Replacing the curb cuts yet again

 Here in Bethesda they have what seems like a yearly tradition.  Go to every intersection and dig up the curb cuts for the crosswalks and replace them.  It seems like they just got done with it earlier this year (though looking back at some pictures I think it may have been last year) and they have started it again.  Today they were out jack-hammering the brand new, handicap accessible crosswalk entrances.  Unbelievable, what could possibly be wrong with them, and why are they spending so much tax money doing this?

In the top photo, you can see they have finished digging up the one on the right, and have started jack-hammering the one on the left.  In the bottom photo they are using a concrete saw in preparation for the inevitable destruction.

This intersection is Old Georgetown Road and Edgemore Lane, right in the heart of Bethesda, MD.  I saw they had white arrows painted on the concrete to show where to dig, walking around at lunch I saw other intersections with white arrows so they are doing this to a bunch of them.

Watch out for your MD property tax bill.

The Maryland General Assembly had a good ides. They said "Let's screw everybody who isn't paying attention and willing to jump through hoops". Of course, they didn't phrase it that way, but that is the net result of their action.

You see, most homeowners in Maryland are eligible for a "homestead tax credit" which limits the amount your property tax assessment can increase in a year if you actually live there. They think that people who don't live in their homes (i.e. rent them out) are getting the tax credit and shouldn't be. They further say (on their FAQ) that "The only way to verify residency of the homeowner is to require an application and have the filer provide his or her Social Security number." Too bad all that really verifies is you took the time to fill out the form, not that you live there. They could just check your MVA and state tax records and automatically give it to you if both match the property address, but no, that would make sense.

Most people get their property taxes taken out of their mortgage escrow account, they never directly pay the bill so, many people never look at their property tax assesment. If you don't look at it, you don't see the form, you get hit with the full increase.

Worse yet, you can't just fill out the form now and get it out of the way. You have to wait until they mail you the form, sometime between 2008 and 2010. Good luck remembering that for the next couple of years. They do actually have an online version of the form, (using internet explorer is recommended) but you need the 8-digit security access number that comes on the printed form.

More information at COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON THE MARYLAND HOMESTEAD TAX CREDIT APPLICATION

Of all the ridiculous things

A few months ago, they took out the perfectly speedbumps on Fernwood Road in Bethesda and replaced them with identical speed bumps. What was the point of that, there was nothing wrong with them (except for their very existance, I'm not a big fan of speed bumps). Yesterday and today they have been doing the unimaginable. They took out the speed bumps again, and are replacing them with....(wait for it)....speed bumps... that are just like the once they are taking out... you know, the once they just put in two months ago. What are they thinking? In the space of a few months, we have had three sets of speedbumps and there was nothing wrong with the first set. Do they have that much money lying around that they can replace them over and over? Did they forget they just replaced them? I'm not positive, but these new ones might be one inch smaller than the old ones, but is that a good enough reason to remove the whole thing and start over?

[where: Fernwood Rd, Bethesda, MD]

(did I use to much bold and italic?)