Del. Arnick supports SB509 for smart growth and Baltimore County to grab people's property

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: . : . : . : The discussion in committee turned to the bill as amended with eight representatives of the Essex-Middle River community in attendance, looking for a sense of leadership among the Delegates. There was none to be found in Virginia Clagett, who justified her support of the bill by saying that she had driven up to the Essex community on the previous day. "It is not a slum. I have more questions after seeing it than before, but there is no substitute for the people who live there and their representatives," she said, looking into the eyes of those residents. : Nor was there any leadership in Barry Glassman, who argued that if the state is going to get serious about smart growth, it must trust the implementation of smart growth policies to the counties. : Chairman Wood praised Baltimore County Del. DeCarlo for her leadership in opposing SB 509 after tallying up the final vote: 8 opposed, 13 in favor of passing SB 509. : . : . : . : The bottom line for the opponents of bill is, to Del. DeCarlo, "It stinks. A bad bill doesn’t deserve local courtesy." Del. Brinkley expressed his disgust at the arrogance of a Baltimore County executive who has argued "That the committee needs a lesson in local courtesy." Del. Sophocleus quoted the current Baltimore County leadership to describe their isolation from constituents: "We don’t talk to the people because they don’t share our vision." : The bottom line for Del. Arnick was, "The positives outweigh the negatives." Few others who supported the bill in committee were as principled Del.’s Benson (Prince George’s), Bronrott (Montgomery), Clagett (Anne Arundel), Dobson (Baltimore City), Dypski (Baltimore City), Glassman (Harford), Mandel (Montgomery), Paige (Baltimore City), Parrott (Harford), and Swain (Prince George’s), felt that they were unqualified to judge between a good bill and a bad bill.

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