Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Minimum wage isn’t anti-business. It puts more money in workers’ pockets that they can then spend at those businesses...

You are so naive. Talk to the owners of small businesses who have closed because of the minimum wage increase and other MoCo policies.

Small businesses frequently close because the landlords raise the rent ridiculously and let’s not gloss over MoCos ridiculous policies. The alcohol mafia taxes small businesses ridiculously (ask the owner of Hank Dietles) and has arbitrary policies like ‘only one family owned restaurant if more than one can serve alcohol’ . Why?? So, there are now 2 MoCo locations of Urban BBQ in Maryland but only one can serve alcohol. Why? My husband wanted a beer with BBQ for his birthday so we drive right past the Urban BBQ in Rockville as they don’t serve beer. What is ‘pro business’ about that kind of absurd policy?

What is ‘pro business’ about Nancy Floreen’s increase in the recordation tax? You buy a home or refinance and you pay the county thousands upon thousands in taxes. Who wants to buy here ?? How does that support the real estate or mortgage industries?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

While I appreciate the idealism of many progressives, I really wish you would find ways to execute your vision that demonstrates some basic understanding of economics.

+1

There is not only one kind of ‘economics ‘ with straight forward simple answers. What you are touring is a conservative interpretation of economic principles.

Anonymous wrote:This thread confirmed that elrich won't get my vote

If you want to help poor families, use the earned income tax credit to give them more. Tax the super rich more..

Don't go in the market and start setting arbitrary prices for labor

Forcing companies to set a certain minimum wage just makes them move out of the county or automate jobs

Jobs will start to be automated regardless. Which fits with the declining birth rate.

Making people stick their hands out for earned income tax credits, food stamps and Medicaid is not nearly as satisfying as earning enough to support your own family. And who pays for all of the previously mentioned benefits? The middle class! Everything continues to go to the rich - woo hoo for that small percentage of our country. I’m sure they need all the extra money because ... why?

Anonymous wrote:He seems to be quite anti business and anti development

Said the developer who doesn’t care if there are adequate schools, parks, and roads to support the development. He just cares about mo money mo money mo money for himself.

Anonymous wrote:

While I appreciate the idealism of many progressives, I really wish you would find ways to execute your vision that demonstrates some basic understanding of economics.

+1

This thread confirmed that elrich won't get my vote

If you want to help poor families, use the earned income tax credit to give them more. Tax the super rich more..

Don't go in the market and start setting arbitrary prices for labor

Forcing companies to set a certain minimum wage just makes them move out of the county or automate jobs

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Minimum wage isn’t anti-business. It puts more money in workers’ pockets that they can then spend at those businesses...

Hahhh.. No, for many businesses, it means they rush to automation, cut back on workers, or move the business to Frederick, Howard County, or VA, all of which have lower minimum wages.

Notice how the McDonalds and BK in MoCo are installing ordering kiosks a lot more these days? Notice how Giant is reconfiguring stores to add more self-checkouts. It's the cost of labor that's driving this.

It’s greed that’s driving it. They can well afford to pay higher wages..

Its not greed for a business to strive to find efficiencies, cut expenses and deliver a better product. Automation will occur regardless of a minimum wage change BUT a minimum wage change will speed its adoption.

While I appreciate the idealism of many progressives, I really wish you would find ways to execute your vision that demonstrates some basic understanding of economics.

There is NOTHING better about any product at McDonalds...

Anonymous wrote:
Minimum wage isn’t anti-business. It puts more money in workers’ pockets that they can then spend at those businesses...

Hahhh.. No, for many businesses, it means they rush to automation, cut back on workers, or move the business to Frederick, Howard County, or VA, all of which have lower minimum wages.

Notice how the McDonalds and BK in MoCo are installing ordering kiosks a lot more these days? Notice how Giant is reconfiguring stores to add more self-checkouts. It's the cost of labor that's driving this.

It’s greed that’s driving it. They can well afford to pay higher wages..

Its not greed for a business to strive to find efficiencies, cut expenses and deliver a better product. Automation will occur regardless of a minimum wage change BUT a minimum wage change will speed its adoption.

While I appreciate the idealism of many progressives, I really wish you would find ways to execute your vision that demonstrates some basic understanding of economics.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Minimum wage isn’t anti-business. It puts more money in workers’ pockets that they can then spend at those businesses...

Hahhh.. No, for many businesses, it means they rush to automation, cut back on workers, or move the business to Frederick, Howard County, or VA, all of which have lower minimum wages.

Notice how the McDonalds and BK in MoCo are installing ordering kiosks a lot more these days? Notice how Giant is reconfiguring stores to add more self-checkouts. It's the cost of labor that's driving this.

It’s greed that’s driving it. They can well afford to pay higher wages...

Anonymous wrote:Minimum wage isn’t anti-business. It puts more money in workers’ pockets that they can then spend at those businesses...

Hahhh.. No, for many businesses, it means they rush to automation, cut back on workers, or move the business to Frederick, Howard County, or VA, all of which have lower minimum wages.

Notice how the McDonalds and BK in MoCo are installing ordering kiosks a lot more these days? Notice how Giant is reconfiguring stores to add more self-checkouts. It's the cost of labor that's driving this.

Anonymous wrote:Minimum wage isn’t anti-business. It puts more money in workers’ pockets that they can then spend at those businesses...

You are so naive. Talk to the owners of small businesses who have closed because of the minimum wage increase and other MoCo policies.

Minimum wage isn’t anti-business. It puts more money in workers’ pockets that they can then spend at those businesses...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:His policies will continue to discourage job creation in MD, especially relative to VA and DC. Lack of jobs will reduces the county's tax base and hurts property values, which itself reduces tax revenues.

To continue with the current level of county spending, never mind all the new things Elrich wants, would require increases in tax rates to make up for the above. And that, in return, will lead some of the wealthier county residents to move to VA or DC to avoid the higher tax burden in MoCo/MD. While it is tempting to say good riddens and don't let the door hit your rear on the way out, if we lose wealthier residents we lose the tax revenue needed to fund all the things the county wants to provide

A death spiral is too dramatic, but if MoCo doesn't keep itself at least nominally competitive with the surrounding areas, it isn't going to be good for county residents -- rich or poor. And the poor will probably suffer more because they can less easily just move across state lines.

Good sounding answer to my question. (I’m OP). But what are these policies that will prevent job creation? Specifically? Where is Floreen different?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/nancy-floreen-for-montgomery-county-executive/2018/09/29/c081ed74-c1be-11e8-a1f0-a4051b6ad114_story.html?utm_term=.990368d4ee86

Oh I read that, and this is why I'm asking the question. I attended a forum and it sounds like he stands for the opposite of what's being said. He said something about incubator programs and getting rid of unnecessary regulations on small businesses. This doesn't sound anti-business. He also said he would avoid raising property taxes. And someone asked him to clarify the ethnic cleansing comment and he said it meant the Planning board would upzone property around the Purple Line and force current residents, mostly immigrants to leave. Not that the actual rail was ethnic cleansing. He also said he didn't plan on introducing rent control.
To be honest I haven't trusted the Washington Post editorial board since it favored the Iraq war. The straight reporting is excellent, but the editorials are corporate and neoconservative slanted. Not liking Trump doesn't mean that they are liberal. It just means they aren't idiots.
Anyways, I genuinely ask for specifics because everything that people seem to hate about Elrich on here seems to be the opposite of what he is actually proposing. Is there a reason why I should trust secondary opinions over the primary source?

Check out his voting record- if you agree with how he’s voted, then vote for him. If you find it a bit uneasy that he was the line dissenter on a lot of votes, then take that into consideration. Do you want a county exec that sticks to his principles no-matter-what or one that is willing to compromise and work well with others? Not the biggest Floreen fan but I thought there were better choices in the primary. The field was just too crowded and he drew the progressive vote while the moderates were split.

This. Look at Elrich's actual votes, not the lip service he's paying on the campaign trail. Elrich has been at the forefront of all of the County regulations that strangle small businesses - minimum wage, sick and safe leave, etc. He is by far the most liberal voice on the Council. He's a social justice warrior (which I like) who can't see the forest for the trees, doesn't have a viable plan to pay for his programs, and will further damage the County's business environment in his efforts (which I don't like). He does not understand the importance of growing and keeping a strong tax base. His promotion of the business incubators is particularly hilarious because those are a huge money drain on the County. It's an area that interests me, so I've actually looked all the numbers. You would not believe how much money we throw away on the BIN and various community grants. Elrich is a huge supporter of those programs, which is great, but doesn't understand that we need a tax base to fund those programs. Ever-increasing taxes on Bethesda and Potomac are not a viable solution. We need businesses that can survive here, which means we cannot pass regulations that make surival financially impossible.

Basically, Elrich wants to have his cake and eat it too. He considers Bethesda, Potomac, Chevy Chase, etc. to be the County's ATM, and he will not support any County dollars going to those areas for schools, roads, etc. But what he doesn't get is that if those rich people (and no, I'm not even close to one of them) have to commute to DC or Fairfax for work because there are no jobs in the County, and if they think their public schools are declining, then there's no reason for them to stay here and pay increasing taxes for decreasing quality of life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:His policies will continue to discourage job creation in MD, especially relative to VA and DC. Lack of jobs will reduces the county's tax base and hurts property values, which itself reduces tax revenues.

To continue with the current level of county spending, never mind all the new things Elrich wants, would require increases in tax rates to make up for the above. And that, in return, will lead some of the wealthier county residents to move to VA or DC to avoid the higher tax burden in MoCo/MD. While it is tempting to say good riddens and don't let the door hit your rear on the way out, if we lose wealthier residents we lose the tax revenue needed to fund all the things the county wants to provide

A death spiral is too dramatic, but if MoCo doesn't keep itself at least nominally competitive with the surrounding areas, it isn't going to be good for county residents -- rich or poor. And the poor will probably suffer more because they can less easily just move across state lines.

Good sounding answer to my question. (I’m OP). But what are these policies that will prevent job creation? Specifically? Where is Floreen different?

NP here. Specifically:

- Elrich pushed hard for the $15/hour minimum wage increase, backed by unions. This is anti-business. Any business that can move part of their business out of MoCo will. It's just a few miles up 270 to Frederick County, that has a lower minimum wage. Imagine if you're a HVAC or plumbing business -- move a few miles from Gaithersburg to Frederick and now you're not forced to pay $15/hour even to the admin assistants.

If Elrich really cared about ensuring families had a living wage, he would have pushed to increased the EITC (earned income tax credit). That looks at family size and _total_ family income, and gives money to those who don't make a certain threshold. It's already in place in the Fed and MD tax system, so MoCo could just add a piggyback payment on to it.

Instead, Elrich's minimum wage will make it difficult for people to get entry-level jobs. A 20 year old who wants their first job doesn't have the skills to earn $15/hr yet. Elrich has effectively locked them out of the MoCo labor market.

- Regulations. Bag tax. Plastic bags are bad for the environmnet so let's tax them. I sort of understand that, but why tax _paper_ bags also? They are typically made from 100% recycled paper, and are fully recyclable.

- One that came up this week -- banning smoking _outdoors_ in restaurants. Elrich wants to ban it. That's anti-business. Let the business decide if they want to ban smoking outdoors (on their patio) or not. If customers don't like the smoking, they will vote with their feet and the business may decide to ban it.. or vice versa. We don't need regulations for this.

- Elrich's ideas on transportation. He's basically ignored upcounty (Clarksburg, Germantown, etc) and his solution to the traffic problems is to make a reversible lane on I-270 and add in BRT (buses). Upcounty is way spread out -- buses won't work effectively. 270 needs to be widened. Businesses need this -- this is a main artery connecting MoCo to major transportion hubs, like Hagerstown and Parkersburg (huge logistics centers).

There's more.. but that's just a start.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:His policies will continue to discourage job creation in MD, especially relative to VA and DC. Lack of jobs will reduces the county's tax base and hurts property values, which itself reduces tax revenues.

To continue with the current level of county spending, never mind all the new things Elrich wants, would require increases in tax rates to make up for the above. And that, in return, will lead some of the wealthier county residents to move to VA or DC to avoid the higher tax burden in MoCo/MD. While it is tempting to say good riddens and don't let the door hit your rear on the way out, if we lose wealthier residents we lose the tax revenue needed to fund all the things the county wants to provide

A death spiral is too dramatic, but if MoCo doesn't keep itself at least nominally competitive with the surrounding areas, it isn't going to be good for county residents -- rich or poor. And the poor will probably suffer more because they can less easily just move across state lines.

Good sounding answer to my question. (I’m OP). But what are these policies that will prevent job creation? Specifically? Where is Floreen different?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/nancy-floreen-for-montgomery-county-executive/2018/09/29/c081ed74-c1be-11e8-a1f0-a4051b6ad114_story.html?utm_term=.990368d4ee86

Oh I read that, and this is why I'm asking the question. I attended a forum and it sounds like he stands for the opposite of what's being said. He said something about incubator programs and getting rid of unnecessary regulations on small businesses. This doesn't sound anti-business. He also said he would avoid raising property taxes. And someone asked him to clarify the ethnic cleansing comment and he said it meant the Planning board would upzone property around the Purple Line and force current residents, mostly immigrants to leave. Not that the actual rail was ethnic cleansing. He also said he didn't plan on introducing rent control.
To be honest I haven't trusted the Washington Post editorial board since it favored the Iraq war. The straight reporting is excellent, but the editorials are corporate and neoconservative slanted. Not liking Trump doesn't mean that they are liberal. It just means they aren't idiots.
Anyways, I genuinely ask for specifics because everything that people seem to hate about Elrich on here seems to be the opposite of what he is actually proposing. Is there a reason why I should trust secondary opinions over the primary source?

Check out his voting record- if you agree with how he’s voted, then vote for him. If you find it a bit uneasy that he was the line dissenter on a lot of votes, then take that into consideration. Do you want a county exec that sticks to his principles no-matter-what or one that is willing to compromise and work well with others? Not the biggest Floreen fan but I thought there were better choices in the primary. The field was just too crowded and he drew the progressive vote while the moderates were split.