THRIVE 2050 IS COMING YOUR WAY
by Amy Waychoff
Thrive Montgomery 2050 is a long-range guide for the development of the county. It was passed unanimously by the Montgomery County Council on 25 October 2022. One of its visions is to focus on infill development along major corridors in the county. The plan also “aims to ensure that exclusively single-family zoning is not a barrier to development in many Montgomery County neighborhoods.” The “growth corridors” affected are:
- Rockville Pike
- Georgia Avenue
- Colesville Road/Columbia Pike (Rt. 29)
- New Hampshire Avenue
- Connecticut Avenue
- University Boulevard
- Veirs Mill Road
- Randolph Road/Old Georgetown Road/Rock Spring Drive between Rock Spring and Columbia Pike; and
- River Road
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The Melby Minute - Reopen the Government
They'll Reopen When it Suits Them
By Dennis Brent Melby
Most normal folks, both the public and politicians know it's time to reopen the government. But the far left - which seems to be in total control of the Democrats in the Senate - has decided their best course of action is to hold the government hostage and keep it closed until AFTER the off-year elections. Republicans are notorious for not coming out for off-year elections and the far left feels they’ll win in New York City, Virginia, New Jersey and the redistricting race in California. After that they'll seriously think about paying our soldiers, paying our government workers, and giving food stamps to the people who really need them.

It goes like that all the way down the line, even our local COUNTY government is running a full blown Campaign on Trump hatred, and it seems to work with the far left. Why run on local issues when you can make it all about the White House and your hatred of any Republican that lives there? It seems to work wonders even here, where there is absolutely no Republican elected. Blaming Republicans is the way to the left wing voters hearts. It's amazing.
So once the ballots are counted on Wednesday the Democrats will take what winning they get and spin them amazingly into a tale of how the voters have spoken, they'll say all the voters want the Democrats back in office and let’s finally bite the bullet, do what they've done the past dozen times, join with just enough votes to briefly reopen the government. Crazy. The main stream Press will pick it up and run with it. And probably also the folks that run our local media, both online and local TV. But it won't be true.
Read moreREDISTRICTING IN MARYLAND?
Maryland won't join Trump-inspired redistricting push, state Senate leader says | The Banner | Pamela Wood | October 29, 2025, 9:01 am, Updated October 29, 2025 5:00 pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 29, 2025
Contact: Carrie Simons-Sparrow, [email protected]
House Republicans Respond to Senate President's Decision Not to Move Forward with Redistricting
Annapolis, MD – House Republicans today issued the following statements regarding Senate President Bill Ferguson’s decision not to move forward with redistricting.
House Minority Leader Jason Buckel:
“Senate President Ferguson has realized what we have known for years: Maryland is already one of the most partisanly gerrymandered states in the U.S., and trying to redistrict even further to wholly eliminate the voices of Republicans and trying to subvert the votes of the Eastern Shore solely in an effort to play D.C. politics is a terrible idea. Legally, we believe Judge Battaglia’s opinion from four years ago would be availing and subject our current congressional map to a much more searching analysis by Maryland’s highest court. Politically, we suspect that existing Democratic members of Congress did not want to see their own gerrymandered districts ‘weakened’ to reflect their true partisan nature. Maryland is not a 7-1 Democratic state by registration, voting history, or geography, and it is surely not an ‘all-Democrat’ state. We commend President Ferguson for recognizing the folly of this type of extremism, and hope this ends the speculation and veiled threats from Governor Moore and other Annapolis Democrats.”
House Minority Whip Jesse Pippy:
“We agree with Senate President Ferguson that for Democratic leaders to gerrymander out the only Republican in our Federal Delegation would be the height of hypocrisy, especially when roughly 40% of Marylanders vote Republican.”
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Crime Reports
MCPD News Releases including Missing Children Reports
Accused MoCo Drug Dealer Faces Multiple Charges: Police | Patch | Deb Belt, Patch Staff | October 28, 2025, 6:13 pm
Dateline NBC to Feature Montgomery County Murder Case Solved After Two Decades | The MoCo Show | Patrick Herron | October 17, 2025, 11:00 am Updated October 17, 2025 2:22 pm
News & Opinions
News & Opinions
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A Better Plan for MCPS's Headquarters | Montgomery Perspective | Adam Pagnucco | October 29, 2025
What to know about proposed MCPS programming changes | Bethesda Today | Ashlyn Campbell | October 22, 2025 11:28 am, Updated October 22, 2025 11:59 am
Taylor Offers Reparations for Failed MCPS Graduates | Clean Slate MoCo | Michael Bell | October 21, 2025
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Why are Marc Elrich and Will Jawando in China? | The Banner | Jack Hogan | October 27, 2025 8:51 pm
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Maryland awards $6 million to small nonprofit with no tax records since 2022| Fox Baltimore | Patrick Hauf | October 24, 2025 5:03 pm, Updated October 24, 2025 6:39 pm
Chairman's Message
By Reardon "Sully" Sullivan
The Empty Politics of Platitudes
It’s election season and if you’re like me, you are getting bombarded with overused platitudes offered as new ideas, wisdom or comfort, but that come across as insincere drivel often gas-lighting voters.
Platitudes sound wise but mean nothing — they’re how politicians avoid hard truths.

I am tired of trite phrases such as: “Hardworking families deserve better.” “We need to come together,” “The system is broken,” “ We need to fix a broken system.” Democrat candidates like Marc Elrich (who has been in local government for 20 years), and Will Jawando and his slate that have been in office for several terms continue to gas light voters with a blow torch. Look in the mirror guys… you created the issues and have no idea how to fix them.
1. Take Wes Moore’s recent announcement that his administration will be laying off over 500+ workers while recently saying that they will be hiring separated federal workers. Does this guy know what he is doing? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm7A8x1aBmo
Read moreThe “MoCo Hall of Shame” Awards – Halloween 2025 Edition

(1)
By Lori Jaffe
It’s been 6 months since our last MoCo Hall of Shame Awards. We figured it was time to look back and honor those in local government service who have risen to the top of the shame ladder. Here are our picks…
Read moreMuster Takes a Break
Mid MoCo Muster

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Greg Decker and the Mid MoCo Muster are on winter break, we'll resume our monthly meeting at La Mex in the Spring. Have a great Holiday Season!




