Maryland Politics Today by P. Kenneth Burns

MarylandPT Archives

noreply@blogger.com (P. Kenneth Burns) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 15:54:00 +0000

Welcome to the archives of Maryland Politics Today.

It is here where you can find stories from September 2006-May 2007.

The best thing to do is to use the search bar above to find old stories.

For current stories, visit www.marylandpolitics.us.

MarylandPT Special Bulletin

noreply@blogger.com (P. Kenneth Burns) — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0000

The blog that you are trying to reach:

Maryland Politics Today at http://mdpoliticstoday.blogspot.com has moved.

The new address is:
www.marylandpolitics.us

Please make a note of it and update your bookmarks.

Stay tuned as this page will forward you to the new site.

Competence Coming To The Maryland State Police

noreply@blogger.com (P. Kenneth Burns) — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 01:02:00 +0000

Apparently, Colonel Thomas "Tim" Hutchins was not competent enough to continue as Secretary of the Maryland State Police, so Governor Martin O'Malley (D) today has announced that he is appointing Baltimore County Poilce Chief Terrence Sheridan to the post.

Sheridan has been over the Baltimore County force for just over a decade (he will be retiring from that post.) The Baltimore Sun says that under hit leadership, violent crime in Baltimore County dropped by a fourth, while prerty crime dropped by a third.

Prior to becoming the county top cop, Sheridan worked as the Executive Assistant for Student Safety in the Baltimore County Public School System. Prior to that, Sheridan was on the state force for 30 years, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and Cheif of the Bureau of Drug Enforcement. Sheridan is a Parkville native, with a B.A. from Loyola College, has graduate and undergraduate credit through the Police Management Program from the University of Virginia. Sheridan was also trained at the National Executive Institute at FBI Headquarters in Quantico Virginia. He currently makes his home in Lutherville.

To fill Sheridan's current role, Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith announced Colonel James Johnson as his nominee. Johnson is a career officer on the force who will assume the duties of chief within the next two weeks.

As far as Hutchins goes, he was appointed to fill in the role of Maryland State Police Secretary after former Baltimore Police Commissioner and current WHFS (105.7FM) personality Ed Norris was brought up on federal corruption charges. Hutchins was cited for his political and his law enforcement experience.

A favorite of troopers in the beginning, the honeymoon wanned after a strategic plan for the department that was talked about, never was distributed. Also, a consensus among troopers did not believe that Hutchins was not supportive of the union's activities. The union, the State Law Enforcement Officers Labor Alliance, ended up endorsing O'Malley last year. A spokesman said they would support any changes O'Malley would make.

Business Has Picked Up

noreply@blogger.com (P. Kenneth Burns) — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 00:06:00 +0000

Michael Sarbanes is the brother of Rep. John Sarbanes (D-3rd) and the son for now retired senior Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D). Sarbanes (Michael) has announced that he will be running for the seat of Baltimore City Council President this fall. This now makes it a three-way race, with the other two people being current City Council President Stephanie Rawlings Blake (D) and City Councilman Kenneth Harris Sr. (D).

The Baltimore Sun said that he made the announcement in front of his home in Irvington, with friends family and fellow neighborhood activists. Sarbanes has been the executive director of the Citizens Housing and Planning Association. This will be his first stab at an election. The top agenda if elected included ensuring that schoolchildren's routes to school are safe, providing job opportunities for residents and passage of the "inclusionary" housing bill, which is close to home for Sarbanes. He was closely involved with the creation of the bill, which would require some developers to build affordable housing in their market-rate residential developments.

Salisbury: Hike No We Won't Go!

noreply@blogger.com (P. Kenneth Burns) — Thu, 31 May 2007 02:18:00 +0000

It's full throttle in the crossroads of Delmarva as the push to force the question regarding the tax hike is picking up steam. In case you missed it, the Salisbury City Council voted for a change in the charter to get rid of a tax cap to make way for Mayor Barrie Tilghman's 17% tax increase.

Some people, namely city council members Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen, think that a double digit tax increase is not necessary. They also believe that budget cuts are necessary. Campbell and Cohen are proposing to cut proposed funding to the Salisbury Zoo, which led to an outcry from soon-to-be former director Jim Rapp, who MarylandPT Eastern Shore Insider and Salisbury News blogger Joe Albero said orchestrated a diarama on the path leading to the council chamber.

A group of citizens pushing the petition are setting base outside the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center For the next three days in the morning from 7:00-9:00am, during lunchtime from 11:00a-1:00p. Thursday and Friday, they will have petitions available to sign in the evening from 5:00-7:00p.

Contest Is Set In 6th

noreply@blogger.com (P. Kenneth Burns) — Wed, 30 May 2007 02:49:00 +0000

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R) has announced that he will be seeking a ninth term next year.

Bartlett represents the 6th Congressional District which covers Western Maryland, along with Frederick and Carroll Counties, the northern tip of Montgomery County and Northern Baltimore and Harford Counties.

The Assocated Press reporting that Bartlett has long said that he would seek another term and made it official today.

Bartlett will be facing Former Cumberland mayor Frank Nethken who announced his candidacy last week. They will face off in the Republican Primary on February 12th.

Stepping On Toes And Not Taking Names

noreply@blogger.com (P. Kenneth Burns) — Wed, 30 May 2007 02:02:00 +0000

The job of the comptroller is to mind the fiscal affairs of the state. Basically collecting taxes and returning assets to the rightful owners or auctioning them off if they had not been claimed. Apparently, someone told Peter Franchot(D) this and he has outright ignored that part of higher office.

The Baltimore Sun profiled Franchot, who is about to bring the fight against slot machines (a campaign promise.) The Sun was quick to point out that Attorney General Douglas Gansler (D) and Lt. Governor Anthony Brown (D) have checked their egos at the door (real easy when they never really had one to begin with,) while Franchot has not.

Senate President Thomas Mike Miller (D) who is very outspoken and liberal with the use of the h-bomb said that it would be a cold day in hell before Franchot is elected...as it turned out, it was a cold day in Annapolis. Miller was perturbed that Franchot was in support of a health car plan from the House, saying that it would add another $500 million on top of what was already a $1.5 billion deficit. At last check it was $1.3 billion since O'Malley ordered $200 million in cuts from agency heads. Although I personally think that Miller's protest is due to the fact that Miller had an ally.

In any event, that song of unity, if it had not been smashed to bits already, has been at the very least been blown to pieces. It will be blown to smithereens when the General Assembly takes up slots next year.

We're Moving

noreply@blogger.com (P. Kenneth Burns) — Wed, 30 May 2007 00:16:00 +0000

Celebrating A Crusader

noreply@blogger.com (P. Kenneth Burns) — Tue, 29 May 2007 22:05:00 +0000

Perren J. Mitchell was Maryland's first black congressman, serving eight terms in the U.S. House, representing the 7th District between 1971 through 1987, when he retired from congress. His seat went to a successor whose life would be changed by an encounter during his congressional campaign, more on that in a minute.

Baltimore-born Mitchell was born in 1922. In his obit in today's Baltimore Sun, He made his stand to dedicate his life to the avdancement of "his fellow negroes" in 1933, when he was 11, after seeing family members shook after hearing the news about a black man was lynched in Somerset County.

Mitchell graduated from Frederick Douglass High School in 1940. He served this nation in World War II, earning the purple heart for wounds suffered in Italy. He earned a Bachelor's of Arts degree from now Morgan State University.

Beginning a crusading path for the rest of his life, he applied for graduate studies at UMCP. The president turned him down saying that it was "inadvisable" for blacks to attend College Park. A separate, off-campus program was established for him in Baltimore, but Mitchell sued and eventually won, becoming the first black graduate student at UMCP.

In 1965, he lead the state's Interracial Commission in the Tawes administration. He was later selected by Baltimore Mayor Theodore McKeldin as Executive Director of the Baltimore Community Action Agency, a part of President Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty.

Mitchell, according to The Sun, remained through the early months of the administration of Mayor Thomas D'Alesandro III playing a key mediation role during the rioting that followed the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968. He would step down from the BCAA, saying D'Alesandro assigned him to a subordinate role. The Mayor blamed the Federal Government. He would join the faculty at Morgan State.

He made his first run for congress in 1968, in which he lost 5,500 votes to Samuel Friedel who was running for his ninth term. It was during that election year in which Mitchell set a youth's life on the path towards excellence.

Frizzell Gray in June of that year said that he was thinking about "how pissed off I was at this square-looking dude passing out bulls*** on my turf." Gray, a high school dropout who was a father, took a long drag off of his cigarette, stepped to him and let the smoke out and said "Look, my man, you need to move on outta here with that bulls*** you're handin' out. This is my ground, and your standin' on it."

Mitchell, unfazed told Gray that it was not his corner and he was wasting his life on it if it was. Gray responded by saying "I ain't you're f***in' brother. Like I said, old man, you're standing on my ground. You're lucky I haven't kicked your ass or robbed you. So why don't you just keep on steppin'?"

Mitchell then asked what his problem was. Gray said that his pronlem was that Mitchell or no one else could do anything to change things for black people. "I don't like you comin' around here lyin' and actin' like you can." Mitchell then asked him what he was doing to help black people and himself. Two words summed up Gray's response, "I work."

Mitchell replied, "...I suppose you think working is enough. We've been working for hundred of years in this country. Nothin' new about that." Gray told Mitchell to get out of his face adding that the "con game" was not going to work with him.

Mitchell told Gray that the only con game was the one Gray was doing to himself, thinking that standing on the corner would earn respect. Mitchell then told Gray "I don't respect you because you're wasting your life away. And the white man doesn't respect you either."

Gray then said that Dr. King already tried what he was doing question what happened to King and the neighborhood. Mitchell then told Gray not to talk to him until he was ready to become part of the solution and not the problem. "Brother, I can't help anyone who doesn't want to help themselves. When you understand that you need to be involved in a system much bigger that this street corner, then we can talk." Mitchell then reached in his pocket and gave Gray a card and told him to call when his mindset changed.

The passage paraphrased was from the autobiography "No Free Ride" that Gray, now known as Kweisi Mfume, wrote. over a decade ago. Mfume would go on to earn his GED, Bachelors and Masters degrees. He was an announcer for the then-James Brown owned WEBB (1360AM, now WVIE 1370AM,) and for WEAA (88.9FM.) Mfume became a city councilman who ran for Mitchell's seat in 1986, and won. Mfume served five terms.

Mitchell shortly after was inaugurated in DC, boycotted President Richard Nixon's State of the Union address with 12 other black congressman. The newly established Congressional Black Congress met with Nixon two months later. Although he was not implicated, Mitchell testified as a defense witness for two of his nephews, Clerence Mitchell III and Michael Mitchell, who were eventually convicted of accepting $50,000 to obstruct the investigation of Wedtech by the the House Small Business Committee, which Mitchell was the head of.

After announcing his retirement, Mitchell joined the Gubernatorial campaign of Stephen Sachs as a running mate. They were handily defeated by William Donald Schaefer.

Mitchell has lived in a nursing home since a series of strokes several years ago. He died yesterday of complications from pneumonia at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. Parren J. Mitchell was 85.

Remember When O'Malley SAID He Had A Plan

noreply@blogger.com (P. Kenneth Burns) — Mon, 28 May 2007 03:00:00 +0000

Laura Vozzella from The Baltimore Sun pointed out something in Friday's "2b." More accurately, she took us back to a happier time when Martin O'Malley (D), then Mayor of Baltimore, promised to stop the BGE rate hike.

This was when he was running, not that he is governor, he basically allowed BGE to have the 72 percent jump in utilities, first through his lawsuit that ultimately led to the General Assembly's rate plan 15 percent, with the rest coming through the consumer friendly and competent O'Malley Public Service Commission.

Now I do realize that the number does add up to about 65 percent, but lest we forget, the General Assembly is going to allow BGE to recoup costs through interest for all of the 1.1 million customers on their plan.

In a statement from the Governor Spokesman Rick Abbruzzese said that the PSC ruling made it clear that the way that energy has been purchased in Maryland favors big utilities. He adds that the order also begins to provide a road map toward creating a more fair system than the one created when utilities were deregulated in 1999. Abbruzzese also says there is not incentive to keep rates down and that they need to ensure that help can be provided to low and fixed income residents.

The first part of that statement sounded very familiar, like the "non-competent" industry friendly Ehrlich PSC, said the same thing last year. More on this catharsis of common sense in a second.

Vozzella actually referred back to O'Malley's campaign website, which still have many of the videos from the campaign online. The video entitled "Big Bills" sounded like it could have ran this year, only this time, O'Malley did not take on BGE and attack the rate hikes and there is no plan to address the 1999 screw up by the democratic controlled government, only talk about putting together a plan.

And yet to prove why there is reason that we have some real Mensa candidates on our hands, O'MALLEY BLAMES EHRLICH! Let's do the math, four years of deregulation under former Governor Robert Ehrlich is the reason that utility rates are going up. From the Vozzella article; "I wish we could have undone the damage of the last four years in the past four months. But we tried, and we looked under every rock." I am confident in Governor O'Malley's math especially now that we are facing a budget deficit in 2008, but there is just one problem, O'Malley's math is way off.

Deregulation went in to effect in 1999 under an all democratic regime, that makes it eight years of damage. I heard a couple of analyst last year when things were heated, Maryland for the most part was living in a dream world as far as utility rates because of the rate caps which expired last year.

Let's try this again and review what I know:

1. Deregulation was under DEMOCRATS

2. Rate caps were put in place to expire in 2006 at a time when no one predicted a Republican governor was even a thought...even for the Republicans.

3. O'Malley did not have a detailed plan when it came to controlling the BGE rate.

4. Under normal standards, this Public Service Commission is just as "incompetent" as the last one, the difference is they are democrats, which makes them heroes.

5. Eight years of damage must be undone, not the last four (the latter based on which party was in Government House.

6. BGE still got the 72 percent rate hike and then some.

O'Malley needs to move forward himself before he moves Maryland forward. Blaming Ehrlich can only go so far, if not at all. This decision by the O'Malley PSC proves that the Ehrlich PSC was doing their jobs all along and that they were political whipping children for a party that was incensed on getting back total control of state government.

Slots Club 2008

noreply@blogger.com (P. Kenneth Burns) — Sun, 27 May 2007 22:43:00 +0000

If you want to see a nastier battle in Maryland Government, wait until The Assembly 2008...at least that's what I am banking on.

As Governor Martin O'Malley (D) continues to sit on a $1.5, err, $1.3 billion structural deficit, both sides are bracing to fight for slots and against slots depending on which side you are on. Comptroller Peter Franchot (D) is in the latter, he's teamed up with Stop Slots Maryland. Franchot according to The Baltimore Sun Friday Edition, urged the group to redouble their efforts and end the question once and for all. Does Franchot know that his main job is to collect taxes and bust those who did not pay them or try to get around the system?

And way, look or a nasty battle ahead in Naptown, with both sides playing to...guess where, Prince George's County. Race cards will be dealt, played and snubbed once again. I can see this argument now, say no to slots because it's a virus in the black community...while the flip side urging us to say yes to slots to keep slots low and for money to come to the county. 2008 can not come soon enough.

Queen Anne's County: Now What?

noreply@blogger.com (P. Kenneth Burns) — Sun, 27 May 2007 21:42:00 +0000

Now what is the question being asked by environmentalists and New Jersey-based K Hovnanian Homes over the Board of Public Works refusal out of the blue mind you to a permit to disturbed what has been deemed critical wetland.

Queen Anne's County Commissioner President Eric Wargotz (R) told The Baltimore Sun this morning said that they (K Hov.)would likely have to go back to the drawing board.

As you first heard on MarylandPT last week, Wargotz and Commissioner Courtney Billups (D) both told me in interviews last year during the election that the project was too big, which may be the case. 562 of the 1,350 acre development sight is in a Chesapeake Bay Critical Area.

Environmentalist while praising the victory vowed to hold Governor Martin O'Malley's feet to the fire when it comes to strengthening laws protecting the Chesapeake. O'Malley had to calm the fears that rules were not being thrown out of the window when it comes to approving projects

First Comes The Idea...Then Comes The Screw That

noreply@blogger.com (P. Kenneth Burns) — Sun, 27 May 2007 14:08:00 +0000

Who says that outrage comes before action is only limited to the Capital Region and Central Maryland? Let's take a trip down the shore...guess who emailed me this weekend.

MarylandPT Eastern Shore Insider Joe Albero, who does the wide read Salisbury News blog, says that outgoing Salisbury Zoo Director Jim Rapp and Education Curator Carrie Samis are gathering all ye supporters to save the $326,000 that city council members Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen is proposing to cut from the 2008 city budget. Now that is equal to slashing five positions from it's staff. Both councilwomen say that the Zoo can raise funds if they want to keep the positions, a modest admission fee was one idea.

This is the part where I talk about Rapp saying hell to the no to the idea of a budget cut. More on his appeal to the public in a second. First, the part of the letter from Samis that starts off sounding like Mickey Mouse making an appeal to children that adults are ruining everything.

The letter goes on to say that two departments, Zoo Education and Animal, would be slashed 50 percent adding that the zoo could not continue to "serve the community in the wonderful way it has for the last 53 years." Samis, as if there isn't enough attention grabbing propaganda in her part, is says that they know you love the zoo because it's free, accredited and is one of the things that makes Salisbury great. Being the western shore person I am, I thought it was the gas prices that makes Salisbury great.

Now to Rapp's part of the letter which shows lack of dignity. It's one thing to say these positions being cut would cause someone to lose their job. It's a completely different story when you put their names in the letter. I'm sure that those people would not want the unwanted attention, nevermind the distraction (which is why I am not posting the names.)

They are asking citizens to contact the dynamic duo of Campbell and Cohen, write letters to The Daily Times and above all let your voices be heard at the next council meeting on Tuesday.

Campbell told Michael Swartz' Monoblogue that Salisbury city taxpayers are the only taxpayers supporting the zoo, even thought it is used regionally. "I would like to see businesses,perhaps the chamber and Greater Salisbury working together to capitalize a fund at the Community Foundation to provide perpetual operating support for the zoo. I would also like to see a small admission fee, maybe $1..."

One dollar is not so bad when compared to the Maryland Zoo In Baltimore (a/k/a The Baltimore Zoo) which charges adults $15, children $10 and for those who are barely walking and talking (two and under) are free. Oh yes, there is a Senior Citizen discount (three bucks). And they have numerous fund raisers, which include "Brew in the Zoo."

As far as the call to bombard The Daily Times with letters of support to the editor, it was answered. One was from a 10-year-old at a local school. While I am on the topic, Journalism 101...if the person you are writing about is under 18, you list their FIRST name after the first reference not their LAST name.

COMING UP: The Governor's Flop And Gamble

noreply@blogger.com (P. Kenneth Burns) — Sat, 26 May 2007 05:00:00 +0000

First Thornton, now BGE rates. The Consumer-friendly, professional, competent Public Service Commission that Governor Martin O'Malley has put together is acting as incompetent as the PSC former Governor Robert Ehrlich had placed together. MyOpinion on the matter...

Plus, can you say slots? With O'Malley advocating for a limited amount of slots and Senate President Thomas Mike Miller wanting slots period, get ready for a year long bloodbath with Comptroller Peter Franchot teaming up with Stop Slots Maryland and we all know that House Speaker Michael Busch is saying no to slots. It's going to be a horse race, no pun intended.

It's going to be an interesting Maryland Politics Weekend.

Gazette: Miller Thumbed Nose To Prince George's

noreply@blogger.com (P. Kenneth Burns) — Sat, 26 May 2007 03:40:00 +0000

Now to this week's reason that The Gazette qualifies for Mensa International, their reasoning behind why Prince George's County is paying for Senate President Thomas Mike Miller's modification to a bill that would return the Prince George's County Board of Education to nine single member districts (with people running in their own district.) By the way, Governor Martin O'Malley vetoed that bill last week because of the modification.

Here's a tip, instead of concentrating on the fact that Miller (D) lives in Calvert County, with law offices on Old Branch Avenue in Clinton, Prince George's County, how about the fact that he told The Baltimore Sun at the end of January that not only did he not like elected school boards, forget the fact that he counted on House Speaker Michael Busch, who is not a fan of elected school boards either, to have the 'political will' to keep another one from being created, but keep this in mind...he thought he would go to hell over it.

Prince George's County leaders need to get over the fact that some state districts cross county lines and The Gazette should not give them any more ammo in the argument. Instead, they should have lambasted state leaders for letting issues like health care and the 1.5, err, 1.3 billion dollar structural deficit linger for another year. Personally, we should keep the at-large members because single districts become self serving after a while.

This Letter Says It All

noreply@blogger.com (P. Kenneth Burns) — Sat, 26 May 2007 03:29:00 +0000

If anyone enjoyed the laughable interview that The Gazette's Editorial Board conducted with Jack Johnson last week, you will probably enjoy the fact that a letter to the editor this week stated the obvious.

To be fair however, I am surprised that the writer did not point out the awarding of appointments to friends who were 'committed to the county' rather than people who were qualified to actually do the job.

An Affordable Fundraiser...Bull Roast!

noreply@blogger.com (P. Kenneth Burns) — Sat, 26 May 2007 03:04:00 +0000

In hopes of getting as many of us common folks to give money to a political candidate in the free state, it is with enthusiasm that I pass this bit of news along.

U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-5th) is throwing a Bull Roast in Prince George's County at the Newton White Mansion in Mitchellville. It has been slated for Friday, June 8 from 6:00-8:00p.m. rain or shine, featuring music, country barbecue and ice cream sundaes!

Individual tickets at $30, five bucks cheaper if you are a student or a senior. More information can be found out at www.hoyerforcongress.com. The occasion is to kick off Hoyer's 27th year as the congressman for the 5th District.

Hoyer won his congressional seat in 1981 (26 years ago this month) defeating a better funded Republican according to Wiki-legend, earning the nickname 'boy wonder.' Spellman's seat was ruled vacated, the first time that a congressional seat was ruled as such due to an illness. The Baltimore-Washington Parkway is dedicated in memory of Spellman.

The Burns Media Centre, home of Maryland Politics Today, is located in the 5th Congressional District and I did vote for Hoyer. And while I am giving out disclosures, I would like to say it is my opinion that Hoyer is a pain in the side of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) which is all the more reason to like him.

Cuts In More Ways Than OneClear Cut In Budget And Council

noreply@blogger.com (P. Kenneth Burns) — Sat, 26 May 2007 02:07:00 +0000

Salisbury City Councilwomen Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen unveiled their cuts yesterday in a press conference that was not attended by any other council member (not to my surprise.) The story in this morning's Daily Times did mention the press conference, but I thought the headline "City Council Divide Deepens" is a bit misleading and off if they are talking about the work session to discuss the budget. Besides, anyone reading this site can tell you that the divide was already there.

Once again, it's wish list v. necessities. The heart of this battle is a property tax cap that was 86ed by the council in a 3-2 vote that the members with wish list mentality are banking on the revenue from the tax hike.

Salisbury News Editor and MarylandPT Eastern Shore Insider Joe Albero was at the press conference, according to him, both council members said that while they could not eliminate a tax hike altogether, they demonstrated that the massive tax increase being proposed by Mayor Barrie Tilghman and supported by the majority if the council was not necessary. They also questioned which is more important, more bureaucracy or public safety.

One of the cuts being proposed, taking away $326,000 from the Salisbury Zoo. That idea, to cut three zookeepers and two curators, is not sitting well with outgoing director Jim Rapp. He tells WBOC-TV (Channel 16) that "it's one thing to be safe walking down the street, but where are you going to walk to? The things that give the city a soul are things like the Salisbury Zoo." You can't make it to the zoo if you are taken to the hospital after being shot, jumped or mugged Jim.

Campbell said that the zoo is not being targeted but unlike the Department of Public Works the zoo can hold fundraisers. She also believes that the cuts can be sustained at the zoo, if they charge a one dollar admission. Rapp said of the admission, that would be an idea they would consider.

Back to work session, City C0uncil President Louise Smith wished she saw the idea so she could see it and review it. She also gave everyone thirty minutes to give their ideas....which she grew bored of after a while, she asked for summaries instead of the line by line approach that everyone was going through. She also asked that council members review each others request over the weekend. This is like when my journalism teacher my junior year in high school gave me an assignment to do on Christmas Holiday, and by the way, then main parties that I needed to interview were on their Christmas break.

In any event, everyone will return from their now more than likely screwed holiday plans thanks to Smith Tuesday afternoon before that evening's city council meeting to discuss what they reviewed.

Salisbury: Councilwomen Capmpbell and Cohen Call Afternoon Press Conference

noreply@blogger.com (P. Kenneth Burns) — Thu, 24 May 2007 15:49:00 +0000

Arlington, VA -- This just in. Salisbury City Councilwomen Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen are calling for a press conference this afternoon in front of the Government Office Building.

They are going to unveil and detail their proposed budget cuts and revenue adjustments to the 2008 city budget. Campbell says that they need to remember that they are dealing with taxpayer money, not their own.

"Mrs. Cohen and I have spent countless hours attempting to remove unnecessary city spending while making sure that public safety personnel are adequately funded to protect Salisbury's citizens," said Campbell.

Cohen said that during the last campaign, voters made it clear that public safety was tops and that their goal was to fund it without the minimizing the need for additional taxes to be paid for those working and living in the city. Cohen adds "while we may want to spend tax money on an item, we have to as ourselves if it is truly necessary."

MarylandPT will bring you the details as soon as they become available.

'Hov' No : Board of Public Works Denies Permit

noreply@blogger.com (P. Kenneth Burns) — Thu, 24 May 2007 00:07:00 +0000

The Board of Public Works said 'Hov' No to K. Hovnanian Homes for what is being called a key wetlands permit. It would have given the New Jersey-based home builder permission to disturb a Chespeake Bay critical area to build a 1,350-home development on Kent Island known as Four Seasons.

The Baltimore Sun reports that Governor Martin O'Malley and Comptroller Peter Franhot voted against the permit, with State Treasurer Nancy Kopp being the lone voice of support for the permit. Although she said that laws needed to be tightened when it comes to the environment and growth management. But she said that K Hov met the requirements currently on the books.

Governor O'Malley said that the developer had failed to prove that the project would not damage the Chesapeake, while Franchot continued to voice his displeasure with a gag order as part of a settlement with the previous Queen Anne's County Board of Commissioners. All but one which were voted out of office.

In the Sunpaper this morning, Commissioner President Eric Wargotz (R) said that the board is under threat of litigation if they say one mumbling word about the project according to the 2003 settlement. The Commissioner Board was advised not to say anything according to their attorney.

With that said, a MarylandPT Exclusive. As you know, I worked for WNAV (1430AM) in Annapolis. During my tour of duty, I covered the Queen Anne's side of the 2006 election. In the days leading up to the election, I interviewed a number of candidates running for board of commissioners as background. Huge chunks of these interviews did not make it to air, but I have them in my archive of radio stuff. These two clips were recorded days apart back in October 2006.

I interviews now-Commissioner Coutrtney Billups (D-Dist. 1) who said that Four Season was too big and in the wrong place. He said he would fight for the interests of Queen Anne's County to the extent that he can. He says that the round of legal hassles at the time could be traced back to the outgoing commissioners in 2002. (AUDIO)

On October 26, before he was elected to the board, Wargotz said that the critical area alloted to Hovnanian was "too great," but at the same time, he does not think the government should continue to fight the project because allocation for water and sewer service had been made by previous boards. But he adds if private citizen groups want to continue the fight on legal grounds, "that's fine." (AUDIO)

Commissioner Gene Ransom (D-Dist. 3) in an earlier article from The Sun said that he did not sign the 2003 settlement and that he would love to testify in front of the Board of Public Works, but he was legally bound.

Professional,Consumer Friendly and Competent PSC Approves BGE Rate Hike

noreply@blogger.com (P. Kenneth Burns) — Wed, 23 May 2007 22:27:00 +0000

Professional, consumer friendly and above all competent. That is how the Public Service Commission appointed by Governor Martin O'Malley (D) was sold to us. We were promised that they would put consumer interests above corporate interests. So I guess it was in our interest to have a 50 percent rate hike this year as opposed the 72 percent rate hike that the Gov. Robert Ehrlich-era PSC approved. Personally, being a BGE customer, I'm not thrilled about the 50 percent either but I digress.

The O'Malley PSC gave the thumbs up to what some would and could call about an equally as obscene rate jump. Oh and now the kicker...it goes into effect next Friday.

But hey, there is regret and frustration. According to PSC Chairman Steve Larsen himself who says "It is with regret and frustration that we approve BGE's proposed rate increase." Larsen says that they conducted eight days of detailed hearings, cross-examined 23 witnesses, reviewed three locations worth of public comment in the BGE Service Area (which includes the Burns Media Centre) and examined every possible avenue to lower the proposed rate. You have to wonder if the regret and frustration is that they found out that the previous PSC was not as incompetent as O'Malley believed and portrayed them as.

Larsen goes on to say that while they do not believe that the 1999 law that created this debacle was implemented to the best advantage of free state consumers, it is not good enough to deny the proposed increase.

The commission approved an interest-free phase-in plan that would allow consumers to put off the full increase until January 2008. We BGE people will have through the end of June to decide whether we want a deferment (I'm not for the record,) at which point the increase would only be about 38 percent.

Also, the commission will outline a comprehensive action plan to address shortcomings in the state's electricity marketplace. Look for the first of several initiatives regarding this to come out in July. Unfortunately, July might not be soon enough.

MarylandPT has learned that Baltimore Mayoral Candidate and O'Malley critic Del. Jill Carter(D-Dist. 41) will be joining members of the NAACP, the Maryland Coalition to Stop the BGE Rate Hike and many concerned citizens to protest the increase tomorrow afternoon in fron the headquarters of Constellation Energy on East Pratt Street in Baltimore City. Carter is calling for Baltimoreans to take control of its energy supply. "The residents and small businesses of [Baltimore City] cannot afford a massive and unfair rate increase." Carter adds that state and local leaders need to take immediate action to stop the increase.

City Council Candidate Adam Meister (D) tells MarylandPT that the rate hike is "Institutional Bullying" and says that it seems that corporations and institutions in Baltimore seem to always get their way. "In Seton Hill, BGE is putting an electrical substation in the middle of a historic neighborhood. The people do not want it, but Mayor [Sheila] Dixon approved it. Now BGE is refusing to properly beautify the wall surrounding the substation."

NEW CANDIDATE WEBSITE

noreply@blogger.com (P. Kenneth Burns) — Wed, 23 May 2007 21:49:00 +0000

For those wanting more information about the mayoral campaign of Del. Jill Carter (D-Dist. 41),

Her website is online at www.peopleforjillpcarter.com

State Democrats Heard MessageO'Malley Picks Black Man To Lead Party

noreply@blogger.com (P. Kenneth Burns) — Wed, 23 May 2007 21:26:00 +0000

The next person to lead the state Democrats, picked by Governor Martin O'Malley (D), is a Black Man from Baltimore City!

Michael E. Cryor is likely to replace outgoing state party chairman Terry Lierman, who is going on to Washington to be Chief of Staff for Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-5th)

Obviously, this was done because of many factors:

1. They got the message after Howard Dean took state Democratic leaders to the wood shed for the lack of statewide black candidates

2. To appease the black members of the party

3. To appease black voters

Unlike the usual 'I've been picked because of credentials and not my skin color,' Cryor told The Baltimore Sun that his race is an added benefit.

While the White party members, specifically O'Malley, Lierman and senior U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski stuck with the status quo of he is qualified and he would do a great job.

And why not? He has worked with O'Malley before on Baltimore City's "Believe" campaign. A communications consultant and media personality who hosted "On Time" on WJZ-TV (Channel 13.) He has many prominent affiliations past and present, he should do a great job....

But MyOPINION on the pick is that the credentials were an added bonus on top of his race. Anyone who has heard me speaking on picking cast members I always have been for a rainbow cast, but a qualified one. Cryor does fit that requirement in my book, but let me be the first person to flat out say that the major driving reason he was picked was because he was black. Yeah, he was qualified for the job, but his skin color helped out greatly. Especially since twice in the past six months, state leaders pissed off it's black members, particularly in Prince George's County.

First they were snubbed by the 'One Maryland' pre-inaugural tour (they settled for the prayer breakfast the morning of the inauguration) and the second time recently when the O'Malley vetoed a bill that would have made nine single school board districts instead of the current structure. Really they need to have district members elected by their district and the four at-large members to rebuff the patriarchy that the pre-2002 board was known for, but I digress....

Sorry, I know I'm Black and I know I should probably be happy, but I am not. If the Democrats cared about black people, Baltimore City would not be the shape that it is in.

Mitchell's Bad String

noreply@blogger.com (P. Kenneth Burns) — Tue, 22 May 2007 01:41:00 +0000

You have to feel bad for Baltimore City Councilman and Mayoral hopeful Kieffer Mitchell (D). After he announced his run for the mayor's office, he was ousted from the chairmanship of the taxation committee. He was forced to take an unpaid leave of absence from his job at Harbor Bank shortly there after. The reasons have yet to have been explained.

Now this from The Baltimore Sun, which reported Friday that a job fair that Mitchell was promoting was canceled all of a sudden by city officials. An official from Mayor Sheila Dixon's camp believed that Mitchell was trying to politicize the event. Oh, before I forget, guess who Mitchell is running against....yup, Dixon who has expressed many times that she wants to run for her own term as mayor. He is currently finishing the term out of now Governor Martin O'Malley.

They're Saying It's SabatogeMiller Amendment Caused Veto

noreply@blogger.com (P. Kenneth Burns) — Tue, 22 May 2007 01:23:00 +0000

If State Senate President Mike Miller (D) is going to hell, it's not going to be because he gave Prince George's County an elected school board. It will more than likely be due to an amendment he added to a bill proposed by Del. C. Anthony Muse (D-Dist. 26) that would have given the county nine single member school districts for the next election, similar to the pre-2002 school board.

Now, if you are a regular reader to this blog, you know how much Miller likes an elected board of education....NOT AT ALL!

Miller tell The Gazette that he added the amendment so that a handful of high schools in Southern Prince George's could be in the same district. He didn't think it would cause a problem.

Attorney General Douglas Gansler (D) said that the final bill violated the 14th amendment of "one person/one vote" and that the the districts were not even in size.