Giving due to Robey's public career

While Harold Jackson's column of Aug. 2 ("Either Feaga or Robey will do for some voters") accurately ascribed James Robey's appeal to Howard County voters in large measure to his local roots, it gave short shrift to his outstanding career as a public servant in the county for more than 30 years.

While Mr. Robey's rose in the ranks of the Police Department from rookie in 1966 to chief in 1991, a review of his record by Mr. Jackson was limited to two controversial and extremely difficult cases the chief had to handle (one of which was largely distorted by a national television news segment).

All of The Sun's readers in Howard should know as much of Mr. Robey's record as do those who support him because of it.

In a fast-growth metropolitan area, police work involves more than arresting law breakers and controlling highway traffic. It touches every aspect of life in the community, including education, public health, social services, growth and economic development.

Realizing this, Mr. Robey's record is replete with innovative programs to assist the county in addressing these concerns, including: Establishing the Police Foundation, an organization of business leaders who lend management expertise and financial support to the department.

Creating a police auxiliary program, which provides trained civilians to handle nonenforcement services such as traffic control.

Creating the Police Youth Academy to provide positive interaction between youth and police officers.

Establishing the high school liaison program with a police sergeant and two officers assigned full-time to high schools, and an after-school program to provide a learning environment for selected children during the hours when statistics indicate many criminal activities occur involving them.

The initiation of "community policing" programs by Mr. Robey, featuring satellite offices and bike patrols at locations requiring more police presence, have produced statistically demonstrable reductions in crime. According to recent uniform crime statistics, Howard County has continued to see a per-capita crime rate fare below the state average and consistently the lowest in the metropolitan Baltimore-Washington area. It has dropped more than 33 percent during the last six months as the programs Mr. Robey initiated as chief continue their effectiveness.

All of this adds up to qualifications far exceeding those with service limited to legislative duties on the County Council, with absolutely no experience in managing a government agency.

William S. Parsons

Ellicott City In response to the article, "Howard rejects rezoning for a mall," in The Sun in Howard on July 30, I must state that another mistake has been made by the zoning board.

The recent rejection of the Howard County Zoning Board members to rezone the property across from the Long Gate Shopping Center to commercial was another mistake It evidently had its eyes closed in 1993 and again in 1998.

I commend Charles C. Feaga for his comments and for casting the only dissenting vote. He told The Sun, "I think we are elected to have a good common-sense. A governing board has to go a little bit beyond that [law]book."

The big issue across from the Long Gate Shopping Center on the north side of Montgomery Road is safety. There are less than a handful of residents living in these houses. These residents, along with the Bethel Baptist Church members, are in great danger when they enter and exit their driveways.

Suggestions by residents of local subdivisions to put up fences, walls, planting trees, shrubs will not solve the safety issue. I have 100 trees on my property now, not counting the woods between the YMCA and my property which is probably another 100 or more. Planting more trees, shrubs, putting up fences and walls will only block motorists' vision when exiting driveways.

Our neighbors in surrounding areas stated we had done nothing to screen out the problems created by the shopping center. Why should we? Why would we? What would it solve in regards to safety? C. Vernon Gray stated in the same article "that the zoning board in 1993 presumed there would be noise and there would be some odor. We did not enter in this with our eyes closed. Our eyes were open."

Well, they did not look at this property then or now. They did not examine the driveways or take a look at the trash containers across from the houses; see traffic backed up from the light at the entrance to the shopping center, or visit the church and try to make a left turn out of its parking lot or make a left turn into any of the properties just east of the Long Gate Shopping Center entrance. They did not attempt to go out any of the driveways and see, due to the elimination of the shoulder, that they must get into the fast lane of traffic to get out.

They did not see all the drains for water runoff on the south side of Montgomery Road (shopping center) and none on the north side (next to residents). All of the water runs across my property and my neighbors when it rains.

Construction of a community shopping center (not a strip mall) on this property would have solved several problems. Primarily, members of Bethel Baptist Church would have had an exit at the light located at the entrance to the Long Gate Shopping Center.

The Triangle Development Corp. was willing to meet with the Wheatfield residents or any other group to explain the proposed community shopping center, but residents declined to meet with them.

I hope I am never involved in another zoning case. It has been an education.

Ralph S. Bathgate

Ellicott City

Growing fields of domestic violence

As a citizen of Howard County and president of the board of directors of the Domestic Violence Center of Howard County, I read your editorial of Aug. 6 ("Solving Domestic Violence") with great interest.

It is a tragedy when human lives are lost, and especially when they are the senseless result of domestic violence. We are all impacted when these terrible acts take place in our community, like the three murder-suicides that have occurred this year in Howard County.

The issue of domestic violence is one that spurs a question of "why."

It knows no boundaries. It affects all of us regardless of race, color, sex, religion, disability or sexual orientation.

pTC

The Domestic Violence Center of Howard County is a private, non-profit agency committed to reducing domestic violence in the county and providing comprehensive services to families traumatized by domestic abuse.

The center provides counseling and support groups for domestic violence victims and for children. It conducts a "New Behaviors" groups for abusers. Emergency shelter services for domestic violence victims and their children and transitional housing are provided to clients. Through a tremendous team of community volunteers and staff, the center also maintains a 24-hour helpline (410-997-2272). The center also provides much needed legal assistance for domestic violence victims.

Until all of us act as advocates to eliminate domestic violence, victims will continue to deny that there is a problem and will not recognize that they need help, or even that there is help available. Abusers will continue to abuse, not understanding the cycle of violence that they execute on a daily basis. And, children caught in these situations will serve as the growing fields for the next generation of domestic violence victims and abusers.

Tracey Wilson

Columbia

The writer is president of the board of directors of the Domestic Violence Center of Howard County.

County officials and the 'use it up fast' philosophy

The recent spate of articles about Bonnie Branch Overlook and similar "in-fill" developments in areas earlier identified and set aside as unsuitable for construction points up the need for a turnaround in Howard County's land-use policies.

The "use it all up fast" philosophy of our current elected officials demonstrates their disdain for our diminishing natural areas, for our water quality and for public participation in land-use decisions.

Fortunately, election time provides an opportunity for citizens to raise concerns with candidates, to demand specific plans to respond to them and then to vote accordingly.

Here are some suggested questions to candidates for getting the discussion down to "brass tacks":

If elected, what specific steps will you take to assure that county government will act to control sprawl without destroying our smaller forests and streams?

How will you facilitate involvement of local residents in shaping their future environment?

Why is it so difficult and expensive for a citizen to get complete information about development plans and zoning changes, and to review permit and other decisions before they are made?

Why does Howard County not even publish its Zoning Subdivision and Land Development, and Sediment Control regulations on the World Wide Web as does nearly every other Maryland county?

Why can citizens not take their concerns to a hearing officer except through a costly appeal process?

All politicians have heard of "political will," the real mover and shaker behind public policy.

Election season is the time for politicians to meet this elusive fellow.

He is us.

Vivian Newman

Marriottsville

The writer is conservation chair of the Howard County Group of the Maryland chapter of the Sierra Club.

Pub Date: 8/16/98