gaithersblog.net

From the City Police recent crime summary:

Armed Robbery
On 03/20/07, at approximately 6:44 p.m., police responded to the area of South Frederick Avenue and Education Boulevard for an in-progress assault and battery. Two Hispanic males were reportedly fighting near the bus stop on the northbound side of South Frederick Avenue. The victim was ultimately located at South Frederick and South Summit Avenues. He advised that the suspect took his chain and his watch, and that he was cut during the fight. Injury was minor and the victim refused medical attention.

Suspect: Hispanic male, mid 20’s, 5′08″ to 5′10″, dark curly hair, clean shaven, wearing blue jeans.

also note, from last Sunday,

Burglary Arrest

On 03/18/07, at 12:53 a.m., police responded to the 400 block of Woodland Road for a trespassing. Upon arrival the homeowner advised police that an individual broke into his home through a basement window. The homeowner provided police with a description of the suspect who was later found walking in the unit block of S. Summit Avenue. The homeowner positively identified the suspect who was then arrested for burglary.

Arrested was 21 year old Pedro Ponce, Hispanic male with an address of 49 W. Diamond Avenue in Gaithersburg.

Woodland Road is behind City Hall, and connects to E Deer Park back a bit from MD 355.

• Chris Robinson (who once again has been very busy) writes, Historic Gaithersbug district waits for a revamped future:
  

  When Alex Zeppos co-opened Growlers brewpub in Gaithersburg last summer, he was hopeful for the promise of revitalization presented by the Olde Towne Master Plan.

  But about nine months later, development in the historic district remains stalled, there’s nothing to encourage after-hours walkabout traffic and the specter of violent crime continues to haunt the area, Zeppos said.

  I think that this is a growing, major issue, and it is going to take not just money, but some real vision and courage to turn things around. Where the courage is going to come in to play is that I actually don’t see how a major turnaround of the sort envisioned in the Olde Towne Master Plan is going to come to pass unless there are significant changes in the Olde Towne housing stock. The walkable downtown, with a vibrant retail environment that stays open well into the evening, is only going to happen if there are customers for those establishments. Jim Clifford’s proposed project is a great start, and I hope that it actually happens. But if the revitalization is going to happen, there will be increasing pressure to redevelop, for example, up the North Summit corridor, potentially creating a swath of new development going all the way up to the Hidden Creek project. Such redevelopment would likely come under a great deal of fire from affordable housing advocates, and likely some Council members.

  And just as a side note, although the article calls the old downtown a “historic district”, that area has no historic designation. The major exception to that is the building that houses Mr. Zeppos’ business, the Belt Building — that is one of four properties in the City of Gaithersburg on the National Register of Historic Places; the other three are the B&O Train Station and Freight Shed, the Thomas Cannery, and the Gaithersburg Latitude Observatory — the last of which is also the only property in the City that is listed as a National Historic Landmark.

• Sebastian Montes writes, April 9 is target date for new day-labor center:
  

  ‘‘We expect Casa to be in services on or near April 9,” said Catherine Matthews, director of the Upcounty Regional Services Center in Germantown, which will monitor the center’s progress.

  A key part of getting the word out has also been to convince the Derwood community that the employment center — two trailers on a half-acre lot — will not be a burden on the nearby community.

  ‘‘We want to prove that … day-laborer centers have good workers and are good neighbors,” Tona Cravioto, head of Casa’s employment program, said last week at a forum hosted by the Greater Shady Grove Civic Alliance.

• C. Benjamin Ford and Sebastian Montes write, Police worry about growing distrust among immigrants:
  

  Sister Cathy McConnell of St. Camillus Catholic Church in Silver Spring, who works with immigrants, called the loss of trust in the police ‘‘a very sad turn of events.”

  ‘‘A whole class of people are going to be driven underground and we’re all going to pay,” she said. ‘‘People do crazy things out of fear.”

  While the police department has not changed its policy on ignoring the immigration status of crime victims and witnesses, police did pick up 65 people last year after discovering during routine traffic stops that they were wanted for failing to appear at immigration hearings. The police did not track the number of incidents before last year and have not compiled how many immigration detainers have been served so far this year.

• Chris Robinson writes, City pays thousands for spouse travel:
  

  Gaithersburg may revise its travel policy after questions were raised about the city’s longstanding practice of paying for spouses to join elected officials on business trips.

  This is a story that was broken a couple of weeks ago by Sonya Burke in the Town Courier newspaper. Unfortunately, that paper has no effective online presence, so I can’t link to her original article, and it may well be gone from the stands at this point. The Gazette, in this article, to their credit did acknowledge the Town Courier’s lead on this.

  In the Gazette story, Chris Robinson appears to have some difficulty finding people who are upset about the issue, and I guess I’m going to have to be one of those who isn’t going to get all up in arms over it. I will say a couple of things, however. First, I expect that many people are ambivalent about the issue because they know that the Mayor and Council are under-compensated for what they do, and if they get a little bit extra this way it isn’t all that big a deal. What we really need is for this compensation issue to be addressed in a formal manner, and perhaps start paying these people something close to the value of their considerable time. The City is putting together a committee to study compensation (the deadline for application to be on the committee was, unfortunately, yesterday). In Rockville, a recent study concluded that the elected officials there should receive dramatic increases in their pay.

  The second point I will make is that I’ve heard that the City has a comparatively stingy record when it comes to providing travel funding for staff and the few volunteers who are required to attend some sort of training. Perhaps the staff travel policy should be reviewed as well.

• Chris Robinson writes, Study: Costly repairs needed at Senior Center:
  

  More than $2.5 million in improvements are needed at the Upcounty Senior Center in Gaithersburg to accommodate the anticipated surge in use in the next decade, according to a report the city released last month.

  I reported on this earlier. Note, however that:

  A public work session is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 31 S. Summit Ave. in Gaithersburg, to discuss the report’s findings.

• Chris Robinson writes, Meet the city’s prospective new police chief next week:
  

  After thorough resume reviews, background checks and telephone interviews, the three-months search for a new Gaithersburg police chief recently narrowed from about 50 applicants nationwide to six candidates.

  Extensive interviews and city tours with the six are planned for next week. The candidates will attend a public reception at 7:30 p.m. March 28 at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506 S. Frederick Ave., Room A.

  I’m sorry, but this just seems so, well, overly public; I’m glad I’m not applying for this job.

• Steve Mocarsky in the Times-Leader: Expert lists immigrant statistics
• Wade Malcolm in the Times-Tribune: Chief fires back in Hazleton trial
• Kent Jackson in the Standard-Speaker: Expert says city has up to 3,400 illegals
• Kent Jackson in the Standard-Speaker: Chief: ‘Aliens’ cause crime
• Update: Digger’s Realm: Police Chief And Immigration Expert Take Stand In Hazleton Case, Citizens Rally [Day 7 Recap]

Pamela Constable has an interesting article in today’s Post, concerning a Manassas legal aid clinic for immigrants, both legal and illegal:

The clinic highlighted the intimate, sometimes desperate dilemmas faced by thousands of immigrant families in Manassas and other area communities, whose households often include a confusing mix of legal U.S. residents or citizens, illegal immigrants and others with temporary permits or pending immigration cases.

The article allows not only the acknowledgment that the presence of illegals can cause difficulties for a community (overcrowding in homes and schools, businesses failing “because the competition hires cheaper illegal workers”), and that it is possible to be concerned about the impact of illegals without being opposed to the influx of legal Latino immigrants, but also that some immigration problems cannot be just wished away. All in all, a rather remarkable story for the Post.

From the County press release:

Release ID:	07-032
Release Date:	3/19/2007
Contact:	Tom Pogue, Community Relations Manager   240.777.7155
From:	Office of the Director

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DPWT operates an E-85 ethanol fuel pump at its depot on Crabbs Branch Way in Derwood that is available to the public as well as for use by County vehicles. The pump dispenses a blend of 85 percent corn-based ethanol, 15 percent gasoline. The price of a gallon of ethanol was $2.21 on March 19th. Prices do fluctuate, just like gasoline prices, since for one thing a portion of the blend is gasoline.

The pump accepts two major credit cards, VISA and Master Card. It will not take oil company cards. Residents can fill up at the pump 24 hours a day.

Residents must first apply for privileges to use the pump by signing a simple waiver form available from Fleet Management Services. The form waives the County of any responsibility for damages if a resident uses the fuel in a vehicle not designed for flex-fuel operation. The form may be filled out at Fleet Management’s offices at the depot, 16630 Crabbs Branch Way, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Residents should refer to their owner’s manual or contact their dealer to determine if their vehicle is able to run properly on an 85 percent alcohol blend.

For directions to the depot and more information about using the ethanol pump, contact Fleet at 240-777-5730.

• Steve Mocarsky in the Times-Leader: Hazleton administrator back on stand
• Updated: Steve Mocarsky in the Times-Leader: Experts testify in immigration trial
• Michael Rubinkam, AP writer, in the Philadelphia Inquirer: Hazleton illegal immigrant laws simplistic, expert witness says
• New: Wade Malcolm in the Times-Tribune: Chief in dark about immigration law
• The Times-Tribune: Witness testifies immigration leads to depression of wages
• Gabrielle Banks in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Director of ACLU says it’s playing vital role
• Tom Ragan in the Standard-Speaker: Barletta distances himself from letter
• New: Kent Jackson in the Standard-Speaker: Supporters of city’s immigration law rally in front of courthouse
• New: Kent Jackson in the Standard-Speaker: Part of IIRA could be used nationwide
• Update 2: Digger’s Realm: Hazleton Trial: Harvard Economist Says Wages Would Increase If Ordinance Enacted, Plaintiffs Argue Illegal Isn’t Illegal [Day 6 Recap]
• Stu Bykofsky, Columnist, in the Philadelphia Inquirer: Words have power, and liars know it

  A quote from Mr. Bykofsky:

  In a news release, the American Civil Liberties Union said the ordinance “would prevent people who look or sound ‘foreign’ from living or working in Hazleton - regardless of their actual immigration status.”

  On the contrary, the ordinance says it seeks to “secure to those legally present in the United States and this city, whether or not they are citizens of the United States, the right to live in peace . . . .”

  The italics are mine. The ACLU is lying.

  Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta has said repeatedly his town welcomes legal immigrants.

  In an op-ed piece in the Inquirer last week, ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero said, “The mean-spirited anti-immigration laws of Hazleton, Pa., went on trial Monday.”

  Mr. Romero is a mean-spirited liar.

  He’s entitled to characterize Hazleton’s laws as “mean-spirited.” That’s his opinion. But when he calls the laws “anti-immigrant,” he is lying. He’s a lawyer and he knows what he’s doing.

  When he omits the word “illegal” - as those in his camp usually do - he’s saying the law is an attack on all immigrants.

  That is a lie.

Mocoprogressive has a post up about how the crisis in the market for subprime mortgages could have a particularly big impact on the Hispanic community — as many as 40% of subprime mortgages are held by Hispanics. As Gaithersburg has a particularly large population of Hispanics (nearly 20% of the population of Gaithersburg was Latino as of seven years ago), could this be hitting Gaithersburg particularly hard? I found an interesting interactive map here [it was linked from this page, which also has an interesting paper on the geographic distribution of subprime mortgages, and links to several more useful maps] which shows Percent of conventional home purchase mortgage loans by subprime lenders in USA. If you zoom in on Maryland, and then on to Montgomery County, you can see that Gaithersburg and Wheaton are the most vulnerable localities in the County. However, as you were doing all that zooming, you probably did notice that this is nothing compared to the situation in Prince George’s, Eastern Charles and St. Mary’s Counties, where in much of those areas as many as 10% to more than a quarter of all conventional home purchase mortgage loans are from subprime lenders. This does not, however, correlate strongly with the map of Latino population in those areas.

From the City’s Website:

City of Gaithersburg
AGENDA FOR A REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2007, 7:30 P.M.

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. INVOCATION

IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council Held March 5, 2007
Background Material (pdf format)

V. APPOINTMENT

Resolution of the City Council Confirming an Appointment by the Mayor to the Community Advisory Committee
Background Material (pdf format)

VI. PRESENTATIONS

National League of Cities - National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO) City Cultural Diversity Award

VII. PUBLIC APPEARANCES
(public is invited to speak on any subject that is not a public hearing topic on tonight’s agenda – each speaker three minutes)

VIII. FROM THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Upcoming City Events

IX. FROM THE CITY MANAGER

X. PUBLIC HEARING

Hearing to Solicit Public Service Proposals for the Expenditure of FY08 Community Development Block Grant Funds
Background Material (pdf format)

XI. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, AND REGULATIONS
(ordinances, resolutions, and regulations to be introduced or adopted following appropriate procedures required by the City Code, or resolutions that may require discussion by the Mayor and Council prior to approval)

1. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Contract for the 2007 Street Resurfacing Contract ($997,955)
   Background Material (pdf format)

2. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute a Contract for the Design of City Gateway Entry Signs, an Art in Public Places Design Competition ($6,000)
   Background Material (pdf format)

3. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Purchase In-Car Digital Video Systems ($155,000)
   Background Material (pdf format)

4. Introduction of an Ordinance to Amend Chapter 6C of the City Code Entitled “Elections” Article III Entitled “Absentee Voting” Section 6C-14 Thereof Entitled “Who May Vote” so as to “Permit Qualified Voters to Choose to Vote by Absentee Ballot Without the Requirement That the Voter be Absent From the City on the Day of the Election (Public Hearing 4/9/07)
   Background Material (pdf format)

5. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Awarding a Matching Grant to Kentlands Condominiums III ($500)
   Background Material (pdf format)

XII. ADJOURNMENT

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THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
WILL BE HELD MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2007, 7:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 31 SOUTH SUMMIT AVENUE

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UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETING AND WORK SESSION ITEMS
This list is not all-inclusive, and does not reflect priorities or scheduling

But is intended to provide a glance at future items to come before the City Council.

April 9 Meeting:

Public Hearing
- Ordinance to Amend Chapter 6C of the City Code Entitled “Elections” Article III Entitled “Absentee Voting” Section 6C-14 Thereof Entitled “Who May Vote” so as to “Permit Qualified Voters to Choose to Vote by Absentee Ballot Without the Requirement That the Voter be Absent From the City on the Day of the Election

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WORK SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT

Notice to the general public is hereby given that the Mayor and City Council of the City of Gaithersburg will conduct a work session on Monday, March 26, 2007, to discuss the Space Planning Study of the Gaithersburg Upcounty Senior Center.

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BUDGET ANNOUNCEMENT

Notice to the general public is hereby given that the Mayor and City Council of the City of Gaithersburg will conduct a Budget Public Forum on Thursday, March 29, 2007, 7:30 p.m., to discuss the City’s Strategic Directions and the Fiscal Year 2008 Budget.

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ANNOUNCEMENT

Notice to the general public is hereby given that the Mayor and City Council of the City of Gaithersburg will not conduct a regular meeting on Monday, April 2, 2007, but will conduct consecutive regular meetings on Monday, April 9 and 16, 2007, followed by a work session on Monday, April 23, 2007.

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MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
ARE TELEVISED LIVE ON CABLE CHANNEL 13

AND ON THE
INTERNET AT
www.gaithersburgmd.gov/tv

From the City’s Website:

City of Gaithersburg
31 South Summit Avenue
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877

Telephone: 301-258-6330

PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA*
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
7:30 P.M.
City Hall Council Chambers

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

March 7, 2007, Planning Commission Meeting

Background Material (pdf format)

RECORD PLATS

RECOMMENDATION TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL

SDP-06-005 – Gary Unterberg, Rodgers Consulting, for Crown Farm Village, LLC
Request for approval of Schematic Development Plan SDP-06-005, per annexation X-182, known as the Crown Property (Parcels 445, 600, 905, 883, & 820), in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The proposed plan includes a mix of uses, including 2250 residential units and 320,000 square feet of future commercial uses on approximately 180 acres of land. The initial SDP application primarily concerns Neighborhoods 2 and 3 with the associated infrastructure. The subject property is bordered by Fields Road, Sam Eig Highway, and Omega Drive.
Note: no additional testimony will be taken at this time.
Staff Comments (pdf format)

Background Material

FROM THE COMMISSION

FROM STAFF

ADJOURNMENT