Kojo Comes to Laurel

WAMU's king of community talk radio, Kojo Nnamdi came to Oseh Shalom Synagogue last evening as part of his Kojo in your Community series. Kojo taped two one hour shows about living in Laurel and Prince Georges County.

About 100 people attended the event. Current and former politicians were well represented in the audience. The first hour was a wide ranging conversation about growth, development and preservation. The second hour, well actually 49 minutes in radio time, was about our schools and education.

I was called about a week ago by Tara Boyle, one of the producers of the show. She asked me if I would be a facilitator for the first hour. Not quite sure what a facilitator would do, but having a face for radio, I readily accepted.

It turns out that facilitators sit at the front table with a huge, Edward R. Murrow style microphone in front of their faces and wait for Kojo to ask them a question to help push the conversation forward. Or in my case , to kill the conversation when Kojo asks a question out of left field while I was not paying close attention.

During the first show we talked about historic preservation versus development, community identity, shopping on Main Street, the ICC and politics in the county. Sounds almost like this blog.

The second hour was about education policy, school boards vs. superintendents. That show was facilitated by Dr. Alvin Thornton and West Laurel's own Mary Lehman. About half of the 49 minute hour was Kojo and Thornton sparing about the future of our schools and how the funding, school board and community needed to come together.

You can hear the first hour today, Wednesday, March 29th at noon and 8:00 pm on 88.5 FM. The second hour will be broadcast next Wednesday, April 5th at the same times.

N.B. Wednesday Night. In case you missed the broadcast. A kind reader passed along the following in the comments section:

"The first hour will be archived online here, and the second hour, to be broadcast next week, here (this link won't work until next week)."

American Patriots

I was on my way home from New York City. It was well after midnight and I was Southbound on the New Jersey Turnpike. I pulled in at the Joyce Kilmer service plaza for a soda and some peanuts to stave off drowsiness.

I was standing in line at the little convienence store behind a very young soldier in desert fatigues and jump boots. He had an armful of junk food and sodas. He looked barely old enough to shave. In front of him at the checkout was a sixtyish man and his wife.

The older couple were just about to pay for their things when the man turned to the cashier and said to the clerk, "Ring up this soldier's things too."

The young soldier protested and said, "That's not necessary sir."

The older man said, "Son, I want to thank you for what you are doing. I never had the opportunity to serve. But I'm proud of what you guys are doing. Let me pay for this. It's the least we can do."

The young soldier was visibly shaken. But he got out a quick, "Thank you, sir."

Then the older guy shook his hand and said, "Thank you, be safe, and God bless you." And then he and his wife walked back out into the night. The soldier gathered his bag of junk food and walked out to the highway towards his life too.

The clerk and I smiled and tried to ignore each other's tears as I paid for my peanuts.

Two American patriots just met for the first time on a New Jersey turnpike. A generation apart in time, but brothers in spirit.

City Election Results

TURNOUT - 827 voters out of 11,600 registered or 7.1%

*Mayor*
Craig Moe 686

*At - Large*
Holland 309
Leszcz 466

*Ward 1*
Levin 388
Robison 493
Snyder 445

*Ward 2*
Sarich 521
Smalls 483
Whitley 291

*Mayor Salary to $20,000*
Yes 558
No 111

*Council Salary to $7,500*
Yes 578
No 188

Turnout
--
Rick Wilson

10,800 voters cited for criminal negligence in Laurel, MD

There are over 12,000 registered voters living in our fair city. During each of the last three city election opportunities in 2000, 2002 and 2004, only 1204 people voted at least once. Only three hundred “super voters” participated every time. A criminally low 10% turnout.

I don’t understand why more citizens can’t find 15 minutes to vote. City elections are important. They determine which candidates will write our local laws and execute the city’s business. Laws that could raise or lower your property taxes. Laws that determine if a police officer promptly responds to your call. Laws that maintain your quality of life in so many ways.

The shenanigans in Annapolis and Washington attract swarms of reporters. They steal our attention. Almost 9000 city residents voted at least once, over the three state-wide election cycles in 2000, 2002, and 2004.

State-wide elections are important too. But their impact on your life is remote compared to that pothole in front of your house, the neighbors down the street that collect huge storage containers and junk cars, and controlling crime in your neighborhood.

I hope you can find the time to vote tomorrow. Nine courageous people have asked you to vote for them. They are not officials who live and work far away. They are your neighbors. They will return your calls.

The polls at the Phelps Center on Montgomery Street open at 7:00 am and close at 8:00 pm. Our election judges are quick and efficient. They are well known for giving voters big hugs and pinching cheeks.

Now, set your alarm clock and vote on MONDAY. It will only take a few minutes. Voting will help you lose weight, regrow hair in your bald spots, kill weeds in your yard and improve your odds of winning the lottery. At least that's what a candidate told me....

Thanks again for reading and participating in the conversation here at Connections. I hope you have found it useful. Watch this space for the all the election results on Monday night.

Warmest Regards,

rick

Mike Leszcz - Candidate for At -Large

1. Who are you?

Mike Leszcz, incumbent Councilman At-Large. My wife and I have lived in Laurel since 1972, raising our children on Prince George Street where her family has resided since 1933. I began my service to the residents of Laurel in the 1970's when I was asked by the Mayor to serve on the City of Laurel Planning Commission, where I served as a Commissioner until I was elected to the City Council in 1996. I've also served our community on school and charitable organizations, and other boards and committees in the city as well as with the county and state. I've been married for 36-years to my wonderful wife Mary Eileen. Our daughters call Laurel and Savage home, although our son is drawn to the water, so he resides in Edgewater.

2. Why do you want the job of Laurel council member at this time?

I have had the honor of serving the citizens of Laurel for 5-terms on the City Council and wish to continue to work for the residents of our community.

3. What are the three most important things you want to accomplish if (re)elected?

Continued emphasis on: (1) an improved fiscal position of the City’s Pension Plans for our City staff; (2) efforts with County, State and Federal officials to implement improvements to existing road and transportation systems to minimize and mitigate the effects of externally-generated pass-through traffic flow: and (3) economic development/redevelopment that provides a balance of retail, office and residential opportunities for our residents.

4. What is your vision for Laurel ten years from today?

A place where all residents realize it is not just living somewhere, it is living somewhere special, Laurel.