[RP TownTalk] Fwd: State Ballot Question 1

[Jonah Blaustein]

Here is a bit of information about the question on the November ballot 
to protect Maryland's Open Space. Many of you will remember the Field 
of Dreams fight in Riverdale recently, which was similar to the issue 
addressed by this ballot question.
J

Begin forwarded message:
>  
> Dear Friend,
>  There’s an important question on the Nov. 7th Maryland ballot that I 
> want to make sure you’re aware of.  I’ve decided to vote YES and think 
> that you’ll want to do the same.
>  To quote a letter I’ve received from the Maryland Conservation 
> Council: “In October 2004, the public learned that the State proposed 
> to sell 800 acres in Southern Maryland, including sensitive wetlands, 
> to a politically connected developer named Willard Hackerman. This 
> land, purchased by [the state’s] Program Open Space, was to be sold 
> below market price without a guarantee of preservation, according to 
> documents obtained by the press. Hackerman planned to develop luxury 
> homes on the property. It was then that the Maryland citizens 
> recognized that there was a glitch in the state’s means of protecting 
> that open space.”
>         Constitutional Amendment Question #1 (Disposition of Lands) 
> would require Maryland General Assembly approval before state lands 
> could be sold. In my mind, this is a call for a classic “checks and 
> balances” situation. The state Executive Branch should not be allowed 
> to act in this regard without approval of the Legislative 
> Branch. Otherwise whoever is governor could reward important 
> supporters with cheap land at our expense.    
>  If you care about our taxes being used properly….or political 
> fairness….or the intended environmental benefits of key state lands, 
> then vote FOR Question #1. Please tell your friends to do the same. 
> Feel free to substitute your name for mine and email this to your 
> mailing lists. 
> D
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