Thursday 19 March 2009
Health Seminar
Upcoming Lyme Events
Doctors from the Howard County Health Department will present “Lyme Disease, Focus on Howard County”, 7 PM March 24, 2009 at the Howard County Central Library, register online or call 410-313-7850
A showing of Under Our Skin, a film about Chronic Lyme, will be shown at the Howard County Central Library, 7 PM Thursday, April 2, 2009. Register online (The library says this registration option will work after 3/19/2009) or call 410-313-7850
National Capitol Lyme Disease Association will host a legislative forum on Saturday, March 28th 2009, at George Mason University Arlington Campus.
Roger's latest Mar 10 2009
Western District View
Western District Police-Community Relations Council March 2009
8273 Telegraph Road, Odenton, Maryland 21113
Officer of Merit Awards – Well-Deserved Recognition
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, March 11, 2009, starting at 7:30 p.m., in the meeting room at Western District. At this meeting, we will recognize four officers and a reserve officer who have served the citizens well during 2008. Please join us in thanking these five individuals who have done much for the citizens of the Western District. Those recognized will be:
Corporal Charles Jones Corporal Jones, an eight-year veteran of the Anne Arundel County Police Department, is dedicated to his profession and takes great pride in his work. His work ethic and the results he achieves are superior in both quantity and quality.
His alertness and instincts have paid off on numerous occasions in Meade Village, Crofton and Davidsonville. After he and another officer arrested two individuals in Crofton following a citizen’s complaint of drug activity in the area, Corporal Jones searched one suspect’s vehicle and found a hidden compartment containing a loaded handgun and 16 baggies of cocaine.
On December 30, 2008, Corporal Jones took the initiative between calls of surveilling a house in Crofton where an individual was reportedly selling marijuana. Following a suspicious person who left the house, he observed the driver running a stop sign, prompting a traffic stop. After several minutes of conversation, the driver admitted that he had just purchased a large quantity of marijuana from the house in question. The driver was arrested and the drugs seized. Corporal Jones than prepared a search warrant for the house, which was then searched. The search disclosed more drugs and drug paraphernalia and resulted in the arrest of two drug dealers.
Corporal Daniel Long Corporal Long joined Western District in March 2008, and serves as a Field Training Officer and often as acting sergeant for Platoon Three. He is proactive in his assigned area, demonstrating creative abilities, investigative expertise and keen problem solving techniques. In an eight-month period, he made 593 traffic stops and 101 arrests. He has developed an excellent record of service.
During April 2008, Corporal Long conducted a thorough investigation of the theft of a credit card at Arundel Mills Mall, obtaining a confession and the arrest of two individuals, one an employee of the store where the card was stolen; the other an employee of the jewelry store where it was used. During July, he successfully investigated and arrested a store manager for viewing child pornography in the back room of a Hanover store. In August, he obtained a confession from an individual who stole several firearms, in the process identifying locations where the suspect had traded the guns for drugs. Also in August, he observed a suspicious individual in a car at Arundel Mills Mall. As he watched, the suspect became unconscious after “huffing” on a can of compressed air. Corporal Long called for paramedics and treated the individual, returning him to consciousness, then arranged for an emergency psychiatric evaluation. During November, investigating a reported robbery, he developed information that resulted in first degree attempted murder charges against the victim’s girlfriend.
PFC Charles Crawford PFC Crawford’s patrol area includes Meade Village and Still Meadows, where he has attended community meetings and established rapport with community leaders and county officials, providing advice on residential crime prevention, identifying problems and recommending solutions that have a positive impact on the community. Additionally, his hard work and dedication resulted in 643 traffic stops and 158 arrests during 2008.
During May 2008, while enroute to work, he responded to a call for assistance to an on-duty officer who had located two stolen trucks in Lions Gate, occupied by uncooperative suspects. Upon arrival, a foot pursuit of one suspect ensued through the apartment community and back to one of the trucks, where an apprehension and arrest was made. It was later determined that the trucks were valued at $75,000. A trailer and bobcat attached to one of the trucks had been stolen earlier in Prince George’s County and were valued at $16,800. During a routine traffic stop during November, PFC Crawford observed the driver acting suspiciously and detected an odor of marijuana. With backup in place, the driver was removed and a vehicle search disclosed 204.4 grams of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and $164 in currency, leading to an arrest. The vehicle was seized because of its use in drug distribution.
PFC Crawford displays his dedication and his strong work ethic on a daily basis.
Officer Ryan Holliday Officer Holliday is primarily assigned to the Pioneer City, Still Meadows and Meade Village communities with the Police and Community Together Unit and is the lead coordinator for a crime prevention program funded by a state grant. He attends bi-weekly meetings with the goal of pulling several entities together to find ways of fostering a better way of life for residents of the Western District, approaching this task with the utmost optimism.
In October 2008, following some intense moments between the police department and the community, Officer Holliday organized an evening meeting to address concerns in the neighborhood. He went into the meeting with residents and used his calm demeanor to facilitate a positive meeting that produced favorable results. In November, after participating in a warrant service on a Still Meadows residence that had been the source of over 100 calls for service, he met with the homeowner, who was unaware of the situation at the house. After several meetings, he was able to assist the homeowner in evicting the tenants who were the source of parties and drug dealing. Later in the month, he was able to do that same thing for another residence in the community. He also met with community leaders in Still Meadows and was able to assist in the establishment of a banning list, to keep non-productive individuals out of the community.
Officer Holliday epitomizes the department’s vision of community policing and is an outstanding asset to his unit, the Police Department and the community.
Reserve Officer Howard Dillard Reserve Officer Dillard has spent nearly three decades volunteering his time to Western District and will mark his 27th year of reserve service in November 2009. During this time, he has represented the police department at funerals and public events, assisted patrol officers in road closures in all types of weather, and performed numerous other public service details. In 2008 alone, he has volunteered over 600 hours of his time, more than three times the minimum expected of reserve officers.
He is perhaps best known publicly for operating the civilian fingerprint program at Western District, serving the public in a very professional, enthusiastic and friendly manner, treating every person with respect as he guides them through the process. His performance of this duty twice a week has resulted in numerous compliments.
Reserve Officer Dillard has consistently contributed his expertise, service and selflessness to the successful execution of the Anne Arundel County Police Department’s mission.
Special Unit Recognitions
On November 16, 2008, a multiple shooting occurred outside an Odenton bar, leaving two men dead and two others wounded. For the next seven days, members of the Homicide Unit and the Special Enforcement Team worked tirelessly, despite less than full cooperation by the two surviving victims, resulting in first degree murder charges being brought against three individuals, with a fourth being charged as an accessory.
In view of their efforts, we will also be presenting special unit awards to the members of both of these organizations.
Meeting Presentation
Following the presentations, a representative of the homicide unit will brief Council members on the organization, functions and activities of the unit.
Charitable Solicitations
At our February meeting, we discussed various scams and the need to be careful about various charitable solicitations; particularly those involving police support groups and veteran groups. Coincidentally, the following day, I received two from alleged veteran groups, one by phone and one in the mail.
The phone call came from the Veterans Assistance League, seeking a donation to help veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. With a son recently returned from a National Guard deployment to Iraq, I had never heard of this organization. An Internet search disclosed nothing and the organization is not listed with either the Better Business Bureau or charitynavigator.org. It has, however, registered with the Maryland Secretary of State. It registered on July 21, 2008, and has not reported receiving any money.
The one in the mail was from the National Veterans Services Fund, based in Connecticut. While they are listed with BBB, the website provides no substantive evaluation. According to charitynavigator.org, the organization spends 22.2% of its revenue on program expenses and 70.7% on fundraising, about opposite the preferred standard split of 85-15. Its president, Phil Kraft, receives a salary of $78,000. It gave the organization 0 stars out of 5 and an overall score of 22.50. In a separate report in January 2006, Charity Navigator said that NVSF collected $4.4 million in 2004, but gave only $6,416 in direct aid to veterans. In 2004, Kraft received a salary of $60,000, so that’s a 30% salary increase in five years.
Police Protective Fund
This organization is also conducting their apparent annual statewide fund drive in Maryland, with residents getting call for donations. They did the same thing in February 2008, which prompted a special notice from the Western District PCRC. Since they are at it again, we are repeating that notice. You need to know who is asking for your money.
In late February (2008), I received a telephone solicitation from the Police Protective Fund, claiming that they provide financial support to families of police officers who die in the line of duty. When I declined to make a pledge, but asked that they send me information, the caller claimed (falsely) that “IRS regulations” require that they only mail information to people to make pledges.
Faced with that falsehood, I did some research. The Police Protective Fund, and its administrative arm, the American Association of Police Officers, are both located in Hollywood, California, but were incorporated in North Carolina in 1998.
The Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving report for the organization says that it fails to meet eight of the 20 standards for charity accountability. The organization spends only 25% of its expenses on program services, while standards require that at least 65% go to services. Its fund-raising costs were 63% of its expenses, while standards call for no more than 35%. (charityreports.bbb.org)
Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org) gives the Police Protective Fund zero stars, with an overall rating of 22.50. Similar groups had scores of 60-62. With revenue of nearly $6 million in 2006, only 28.3% went for program expenses, mostly to paid fund raisers. Its director receives $172,900 in compensation, its two managers each receive $149,500, and the administrator receives $89,900.
In August 2006, then-Montgomery County Executive Douglas Duncan issued a press release warning that the group was a “police charity scam,” which was then operating in Montgomery County. Duncan accused the fund of deceptive practices by representing a mail drop address as an actual office in the county.
In July 2007, Missouri’s Attorney General filed suit against both the Police Protective Fund and the American Association of Police Officers, saying that the fund made false claims in its calls and used harassing and intimidating tactics to solicit donations in the state. According to the suit, donors are not told that the $10,000 death benefits only go to the first four officers who die in the line of duty in a calendar year, and are capped at $40,000 annually. People complained that the solicitors implied that unless they contributed, police might not respond to a call for help. In September, the St. Louis Circuit Court issued a restraining order, prohibiting the fund from continuing to violate Missouri consumer protection laws and requiring it to stop calling residents on the state No-Call list. The court also froze the fund’s local bank account, with a balance of $344,102.
Based on this information, any area residents called by this group should refuse to make a donation, or to provide them any information. If they continue to call, or use any threatening or harassing tactics, report them to the Maryland Secretary of State.
Volunteers in Police Service
We are still seeking volunteers to help out at the Western District station through the Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) program. If you can provide at least 16 hours a month in performing administrative and station greeting duties, please pick up an application at the station, obtain the application on line at (http://www.aacounty.org/police/), or call Lt. Tim Zywiolek at 410-222-6155.
Some Final Words
Our next meeting, on March 11th, will be an opportunity to again say thank you for the efforts of the Anne Arundel County Police Department by recognizing some outstanding members of that organization, sworn and volunteer.
Please come out and join us in honoring these officers.
Also, please remember to renew your annual membership.
Dave Daughters
President
410-672-5703
General Assembly Update - February 27, 2009
[Delegate Pam Beidle Newsletter]
As I write this, we are about halfway through our 90 Day session, with six weeks left and a great deal of work to be done.
The Structural Deficit Continues to Loom
The Recovery Act (The Stimulus Package), passed by Congress, is not going to fix the structural deficit for Maryland. While we stand to received $3.75 Billion over a period of three fiscal years, much of this money does not flow through state budget and does not provide the flexibility to erase our operating budget shortfall. Much of the funding is based on current federal formulas or block grants that are not part of the state's general fund budget.
The Maryland State Transportation budget will benefit by some of the money from the stimulus funds, $141.8 million will go to "Phase One" projects. That is projects that are shovel ready. Anne Arundel will benefit with a $3 million restoration of the BWI Marc Station and nearby Laurel will see a $2.9 Laurel Station Rehab. Overall this stimulus money will represent 10,000 jobs. Considering that the State's transportation fund revenues are down nearly $350 million a year, this stimulus money is important to our infrastructure and our economy. More information is on the MDOT website:
http://www.mdot.state.md.us/Planning/Economic_Recovery/Economic_Recovery_Powerpoint_02-18-09.pdf
The current FY 09 budget shortfall is approximately $340 million and March revenues are sure to show additional declines. Our state revenues are income from income tax, sales tax, the transfer tax from home sales and capital gains from the sale of stocks or mutual funds that have experienced a gain. Needless to say, the entire country is in a downward spiral and our revenues are a reflection of what is happening around the country. We are actually in better fiscal conditions than most states. Kansas cannot afford to give State tax refunds and California is laying off 20,000 workers. Our five day furlough is minor compared to these layoffs.
However, Maryland will continue to experience a structural deficit unless we make changes in our mandates and formulas. The legislature thought we passed changes in the 2007 Special Session that would erase the structural deficit, little did we know that the entire country would be in recession and our budget changes would not be as effective as planned. So we are again looking at a 1.9 billion dollar structural deficit. Our chairman of appropriations, Delegate Norman Conway, stated at a recent meeting, "We must get a grip on our baseline budget and review mandates and formulas that are driving our increases in our budget." He gave us one example of a "Disparity Grant" that was initiated in 1998 for $8 million and has now grown to $121 million 2009 as the result of a formula.
So, while we all want great schools, community colleges, four year universities, libraries, well maintained roads, health care, as well as our own personal agendas, it is time to make tough decisions. Everyone, every organization, every agenda, will feel some pain as we trim this budget to address the structural deficit.
On a very positive note, Nancy Kopp, State Treasurer, just wrote: "the bond rating agencies have affirmed the State's strong Triple AAA bond rating in preparation for the upcoming sale of $515 million of Maryland General Obligation bonds." Maryland residents will have first priority in a retail sale of bonds that begins Friday, February 27 and continues on March 2 and March 3. All three rating agencies, Standard & Poors, Fitch, and Moody's recognized the extent to which Maryland has addressed the severe budget problems and the economic downturn. They all noted the tough decisions made by the Legislature in the 2007 Special Session and commended our efforts and prudent oversight.
Update on my three bills.
House Bill 287 addresses issues with condominium law and the condominium Master policy deductible. It was heard in the Environmental Matters Committee on Thursday, February 26. I am continuing to work with condo unit owners, the insurance industry and the consumer agencies for a bill that all can agree upon.
House Bill 1214 which proposes a change to the lyrics, but not the melody, of the State Song, Maryland my Maryland, will be heard on March 11. The students from Glen Burnie Park Elementary plan to join us that day for a press conference and testimony, if possible. The bill can be found at: http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/bills/hb/hb1241f.pdf. The Capital Newspaper on February 23rd published an editorial regarding HB 1214. It stated:
"WORDS AND MUSIC - We suppose Del. Pamela Beidle of Linthicum will take the usual shots from wiseacres for offering legislation to change the words of the state song, "Maryland, My Maryland." With all the important matters waiting to be settled, why should she be wasting her taxpayer-subsidized time on this trivia? And so forth and so on.
This issue is a perennial, and there are always lots of things that are more important. But what her bill proposes is so sensible that it ought to be approved by the General Assembly after about five minutes of thought. There is, indeed, no reason to waste a lot of time on it.
Most Marylanders can hum their state song, because it uses the same traditional melody used for "O Christmas Tree." Most state residents don't know the words - for good reason.
The words, written in 1861 by James Ryder Randall, are an overwrought nine-stanza hymn to the glory of taking up arms for the Confederacy. Randall starts with a reference to "the despot's heel" - the despot was Abraham Lincoln - and climaxes by urging Marylanders to proudly spurn "the Northern scum."
Isn't it a trifle odd to have a state anthem that virtually glows with out-and-out hatred - and not of foreign enemies, but of other Americans?
Beidle's legislation would replace Randall's words with a four-stanza poem of the same rhyme scheme written by Maryland educator John T. White in 1894. It's not great poetry either, but it's intelligible, expresses vast pride in the state - and is not an embarrassment. You could actually teach schoolchildren to sing it.
Couldn't we at least have a state song with words that don't make today's Marylanders cringe?"
House Bill 1386 will not allow piers to be built over State Wetlands. This means State designated Wetlands. This bill does not have a hearing scheduled at this time.
My Committee Work
The Environmental Matters Committee continues to hear about a dozen bills a day on environmental issues, land use local government issues, and motor vehicle issues. Bills like "Smart, Green and Growing," House Bills, 294 and 295 are all part of the administrations bills. Read more at: http://www.green.maryland.gov. We will also share the Global Warming bill with the Economic Matters Committee. House Bill 297 addresses the Terrapin Run law suit and requires counties to be consistent with the General Development Plan that is approved by the citizens.
Improvements for BRAC on Route 175
Please watch for information about a public workshop concerning the upgrades to six intersections around Fort Meade. The workshop will be held at Meade Middle School on March 31. You can stop by anytime between 5:30 and 7:30. The six intersections are:
MD 175 and Blobs Park/Clark Road
MD 175 and MD 713
MD 175 and Disney Road
MD 175 and Mapes Road
MD 175 and MD 174 (Reece Road)
MD 174 and Severn Road
$31.6 million in funds are available for these improvements, but it is not enough money to do all six intersections. Your comments are important to establish the priority of this road work to improve the intersections.
Delegate Scholarships
Delegate Scholarships are available subject to funds allocated in the State Budget. I have formed a Scholarship Committee to review and consider all applications. The applicant's scholastic performance and the family's financial situation are heavily weighted. The application is available at my website: www.pambeidle.com. The House of Delegates Scholarship Application must be completed in its entirety and returned along with an original full transcript from your current educational institution and the mandatory written essay. The application, essay and transcript must be received no later than March 31, 2009.
Please continue to stay in touch, email me, call me, and let me know your position on bills and issues. Thank you for allowing me to serve you in the House of Delegates.
Pam Beidle Maryland House of Delegates, District 32 410-841-3370 410-841-3347 (fax) pamela.beidle@house.state.md.us Environmental Matters Committee Subcommittees: Environment Housing and Real Property Local Government and BiCounty
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