Council Member Obie Patterson, D-8, hosts Community Mtg (North Beach: house, casinos)
Washington, DC suburbs in MarylandCalvert County, Charles County, Montgomery County, and Prince George's County
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PGCCouncilMedia Council Member Obie Patterson, D-8, hosts Community Mtg on Saturday, March 31, 11a.m., @ Oxon Hill Library, 6200 Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill.
PGCCouncilMedia Council Member Obie Patterson, D-8, hosts Community Mtg on Saturday, March 31, 11a.m., @ Oxon Hill Library, 6200 Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill.
I might have to check that out. Thanks for the info.
I went for most of the meeting. Here are a few thoughts that I had:
Although I believe Rushern Baker has the support of most of the residents in PG, I believe this casino saga is kind of turning people against him. It was interesting when he first came up people were supportive but the moment he started talking about casinos, the crowd became tough on him.
I like Obie Patterson. Every time I've had to contact him about my community he's been responsive and I believe he really does represent the community as oppose to just having political agendas. What he said before Baker came up, I think resonates with much of the community.
Where was your boy Senator Muse at? Given the importance of this meeting, it would seem like he would be there especially since this is his district. I mean Chief Magaw, Baker and Patterson was there, where was he?
The woman from DPW, Susan Hubbard, is extremely rude. I think the way that she talked to the lady with the first question was disrespectful and she didn't listen to anyone's question completely to give the correct answer (including mine).
I agree with Rushern Baker point about not getting much publicity for the turnaround in crime. I think the police department should be commended for their work, but that doesn't mean I'm satisfied. I hope they keep making progress.
The man that was speaking at the beginning of the meeting about all the accomplishments of the National Harbor was making me roll my eyes. It was obvious political jargon. Sure it's great to hear about the accomplishments but it appears as though they were trying to temper people before they started having angry residents speak.
One thing that stood out to me, and please don't take this the wrong way, is the age of the people there. Most of the people there were either elderly or at least middle aged. I think that can be a bit of a problem. Let's be honest, there are a lot of people who have been here for decades and have become complacent. They do not want to see this area change because they are accustomed to the way things have been. Perhaps that is why so many are resistant. I personally have no problems with them building a mall and I think it's great, but I think we just have to be mindful of having the necessary infrastructure to support it. Unfortunately there are some that just don't want any of it to happen and I think those are the people who show up to these meetings.
I went for most of the meeting. Here are a few thoughts that I had:
Although I believe Rushern Baker has the support of most of the residents in PG, I believe this casino saga is kind of turning people against him. It was interesting when he first came up people were supportive but the moment he started talking about casinos, the crowd became tough on him.
I like Obie Patterson. Every time I've had to contact him about my community he's been responsive and I believe he really does represent the community as oppose to just having political agendas. What he said before Baker came up, I think resonates with much of the community.
Where was your boy Senator Muse at? Given the importance of this meeting, it would seem like he would be there especially since this is his district. I mean Chief Magaw, Baker and Patterson was there, where was he?
The woman from DPW, Susan Hubbard, is extremely rude. I think the way that she talked to the lady with the first question was disrespectful and she didn't listen to anyone's question completely to give the correct answer (including mine).
I agree with Rushern Baker point about not getting much publicity for the turnaround in crime. I think the police department should be commended for their work, but that doesn't mean I'm satisfied. I hope they keep making progress.
The man that was speaking at the beginning of the meeting about all the accomplishments of the National Harbor was making me roll my eyes. It was obvious political jargon. Sure it's great to hear about the accomplishments but it appears as though they were trying to temper people before they started having angry residents speak.
One thing that stood out to me, and please don't take this the wrong way, is the age of the people there. Most of the people there were either elderly or at least middle aged. I think that can be a bit of a problem. Let's be honest, there are a lot of people who have been here for decades and have become complacent. They do not want to see this area change because they are accustomed to the way things have been. Perhaps that is why so many are resistant. I personally have no problems with them building a mall and I think it's great, but I think we just have to be mindful of having the necessary infrastructure to support it. Unfortunately there are some that just don't want any of it to happen and I think those are the people who show up to these meetings.
Thanks for the update PG Titan. Unfortunately I had to wait for a delivery ( one of those 6 hour window deals) so I was stuck in the house. Based on the demographic that was there, I am not surprised that they became a little hostile on topics of development. The ones I have attended with the majority of the attendees being of a certain age and/or long-term residents want things to stay EXACTLY how it is. So your comment is true more times than not. That is also why it is not surprising that they went ballistic when the casino was mentioned. It will be interesting what this week brings in terms of it getting the House vote. Like I said previously, I am not a gambler so I am more interested in the other aspects of that resort than the casino. And although theoretically they could be built without it, I think that it would be difficult to find a third-party to do so given the slow recovery of the economy. There would need to be another incentive. As for Muse, I have often asked the same thing. I have personally only seen him when a camera or reporter is schedule to be there. Anyway thanks again for your summation of the meeting.
As an outside of Prince George's observer I want to mention that when National Harbor went through its various development stages and plans every time gambling came up the developer and the then County officials absolutely promised that gambling in any form would never be allowed. The development was "upscale" and a gambling venue didn't fit with that.
As far as people wanting "things to stay the same" that's everywhere. When a person buys a property and the zoning is X it becomes annoying when someone buys property with that same X zoning and then asks that it be changed to Z because they can't fulfill their "vision" with X.
That happens down here quite a lot. Someone buys a residentially zoned property and wants the zoning changed to commercial because his vision is to put in a restaurant, or whatever. I'm fighting one of those right now. Or the developer that sells a project to the locals as one thing, say a Seniors Only complex, and low and behold when it's built out it has become something else.
Last edited by North Beach Person; 04-01-2012 at 11:24 AM..
Reason: manual spell check
As an outside of Prince George's observer I want to mention that when National Harbor went through its various development stages and plans every time gambling came up the developer and the then County officials absolutely promised that gambling in any form would never be allowed. The development was "upscale" and a gambling venue didn't fit with that.
As far as people wanting "things to stay the same" that's everywhere. When a person buys a property and the zoning is X it becomes annoying when someone buys property with that same X zoning and then asks that it be changed to Z because they can't fulfill their "vision" with X.
That happens down here quite a lot. Someone buys a residentially zoned property and wants the zoning changed to commercial because his vision is to put in a restaurant, or whatever. I'm fighting one of those right now. Or the developer that sells a project to the locals as one thing, say a Seniors Only complex, and low and behold when it's built out it has become something else.
And I think that's where the problem lies with Baker. He's coming off as a typical politician. He completely changed his stance on this and his reason was because he "never thought PG had a venue that could successfully host gambling", so now that he sees the National Harbor, he thinks it will work. That sounds like hogwash. To me, the way he campaign it appeared to be a moral thing, but now it's like let's do whatever we can to save this county.
As an outside of Prince George's observer I want to mention that when National Harbor went through its various development stages and plans every time gambling came up the developer and the then County officials absolutely promised that gambling in any form would never be allowed. The development was "upscale" and a gambling venue didn't fit with that.
As far as people wanting "things to stay the same" that's everywhere. When a person buys a property and the zoning is X it becomes annoying when someone buys property with that same X zoning and then asks that it be changed to Z because they can't fulfill their "vision" with X.
That happens down here quite a lot. Someone buys a residentially zoned property and wants the zoning changed to commercial because his vision is to put in a restaurant, or whatever. I'm fighting one of those right now. Or the developer that sells a project to the locals as one thing, say a Seniors Only complex, and low and behold when it's built out it has become something else.
By the way NBP, given that you are someone that lives outside the county, what are your impressions of the National Harbor? Do people that live around you or in your area talk about it a lot? Does anyone see it as a destination?
By the way NBP, given that you are someone that lives outside the county, what are your impressions of the National Harbor? Do people that live around you or in your area talk about it a lot? Does anyone see it as a destination?
I've never been there. If you've noticed I've never commented specifically on things there, just some of the planning, development and marketing aspects.
No one where I live has ever mentioned it except some trade guys who have done work there.
Where I work in PG very few people have ever mentioned it. Those that have are ambivalent or, recently, talked about the proposed casino.
As an outside of Prince George's observer I want to mention that when National Harbor went through its various development stages and plans every time gambling came up the developer and the then County officials absolutely promised that gambling in any form would never be allowed. The development was "upscale" and a gambling venue didn't fit with that.
As far as people wanting "things to stay the same" that's everywhere. When a person buys a property and the zoning is X it becomes annoying when someone buys property with that same X zoning and then asks that it be changed to Z because they can't fulfill their "vision" with X.
That happens down here quite a lot. Someone buys a residentially zoned property and wants the zoning changed to commercial because his vision is to put in a restaurant, or whatever. I'm fighting one of those right now. Or the developer that sells a project to the locals as one thing, say a Seniors Only complex, and low and behold when it's built out it has become something else.
My thought is that the perception/position on gambling at the National Harbor was limited to what was being proposed at the time (a slots only facility). By it very nature, slots-only facilities have never really been considered upscale. Otherwise there would be a gang of them in AC and LV. From a business standpoint it makes sense to diversify the mix of the harbor to appeal to a broader demographic than a family friendly destination. The reality is that, with this economy families are not traveling/spending as much on vacations etc. than say a single person with no kids. That latter demographic typically isn't drawn to venues/events that specifically to children. A business would need to change/adapt their service offering to successfully tap into a market with a higher disposable income. A high-end casino resort would be one way to draw in that demographic. As for rezoning, yes that can be very frustrating but the reality is development zones change all the time. The only time that it doesn't change as quickly is if it is federally owned park land. Anything less than that is up for debate unfortunately.
And I think that's where the problem lies with Baker. He's coming off as a typical politician. He completely changed his stance on this and his reason was because he "never thought PG had a venue that could successfully host gambling", so now that he sees the National Harbor, he thinks it will work. That sounds like hogwash. To me, the way he campaign it appeared to be a moral thing, but now it's like let's do whatever we can to save this county.
But why wouldn't he come off as a politician. He is a politian. Just like a doctor should come off as a doctor. And there is nothing wrong with someone changing their stance because everyone does. Even on morality issues. If that didn't happen the emancipation proclamation wouldn't have been drafted, nor the civil rights amendment, nor the women's voting act etc., etc., etc. I am sure that there is something that you felt one way about and then, at a later date changed your mind. So changing your mind is not a crime. There are far more politicians and lawmakers that need to change their minds.
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