is real but, unless you have lived here long time, it's hard to tell because you don't have a reference pt to compare to

Immigrant here who has lived here for a very long time and yes, I've seen the changes- the good and the bad and at the end of the day, it's mostly good. Anyone on here stating that MoCo is filthy and filled with homeless people and beggars, is either a liar or have lived in a bubble their entire lives that when they see 2 or 3 panhandlers on separate occasions, they think we've become a 3rd world country. It's ridiculous and a testament of what privileged lives some people have. You all should feel grateful that you live in a place that has access to great jobs, great schools, a diverse culture, the capital of the United States, etc. The whining and the bashing is just crazy.

Yeah but this thread isn’t about how moco compares with some third world countries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It has changed a lot but for the better. The downsides that people mentioned here are a reflection of the entire DMV. The beggars, homelessness that people are claiming on here is a bit baffling.

Beggats are found on the 495 exit to 355 / in the median. There all the time.
Also on Old Georgetown Rosd & Democracy in the median.
Middle of Rockville Pike.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live near Wheaton and don't see panhandlers .. so where are they? In Bethesda?

I'm not a long time resident but in the Wheaton and silver spring area there are lots of new things being developed and people seem pretty optimistic about the future of these areas

Pretty much always someone at the intersection of Georgia Ave. & Viers Mill

always at 355 and shady grove road. Shady grove and that intersection before the Best Buy . Always see them on father Hurley Blvd st that intersection where wegmans is. I see them on Connecticut Avenue in Chevy chase md. I was born and raised here and lived my entire life here and this is a recent phenomenon . Fortunately not as bad as baltimore. I mistakenly drive fro Towson back to here and my gps took my via baltimore city and every intersection had panhandlers and window washers

Been here,all my life too. So you've seen panhandlers on 3 intersections in Moco. I used to drive that corner of Shady Grove and Rockville Pike and have seen that 1 guy... Yup 3 intersections. We are all going to lose our jobs, our college degrees, and die of poverty here. God help us.

Actually, we are up to eight key intersections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To me, the frustrating thing about MoCo is that we pour so much money into social services and have little to show for it. For all the taxes paid, poverty is still a big problem, and with more poverty (especially in immigrant communities) has come an education quality decline. Gang violence concerns me, but I don't think MoCo is less safe than before. I think people like to pick on places like Wheaton that have gone from white to hispanic but lets be real, Wheaton was never an amazing area. The white biker gangs are long gone but the problems persist, just in a different language. I think there's also less political diversity that contributes to a one-party state that I think is problematic because it inhibits compromise and common-sense solutions. MoCo has also seriously turned into a big government nanny state like San Francisco.

That’s a great comparison. So we will see the very rich...and the poor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a good article on just that topic:
https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/opinion-is-moco-becoming-a-second-class-county/

I think gov't spending has gotten out of control, and the leaders need to learn the meaning of cutting spending instead of just raising taxes.

This article makes a clear case that the county is in decline and poorly managed

The problem is not with the county. It’s with Maryland state law on school funding. School funding is half the county’s budget and we cannot control it. By state law, we cannot control it. Where does that lead? Tax increases to fund things like libraries, fire department, and trash collection.

Half of the budget for schools is more or less?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Been here 15 years. Loved in Howard County, Baltimore City and County, Alexandria and Fairfax.
MmoCo is the best of all of them. Not perfect. But really good.

Why is MoCo the best? I miss DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have been in Bethesda for just about 20 years.
Traffic has gotten much worse, with more cars/residences coming;
Trash and roadsides in general are worse (grass isn't mowed as quickly, frequently looking over run/run down;
Schools - horrific decline. Poor curriculum, no final exams, As given out like candy, and now horrendous overcrowding throughout the county (also no solution forthcoming);
People seem more stressed/harried and downright rude. There is no civility anymore. Amongst neighbors, yes. But everywhere else? From people posting photos of cars that run stop signs, speed, etc on Next Door to the guy next to you in traffic that gives you the bird (and you are thankful it's not a gun), people are generally unkind and unforgiving to those they do not know;
Helicopter parents. I worked in a school, and had to leave for my own sanity. Parents screaming at teachers over a grade, demanding Principal do x, y and z for them, etc. It used to be parents supported teachers and schools. Now it is a means to and end (the name brand college).
Kids that are never held accountable. Not at school, not at home, the entitlement is unbelievable. These last two items have me worried for the future of our country. When we only care about ourselves, and not those less fortunate than ourselves, we are doomed.

There is more. And as soon as our youngest is finished with college and not coming home any longer to see friends (just us!), we will happily cash in on our home (and make tons of cash), and get out.

Where do you think you will go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here we go let’s complain about Germantown again. God forbid there’s a place in moco that’s affordable to live in.

Yeah that's why it's so distressing that all 4 of the MoCo council at large members come from a small downcounty area (Takoma Park, Kensington, Silver Spring). Same with the new CoExec Elrich.

They think the solution to Germantown's growth and traffic problems is BRT (buses). Do they realize the distances involved and how impractical that is?

Go to one of the open house forums Mar Elrich is hosting. He may come to realize it wouldn’t work in that area. He does listen, unlike 99% of politicians.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a good article on just that topic:
https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/opinion-is-moco-becoming-a-second-class-county/

I think gov't spending has gotten out of control, and the leaders need to learn the meaning of cutting spending instead of just raising taxes.

This article makes a clear case that the county is in decline and poorly managed

The problem is not with the county. It’s with Maryland state law on school funding. School funding is half the county’s budget and we cannot control it. By state law, we cannot control it. Where does that lead? Tax increases to fund things like libraries, fire department, and trash collection.

So who controls the budget?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It has changed a lot but for the better. The downsides that people mentioned here are a reflection of the entire DMV. The beggars, homelessness that people are claiming on here is a bit baffling.

You enjoy having beggars and homeless milling around?

No I don't and good think we rarely see them here in MoCo.

Where do you live and commute? I see people on median strips on Norbeck Road near Ga ave and Muncaster Mill. I see people on medians along Connecticut Ave in kensington. This is on weekdays as well as weekends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It has changed a lot but for the better. The downsides that people mentioned here are a reflection of the entire DMV. The beggars, homelessness that people are claiming on here is a bit baffling.

You enjoy having beggars and homeless milling around?

No I don't and good think we rarely see them here in MoCo.

Where do you live and commute? I see people on median strips on Norbeck Road near Ga ave and Muncaster Mill. I see people on medians along Connecticut Ave in kensington. This is on weekdays as well as weekends.

You realize they exist everywhere, even in the rich parts of DC, right? Sorry you haven’t found a place away from the poors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It has changed a lot but for the better. The downsides that people mentioned here are a reflection of the entire DMV. The beggars, homelessness that people are claiming on here is a bit baffling.

You enjoy having beggars and homeless milling around?

No I don't and good think we rarely see them here in MoCo.

Where do you live and commute? I see people on median strips on Norbeck Road near Ga ave and Muncaster Mill. I see people on medians along Connecticut Ave in kensington. This is on weekdays as well as weekends.

You realize they exist everywhere, even in the rich parts of DC, right? Sorry you haven’t found a place away from the poors.

Exactly. And yes, panhandlers are rare in Moco. I've lived here for a very long time- in Rockville, Wheaton, Gaithersburg. To say they are everywhere is a big fat lie.