Village Green/Town²

  Yes, I was relieved when Biden was elected President. But I was also disappointed quite soon after he took office. Those memories came crashing back this week. The very first thing that Joe Biden should have done was to focus his efforts on voting rights. It was clear that they were under attack. When voting places in predominantly Black areas disappear and people must stand in line for hours and hours to vote - - that’s unacceptable. When it becomes illegal to offer those voters food or drink as they wait in line to exercise their right to vote - - that’s a violation of the democratic process. The very people who organized and showed up to get a Democratic president elected (and have done for years) were the very people who had to push every step of the way against this increasing tide of voter suppression. Politicians often talk about what they are going to do on Day One. Biden should been prepared on Day One to be relentless on doing everything in his power to protect Black v...

  Overslept. Here are a few random thoughts along with a wish that tomorrow will be less hurried and random. - - jam ***** There have been some pretty appalling comments on local news stories lately. Yes, I know I said that already . This one might fall into the Life Comes At You Fast category: The next one is my current favorite in what I’ll call the Do No Harm category: I’m hesitant to admit this but I had a comment downvoted and ultimately deleted on the Columbia Reddit yesterday. The offending comment? “Go away, Fox News.” It was in response to a post by the local Fox affiliate hyping crime in the area. One respondent asked me “Why?”  I attempted to explain but it looks like my explanation was not acceptable.  Oh, well.  The last comment for today is also from me but it is not local. I was reading a lovely newspaper article about Jeopardy contestant Jamie Ding and these words leapt out at me: My response: “This is a sign: Jamie Ding must appear next on Sesame St...

Reddit is a great place to ask ask hyperlocal questions like, “Where can I park my bike in Old Ellicott City?” And the answer is: There is a bike rack at the Ellicott City Welcome Center at 8267 Main St, Ellicott City, MD 21043. It is the old stone building (former post office) near entrance to parking lot D. In the front on either side. They are post hoop (circle on a post) type. So now you know. If you’ve been noticing a flurry of news stories about progress on the EC Tunnel, you’re not alone. There’s a question on Reddit for that, too.  Anyway to get a tour of the new tunnel? Would be super cool to check it out. Maybe someone knows someone who can get me in? Why am I picturing a bunch of twelve year old kids on bikes with flashlights? (At least they’ll know where to park their bikes,) Seriously, though, middle of the night forays into tunnels may look romantic in the movies but they probably don’t end well. And I’m not sure the county has enough liability insurance to guarantee...

  The time to get out the vote for Columbia elections is now. The time for village boards to make a get-out-the-vote plan for April, 2027 is now. Today. And at every single board meeting from here on out.  It should be an action item at every meeting.  Some years back (2017, to be exact) I turned out at an Oakland Mills board meeting to advocate for better leadership. Here’s a portion of what I said: I've been a teacher over thirty years and one thing I've learned is that the only way to get people to take risks, change, and grow is to create an environment where building relationships is important. Where people can feel good about themselves. Criticism, punitive actions, and negative talk are counter-productive to building and sustaining community. Building relationships and making people feel good about themselves are also crucial in dealing with the Columbia Association, Howard County Government, and our Village Schools. When we say we value connections, we need to sho...

  If you’re looking for a change of scene, may I recommend the Tip Top Motel? Apparently their sign is notable for its vintage qualities. Image shared on Reddit: r/vintagesigns Why visit the Tip Top, you ask? Well, they have this lovely video on YouTube. It’s one minute and twenty- one seconds long. You have the time.  In fact, I watched it more than once because I wasn’t quite sure if it was serious or a spoof. See what you think. It’s worth it just for the dining recommendations. This video was posted two days ago and I wonder if the timing has anything to do with a recent announcement by County Executive Calvin Ball. Howard County Executive Calvin Ball Announces Strong Support for Zoning Regulation Amendment to Revitalize and Redevelop Aging Motels Along Route 1 For generations, our Route One Corridor has been a vital economic hub for our county and state. Route One has the incredible potential to be transformed into an active, vibrant, mixed-use hub that supports residents...

  On Thursday I stated that the Banner article about Columbia elections missed the biggest reason why Columbia residents don’t vote. I did not anticipate Thursday evenings happenings at the CA Board meeting but they pretty much prove my point. Let’s look back a bit. The Ugly Truth , April 26, 2014 Columbia in a way, was an experiment. Well, folks, the experiment has failed. Where James Rouse saw possibilities of a diverse community, the truth is that Columbia is enchained in segregation. Segregation by age. (And, furthermore…) Important decisions about Columbia's present and future are largely being determined by one generation. One angry generation, I might add. I have heard too many stories of younger residents trying to get involved at the Village level and being scorned, spurned, dismissed, and beaten back by angry "Pioneers". It is no wonder to me that younger residents feel disenfranchised. I have lived here since 1999 and am still treated by some as a newcomer with...