Any vote - be it tomorrow night, two weeks from tomorrow or next summer - will barely reflect the will of the people's elected representatives.
To recap: Councilman Ed Middlebrooks has recused himself from all slots votes because of a conflict of interest. And Councilman Josh Cohen's resignation took effect today; tomorrow he will be sworn in as Annapolis mayor.
If the council votes tomorrow on whether to approve zoning changes to allow slots at Arundel Mills mall, Cohen's seat will be...
| This story has expired! You can purchase the full text in our news archives. |
If you encounter other problems, please email nlundskow@capitalgazette.com and include your name, username, and any errors or messages that are displayed. The more information you can provide, the better able we will be to assist you.
In order to post or vote on a comment, you must be signed in with a hometownannapolis account.
Take a look at a summary of Commenting Guidelines.
Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 2
1
Laurel vs. Russett - 2009-12-09 11:53:48
Actually, the Laurel area overall voted in favor of the referendum; it is only one specific precinct (Russett) that actually voted against the referendum.
unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?
Keith Jamison - Hanover, MD - Karma: Bad
Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 4
6
13.3% unemp in Las Vegas!! - 2009-12-08 13:39:16
Anne Arundel County is a separate and distinct governing entity. My hope is that the County Council will come up with a bill that really is in the best interest of AA county citizens, because then it would also be serving all citizens of the state of MD. Far too long the Council has voted in favor of business development without at the long term reamifications of their actions. The Business interests have been well served by the County Council and County Execs: Gary, Owens and Leopold. It is time for the people of AA County to have the last word on such a life changing, irreparable zoning decision!!
unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?
Maryellen Brady - Edgewater, MD - Karma: Bad
Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 4
4
Is this - 2009-12-08 08:00:39
for real. 9 months and this is the best this council can do! I hope people remember all this come election time. Clearly a lack of courage exsists with this council. Did I miss something in the last 9 months, but the first I have heard Middlebrooks has a conflict is last week, but this has been talked about for 9 months. Amazing!
unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?
Pat Magnum - Arnold, MD - Karma: Excellent
Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 2
3
Democracy 2 - 2009-12-07 16:54:20
@ Masak - the flyers do appear to be the work of horse racing lobbyists. My neighbor indicated that he saw the truck from Laurel Racing.
@ Van der Vossen - there is something to be said about reading the fine print. We were yelling at the top of our lungs that any place along 295 (as defined by the legislation) was a potential slots location. Many of us that were part of the stop slots maryland movement noted that the way the legislation was written, the NSA was even a viable location. I think slots will prove to be the bane of our existence and am absolutely oppose to them. I think now however, those who oppose slots have to figure out how to stop the next wave of expansion -which is coming as soon as the ink is dry on tonight's vote. No community can afford to be caught off-guard again. I hope to meet with Rob soon, maybe the two of you can join us? Please let me know.
unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?
Devin Tucker - Laurel, MD - Karma: Excellent
Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 1
5
Democracy - 2009-12-07 16:37:45
Debra - well said, elected state representatives failed
unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?
Devin Tucker - Laurel, MD - Karma: Excellent
Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 4
5
Or, is it Democracy? - 2009-12-07 16:15:52
Most politicians, I think, would agree that their jobs consist or, at least, ought to consist of studying the issues before them, weighing the alternatives, and thinking through the consequences of each. He or she should act according to conscience and do the right thing even in the face of countervailing pressures.
A representative democracy works best when representatives act according to their best judgment.
Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion.
Gambling is not the answer, regardless of where it is located. Our representatives at the state level failed us all by failing to vote and instead putting this question to public referendum.
unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?
Debra Myers - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Good
Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 3
3
To Christopher, Again: - 2009-12-07 11:24:09
The site you link from your original post states :
"Tell the Arundel County Council to make the right decision for Russett. Show your support for bill 82-09, which places gaming in its rightful place near Arundel Mills Mall."
Is that a moral / ethical stance on Slots? Or is that a NIMBY position?
The FACT is that Russet began construction in 1992, and Laurel Park has been in existence, with active gambling on site, since 1911 from what I can tell. Residents in Russet knowingly purchased homes next to a gambling facility. Many of them have continued to do so, long after Robert Ehrlich first floated the idea of putting a Slots facility there.
While in contrast, residents in the Villages of Dorchester have purchased their homes with the knowledge that they live next to a major shopping destination, with protective covenants against the expansion of that facility. There was no reasonable expectation for a Casino to be built there, as it is actually quite possibly illegal to do so (pending judicial review of the covenants of course).
I personally believe that Ron George has the right idea, and understands the will of Maryland voters,
"A bill already filed by Del. Ron George, R-Arnold, for the General Assembly session that begins next month would prevent a slots facility from being located within 1,000 feet of a shopping center, church, community center, playground or school. The only locations that would get a pass from those limits would be existing horse racetracks."
Marylanders voted to support education, avoid tax increases, and to prop up the Horse industry. They did NOT vote to put a casino at a family friendly shopping mall which also houses a school, and a church. The proposed Casino entrance would be directly adjacent to the outside entrance of "The Children's Place". I have a hard time believing that is what anyone in Maryland envisioned when they voted for the referendum.
unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?
Philip Van der Vossen - Hanover, MD - Karma: Neutral
Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 4
5
Philip - For the record - 2009-12-07 11:07:09
This Laurel Voter, voted against the slots, regardless of their location in AA, or MD for that matter.
unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?
Rick Marshall - Laurel, Md - Karma: Excellent
Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 5
5
Fortunately - 2009-12-07 07:59:58
the writers and editors of the Capital only get one vote in this democracy.
unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?
Peter Dennis - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral
Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 3
2
Thanks for the comment - 2009-12-07 01:14:40
Hhilip:
Consistently opposing slots, as the majority of citizens of Laurel have done, demonstrates a moral/ethical stance on an issue.
Opposing slots only after finding out that they'd be located near your community demonstrates NIMBYism at best and a clear disdain for my community at worst.
While I fully support your right to stand up for your community and acknowledge that you never expected slots to come to the mall, in the end YOUR community DID vote to open up that Pandora's box and bring them to Maryland. To assume that they'd NEVER encroach on your neighborhood was shortsighted. Remember what happens when you assume?
The citizens of Russett, armed with the same information, STILL voted against slots.
Having said that, the simple fact is that Laurel Park is a bad sight. Bankrupt, butting up against greenspace, requiring intense redevelopment and surrounded by inadequate transportation infrastructure, it's a bad location that was only a target because some muckety-mucks in Annapolis love dumping things in that little corner of the county.
As it turns out, slots DID pass and there IS a LOGICAL and APPROVED site...it just happens to be in your area.
As for paid organizers: 3-page color documents hand-delivered in large numbers in the middle of a snowstorm that present a convoluted explanation of the issue and urge action on the WRONG bill not only hint at unethical behavior, they SCREAM it. Whether they were sent by paid lobbyists, developers or citizens groups, their presence is unwelcome.
Again, I praise you for standing up for your community, but I simply disagree with the premise of your argument.
unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?
Christopher Masak - Laurel, MD - Karma: Good
Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 3
1
To Christopher : - 2009-12-06 23:25:47
People in Laurel voted against the Slots referendum, because they knew that Laurel Park was the intended site. People around Arundel Mills voted for the Slots referendum because they were voting to support education, and they knew that Laurel Park was the intended site, where a gambling facility already exists. It is an appropriate extension and usage of an existing gambling facility. People around Arundel Mills Mall have a covenant agreement with the Mills property which specifically precludes further development which is not consistent with the original intended usage. So people near the Mall has no expectation that a Casino would ever be built there.
As for "paid organizers", I am not sure what you are referring to, but I assure you they were not sent by the residents near Arundel Mills Mall. If any such activity is happening, it is more likely coming from lobbyists for the Horse industry. As residents of a community, we want the same thing you want, to keep Casinos away from our community and our children.
unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?
Philip Van der Vossen - Hanover, MD - Karma: Neutral
Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 4
2
Not Democracy - 2009-12-06 12:00:51
Further evidence this isn't democracy: The citizens of Laurel voted AGAINST slots while the neighborhoods around Arundel Mills voted FOR slots, yet it seems everyone wants to put slots in LAUREL. Couple that with the fact(s) that Laurel Park is bankrupt, has no bid and is a terrible location due to it's proximity to greenspace/river/flood plain. Oh, and let's not forget the dirty tactics used by paid (not volunteer) organizers who've been sent by the Arundel Mills folks to confuse the citizens of Laurel and this has reached a whole new level of ridiculousness.
The council should vote a resounding NO on 81-09 and YES on 82-09.
www.notinrussett.com
unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?
Christopher Masak - Laurel, MD - Karma: Good
Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 1
6
Lobbyists and developers - 2009-12-06 09:14:39
With all the money given and promised by lobbyists and out of town developer, no one wants to say no. They would rather save face ( with the developers and lobbyists) and refrain from voting. Let the PEOPLE deicde directly. It is the only way
No , my friends, this is not democracy, nor was Cohen's appointment as democratic party candidate--It's politics.
unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?
Fred Shubbie - annapolis , md - Karma: Terrible
If you encounter other problems, please email nlundskow@capitalgazette.com and include your name, username, and any errors or messages that are displayed. The more information you can provide, the better able we will be to assist you.