Complainers versus Contributors

Posted by PatteeGorilla on Dec 1, 2011 in December2011/January2012, RANT ME! | 0 comments

If you have lived in Frederick County for any length of time, it’s easy to complain about things that you would like to see changed.

Depending on which side of the political fence you prefer, the mere mention of the words “incinerator,” “land use” or “public-private partnership” may incite a visceral anger. I suppose it’s human nature to whine every once in a while, but we’re all pretty fortunate to live in such a great community. We all need to put things in perspective because I am sick and tired of people complaining—just to complain. If you’re not happy with something that’s going on in Frederick, do something about it!

Frederick City—the Haves and Have-nots

Posted by Frederick Gorilla on Oct 4, 2011 in Archives, October/November 2011, RANT ME! | 1 comment

Submitted by Gary Brooks

In 1859, Charles Dickens wrote the epic novel A Tale of Two Cities. In this classic, there’s a famous quote: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness….” That statement contrasts the plight of the French peasantry, demoralized by the French aristocracy in the years leading up to the revolution with its aftermath, and with London’s social conditions. Using this story as analogy, it is possible to contrast the “aristocracy” of the Frederick’s downtowners with the “peasantry” of the rest of the city. Frederick’s “privileged triangle” consists of that part of the city delineated by Route 15, East Street and I-70, while its “underclass” can be said to live outside it in areas like Whittier, Hillcrest, Amber Meadows and Dearbought.

The Chesapeake Bay and the EPA–I Think There’s a Better Way

Posted by gorilla on Jul 29, 2011 in Archives, August/September 2011, Departments, RANT ME! | 0 comments

By Farrell Keough

Maryland households are facing over $5,000 in taxes to help clean the Chesapeake Bay. How did we get here?

Since 1983 the states surrounding the Chesapeake Bay have been entering into agreements to clean up the water with the goal of a 40% reduction in controllable nutrients. Results fell short and by 1998, the Chesapeake Bay and tidal tributaries were classified as impaired under the Federal Clean Water Act. The constituents that are largely responsible for this impair- ment are sediments and the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus.