A Problem With Strong Women? Or Just A Problem Understanding the Facts?

While you were busy raising your family, carpooling, volunteering and the other million things you have to do on a daily basis, 2 of our current Councilmen, (who are also running for re-election)

  just voted for Mt. Airy to become the next Gaithersburg 

 

On April 27, I read Support Given To Candidates by Susie Cole lashing out at my friend, Anissa Hastings. (yes, this is personal!) 

Cole writes:

"The new town council most likely will vote on many zoning issues. I like our small town atmosphere and surrounding farmlands. My husband and I do not believe Mount Airy has adequate resources to support huge developments."

Susie is right, Mt.Airy does not have the adequate resources to support large developments, but she fails to mention that  Mt.Airy also does not have the adequate resources for it's current development!   

Water, road improvement, solutions to traffic on Main Street/ Rt. 27 and commercial development to provide enough shopping/jobs for our residents and youth are all examples of infrastructure and inadequate public facilities that have plagued Mt. Airy's residents for more than a decade. 

Mt. Airy did plan to improve infrastructure to ensure adequate public facilities 30 years ago, however, Cole also fails to mention the current administration's blatant disregard for the current Master Plan; instead of implementing projects such as the Rising Ridge Road extension that would alleviate traffic on Main Street and Rt. 27, actively seeking additional water resources, and working with the Economic Development Council and MAMSA to attract more businesses to Town, the Council has chosen to do nothing.

And in her random attack on tax-paying Town resident, voicing her concern about her town, Cole also fails to mention that two of the candidates she supports, councilmen, Helt and Pyatt, just voted in favor of the Mayor’s recommendation to apply for Sustainable Community status under Planned Maryland.

What does this mean for Mt. Airy?

"By connecting neighborhood revitalization programs, housing and transportation investments, the Sustainable Communities Tax Credit will stimulate private investment, economic development and additional growth in Maryland's cities and towns." -- Raymond A. Skinner, secretary of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development

Mt. Airy would have to then be in the position of having to promote equitable, affordable housing, expand location- and energy-efficient housing choices for people of all ages, incomes, races, and ethnicity's, increase mobility and lower the combined cost of housing and transportation. provide public transportation choices, develop safe, reliable, and economical transportation choices to decrease household transportation costs, reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote public health. 

All of this is required for us to obtain a tax credit to build a Community Center. But at what cost?

Read all about the Principles of Sustainable Communities. 

Cole claims she wants to maintain our small town atmosphere, yet she supports candidates in this election who just voted for Mt. Airy to become another Gaithersburg,Columbia or Rockville. 

Cole refutes Hastings that she's ever tried to smear Peter’s name, yet in the same sentence Cole writes the plight of her middle school children years ago was directly tied to rapid growth supported by Councilwoman Wendi Peters.   

 It seems Cole just can't help herself, though. In an email during the 2010 election, Cole Writes: 

"Wendy Peters (the other candidate for mayor) has always voted on the side of uncontrolled growth, including this Zeltman annexation.  Her father was on the board before she was.   I met her the day I went to my first town meeting in 2000.  I never could understand how she could be a mom and still vote on issues the way she did (personal opinion!) and have never agreed with any of her proposals.  About four years ago, Wendy was instrumental in trying to get a water source to Mount Airy that would have been disastrous (in my and many other opinions, including experts who were eventually hired to look into her proposals).  They were found to be very costly without any real results."

Councilwoman Peters isn’t even running for office yet Cole repeatedly tries to smear the Councilwoman and anyone who tries to promote progress.

Cole refutes Hastings suggestion that she belongs to some imaginary club and doesn’t support strong woman, yet her attacks on Ms. Blais are reminiscent of her attacks on Councilwoman Peters, and now her attacks on Ms. Hastings. 

Perhaps Cole simply has a problem with strong, independent women? 

Cole doesn’t belong to an imaginary club, it’s a very real club comprised of very vocal few using deplorable, unethical tactics like offers of “drinks for signs,” email intimidation, and cyber bullying.  

Fortunately, voters are beginning to see past the lip service,the rhetoric and the fictitious, slanderous propaganda of the 2 previous administrations that have kept Mt. Airy at a standstill for 6 years. 

 Ms. Cole and everyone/anyone who has contributed to the constant banter back and forth from the supposed "pro" and "anti" growth groups in town--It’s time to end the constant bashing, come together to create and implement solutions to Mt. Airy's challenges, and move beyond the constant bickering and personal attacks! I don't even know Susie Cole, and she doesn't know me, Anissa Hastings, Kristin Blais OR even Wendi Peters for that matter. If she knew the kind, generous and amazing women that we all are, believe me, she wouldn't be launching these personal attacks. 

 We deserve better, Mt.Airy! Vote for the individuals who you think are going to put an end to this constant state of drama we call Mt. Airy politics.