David Blair for MoCo executive

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretty clear that the pro Blair group here is that "omg equity I hate it" crowd

I don't hate "equity", but there is a point where focusing on it too much hinders the community rather than help it. Covid vaccine rollout in MoCo is one such example.

[Anonymous]

What’s Blair’s stance on normal school in the fall? I’m a single issue voter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretty clear that the pro Blair group here is that "omg equity I hate it" crowd

No, but it helps to judge first and ask questions later.

Jawando's version of equity is too facile to do any good. He's in the "no police = equity" instead of doing the hard work of making change from within. And doesn't seem to care what the impact will be to communities of color who actually need police much more than wealthier white people. Map out all the homicides this year, for example....They aren't happening in Potomac.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty clear that the pro Blair group here is that "omg equity I hate it" crowd

No, but it helps to judge first and ask questions later.

Jawando's version of equity is too facile to do any good. He's in the "no police = equity" instead of doing the hard work of making change from within. And doesn't seem to care what the impact will be to communities of color who actually need police much more than wealthier white people. Map out all the homicides this year, for example....They aren't happening in Potomac.

On what planet do you live? Jawando is the main Councilmember pushing police reform, which folks like you are characterizing as "no police". But in no universe has Jawando proposed eliminating the police department. He actually speaks frequently about how to best track and give police credit for the good work they do, as well as tracking policing data that is in line with best practices.

Also, in case you need a reminder, Will Jawando hasn't expressed interest in running for County Executive. Hans Riemer and Craig Rice have said they're exploring it. Marc Elrich and David Blair have announced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretty clear that the pro Blair group here is that "omg equity I hate it" crowd

David Blair is a bonafide Democrat. Please check out his platform. He believes in equity: https://www.blairformontgomery.com/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s Blair’s stance on normal school in the fall? I’m a single issue voter.

1. The primary election will be in June 2022.
2. The county executive has no authority over the board of education and does not make decisions about opening schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You sound really upset about something that doesn't sound even remotely worth being upset about. He noticed a problem (years before he ran for Country Council, so that was a lie too) in how the immersion programs were publicized, that affected his family. Maybe MCPS improved its efforts. You're just looking for something to pick on.

Yes, MCPS commissioned a report that was published in 2016.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/info/choice/ChoiceStudyReport-Version2-20160307.pdf

For immersion programs specifically, the report found:

Focus group participants attributed lower enrollments of Hispanic/Latino, low-income, and LEP students in language immersion programs to limitations in parental awareness of the program options for their children.Across focus groups with school and district staff, parents, and principals, respondents reported that applying to elementary language immersion programs requires substantial independent research on the part of parents and a high level of parent “savvy” and resources. They noted that, although MCPS conducts outreach activities to share information about the language immersion programs, parents must know to look for the information, adding that independent research may be challenging for parents who work multiple jobs or who do not speak English as a first language. Additionally, parents who have not had prior experiences enrolling a child in MCPS may be disadvantaged because they must submit applications for kindergarten seats in elementary language immersion programs before students are enrolled. Almost all of the parents in the focus groups reported that they had learned about the language immersion programs through social networks or at their child’s preschool. Again, this may disadvantage parents who do not have equal access to social networks or preschool programs.

After the report came out, MCPS modified the process for applying to immersion programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty clear that the pro Blair group here is that "omg equity I hate it" crowd

No, but it helps to judge first and ask questions later.

Jawando's version of equity is too facile to do any good. He's in the "no police = equity" instead of doing the hard work of making change from within. And doesn't seem to care what the impact will be to communities of color who actually need police much more than wealthier white people. Map out all the homicides this year, for example....They aren't happening in Potomac.

On what planet do you live? Jawando is the main Councilmember pushing police reform, which folks like you are characterizing as "no police". But in no universe has Jawando proposed eliminating the police department. He actually speaks frequently about how to best track and give police credit for the good work they do, as well as tracking policing data that is in line with best practices.

Also, in case you need a reminder, Will Jawando hasn't expressed interest in running for County Executive. Hans Riemer and Craig Rice have said they're exploring it. Marc Elrich and David Blair have announced.

He's pulling school resource officers out of schools because of 163 arrests out of 163,000 students. Completely ignoring the safety aspect they provide. A smarter move would have been to change the SRO program from within to address racial disparities. It's like cutting off your hand because you keep getting hang nails.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty clear that the pro Blair group here is that "omg equity I hate it" crowd

No, but it helps to judge first and ask questions later.

Jawando's version of equity is too facile to do any good. He's in the "no police = equity" instead of doing the hard work of making change from within. And doesn't seem to care what the impact will be to communities of color who actually need police much more than wealthier white people. Map out all the homicides this year, for example....They aren't happening in Potomac.

On what planet do you live? Jawando is the main Councilmember pushing police reform, which folks like you are characterizing as "no police". But in no universe has Jawando proposed eliminating the police department. He actually speaks frequently about how to best track and give police credit for the good work they do, as well as tracking policing data that is in line with best practices.

Also, in case you need a reminder, Will Jawando hasn't expressed interest in running for County Executive. Hans Riemer and Craig Rice have said they're exploring it. Marc Elrich and David Blair have announced.

He's pulling school resource officers out of schools because of 163 arrests out of 163,000 students. Completely ignoring the safety aspect they provide. A smarter move would have been to change the SRO program from within to address racial disparities. It's like cutting off your hand because you keep getting hang nails.

That's not "no police" that's police located in a different place. You say reform from within, that's what he's doing, you just don't like how he's doing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty clear that the pro Blair group here is that "omg equity I hate it" crowd

I don't hate "equity", but there is a point where focusing on it too much hinders the community rather than help it. Covid vaccine rollout in MoCo is one such example.

Yeah if Blair doesn't believe in equity for vaccine distribution I am definitely NOT voting for him. The health department has been administering the doses it receives from the state every week, it isn't slowing down the process for the sake of equity, but it is making an effort to ensure the hardest hit communities (which tend not to have good internet access or ability to work from home and snag appointments all day) can actually get their shots. If David Blair has a problem with that I have a BIG problem with him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty clear that the pro Blair group here is that "omg equity I hate it" crowd

I don't hate "equity", but there is a point where focusing on it too much hinders the community rather than help it. Covid vaccine rollout in MoCo is one such example.

Yeah if Blair doesn't believe in equity for vaccine distribution I am definitely NOT voting for him. The health department has been administering the doses it receives from the state every week, it isn't slowing down the process for the sake of equity, but it is making an effort to ensure the hardest hit communities (which tend not to have good internet access or ability to work from home and snag appointments all day) can actually get their shots. If David Blair has a problem with that I have a BIG problem with him.

No, MoCo has been much slower to rollout the vaccine phases. They were forced to be on the same phasing as the state, not that this means that people who are not in a certain "equity" group will get the vaccine even if they are eligible.

The way the equity framework is implemented if you are white in a zip code with a high case rate, you won't get priority. That is discriminatory. If I lived in such a zip code, I'd be scared for my life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty clear that the pro Blair group here is that "omg equity I hate it" crowd

I don't hate "equity", but there is a point where focusing on it too much hinders the community rather than help it. Covid vaccine rollout in MoCo is one such example.

Yeah if Blair doesn't believe in equity for vaccine distribution I am definitely NOT voting for him. The health department has been administering the doses it receives from the state every week, it isn't slowing down the process for the sake of equity, but it is making an effort to ensure the hardest hit communities (which tend not to have good internet access or ability to work from home and snag appointments all day) can actually get their shots. If David Blair has a problem with that I have a BIG problem with him.

No, MoCo has been much slower to rollout the vaccine phases. They were forced to be on the same phasing as the state, not that this means that people who are not in a certain "equity" group will get the vaccine even if they are eligible.

The way the equity framework is implemented if you are white in a zip code with a high case rate, you won't get priority. That is discriminatory. If I lived in such a zip code, I'd be scared for my life.

A. That's not how the equity framework is being implemented
B. MoCo has been slower because it has an older population than the rest of the state and our dear governor did not allocate additional doses to account for that so we look like we're slower and morons like you blame the county because you are dumb as rocks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty clear that the pro Blair group here is that "omg equity I hate it" crowd

I don't hate "equity", but there is a point where focusing on it too much hinders the community rather than help it. Covid vaccine rollout in MoCo is one such example.

Yeah if Blair doesn't believe in equity for vaccine distribution I am definitely NOT voting for him. The health department has been administering the doses it receives from the state every week, it isn't slowing down the process for the sake of equity, but it is making an effort to ensure the hardest hit communities (which tend not to have good internet access or ability to work from home and snag appointments all day) can actually get their shots. If David Blair has a problem with that I have a BIG problem with him.

No, MoCo has been much slower to rollout the vaccine phases. They were forced to be on the same phasing as the state, not that this means that people who are not in a certain "equity" group will get the vaccine even if they are eligible.

The way the equity framework is implemented if you are white in a zip code with a high case rate, you won't get priority. That is discriminatory. If I lived in such a zip code, I'd be scared for my life.

Wealthy elderly in non-priority zip codes can just Stay Home until it’s there turn. Not my problem that they feel entitled to go out to restaurants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty clear that the pro Blair group here is that "omg equity I hate it" crowd

I don't hate "equity", but there is a point where focusing on it too much hinders the community rather than help it. Covid vaccine rollout in MoCo is one such example.

Sure, because too much justice is definitely a big problem. Absolutely. What the world needs now is more stuff for rich, white people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Running a business has no relationship whatsoever to being a county executive who has to negotiate with and persuade county councilmembers who do not answer to the county executive and who have their own agendas and political bases. Similarly, running a business with workers who are not in unions has no relationship to running a county government and negotiating with with big and powerful unions. Blair has no experience with enacting legislation or working with unions. If you want to elect a rookie who stands for nothing and has tons of support from developers -- go for it.

So by this logic, nobody without past political experience should ever run for political office?

DP: Nope. Although it might suggest that people who work their way up through the ranks might have more appropriate and possibly more appealing skill sets.

Through what ranks? County council? A lot of being county exec is actually managing people and money, just because someone has served on the council does not mean they will be a good manager. In fact, from what I observed of Elrich while he was in the council, I thought he was poorly suited to the country ty exec position due to his lack of both leadership skills and ability to work with others. And he’s proved to be an incompetent manager.

I think the moderate wing of the Democrats needs to consider how amenable people will be to the "I'm a rich businessman and can therefore run government well" argument in the post Trump era. It's 100% a turnoff for me. Blair just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Between Blair and Elrich I will vote for Elrich even though I think he's seriously stumbled as a manager. Between Elrich, Rice, Blair and Riemer I would vote for Rice.

I’ll be honest, that’s how I felt the last time, as did countless others, which was why the vote was so split among the more moderate candidates. If Blair ends up being the most likely Elrich-alternative again, I will vote for him.