This week, I've been tracking some consternation in the community regarding the Citizens' Election Fund, Howard County's public campaign financing program. In 2016, Howard County voters voted for a charter amendment via a ballot question to establish the fund, and the County Council introduced legislation instituting the program. Then-County Executive Allan Kittleman consistently and steadfastly opposed the CEF program, saying "our taxes should not go to boost the campaign coffers of any politi...
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COVID Is Not “Just a Cold”
You’ve probably noticed that I didn’t write as frequently in 2021. While I’m still active on Twitter, blog posts take more time and energy for researching, gathering data and links, and crafting the right words (and just the right amount of snark). For nearly a year, though, my energy has been sapped - by long COVID.
My husband and I, who have worked in-person for the duration of the pandemic, became ill with COVID in late February 2021. We had different sets of symptoms, but thankfully, it ...
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Keep It Real
I'm not a huge fan of social media, despite using it frequently as a blogger, activist, and mother of kids whose grandparents all live out of state. Setting aside all the shadiness that comes with social media companies whose only real product is its users, I dislike social media because nearly everything about it is fake. The pictures are carefully filtered and cropped to remove imperfections and enhance beauty; posts are judiciously curated to create the illusion of a happy, perfect life; and...
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What Patriotism Looks Like
What does the word patriot mean to you?
I have always thought it simply described someone who loves their country. Not just Gadsden-flag-waving white men who whine about paying taxes, but anyone who loves their country, recognizes its flaws, and strives to make it better.
Erica L. Green of the New York Times published an article this past Sunday that told the story of Dr. Andrea Kane, the first Black superintendent of Queen Anne’s County Public Schools here in Maryland. I...
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The Voices of Roslyn Rise
Roslyn Rise is an aging income-restricted housing community in Wilde Lake Village in Columbia. It has fallen into disrepair in recent years, and the former property owner struggled mightily to afford the upkeep as the deterioration worsened. Recently, Enterprise Community Partners, a nonprofit started by Jim and Patty Rouse, purchased the property and created plans to redevelop it, ensuring that existing Roslyn Rise residents can live in modern, safe, and healthy homes at below cost.
Residen...
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