Green, open space turns to Green (money) for another O'Malley croney.

The revolving door turns again. This time for former top aide.

Maryland Community News Online

Sunny outcome for governor’s pal’s project

Friday, August 12, 2011

From a distance, it looks like a simple land lease for undesirable state acreage outside a Hagerstown prison.

It’s also a “green” project that more than doubles Maryland’s solar energy on the grid.

The state doesn’t pay a cent. Rather, it will receive $32,050 a year for allowing Maryland Solar LLC to place its energy panels on 250 acres now leased to a local farmer.

Sounds great, right?

Upon closer examination, though, troubling questions arise. Is it a sweetheart deal for a longtime friend and former top aide of the governor? Is the state receiving far less than it deserves?

The details reveal a chain of suspicious events.... READ MORE....

And yet I hear rumors that Governor O'Malley will sweeten this even more by having Penn Gaming awarded a racino at the site.

Calling Penn National's bluff at Rosecroft

Our view: Gaming company has no real interest in racing at the Prince George's harness track but is making a long-shot bet on slots

12:33 p.m. EDT, July 7, 2011

link

...Absent any legal commitment to cover losses, Penn National's interest in racing at Rosecroft would likely last precisely as long as the hope of expanded gambling legislation was alive in next year's General Assembly session. And any such bill would face long odds; given the difficulty of getting the state's original slots legislation through the House of Delegates, it's hard to imagine much appetite for expanding a program that isn't even fully up and running.

Lawmakers might be particularly disinclined to help Penn National since the reason the state's largest casino, at Arundel Mills mall, isn't yet open is that the company bankrolled the petition drive and referendum effort that delayed the groundbreaking there by several months, costing the state, Anne Arundel County and the horseracing industry tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue. They would probably be even less well disposed to the idea if Penn National walks away from its promise to resume live racing just because the racing commission is trying to make sure the company actually sticks to it...

President O'Malley? (We told you so...)

Maryland Community News


We’re doomed. In Sunday’s Washington Post, national pundit Chris Cillizza put Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley’s name on his short list for U.S. president...
O’Malley for president? That will be the term-limited governor’s sole focus between now and the end of his tenure, and we’re his candidacy’s guinea pigs. So get ready for a steady diet of offshore windmills, tuition freezes, “Jobs Across Maryland” tours and feel-good all-things-to-all-people initiatives flowing from Annapolis. Also, “O’Malley’s March” will be playing soon in your neighborhood...
link

Maryland needs a full-time Governor

baltimoresun.com

Maryland needs a governor like New Jersey's

7:30 AM EDT, June 29, 2011

I can't get past the fact that Maryland is the richest state in the country, but we are last in job creation. Why is that so?
Let's compare Maryland with nearby New Jersey. For one thing, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie doesn't waver. He knows what the problems are and he addresses them head on regardless of the consequences. His agenda is so good that he has attracted national attention as a possible presidential candidate. Of course, we know that's not going to happen.
And what about our governor? He's not business friendly and not friendly to legal residents either. This is a fact. Businesses and residents are going to continue to flee for the states that offer a better standard of living, better tax rates, and are business friendly.
Why does our governor go on an expensive junket overseas when the problems are here, right under his nose? Let's see what the results of his recent trip to China bring, and hope that we don't lose money on this taxpayer-funded adventure. Not "sister city" results, but real economic benefits.
I, for one, don't think it will happen and that Gov. Martin O'Malley doesn't have a clue. It's time to get real, Governor O'Malley. Let's see you follow the lead of a governor who has intestinal fortitude, who is in touch with reality, and is effectively doing something about the problems that most of the states are dealing with.
Richard LaCourse, Forest Hill

Let's not be too hard on Governor O'Malley's actions.
While it is true that Maryland's revenues have faltered significantly under the Governor's leadership, he has done a great job for West Virginia!

Maryland ranks last in pace of job creation, Governor ranks first as indifferent

Maryland ranks last in pace of job creation

Estimates show a nearly 20,000-job loss in past 12 months, but more are finding work — perhaps out of state

By Jamie Smith Hopkins, The Baltimore Sun

9:36 p.m. EDT, June 17, 2011

"Hampered by a slowdown in federal spending, Maryland came in dead last in the nation for its pace of job creation over the past year, shedding almost 1 percent of its employment base — nearly 20,000 positions — the U.S. Department of Labor reported.
The figures released Friday show declines in Maryland in eight of the past 12 months. Twenty-two states added jobs during the past year."

Maryland is the richest state in the United States. For Governor O'Malley to have us last in job creation is reprehensible or incompetent.
There is no way to explain Maryland's ranking last in job creation other than the oft-cited charge against O'Malley that his first objective is helping his corporate friends (donors) such as Penn Gaming, who keep their
their jobs and profits fully intact in Charlestown, West Virginia.
Martin O'Malley should realize his continued indifference to the people of Maryland will cost him when he makes an attempt for national office.

"No means No"

In 2007, Penn National was buying Rosecroft. Prince Georges officials and voters made it clear there was not to be additional gaming at the site and Penn Gaming backed out. 
Now Penn National Gaming is back in, trying again to get slots at the raceway.
The problem for the trio of "Horse Lovers" mentioned above, is the residents, elected officials, and voters of Prince Georges County have adamantly said "NO" means "NO". 


Below is a letter from over thirty civic, business, and clergy leaders sent to Governor O'Malley; reminding him that "No" means "No"

It's déjà vu all over again

As Yogi Berra famously said: "It's déjà vu all over again"



Penn National Gaming, with the backing of Governor O'Malley (and Mike Miller), could give a hoot or care less about the Horse Racing Industry or Rosecroft.
In 2007, Penn National was buying Rosecroft. Prince Georges officials and voters made it clear there was not to be additional gaming at the site and Penn Gaming backed out. 
Now Penn National Gaming is back in, trying again to get slots at the raceway.
The problem for the trio of "Horse Lovers" mentioned above, is the residents, elected officials, and voters of Prince Georges County have adamantly said "NO" means "NO".