By Adam Pagnucco.
Below are the top ten stories on Montgomery Perspective in November 2023, ranked by page views.
1. Friedson Blasts CASA over Statement on Israel
2. MoCo Senators: No Tax Dollars for Hate Speech
4. Major CASA Supporter Cuts Off Funding
5. Should CASA Get Our Tax Dollars?
6. Maryland Delegate Opposes “Genocide” in Gaza
7. Albornoz, Fani-Gonzalez Denounce CASA
9. Elected Officials React to CASA Statement
Earlier this month, one of my sources offered this comment: “MCPS owes CASA big time.” That person was right. MCPS’s problems dominated the top story lists in September and October. Then CASA said, “Hold my beer!” and set off an unholy firestorm with its opinions about Israel and Gaza. The episode cost the group millions and damaged its reputation, at least temporarily. Going forward there will be lingering questions about whether CASA should get taxpayer money, perhaps resulting in audits at the state or county levels. That would be a good thing since tax money should not be mixed with lobbying or electoral activity.
But MCPS is not off the hook. Note the inclusion of the district’s hiring of former Council Member Nancy Navarro on this list. Right away, folks began comparing this to the executive’s proposed creation of a job for former Council Member Craig Rice, which resulted in Rice’s withdrawal from consideration.
On November 20, I submitted a Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) request to MCPS for Navarro’s employment contract, job description and any other records related to her compensation. In that request, I cited an Attorney General opinion that the MPIA’s personnel records exclusion does not apply to compensation of public employees. I also cited a Maryland Court of Appeals decision holding that employment contracts are not protected from disclosure. MCPS has thirty days to turn over those records and there is no justification in state law for withholding them.
When I see them, so will you! On to December.