Responding to Diversity in Rockville
The deadline for the questionnaire for Community Ministries of Rockville passed on October 15, so I thought you’d be interested in my response (and their intriguing questions):
Question: Rockville is becoming increasingly diverse in its ethnic, racial and religious composition. What will you do to encourage effective assimilation, participation and celebration of their various gifts?
Answer: We must actively work today for the Rockville of the future and it is clear that it will be more culturally diverse in the next few decades. Unfortunately, we have made little progress in making other cultures feel welcome and indeed, some people are actually afraid and hostile to these new residents, reminding me of my parents’ experience when they moved to the United States after the war. We need to make greater efforts to reach out to them to the places where they live, work, and play, rather than expecting them to come to us. For example, more recreational activities, such as badminton, mahjongg, soccer, or cricket, or additional cultural events, such as Chinese New Year, that are specifically targeted to those groups. As they see that the community has developed an interest in them and shows that we value their cultures, they will reciprocate. Finally, we need to expand our Neighborhood Services staff to be able to adequately focus on these opportunities.
Follow-up: Diversity means different things to different people, including wealth, culture, ethnicity, religion, age, education, skills, and sexual orientation. Where does Rockville lack diversity and where is it exemplary?
Achieving Affordable Housing in Rockville
The deadline for the questionnaire for Community Ministries of Rockville passed on October 15, so I thought you’d be interested in my response (and their intriguing questions):
Question: Affordable housing is a top priority because it is good for business, it attracts younger people to an aging community, and it improves the quality of life for everyone. What do you propose be done during the next term to increase affordable housing in Rockville?
Answer: Diversity, including a range of incomes, is essential to a healthy community. However, I support the dispersion of affordable housing in every neighborhood rather than concentration in high density apartment dwellings. The City Code currently requires affordable housing units in large developments, but this does not go far enough. Because of the high cost of land and construction, I support in-fill housing in alternative formats, including granny apartments and duplex houses, as well as leveraging financial incentives available through historic preservation in older neighborhoods. Furthermore, I support property tax credits for persons with low and moderate income of any age, not just seniors.
Follow-up: “Affordable housing” is controversial because some people believe that it attracts crime and reduces property values. What do you think?
Questions for Candidates from Community Ministries
Community Ministries of Rockville, a coalition of 21 faith communities, have asked all the candidates to respond to a questionnaire, a tradition they’ve followed since 1980. They’re due today and will be distributed to their members the weekend before the election, but I thought you’d like to see their interests and concerns: Continue reading →
African American historic places highlighted in Rockville
Tour of the Jerusalem Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church
The City of Rockville has been working for nearly a decade to recognize the history of African American in the city and yesterday marked a major accomplishment with the installation of several interpretive markers in downtown. Many people who shop, work, and live in the Town Square don’t realize it was once a thriving African American community which was demolished during the 1960s and 1970s due to urban renewal. Today, very little remains and the plaques remind us of how much was lost–and also that African Americans have a long and distinguished history in Rockville.
Yesterday afternoon the City of Rockville hosted a tour on an incredibly beautiful fall day to visit some of these places and to see the new plaques, including Continue reading →
Questions for Candidates at the West End Citizens Association Forum
The West End Citizens Association (WECA) held its Candidates Forum last Thursday, October 8, 2009 and attracted a large crowd. The room was pretty full and we had an excellent moderator, although I think we all were stumbling over our responses to say what we wanted in the short time allowed (it was our second Forum, so please be patient with us!). In case you missed it, it was televised on Channel 11 and available on the RockvilleMD.gov Web site.
It’s always interesting to see the concerns of citizens so I wanted to share the questions we received at the Forum, as well as those we didn’t address due to lack of time. How would you have answered them? Continue reading →
Rockville’s Fragile Finances: What They Won’t Tell You
General Fund Five-Year Forecast FY2010
If you’ve reading the news or listening to candidates lately, you’ve heard lots of talk about the budget and city finances. Some argue that the process needs to be more transparent or that it’s too difficult to understand. The City has a $100 million budget and it’s presented as a report that’s about the size of a phone book. Although I’ve had classes in bookkeeping and financial management, most people will find it pretty easy to navigate and understand, especially at the high “30,000 foot” level. With $100 million in both operating funds and capital projects to manage, councilmembers cannot and should not be counting office supplies or monitoring the phone records. They need to have the big picture in mind to steer the ship–and we’re headed straight for an iceberg (while the Council is rearranging the proverbial deck chairs).
Indeed, to show you how easy it is to understand Rockville’s fragile finances, take a close look at Continue reading →
Come out to Comus in the fall
Every year, Mary and I make a pilgrimage to Comus Market, a small farmstand at a crossroads of Comus Road and Old Hundred Road in northern Montgomery County that specializes in unusual pumpkins and squash. It’s a beautiful drive in the countryside through rolling hills with stunning views. David Heisler has operated this store for years and provides an amazing selection of pumpkins and squash which are both decorative and edible (if you spot a middle-aged man hauling pumpkins as well as working the sales counter, that’s David). You’ll find a few that are common to grocery stores, such as sugar pumpkins and butternut squash, but he also has princess pumpkins, blue hubbards, carnival acorns, and delicata squash that you’ll rarely find even in a Whole Foods Market. But he has so many of them stacked in bins that you can’t help but admire their bold colors and shapes. I always bring my camera and take lots of pictures–everyone can find something interesting to capture. His market is only open in the fall and business is at it’s peak in mid-October, so you’ll want to visit soon.
We usually leave with Continue reading →
It’s Official–I’m an Underdog!
Funds Raised by September 25, 2009 in the Rockville election.
The first round of financial reports were submitted on October 1 and based on funds raised by September 25, I’m officially an underdog! Finally, I know where I stand in the race and can act accordingly.
Early in the campaign, I found myself continually fussing over small details to ensure I would garner a stranger’s support and avoid offending anyone. Should I sign my letters in blue or black ink? Thick or thin pen? How should I state my opinion on Town Square parking, Red Gate Golf Course, or the series of tax cuts? But now that I’m an underdog, I feel liberated!
Years ago I was talking with a wealthy philanthropist about his success, when he mentioned Continue reading →
What’s the Future for King Farm Farmstead Park
The October edition of the King Farm Chronicle, the community’s monthly newspaper which is mailed to over 3,500 homes within King Farm, will feature the upcoming Rockville City election. They asked the candidates to provide answers to four questions and here’s the fourth and last one (with a bit in addition to the Chronicle’s 250-word limit):
4. What do you believe is the best use of the King Farm Farmstead Park and how would you bring that about? Do you favor expanding the City’s community garden at the Farmstead, or using the space to build a parking lot?
I strongly support preserving King Farm Farmstead, not only because of its historical significance but also because the community draws its name from this place–that doesn’t mean it needs to remain a farm, a dairy, or a home or has to be enshrined as a museum. Because of its history as a farm, its use for a community garden is certainly sympathetic. But I encourage additional compatible uses to ensure Continue reading →
