| ROGER IN THE NEWS |
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2013 ARTICLES
2012 ARTICLES
December 5, 2012
- County Shows Off New Open Data Program
"This really does make a big difference in terms of what Montgomery County is, how we relate to our people, how we create economic opportunities, how we’re democratizing economic opportunity by creating the basis for which every citizen can help us, help themselves and grow our economy."
October 8, 2012
- Montgomery Council President Seeks County Gas Tax Authority
"I've been a strong proponent of an increase in the statewide gas tax, but if Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore or other communities don't share that desire and we can't get that to pass, then I see no reason why Montgomery County shouldn't be able to go forward and have a gas tax of comparable nature."
September 28, 2012
- Montgomery County Retains AAA Bond Rating
"We have argued to Moody’s that our community is no longer dependent as many are. We are a far more diverse economy. We have asked for the opportunity to make that case to them."
September 17, 2012
- Berliner to County Attorney: Re-Examine Purchasing Pepco
"The county should have the right to determine for itself, subject to a referendum, whether public power is both economically practical and a better option for meeting the needs of Montgomery County businesses and residents."
2011 ARTICLES
July 20, 2011
- Montgomery County Repeals Carbon Tax
"Defending Bill 29-10 is no longer legally feasible. Therefore it makes little sense for the county to continue to expend resources litigating this matter."
June 8, 2011
- Councilmembers Allege Board Lied About Budget
Ervin said she did meet with Barclay, Weast, council Vice President Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) of Potomac and council staff. During the meeting, Weast said the board would accept the level of funding for schools proposed by County Executive Isiah Leggett (D), perhaps by making changes in employee health care, she said.
May 27, 2011
- School Cuts a Big Part of Montgomery County Budget
Ervin, council Vice President Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) of Potomac and county school board President Christopher S. Barclay (Dist. 4) of Takoma Park have met over the past month to discuss the council's planned cuts and how to minimize the impact on students, Ervin said on Tuesday.
May 26, 2011
- Clowns, Heckling Meet MoCo Budget Approval
As Montgomery County Councilmember Roger Berliner extended his thanks to Council President Valerie Ervin for her leadership during the budget process, the heckling started.
May 11, 2011
- Spare a Dime? Meter Increases in Montgomery County
"In the heart of Bethesda for example, we are about to construct a very big, expensive garage that's going to call upon us to issue bonds," Berliner says. "In order to issue bonds, we have to show that the parking lot district has a certain amount of revenue. We fell below that amount in the absence of raising rates just a bit."
May 4, 2011
- Montgomery Council Approves Bag Tax
"Council Vice President Roger Berliner of Potomac said the county recycles few plastic bags. Many, he said, end up as litter in the county's streams and rivers or along roads."
February 3, 2011
- Enough is Enough, Pepco
"Today I am going to call on the Maryland Public Service Commission to establish a restitution fund."
February 2, 2011
- White Flint: Rising to Meet the 21st Century
"White Flint is not a community right now. There are neighborhoods around it, but on Rockville Pike itself there is not a sense of place. What we are working to create is a sense of place in White Flint."
February 2, 2011
- Pepco May Charge More Due to Outages
"On Wednesday, Montgomery County Councilmember Roger Berliner (D-Potomac-Bethesda) called for Pepco to return to customers revenue collected after every major power outage since 2007."
February 2, 2011
- Inside Montgomery County's Historic Carbon Tax
"Faced with a looming budget deficit and a mandated 80 percent reduction of CO2 emissions by 2050, Montgomery County needed a solution that would reduce emissions without increasing the deficit."
2010 ARTICLES
December 8, 2010
- Union Anger at Montgomery Council Spills Into Public View
"This change in law would say first and foremost… make sure that you are assessing whether or not the county can actually afford this particular benefit. Which to all of us on the Council feels like a very reasonable proposition."
August 31, 2010
- Pepco Service Compared to Third World Countries at PSC Hearing
"Today we do not have any state standards by which to judge Pepco's performance. You have not said to Pepco, here is the standard of reliability we expect you to meet. If we have no state standard, it is difficult, if not impossible, to hold Pepco accountable when the lights go out."
July 1, 2010
- Two Tiers Eases Pain
"Examples of major amendments include a substantial increase in the program and size of the project, increase in core capacity of a school, additional impact on the environment such as a substantial increase in grading or use of retaining walls, increase in tree loss, reduction in setbacks, increase in building height and increase in transportation impact."
May 12, 2010
- Once-Closed Farm Stand Can Resume Sales
"The Twin Springs Farmers Market in Bethesda and other farmers markets are invaluable assets to our community and had been threatened with closure.
This legislation saves them and preserves our quality of life - a win win."
April 22, 2010
- Montgomery Official Proposes Carbon Tax on Major Emitters
"Montgomery County has embraced an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and has begun to engage in programmatic efforts to reduce these emissions. These efforts constitute a significant investment by the County and its constituents and cover both stationary sources (County owned and otherwise) and mobile sources."
April 22, 2010
- Montgomery County to Propose Carbon Tax
"At a time when the county needs every dollar it can raise and save, and when we are spending scarce resources to cut greenhouse gas emissions, it is fair and appropriate to require our largest emitter to contribute to the solutions."
March 17, 2010
- White Flint Plan Poised to Pass
"You have an area now that has far too much asphalt, a pike that is unattractive and impossible to cross, and the opportunity to create a grand boulevard with more mass transit and a livable, walkable, vibrant community, and doing all that while protecting surrounding neighborhoods."
March 11, 2010
- Councilmember Roger Berliner Testifies in Annapolis on Energy Disclosure
"It is gratifying that my legislation is now serving as a model for the state. We worked hard to create a law in Montgomery County that helps consumers understand how much they will pay for energy in their new home, how they can reduce those costs and how it can be done it in a way that is not burdensome on the business community. I commend the state legislature for using this model to benefit all residents of Maryland."
February 11, 2010
- Snowpocalypse Now
Councilmember Berliner appears on the Kojo Nnamdi Show and talks about snow removal operations.
January 15, 2010
- Montgomery County Grapples With School Safety Report
"If my kid was in a fight - whether it was consensual or not - I would consider that a serious incident. I would want it reported, I would want it to reflect what is going on in that school - that there are fights taking place. And I don't get that this report does that."
2009 ARTICLES
November 18, 2009
- Seniors Connect to Services at Health Forum
"The forum, also sponsored by the Montgomery County Commission on Aging, was themed 'Feeling Your Best at Any Age' and was designed to provide information on various topics and highlight resources available to the county's seniors."
August 13, 2009
- Berliner Looks Ahead
"Heading into an election year, Potomac’s first-term County Councilman eyes challenges and a second term."
April 22, 2009
- Efforts Aimed at Boosting Tree Cover
"The Department of Environmental Protection is working with Councilmembers Berliner and Elrich on a proposal to expand the number of trees protected by county law."
April 7, 2009
- BRAC Road Projects Could Cost More Than $200M
"At this price, maybe other options come in to play," said Councilmember Berliner (D-Dist 1) of Potomac. He suggested a new rapid bus system from White Flint to downtown Bethesda as one solution.
March 11, 2009
- Elderly Targeted in Recent Robberies
United States Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D) and Montgomery County Councilman Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) of Potomac field questions for the audience at a Senior Forum, held Friday in Bethesda. Speakers addressed both financial and physical security, the latter coming to the forefront in recent months following a rash of crimes targeting the elderly.
February 18, 2009
- ‘Smart grid’ technology may soon hit the suburbs
“The result should be fewer electricity outages, which has afflicted our homeowners and businesses for far too long,” said Montgomery County Councilman Roger Berliner, a supporter of the pilot program.
February 11, 2009
- State takes a new look at Gude Landfill contamination
"This is not a situation where the community is being unreasonable," said Councilman Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) of Potomac, a former environmental lawyer. "This is not a situation where the community is overreacting. This is a situation where the community has done us a favor."
February 9, 2009
- Bike trail for ICC may go unfinished
Here's what people like myself struggle with -- how can this be the environmental tipping point given what we are doing and the protections that are necessary?" A frustrated Councilmember Roger Berliner says. "And how can the costs be that much greater to add 15 feet on a six lane highway, in which we pledged to the community that we are going to make this piece connected?"
February 9, 2009
- MoCo official in hot seat for Hilton move
Councilman Roger Berliner, D-Potomac-Bethesda, questioned why the Montgomery and Maryland incentives package of $2.4 million was significantly smaller than the Fairfax and Virginia offer of $4.6 million. “To my perspective, this was critical, to play with our best foot forward,” he said. “I don’t feel we did.”
February 9, 2009
- Pepco to launch smart grid concept
“The result should be fewer electricity outages, which has afflicted our homeowners and businesses for far too long, and produce lower utility bills,” Berliner said.
January 28, 2009
- Council approves Purple Line rail
The County Council voted unanimously in favor of the Purple Line light rail project Tuesday, but also voted to request that the state examine using only one rail track in specific areas to minimize impacts on the Capital Crescent Trail. Councilman Roger Berliner, who proposed the vote on single-tracking that passed 5-3, said he wanted every possibility explored that could benefit and preserve the trail.
January 28, 2009
- Montgomery County Council backs Purple Line as light rail
Still, Montgomery County Council Vice President Roger Berliner held up a rendering of a tree-filled walking and biking trail next to a light rail train in Tuesday’s meeting. “This representation needs to turn into reality,” he said, “because this is the promise we are making to the people.”
January 25, 2009
- Prospects dim for green project funds: Green Guru -- Roger Berliner
However, one program championed by Montgomery County Council’s green guru, Councilman Roger Berliner, has survived congressional wrangling partially intact with the support of powerful Rep. Chris Van Hollen. Aside from being the fifth-ranking Democrat in the House, Van Hollen is also vice chairman of Congress’ Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus.
January 23, 2009
- Light rail gets support of council committee, Leggett
There is only one community that is making a significant sacrifice," said Berliner (D-Dist.1) of Potomac, explaining his focus on improving the trail in the Bethesda-Chevy Chase area. He noted that the number of trail users would increase in future years.
Jan/Feb Issue of Bethesda Magazine
- Article in Bethesda Magazine “What I was meant to do” (pdf (opens in new window)
Politics is his passion: “Always, a part of me said, ‘This is what I was meant to do.’ I would’ve lived a life of regret if I didn’t stand for office. I love being a legislator. I’m a creature of the legislative process. It’s what I know in my bones. I like tackling big issues. I like the public policy debate. I like the strategy involved. I like the negotiations. I like all of it.” | |
