Key to the Highway

(I just noticed how many of these posts have something to do with driving and cars and traffic. Telling isn't it? This county, in many respects for me at least, is all about cars and traffic)

Did you know that there's such thing as a "parking key" that can be used in county parking meters? I didn't.

It's like EZ Pass or one of those "reloadable" Starbucks card, only it's used to feed parking meters at selected county locations.

The county website about this little keychain-sized doodad has all the info, including where to obtain it and where it can be used.

My sense is that it makes the otherwise unpleasant task of forking over your dough a little more palatable. Ain't technology great?

Salted Roads - Catch the Fever!

The already-suspect driving abilities of many folks in MoCo are further brought into sharp relief whenever snow falls (or is forecasted) in our area. Apparently, snow of any amount is license (pardon the pun) to drive like an damn fool around these parts, and to put staggering amounts of salt on the roads and into the area waterways.

For example, take a day much like today, when we received a very modest blanket of snow. An armada of salt spreaders headed out to dump obscenely large amounts of salt on our roads, which ultimately has the unintended result of adding tons and tons of salt to the freshwater streams and the Potomac River, which is definitely not fun for all the freshwater fish who call these waters home.

Having lived in Europe a few years, I watched how the Germans approached similar situations, and believe me, it would freak most MoCo drivers out - big time! Salt is NEVER used on German roads for the simple fact that it is so deleterious to the environment. Sure, it's a quick fix and drivers can continue on their way more or less unimpeded by the snow, but it comes at a tremendous environmental price. Rather than apply salt, the Germans use pellitized gravel. It's not a cure-all for slippery roads, but it's a good start, and the gravel is "absorbed" by the environment rather quickly, unlike the tons of salt we apply here each and every time a snowflake is spotted.

I'm waiting for the day when Montgomery County realizes that not every snowfall warrants carpet bombing with tons of salt on the roads. Some objectivity is called for here, but I guess when you've got a county populated by thousands of lawyers looking for the next good liability case, the County's probably in mortal fear of a boatload of lawsuits because they failed to provide the requisite amount of salt.

Honestly, just a small amount of common sense is called for, rather than hitting the panic button every time a snowflake is sighted. And if you think our roads are treacherous, think again. I mean, just ask the folks in Portland!

There goes the neighborhood.....

It troubles me that home invasion-type robberies / assaults seem to be on the increase in Western MoCo. What's next? Stopping cars on the road and pulling the driver and / or passengers out? I guess that the MoCo police have their hands full with major offenses like stopping speeders and issuing parking tickets, and that home invasion crime has simply got to take a back seat to other, more pressing police concerns - like kids damaging mailboxes.

Yes, it seems it's more important to extract public contrition from people who simply speak the truth than it is to actually control crime on the streets. Hey, the MoCo Chief of Police absolves himself by saying the County's "increase in some categories of violent crimes....reflects the national trend...." I guess we're supposed to just say "Oh, well, since it's happening in other parts of the country, I guess it's entirely understandable that crime's getting worse here too!"

Yes, the longer I live here in Western MoCo, the more I realize that we are witnessing an ever-increasing coarsening of people's attitudes, and a sad resignation to the fact that crimes like these seem to have become just part of the fabric of our lives; a fabric for which we pay enormous property taxes to fund a police department that's sadly unable to protect us from these sorts of crimes.

Ike Legget, What Hath Thou Wrought?

Sorry for the dearth of posting lately; I simply haven't found time to do all the things I'd like to do - blogging being one of them. However.....one thing did catch my eye over at the New MoCo Progressive website that positively snapped my head around.

It appears that aliens have taken control of Ike Legget's brain and commanded him to do something unbelievable: funding start-up businesses for day laborers - most of whom, presumably, are illegal aliens -using your money! Astonishing!

I'm all for capitalism and hard work to get ahead, but shouldn't we be serving the needs of documented American citizens before spending untold dollars on those who are here illegally, and who chose to disregard the laws of our nation? It simply boggles my mind that, on one hand, we've got a huge number of unmet needs with regards to our our native-born (and legally immigrated) residents, and on the other hand we have the Montgomery Country digging into your pocket to subsidize lawbreaking illegal aliens! Where is the logic in this equation?

I must be missing something here because it just doesn't make sense.

By the way, the Gazette covers it in this article.

Take Me Home, Rustic Roads....

Western MoCo is filled with wonderful sights. The best way to see them - at least the best way I know of - is either hiking through the woods (watch out for those pesky deer ticks though), or traveling the county's roads.

Incoming County Exec Ike Leggett is looking for a few good men or women (two, to be precise) to fills slots on the Rustic Roads Advisory Committee. But rather than tell you all about it, why not read the following press release straight from the county itself:

Leggett Seeks Applicants For Rustic Roads Advisory Committee

County Executive Isiah Leggett is seeking applicants to fill two vacancies on the County’s Rustic Roads Advisory Committee. One vacancy is for a representative of a Civic Association inside of the Agricultural Reserve, and one vacancy is for a representative with knowledge of roadway engineering through practical experience and training. One member is eligible to apply for reappointment.

The Rustic Roads Advisory Committee consists of seven voting members who must all be Montgomery County residents. Members serve three-year terms without compensation. The committee meets at least six times a year; usually the second Thursday evening of each month. Its duties include promoting public awareness of the Rustic Roads Program, reviewing and commenting on the classification of rustic roads, and reviewing and commenting on executive regulations and policies that may affect the program.

Interested residents should write by January 5, 2007 to County Executive Isiah Leggett at the Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville MD 20850 or send an e-mail to countyexecutive.boards@montgomerycountymd.gov. A brief resume, including home and work phone numbers, should be enclosed. Members of County boards, committees and commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time. Members of this committee are eligible for reimbursement for travel and dependent care for meetings attended.

Leggett’s appointments are subject to confirmation by the County Council. Applications of those selected for appointment are made public as part of the confirmation process.