We the undersigned object to the Town of Chevy Chase's joining the Bethesda Chamber of Commerce. We request that the Town Council rescind the Town's recently-approved membership.
Updates
September 16, 2015
The council remains silent on our concerns but the lack of an official response shows exactly where their priorities lie. I am spending my evenings documenting every point of friction to ensure they cannot ignore our questions for much longer.
September 16, 2015
Seeing this level of support grow despite the constant pushback has been exhausting yet incredibly validating. It is clear that many people in this town feel ignored by the current direction of the council.
32 Comments
I don't understand the logic of our Town joining the Chamber of Commerce as its only municipal member. We need a public hearing to answer questions: How does joining the CoC benefit our Town? Does the local CoC support the same anti-labor and anti-Obama efforts as the national CoC? Does the Town's dues support the efforts of the national CoC?
The Chamber of Commerce is an organization of businesses to advance the interest of businesses. By voting to join the Chamber of Commerce, our Town Council projects the image that we in the Town are merely pawns of the developers. That is not the image that I want for my Town! Rescind the vote!
The tension between residential communties and developers is what keeps a balance in future growth. That is why coalitions of community groups is needed to counter organizations like the Chamber. Being the lone voice in the chamber for communities will be useless and serve only to alienate our fellow residential communities. This is a mistake.
I think that the Town should serve as a counterweight to Chamber of Commerce to uphold the interests of our residents against the ravages of Manhattanization being promoted by business and development interests.
While I believe it is necessary for government to work with business, government should not align itself with business. I also object to the manner in which this proposal was placed in front of members of the Council and its constituents.
The cc is an organization looking out for businesses. It is not an organization designed to support the interests of small governments.
This is how the council is trimming the budget, by joining a commercial entity as a government? Oh, I guess the pro-development council members were persuaded by the local developers. Going forward, please be more circumspect about spending my tax dollars!
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We the undersigned object to the Town of Chevy Chase's joining the Bethesda Chamber of Commerce. We request that the Town Council rescind the Town's recently-approved membership.
Updates
September 16, 2015
The council remains silent on our concerns but the lack of an official response shows exactly where their priorities lie. I am spending my evenings documenting every point of friction to ensure they cannot ignore our questions for much longer.
September 16, 2015
Seeing this level of support grow despite the constant pushback has been exhausting yet incredibly validating. It is clear that many people in this town feel ignored by the current direction of the council.
32 Comments
Public discussion, disclosure, and citizen input are needed before a decision on this sort of affiliation would be made. Why has this not occurred? Mr. Mayor, please don't push through initiatives like this without soliciting and respecting the process of obtaining considered and proper public input!
I don't understand the logic of our Town joining the Chamber of Commerce as its only municipal member. We need a public hearing to answer questions: How does joining the CoC benefit our Town? Does the local CoC support the same anti-labor and anti-Obama efforts as the national CoC? Does the Town's dues support the efforts of the national CoC?
The Chamber of Commerce is an organization of businesses to advance the interest of businesses. By voting to join the Chamber of Commerce, our Town Council projects the image that we in the Town are merely pawns of the developers. That is not the image that I want for my Town! Rescind the vote!
The tension between residential communties and developers is what keeps a balance in future growth. That is why coalitions of community groups is needed to counter organizations like the Chamber. Being the lone voice in the chamber for communities will be useless and serve only to alienate our fellow residential communities. This is a mistake.
I think that the Town should serve as a counterweight to Chamber of Commerce to uphold the interests of our residents against the ravages of Manhattanization being promoted by business and development interests.
While I believe it is necessary for government to work with business, government should not align itself with business. I also object to the manner in which this proposal was placed in front of members of the Council and its constituents.
The cc is an organization looking out for businesses. It is not an organization designed to support the interests of small governments.
This is how the council is trimming the budget, by joining a commercial entity as a government? Oh, I guess the pro-development council members were persuaded by the local developers. Going forward, please be more circumspect about spending my tax dollars!
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Public discussion, disclosure, and citizen input are needed before a decision on this sort of affiliation would be made. Why has this not occurred? Mr. Mayor, please don't push through initiatives like this without soliciting and respecting the process of obtaining considered and proper public input!