Comments on: Vicki Almond talks Royal Farms, school construction and more

By: Anneslie Resident

Anneslie Resident — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 04:31:29 +0000

I shudder to think how Ms. Almond would direct the Baltimore County Department of Planning and the Office of Facilities and Improvement for BCPS given her statements in this interview. If you are “hopeful that Towson is going to be what it was meant to be: that it’s going to be that walkable, lovely community” how do you see allowing a suburban strip-mail with a gas station at the entry to Towson achieving that goal? Which is it? Do you think the Master Plan should be conformed with or do you think it’s ok for Planning to declare an area within the Downtown district a “transition zone” where no such zone exists. And please, don’t scold us for our vehement participation in the process delineated in the Baltimore County Code for the review of a despised PUD with “C’mon folks, we’re trying to make your community better.” Further don’t twist the timeline on those negotiations that apparently you were aware of prior to the vote to table the Resolution to remove gas from the project. Maybe YOU were told about the planned negotiations, but the community was not. There could not have been talks with the community because it was not announced that there would be negotiations for four more days.

As for this magical school building that expands and contracts as needed to accommodate fluctuations in student population, I wait with bated breath to see that realized in bricks and mortar. The name for those accommodations is “learning cottages” and they are already maxed out at many schools. Thanks for the warning that redistricting is coming if you are elected.

By: West Towson resident

West Towson resident — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 21:56:37 +0000

In reply to Ty Ford. Her statement that the community just wanted trees or a garden at corner of York and Bosley is absolutely untrue. We never said no development we said we were opposed to a 24-hr gas station!!!! Her statement that the Royal Farms gas station would be better for the property sounds exactly like what the attorneys for Caves Valley told those attending a community input meeting. As for her saying developers donate funds to get access to her does this mean if she is county exec she will only talk to those who give to her campaign???

By: Dennis

Dennis — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 19:12:18 +0000

One of Councilwoman Almond’s comments sounds very familiar. Specifically, she implies that the opponents of the Royal Farm convenience store/gas station did not want development on York Road, a “major corridor” as she described it. That assertion is patently false and she knows it to be false. The opponents welcomed development, just not a 24/7 gas station and convenience store. This was the same line that the County Executive had previously used when attacking those community residents who opposed the Caves Valley Partners’ project. Hopefully the issue will eventually be resolved, but that does not excuse the fact that she voted in favor of the developer and against the wishes of local citizens.

By: Towson voter and resident

Towson voter and resident — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 18:53:36 +0000

In reply to Balt Co parent.

Well said on all points! Almond highlighting campaign fund donor “access” and scolding neighbors and families— that attend a school right next to a proposed truck-stop level gas station, or two churches also adjacent—as being unreasonable says it all. Let alone the “County” claim to caring about constituents. The majority of council members could not even slow down the overspending on the BCPS laptop-per-student program known as STAT, even though they have financial oversight since over half of county tax revenue goes to the public schools. Nor have they paid attention to any of the issues raised, often directly to the council, on education technology conflicts-of-interest with BCPS leadership, which later showed up more widely in the media.

I would hope an emphasis on education essentials would instead put the teacher in charge, not software-delivered education, which is problematic or worse especially among the youngest learners and those with reading challenges, such as dyslexia. That is the situation at BCPS.

I was on the fence on the Democratic side of this, but am now firmly in Senator Brochin’s camp. He at least had the courage to call for an audit of BCPS contracts and spending, instead of taking a political party dodge on the issue. An inquiry to determine what is going on is actually acting in the best interest of County residents and families.

By: Offended by the response

Offended by the response — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 14:29:11 +0000

Almond response about developers giving her money because they want “access” seems completely off. She is a public servant. Everyone has “access” to her in that capacity. What developers want is more access, better access, than her non-paying constituents. In saying that a discussion about the money she gets from developers offends or insults her, Almond is attempting to shut down the conversation. People in Baltimore County should continue to press her on this point.

By: Balt Co parent

Balt Co parent — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 14:00:54 +0000

I guess this is why she doesn’t understand the conflict of interest issue surrounding previous superintendent Dance and interim superintendent White. It’s not just an explanation needed, the problem is that they have both been influenced by those that have given them resources (money, travel, food, fancy hotels…) and we, as tax payers, are now paying for those unnecessarily expensive tablets and all the software/curriculum to use them. Young children don’t just need time to learn how to read, write, and speak, they need adults to teach them and care for them and to keep them safe. These expensive and fragile tablets have railroaded the BCPS budget along with all of the software/curriculum/STAT teacher expenditures. We need more human beings in schools and on buses, not expensive tablets. Clearly, she does not understand the nuance of pay for play. My vote goes to Brochin- let’s get someone in there who is willing to pay attention to the nuances of these choices. It’s not computers in schools or no computers in schools. It’s which kind of computers, how much resources should be put into them and how many- each 6 year old does not need their very own $1400 tablet. And the same for that York road corridor- it’s a copout to say if no development there, where does the public want it? Certainly, there are people who have explained exactly what they want and it’s nuanced. Yes, development in that location is good, no to a gas station with very little tax revenue and the traffic and health concerns to go along with it.

By: Ty Ford

Ty Ford — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 13:28:07 +0000

Give back the Caves Valley Money. Don’t ever take money like that again. Make it illegal for that to ever happen again.