Stay in Fallston Mrs. Chenowith

Reading Justin Fenton’s article Zoning issue up in the air in the Baltimore Sun made me a bit concerned about Chenowith. She said that the Council members have a kind of hands off policy when it comes to other peoples districts. I think that is the way it should be. Let the other Councilmen be held responsible for their own district. However, this should be across the board. At one of the last County Council meetings Dion Guthrie wanted to upzone a business property. A business was interested in the property and was willing to take the space if it was upzoned. The property was actually boarded up. The upzoning was denied. Why this double standard? Oh, I get it. Dion is in District A and he is a democrat. District A has been the toilet seat of the county since I moved here 30 years ago. Scott Alexander took a swipe at Senator Jacobs on Friday by denigrating her efforts to make the area look a little nicer. The fact is, the combination of Section 8 housing, run down shopping centers, and generally poor housing stock attract less than noble characters (obviously not everyone). So when a business is ready to step into District A, the Council should applaud them and send them on their way (as long as it is not another porn shop). I am sure that Mullis and Biggs will use Guthrie’s inability to work with the Republican Council as a cornerstone of their campaigns. Chenowith’s power move can be seen a mile away. Someone got to her this week and now she is caving to the anti-developers. Robert Wagner said it best, “The issues haven’t changed.” What was she voting on last Tuesday? Box Hill is going to get a shopping center in her district so what gives her the right block a shopping center in someone else’s district. This is the reason we have in-district elections for County Council. The elected official will be held accountable for his/her actions every four years. If the anti-development crowd can get enough votes to get rid of Slutzky, then the system works. It breaks down when the members of the Council meddle in other district’s affairs. Does this mean that one should never get involved? No. However, you should have a very good reason for doing so.

Now to District A. I for one feel that this end of the county is virtually neglected by 6 of the seven Council members. How is this district ever going to truly fix itself when others see it more as a nuisance? I guess it is just politics. If Guthrie does good then the Dems can take credit for it. For some reason I don’t feel that much would change if a Republican were in that Council seat. Edgewood is, for the most part, an eye sore. It is crime ridden, Democrat ridden, and therefore neglected. Senator Jacobs has at least tried to do something, even if it is to just make the place look a little better. Then again, I don't think it is the State's job to clean up Edgewood. It is in our backyard and the county should be working to fix it. Right now it seems that most view Edgewood as that place in your backyard where you put your grass clippings (mine smells pretty bad). Closing off Section 8 housing is one step. This area needs so much more. I just can’t put my finger on it and I can’t say the solution would be found in a Republican Councilman or woman. Although, I could be convinced otherwise. What can we do to fix District A? I'm all ears.