CHOOSE ETHICS!!
Stop the Howard County Special Interest Stronghold
Please sign this petition which is asking our Howard County State legislators to support Howard County Local Bill 15-20, and amend it to prohibit developers/builders from donating to campaign accounts of the County Executive and County Council, since they regulate their financial interests so frequently.
UPON SIGNING - ipetitions asks for a donation, this is not us, ignore if you desire, the signature is already entered. THANK YOU.
Other counties have these local laws forbidding the contributions and Howard County must do the same. The People's Voice Ethics Ballot asks Howard County State Legislators to take the lead for us in this year's session. This Bill was introduced last year, but it was not supported enough to pass. Let your legislators know this is a priority for you by signing this petition.Currently, the Bill calls for recusal in zoning decisions if donations are received. It is simpler to just make the contributions illegal. Prince George's County's similar law has stood the test of time since 1992.
There are ethics laws on conflict of interest that disallow taking money from those you can financially benefit. For instance, you cannot give a Judge money who is about to decide your case! This should be no different in land use. It is time for Howard County community interests to outweigh special interests and have a level playing field on quality of life decisions in land use.
Our schools are overcrowded, our affordable housing is concentrated, our public services are overwhelmed, traffic is worsening, our forests are disappearing, and we have major flooding issues. Solutions always seem to benefit developers to the detriment of the County. It is time to make it harder for that industry to funnel funds in their attempt to keep their financial interests protected, over those of our general community, the environment, and even the County's own fiscal health.
Elected officials should not even have to deal with the appearance of a conflict. These laws locally in other counties have stood beyond rights to donate where one wishes, due to the regulatory financial interest issues.
Sign the petition to let our local lawmakers know it is time to forbid these contributions, which often end up over the set limits by having "agents" contribute, and using other loopholes. It is time to get bipartisan support for this effort.
See www.EthicsBallot.com for updated information.
See the text of the current Bill here: https://www.howardcountymd.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=xcNBeQJGtJY%3d&tabid=2120&portalid=0
By Authority of The People's Voice, Lisa Markovitz Treasurer
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
January 7, 2020
Reached 100 supporters
November 12, 2019
November 11, 2019
I am honestly stunned to see so many of you standing up against these developer donations. We are nearing the first hundred signatures and it really shows that this county is ready for a change. If you can help us cross that milestone, I would be incredibly moved by your support.
98 Comments
As a former HoCo resident who was raised and attended public school grades 1-12 in this county, I wholeheartedly and fully support this bill! It’s about time these sly, back door practices come to an end!
It’s not only contributions in $ but a network of interests supporting developers. It’s time to make DPZ a regulator again and NOT a facilitator!
It is all about Cents verses Sense which is Nonsense. The non-development community has for far too long been the underdog. We simply need to get a balanced system to permit the buck stops here. There is the perception that money talks and we need to curtail any potential conflicts of interest. Stu Kohn
Eliminate the opportunity for developers, lawyers and their agents to donate to any candidates seeking (or currently in) an OFFICE that will consider a development related proposal that has been filed with the county. Furthermore, OFFICE holders must recuse themselves from future cases related to people who gave them donations.
Developers have distorted the politics of Howard County too long. The County Councils' decisions resulted in the flooding of Main St. and our over crowded schools. It's time to stop selling out the public for developer donations.
Developers have ruined the quality of life in Howard County by getting permits that resulted in over-building of apartments and condos . Political contributions have to be banned.
Developers in HoCo need to pay their share if they are building in areas with overrcrowded schools.
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CHOOSE ETHICS!!
Stop the Howard County Special Interest Stronghold
Please sign this petition which is asking our Howard County State legislators to support Howard County Local Bill 15-20, and amend it to prohibit developers/builders from donating to campaign accounts of the County Executive and County Council, since they regulate their financial interests so frequently.
UPON SIGNING - ipetitions asks for a donation, this is not us, ignore if you desire, the signature is already entered. THANK YOU.
Other counties have these local laws forbidding the contributions and Howard County must do the same. The People's Voice Ethics Ballot asks Howard County State Legislators to take the lead for us in this year's session. This Bill was introduced last year, but it was not supported enough to pass. Let your legislators know this is a priority for you by signing this petition.Currently, the Bill calls for recusal in zoning decisions if donations are received. It is simpler to just make the contributions illegal. Prince George's County's similar law has stood the test of time since 1992.
There are ethics laws on conflict of interest that disallow taking money from those you can financially benefit. For instance, you cannot give a Judge money who is about to decide your case! This should be no different in land use. It is time for Howard County community interests to outweigh special interests and have a level playing field on quality of life decisions in land use.
Our schools are overcrowded, our affordable housing is concentrated, our public services are overwhelmed, traffic is worsening, our forests are disappearing, and we have major flooding issues. Solutions always seem to benefit developers to the detriment of the County. It is time to make it harder for that industry to funnel funds in their attempt to keep their financial interests protected, over those of our general community, the environment, and even the County's own fiscal health.
Elected officials should not even have to deal with the appearance of a conflict. These laws locally in other counties have stood beyond rights to donate where one wishes, due to the regulatory financial interest issues.
Sign the petition to let our local lawmakers know it is time to forbid these contributions, which often end up over the set limits by having "agents" contribute, and using other loopholes. It is time to get bipartisan support for this effort.
See www.EthicsBallot.com for updated information.
See the text of the current Bill here: https://www.howardcountymd.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=xcNBeQJGtJY%3d&tabid=2120&portalid=0
By Authority of The People's Voice, Lisa Markovitz Treasurer
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
January 7, 2020
Reached 100 supporters
November 12, 2019
November 11, 2019
I am honestly stunned to see so many of you standing up against these developer donations. We are nearing the first hundred signatures and it really shows that this county is ready for a change. If you can help us cross that milestone, I would be incredibly moved by your support.
98 Comments
This questionable practice has long troubled me. County officials grant developers permits to build countless developments to the detriment of all county residents. Our infrastructure cannot handle this over development. Repeated flooding in Old Ellicott City is a prime example of lack of concern for the environment or the citizens.
As a former HoCo resident who was raised and attended public school grades 1-12 in this county, I wholeheartedly and fully support this bill! It’s about time these sly, back door practices come to an end!
It’s not only contributions in $ but a network of interests supporting developers. It’s time to make DPZ a regulator again and NOT a facilitator!
It is all about Cents verses Sense which is Nonsense. The non-development community has for far too long been the underdog. We simply need to get a balanced system to permit the buck stops here. There is the perception that money talks and we need to curtail any potential conflicts of interest. Stu Kohn
Eliminate the opportunity for developers, lawyers and their agents to donate to any candidates seeking (or currently in) an OFFICE that will consider a development related proposal that has been filed with the county. Furthermore, OFFICE holders must recuse themselves from future cases related to people who gave them donations.
Developers have distorted the politics of Howard County too long. The County Councils' decisions resulted in the flooding of Main St. and our over crowded schools. It's time to stop selling out the public for developer donations.
Developers have ruined the quality of life in Howard County by getting permits that resulted in over-building of apartments and condos . Political contributions have to be banned.
Developers in HoCo need to pay their share if they are building in areas with overrcrowded schools.
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This questionable practice has long troubled me. County officials grant developers permits to build countless developments to the detriment of all county residents. Our infrastructure cannot handle this over development. Repeated flooding in Old Ellicott City is a prime example of lack of concern for the environment or the citizens.