Opinion

Community Activism Enlivened in District 3

At a recent zoning presubmission hearing in Maple Lawn more than 120 community members participated.

OPINION

In Jessup and Elkridge the feistiest residents both fought for what they believed they deserved. Each wanted High School #13 in their backyards. So far, Jessup is on top in that fight. Now a drug treatment facility is scheduled to move forward in a space in Elkridge. Residents are already screaming ‘insult to injury.’ But, if they want to fight the influx of residential drug abusers, they have the wherewithal to fight.

Down the road a bit, Guilford and Kings Contrivance are pushing to stop or modify a proposed storage facility that would interfere with the peace of a park and trail right off of Guilford Road. The residents do not want it, so a special hearing was held with County Executive Allan Kittleman spearheading and attending that meeting.

Over in Savage there is a fight that has been brewing for some time now about adding an assumed out-of-place commercial area to this idyllic and historic bedroom community.

Meanwhile, the council seat in District 3 is wide open because Jen Terrasa, the current councilmember there cannot run for reelection due to term limits. She has other political aspirations.
The folks in District 3 are making plenty of noise and the candidates are following the meetings and trying to show that they care about these issues by showing up. Some speak out in the meetings while others join the Facebook groups making their positions and allegiances clear.

But it all seems that this is the year of the vocal and active community. These days, residents do not seem content to simply allow government to make decisions on their behalf. The days of bobble head community compliance seems to be on the wane — at least for now.

If this trend continues, truly, the elected officials who represent District 3 now and in the future will become accountable to the electorate.

These new movers and shakers should be applauded for galvanizing members of their respective communities for not only voicing their concerns, but in some cases demanding action that lines up with the desires of the majority community.

Volunteerism and civic leadership bites deeply into free time and also time that is not so free. So many people in these communities are attending neighborhood meetings, school board and county council meetings. They are writing letters, involving the press, establishing issue-oriented social networks, buying signs, forwarding petitions and so much more.

In some cases, reputations are at stake. To these community pioneers it seems that the risks are worthwhile.

I say hooray to those who stand up, but I encourage the activism to continue when the fires die down, lest the hoodwinking return with a vengeance.

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