It may be harder for developers in Prince George's County to fill a vacant building with a fast-food restaurant or liquor store, if a bill sponsored by five Prince George's County councilmembers passes.
According to The Washington Examiner, the bill would require building owners to notify the council if they plan on changing the building's permitted use, allowing time for both public and council comment.
Councilwoman Karen Toles, D-Suitland, introduced the bill after noting many liquor stores and fast food chains in her neighborhood, the Examiner reported. Her constituents told her they wanted "healthier" options.
A research analyst at the Center for Consumer Freedom, a nonprofit funded by restaurants, food companies and consumers, however told the Examiner that a 2009 Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis study found that the proximity of the fast-food restaurant to a family home had little effect on the children's weight.
J. Justin Wilson said the proposed bill was "government paternalism."
Read the full story on The Washington Examiner.
Not only is this "fast food and liquor store" legislation misguided, Karen Toles, et at want to revamp current eviction procedures (a long, drawn out process to begin with) that would endanger the personal property and physical safety of home owners/landlords especially the "mom and pop" property owners. Ditto additional disclosures from home owners trying to sell their home which have little to zero impact or usefulness to potential home buyers. (How is it useful to you by letting you know how many kilowatt hours of electricity I use? How many cubic feet of natural gas?) The Council is going crazy trying to control commerce and personal property rights. They must not have anything better to do.
so ms. toles has no legitimacy in this PGC citizen's opinion, and certainly no legitimacy on issues about children's health. not to mention the fact that this proposal is stupid and makes PG less competitive for much-needed development. it's not burger king's fault that many kids are obese. it's parents -- supposed adults -- who make poor nutritional and lifestyle choices for both themselves and their kids. how about not taking your kids to fast-food restaurants if you don't think they're healthy?
as for me, i engaged in no "name-calling." i simply object to ms. toles' actions -- if that's a "personal attack" in your book, so be it. clearly you are OK with an elected official jeopardizing others' lives as long as she works to keep additional fast-food restaurants out of suitland. i'll have to disagree with you there. when legal sea foods or another healthy, upscale restaurant opens along silver hill road, i'll be happy to thank ms. toles for her advocacy. but until then, as suitland remains a commercially depressed, crime-stricken mess, i'll just consider her the councilwoman who fled police at 100mph on the beltway.
Most folks complied with the request. Those who did not got passed over (or locked out of the lucrative military rental market... but they WERE cheap!). Should it be required disclosure? Meh. PEPCO includes the previous 12 months usage on their bills and Washington Gas used to do same-month-of-previous year info for comparison; still might, I just haven't actually looked at the gas bill in ages. So can't a buyer just ask? Speedy Toles should publish a pamphlet on "Home Buying Tips in Gorgeous Prince George's" and include the suggestion buyers research utility usage as part of their due diligence. It could be her community service!