By Patrick McGrady
Special to The Dagger
There were raucous hearings held about the proposed MdTA toll increases on June 17 and June 27 in Perryville and Havre de Grace, respectively.
There were many people present from Havre de Grace, Edgewood, Aberdeen, and all over Cecil County. Also in attendance were several elected representatives including the State Senator from District 34 and two of the three Delegates that represent the district. They each advocated for the citizens and against the toll hikes.
Through the noisy and often emotional hearing, one thing struck me as odd more than anything else: The deafening silence from the Aberdeen City Council and Mayor.
Where were they when their citizens were begging for mercy from the unaccountable MdTA?
It turns out that there was a fancy Maryland Municipal League (MML) conference being held in Ocean City from Sunday June 26th through June 29th (maybe the busiest week of the year in Ocean City). Mayor Bennett sent his support via a proxy, but is that enough to make the MdTA know that Aberdeen seriously opposes hiking the tolls and eliminating the decals for locals?
The people of Aberdeen were counting on them to advocate against the Hatem Bridge Toll hikes, but not one member of the Council was at the hearing.
Have you heard of the Maryland Municipal League? How about the National League of Cities, or the Maryland Association of Counties? They sound very important, yes, but what do they do?
Municipal governments from across the state attend these meetings, alongside County and State elected officials meet to discuss about the best ways to create government-planned communities (“sustainable growth”) alongside such toxic lessons as “consensus building”.
These organizations, in which many municipalities claim paid membership, lobby elected officials at higher levels of government for favorable regulations and funding for their projects at higher levels. This may not be a bad thing when the policies being advocated work for all 157 Maryland Municipalities, but when could that possibly happen?
Aberdeen’s budget for the upcoming year included $16,000 of taxpayer money for Membership in the Maryland Municipal League and $2,000 for membership in the National League of Cities.
Should our elected representatives be using taxpayer money to attend meetings or fund membership in organizations that will lobby for more taxes and regulations? Or should these expenses come from the personal spending (or even campaign money) of the representatives? Do voters realize that those they elect participate in a non-accountable body which influences spending and increases government?
Elected representatives should be the biggest advocates for their constituents, not an Annapolis-based lobbying organization that uses taxpayer money to influence policy.
When politicians use taxpayer dollars to join these organizations (or to be the President of them, like Aberdeen Mayor Mike Bennett) they are required to be responsible to two masters. One, which uses taxpayer dollars to pay for a membership in an “educational” and lobbying organization and the other, which uses that money to lobby things that those same taxpayers may disagree with, like “revenue increases” or destruction of private property rights through “sustainability” legislation.
The bottom line is: when the people needed to see and speak with the Aberdeen City Council at the Public Hearings about the Toll hikes on June 27 at 5:30PM, they were busy in Ocean City at Dessert Receptions.
See the 2012 MML Convention program here: http://www.mdmunicipal.org/documents/CvProgram060311.pdf
Aberdeen can no longer afford this kind of representation. There is an election this fall– I hope the citizens of Aberdeen are paying attention.
Patrick McGrady will appear live with host Maynard Edwards on WAMD 970 AM radio tomorrow at 8:35 a.m. Watch live at http://khztv.com/wamd/, call in with your questions at (410) 306-6270, or post any comments here.
ok so what exactly do these organizations do? and why should we be involved in them? also is the same groups that party every summer in OC?
Sometimes I wonder if we really couldn’t get along with out the incorporated towns in the county. don’t get rid of the towns, just the town governments. Whenever you read stories about politicians living the good life, it makes you wonder why we need them. After a while I bet nobody would much miss them. Sure, I’d have to pay for my own trash pick up, and we may have some adjustments with police depts, etc but I bet it could be done. Not to say that politics will allow “de-incorporation,” but it is nice to dream.
It has been a good idea to get rid of local goverment. I have mulled the idea for a couple years now. In Havre de Grace the elected officials take too long passing necessary laws like requireing landlords to install carbon monoxide, smoke detectors. The don’t seem to represent the citizens as a whole but the wealthy are well represented. It has taken almost twenty years for Havre de Grace to develope anything for the youth of this town. They now have a computer room that is there own world. No thanks to local goverment but with great appreciation to the county libary system. In fact for the most part local elected officials don’t represent the community. They are a bunch of autocrats. It is there way or the highway.
Many residents choose to live in the towns specifically because they are incorporated, and have no desire to see it change. Since you seem to have issues with town governments, have you considered moving to an unincorporated area, which happens to make up the majority of Harford County?
As far as “politicians living the good life”, are you aware of the fact that a Bel Air Town Comissioner earns $4,800/year, with the Chairman (Mayor) receiving an addtional $1,200? Not quite Trump territory.
PD,
What is the difference between living in Abingdon or Belcamp and Bel Air or Aberdeen?
Honestly, what is the difference in services? The muni police force? What else?
City water vs well water.
Local police vs Sherrifs office.
Mr. McGrady is simply trying to manufacture a controversy in order to draw attention to himself as he prepares to run for Mayor of Aberdeen. Typical Republican tactic – make something out to be bigger than it is and not offer anything constructive – tolls, debt ceiling, you name it.
As opposed to the typical Democratic tactic of scaring the electorate to vote for them by relying on emotional responses rather than facts. At least Mr. McGrady is providing potential voters with facts to support his outrage. Whether they choose to believe his outrage is justified is up to them. Please, let’s not devolve into the typical political R v D nonsense. It’s a legitimate concern for some. It’s not a legitimate concern for others. It all depends upon your viewpoint.
Personally, I don’t think that the Mayor and his staff should have necessarily been at the MTA meeting, but I do wonder why leaders of small little towns like Aberdeen need to go off to conferences in Ocean City at the taxpayer’s expense. Living in the city provides its residents with local paid police and city water. Beyond that, there isn’t much else that directly impacts the city resident’s life. I’d love to hear the Mayors of Aberdeen, HDG, and Bel Air explain what exactly it is that they provide to their residents that is above and beyond what the rest of the county residents receive.
In response to the Concerned Teacher. Property value down taxs up,,, At least I can sleep soundly at night knowing our beloved leaders are working soooo hard for me (cough,cough,hack and weeze). Hmm,,,maybe I’m the only one who’s property taxes went up…if so please retract my last statement,,,lol
McGrady just showed how much of a neophyte he truly is. Beware Aberdeen….something wicked this way comes…
You mean you expect the government to look out for the interest of the oppressed citizenry. Hard to find that any more in the peoples republic of Maryland.
Didn’t patrick get his but handed to him in the last election??? hello!!!! Are ya there!!!
They didn’t want to buy what you had to sell then ..don’t think much has changed.
And I hsvn’t seen a numbers plan for bridge and road maintenance from Patrick, when you have one that gets the job done without a toll increase, put it out in print and then go sell it.
I do believe he lost the last election handily. However, there are lots of reasons that a young politician might lose an election other than people disagreeing with his message. Every election is a learning experience. Perhaps Mr. McGrady learned something about his message, his delivery, his campaign tactics, or his potential constituency last time that will help him this time. He is bold and enthusiastic. Maybe that helps him, or maybe in this town that hurts him. The last bold Mayor of Aberdeen got tossed out on his ear after one term.
concerned teacher you are right. The people of Aberdeen don’t want aggressive and bold representation. They want someone like Bennett who will continue to be a passive place holder and muppet for his out of town friends. And if elected to a couple more terms Bennett will be remembered only as the guy that got to turn the lights off when Aberdeen unincorperated. Upon reflection, that box of rocks teenager, Nicole Berlew, may have been a better choice for my vote a few years ago. She wanted to make rt 40 through Aberdeen a toll road.
Doesn’t Helton (pick one) loose elections handidly every time he runs? That didn’t stop him from running and winning in Aberdeen under the pen name of Bennett!
Stay classy Aber-dump!
Actually raising the toll isn’t about road and bridge maintenance it is about filling the coffers of a state that no longer represents the people. This money will help a lot of socialist programs, like instate tuition for illegal aliens.
I can’t help but toss this in. I attended two of the MLA conferences in Ocean City. I had vowed that I would never go to another as they were a complete and total waste of time, money and energy. The stated purpose may read like something very worthwhile, but the reality is that the training sessions are not all that well attended, because there are so many opportunities to sponge free food and drinks from the lobbyists and vendors. If any of you are in fact attending any of those stimulating council meetings ask the five of them, who has completed the entire training course and received there certificate and pin from the University of Maryland. If a council person wants to, they can complete that course in two years. If all five of them have not done so they should be forced to reimburse the tax payers for their all expense family vacation at the beach. Perhaps we can make it a campaign issue for this year’s election for a four year term for all five of them. Let’s demand a pledge of non-attendance from all candidates. Trust me the expense does not justify the limited return.