Retirement plans have been misrepresented
Throughout my aldermanic career, I have consistently reached across the aisle, striving to bridge divides and serve all my constituents. So, I’m pleased to see that the Republicans apparently have candidates lining up to take my place as Ward 1 alderwoman. It’s heartwarming to see such enthusiasm and dedication to public service emerge.
Unfortunately, my husband and my retirement plans have been misrepresented as a political and “convenient” decision, but that is politics and expected behavior from some. Personal considerations drive our decision to retire, and our goal remains to retire in August, provided everything falls into place.
The logistics are complex, but we are hopeful everything will align as planned. Until then, I will continue to work for my constituents as diligently as ever, upholding my commitment and oath to the office.
I trust that Republicans, who choose to, will take this time to plan how to run in a city election.
Elly Tierney, Annapolis
Tierney is the outgoing alderwoman from Ward 1
The central committee is letting Annapolis Republicans down
An article in The Capital on June 4, 2024, gave voice to complaints by the Annapolis Republican Central Committee about Ward 1 Alderwoman Elly Tierney’s choice of a date to retire. Tierney decided to retire in August 2024.
Under the terms of the Annapolis City Charter, the Annapolis Democratic Central Committee will choose her successor. Had she decided on a retirement date in July, her successor would be decided by a special election. These provisions of the charter apply to vacancies created by the retirement of Republican and Democratic alderpersons.
The central committee has no legal reason to question Tierney’s decision, but the central committee does have ample, embarrassing reasons to be frustrated with the state of the two-party system in Annapolis. Since 2017, Republicans have been unable to win a single seat on City Council or the mayor’s office.
The principal job of the central committee is to build the party by developing a slate of candidates and a platform of issues that will attract a large cross-section of Annapolis voters.
Annapolis Republicans will continue to suffer the indignity of one-party rule until they elect a central committee that will do the hard work of party building and put aside the temptation of national party dog whistles. Whining about Tierney’s retirement date or ballot security won’t get the job done.
Bob Gallagher, Annapolis
Explore the environmentally preferred solution for City Dock
The city’s latest roll-out of its plans for a “Maritime Welcome Center” at the end of City Dock last Thursday skipped any serious discussion of the “souvenir shop,” “raw bar,” and “conference rooms” that are the apparent reason for a big new building on the waterfront. Mayor Gavin Buckley told us we need a “spa quality” facility like Newport, Rhode Island, costing over $10 million.
But the public Maritime Welcome Center in Newport was part of the rehabilitation and repurposing of an existing historic building, and reportedly it cost $1.46 million — a fraction of what is proposed by our city government.
Since the Carbon Leadership Forum has found that “Reuse and retrofit of an existing building typically produces 50-75% less carbon than the construction of a new building,” why isn’t the city exploring the option of locating whatever facilities are actually needed in existing harbor buildings?
Is it really the case that there is no building the city could buy or lease for the needed restrooms?
Couldn’t the Harbor Master use the Burtis House or another existing building?
Don’t we care about unnecessary carbon pollution?
It’s not as if we urgently need another raw bar or souvenir shop to compete with the existing downtown businesses.
Nor do we need a glass-enclosed conference room for VIPs to watch concerts, the Blue Angles or Lights on the Bay.
What the city and the environment do need is what is most precious — open space on the waterfront for all to enjoy.
Since a welcome center has nothing to do with flood protection, we should take the time to explore the environmentally preferred solution of locating any needed facilities in an existing building.
It would help save the environment and certainly save the taxpayer’s millions.
John Thorpe Richards, Jr., Annapolis
City Dock could end up as Buckley Boondoggle
Bravo to Katie McDermott for her thoughtful and factual piece on the planned development at City Dock.
I share many of her concerns regarding the lack of details identifying the sources of some $90+ million in funding, the unnecessary and costly amenities that have nothing to do with flood amelioration and sketchy estimates of timelines for the project.
There is a pervasive sense that the entire project is being quietly ramrodded through as an expensive “egacy” to Mayor Gavin Buckley. And in so doing, it has lost the primary focus of flood control and, as is the case with most municipal projects of this size, is likely to incur cost overruns and schedule delays.
The mayor and City Council should focus on the issue at hand and prevent the Buckley Legacy from ending up as the Buckley Boondoggle.
Rob Scanlon, Eastport
Setting facts straight about Crystal Spring senior living project
A recent commentary by Mary Reese attacked the remarkable compromise reached on the model senior living project at Crystal Spring by a broad-based coalition of conservationists and citizen leaders led by former Sen. Gerald Winegrad. I am a member of this group and live on the Annapolis Neck Peninsula.
The writer chose to attack the forest conservation plan disregarding the extraordinary plans to assure that the 124 acres of forest now on the 176-acre tract would be kept at 124 acres and protected forever, including replanted forest.
Yes, 27 acres of forest would be cleared but more than 27 acres of trees would be replanted on the site. Contrary to her assertions, no vernal pools would be touched and much of the forest to be cleared is degraded by vines, invasive species, and poor tree quality.
Allegations that the trees replanted would be “vulnerable, imported seedlings planted and forgotten elsewhere” are simply not true. The forest conservation plan approved after six submittals over 10 years assures that only native tree species are carefully replanted on the site and that these young saplings must be watered and cared for over five years to assure their establishment and growth.
It was our coalition that spearheaded efforts to gain enactment of the city no-net loss law in 2018. If not for this law, 27 acres could have been cut with no replacement required — the same if the site were still in the county. City government did not circumvent the Forest Conservation Act and a circuit judge rejected such a contention. The writer chose to appeal this decision to a higher court.
The project is attacked allegedly because it “is championed by a deep-pocketed few” and is a “luxury retirement” facility. This does a disservice to National Lutheran Services & Communities, which has been providing housing for seniors for 130 years. The fact is that our aging population needs continuing care retirement facilities that assure seniors may age in place with full health care available.
NLCS offers one bedroom, one bath, 881 square foot apartments in the $300,000 range, hardly luxurious or for the rich, especially in an Annapolis market where home sales average $614,000.
Mention is made of the Crab Creek Conservancy, a group formed to fight the development based on water quality. As one of the best stormwater/water quality experts stated in thoroughly reviewing this project for our coalition, “anyone concerned with the water quality of Crab Creek should be elated with the current plan, stormwater runoff will be lower than for existing conditions and runoff volume will be that of a mature forest in good condition.”
As former Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan stated: Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not to their own facts.
Nancy Plaxico, Annapolis
Can we go back to twice weekly trash pickup in the summer?
As someone who is very concerned with the world I leave behind for my grandsons, I try and do my part. While I’m no Greta Thunberg, I do recycle, drink only tap water, donate to Save the Bay and try my best.
Summer is here and with it comes parties. Lots of them which produce lots of trash. As I drive and walk through my community I pick up trash. I draw the line at nasty crab shells strewn over the road.
I would like to encourage our County Council members and Steuart Pittman to please consider , at least for the summer months, to go back to the good old days of twice weekly trash collection.
The critters constantly trying to get into my trash cans won’t like it much, but the river, bay, marshes and people of the countywill. Something that benefits us all as we pay our ever-increasing property taxes in the fall.
Kim Spence, Crownsville
Community association and HOA summit was positive first step
His is a story of government working. That may be hard for some to hear, but for 100 leaders of community associations (CAs) and home owners associations (HOAs), that’s exactly what happened June 1.
Anne Arundel County held a half-day summit to support these leaders in dealing with the challenges of leading their organizations. These are often thankless jobs done in earnest by our neighbors trying to keep residents happy, keep costs down, comply with often obscure rules and laws, and penetrate the thicket of government agencies who all have a say in what gets done.
The summit held special sessions helping leaders deal with stormwater management, conflict resolution and communication, and financial management. There was also a presentation by the Office of Common Ownership Communities in Montgomery County, demonstrating the full range of advice and support they provide to community leaders.
This didn’t happen by accident.
More than a year ago, the Growth Action Network (GAN) began a conversation with County Executive Steuart Pittman about the long list of challenges that face HOA/CA leaders in dealing with the too-broad range of their responsibilities.
Pittman listened and asked GAN to be a partner in the effort.
In his Community Engagement and Constituent Services Office, he has tasked its leader, Vincent Moulden, and appointed Hannah Thompson as Strategic Engagement Officer to be the point of contact for HOA/CA leaders who need help or assistance or even just information from county government.
The summit was their first effort. The feedback from participants was very positive; the only complaint was that it was too short.
It is clear that the need is great. We look forward to what comes next.
It is also clear that county government worked.
Matt Minahan, Edgewater
Chair, Growth Action Network
Fill school positions through lens of excellence
The Anne Arundel School Board of Education is implementing shakeups throughout the district for the next school year. According to the board, these changes are being made, “through an equity lens.” What does that mean?
Are these folks being shifted around to meet some undefined “equity” balance based on color, race, gender? I would hope, as a grandmother of two students in the system, that all positions in the district be filled not through a lens of equity, but rather through a lens of excellence.
Colleen Ligibel, Annapolis
More Republicans need to step up against MAGA extremists
MAGA adherents have reacted to Donald Trump’s conviction for falsifying business records by insisting that his prosecution makes America look like a “banana republic.” Admittedly, there is some legitimacy to this claim: Criminal charges brought against executive office holders after they have been forced from power is common in underdeveloped democracies. And it is unfortunate to see it in the U.S.
Yet, what this characterization ignores is another feature of third-world politics: That of strongmen in power refusing to accept their defeat at the polls, inciting supporters to rebel against lawful order in an effort to remain in power by violence and fraud.
Trump’s legal woes are largely the consequence of his insolent abuse of the privileges of his former office, and his encouragement of illegal acts to keep his job. Throughout this process, he has been supported by those members of his political party who are afraid of him.
In short, if America has come to resemble a banana republic, it has done so due to the actions of Banana Republicans.
As a Republican myself (but a Republican Inside ‘N Out), it troubles me to see this. There are too few party members like our former governor willing to speak up for traditional party values.
MAGA extremists have twisted the Republican Party into something it never was nor was ever intended to be. If more real Republicans don’t step up, Mr. Trump and his fellow Banana Republicans will do the same to America.
Thomas Woodward, Arnold
