Maryland Gov. Wes Moore leaves no doubt he's an abundance bro

Maryland Governor Wes Moore hinted that he was embracing the controversial abundance agenda in a recent speech in South Carolina. His endorsement of the billionaire-backed drive to have Democrats make the slashing of costs and regulations for big business their agenda in the 2028 presidential campaign has now been made official by the Radio Abundance podcast. Moore's name is atop a list of Democratic elected officials who will appear on an episode entitled "Fascism Comes to America." Of course, there's something humorously ironic about a billionaire-backed podcast calling for more corporate power and profits - at the expense of the democratic process and local control - claiming to be fighting fascism.

Moore's move to join fellow White House aspirants Jared Polis, Ritchie Torres, and Ro Khanna in the abundance lane for 2028 is a remarkable gamble. With that being only a partial list of corporate-backed Democrats who will be crowding into that niche during the primary season, there will be much more competition for staff and donors. Recent polling has shown that "abundance" policies are not popular among Democratic and independent voters. And many prominent progressives in the party have come out strongly against the astroturfed abundance campaign.

This only complicates Moore's task in 2028. Maryland's finances have tanked during his first term, as Moore squandered a budget surplus he inherited from former Gov. Larry Hogan, and is facing a $6 billion deficit by 2030. Despite a much-trumpeted career on Wall Street, and big ticket fundraisers among late-stage capitalist titans on Martha's Vineyard and in the Hamptons, Moore has been unable to attract any major corporations to Maryland. And he has no major policy victories, even as he gears up to run for reelection next year.

That last fact makes running on the abundance agenda even more daunting for Moore. It is progressives who have the momentum and the crowds in the Democratic party right now. Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have had no trouble drawing mobs of progressives to their Fight Oligarchy tour stops, at which Sanders appears to be symbolically passing the torch to AOC. She, in turn, is clearly testing the waters for a potential 2028 presidential run. AOC's agenda may be controversial in many quarters, but she has a concrete set of policies she would seek to implement, including Medicare-for-All, repeal of the Taft-Hartley Act, a federal jobs guarantee, and free college. Even failed vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz has a record of major progressive legislative wins as governor in Minnesota.

Moore, by contrast, is fighting to...become president? He has no signature suite of policies, much less ones that have been signed into law. What legislation has passed during his term has only benefitted small identity groups, leaving out the majority of voters, or raised fees on everyone. Hogan was able to do very little with a hostile, Democrat-controlled legislature - but what little he did usually applied to everyone in the state, like blocking tax hikes and lowering bridge tolls.

That blank slate agenda, combined with abundance bro status, tags Moore as a corporate shill - an identity easy for his rivals to reinforce by emphasizing his Wall Street past, celebrity backers and tycoon associates, and his proposed giveaway of taxpayer money and prime public land to Baltimore developers. Moore would essentially be replicating the Kamala Harris "joy and excitement" campaign of late summer 2024. That didn't work out very well. 

Harris had celebrities (check), billionaire friends like Mark Cuban and Michael Bloomberg [a major financial backer of the abundance movement, coincidentally] (check), and some vague promises (check) about "not going back." Not going back to what? Low inflation? Low gas prices? World peace? 

Ironically, Harris and Walz had their greatest success right at the start of their brief campaign, when her selection of the Minnesota governor as running mate suggested she would be more progressive than Joe Biden, and she rolled out a short list of specific socialist promises like price fixing and giving everyone $25,000 to buy a home. The abundance neoliberals in the press and corporate boardrooms predictably lost their minds, and Harris quickly dropped the concrete policy goals, falling back on a vacuous campaign of "joy," twerking rappers, and the daughter of Uber Villain and war criminal bogeyman Dick Cheney. Progressives and the working class quickly fell off the bandwagon.

Even Moore's pal Oprah couldn't save Harris. Will appearing on Radio Abundance save a foundering Moore? Not likely. For Radio Abundance is the latest example of "every accusation is a confession." Corporations setting our regulations, and seizing power over local decisions away from citizens, is indeed "fascism coming to America."

Maryland taxpayers to pick up tab for Baltimore developer giveaway

Developers are about to score a mother lode of a real estate portfolio in Baltimore, realizing billions in massive profits, and Maryland taxpayers will pick up the tab for the next twenty years. The property giveaway is being characterized by Maryland elected officials who have tanked the state's finances as "taxpayer savings," counting on a compliant press not to run the numbers, and a complacent electorate not to care. Governor Wes Moore announced the plan in a press release four days ago, in which he promised $326 million in savings over the next two decades, savings he claimed would be realized by moving state government workers into leased space in privately-owned buildings. In turn, the nine state-owned buildings will be sold to developers.

This means a double payday for developers. The state - a.k.a. you, the taxpayer - will have to pay rent to house thousands of government employees in privately-owned office buildings around Charm City. And, developers will acquire valuable downtown property at - based on what we've seen in previous government dispositions of real estate in Montgomery County and Maryland - discount rates, compared to the value they will realize with redevelopment as luxury apartment buildings.

Some have theorized that there are an infinite number of realities. In none of those realities is leasing market-rate office space, over 20 years, cheaper than renovating and continuing to operate buildings you own. But it is a good program for elected officials to help fill the vacant office space owned by developers who have contributed fat checks to their campaigns. It's good to have friends in high places.

The payout bonanza won't end with Maryland handing your money over to developer sugar daddies for market-rate office leases all over Baltimore. That's because a valuable cache of state-owned buildings and prime downtown land is about to be added to their portfolios at value prices.

State Center Complex:  (201 W. Preston St., 300 W. Preston St., 301 W. Preston St., 100 N. Eutaw St.)​

State Center has been one of the biggest ongoing development scams in Baltimore for a couple of decades. What started as one developer giveaway turned into developer lawsuits against the state when they couldn't have things their way. Then, last November, the developers got $58.5 million from you - the taxpayer - for...nothing. The Moore administration paid off the developers with nearly $60 million just to end the legal battle - a battle the state would likely have won if the case had gone to trial.

So, as a taxpayer, you're already out $58.5 million for nothing at State Center. That was just the appetizer. Here comes the main course, courtesy of Gov. Moore: the complex will still be sold off to developers, who will redevelop the site with thousands of luxury apartments.

2100 Guilford Avenue

A solid low-rise government building with parking lot. Sure to be a teardown and redevelopment for luxury apartments.

​William Donald Schaefer Tower (6 St. Paul Street)

One of the tallest buildings in Baltimore, 6 St. Paul Street was only built in 1986. I was inside this building about twenty years ago, and it looked very modern and new even at that point. Now the state is claiming the building is facing "catastrophic failure?" This is a potential Trump Tower-style conversion to luxury condos, that will pay off handsomely for the developer fortunate to acquire it under a political fake "fire sale." The Maryland cartel again disrespects former Gov. Schaefer, who was treated very badly in his final years by the political machine.

310-311 W. Saratoga Street

Another prime property, right on top of the Lexington Market subway station. This guarantees maximum density will be allowed to the prospective developer, which means maximum profit.

200 W. Baltimore Street

They don't build 'em like this anymore. A prime conversion candidate for apartments, or a wasteful teardown - the option will be up to the buyer. Located right across from CFG Bank Arena (a.k.a. the Baltimore Arena). Unlike Camden Yards, you can still see the Bromo Seltzer Tower from inside 200 W. Baltimore Street. Maximum profits await!

201 St. Paul St.

Another "they don't make 'em like they used to" architectural gem. 

The worst part of this latest corruption scheme isn't the fake, inflated claims of savings. It's that the $326 million is over twenty years, while the state is facing a potential $6 billion shortfall in 2030. Aging buildings, even assuming the state has criminally failed to properly maintain them, aren't the source of Maryland's budget woes. It is astronomical overspending that has brought us here, and the Maryland legislature made clear this spring it has no intention of stopping that anytime soon.

Our local media appears too starstruck and weak-in-the-knees around Gov. Moore to challenge him on this real estate portfolio giveaway, and massive new expenditures in leases at empty office buildings owned by developer sugar daddies. They have simply accepted the poorly-documented claims of "savings" at face value, and have chosen to parrot the governor's message of "nearly four-hundred million in savings!!!!"

Unlike the local media, let's follow the money in the coming months and years. What will the sale prices of the government buildings be, compared to their true market value? Who will acquire them, and how much have they donated to Gov. Moore, Comptroller Brooke Lierman, and members of the legislature? 

Montgomery County elected officials have been giving away County-owned properties at discount rates - and sometimes even for free (!!) - for many years this century. Conversely, they are glad to overpay for rents in private office space owned by their developer sugar daddies (witness the Board of Education's move from a building owned by Montgomery County Public Schools into a glossy new office building, despite MCPS owning numerous vacant school buildings and other properties across the county. And just this week, the County government revealed it purchased a bank property in Olney that mysteriously gained over $1 million in value just since 2021, an additional cost the County was delighted to pay with taxpayer funds. 

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton pilgrimage to make several stops in Montgomery County

This year marks a half-century since Elizabeth Ann Seton was canonized by the Catholic Church. A two-week walking pilgrimage will travel from Point Lookout in Southern Maryland all the way to The National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, starting this Monday, June 9, 2025. Along the way, pilgrims will stop at several waypoints in Montgomery County, overnight in some cases. These include Our Lady, Queen of Poland Church at 9700 Rosensteel Avenue in Silver Spring; The Avalon School at St. Catherine Laboure Church at 11801 Claridge Road in Wheaton; the Shrine of St. Jude at 12701 Veirs Mill Road and St. Mary's Catholic Church at 520 Veirs Mill Road in Rockville; St. Martin of Tours Church at 201 S. Frederick Avenue and St. Rose of Lima Church at 11701 Clopper Road in Gaithersburg; and St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima at 18230 Barnesville Road in Barnesville.

For options on how you can participate by walking, or virtually from home, or to register, visit the website of The Camino of Maryland.

Image via The Camino of Maryland

Wes Moore embraces abundance agenda in South Carolina, as poll shows it's a loser

Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) emphatically aligned himself with the so-called "abundance" agenda during a speech in South Carolina last Friday night. Expected to run for the White House in 2028, Moore spoke in code to some of the Democratic Party's wealthiest donors, who have already put millions behind the abundance message, spearheaded by a recent book written by pundits Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson. But Klein and Thompson have found their warmest reception on podcasts hosted by neoliberal Democrats and conservatives. Many progressives, in contrast, have seen through the abundance campaign for what it is: a repackaging of earlier pushes for the juicing of corporate profits, at the expense of local control over zoning and growth issues. That perceptive reaction from the Bernie Sanders wing of the party is backed up by a new poll that shows Moore's embrace of the "abundance bros" movement puts him out of step with the progressive Democrats and independents he will need to prevail in Democratic and open primaries in 2028.

The abundance campaign is another good example of the "now more than ever" phenomenon. No matter what the crisis of the hour might be, the same old agenda is pushed as the solution. At the moment, the crisis is the Democratic Party's identity crisis. Real estate developers who have tried several tactics to gain the right to build luxury multifamily housing in the most desirable and successful residential areas - starting with the environment, and most-recently and disgustingly glomming onto the George Floyd Revolution and Black Lives Matter movement with a racial argument for blowing up zoning codes - with relatively little success, have now put a new brand on the same old YIMBY agenda. Also on board are other corporate interests, forever seeking a reduction in regulations, and an increase in profit margins.

Klein, Thompson, and others pushing the abundance agenda have offered it as a liberal response to President Donald Trump's MAGA agenda, and a blueprint for 2028 Democratic presidential candidates. But not only is it just another case of "more cowbell," it fundamentally misfires as a quick fix for what ails the Democratic Party. Where Trump's success among Black and Latino men in 2024 was in large part the idea that he would provide them with prosperity, the abundance agenda openly and unabashedly reserves the financial benefits for wealthy developers, power companies, and Chinese solar panel manufacturers. Things will "get done," and faster alright. But none of the profits will accrue to you, and you'll give up local control over decisions that directly impact your neighborhood. Good deal, right?

Voters polled by Demand Progress seem to have been impressively quick studies of the abundance agenda. Democrats and independents responded negatively to the abundance agenda, while Republicans had a more favorable reaction. Progressive policies (oddly termed "populist" by Demand Progress) like getting money out of politics, breaking up big banks and corporations, and prosecuting corruption were seen as more favorable by 72.5% of Democrats, and 55.4% of independents, according to Axios. 

When asked to make a blunt choice between abundance and populism, only 16.8% of Democrats endorsed abundance.

It's curious that Moore is one of them. Not only does the abundance agenda get a thumbs down from a majority of the voters he needs to get past the primaries in 2028, but it also puts him in a crowded lane of Democratic candidates. Among those who have also posited themselves as abundance bros are Tim Walz, Cory Booker, Jared Polis, and Kamala Harris. And Pete Buttigieg was an abundance bro before it was even a thing.

"Gone are the days when the Democrats are the party of no and slow. we must be the party of yes and now," Moore declared, which was surely music to the ears of corporate donors who want the abundance agenda to be the Democratic Party agenda. That corporate money will be an advantage for Moore, no doubt. As was seen with Joe Biden in 2020, Moore can lose Iowa and New Hampshire, and still clinch the nomination with a Jim Clyburn endorsement in South Carolina that Clyburn himself has already hinted at. And the Democratic National Committee has slammed the door on progressive upstarts in three straight elections, most notably kneecapping Bernie Sanders twice. Can the DNC do it a fourth time in a row?

Moore is in his element among the rich and famous, having raised most of his campaign cash at fundraisers in the Hamptons and on Martha's Vineyard when he ran for governor in 2022. And just this year, he closed a budget gap largely on the backs of the poor and middle class, who now must pay hundreds of dollars to register their vehicles with the state, among other regressive tax and fee hikes. The Reaganesque, Laffer Curve, trickle-down, supply-side voodoo economics of the abundance agenda are not that surprising of a platform for Moore, given that he first entered politics in college as a Young Republican.

Moore and his backers have tried to cast him as a charismatic and inspirational figure in the mold of Barack Obama. But the 2008-era Obama presented himself as a champion for the little guy, not Wall Street and real estate moguls. Once in the White House, he quickly morphed into a neoliberal and forever-war fighter, but his pre-2009 populist persona was what won him many of the same voters who would propel Trump to victory eight years later. The abundance promise of lower costs and higher profits for mega corporations might win Moore an abundance of campaign cash, but is unlikely to draw an abundance of progressive Democrat and independent primary votes.

McDonald's On-the-Go, only the 3rd built in USA, opens in Rockville (Photos)

The new McDonald's On-the-Go restaurant has opened at 11710 Rockville Pike in Rockville. This is only the third of this new restaurant design concept from the chain to open in the United States, with the first two having been in California and Texas. The emphasis is on takeout, delivery, and - above all else - drive-thru service. There is no indoor dining area of the type that you have come to expect from the Golden Arches, and most other traditional fast food restaurants.

However, as you've seen in my ongoing updates during the construction of the building, there is one table in the small lobby. Customers are apparently allowed to dine indoors at that table on a first-come, first-seated basis, and were doing so last evening. All other patrons were standing, awaiting their orders to be handed out from the pickup window, which replaces the traditional open counter. "Fight for $15" touchscreen kiosks likewise replace the cashiers and cash registers of the past.

The two biggest upgrades for nearby residents with this McDonald's are the addition of a drive-thru (the old McDonald's just down the street did not have a drive-thru), and the fact that the drive-thru will be open 24 hours. A 24-hour McDonald's - or a 24-hour fast food restaurant of any brand - is a rare find in moribund Montgomery County. Speaking of which, the new restaurant's debut is being initially hampered by the County's anti-business sign code, which has steadily removed and banned most of the prominent and legible roadside business signage ubiquitous in the rest of the country. There were only four customers in the lobby last night, and few cars using the drive-thru, suggesting that few people driving past were aware the McDonald's was even there or open. A typical McDonald's has a steady line of cars at the drive-thru, even during off hours. Aside from those establishments who still have grandfathered roadside signage, a large percentage of businesses along the Pike are invisible to all but the most careless rubberneckers driving by. Heckuva job, Brownie!

Will Jawando running for Montgomery County Executive

The 2026 Montgomery County Executive race is starting to heat up. County Councilmember Will Jawando (D - At-Large) officially entered the contest with a launch event last night in Silver Spring. Right off the bat, he has picked up the endorsement of the most-popular politician in Montgomery County, current County Executive Marc Elrich (D). Jawando joins existing Democratic candidates Evan Glass, his At-Large colleague on the Council, and medical assistant Celeste Iroha. Iroha is the only candidate who has actually filed with the Board of Elections to run.

Jawando has been a member of the Council for two terms, beginning in 2018. He is eligible to run for a third Council term, but the open executive seat is encouraging several Councilmembers to cut short their legislative careers to aim for the highest County office now. The executive position is becoming open because Elrich's opponents were successful in convincing a majority of voters to reduce the term limit for that office to two. They haven't been able to get rid of Elrich, as he plans to run for his old At-Large County Council seat next year, and he is almost certain to reclaim it.

If the Elrich endorsement wasn't clear enough, Jawando is seeking to put an early claim on the progressive lane in the executive race. Glass has slightly moved a notch towards the center in recent months. He is clearly seeking the Washington Post editorial board endorsement, which goes to the candidate who is most supportive of real estate developers, and puts on the best "pragmatic centrist" cosplay performance. Alas for Glass, that endorsement is more likely to go to his District 1 colleague on the Council, Andrew Friedson (D). Friedson is not even an official candidate yet, and he already has a million dollars in his campaign account, thanks to developers who not only write him big checks, but who even host entire fundraisers for him.

Jawando, in contrast, has accepted some money from developers in his past campaigns, but has largely been a nemesis for them on the Council. His leading role in getting a limited rent control measure passed has made him a punching bag for developers and their friends in the local press. Blogger and former Council staffer Adam Pagnucco has even blamed Jawando and his rent control-supporting colleagues for national and international residential development interests now "redlining" Montgomery County, as a result of that legislation.

Elrich's endorsement of Jawando is therefore not too surprising. But Jawando has also nabbed the backing of Prince George's County Executive candidate Aisha Braveboy, who is now the most-prominent Democrat in gorgeous Prince George's with the acension of former exec Angela Alsobrooks to the U.S. Senate. That is a solid one-two punch for Jawando in the endorsements race. Unions offer the biggest endorsement prizes, as they often come with mobilization of their members to put boots on the ground, and that is where the rubber usually meets the road in County elections. One union sure to be thrilled with Jawando's entry is the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 35, which went out of its way to endorse Jawando in 2018 and virtually no other candidate that year, an endorsement that majorly helped Jawando clinch the Democratic nomination and go on to victory.

Jawando's support of higher taxes in the FY-2026 budget will certainly be viewed favorable by union officials. Glass and Friedson have come out against Elrich's proposed property and income tax hikes this budget season, despite voting for budgets that contain tax increases in the past. Elrich's consistent support for higher taxes has never hurt him at the ballot box; will it damage Jawando in this race?

He certainly has the best claim to the Elrich lane in the race at this moment. But can he pull off an Elrich-style victory on June 23, 2026? 

That remains to be seen. Elrich was a major political figure, activist, and local elected official in Takoma Park long before he was elected to the Council in 2006. Decades of grassroots activism on hyperlocal issues allowed him to build up a huge base of support and goodwill across the county. Democrats, independents, and Republicans alike who were facing battles against development in their neighborhoods became Elrich fans, at least on growth and zoning issues. Whatever criticism there was of Elrich's views, he has been one of the few to win elected office this century in Montgomery County who was not corrupt or out to amass money and power for personal and political gain.

Jawando's activism and profile have been more national than hyperlocal. As an author, activist, alumnus of the Barack Obama White House, and even as a Councilmember, he has made infinitely more cable TV news appearances than Elrich. Even with two terms on the Council, he does not have the level of neighborhood-centric experience Elrich has parlayed into countywide success. As just one example, Jawando - like Elrich - were among the handful of elected officials who were initially willing to speak out regarding the ongoing desecration of the Moses African Cemetery in Bethesda during campaign season in 2017 and 2018. But once in office, Jawando did not spearhead any major push to investigate or stop it.

On the other hand, he is adopting the progressive label in the race. Montgomery County and Maryland Democratic voters have shown themselves to be extremely progressive in recent elections. Billionaire David Blair went down to defeat against Elrich twice, despite spending a literal fortune on both contests. Maryland Democrats gave the (relatively) moderate and presumed favorite Peter Franchot the boot in favor of progressive Wes Moore in the 2022 gubernatorial primary. And Moore was a newcomer who hadn't even lived in Maryland that many years in total over his lifetime, most recently as resident of New York.

Jawando may be hoping for that kind of vanguard faction to put him narrowly over the top next June, drawing in the younger Bernie/AOC/DSA crowd. He won't get the Post endorsement or the responsible-growth (YIMBYs would say NIMBY) GOP votes that helped Elrich slip past Blair twice. But unlike Glass and Friedson, he has a lane all to himself, barring the entry of an even younger and even more progressive candidate. All three are spending much of their time talking about Donald Trump - not surprising given their own legislative records of failing to attract a major corporate headquarters to the County or solve its highway gridlock or persistent crime wave, while focusing on banning gas powered leaf blowers, plastic bags, and gas stoves. To be successful next June, at some point "Hey, look over there!" will have to give way to proposals to solve actual local issues impacting County residents on a daily basis.

Photo courtesy Will Jawando for Montgomery County

Montgomery County, Maryland leaders embrace their downscale future

The respective moribund economies of Montgomery County and Maryland have experienced the whiplash of rapid downscaling over the first quarter of this century. As Montgomery County fell behind even Prince George's and Culpeper Counties in job creation, dropped off the Forbes 10 Richest Counties list, and saw "Montgomery County's Rodeo Drive" fade into empty storefronts and smashed-out bus shelters, the same cartel candidates kept getting reelected. They've radically recalibrated their messaging for these bleak and desperate times by embracing the lowbrow lifestyles they once condemned. Last week, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore joined them by announcing the only economic development victory of his term so far: the addition of 4000 McDonald's fast food restaurant jobs.

At first, many thought Moore's press conference was a stunt by The Onion. Karine Jean-Pierre might have referred to the livestream video as a "cheapfake." But it was all humiliatingly real. There stood the governor whom the media assured us in 2022 was a Wall Street wizard, and who fundraises for his political campaigns among financial oligarchs in the Hamptons and on Martha's Vineyard, touting burger flipping jobs as if he had won Amazon's HQ2 contest.

One wonders who is advising the governor these days. The Golden Arches press event only underlined what a failure Moore has been so far in attracting high-wage jobs and major corporations to the state. Surely his Rolodex must be bursting with corporate titans. Are they that convinced that Moore is such a poor leader and salesman, that they are unwilling to invest in Maryland, even while they imagine what Moore will do for their investment portfolios and offshore accounts as President of the United States in 2029?

Public reaction to the McDonald's "partnership" was decidedly disastrous. Incredulous, mocking tweets and memes populated social media timelines. Serious observers wondered why a future President of the United States, and current executive of a state, would be holding a press event more suggestive of a small town mayor rolling out a summer jobs program for disadvantaged youth. Mayor McCheese, perhaps.

Moore, who stresses his physical fitness at every Instagram opportunity, joined the Montgomery County Council in embracing a junk food future. As they have managed the decline that they themselves have brought about, the Councilmembers have done a 180 on health and fitness. A Council that once banned trans fats, forced fast food restaurants to post calorie counts, and even tried to adjudicate which products could be sold in vending machines in the county now has to promote a much different lifestyle.

Much like their flip-flop on natural gas - once calling it the clean fuel of the future, but more recently banning gas stoves and furnaces - the key for the Council is holding onto power, not ideological consistency. 

Montgomery County hasn't attracted a major corporate headquarters in over 25 years. It hasn't attracted many high-wage jobs at all, compared to Northern Virginia. Where the economic activity in Montgomery County is these days is a far cry from cutting the ribbon on Amazon HQ2 in Arlington or christening the new Northrop Grumman HQ in Falls Church. In the last few years, the Montgomery County Council has found itself holding giant pairs of shears outside of...mega gas stations and convenience stores.

Having warned voters of our leaders' incompetence for years, and now watching all of my predictions sadly come true...and being a huge fan of McDonald's...and watching the same Council that once raided a Wendy's and condemned the Baconator now spending the taxpayers' dime promoting Slurpees and Sizzli sandwiches, I have to say, "I'm lovin' it!"

A governor and County Council who should be asking questions like, "Where did we go wrong?" "Maybe we should cut taxes and spending instead of raising them?" or "Will you PLEASE move your Fortune 500 company to Montgomery County?" are instead asking, "Do you want fries with that?"

ICE MS-13 arrest exposes Montgomery County's soft-on-crime leadership

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 26-year-old Salvadoran national Nelson Vladimir Amaya-Benitez in Gaithersburg on May 12, 2025, the agency announced yesterday. ICE described Amaya-Benitez as "a validated MS-13 gang member." ICE Baltimore acting Field Officer Director Nikita Baker blasted Montgomery County officials for not honoring four detainers it placed on Amaya-Benitez at times he was in custody since 2017. But what's equally-astonishing, is the list of crimes he committed in Montgomery County between 2017 and 2024, and the favorable treatment he received from Montgomery County judges and elected officials, who allowed him to continue preying on the community until his arrest by ICE on Monday.

Amaya-Benitez already had a criminal record in Texas, before he even arrived in Montgomery County in 2017. Yet, knowing this, and that Amaya-Benitez was in the country illegally, MoCo judges gave him incredibly light sentences. In 2017, he was convicted of armed robbery in Montgomery County, but received a sentence of only 18 months. In 2023, he was convicted of theft in Montgomery County. Despite his criminal record now including the previous armed robbery, a Montgomery County judge suspended his entire sentence(!!). Less than a month later, Amaya-Benitez was convicted of motor vehicle theft, and rogue and vagabond (the act of breaking into - or testing door handles of - cars with the intent to steal items inside). He then received a jail sentence of only 18 months.

Three days later, Amaya-Benitez was convicted of 2nd-degree malicious burning in Montgomery County. The judge in that case also sentenced him to 18 months. ICE lodged a detainer on him with the Montgomery County Detention Center on October 11, 2023, which was not honored by Montgomery County. The agency reported yesterday that Montgomery County not only prevented ICE from deporting Amaya-Benitez, but released him as a free man "on an unknown date."

With Montgomery County sending a clear message of minimal consequences for criminal activity, and protection from deportation, Amaya-Benitez was arrested and charged with attempted motor vehicle theft in Montgomery County on September 29, 2024. He was convicted of that crime on April 4 of this year. What was his sentence from the Montgomery County judge, with the above rap sheet in front of the court? Hold on to your seat, folks: 7 months and 19 days.

If your mind isn't blown yet, Amaya-Benitez never even served that light sentence. According to ICE, Montgomery County released him into the community again on April 18, 2025, only 14 days after his conviction. 

Montgomery County officials were clearly delighted to host Amaya-Benitez, and to allow him to prey on the residents who pay their salaries. His case underscores yet again their soft-on-crime, anti-police, pro-criminal policies, which have helped sustain a violent crime wave since 2020. On this matter alone, no Montgomery County elected official should be returned to office in 2026. 

After eight years of committing crimes against Montgomery County residents with the help of Montgomery County officials, Amaya-Benitez is now in ICE custody. Perhaps this "Maryland Man" will receive a last-minute assist to remain in the country from Senator Chris Van Hollen or a federal judge, to ensure he can once again return to Montgomery County and continue his good work.

While ICE official Baker did not comment on the ridiculously-light sentences Amaya-Benitez received from Montgomery County judges, Baker did slam County officials for repeatedly refusing to honor the agency's detainers on him. "ICE lodged five detainers — four of which were not honored — allowing him to return to the streets and reoffend time and time again," Baker said in a statement Thursday. "This pattern is unacceptable. We strongly encourage our local law enforcement partners to honor our detainers to ensure that dangerous individuals like this are held accountable and removed from our communities to protect the law-abiding residents we serve."

Photo courtesy ICE

Maryland credit rating downgraded by Moody's, losing coveted AAA rating

Maryland's cost to borrow money will soar after credit agency Moody's downgraded the state's credit rating from the coveted AAA to Aa1 today. Moody's ratings system charitably denotes Aa1 as being a "high quality" investment, as opposed to AAA's recognition of a "highest-quality" investment. In practice, however, the lower grade means you - the taxpayer - will pay a higher rate of interest when Maryland issues bonds to pay for infrastructure projects, for example.

The rating downgrade was first reported by Maryland Matters, which noted that today's change ends a remarkable streak of the state holding a AAA rating from Moody's since 1973. That success was sustained under Democratic and Republican governors alike. Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) attempted to deflect blame to Donald Trump in a rant on X this afternoon, despite frittering away a $5.5 billion budget surplus left to him by previous governor Larry Hogan (R). 

Maryland has been hamstrung by the fiscally-deadly combination of out-of-control spending, the flight of the rich and retirees to lower-tax states, and a failure to lure any major corporate headquarters to the state this century. Yet, Moore and the Maryland General Assembly have continued to support the controversial Blueprint for Education, a state teacher's union-driven boondoggle every rational budget expert warned could lead to fiscal disaster down the road.

Our state is now closer to that disastrous destination with today's credit downgrade. Maryland was already barely able to close a budget deficit this year. What will it do next year, now that borrowing money will cost significantly more, and its economy remains moribund?

The demise of Forever 21 at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

Forever 21 has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Their two-level space has been cleared out. The surveillance camera and monitor are still running, though. Forever 21 is closing all stores after filing for bankruptcy; most were due to close by May 1, likely depending on how quickly a store was able to liquidate inventory.

Virginia added more than twice as many jobs as Maryland in March

The economic development broken record played the same tune yet again in the Washington, D.C. region last month. Virginia destroyed Maryland in job creation once again, adding more than twice as many jobs in March 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Maryland added 2,300 jobs, while Virginia added 5,900 jobs. 

March's job creation numbers show Virginia's economy remained far stronger than moribund Maryland's in a month where both states were impacted by federal job cuts. The total number of actual federal positions lost remains murky, as legal injunctions or orders to rehire workers have followed many of the "DOGE" layoffs.

"This job growth reflects businesses hiring as Virginians continue to find opportunities," Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin said in a statement. "Virginia has jobs, and we’re committed to strengthening the business environment so that everyone can find a path to success right here in the Commonwealth."

Montgomery County protesters head to Hands Off! demonstration in D.C.

Protesters wrapped in Canadian and Ukrainian flags filed into Montgomery County Metro stations this morning. They were heading to the Hands Off! demonstration in Washington, D.C., where supporters are expecting 20,000 attendees. The protests are criticizing President Donald Trump, and the DOGE government waste initiative spearheaded by Elon Musk. Montgomery County Congressman Jamie Raskin and Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar are on the speaking list. 

The event is sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign, the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Federation of Government Employees, Planned Parenthood, and the George Soros-funded Indivisible. A livestream of the event will be available on YouTube beginning at 12:00 PM today, April 5, 2025.

True Spec Golf opens first D.C. location in Clarksburg

True Spec Golf has opened its first Washington, D.C. area location in Clarksburg. The club-fitting studio is located at Little Bennett Golf Course at 25900 Prescott Road, a public course with a view of Sugarloaf Mountain. True Spec's one-bay mobile fitting unit utilizes the industry’s first quadroscopic launch monitor, Foresight GCQuad. True Spec DC Metro also features a "brand-agnostic" fitting matrix of over 70,000 clubhead and shaft combinations. Operating hours are 9:00 AM-6:00 PM on Tuesdays, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM on Wednesdays, 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Thursdays, and 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.

Grocery stores take aim at antiquated Maryland liquor laws again

Several grocery chains in Montgomery County are once again enlisting customers in the struggle to overturn the antiquated liquor laws that prevent them from selling beer and wine in Maryland. Signage paid for by the Consumer Freedom Coalition prompts customers to contact their legislators in Annapolis to support bills that would allow grocery stores to sell beer and wine, but not liquor. However, once again, the machine is prevailing in the state capital, and those bills appear unlikely to pass during this session.

The effort had the support of Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who was eager to back a popular cause to distract from the new taxes and fees in the FY-2026 state budget, but was opposed by powerful Democrats on committees that first had to approve the bills to move them to the floor for a wider vote. Harris Teeter was the loudest advocate for the change during the administration of previous Governor Larry Hogan, but the campaign stalled when the pandemic hit, and liquor law changes became focused on assisting bars and restaurants by allowing take-out cocktails, for example. Safeway has joined Harris Teeter in the 2025 push for the bills. Yet neither major corporation has been able to influence enough Maryland Democrats to sign on to supermarket sales, and those same Democrats have yet to pay a price at the ballot box for their continued defiance of the popular will on the matter.

Watkins Cabinet Co. closes after 73 years in Montgomery County, property for sale

Watkins Cabinet Company has closed at 18001 Sellman Road in Dickerson, after 73 years in business. Its 14,884-square-foot factory and warehouse facility has been put on the market for sale. This is a prime 1.43-acre property for an industrial/manufacturing use, as it is right on the CSX Metropolitan Subdivision tracks, part of a major freight and Amtrak route between Washington, D.C. and Chicago. That creates the opportunity for direct freight rail shipping across the nation, or to ports in Baltimore and Norfolk. 

I have suggested for many years that Montgomery County sit down with CSX and try to create attractive industrial sites alongside the railroad. This could be for the manufacture of anything from furniture to pharmaceuticals to drones. In exchange for the new freight business, CSX might then cooperate for the additional track that has been sought for use by MARC commuter rail on this line. According to the online sale listing, the asking price for the Watkins Cabinet property is $2,000,000. If Montgomery County is serious about getting the third track, these are the types of opportunities they should be investigating in partnership with CSX. Even without a third track, moribund Montgomery County needs the business and high-wage job growth.

Wilbur Watkins founded Watkins Cabinet Company in 1952. It remained family-owned for all 73 years. You might have a Watkins cabinet, vanity, bar, or bookcase in your home right now, if you live in the Washington, D.C. region.

Photos courtesy Brian Jamison Real Estate

MCPS teacher removed from classroom over mistreatment of hijab-wearing student

Montgomery County Public Schools has removed a teacher from a classroom at Cabin Branch Elementary School at 14129 Dunlin Street in Clarksburg, and ordered that he have no further contact with a student he is alleged to have mistreated. The 8-year-old American Muslim student reported that she was harassed, humiliated, threatened, and intimidated by the teacher, primarily over her hijab. She was allegedly given harsher penalties than her classmates, was denied drinking water and bathroom access, and was told to remove her hijab. 

Her father, who is a U.S. military veteran, told the Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) that her alleged mistreatment - which led to anxiety and panic attacks at school - was "profoundly disheartening." He welcomed today's actions by MCPS toward resolving the issue.

“It means everything to my family that my daughter can now feel safe in class," the student's father said in a statement. "This situation caused us a lot of stress and worry as parents, my daughter was afraid to go to school before. She’s young, she was struggling with what the teacher did. No one’s kid should have to deal with this kind of situation from their teachers, no matter their religion. Our family knows we can count on CAIR for support through these situations. CAIR has had our back, their help has given my family peace of mind.” 

“We applaud this family’s courage in coming forward for their daughter’s sake and we acknowledge Montgomery County Public Schools for taking swift action to address this complaint,” CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry said in a statement this afternoon. “CAIR encourages all school districts to routinely provide comprehensive cultural competency and anti-discrimination trainings for all of their educators. It’s essential that they’re accountable to fostering an inclusive and respectful learning environment for all students, regardless of their background.” 

Virginia beats Maryland in January job growth

Virginia hammered Maryland in job growth once again in January 2025. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Virginia added 7,100 jobs in January, while Maryland only created 4,900. The BLS also revised Virginia's numbers from December upward, with the Old Dominion's jobs-added figure rising from 4,900 to 14,200. Maryland had infamously only gained a paltry 200 jobs in December.

“More Virginians are working than ever in the Commonwealth as jobs and opportunity continue to expand in Virginia,” Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin said in a statement Tuesday. “In January, the Commonwealth added 7,100 nonfarm jobs, building on the upwardly revised job gains in December. This performance underscores the success of our pro-business policies and our ongoing focus on workforce development, which are providing Virginia companies the talent they need to grow and Virginians with the opportunities to succeed.” 

Someone save this movie theater in Montgomery County!

You could own your very own cineplex in Montgomery County. CBRE is now marketing the vacant Regal Cinemas at 20000 Century Boulevard in Germantown for sale. While the signage posted on the theater building is pushing a retail use, the online sale listing notes that the 14-screen cineplex inside remains intact. That means this could be essentially a turnkey operation to reopen the theater for a smart cineplex chain, or a wealthy movie buff. Financing is being offered on the listing page, but the asking price for the property - which includes a large surface parking lot - is not provided. Good luck, and until next time, the balcony is closed!

If Maryland loses FBI HQ, Gov. Wes Moore may have only himself to blame

If Maryland loses the FBI headquarters it thought it won in a beauty contest during the Biden administration, Governor Wes Moore may have only himself - and his devotees in the press - to blame. Moore lashed out at President Donald Trump after Trump declared the FBI would be staying in D.C. during a speech at the Department of Justice last week. He called Trump's statement political - and he was right, but not in the way he thought. It was Moore who played politics badly almost a month ago.

Moore initially took a more measured approach after Trump's victory last November. It appeared their relationship was off to a promising start when Trump appointed Moore to the bipartisan Council of Governors last month. But then Moore attended a meeting of governors from across the country at The White House, and went on a press tour to say that Trump had gone "off the rails" at the event. Eager to champion any Democrat who will forcefully take on Trump, and overeager to bolster Moore's bid for the presidency in 2028, the media began publishing reports and encouraging Moore to boost his attacks.

"Maryland Governor Wes Moore appears to have dismissed any possibility of working with President Donald Trump," Maryland Matters reported. "Any possibility?" Does that sound like a wise position to take when the state depends on the federal government in so many ways?

Moore told reporters that he supported Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown's lawsuits against the Trump administration. He said he was "deeply underwhelmed" and "troubled" by Trump. Moore described Trump's speech as "an hour-long diatribe of conspiracy theories and attacks." The Baltimore Sun said Moore was "more determined to push back" against the President. Many Democrats and journalists were positively giddy about Moore's rants against Trump, despite a replacement Key Bridge and the FBI HQ being just two major projects hanging in the balance.

Imagine if Moore had taken a different approach, especially knowing that other politicians have followed a rather simple strategy to forge a successful relationship with Trump. Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has met privately with Trump for dialogue outside of the public view, rather than fire invective through the press. She has acceded to several Trump priorities over the last few months, either by verbal intent, or by action, such as the removal of Black Lives Matter Plaza. As a result, a major cut to the D.C. budget was overturned by the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate at the 11th hour, and Trump has so far not followed through on his threats to intervene in city affairs. 

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, off to a rocky start at home, put on a master class in Trump diplomacy during his White House visit. With a flourish, out came an invitation to visit King Charles, a clear play on Trump's oft-stated affection for the British Royal Family. And the contrasting approaches of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan toward Trump have had predictably-opposite outcomes. All three of those who established a successful rapport with Trump used a combination of flattery and pragmatism, while holding firm on certain principles that were cast as furthering Trump's objectives. Those who simply attacked ended up empty handed.

It's no surprise, then, that Trump would not hesitate to pull back the FBI headquarters after a barrage of attacks from Moore through the media. In a state that has failed to score any big economic development wins in the private sector for decades, fumbling the rare infusion of government largess the FBI HQ represented was an unforced error by Moore.

Rendering via Prince George's County 

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore's poll numbers drop as he pushes unpopular tax, fee hikes

Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) received more bad news from poll results this week, as his highly-unpopular plan to raise multiple taxes and fees - and introduce new ones - is tanking his approval rating across the state. 55% of registered voters approve of the governor, down from 61% in January, according to the Gonzales Poll released Wednesday. 50% of those polled said they believe the state is heading in the wrong direction. 58% labeled Maryland's economy as "fair or poor" - that has risen by 4 points since the University of Maryland Baltimore County poll in late February.

The combination of Maryland's moribund economy, Moore's tax hike plan, his proposed 75-cent tax on all Amazon and food deliveries from firms like DoorDash and Uber Eats, his EmPOWER MD fee that caused electricity rates to skyrocket this winter, and his squandering of a $5.5 billion surplus left by his predecessor, Republican Larry Hogan, is leading some to ask if Moore is up to the job of leading the state. That's quite a change from the beginning of his term, when the primary question was how long he would serve before running for the White House. 

Moore's stellar resume suggested he would lead with strength and competence in all relevant areas. The promised business acumen has yet to emerge, his handling of Maryland's finances has paled next to Hogan's tax-hike-free eight years of fiscal stability, and the state's long-moribund economy has made Moore's plans for massive new spending on social programs and education a difficult-to-impossible mission.

"No Moore" campaign posts video critiquing governor

Contributing to the public's attention to Moore's struggles was a decision by the Maryland Democratic Party to begin attacking an anonymously-led campaign called "No Moore." But in demanding the State Board of Elections unmask the group, and investigate it for unsubstantiated violations of election law, the party wound up elevating public awareness of No Moore - along with the number of its followers on social media. Moore's office distanced itself from that effort. No Moore wasted no time in leveraging its newfound support, posting a video critiquing Moore on X yesterday morning.