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Councilmember Phil Andrews

Thursday, August 2, 2012

On November Ballot: Giving Disabled Access to More County Jobs

The ballot measure would make it possible for people with significant disabilities to hold certain county positions from which they are currently barred.

An amendment to Montgomery County law that would give the government more flexibility to hire people with significant cognitive and physical disabilities will be decided by voters this November. The Montgomery County Council unanimously voted Tuesday to send a proposed charter amendment to the ballot for county voters.  Spearheaded by Councilmember Phil Andrews (D-Dist 3), with the support of County Executive Isiah Leggett, the change would create a program within the county's internal employment system to recruit, select and hire people with certain disabilities for some county jobs. Currently, the language of the county's charter prevents people with significant disabilities from holding some positions within county government, according…

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Curfew Plan Needs Backup

As debate continues, we ought to think about what happens to kids who will be cited for these violations.

The Montgomery County Council will be holding work sessions in its Public Safety Committee on the new curfew legislation proposed by County Executive Isiah Leggett. This may doom any hopes for speedy action by the council, but it also allows more opportunity to examine the specifics of the legislation and how it fits into the bigger picture. The proposal itself seems to be gaining support as it moves forward, and will likely see some compromises to address concerns that have been expressed in recent weeks.  The curfew would take effect from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weeknights and from midnight to five on weekends, and applies to youth 17 and under. Exceptions to the curfew appear to be expanding as residents have weighed in. Youth who are out …

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Peter Mork

12:49 pm on Tuesday, September 20, 2011

I didn't think Mr. Nephew was comparing a curfew to slavery. He was noting that historically curfews were targeted at groups like slaves and African Americans. His assertion (which I didn't necessarily believe at first) is supported by the Wikipedia article on curfews: "An order by a government for certain persons to return home daily before a certain time. It can be imposed to maintain public …   more ›

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Leggett Discounts Studies on Curfews

Andrews wants 'data-driven' approach.

County Executive Isiah Leggett said Tuesday that a decision to impose a curfew on teenagers is too complex to rely on studies conducted in other jurisdictions. "Any study you bring to me, I could debunk it," Leggett said, because variables like population density, income and geography vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. But a key opponent to the curfew, Councilmember Phil Andrews, called on a "data-driven, evidence-based" approach to fighting juvenile crime. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) chairs the Montgomery County Council's Public Safety Committee, which begins work on Leggett's curfew proposal this week. After a July gang fight in Silver Spring, Leggett proposed a curfew of 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight Friday and Saturday. The…

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Peter Mork

7:52 am on Thursday, September 15, 2011

Wow! So, seventeen year olds should never go to the movies or other social events that let out after 9 p.m.? Part of growing up is learning to make your own decisions. Locking a child in the basement until they turn 18 is not a recipe for raising responsible, mature adults. So, go ahead and convince protective services that I'm unfit to be a parent, but in the meantime, keep these excessive and …   more ›

Monday, September 12, 2011

Council Committee Begins Work on Curfew

Andrews opposes measure, Berliner skeptical and Rice wants to prevent racial profiling.

Proposed teen curfew legislation goes before the Montgomery County Council's Public Safety Committee at a Thursday morning work session, the next step for a controversial measure proposed to combat teenage violence. The committee's chairman, Councilmember Phil Andrews, opposes the bill. "It's not justified based on what has occurred in Montgomery County," Andrews (D-Dist. 3) said. "A curfew is only justified in an emergency situation. We don't have an emergency in Montgomery County. ... A number of council members are undecided. It’s a knee-jerk reaction to one serious but isolated gang fight in downtown Silver Spring." County Executive Isiah Leggett proposed the bill in mid-July on behalf of the Montgomery County Police after a highly …

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Sharon Adams

12:32 pm on Tuesday, November 22, 2011

In case there was a misinterpretation that I have changed my 'stance' from my 9/12 comment regarding parents being or not being held responsible.... My comment 11/21 about 'bonding and locking' parents & teens in same cell involved those teens & young adults (and I use the word adult loosely; street thugs is better terminology) actually 'convicted' of 'criminal behavior' as this 'new game'/mass …   more ›

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