Comments on: Editorial Opinion by Cindy Cotte Griffiths: Affordable Housing As A Priority

By: Ken Sandin

Ken Sandin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 03:49:25 +0000

This thread, responding to Cindy’s affordable housing advocacy article, went a bit off track and dormant after nearly a month. Too bad, because there is a principle that needs to be aired, which I think was pretty well captured in the view that “development projects and services coming to Rockville [should be] balanced with the concerns of the community they are joining.” I agree completely, and I think some balancing is in order, given that our social, political, and economic systems are so heavily weighted in favor of the “haves.”

By: Theresa Defino

Theresa Defino — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:50:57 +0000

Is inaction on the part of the Mayor and Council somehow the Gazette’s fault?

By: Brad Rourke

Brad Rourke — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:03:34 +0000

i agree completely with cindy. the gazette is indispensible. we just try to do our best to add what we can. nathan in particular does a great job.

By: Cindy Cotte Griffiths

Cindy Cotte Griffiths — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:55:44 +0000

In all fairness to the Gazette, this week Brad linked to two of their articles on the Mayor and Council for (1.) visions and (2.) the Twinbrook meeting. Nate Carrick is doing an excellent job, well beyond anything on Rockville Central. The Gazette still is the only real source of comprehensive local coverage for Rockville.

By: Andrew Field

Andrew Field — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:39:46 +0000

“I was sad but not surprised to read that, according to the Gazette…”yes, the Gazette. That treasured bundle of fact-checking and overpriced advertising I use to start my woodstove. How they don’t get cited for littering amazes me. Between craigslist and good little local online sites like this one, its a constant shock that the Gazette is still here in 2010.

By: Theresa Defino

Theresa Defino — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:43:29 +0000

I was sad but not surprised to read that, according to the Gazette, affordable housing does not appear to be anywhere on the mayor and council’s list of priority issues for the future.

By: Carol Hannaford

Carol Hannaford — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:43:57 +0000

Thanks to Cindy for her editorial opinion and for soliciting responses from the Mayor and Council. The comments from residents are thoughtful, with Brigitta putting a human face on the issue. I have attended the county’s Affordable Housing Conference (usually held in April) on several occasions and feel that many statements are made, many pats on the back are given, but little of substance comes from it. I think continued dialog with each other and with our elected officials may be more fruitful.

By: Brigitta Mulilcan

Brigitta Mulilcan — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:04:33 +0000

We should focus on the needs of the community and not the rhetoric of criticizing politicians. Some of them in the past have not agreed with our point of views and that is inevitable. Regardless, they must make decisions on the basis of the information provided and should have substantial justification for their decisions.Affordable housing issue has affected my family. My siblings and I are very frustrated with the problems our parents have living so far away. Our parents moved to Florida because it was too costly for them to remain in Montgomery County depending on their social security checks to live on. Now we have constant issues requiring one of the family members to solve the problems long-distance, sometimes requiring one of us to travel to Florida. My brother drove 22 hours from Chicago to Sarasota and is taking his turn helping our mother. He is there this week.Here are my answers to some questions raised on this blog of affordable housing. 1) How do we define the need? It is obvious that we need affordable housing, very few disagree. 2) Who are the target residents? The residents in need are the many that don’t have high salaries and have no way to increase their income, which includes many older seniors. I certainly can’t afford a $1,800 monthly rent bill. 3) Where should it be located? Locate the facilities where property is available and an organization is willing to pay to build it. Our government certainly doesn’t have enough money to provide the housing needs of all.There are more than enough Federal, County and City codes (guidelines, regulations) that are required to be followed when dealing with any scale of development. We also have a good process in the City of Rockville that allows comments from the public. Few people do take time to voice their concerns, and present reasonable suggestions in most cases. There will be differing views of course, but in the end the process does work even if some improvement is needed. Compromises are necessary and I have seen the process work in our fair City of Rockville. Let’s be positive and work together.The way the elected officials balance the concerns of the community is not always the way we agree. The fact is that the final decision regardless of all the community arguments, the City of Rockville Mayor and Council has the authority to approve or disapprove a project. I only hope they make the right decision, are provided all accurate information, weigh all the pros and cons, and allow affordable housing projects to be approved. This statement also applies to the Rockville Planning Commission. Compelling reasons are a must when voting on developmental projects.

By: Roald Schrack

Roald Schrack — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:19:59 +0000

How does a democracy deal with reality when you can easily get more votes by playing to the fears and prejudices that exist. There are a number of candidates that feel they were defeated in the past election because they tried to deal with misinformation in a constructive fashion. Rockville, as the rest of the country, is facing difficult economic times. Half the houses in Rockville just had their assessments reduced 21%. Foreclosures are a daily occurrence.In the fifty years I have lived in Rockville I don’t recall a time when things were worse off economically. The need for affordable housing is now greater than ever but speaking the truth may have a penalty when it means facing a fearful constituency . Times are demanding real leadership from the Mayor and Council. My wish for the New Year is that they will find the courage to provide the leadership we need to deal with the problems we face.

By: susan kneller

susan kneller — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 14:29:09 +0000

I agree totally with Temperance’s comments. Some of our elected officials are engaging in what I call the “Truth -Con”– that is making a statement that is deemed the politically correct one such as “I am for affordable housing.” Having said the “right” thing, they then proceed to do everything in their power to undermine it from happening with negative votes, signs, petitions and political “doublespeak.” We are all sick of this behavior! It is time for the Mayor and Council to put their vote behind their verbal committment and put aside the “Truth-Con!”

By: Temperance Blalock

Temperance Blalock — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 23:17:53 +0000

I don’t believe that politicians should be able to issue vapid statements that they “support” certain things if they have not actually demonstrated that they do, in fact, have a record of doing so. For someone to claim that they support something, but then they cannot point to a concrete example of having actually done so, and furthermore they have a record that is rife with obstruction to the concept that they claim to support, then it is hypocritical at best to make such a claim.