The big news on the Town Center petition effort has already been well blogged before I found my way to the St. Augustine Beach Starbucks this morning. The godfather of HoCo blogging, Mr. Hedgehog, broke the news last night in this post. This morning I read this account by Larry Carson in The Sun.
“According to board figures, 3,491 names were submitted on Friday, and 2,343 have been reviewed. Of those, 901 were invalid — a 38 percent rejection rate. With just 1,148 names left to review, 1,058 would need to be valid to qualify for the next step, which would equal an 8 percent rejection rate.”
Let’s just say I am not surprised. If this effort truly had the backing of the majority in HoCo there would have been more people on the streets peddling petitions.
So is it over?
Technically yes. I doubt though that those who refused to accept the results of five years of collaborative community effort will continue to insist that the community interest was somehow hijacked by a developer funded conspiracy.
Please.
Columbia is extremely lucky. If General Growth Properties had not come along and acquired The Rouse Company the future of Town Center would have been much different and not necessarily in a good way. There were lots of heroes in this effort and that will be the subject of a later post.
I have no doubt that Russ Swatek will claim that the deck was stacked against him and that the referendum process in HoCo is severely flawed and a threat to our democratic institutions. He is wrong of course but that never stopped him and others from claiming otherwise when faced with defeat.
It will be interesting to see how this all plays out in Novembers election. My hunch right now is that it will fade into irrelevance.
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33 comments:
Does this mean that HCCA is irrelevant? I think it does.
I had a very nice gentleman outside the Harpers Choice Safeway ask me to sign the referendum. I told him I was very much in support of CB-58 and 59 passing and would not be signing the referendum.
The referendum failing shows once and for all the community either supports the development of downtown Columbia or perhaps doesn't care enough to bother working to not have downtown Columbia developed. Either way, I am happy. I am looking forward to possibly living, starting a business, or just hanging out in the new Columbia.
A narrow, biased viewpoint as always. Good work, WB.
Something just doesn't fly right with me that the BOE people could honestly find fault with such a high percentage of signature. Same thing goes for the AA County BOE and their rejection rate for the slots referendum. "Technicalities" should not decide the outcome of something so important. I know you'll say that the BOE requirements are crystal clear - to which I say bull! If there is really as much support FOR the plan as you theorize there is, then what's to fear in putting it to a County-wide vote?
You seem to be all for the letter of the law when it suits you, and you're all for the bending of the law when it suits you (ie: the special deal that Ulman tried to give to that developer in VOM).
Shameful!!!
The HoCo BOE found fault with a lower percentage of signatures than the AA Co found with signatures collected by a professional organization. If you're confused, go hang out at the Harpers Choice village center and look at who goes in and out - not exactly a collection of registered voteres. Frankly, it looks like Swatek did a good job, especially given that he was pretty much on his own beating the streets for his effort. If you don't like the law, go advocate for a change. Otherwise, don't whine about it when the law doesn't suit for needed. I have to wonder about someone who thinks a government following the law is shameful.
Didn't AA county referendum folks gather like 40,000 signatures? TAG got like 3,500. I think there's something to be said for how much the 50 bitter TAGers (i'm sure we could name them all here) really represent the community.
They knew the process going into this and had been preparing for months before the vote when the village center legislation was being worked on. They got a lot of press and hype, some stemming from the Turf Valley process and some from people who just like to stir the pot.
The issue has been decided and they were very wrong!
And, so much for true democracy in Howard County. The fix is in, people, do what your told and we'll do what we want. You have no recourse, so just be quiet and sit down. We'll tell you what to do, and what's going to happen here.
It looks like "a tiny and closed fraternity of privileged men, elected by no one, and enjoying a monopoly sanctioned and licensed by government" has ruled the day again here. Why bother to vote or be involved in this community? What you say or do does not seem to matter anyway--you'll just be taken care of by the powers that be.
Comrades, gather round. The Comissar has big news. The State will put down all hint of democratic reform that the infidels and insurgents are fomenting on the good people of our county.
Rest assured, no matter what the new Perestroika brings, you will never be subjected to individual citizens having the power to influence the State. The Central Committee will perpetuate and guarantee the unfettered access and influence of the Party faithful.
Lest some doubt the resolve of the Central Committee, be sure to remind your friends and family that the pogroms will be unleashed on all who dare to challenge the economic and political hierarchy of our exalted leaders.
This whole mess - brought on by the three members of the Howard County Board of Elections (chaired by Ann Balcerzak) - is far from over.
Despite a system that has inserted technicalities making it far more difficult to sign a petition than vote on election day, the signature collection will continue. Just as the Turf Valley petition invalidation has not yet been ruled upon by the Circuit Court, Columbia's future will also be held hostage until the courts allow the electorate to decide this important issue at ballot box.
It is highly unlikely that this will be resolved until the U.S. Court of Appeals rules on the challenge to Maryland's unconstitutional retriction of our right to process petitions for candidates, political parties and legislative/referendum challenges.
The fat lady hasn't sung yet.
Be careful what you wish for, guys. Assuming the issue regarding signatures does go to court, guess what else will be litigated? The methods used by the petition gatherers to get signatures.
There is already a suit pending that alleges that the wording for the petition was misleading. Add on top of that the misleading statements contained in the TAG materials. Then, finally, there will be witnesses that will prove that statements made to potential signers were often simplistic distortions of the truth, that is outright lies. Yup, all of these issues will also be litigated both in the law courts and in the court of public opinion.
Who wins if this happens? Certainly not the citizens of Howard County. But, maybe a few egos out there will have some short-term stroking. What's up with that?
Message to TAG, PLEASE let this go. I've been waiting 20 years to see things moving ahead in Town Center. I've spent the past few years working hard to help create and support the new master pan. It's not perfect but it's very good. You had your chance to prove that a significant number of citizens opposed the plan but learned otherwise. Even the signatures you did receive were frequently predicated on your distortion of the facts which you know will be more accurately presented if the issue does go to referendum. SO all of this is going to accomplish nothing more than to create even more delay in getting things started. Please don't now make this nothing more than a way to save face or preserve your own egos. I know it's hard for you to believe that so many of us long-time residents want this to move forward (many of us had deposits on condos in the WCI building you killed). So please let it go. No litigation and no more delays.
HCCA has been irrelevant for almost 2 years now! A very sad thing for our community.
Every referendum petition faces legal challenges from those with deep pockets. Lawyers in the corporate Legal Department are one of the many "tools" available in a coordinated campaign to delay, defame and deny the rights of all citizens to participate in a democratic process.
The HRD/GGP lawsuit, challenging the BoE's certification of the petition language, is the same tactic, filed by the same lawyers (Dick Talkin/Sang Oh), as was used by Turf Valley.
The County Charter dictates a very specific period of time to collect signatures. Delay and distraction are just another club in the bag.
Anon 1217 very very well said! As long as people like you speak up there is a chance of Democracy:
"It looks like "a tiny and closed fraternity of privileged men, elected by no one, and enjoying a monopoly sanctioned and licensed by government" has ruled the day again here. Why bother to vote or be involved in this community? What you say or do does not seem to matter anyway--you'll just be taken care of by the powers that be."
To those who are bemoaning the fact that you didn't get enough signatures, just remember that if you had the support of a majority of voters, or even a significant minority, you could have easily gotten 10,000 signatures. The reality is you didn't have that support, or even anything close to it. Face the reality. Move on.
TO those who are trying to spin this as TAG failing to get enough signatures YOU ARE MISSING THE POINT, but I'm sure you know that. They DID get more than the required # of signatures. It's the BOE discounting a huge # of those signatures on TECHNICALITIES that is outrageous. The people who signed OBVIOUSLY signed for a reason. How anyone can say with a straight face that TAG didn't get enough supporters (signers) is mindboggling.
This is just more of the "games" that the BOE plays with these petition efforts. The last time, the BOE staff mis-advised the petition organizers on the wording to use in the petition, then the BOE threw it out because the wording was wrong. It's suppression of the democratic right of the people to challenge government actions that they feel are inappropriate or wrong. To have the BOE deny the people that right is CRIMINAL, SHAMEFUL, UNDEMOCRATIC.
If the signatures are being thrown out over technicalities such as someone signing "Jim" instead of "James" that is just plain, utter, bulldookie.
And please, don't try to say that I must not believe in following the rules. The Ulman administration is as corrupt as they come - he's broken the rules and laws on numerous occasions, but with the help of the media providing cover for him and with friends like Judge McCrone (on the Comp Rezoning lawsuit), he's evaded any repercussions.
Hey Anon 5:15 - we are moving on, right down the road to the Circuit Court.
You should try to organize a petition when the Board of Elections (which knew this was coming for more than a year) took over two weeks (of the eight allowed) to provide the basic format for the petition. Of oourse, let's not forget the unconstitutional "new rules" that the BoE is using to infringe upon citizens' fundamental voting rights.
But, alas, that's not something you're interested in. Fortunately, we have Millions of people standing with us - you know - those zealots who support the U.S. Constitution.
Got any friends on the U.S. Court of Appeals? You'll need them if you plan to take the right to vote on referendums away from the taxpayers and citizens of Howard County!
So, no readers recognized the Spiro Agnew quote? I'm hurt.
The "tiny and closed fraternity" is the BOE and its puppet masters, dancing to the strings that are pulled by...someone in Howard County....
And what happened to Spiro, and his ilk?
I leave the exercise to the students.
Referendum opponents first claimed the populace was heavily on their side to add density. Then they ran in circles with various and sundry stabs at how the referendum shouldn't occur, was being carried out with lies (exactly what they were guilty of) etc. Now that the BoE has predictably ruled out any "signature" they couldn't read (how can all signatures be genuine if they're all easily read?) and they're falsely claiming there weren't enough signatures.
Come freaking on.
A rule cannot require a real signature and at the same time be able to dissect each letter to confirm the name. Many people's signatures are unreadable, so this rule is impossible to meet.
Can we get examples of the signatures that were disqualified?
it's over.. get over it.. bring on the bulldozers and cranes..... Columbia has slowly been turning into randallstown.. it's time we start to reverse the decay. hoping the NIMBA's get the point and move on (or away).
Anon 9:22, if you want to live in Bethesda, then move there. You and your holier than thou crew shouldn't try to impose your disdain for quiet suburbia on the great majority of Howard Countians who moved here for the schools, recreation, ambiance and quality of life. High rises and gridlock are not the holy grail.
Those who find modest redevelopment of Columbia (which everyone supports) unfulfilling should consider relocating to the gentrified communities in Baltimore, DC or their more densely populated neighbors.
Make no mistake. This will be an issue for County candidates in November. When the courts eventually rule that this sweetheart, giveaway rezoning can go to the electorate, it will be resoundingly rebuffed. No amount of developer money will be able to stop that train.
so, NOW can we all work together on unseating incumbents? Come on folks, tens of thousands have signed petitions and we continue to have our valid signatures thrown out.
Democrats, work with Republicans and vote for them. And conservatives vote for Democrats and Independents! Work together, people. We all want the same thing, a working democracy. For goodness sake, let's all work together and turn decisions over to those who'll provide decent representation in November.
Get ready Howard Co citizens. Your duly elected County Council passed the most significant plan for ecomonic growth in a generation and now the ego-driven anti-everything NIMBYs will tie it up for another couple of years in court while the jobs that you and your children could fill move to PG County. They'll hide behind arguments about democracy and the people not having been heard, but the reasonable actions of government getting delayed in court by as few as a single person is certainly not democracy.
Let it go to court. Then we'll get to hear all the accounts of the referendum people hustling signatures by saying Columbia was turning into Baltimore with skyscrapers like the old guy standing outside the Dorsey Hall Giant has been telling people for a month.
My goodness but the rhetoric is deep around here. Maybe I should keep my barn boots on for a while.
Progress is a real bitch, ain't it? It just keeps going on going no matter how much people want to pull it back.
No one is operating under any compelling facts, and perspective has been lost. Take a deep breath. Take a serious look at the plan for downtown Columbia. And remember - growth in Howard County was going to happen ANYWAY! At least this way, we can keep control over some of that growth.
I know, I know... it's too late for perspective. Maybe someone is listening. Just maybe.
WB, well done. Nice thread here. Interesting reading.
Didn't all these NIMBYs move to Columbia when it represented "progess" and "innovation"? Now they're acting like the people who opposed the original columbia plan. Sad to see the original pioneering spirit of these original Columbia residents become so set in their ways and close minded to what will make us relevant in the next generation.
If AA county can get 40,000 signatures and TAG can't even get 4,000 signatures with 70 people, the majority of folks in HC, with 170,000 voters, don't want a referendum.
anon 9 10, at least bororw a brain before attempting simple minded logic.
Anon 9:10, those 40,000 slots referendum signatures in AA cost the Laurel Jockey Club more than a quarter million dollars! How much do you think democracy should cost our citizen taxpayers?
BTW, what is your source for quoting 70 TAG collectors? Have you been attending their meetings?
"Anonymous said...
anon 9 10, at least bororw a brain before attempting simple minded logic.
April 11, 2010 10:37 AM"
How does this make any sense, vis-avis my comment? Is this not a great thread of comments representing many points of view?
BTW, there was no logic involved. It was just an opinion. This is an interesting thread, else why would you be here?
Can you please explain what you mean by this comment about the people at Harper's Choice Village Center? Yes, I have been there before, I guess that is why I'm confused. Plus they were at a few other village centers as well.
Anonymous said...
The HoCo BOE found fault with a lower percentage of signatures than the AA Co found with signatures collected by a professional organization. If you're confused, go hang out at the Harpers Choice village center and look at who goes in and out - not exactly a collection of registered voteres. Frankly, it looks like Swatek did a good job, especially given that he was pretty much on his own beating the streets for his effort. If you don't like the law, go advocate for a change. Otherwise, don't whine about it when the law doesn't suit for needed. I have to wonder about someone who thinks a government following the law is shameful
Pat
I have just as much right to live in HC as you do.. i would make the same argument.. .if you don't like the proposed developments... feel free to move. I'm planning on staying here for a long time and am working to make sure the inevitable growth is planned and focused. if we (you) stick your head(s) in the sand.. we will end up with unplanned growth and sprawl.
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