Morning Notes
How Do You Refresh A Suburban Mall? — With the coming redevelopment of White Flint, the Lerner family hopes to transform its mall, built in 1977, into an attractive urban neighborhood. [Friends of White Flint]
Frick vs. Frosh In ’14 Attorney General Race — Del. Bill Frick (D-Bethesda) said he plans to run for the state’s attorney general position in race, pitting him against fellow Bethesda state lawmaker Sen. Brian Frosh (D), who hails from the same district. Frosh, who boasts significant support, said he has not talked to Frick about his plans. [The Gazette]
MoCo Agrees To First Pay Increases For Government Employees In Four Years — The deal would reportedly provide the county’s 5,000-member employee union with a two-year contract that will give most workers 13 percent in cost-of-living and longevity raises. It must be agreed upon by the union membership and County Council. [Washington Post]
Flickr photo by His Noodly Appendage
Morning Notes
Dog That Helped Alert Elderly Bethesda Woman To Danger Died In House Fire — The 90-year-old woman who survived an early morning garage fire last week says she was alerted to danger by her dog, which could not be rescued from the back room of the smoke-filled house in time. The woman was taken to the hospital and was recovering from smoke inhalation. [The Gazette]
Harris Teeter Says It’s Coming To 8300 Woodmont Project — The grocery chain says it has finalized a long rumored lease for the planned 375-unit apartment undergoing preliminary construction work at the edge of downtown Bethesda. [Bethesda Patch]
Reminder: Engineers To Present New Plans For Sangamore Road Intelligence Base Tonight — Reps from the Army Corps of Engineers and construction company Whiting-Turner will present updated designs for the Intelligence Community Campus-Bethesda, set to hold about 3,000 employees at the former site of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency headquarters at 4800 Sangamore Rd. [MORE]
Annapolis Gun Control Hearing Draws Large, Spirited Crowd — A Wednesday public hearing run by State Sen. Brian Frosh (D-Bethesda-Chevy Chase) included eight hours of testimony from officials and residents on both sides of the gun debate. Frosh and Gov. Martin O’Malley (D), who testified, support restrictions such as an assault weapons ban. [Washington Post]
Flickr photo by IamJomo
Morning Notes
Frick Taking On Frosh In Attorney General Race? — Campaign financing reports and Del. Bill Frick’s recent hiring of an election consultant have fueled the idea that Frick could run against fellow Bethesda state legislator Brian Frosh in the 2014 attorney general race. [Maryland Juice]
Wax Studio Opening On Cordell — Cera Wax Studio (4866 Cordell Ave.) for men and women will have its grand opening on Saturday. [Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row]
Council Could Cut Request For BRT Studies In Half — The County Council today will decide whether to cut County Executive Isiah Leggett’s suggested $1 million for Bus Rapid Transit studies down to $450,000. Many councilmembers last week said the money could be wasted, as there has been no decision on actually building many of the BRT routes. [The Gazette]
Flickr photo by dbking
Morning Notes
Frosh, Others Promise Not To Bog Down O’Malley’s Gun Control Proposal With Additional Measures — Leading Democrats in Annapolis, including State Sen. Brian Frosh (D-Bethesda-Chevy Chase), say they would like to see additional gun control measures tacked on to Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposal but promised not to derail its chance of passing. [Washington Post]
Montgomery County Releases 2013 Summer Camp Guide — The county will hold its 18th Annual Camp Summer Program Expo at White Flint Mall (11301 Rockville Pike) on Saturday, Jan. 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, Jan. 27 from noon to 5 p.m. [Montgomery County Recreation]
Chevy Chase Group Talks Living In Place — Chevy Chase senior group Chevy Chase At Home today will host a talk on how to modify a home to make living easier for aging in place. The event runs from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Chevy Chase Village Hall (5906 Connecticut Ave.).
O’Malley Talks Assault Weapons Ban
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) yesterday took to the national airwaves to talk gun control and an assault weapons ban.
On MSNBC’s “Hardball,” O’Malley said, “There is no reason we should have military assault weapons any place but on the battlefield and most of the hunters that I know agree.”
He also said assault weapons, such as the one used in last week’s Sandy Hook school shooting, “have no place in a civil society.”
The remarks came on the same day President Barack Obama (D) called for Congress to reinstate an assault weapons ban and introduced a working group to submit proposals for curbing gun violence.
In Baltimore, State Sen. Brian Frosh (D-Bethesda-Chevy Chase) and others introduced a package of gun control legislation including an assault weapons ban, handgun ban in public places, reduction of clip sizes and other law enforcement tools that they will bring to the General Assembly in January.
Many of those proposals have been introduced in the General Assembly before. On at least the assault weapons ban, Frosh appears to have the governor’s strong support.
Frosh Leading State Effort To Ban Guns
Citing changed attitudes since the Newtown, Conn., school mass shooting, State Sen. Brian Frosh (D-Bethesda-Chevy Chase) and fellow lawmakers are making a new push to enact gun control legislation.
Frosh and State Senators Jamie Raskin (D-Silver Spring-Takoma Park), Lisa Gladden (D-Baltimore City) and Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) announced a package of laws they will introduce in the 2013 General Assembly.
Included is an assault weapons ban that would make illegal 45 guns (including the type of Bushmaster rifle used in the Newtown killings), a handgun ban in public places, bars and places of worship and a reduction of clip sizes.
A number of the bills have been introduced before but failed to pass.
This time, Frosh said the terms of the gun control debate have changed.
“The message from the tragic shootings in Newtown, Connecticut is clear,” Frosh said in a prepared statement. “We must act now to protect our children, our families and our communities.
“These are reasonable and common sense proposals that will help law enforcement officials to crack down on illegal gun sellers, restrict the availability of assault weapons, require new gun safety measures, limit the number of rounds in gun magazines, and outlaw carrying a firearm into certain public spaces.”
Flickr photo by mdfriendofhillary
Local Shop Pushes For Beer Growler Legislation
It might not be the greatest example of representative democracy you’ll hear about today, but it’s noteworthy nonetheless.
A longtime Bethesda beer and wine store recently asked Montgomery County for a license to sell beer growlers (the refillable glass jars larger than a typical beer bottle, some with a specially fastened cap) that have become increasingly popular with the explosion of craft beers.
The problem was Montgomery County didn’t license anybody to sell them. In fact, less than 10 stores in the state could sell growlers before legislation was adopted in Baltimore and Howard County.
So the husband and wife ownership team at Bradley Food and Beverage (6904 Arlington Rd.) went to State Sen. Brian Frosh (D-Dist. 16). An official in the county’s Department of Liquor Control wrote legislation that would allow Montgomery County beer and wine sellers to stock growlers and Frosh agreed to sponsor it in January’s State Special Assembly.
The Montgomery County Council discussed it today as part of its 2013 State Legislative Session priorities.
“I don’t think anybody had even really challenged it in Montgomery County in recent history,” said Charleen Merkel, who owns Bradley Food and Beverage with her husband.
The shop has been on Arlington Road for 40 years and is well known for its beer and wine but also its deli and bakery.
“I’m so excited because craft beer is just so in and there are so many cool beers that are not even released in bottles,” said Merkel, who will likely head to Annapolis in January to plead her case for the measure. She said Frosh doesn’t forsee any particular snags with the bill.
Under the legislation, the license would regulate size of the growlers between 32 ounces and 128 ounces. That’s more than enough progress for Merkel, who said she was happy to see a small bit of democracy in action.
Flickr photo by Jinx!
Frosh Reveals Long List of Attorney General Supporters
State Sen. Brian Frosh (D-Bethesdsa-Chevy Chase) today announced a long list of Maryland Democratic heavyweights who will be on his exploratory committee for a 2014 run at Maryland Attorney General.
The list of supporters includes County Executive Isiah Leggett, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, State Sen. Mike Miller, Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker, former Governors Parris Glendening and Harry Hughes and former Attorney General Stephen Sachs.
It does not include State Delegate Bill Frick, a fellow Bethesda state house representative who was rumored to be seeking the Attorney General seat on his own.
Attorney General Doug Gansler is rumored to be targeting the Democratic nomination for Governor, leaving the seat open.
State Sen. Jamie Raskin, of Takoma Park, was another rumored potential Attorney General candidate but has since thrown his support behind Frosh. Raskin and County Council members Roger Berliner, George Leventhal, Marc Elrich, Valerie Ervin and Nancy Floreen are also on the committee.
“Brian’s compassion, independence and integrity have been apparent to us in Montgomery County for many years. He has been the state leader on protecting our environment and ensuring that we have a fair and impartial judiciary that protects the rights of all Marylanders,” Leggett said in the announcement on Frosh’s website. “I am pleased to offer my wholehearted support to him in the race for Attorney General.”
Frosh is holding an Annapolis fundraiser in November he said will focus on his work on environmental issues.
Bethesda Pols Hosting Same-Sex Marriage Fundraiser
A host of Bethesda politicians, including State Sen. Richard Madaleno (D-Dist. 18), the first openly gay Maryland state senator, are hosting a fundraiser on Sunday to raise money for Marylanders For Marriage Equality.
The group is campaigning for Question 6 on November’s ballot, a referendum which would allow same-sex couples in Maryland to marry.
The event, at The Oakville Grille (10257 Old Georgetown Rd.), will include Attorney General Doug Gansler (D), State Sen. Brian Frosh (D-Dist. 16), Delegate Bill Frick (D-Dist. 16), Delegate Ariana Kelly (D-Dist. 16), Delegate Susan Lee (D-Dist. 16), Delegate Ana Sol Gutierrez (D-Dist. 18), Delegate Al Carr (D-Dist. 18) and Delegate Jeff Waldstreicher (D-Dist. 18).
Guests are being asked for donations of $100, $250, $500 or $1,000.
A poll last week showed 49 percent of voters were for same-sex marriage, while 39 percent were opposed.
The referendum is one of three major ballot questions. Statewide, voters will also decide on the Maryland DREAM Act and a measure to expand gambling by allowing a Las Vegas-style casino in Prince George’s County and live table games in the state’s existing casinos.
Frosh Gearing Up For Attorney General Run
State Sen. Brian Frosh (D-Bethesda-Chevy Chase) is raising money for a potential 2014 run at Maryland attorney general with a fundraiser touting his environmental accomplishments.
Frosh, who announced the event yesterday, confirmed his interest in running for attorney general in July and is asking for donations of $100, $250, $500 or $1,000 for an evening on Nov. 14 at an Annapolis restaurant.
The five-term state senator and Bethesda lawyer is touting his environmental record, which includes work to preserve the Chesapeake Bay and reduce air pollution.
Current state Attorney General Doug Gansler is expected by many to make a run at governor in 2014. That opened the door for a number of potential attorney general candidates, including State Del. Bill Frick (D-Bethesda) and State Sen. Jamie Raskin (D-Takoma Park).
Raskin reportedly will back Frosh’s run. Frosh was a state delegate for eight years prior to entering the State Senate.
