From Patrick McGrady:
Our politicians in Aberdeen are back at the wheel, trying to steer the residents of Aberdeen down a path in which they have no interest.
The Mayor and City Council had a “retreat” at Ripken Stadium a few weekends ago, where they started to work on their plans to solve the problems here in Aberdeen.
Some of the ideas have merit, but are approached from the wrong angle. Mayor Bennett proposes securing investments for a pub or bar in “downtown Aberdeen”– we can describe this as the area on W. Bel Air Avenue between the train tracks– and he explains that we need to eliminate height restrictions for this to happen.
We do need to eliminate height restrictions because central planning does not work, but we cannot replace the current restrictions with hoops that only the politically connected can jump through. Remember, Mayor Bennett’s campaign was funded by thousands of dollars from large developers and lobbyists. Make no mistake, when politicians advocate for special interest handouts, there is a reason for it.
The City Council, unless they cut deals behind closed doors, cannot know which type of business or person would be most inclined to invest in a downtown (without taxpayer handouts), and I am not willing to spend other people’s tax dollars to find out. This is not a bad thing, because we don’t need to know who will invest here! If we establish a healthy climate for investment, it will come, without subsidies.
If we want real economic growth through private investment in Aberdeen that will benefit everyone, the path to success is three simple items:
1) Taxes that are predictable, low, and fair for everybody. No handouts to businesses or individuals. These distort the market and cause other problems. — The budget is coming up soon, keep your eyes peeled.
2) Water and Sewer bills that are predictable, low, and fair. This may as well be a tax, and year after year, the City Council votes to approve higher water and sewer rates.
3) Planning and Zoning rules that are predictable, concrete, and fair.
Until we reduce the burden of high taxes, fees, and bureaucracy in Aberdeen, the only businesses we will get to invest will demand taxpayer handouts that our City Council are more than happy to oblige. I will break down each of these three items with concrete solutions in soon-to-be submitted writings.
None of the Council members return my emails anymore, and perhaps that is their right. But I encourage you to demand good government without the shroud of secrecy and central planning.
Respectfully,
Patrick McGrady
P.S. At a council meeting last month Councilwoman Landbeck pre-emptively defended her plans to vote for increased water/sewer bills once more by pointing fingers at me. I do all I can to speak truth, and like I said when I was a candidate for Mayor, I would get arrested before voting to increase the water and sewer rates on the folks in Aberdeen.
What I meant by that is that we must be willing to fight for the folks in Aberdeen. We must push back against the legislature, the Governor, and whatever other body tries to drive up the costs of living in Aberdeen. Keep in mind when your Councilmembers vote for higher fees, taxes, and higher water and sewer bills, they are working for you.
Sounds like sour grapes…Weren’t you advocating for developing the downtown?
Not sour grapes– just trying to help. We cannot fix all the problems in Aberdeen by giving away all of your tax dollars to big corporations, Mr. Burbey. I’m not as partisan a hack as you think I am.
I want Aberdeen to thrive, but so long as we keep doing the same things, we are going to continue to get the same results.
For example, so long as you try to beat me down when I deride Crony Capitalism, we will remain at the same level. While I disagree with your conclusion on your previous piece (posted this weekend), we certainly share the same disdain for outside interests controlling our government.
So, let’s work together for good government, instead of fighting over silly things. Like you said elsewhere in the comments, everyone should get involved 🙂
a pub or bar in “downtown Aberdeen”? hasnt 2 local pubs/ bars just recently closed down? the other 2 bars in Aberdeen has and have had problems with violence and trouble. a bar wont fix the problems of Aberdeen only add to them.
Point #1: The current mayor and council are absolutely useless.
Point #2: A decent bar or pub in downtown ain’t gonna happen
(& even if it did, it wouldn’t survive and/or it would draw the dregs)
Face it Aberdeen, you have screwed yourselves by electing the current batch of old farts with special interests to represent the city.
You made your bed, now lie in it. And while you’re lying around, forget about improving “downtown”, ’cause it ain’t gonna happen!
Your lousy pandering politicians have been talking about improving downtown for generations, but nothing ever actually improves.
Mr. McGrady’s comments bear merit to a certain degree. Aberdeen officials (elected and department heads alike) will never get off of thier collective asses and reduce the red tape and restrictions that constantly hinder development/improvement throughout Aberdeen (not just the delapidated downtown district)! B.T.W., if The Dagger readers would like to visit local municipalities that have a vibrant downtown district (with the aforementioned bars, pubs AND shopping), then may I suggest our neigbor just five minutes to the northeast? Havre de Grace! 🙂
the mayor and council don’t care about the citizens of Aberdeen. But if your last name is Ripken, they will bend over backwards to give you money. But there is one thing about the stadium….WE ARE PAYING FOR IT AND NOT GETTING THE BENEFIT! The council needs to stop making the citizens of Aberdeen pay more and get less. I think maybe we voted the wrong people in. Also, Mr Burbey needs to stop tooting his own horn and listen to some suggestions from other people!
How come when somebody tries to use there own money to fix a historic building you get told no no no by the city in particular by Darnell
P.W.T.G., For your answer, read the middle part of “Point #2” from Common Cent$ post from earlier today. But please don’t place all of the blame on Darnell. Remember, he has a boss, and it’s one of those nasty department heads that “Mr. Cent$” is probably referring too!
I think that the only solution for us in Aberdeen is to do away with the Charter and revert to County control. Elimination of redundant staff at all possible locations alone would be a huge cost savings. This city has run itself into a corner and now has no where to go except more taxes and outlandish spending. We the citizens can and should begin a petition drive to force a special election to allow the citizens the right to get rid of this corrupt and useless government once and for all.
@Arturro Nasney –
Aberdeen should use Chapter 9 Municipal Bankruptcy to reject Cal Ripken’s stranglehold contract with the city, clear the decks for all the other crappy contracts the city has and then dissolve the municipality turning everything over to Harford County and the Harford County Sheriff’s Dept.
There doesn’t need to be a city charter for there to be an Aberdeen community. Heck there are only three municipalities in Harford County (Bel Air, Aberdeen and HDG) and no cities or towns in Baltimore County other than Baltimore City.
The Dagger needs to check out who is using my name to post on this web site. The post of March 26th in the AM was not made by me. Any one with common sense obviously would know that quote did not come from me. Some one trying to play mean games.Lots of sick people out there.