Artificial Turf: At the County Council Now

Looks like the County Council of Montgomery County, Maryland, and the Montgomery County, Maryland Board of Education tried to sneak this one by the Citizens of the county and anyone with an interest in keeping our air and water healthy. Thanks to the sharp eyes of Ms. Rosanne Hurwitz, we see that the County Council plans to put this on the 'Consent Calendar' for this coming Tuesday, May 12.

Here is the definition of a 'consent calendar' from West's Encylopedia of American Law (bold text my own):

"Almost every legislature has a consent calendar for bills identified by committee reports as noncontroversial. Each such bill is read at the appointed time and briefly explained, and a vote is taken. If even a few votes dissent, the bill is returned to the regular calendar for examination. The consent calendar permits a legislature to dispose of a host of minor bills expeditiously."

Minor bills? Non-controversial? Ms. Essie McGuire, who wrote the staff memo, knows from conversations that this issue is neither non-controversial, nor minor.

What was she thinkin'?

The Public Hearing is 'tentatively scheduled' for Tuesday, June 9, with the Education Committee discussing this critical public health issue on Monday, June 8.

Ya gotta love it! First the council puts this issue on the consent calendar, and then tells the citizens it might be on their schedule for a public hearing!

Wow! Get your stop watches out, folks! How fast do you think the Board of Education and County Council members will be able to get this one passed?

Now you KNOW the budget 'disaster' is a sham.

Why else would council members and County Executive Ike Leggett be moaning and groaning about the budget while at the same time approving to spend MILLIONS on artificial turf fields that benefit low-paid factory workers in Calhoun Georgia, and of course, executives at FieldTurfTarkett?

County Council to Sod Farmers of Montgomery County: DROP DEAD

The other question of course is, who else is benefitting by this infusion of cash to FieldTurfTarkett? Hmm, let's find out...

Meanwhile Speak up and tell the County Council and Ike Leggett that there needs to be a moratorium on artificial turf in Montgomery County.

Here is the contact information:

County Council:
email: county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov
Phone: 240-777-7900

snail mail:

Montgomery County Council
Stella B. Werner Council Building
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, Maryland 20850and

County Executive Isiah Leggett:

email: ocemail@montgomerycountymd.gov
Phone: 240-777-2500

snail mail:
Executive Office Building
101 Monroe Street
2nd FL
Rockville, Maryland 20850