ThayerAvenue.com

The people who have been sending out the letters about the “big box” stores might have been unmasked. Well, at least another outlet for their useless, no-credit campaign has.

Back on December 7, 2009 (a day that will live in infamy?), the first blog post was posted at this “MoCo Smart Growth” blog. Since then, there have been seven posts, all railing against the same Germantown zoning issue. I believe these are the culprits. Now, the next question: Who are these people?

A new theory has come to the forefront: Anti-development activists are teaming up with labor unions (or leading them) in Germantown and other places to keep the non-union grocery store out. Potentially, the UFCW. This is a huge organization with, presumably, lots of proper political power behind it. Could an organization like this really drive such an awful campaign that’s started to get some real flak from others in the community? Even progressive, pro-union people? It appears so. Or at least some rural Maryland faction of it could. I consider myself progressive and pro-union, but this is just plain stupid if they’re involved.

I’d like to know if anything of substance actually happened at the March 16th hearing. From what I understand, the efforts were too little too late. I’ll be trying to confirm who’s behind all this and send updates as I have them. If anyone out there knows anything, please drop me a line or comment here. It appears the people behind this are too scared to actually show themselves.

UPDATE: I found their Twitter account. Wow. These guys are socially savvy with no common sense. And their tweets indicate a halfhearted attempt at whatever they’re trying to achieve – kinda like the rest of their efforts.

You may recall back in the spring of 2008, we had a guest post from our resident Census Geek about demographics on Thayer Avenue and the surrounding area. Very interesting information, and considering all the changes that have taken place in the ‘hood since the last head count, I’m already looking forward to the information garnered from 2010.

Here’s the thing: You have to fill out the form and send it in. I know it takes a few minutes. I know you’re busy. Consider this a public service announcement. Filling out the form and sending it in has a direct impact on your local, state, and national representation, money allocated to your area, and services provided. There is NO downside. You will not get slapped by the IRS. You will not get deported. You will not have the U.S. Marshalls show up at your door (unless you’ve done something else to deserve any of that).

Also, there will be people from the Census Bureau canvassing the neighborhood over the next few months. Please treat them with respect. We’re lucky that the census comes at a time when people need jobs, and this is putting a small dent in a big crash, putting food on lots of tables for people who would experience otherwise. If a census taker tries to test you, I recommend you *not* cut out his or her liver and eat it with some fava beans and a nice Chianti. It would be bad form. And it’s been done before.

About that Letter…
A lot of other people have gotten that anti-big-box-store-Germantown-Citizens-for-Smart-Growth letter I highlighted this past weekend. It even reared its ugly head at this week’s ESSCA meeting. The origin is still a mystery, but I heard an interesting theory. Just imagine that one of the most revered grocery stores in the Northeastern United States (and in Northern Virginia and NOT Montgomery County) was to get all the necessary approvals to break ground on a flagship grocery store. And let’s just say the grocery store happened to be, oh, I don’t know Wegmans.

Now… say you’re a big grocery store chain like Giant or Safeway who is about to get trounced by the great and powerful Wegmans in your market. What do you do? I think maybe you send out letters addressed to “[Insert Name] or Current Resident” – just like you do with the grocery store flyers. Make sense? Giant or Safeway? Want to come forward and claim responsibility for a bogus, failed campaign against Wegmans? It was already too late for that anyway, which makes me wonder if that theory is true. The store will be built, from what I understand, regardless. We’ll see what comes of it.

About the ESSCA Meeting
Better than anticipated. Though when Bob Colvin started talking about gangs in the area, he reminded me of former Senator Ted Sevens (R-AK) talking about the internet. Lots of talk about the Days Inn and Travelodge on Georgia Avenue and the attempt to subdue crime there, but it was rudely interrupted by some bonehead talking about sentencing disparities (valid) and pharmaceutical commercials (not valid and unrelated) and the Juarez Drug Cartel (idiotic and unrelated) and drug commercial disclaimers (a waste of *everyone’s* time and unrelated). I’m reminded of last month’s meeting where someone said, “Hearing you speak for the sake of talking is wasting my time.” Amen. Just a couple of meetings left until elections…

D’OH! A deer!
Beautiful day at Sligo Creek Golf Course yesterday. A big family of deer was foraging on the left side of #9. Your Silver Spring Photo of the Day:

In yesterday’s mail, I received a letter addressed to me (or “Current Resident”) with no return address and a red rubber stamp imprint that said “Important Tax Information Enclosed” where the return address should have been.  Of course I opened it. This is what I found:

The basic gist is asking people to support the addition of “a size restriction to the TMX zoned properties.” For all intents and purposes, it’s an anti-Wal-Mart bill solicitation. Take what you will from the photo, because I won’t repeat the text here. They don’t deserve it.

My beef is this: I have no idea who sent this. Did anyone else get this? I want to know who these people are and how I got on this list. If they identified themselves and their agenda, I might be more than happy to get behind their cause. The fact that they didn’t fess up makes me think I might have to fight them.

Step forward and claim responsibility or I will be forced to use this bully pulpit to destroy you. That is all.

Ed. note: Those are clumps of cars at the top of the letter, but now that I look at the image in the actual post, it looks more like women with rollers in their hair.

UPDATE: I got a postcard in the mail today with the same messaging. The return address simply says “Germantown Residents for Smart Growth.” Sorry, but don’t these big box stores belong in farther out suburbs? Places like, well, I dunno, GERMANTOWN? Discuss.

Getting to Know your Civic Building and Veterans Plaza

The Silver Spring Regional Center is hosting a “must-attend” event to learn everything you may or may not have wanted to know about the big, arching construction that so rudely displaced our beloved turf. It’s looking kinda cool, actually. Meeting goes down March 23 from 7:00-9:00PM at Discovery Communications (enter from the Wayne/Georgia intersection).

The event is billed as a way to “find out what’s going to happen in the building and on the plaza; discover how you, businesses, and organizations can use the facility; and get information on how to rent, schedule, and access the space.”

Your Silver Spring Photo of the Day

Okay – so it’s not in Silver Spring, but I thought it was worth mentioning. As a Crimson Tide fan, it was hard to beat having front row seats (from which I took this photo) to the East Room ceremony at the White House with President Obama, Nick Saban, and the entire Alabama football team to honor their National Championship. Roll effing Tide, folks! And special thanks to MR for the access.

On a sad note…
A beloved Silver Spring resident and activist, Harry Sanders, passed away today. Harry focused a lot of energy promoting transit solutions for this region, and while he was a big Purple Line advocate, he was active in a vast array of community issues. He will certainly be missed.