National Night Out - A Week Ago

Last Tuesday was National Night Out.  All across the country, local law enforcement offices and fire departments gathered to show off their equipment and discuss crime and fire prevention with residents.  Local politicians like to get in the act as often times it is near an election and they want to keep their names fresh in people's minds.  That is, unless your local politician covers mostly Howard County and just a smidgen of Carroll County.

Carroll County Delegate Susan Krebs was on hand for the event, as always, as was future Maryland State Senator Gail Bates - she's running unopposed.  However, State Delegate Warren Miller was MIA.  I don't think Warren Miller cares about Carroll County.  Neither was Trent Kittleman there, presumably the next new delegate for the area.  Chris Van Hollen?  I know he's been to Carroll County once, but that was years ago.  I'm pretty sure he doesn't care about this part of his district.

There was free food - hot dogs, fries, burgers, and Italian ice from Victor's in Eldersburg, and after the event was nearly over, the unreliable and inconsistent Oscar's Ale House showed up with wings and something, but we were ready to leave.  There were other organizations there peddling their wares.

Eldersburg Sykesville National Night Out

The Carroll County Sheriff's Department was showing off its Crime Response Team armored truck.



The venerable 2012 Sykesville Freedom Pierce Pumper.

Nearby Gamber Volunteer Fire Department was showing off their International Dive Unit truck.

Getting a little artistic here.  Pretty cool, eh?

Eldersburg National Night Out on Tuesday August 5th!

This year's National Night Out will be Tuesday August 5th at the Sykesville Freedom Fire Department from 6pm until 9pm. 

If the event if like others, there will be firetrucks on display, perhaps a helicopter, police cars, booths from local business with lots of handouts, and free food samples from many local restaurants.  Local politicians also congregate there, such as Maryland House of Delegates member Susan Krebs and County Commissioner Doug Howard.  I wonder if new delegates Warren Miller and Trent Kittleman and State Senator Gail Bates will be there.  I have yet to meet Delegate Miller and Delegate-elect (hopefully) Kittleman.

According to the Sykesville Freedom Volunteer Fire Department website, you'll also receive a smoke alarm for attending.

Memorial Day Parade Salute

This is one of those 'better late than never posts'.  My daughter got the opportunity to walk in the Westminster Memorial Day parade this year.  My other kids were out and about with better things to do, so I sat by myself in front of the Edward Jones office on Main Street, while my wife walked with my daughter.  Unfortunately, I forgot my real camera, so I had to take pictures with my iPhone.  I was fortunate to be downwind of every smoker in Westminster.

For the novice parade watcher, you need to understand that a true Memorial Day parade is when politicians ride in cars and wave their name in your face and tell you to vote for them.  Oh, and then we salute the soldiers.  But best of all, there are fire trucks.

The parade was led by Westminster's finest, a 2005 Ford Interceptor.



I think most people in Carroll County know Haven Shoemaker.  He's currently one of the commissions for the County Council.  He's running for state delegate in a crowded District 5 against Carmen Amedori, incumbent Donald Elliott, incumbent Susan Krebs, incumbent Justin Ready, 21 year old Joshua Stonko, and Kevin Utz.  There are some Democrats running, but Martin O'Malley condensed all of the Republicans into as few districts as possible, so the odds of a Democrat winning are about as good as me winning a belly dancing competition.  This is God's country.  And God likes Republicans.  Or so Robin Frazier tells us.

Note that Commissioner Shoemaker is looking away from me.

Nothing says you love your country more than painting the American flag on your car.

If I had my Nikon, I would have been able to get more details, but I cannot zoom in too much to read the details of this antique fire truck.  Anyone know what it is?

I think this fire truck is even cooler.  There are nothing but ladders on this long truck.

Did I mention the military?  These fine soldiers represent the 29th company of the Maryland National Guard.

Here is delegate Justin Ready.  Note that he is looking away from me.  I've met him and he's a really nice guy.

Here is current state delegate Susan Krebs.  Note that she is also looking away from me.  Krebs is our current state delegate, but with O'Malley's new map, she'll be mashed up in District 5.  Eric Bouchat with the rumored tumultuous past is the leading candidate to pretend to represent this end of South Carroll.

I think this was the only modern fire truck in the parade.  This is Pleasant Valley's 1991 Spartan Saulsbury.

And last, but not least, is Commissioner Robin Frazier.  Note that she actually looked at me.  She then told me to pray to Jesus.

Phil Kasten: the Sheriff Candidate With Pancakes!

I had the opportunity to attend Phil Kasten's Pancake Fundraiser on Saturday at the Sykesville Freedom Fire Department.  Phil Kasten is running for sheriff in Carroll County.

Kasten is everything I would expect in a sheriff: tall, thin, athletic, serious, military experience, and police experience.  And did I mention serious?  I'm certainly not poking fun at him.  Imagine a clown like me being sheriff?  No one would take me seriously.  Now that I think about it, I doubt that anyone takes me seriously as it is.  But I'm perfectly fine with that.

Phil Kasten talking with Carroll County residents.

I figured some local dignitaries would be there.  And I was right.  County Commissioner Doug Howard was there, as was current commissioner and House of Candidates candidate Haven Shoemaker, former Freedom Area Citizen Council President Ellen Dix, Delegate Justin Ready, current and soon-to-be retired Carroll County Sheriff Ken Tregonning, and House of Delegate candidate Eric Bouchat.  Unfortunately, I missed Mr. Bouchat.  I'm keenly interested in meeting him as he will be the primary candidate for House of Delegates District 9A, most of which is in Howard County and which my part of Carroll County has been sucked.

After I got my breakfast, I briefly spoke to Mr. Kasten.  He proudly informed me that Carroll County has the lowest Type 1 crime in Maryland.  Type 1 crime includes homicides, assault, battery, rape, robbery, burglary, larceny theft, automobile theft, and arson.

I later spoke to Delegate Justin Ready.  He's a few years younger than me, but is full of energy and very social.  He seems like someone that could be one of your friends - you know, the one that is responsible and actually wants to make a difference.  I mentioned that he lacked a Wikipedia page, which I offered to write.  I asked him if he had any information that he'd like me to add.  He jokingly mentioned that he can bench over 160 and is a part-time superman.  I like a good sense of humor!

At last, I briefly met Mr. Haven Shoemaker, who is a current member of the Carroll County Commission, but is running in a very crowded House of Delegates race for District 5, which includes current Delegate Susan Krebs Justin Ready, Donald Elliott, and Nancy Stocksdale.  More on that later.

Delegate Justin Ready talking with Carroll County residents.

O'Malley Raises Taxes, Again. This Time For Transportation

Martin O'Malley's legacy will be that he raised taxes against hard-working middle class Marylanders more than any Governor in the history of Maryland.  This year is no exception.

In the latest episode of raising taxes in the guise of "investing in our future", we're examining the proposed gas tax.  If you're not aware, the gas tax helps fund the Transportation Fund.  Maryland definitely has a Transportation Fund problem.  There is no money left to maintain highways, expand highways, and build transportation infrastructure, including mass transit options.  But that's not the problem.  The problem is that Martin O'Malley spent all the money in the Transportation Fund to fill revenue gaps in other areas.  You've heard the expression, "He raided the transportation fund." Well, that is the problem.  He raids the fund, spends it elsewhere, then comes back to the citizens and says, "We need to raise taxes to invest in our transportation infrastructure."  If he hadn't raided the transportation fund in the first place, we wouldn't need to raise taxes on fuel.

I-695 \ I-95 junction reconstruction in Eastern Baltimore County in 2009

But let's be clear.  Though we are pointing the finger at Martin O'Malley for spending all of the money from the Transportation Fund on things that are not transportation related, he is certainly not the first Governor to do so.  The Republican's beloved Bob Ehrlich did it, too.  Why do our leaders continue to raid the Transportation Fund?  Because they can.  Need more money to spend on social programs?  Raid the Transportation Fund!  Balance the budget? Raid the Transportation Fund!

To the rescue comes Carroll County House Delegate Republican Susan Krebs and her house bill HB176, the Transportation Trust Fund Protection Act, that would have prevent raiding of the fund.  However, she wrote:

Proposing an amendment to the Maryland Constitution to establish a Transportation Trust Fund to be used only for purposes relating to transportation with a specified exception; prohibiting the reversion or crediting of any part of the Transportation Trust Fund to the General Fund or a special fund of the State; requiring that specified taxes, fees, charges, and revenues be credited to the Transportation Trust Fund; etc

Her bill will most likely not be passed, as the Maryland General Assembly votes NO to ANYTHING Republicans propose.  If it's not the Democrats' idea, it's a bad idea.  Some up and coming Democrat from the suburbs will then propose the same bill in the next session and the overwhelming Democratic majority will rally around it.  Remember the slots bills?

I agree with her that the Transportation Fund should not be every governor's piggy bank for other pet projects.  On the other hand, I totally disagree with the editorial she forwarded to constituents from Pete Horrigan.  I thought his editorial to be another hard right-wing non-compromising opinion that gets us nowhere.  What I totally disagree with is that the funds should not be used to help pay for mass transportation.  His argument is that mass transportation is not financially independent and highway drivers are forced to unfairly subsidize mass transportation.

I-795 in Owings Mills, Baltimore County, with Metro Subway in the middle

Perhaps there's a bit of liberal in me.  I don't have hard proof, but common sense tells me that the poor overwhelmingly use mass transportation.  Without it, they would be forced to find alternate forms of transportation, thus pushing them further into poverty or financial instability.  The unintended consequence of cutting mass transit is that the poor would become and even greater burden on the tax-paying part of society, and we don't want that.

Secondly, by experience, I know that many middle class people use light rail and the subway in Baltimore and Washington.  If we cut mass transit, which could result in higher fairs, fewer trains, or even no trains, then all of these suburbanite commuters will be forced onto the highways.  If the pundits argue that the highways are too jammed now, wait until you add everyone that's sitting on a train in the morning.

I hate that Martin O'Malley is promoting "investing in transportation" as one of his priorities, when in fact he is covering up that he needs to replace the money that he took.  I agree that the money needs to be there, but I do agree with Delegate Krebs that he can't be stealing the money for other purposes anymore.

Baltimore's Light Rail near the Baltimore Convention Center

Here's the editorial that Delegate Krebs sited.  And note that Mr. Horrigan is the President of the Mid-Atlantic Petroleum Distributors Association.  He WANTS more people on the roads so that they use their fuel.  This reminds me of the General Motors Streetcar Conspiracy, which, interestingly, was brought to my attention by the movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

Once again, Virginia has beaten Maryland to the punch regarding taxes on business and consumers. Virginia eliminated its gas tax completely and replaced it with a 3.5 percent sales tax on the wholesale price of gasoline. Gov. Martin O'Malley's new tax increase proposal would reduce the gas tax rate 5 cents but add a sales tax to the retail price of gasoline and diesel, resulting in a 63 percent increase in the tax on gas and a 90 percent increase in the diesel tax.

Only in Maryland would we claim to "reduce" taxes in a way that results in increases - and leaves Maryland retailers at a devastating competitive disadvantage. The Virginia tax rate in particular will be almost 28 cents per gallon less than Maryland's, and we will have the highest fuel tax rate compared to all our surrounding states. Most of Maryland's approximately 2,300 gas stations are operated by small businesses, and many are located within close proximity to our neighboring states. These increases will make our small businesses uncompetitive with their nearby, out of state competitors.

Maryland fuel retailers, on average, don't even make 20 cents per gallon and will be forced to pass all tax increases on to their customers. The net result will be the loss of Maryland jobs and tax revenues as consumers make their purchases out of state.

Equally concerning is the fact that the governor's proposal does nothing to address the real issue of why we have a transportation revenue problem, and that is mass transit: two systems (the Maryland Transit Administration and the Washington Metro) where highway users already pay over 50 percent of the operating costs. Fares paid by transit riders cover only a fraction of the operating costs, yet mass transit systems handle less than 10 percent of local travel while highways and bridges are choked with the remaining 90 percent. This is not sustainable. Maryland, like Virginia, must change its approach and recognize that highway users already pay more than their fair share, and raising gas taxes is not the solution. Other, broader-based funding sources need to be identified.

Protecting the funds in the Transportation Trust Fund is absolutely essential to prevent our elected representatives from siphoning off funds for other purposes. Although the governor's plan includes a "lockbox" intended to ensure that the funds collected are used for their intended purpose, in reality his proposal does nothing to protect these funds, because all it takes is a three-fifths vote of a standing committee to raise the funds. Moreover, the governor's proposal specifically indicates that the state can continue to divert Highway User Revenue funds that are supposed to be shared with the counties.

Motorist-paid gas taxes and vehicle fees are by far the largest source of transportation funding for both highways and mass transit. Maryland can no longer meet the needs of two costly major mass transit systems and adequately maintain and improve our highway system on the backs of motorists. A look at Maryland's transportation spending history over the last 10 years bears this out, as commute times have increased, transit ridership has been flat and millions of dollars of transportation funds have been permanently diverted to the General Fund.

Now is not the time to raise our gas taxes 63 percent and squeeze more money out of Marylander's highway users' pockets. Our state government needs to find other alternatives - including living within its means.

 

- Pete Horrigan, President of Mid-Atlantic Petroleum Distributors Association 

Eldersburg National Night Out

I went to my first Eldersburg National Night Out this year.  The event previously had been held at the Carrolltown Center, since they weren't using their parking lot for anything.  I read that there was no electricity available for them to use this year, so the event had to be relocated.

I read that it was being held at the Sykesville Freedom Fire Department fair grounds.  I drove by last week to check out the fields because one of my kids was to have a soccer practice there.  To my surprise, there were two excavators and a bulldozer in the fields with a wide ditch running from the far end of the field to the fire department.  How in the heck are we supposed to play soccer there?  And have a National Night Out?

Today I was surprised when I arrived and the ditches were filled and covered with straw and quick-grow grass.  The construction tractors were moved to the side.  And the parking lot and adjoining fields were full of cars!

Like a little kid I was immediately drawn to the Sykesville Freedom fire trucks.  Here's the new 2012 Pierce Pumper.  I've seen this truck pass us on the road.  It has some serious lights on it.  Strobes, colored circling lights.  You can't miss this monster coming at you.

Here's one of the Sykesville police cars.  This thing looks like a real bad ass.  The best place to find this car is sitting at the bottom of the hill on Raincliffe Road and at the intersection Obrecht Road and Wimmer Lane doing radar.  If you're doing 25.1 miles per hour, they will nail you.  I know it drives people nuts, but I go like 19 mph on those roads.  And it's always good to smile and waive as you're driving by.

Here is a 1957 Ford Sykesville Police car.  Back in 1957, you could see this car sitting at the bottom of the hill on Raincliffe Road and at the intersection Obrecht Road and Wimmer Lane doing radar.

Here is Carroll County Sheriff's obligatory Mobile Command Unit.  All jurisdictions throughout the country are required to have one.  I'm sure this was obtained with Department of Homeland Security grant money.  This vehicle comes in handy at the 4th of July parade in Westminster and at events like National Night Out.

Are you old enough to have watched M*A*S*H?  This is a 1953 Dodge mobile hospital truck.  This thing is in great condition.  Alan Alda was not to be found.

Here's a partial ensemble of the Sykesville Freedom Fire Trucks.  Note the first responder ATV12.

Here's the 2007 E-One Pumper.  I think I went for a ride in this fire truck for my son's 5th birthday.

National Night Out was entertaining.  I saw Carroll County Commissioner Doug Howard, Maryland State Delegate Susan Krebs, former candidate Larry Helminiak, several of my friends, and Sparky the fire dog.  We got free pencils, entered plenty of raffles, got free tea from Starbucks, and a free hot dog and soda from the fire department.  I was pushing my daughter in her wheel chair and she said she wanted a soda.  The fire department was requesting $1 to purchase a soda.  I told my daughter that we had to go back to the car to get my wallet.  I then heard one of the fine firemen say, "Don't worry dad.  What would like, sweetheart?" (obviously to my daughter, not me)  Thank you!  Support your local fire department.  Please make a donation.

Here's a picture of the fire department's rebuilding efforts.  If you recall, the reception hall burned down in that huge snow storm several years ago when the weight of the snow collapsed the roof and it sheered the gas light, which ignited and burned it down.  The new hall seems bigger and more aesthetically pleasing.  I look forward to when it opens.

Did you make it out to National Night Out?

More Lights Attacking Eldersburg

You'll recall that a few weeks ago I posted about how Eldersburg is under attack from scrolling and stationary LED light signs. They are a deterioration to the quaint scenery of Eldersburg. I can tell how much gasoline costs at the Shell Station from 3 miles away now. Is that necessary? I know that Jiffy Lube is running a special on windshield wiper blades, a sale that I learned about while crossing the Liberty Reservoir.

I received several comments and agreeing complaints from readers. They agreed that these signs are detracting from our town and wanted to know what we can do about it. Complain to your state delegate Susan Krebs. Complain to your Carroll County Commissioner Doug Howard. Complain to the Carroll County Office of Zoning and Planning.

Since then several of you have given me examples of more places that have these signs. They include:

Carroll Community Bank


The new Crown Station on Liberty Road (they finally took down the hand-painted bed sheet with their logo and replaced with a legitimate sign - with LED lights).


And Liberty High School, this sign on Route 32.


When will this madness end?

Wikipedia Snub

One of my nerdy hobbies is/was to create the biographies of elected Republicans. I completed all of the current Republicans from Maryland (there aren't that many) and I did as many former Republicans as I could find.

Some of the delegates and state senators do not have a lot of information online. For some of these I have been contacting them directly. Most have been very helpful. To name a few - Delegate Susan Krebs, Delegate Jeannie Haddaway, Delegate Andrew Serafini. All responded promptly and provided the information I requested and were grateful for the work that I was doing.

My latest inquiry was to Delegate LeRoy Myers, District 1C in Allegany and Washington Counties. Now, I do not know him personally, and you certainly cannot (should not) read intent into the email. All I asked him was:

Delegate Myers,
I was going to update your wikipedia profile to include more information. The Maryland Archives indicates that you attended Hagerstown Community College. Did you graduate or just attend? And what high school did you graduate from? Is there any other information you would like to have included?
Sincerely
Eludius

Today I got his response:

Eludius,
Thank you for contacting me however I am not interesting in updating a Wikipedia Profile which I didn’t create. Thanks but no thank you.

Delegate LeRoy Myers

In Delegate Myers' defense, he is a hard-working politician. He is the one who submitted legislation trying to ban the use of fake bull balls that hang from the bumpers of many pick-up trucks in Western Maryland and in Dundalk. He tried very hard to prevent these people from looking like a bunch of clowns.

So I guess I'll move onto the next politician who's missing key information. Oh, well.

Letter From House Republican Caucus

I received this from Delegate Susan Krebs. This is not my own writing.
__________________________________________________

HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Contact: Shannon Oxley (410) 841-3401
Carrie Simons-Sparrow (410) 841-3401

Maryland House Republicans Respond to O’Malley Budget Cuts

Maryland House Republicans today responded to Governor O’Malley’s announcement of his planned budget cuts with skepticism.

“ Last year at this time we were told that the state was in a fiscal crisis, and the only way to deal with the situation was to increase taxes, while still continuing to increase spending” said Minority Leader Anthony O’Donnell. “Both during the special session and the 2008 regular legislative session, we continued to remind the administration and the Democratic leadership that increasing taxes and spending at a time when the economy was headed into a downturn was irresponsible and reckless. By disregarding our advice, they have created the situation that makes these cuts necessary. They cannot simply blame the national economic downturn.”

The actions taken during the special session of 2007 raised taxes in Maryland by $1.3 billion, the largest increase in State history, while total spending increased from fiscal year 2008 to 2009 by 4.2%, an increase of $1.3 billion. The Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan tax research group based in Washington, D.C., announced on Oct 15th that, according to their annual review of “business friendliness” of each state’s tax systems, Maryland dropped from 24th in the nation to 45th. This was the largest decline of any state in the nation, a direct result of the O’Malley tax increases.

“This administration has increased taxes and spending in an already gloomy economic environment. Raising taxes right before a national recession has worsened this crisis, dampening consumer spending and creating a climate that will discourage job creation” said Minority Whip Christopher Shank. “Yet Governor O’Malley refuses to acknowledge his own part in the current situation, and continues to ignore our calls for responsible fiscal leadership.”

“The House Republican Caucus has offered an alternative budget proposal for the past two years, and we have been soundly ignored and even flippantly dismissed for entirely partisan political reasons” continued Delegate O’Donnell. “Are the administration and the legislative leadership going to continue setting unrealistic budgets and coming back with doomsday scenarios as an annual event? Or will we finally recognize that significant, honest, ongoing reductions and a fundamental change in attitude is the only way to prevent exactly that?”

“We will continue to offer alternative budget solutions that are thought-out, honest, and reflect core priorities” said Delegate Shank. “Cutting core state priorities like public safety and services to vulnerable populations would not be necessary if the Administration and Democratic leadership had restrained the rate of growth and reigned in spending like we proposed for the past two sessions. Now is the time to seriously consider all of the options available in order to ensure that Maryland citizens are served by their government rather than being encumbered by it.”