Contributor Opinion by Frank Anastasi: The Real Time Line

The following contributor opinion is by >Rockville Central team member Frank Anastasi:

To set the record straight and in the interest of full disclosure, people should know that the “chronology” Piotr Gajewski recited to us was prepared by Delegate Lou Simmons following a meeting called by the City and citizens in January 2007. This was when the entire District 17 delegation – that’s Rockville’s elected state representatives – was still deep in their “It’s too late to do anything, too bad you waited so long to oppose this” denial phase.

Is it any wonder the chronology omits many significant, documented, even publicized instances of city officials and citizens beseeching the delegates and state proponents of the courthouse for relief? Of course not.

That is why we have been doing everything we can to get those facts out there. That is why we interjected several important items into the “chronology” last night. Such as:

• The June 20, 2001 Gazette article spotlighting then-Councilman Glennon Harrison’s outrage when he learned the state had doubled the size of the court house after the deal was made to put it on the library site, and still not pay for parking attributable to it. He said the “citizens won’t stand for it.” He was right. [UPDATE: "Court house" in 1st sentence incorrectly read "library" in original.]

• That same article documents the June 11, 2001 West End Citizens’ Association meeting with District 17 delegates when they “poured out their frustrations to the District 17 legislators” about their serious concerns being ignored. That would be the same meeting documented by then District 17 delegate Cheryl Kagan’s notes in her PDA that even include putting forth the Giant Site as an appropriate location — also not in the “chronology”.
• And then we have the item in the “chronology” of the May 2005 meeting that alleges then-Mayor Larry Giammo merely “did not like the building and had concerns about parking.” I bet my next paycheck that Mr. Giammo – and the meeting’s transcript and video recording – will say there was more to it than that. It was most unfortunate for Mr. Gajewski to characterize the Mayor at that meeting as “not saying he thought the library site was a bad place for the courthouse.” Especially when you can find Mr. Giammo’s position on the issue in his 2001 campaign literature.

There are a number of citizens and civic leaders – Sally Stinner, Susan Hoffmann, and Larry Giammo come to mind – who have the most longevity on this issue. They know how this deal went down and all the steps along the way. These people who have been in the trenches fighting this battle from Day 1 have the historical knowledge that one needs to fully understand what happened, when and why. People in this debate — including me — need to be quiet and listen carefully when they speak.

Move the Courthouse is going to Annapolis on Monday to speak with any legislator who will listen in an attempt to get the facts on the record, and to solicit their advice and help to solve this problem. Those signs don’t say Stop the Courthouse for a very good reason – we want a great courthouse to be built in Rockville as soon as possible on an appropriate site. If we — including our Mayor and at least some of our Council members – did not think that is possible, we would not be spending so much time, effort and money trying to accomplish that goal. I would guess, however, that bumper-stickers with STOP printed on them could be acquired quickly and plastered on our signs if we come back from Annapolis having been told that Move is not an option.

Rockville Central runs occasional, edited opinion pieces by contributors. Their views are not necessarily those of Rockville Central. To submit your opinion for consideration, contact us.

Share and enjoy:

Hide Sites