Response to Catonsville Times Editorial
In response to Daniel Rosen’s letter, 6/16/10, I agree with most of what you say, however, please do not assume that party lines define this election for County Council. I too, had become quite disenfranchised with politics in general until my community planned meet and greets for all of the candidates and I had the opportunity to meet Greg Morgan, currently running for the County Council seat. Greg is new to political office, yet is so immensely knowledgeable about the issues that have and will affect our quality of life in Catonsville, because he has been so involved and freely given so many hours for many years to many organizations that benefit the community. No, he will not always tell you what you want to hear, but will tell the truth and has long been listening to citizen concerns and would like to cooperate with developers to solve problems for us rather than create new ones. Greg has many innovative ideas of how to revitalize old Catonsville and use the Spring Grove property to benefit Catonsville, such as much needed recreation areas, rather than cause yet more blight.
We have also had the opportunity to meet both candidates for County Executive, Joe Bartenfelder and Keven Kaminetz. When pressed on the issue of the Promenade and the possibility of revitalizing Westview and Security Malls, Mr. Kaminetz said numerous times that “you cannot put the genie back in the bottle”, i.e. that the only way to raise tax base and revenue is to forget about trying to use those areas, with existing infrastructure, and build new such as the Promenade. Joe Bartenfelder grew up on a farm, appreciates the quality of life that free space allows and would work with the community to turn the Spring Grove property into an asset rather than a liability. He would never be considered slick and cares about the issues that affect our lives.
We currently enjoy a quality of life in Catonsville that we do not wish to surrender for the benefit of elected officials, developers or their attorneys, whose only interest is maximizing their wealth and we are smart enough to realize that although no one likes to pay taxes, tax dollars spent wisely provide for the excellent schools and other important assets that make Catonsville so desirable.
Before deciding on how to vote, or even that deciding that voting is futile, please take the opportunity to meet Greg Morgan and Joe Bartenfelder.
Kathleen Bauman
