Theresa Defino
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On the article Letter to the Editor: Where Are the Good Samaritans?
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On the Blog Post Free Speech Clause is Not Absolute
Theresa Defino
11:50 am on Thursday, May 9, 2013
Reply"Councilmember Tom Moore said his First Amendment right to political speech was being denied because marching bands and dance troops participating in the parade could carry banners and have an unlimited number of participants in their group, but candidates were allowed only 10 supporters and City specified signage."
That's not what he said. He said the constitution didn't permit two sets of rules--regardless of what they were and to whom they applied--and all of his fellow councilmembers and mayor agreed. In fact, it was the mayor who initiated the move to strike all restrictions.
The city council voted 5-0 to change the rules, based on the advice of the city attorney. You keep making this about Tom Moore and Mark Pierzschala. It's not and never has been.
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On the Blog Post Free Speech Clause is Not Absolute
Theresa Defino
11:49 am on Thursday, May 9, 2013
Reply"Councilmember Tom Moore said his First Amendment right to political speech was being denied because marching bands and dance troops participating in the parade could carry banners and have an unlimited number of participants in their group, but candidates were allowed only 10 supporters and City specified signage."
That's not what he said. He said the constitution didn't permit two sets of rules--regardless of what they were and to whom they applied--and all of his fellow councilmembers and mayor agreed. In fact, it was the mayor who initiated the move to strike all restrictions.
The city council voted 5-0 to change the rules, based on the advice of the city attorney.
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On the article Labor Activists, Council Members Protest Aspen Hill Walmart Plans
Theresa Defino
10:33 am on Wednesday, May 1, 2013
ReplyEveryone wants to see established businesses fail, don't you?
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On the article Labor Activists, Council Members Protest Aspen Hill Walmart Plans
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On the article Labor Activists, Council Members Protest Aspen Hill Walmart Plans
Theresa Defino
9:44 am on Wednesday, May 1, 2013
ReplyWal-Mart pays poverty-level wages, keeps hours low so workers don't qualify for healthcare coverage, provides high-cost, skimpy coverage when it is available, and is a drain on any state in which it operates because workers end up on Medicaid. Not to mention doesn't promote women and bribes governments so it can do business (Mexico being the latest example) and makes it clothes in unsafe factories (see India's building collapse as the latest example) that pay workers $35 an hour when they're done scamming the U.S. ones.
If Wal-Mart would agree to improve its policies it would be welcome. It is unlikely to do so, as mistreatment around the country has intensified.
Even if you don't care about worker treatment, Informed taxpayers are against Wal-Mart.
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On the article NIH Under Scrutiny for Studies on Premature Babies
Theresa Defino
10:06 am on Thursday, April 25, 2013
ReplyPublic Citizen is a consumer watchdog group; not just health-related.
Contrary to this story, NIH is not conducting "similar studies at the research center," nor did it conduct the one at issue (which ended in 2009). Public Citizen has asked for a suspension of studies by a pediatric research network (hospitals and universities do the actual research). It has also accused the HHS Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) of "lax oversight" of clinical trials, this just being the latest example.
If you listen to the radio show you will hear Diane Rehm ask a question that I submitted about why no one from the govt. was on that show. I was the first to report about the study, (in Feb.) for a newsletter called Report on Research Compliance. I regularly cover OHRP and NIH (and other kinds of federally funded research) and brought the study to the attention of Public Citizen for a comment. I had no idea Public Citizen would launch the effort that it has based on this study. Dr. Carome used to work for OHRP, however, and has been highly critical of its operations the past several years.
This is the latest request from Public Citizen: http://www.citizen.org/hrg2115
You can read the only public govt. response to this study here: http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/detrm_letrs/YR13/mar13a.pdfThis is a complicated topic. I am happy to chat with anyone wants more info. Post your contact info interested.
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On the Blog Post Rockville acts to limit license-plate reader data retention
Theresa Defino
12:48 am on Wednesday, April 24, 2013
ReplyTom, Thank you for taking the lead on this. I would also like to see a discussion on limiting the number and placement of these cameras before any more then the current three are contemplated, as well as assurances that there are strong protections for the access, use and storage of the data. Additionally, if MoCo can access the data when necessary, what policies govern how long it can use the data and for what purposes?
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On the article Proposed Rockville Budget Won’t Include Tax Hike
Theresa Defino
4:00 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
ReplyResidents would pay more for water, sewer and stormwater management. The garbage bill would stay the same, at $372.
Is $372 a typo?
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On the article Speak Out: License Plate Readers—Good Policing or Invasion of Privacy?
Theresa Defino
8:04 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013
ReplyActually, Matt, that is not true, and you could review the SCOTUS decision referred to in this story for more info.
Theresa Defino
4:55 pm on Tuesday, May 14, 2013
I think more facts are necessary here.
When you didn't hear from them you didn't go to theater to find them? It is hard to know where blame lies here, not knowing how old these girls are. It sounds like your daughter and god daughter don't have their own phones?
No matter my children's age, I make it a point to know the running times of the movies they're at, especially if I am the one who is going to be picking them up.
We warn children--especially girls and young women--not to go to strangers for help. We know that of the three girls, the man kidnapped one who was his daughter's friend after giving her a lift.