Olszewski seeks to bypass council to allow housing

I am writing in reference to Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr.’s proposed bill that would bypass the Baltimore County Council’s approval for mixed-use development (“Baltimore County executive to introduce legislation bypassing council approval for mixed-use developments,” Jan. 12).

If this bill is passed by the council, it will be a complete insult and slap in the face to how this country’s democracy was formed. Olszewski’s introduction of this bill is grossly unethical and immoral.

All citizens he is serving should be irate, and I know a large mass of citizens that are.

The very publicly proposed and highly contested residential building of 450 units on West Ridgely Road in Lutherville is something he is supporting.

He and his friend, developer Mark Renbaum, fear that the residential portion of the redevelopment will be voted down by the council.

Therefore, the county executive is changing the rules so he can win at all costs and get what he and the very wealthy developer want.

Lutherville and the surrounding ZIP codes are very dense. That’s what the opposition is about.

The local schools are overcrowded, the infrastructure is beyond capacity, and the engineering study of the intersection of York and Ridgely roads gave it a failing grade.

Incidentally, the county executive claimed in his campaign materials that “I was a teacher, I know what the kids need.”

The kids in the local overcrowded schools do not need less attention, lower grades and other detrimental things. Olszewski has turned his back on his vow and the kids he allegedly cares about.

The county executive should never circumvent the council, their authority and his constituents. With that mindset, why even have a Baltimore County Council?

Councilman Wade Kach has given almost his entire adult life to Baltimore County government. He was even my 7th grade math teacher.

He’s been extremely involved, informative and helpful regarding overdevelopment, and now Olszewski wants to completely negate his authority, along with his blood, sweat and tears — all for the county executive’s self-serving behavior and in order to disrespectfully throw the entire council under the bus.

Who does that?

— Walt Brewer, Lutherville

Cut out electors and vote for presidents directly

As I reread Eric Heavner’s commentary, “The real lesson from Jan. 6, 2021: Our election system is vulnerable” (Jan. 4), the more impressed I am by not only the historical context presented but the common sense of its conclusion.

The American process of counting and certifying electoral votes for president, differing from state to state, is not just unnecessarily time-consuming but fraught with the possibilities of abuse, or at least doubt, about the election’s outcome.

An infinitely more transparent and rational solution is direct election by the citizens, as occurs in most other democracies.

The trappings of an electoral college are a complication we don’t need. Once all states’ vote tallies have been certified as accurate, there can be no question who will be sworn in as president in January of the next year.

A constitutional amendment must be framed to this end: one person, one vote! God knows, ratifying this amendment will take time; traditionalists and lovers of discord and conspiracy theories will resist.

But we must begin now to push for this change and keep the effort alive for as long as it takes. Let our congressional representatives hear from us — forcefully. The direct vote is one concrete way to preserve American democracy so imperiled today.

— Bruce Knauff, Towson

Editor’s note: We are looking for our ninth group of extraordinary people to induct into The Baltimore Sun’s Business and Civic Hall of Fame, and we need your help. Our goal is to identify leaders whose significant accomplishments over their long careers will serve as an inspiration to others who seek to advance the common good. They are women and men who have spurred transformational change in varied spheres — business, government, education, science, health, civic life and the arts — and whose public lives are rooted in Maryland. Nominations should be sent to talkback@baltimoresun.com and include the words “Hall of Fame” in the subject line, along with a brief description of the nominee’s accomplishments and background in the body of the email, and the reasons he or she merits consideration. The deadline for nominations is Jan. 31.