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Good or Bad for Howard County? A Glimpse at How Non-Residents and Partisan Political Entities are Dominating the Election Campaign Contributions for HCPSS Board of Education Candidates Chamblee and Mallo

Board of Education, County Government, Elections, HCPSS, Howard County, Must-Reads, Special Interest Groups
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A summary of 2024 election campaign contributions for Districts 4 and 5 HCPSS Board of Education candidates and concerning details of how almost 80% of over $120,000 in contributions to two candidates has come from individuals and businesses residing outside Howard County, partisan elected official and political party/club transfers and self-funding instead of from the residents of the Howard County District that the candidates are running to represent.

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Hot Mess, Zūm Express: A Retrospective Look at Some Root Causes of an Avoidable Howard County School System Calamity

Board of Education, Budget, County Government, Developers, Elections, HCPSS, Housing, Howard County, MPIA, Must-Reads, Redistricting, Special Interest Groups, Superintendent
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A retrospective look at how years of poor school transportation planning and decades of shortsighted, unsustainable residential overdevelopment policies by the Howard County government have led to and exacerbated the current HCPSS school bus transportation crisis.

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“Zum”ing Off a Cliff: Howard County School Bus Debacle Exposes Deep HCPSS Leadership Issues

Board of Education, Budget, County Government, HCPSS, Howard County, MPIA, Must-Reads, Redistricting, Superintendent
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A look at the history of the current Howard County school bus disaster with Zum Services, Inc. and how this situation is just the latest of many leadership issues that have plagued HCPSS in recent years under the tenure of Superintendent Michael Martirano.

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How Did Your County Councilmember Vote?

County Government, Developers, Howard County, Must-Reads
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A review of the voting records for each current Howard County Councilmember on a variety of County Council bills related to land-use/development, environmental impact/flood mitigation & preservation, governmental Board accountability/oversight, and the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) that came down to 3-2 split decisions from 2019 through the end of 2022.

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Guest Post: The Rouse Project 2.0: The Truth about the Tenure of Former Columbia Association President Lakey Boyd and the Wrongful Smear Campaign Against the CA Board

Columbia Association, County Government, Developers, Elections, Ethics, Guest Posts, Housing, Howard County, Legal Issues, MPIA, Must-Reads, Special Interest Groups
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Part One of a series of posts that critically analyzes actions taken by former Columbia Association (CA) President Lakey Boyd and the false narrative-laden smear campaign against the CA Board of Directors that occurred in the months prior to Boyd’s abrupt resignation. Part One focuses on a very concerning contract signed by former President Boyd that significantly lowered the monthly rent due by a Howard Hughes Corporation commercial tenant at one of the most desirable outdoor dining locations in the County, potentially costing CA residents over $1 million in uncollected rent payments in the long run.

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State Bill 10-23 is a Political “Door-in-the-Face” Compliance Method. Don’t Fall For It.

Board of Education, County Government, Elections, HCPSS, Howard County, Must-Reads, Redistricting
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A brief discussion about how State Bill 10-23, a bill that proposes to have two members of the HCPSS Board of Education be appointed by the Howard County Executive from a candidate list provided by the State Delegation, is an example of the “Door in the Face” compliance technique that certain HCPSS Board of Education members are facilitating.

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