Thursday, May 17, 2012
Baltimore County Republican calls for State Police patrols and to declare tourist area "a no travel zone."
The Inner Harbor area of Baltimore City is being terrorized by "black youth mobs" and city and state officials are "covering it up," according to one Baltimore County Republican. "This has been going on for years," said Del. Pat McDonough, a Middle River Republican who also represents part of Harford County. "I have a responsibility as an elected official to bring this to the public's attention," the delegate said, adding that "roving mobs of black youth are responsible for the attacks." A spokesman for Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake declined to comment directly to McDonough's remarks. "Del. McDonough's sad and racially-charged publicity stunt is not deserving of a response and Mayor Rawlings-Blake is proud of the men and women of the …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Governor calls budget package "good for all Marylanders." Republicans say burden to local governments may force county governments to increase taxes.
The Maryland House of Delegates gave final approval Wednesday to a package of three bills that increases taxes on some state residents, shifts part of teacher pensions to local governments and undoes the so-called "doomsday budget." The votes Wednesday afternoon capped the three-day special session called by Gov. Martin O'Malley in order to override more than $500 million in cuts made in a budget passed in early April. The Senate approved the same three bills Tuesday. As part of the package, legislators approved by a vote of 86-51 what amounts to a 50-50 split of teacher pension costs with local governments. The split will be phased in over the next four years beginning July 1 with the new budget year. That bill also includes a doubling of…
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Republican Todd Huff went to the 2011 game in Dallas with a shopping center and apartment complex owner.
Todd Huff says he's not a big football fan, but in 2011 he attended at least four games, including taking a trip to Dallas to see the Super Bowl with a local shopping center and apartment complex owner. The games highlight a hole that the State Ethics Commission says exists in legislation passed by the County Council earlier this year. The legislation was meant to bring county law substantially into sync with the state ethics law. Huff, a Timonium Republican, attended at least four games in 2011, including the Super Bowl. He wrote about the games, which include three Baltimore Ravens games, on his official council Facebook page. Tickets to one of the games were provided by Merritt Properties, as first reported by the Baltimore Sun. None of…
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
New interview process aims to make the Baltimore County police more responsible, accountable for selecting its leaders.
Baltimore County Police Chief Jim Johnson threw out a more than three-decades old promotions policy just days before a class of sergeants was to take standardized oral interviews to become lieutenants. The change comes amid a looming U.S. Department of Justice inquiry into the county's hiring and promotions practices within the police and fire departments. The change involves who interviews prospective candidates for promotion. Until now, interviews had been conducted by outside law enforcement personnel. Now, those interviews will be conducted by officials who work for Baltimore County. "I have not determined the motivation of the administration as to why this change was instituted," said Cole Weston, president of the Fraternal Order of …
In an interview on ABC News, the president says he supports same-sex marriage. The issue is likely to go to referendum in Maryland this fall.
President Barack Obama picked the day after a decisive vote in North Carolina to announce that his "evolution" on the issue of same-sex marriage was complete—he now supports it. In an interview with ABC News on Wednesday, Obama said: I have to tell you that over the course of several years, as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors, when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that Don't Ask Don't Tell is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage—at a …
Plan to fix "Doomsday Budget" includes $247 million in tax increases and elimination of exemptions for single filers earning $100,000 or more and joint filers earning $150,000 or more.
UPDATE (5:59 p.m.)—Some Maryland residents will pay more taxes in the coming year under a plan worked out between Gov. Martin O'Malley and legislative leaders. O'Malley, accompanied by House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas V. "Mike" Miller, announced the nearly $35.8 billion plan during a Wednesday morning news conference in Annapolis to discuss the upcoming special session. "To leave this budget incomplete, to leave this budget as it stands right now, would damage the very forward motion that all of us, together, have worked so hard to achieve for our state," O'Malley said. "Progress is a choice," O'Malley said. "Job creation is a choice. Building America's number one schools, making a college education affordable, …
The senator protested the project at a public hearing before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission at Oregon Ridge Lodge.
When Senator Bobby Zirkin moved to his new residence in Reisterstown nearly a year ago he did so because he loved the natural environment. "It's a beautiful, pristine property," Zirkin said, an 11th District Democrat. "It's a beautiful treasure that's now under attack." The senator was one of more than a dozen people to testify against a gas pipeline extension proposed by Columbia Gas Transmission at a public hearing before a panel of representatives from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission at Oregon Ridge Lodge on Tuesday evening. The 21.4 mile-extension to an existing pipeline would impact about 300 property owners. Zirkin wouldn't be directly impacted by the construction, but the pipeline is proposed to cut through his neighbors…
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Columbia Gas Transmission says pipeline from Owings Mills through Oregon Ridge Park to Fallston will add reliability to existing natural gas service to BGE.
A proposed extension of a natural gas pipeline has Warren Alperstein thinking a lot about the well that provides water to his house these days. Columbia Gas Transmission wants to build a 21.4-mile extension of an existing pipeline from Owings Mills through Oregon Ridge Park to Fallston. The extension is part of a larger system that stretches from the Gulf of Mexico. The extension would run along side another existing line, but would require the company to expand its current right of way from a width of 50 to 75 feet. Some of those easements will extend onto or near existing residential property, some residents said. The line would also run through the backyard of Alperstein's Reisterstown home. "The thought of a bulldozer backing into my …
CCBC Dundalk campus officials last week celebrated the completion of a $6.7 million capital project that transformed much of K Building.
The Dundalk campus of The Community College of Baltimore County recently celebrated the completion of a renovation project that is symbolic of the college's commitment to the Dundalk community. A redesign of K Building has transformed the library, cafeteria and bookstore while sending the message that the Dundalk campus is alive and thriving, officials said. Referring to Dundalk as the "little engine that could," CCBC President Sandra Kurtinitis told a crowd gathered on May 2 that "not that long ago" officials were considering closing the Dundalk campus. But Dundalk got past that "rough period" and has "risen over the mountaintop," Kurtinitis said. Kurtinits was joined by Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz and other local elected …
Monday, May 7, 2012
Council votes to prohibit panhandle lots in the Carney-Cub Hill-Parkville community. Bill allowing biking, hiking in Loch Raven Reservoir is withdrawn.
Updated (11:12 a.m.)—County restaurants and other businesses that don't have liquor licenses but allow customers to bring their own beer and wine may soon need a license to continue the practice. Councilman Todd Huff, a Timonium Republican, introduced a bill Monday night that would create a "BYOB License" for restaurants and some other businesses that do not already have a license to sell alcohol to patrons. "There is no law governing BYOB," said Huff. "We looked." Currently, businesses such as restaurants and cigar shops are technically allowed to offer "BYOB by right," Huff said. Many restaurants already do, the councilman said. The problem, according to Huff, is that some businesses that allow customers to consume alcohol also allow …
Ateam
1:22 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012
If only McDonough didn't waste breath on waste side, he may have garnered some much needed attention to the ongoing violence issues for the Inner Harbor area: "BALTIMORE (WJZ)— Violence at Baltimore’s most popular tourist attraction. Teens are arrested and tasered as police try to control an out-of-control crowd at the Inner Harbor." http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2012/03/19/10-arrested-after-… more ›