Concerned Taxpayers of Montgomery County Petition Protests Montgomery County Acquisition of GE Property.

GAITHERSBURG, Md. -- A petition drive opposing the County Executive's plan to acquire the former National Geographic campus, currently known as the GE Tech Park, in Gaithersburg has gathered close to 900 signatures from citizens throughout Montgomery County. The first batch of petitions will be delivered to County officials on Monday, August 4, 2008 at 1:00 PM at Room 501, Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD.

The petition drive is led by Concerned Taxpayers of Montgomery County (CTMC), a civic organization. The group has discovered that the County's plan involves a secretive land swap deal where public land is traded for one of the most expensive available parcels in the County.

Says CTMC member Adrienne Gillen, "In a year when the County is dealing with an enormous budget deficit, it makes no sense to buy this particular tract. It makes even less sense to trade away the public land near the Shady Grove Metro to one developer, excluding other developers who might want to pursue rights to it. At a time of burgeoning budget deficits, the County should not set its sights on acquiring some of the most expensive real estate available anywhere in the County. "

The CTMC estimates the value of the tract at well over $100 million, and it appears that other tracts in the County are available for between $5 and $40 million. Moreover, the current GE Tech Park buildings will require tens of millions of dollars of improvements, according to County spokespeople.

The County Executive's office has repeatedly emphasized that the deal is being structured as "cost neutral." Said Ms. Gillen, "'cost neutral' sounds good until you realize that it is just a code - the County charter gives the Executive the right to trade items as long as they are cost neutral. We question if this clause should apply to land swaps involving multiple parties, swaps transferring hundreds of millions of dollars. Does using the phrase 'cost neutral' eliminate the need for transparency?"

Richard Arkin, a community activist, has filed a Freedom of Information request for details on the County's financing of the plan. Instead of providing the information, the County Executive's office asked for more than $16,000 to gather the information.

Aside from the fiscal issues, residents are concerned about the location of the main County liquor warehouse next door to the Lakelands Park Middle School. State law prohibits locating establishments that sell liquor within proximity to schools.

"The County seems to believe that this law does not apply to it," said Neil Harris of CTMC. "That may be its legal position, but ethically this is just plain wrong. The law exists to set a proper example for our children. Does this make sense?"

Said Rachael Hammoudeh, chairperson of the Concerned Taxpayers, "There are so many things wrong with this plan - it is too expensive, too secret, too vague about the County's future plans for the land, and it places a liquor distribution operation too close to a Middle School. We are bringing this to the County Council to plead for some sense."

The CTMC is a civic organization that is opposed to Montgomery County's plan to purchase the GE property.

For more information, contact Neil Harris at 301-641-8510 or at [e-mail].