Montgomery County Council won't put property tax hike question on ballot this fall

Robin Ficker

The Montgomery County Council voted 6-5 on Tuesday to reject a Charter Review Commission proposal that would have made it easier to raise property taxes above the current County Charter limit. This means the proposal will not be put before the voters as a ballot question in November 2024. Currently, under the successful Robin Ficker ballot initiative approved by voters in the past, the Council must vote unanimously to raise property taxes above the charter limit. The CRC proposal, the latest attempt to do an end run around the popular "Ficker Amendment," would have dropped the unanimous vote requirement.

Councilmembers who voted against the CRC proposal were Marilyn Balcombe, Andrew Friedson, Natalie Fani-Gonzalez, Evan Glass, Sidney Katz, and Dawn Luedtke. The Councilmembers who voted for the proposal to remove the unanimous vote requirement were Gabe Albornoz, Will Jawando, Kristin Mink, Laurie-Ann Sayles, and Kate Stewart.

Montgomery County's high property taxes are one of several highly-regressive tax burdens on working families and residents who are on fixed incomes. Along with high property assessments, the annual payments have essentially become a second mortgage for many cash-strapped residents. The Ficker Amendment has provided relief from even-more-nightmarish tax bills since it was passed. That's because, as it is, the Council has raised property taxes on residents every year except for FY-2015.

Nancy Regelin is new chair of Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) Board of Directors

Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (REDI), a public-private partnership that helps businesses launch, locate, and expand in Rockville, has appointed a new chair of its Board of Directors. Nancy Regelin succeeds Susan Prince, who held the position since 2020. Regelin is a familiar face to those who follow land use and development issues in Rockville and Montgomery County, where she is a real estate law shareholder at the prestigious law firm of Shulman Rogers in Potomac. Among the notable projects she was associated with that fundamentally transformed neighborhoods in the City were the redevelopment of the Rockville Mall, and the development of the Upper Rock District.

“We are honored to welcome Nancy as our new Board Chair and look forward to benefiting from her continued vision and expertise,” REDI CEO, Cindy Rivarde said in a statement yesterday. “I have long considered Rockville as my adopted hometown and am honored to have the opportunity to serve to support economic development efforts so all of Rockville can prosper,” Regelin said.

Regelin has been a member of REDI’s Board since 2010, has served as Vice Chair since 2020, and is the Chair of the Maryland Women’s Business Center Advisory Board. She is also the co-founder of The Power Conference, a women’s business development event.

Rockville police identify suspect in stabbing

Rockville City police are seeking the public's help in locating a suspect in the July 20, 2024 stabbing of four people. Detectives have identified Ricky Dyson of Rockville as the suspect, and have obtained a warrant for his arrest. Dyson is facing charges of 1st-degree assault, 2nd-degree assault, and reckless endangerment. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Dyson is asked to call police at 240-314-8900 or 911.

Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin questions Secret Service director about Trump rally assassination attempt

Maryland U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D - 8th District) called the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump "a grave assault on our democracy" in his opening remarks at a contentious U.S. House of Representatives committee questioning of U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle this morning. Cheatle faced heated questioning from members of both political parties seeking answers to security failures at the July 13, 2024 Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump and two rally attendees were wounded in the shooting, and a third attendee was killed. It was the first attempted assassination of a current or former U.S. President since 1981.

"We are united in condemning all political violence," Raskin said in his opening remarks, after U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R - KY 1st District) began the hearing by declaring bipartisan concern about the tragic events. Raskin pledged to seek explanations of the "shocking security failures" at the Trump rally, but - in terms of speaking time - his remarks placed greater emphasis on mass shootings in general, and the availability of AR-15 semi-automatic rifles in America. Before concluding his opening statement, Raskin called for a ban on the AR-15, "and other assault weapons."

Raskin recited the media narrative that has developed in the days since the assassination attempt, in regard to the shooter having been identified as a suspicious person long before the start of the rally. "Why was [Trump] allowed to take the stage with a suspicious person having been identified in the crowd?" Raskin asked.

Cheatle responded that a suspicious person is not the same as a threatening person in the view of the Secret Service. If Secret Service agents had been advised that the shooter had been deemed a threat, she said, Trump would not have been allowed to take the stage. 

Raskin asked if the Secret Service had denied any requests by the Trump campaign for additional security resources for the July 13 rally. "There were no assets denied for that event in Butler," Cheatle said. She confirmed to Raskin that the serial number on the shooter's weapon was the key to identifying him, as he was carrying no identification.

But the bulk of the answers sought by Raskin and other committee members were not provided by Cheatle. She repeatedly referred to being only "nine days out" from the incident, and being unable to answer critical questions until the completion of a Inspector General investigation, as well as an internal Secret Service investigation she confirmed is also taking place. It is not currently clear when either investigation will be complete, raising the possibility that existing security weak spots and lapses might not be identified even by the time a new president is elected, much less to protect candidates before Election Day.

Raskin asked Cheatle what her response would be to an American citizen who asked her, "What went wrong?" on the day of the rally. Cheatle again avoided answering the question with her "nine days out" excuse. Under questioning from Rep. Jim Jordan (R - OH 4th District), she also claimed to be unprepared to answer many obvious questions that she could have expected to be asked at today's hearing, including the type and number of requests for additional resources made by the Trump campaign. Exasperated as his initial question time expired, Jordan noted that Cheatle hadn't answered any of the pertinent questions asked by himself or Raskin.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore endorses Kamala Harris as Biden quits race

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has endorsed Vice-President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race. Moore lauded President Joe Biden's decision to not pursue reelection on Sunday, but did not immediately join the many other prominent Democrats who quickly endorsed Harris shortly after Biden gave her his support. "I am proud to voice my full support and offer my full endorsement to Vice-President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic Nominee for President," Moore tweeted this morning.

Moore said that he had spoken to both Biden and Harris yesterday. He noted that Harris was one of the first officials to call him after the collapse of the Key Bridge in Baltimore earlier this year. In his statement, Moore said Harris could attract a "unique coalition" of support, and urged Democrats to quickly "rally around her" for the nomination. 

Former president Barack Obama, to whom Moore is often compared when future Democratic presidential nominees are discussed, also declined to immediately back Harris yesterday. Moore has been one of the leaders to appear on the short list of possible candidates to replace Biden in a "mini-primary" ahead of next month's Democratic National Convention in Chicago. His name has been less-often mentioned as a potential running mate for Harris since Biden dropped out yesterday. Leading candidates to be Harris' running mate are Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Arizona U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, North Carolina Gov. Roy Moore, and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.

Moore and the many other Democrats who had been expected to run for the White House in 2028 will have to weigh their options in deciding whether to accept a VP slot in 2024, or to wait another four years. Endorsing Harris would allow Moore to leave all options open aside from running as Biden's replacement this year. The Democratic National Committee is expected to announce more details on its plan for the nomination process in the coming days.

Banana Republic closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Banana Republic has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Its space next to the Apple Store has been cleared out of merchandise. A sign on the door provides a number to call for deliveries, so it appears they haven't fully vacated the premises yet. However, the logo signage outside the store is gone. 

It's a shock to see a mall stalwart like Banana Republic vanish, even if smart shoppers knew you could always find similar items far cheaper at sister stores Gap and Old Navy, without leaving the premises. Operating a mall without a Banana Republic, Hot Topic, Cinnabon, and Auntie Anne's should probably be illegal, if it isn't already. Parent company Gap, Inc. said in 2020 that it planned to close 350 Gap and Banana Republic stores by the end of 2023. This location survived that cut, but I see that Banana Republics in Columbus, Ohio and Sacramento, California shuttered earlier this year, so a smaller round of closures appears to be taking place.

Kapow Buddy opening at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Kapow Buddy is coming soon to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It's the latest in a long line of Chipotle-style fast-casual bowl restaurants. This time, the theme cuisine is Thai. 

Your imagination will suggest to you that a grain base will be loaded with vegetables, proteins, and Thai cuisine toppings, and - incredibly - your hunch is correct. In fact, Westfield says in its promotion of the restaurant that "Kapow Buddy is eager to introduce their famous Thai food in the 'Bowl Style' to offer customers a variety of choices including grains, proteins, toppings, and more." When it opens, look for Kapow Buddy on Level 1 in the Old Navy wing.