Barking Dog Decision Needs Another LookIt may not be akin to Ocean City’s decision to drop the recycling program, but there are people around these parts barking mad over the County Commissioners’ decision to not do anything about what they perceive as a serious issue – barking dogs.At last week’s meeting, the commissioners decided against… Read more »
Unanimously, the Ocean City Mayor and Council approved a 50-percent increase in the per-day bus fare, starting next January. This was one of many decisions that allowed officials to retain the same property tax rate as last year.It was a huge deal the last time Ocean City raised its all-day bus fare, and this week’s… Read more »
There seemed to be a lot of folks patting themselves on the backs this week after a package of new sex offender bills was signed into law in Annapolis.Pardon us if we don’t jump for joy over something that does not guarantee any child is safer today than they were four months ago when a… Read more »
Ocean City has touched a nerve with its move to turn away from its traditional recycling program in favor of a trendy waste-to-energy process.It’s been a long time since we can remember the level of outrage from the public over an issue in Ocean City. Citizen input is always important, and the backlash over last… Read more »
The third time was not the charm for Worcester’s fraternal slots bill, but luck had nothing to do with it. Political shenanigans doomed the bill, and it’s unclear exactly why it had to happen the way it did.House Bill 56 would have permitted Worcester-based service clubs the opportunity to offer slot machines to members and… Read more »
Legislators wisely decided this week leave intact state funding of the University of Maryland School of Law’s environmental clinic. Public funds to the tune of $500,000 or more were in jeopardy after some leading lawmakers criticized law students being used to file a Clean Water Act lawsuit against a local poultry farm and Perdue Farms,… Read more »
Although most people did not want to go on record with their comments, let it be known some folks in tourism around here were irked over the fact two Ocean City applications will soon be available for iPhone users. It was not so much the number of “apps” but the process that led to them… Read more »
Congratulations to County Commissioners Louise Gulyas and Virgil Shockley for doing the right thing this week. They were right to vote against a measure giving the commissioners further abilities to decide matters privately.Unfortunately, the majority of the commissioners outnumbered Gulyas and Shockley, and all the other folks who actually think government policy and operational decisions… Read more »
Ocean City is right to pursue a zero-tolerance approach to the issue of off-duty police officers carrying a gun and having a drink or two.The issue surfaced back in January as part of a number of General Orders that must meet the Mayor and Council’s approval. On most occasions, these rule changes sweep through City… Read more »
Parking has and will always be a hot issue in Ocean City, but last week’s discussion of a potential elected group being appointed to review relevant issues was an example of hypocrisy. A legitimate idea, worthy of debate, was simply lost in an informal proposal to add paid parking in other areas of town besides… Read more »