Melissaratos and Flanagan Get the Boot
By Silver Springer • Nov 8th, 2006 • Category: Uncategorized
With O’Malley taking the governors seat, the prospects that the Secretaries of Maryland’s Department of Business and Economic Development, Aris Melissaratos and Department of Transportation Robert Flanagan are shown the door look within arms reach.
Why I would like to see them go you ask? Where should I start? I’ll start with the Economic Development chief!
Aris Melissaratos
I’m not exactly sure who he is working for, maybe it is D.C., Virginia or the region as a whole? Either way the surrounding jurisdictions are benefiting at the expense of Maryland.
Maryland has worked hard to grow its Life Science industry. It started more than 25 years ago and now over 350 related firms call the state home. The City of Baltimore has two separate bio parks in the works, one in the Johns Hopkins University Campus and another at the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus. Both surmount to an investment of more than $1.5 Billion. But the Shinning star of the State and still most lucrative spot is Montgomery County where over 200 Biotechnology companies have set up shop, some like MedImmune are on the list of the top ten largest in the world. Montgomery County alone has more firms than the entire state of Virginia and the largest concentration of any Jurisdiction in the country. Maryland ranks third overall state in the country, closely behind California and Massachusetts.
So what’s the problem? Well Melissaratos and MdBio (a division of the Tech Council of MD) want to give it all away. They support forming a “regional effort†between the Washington regions of Maryland, Virginia and D.C. to “share” the Biotechnology industry. No other state in the country “shares” their Biotech industry, at least to any avail. How would each benefit significantly? Better yet how would Maryland benefit significantly when the entire industry is basically within its bounds and hold institutions like the National Institute of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland? Where was the “regional effort†when Virginia proclaimed themselves the “Internet Capital of the Worldâ€, drunk off the information technology industry before the high-tech crash?
The smart thing to do that has escaped the minds of Melissaratos and MdBio. There should instead be a statewide effort, linking Montgomery, Baltimore, Prince George’s and all other jurisdictions within Maryland who want to participate. In fact, Baltimore seems to be left out of the loop entirely with the focus only on the D.C. region!
Venture capital should not be an issue and should in fact grow with a statewide effort.
Melissaratos also lost the state a $500 million drug manufacturing plant to North Carolina, sending a blow to the state’s “Drug Manufacturing Capital of the world†dream. The excuse was that we could not compete on incentives. Land was pinned as the issue but I could point to several spots in Baltimore city, Frederick or some other outlying county. Heck, there are a lot of redevelopable plots of land in Prince George’s and Montgomery. Erhlich continues to sell state owned park land for a nominal sum.
I nominate Anirban Basu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sage Policy Group (SPG) to replace Melissaratos. He is the only one I’ve noticed that doesn’t seem to be blinded by the skewed D.C. region.
Robert Flanagan
In a recent article in the Baltimore Business Journal, Flanagan single handedly sought to undermine the efforts of a statewide revitalization by downplaying the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC). He called the BRAC “Hyped”. Many articles have proclaimed otherwise and that the move of thousands of military jobs would be a job boom for the state. So far there is 15 million square feet of office space planned around Fort Meade in Anne Arundel County alone (that’s twice the amount in downtown Silver Spring) all because of BRAC. This does not include 2 million square feet of office space being developed in the Aberdeen Proving Grounds or move of military jobs from Walter Reed in D.C. to the Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. So far it is living up to the “Hype”.
Around 10,000 military jobs coming to the state could mean a multiplier effect of about 60,000 jobs because of private contractors, sub contractors and other services that will depend on them.
The realignment has the huge potential of giving another jolt into the revitalization of Baltimore which can absorb residents from New Jersey and Virginia from which the military jobs will come from. No longer would current residents have to commute to far out places to work, alleviating our traffic woes and bringing life to forgotten places.
Flanagan believes other wise and sees BRAC as insignificant for his own personal gain. While he’s putting himself ahead of the state he continues to disapprove of any mass transit project, whether it’s the Purple line, Red Line in Baltimore, Green Line Extension, or MARC upgrades. If it isn’t the ICC then it will never get full and proper dedication.
One small sour note is O’Malley’s Lt. Governor Brown, who has proclaimed that he would support another bridge crossing from Montgomery County into Virginia; ripping through our Agricultural Reserve and creating an unhealthy dependence on Northern Virginia in what would probably result in more houses over jobs that we sorely need in the state of Maryland. I thought someone from Prince George’s would fully understand the job situation in the region.
It’s up to O’Malley to choose the right secretaries that actually support the state they are working for and educating Brown about what is at stake could bring him to drop the bridge idea. If not we could end up with the three stooges of Maryland.
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Purple Line Now!
Or rather does this mean we will get a purple line now, or will the rich NIMBYs (of both parties ) keep it dead.
The purple line should be a priority. Not that it has anything to do with Silver Spring, but I also think they should have as a priority running public transportation down into southern Maryland. A light rail or other system to Waldorf would do wonders for the traffic nightmare down that way.
Whoever is the author of that little scrpt is a COMPLETE LIAR and a Maryland hater when it comes to business/economic/revenue growth.
Who is this anonymous person who accuses people so freely of hatred towards jurisdictions for which the people in question have shown nothing but love? Kumbaya, man!
Good post, BTW. I can always count on Silver Spring Scene for providing the useful information.
you bitches are owned. omalley sucks. get ready for the state to get tuned into sucky bmore-land.
“you bitches are owned”
How eloquent…
I have to admit I’m kind of skeptical about O’Malley. I think keeping with Ehrlich would have been a better move, but no one ever said voters were rational…
Anonymous said…
Whoever is the author of that little scrpt is a COMPLETE LIAR and a Maryland hater when it comes to business/economic/revenue growth.
11/08/2006 05:14:20 PM
I’ve sourced some of the info so read for yourself.
Melissaratos and Flanagan DO NOT HAVE THE STATE’S BEST INTERESTS AT HEART.
“Anonymous said…
you bitches are owned. omalley sucks. get ready for the state to get tuned into sucky bmore-land.
11/08/2006 10:43:13 PM
“
Baltimore is doing surprisingly well, if you take a closer look you will find that there hasn’t been such private interest in the city in decades.
O’Malley has been fairly open to development and progress shows in a city that was on its death bed.
They are even getting a new tallest.
http://silverspringscene.blogspot.com/2006/02/special-report-iconic-symbol-for.html
I’m cautiously optimistic about O’Malley but if Baltimore is an indicator of what he can do for the state then we may be good hands. Of course Duncan would have been the best bet.
Great Post.
Anyone who follows state wide politics with a degree of objectivism knows that a republican govenor and admin. produced 4 years of stagnation. It was simply too difficult for Ehrlich to get anything done with such a heavily democratic state house. The result was that over two years were spent fitting about slots.
I agree with the SSS. I don’t think the Ehrlich admin. had the best interest, or understanding of the state at heart and in mind. They were incredibly too political. I’m not sold on O’Malley, but he doesn’t shy away from taking things and people on…which will be key to moving the state forward. We need honest and solid debate, someone like O’Malley could provide that and still have an open mind. We shall see.
Baltimore and Montgomery County are on completely different planets. It’s difficult to link the regions together through some kind of economic cooperation.
Montgomery County has come short on job creation in my opinion. There are so many commuters who head to Virginia for good, white-collar jobs. Maryland has the highest per capita of people with advanced college degrees but the greatest business activity is happening on the other side of the Potomac. This will be a big challenge for any incoming state economic developer.
You mean the kind of white collar jobs that when performed enthusiastically allow the employee to advance? And make more money? And be successful? And turn into a selfish, wasteful, YUPPIE? You’d think you’d want them to go to Arlington or Alexandria.
Silver Springer said…
Anonymous said…
Whoever is the author of that little scrpt is a COMPLETE LIAR and a Maryland hater when it comes to business/economic/revenue growth.
11/08/2006 05:14:20 PM
I’ve sourced some of the info so read for yourself.
Melissaratos and Flanagan DO NOT HAVE THE STATE’S BEST INTERESTS AT HEART.
11/09/2006 02:27:24 PM
RE: My statement stands correct. You are talking like a true Maryland hater. From your little rants against Maryland building new highways to twisting stories(That script is identical to the ongoing issues with METRO and their schemes to CON Maryland tax payers to help fund the $4 Billion Heavy Rail Subway to Leesburg, Virginia) about Flangan/Melissaratos you don’t seem to want Maryland to do better then Northern Virginia when it comes to Addressing traffic issues, supporting Economic/Business/Revenue Growth and Upscale Development.
You talk as if you support Development(”Downtown Silver Spring”) but you contridict yourself everytime when you talk against Developing most of Montgomery County and other parts of Maryland.
It comes off as being a False Prophet of sorts.
Anonymous said…
Great Post.
Anyone who follows state wide politics with a degree of objectivism knows that a republican govenor and admin. produced 4 years of stagnation. It was simply too difficult for Ehrlich to get anything done with such a heavily democratic state house. The result was that over two years were spent fitting about slots.
I agree with the SSS. I don’t think the Ehrlich admin. had the best interest, or understanding of the state at heart and in mind. They were incredibly too political. I’m not sold on O’Malley, but he doesn’t shy away from taking things and people on…which will be key to moving the state forward. We need honest and solid debate, someone like O’Malley could provide that and still have an open mind. We shall see.
RE: Being Open minded does not equale being anti-growth, anti-highway building, and anti-Upscale Development.
ihateyuppies said…
Baltimore and Montgomery County are on completely different planets. It’s difficult to link the regions together through some kind of economic cooperation.
Montgomery County has come short on job creation in my opinion. There are so many commuters who head to Virginia for good, white-collar jobs. Maryland has the highest per capita of people with advanced college degrees but the greatest business activity is happening on the other side of the Potomac. This will be a big challenge for any incoming state economic developer.
11/10/2006 01:33:36 PM
Its very challenging especially with psychotic Maryland hating Virginia loving corruptionists trying to sabatoge economic growth in Maryland especially Montgomery County:
ihateyuppies said…
Woodsider…
There are consequences to gentrification. Shall I name them?
1. Home values will fluctuate widely. If own a house in Silver Spring, you should have sold in 2005 because you won’t fetch anything near what your asking price was a year ago.
2. Higher crime. That’s right…gentrification leads to HIGHER crime statistics. If I am a criminal looking to steal cars, rob people, or hold up stores…the newly gentrified Silver Spring is a tasty target. More affluent people means a bigger pay day for criminals. The number of robberies in the Silver Spring district is still embarrasingly high.
3. Less Diversity. Silver Spring will become more white, more upper class, and more older. You will see a decline of racial and ethnic home buyers, business owners, and shoppers in our lovely Silver Spring.
Also, fewer younger people will live in Silver Spring because of the expensive housing costs. So if are White, well-salaried, and middle-age…Silver Spring is the right place for you.
4. Property Taxes. They will be higher. Plain & simple. For homeowners, this is becoming a real financial burden. Especially for those homeowners who have limited financial means who bought property before the big turnaround in Silver Spring.
The good news is that we have an ally against the gentrification wave. It’s called the free market. Sooner or later, people will march with their wallets out of Silver Spring. There will be price competition from neighboring communities such as Wheaton, College Park, the District etc. People will STOP buying houses and condos at inflated prices. Supply out paces demand and then you have a real problem. Some retail and restaurants in downtown SS will fail. Commercial and resident property owners will have to accept selling at lower prices. Things come into balance.
What goes around comes around.
11/03/2006 12:29:25 PM
Anonymous said…
You mean the kind of white collar jobs that when performed enthusiastically allow the employee to advance? And make more money? And be successful? And turn into a selfish, wasteful, YUPPIE? You’d think you’d want them to go to Arlington or Alexandria.
11/10/2006 08:53:08 PM
RE: LOL! It is soo amazing that he/she loves to say anything negative about the possibility of Montgomery County/Silver Spring having yuppies but he will glorify the positiveness of the yuppies and big business that has identified Northern Virginia for the past few decades.
He/she claims that he/she is not biased against economic/business/revenue growth in Maryland but his/her ignorant statements proves otherwise.