Guest Post: The Rouse Project 2.0: The Truth about the Tenure of Former Columbia Association President Lakey Boyd and the Wrongful Smear Campaign Against the CA Board

Columbia Association, County Government, Developers, Elections, Ethics, Guest Posts, Housing, Howard County, Legal Issues, MPIA, Must-Reads, Special Interest Groups

Part One of a series of posts that critically analyzes actions taken by former Columbia Association (CA) President Lakey Boyd and the false narrative-laden smear campaign against the CA Board of Directors that occurred in the months prior to Boyd’s abrupt resignation. Part One focuses on a very concerning contract signed by former President Boyd that significantly lowered the monthly rent due by a Howard Hughes Corporation commercial tenant at one of the most desirable outdoor dining locations in the County, potentially costing CA residents over $1 million in uncollected rent payments in the long run.

“Ethics, Shmethics!” – The Concerning Disregard of the HCPSS Ethics Policy by a Political Action Committee Co-Founded by Board of Education Candidate Dan Newberger

County Government, Elections, Ethics, HCPSS, Howard County, Legal Issues, Must-Reads, Special Interest Groups, Violations

Details on how three recent “ends-justify-the-means” election ads published by the Howard Progressive Project, a PAC co-founded by Board of Education candidate Dan Newberger, has led HCPSS employees to disregard rules in Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) Ethics Policy pertaining to political campaigning.

From HoCo Common Sense Blog: Councilmember David Yungmann’s Letter to Newly Redistricted Voters of District 5 Was Campaign Material on the Taxpayers’ Dime and was Unethical, Unlawful, and Unconstitutional

County Government, Elections, Guest Posts, Howard County, Legal Issues

A detailed discussion and legal analysis of a concerning welcome letter sent from Howard County Councilman for District 5, David Yungmann, to District 1 residents who are slated to be redistricted to District 5 after the 2022 election.

HoCo Watchdogs Newsletter – Issue #8

Board of Education, County Government, Developers, Elections, Ethics, HCPSS, Housing, Howard County, Legal Issues, Must-Reads, Newsletter, Redistricting, Special Education, Special Interest Groups, Violations

Issue #8 and 2022 Election Special Edition of the HoCo Watchdogs newsletter. This newsletter provides a concise list of articles, videos & social media posts for readers to stay well informed about important Howard County, Maryland issues such as public school policies, land use & development, and county governance.

HoCo Watchdogs Newsletter – Issue #7

County Government, Developers, Elections, Ethics, HCPSS, Housing, Howard County, Legal Issues, Must-Reads, Newsletter, Special Interest Groups, Violations

Issue #7 of the HoCo Watchdogs newsletter. This newsletter provides a concise list of articles, videos & social media posts for readers to stay well informed about important Howard County, Maryland issues such as public school policies, land use & development, and county governance.

For the 300th time, “I don’t recall!” – The Concerningly Consistent Deposition of County Executive Calvin Ball’s Executive Liaison, Election Campaign Manager & Public Information “Gatekeeper”

Budget, County Government, Developers, Elections, Ethics, HCPSS, Howard County, Legal Issues, MPIA, Must-Reads, Special Education, Special Interest Groups

An initial examination of the legal deposition of Howard County Executive Calvin Ball’s Executive Liaison & election campaign manager, given as part of a lawsuit that resulted from her wrongly denying the public release of hundreds of emails related to correspondence between the members of the Ball Administration and a private land use attorney & developer lobbyist.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball Hired and Generously Paid Family Member Who Wrongly Denied the Public Release of Hundreds of Emails Exchanged with Developer Lobbyist

Budget, County Government, Developers, Elections, Ethics, HCPSS, Howard County, Legal Issues, MPIA, Must-Reads, Special Education, Special Interest Groups

An investigation of how Howard County Executive Calvin Ball hired and gave unusually generous pay increases over three years to his family member who was simultaneously being paid as Ball’s election campaign manager, and how this family member proceeded to repeatedly and wrongly deny the public release of hundreds of emails related to correspondence between the County Executive and private developer attorneys & lobbyists.

“Ownership & Monopoly-Like Control?”: An Examination of The Howard Hughes Corporation’s Local Election Campaign Contributions

County Government, Developers, Elections, Ethics, Housing, Howard County, Legal Issues, Must-Reads, Special Interest Groups

A deep dive into the local election campaign contributions of Downtown Columbia’s “Master Developer”, The Howard Hughes Corporation, and a discussion about concerns related to their campaign finance activities.

One Too Many Hats for State Delegate Jessica Feldmark? The Concerning Case of Calvin Ball’s Special New Employee

County Government, Developers, Elections, Ethics, Housing, Howard County, Legal Issues, MPIA, Must-Reads, Special Interest Groups

Should a sitting Maryland state delegate be allowed to simultaneously work for a County Executive, managing business relationships & major county-level decisions between special interest groups that donated generously to that state delegate’s own election campaign?