The articles regarding Merdon’s announced Green Plan can be found in both The Sun and The Examiner
Angela Beltram, leader of a citizens group angry about development in Merdon’s Ellicott City council district, said she favors tighter restrictions on so-called infill development. “They ought to just change the infill law,” she said, adding, “I’m not sure we should use preservation money to do it.”
I would be interested in what Angie has in mind. I am cautious though. In my neighborhood many people purchased double lots when my development was built 45 years ago as an investment for retirement. Can you imagine telling them that they can sell or develop that lot today?
Mary Catherine Cochran, president of Preservation Howard County, liked the idea of preserving suburban lots but said it might “be a pretty hard sell to put agricultural money in a residential area.”
Marsha McLaughlin, county planning director, said, “The concept of adding green space in existing neighborhoods is a good idea,”
Gary J. Arthur, county recreation and parks director, said the county now plants about 7,000 trees a year and might have trouble finding contractors to plant 50,000. He said the county would like to have more small neighborhood parks,
Public Works Director James Irvin said the county has never looked at buying alternative-fuel vehicles. Initiatives such as the push to use biodiesel fuel and the harnessing of the landfill gases have been considered before and were not cost effective at the time, said Jim Irvin, director of the county’s Department of Public Works. However, the moves are “worth a look again,” Irvin said.
I am confused. Either you looked at alternative-fuels or not. Biodiesel is a fuel alternative for vehicles and heating oil. Which is it? Worth looking at again? You bet it is given the price of oil and our increasing dependence on foreign markets.
From the competing campaigns.
C. Stephen Wallis, the independent candidate for executive, denounced campaign proposals from Republicans and Democrats as “idle rhetoric.” “Certainly the public sees the dis-ingenuousness of these tactics,” he said. “It’s insulting to the public.” Wallis suggested that buying suburban lots to remove them from development could put even more pressure for housing in the rural west. Converting methane gas to electricity may not be practical, he said. As for planting 50,000 trees, he said, “I can’t imagine doing it that fast. Saving older trees might be a better tack, he said. Wallis’ campaign manager Tom Snyder said his camp was working on their own environmental initiatives, which would be released soon.
Uh huh. Mr. Wallis do you expect your proposals to be treated as “idle rhetoric” Do you thing the public will be insulted when you announce your campaign proposal for the environment?
Ken Ulman, the Democratic candidate for executive, said Merdon’s suggestions come “after eight years of ignoring the environment.” Merdon was one of two council Republicans who opposed Ulman’s 2003 bill to have the county pay up to 5 percent more to buy recycled paper products, Ulman said. “I’m glad with 50 days left on his time in the County Council he finally proposed something positive on infill development. It’s about time he’s taken notice.” “Some of them aren’t bad ideas, but voters see through this election-year posturing,” he said.
The difference between Mr. Merdon’s election year proposals and Mr. Ulman’s is that Mr. Merdon’s really mean something concrete. They are not window dressing or lipstick on a pig. Mr. Ulman has the fortetude to admit that they “aren’t bad ideas”.
Anyway, NOW is the time for Merdon, Ulman and Wallis to stand up and tell us what their vision is for Howard County. NOW is the time for them to differentiate themselves from one another. I don’t want to wait until after November 7th and find out that the other candidate had better ideas. I think it is disingenuous to suggest that these candidates keep their ideas to themselves.
To attack Merdon as being dis-ingenious is not fair. How does Wallis get off by saying Merdon doesn’t mean what he says. I haven’t heard Merdon say a negative thing about Wallis, Dunbar, or Ulman so why is Wallis going off on Merdon now.
As to Ulman’s comments. “Ignoring the environment” ??? Ken, other than your paper proposal what have you done? The same as Merdon – breathed the same air, sent you kids to the same parks, drove the same streets. We are all concerned about the environment. This isn’t about paper products. This is about renewable sources of energy, reforesting, and preserving more green space. We are all concerned about the environment and I am glad Merdon stepped forward with a viable and realistic plan. I am looking forward to seeing Mr. Wallis’ plan.
