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Planning Director Apologizes For Controversial Remarks
Bethesda Magazine reports that Rollin Stanley is apologizing for calling a group of his detractors 'rich, white women.'
Montgomery County Planning Director Rollin Stanley has come under fire for his characterization of his detractors.
Kimberly Davis
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Bethesda Magazine is reporting that county planning director Rollin Stanley has apologized after coming under fire for comments he made in a recent Bethesda Magazine story.
In the article by Eugene L. Meyer, entitled the “The Future Is Looking Up” and published in the magazine’s March-April issue, Stanley called a group of his detractors "rich, white women" who spread fear about his initiatives.
The group of activists asked him to publicly apologize, calling the characterization "a blatantly racial and sexist slur,” Patch reported Thursday. Stanley’s comments drew a firestorm of controversy, including on Patch, and his comments were condemned by county Planning Board Chair Francoise Carrier.
Bethesda Magazine is reporting on its website that Stanley apologized in a letter to the magazine Wednesday. “It was not my intention to denigrate the opinions of any citizen or discourage anyone from participating in the debate over the future of Montgomery County,” he wrote, according to Bethesda Magazine.
Bethesda Magazine is also reporting that Stanley personally responded to one of his detractors, Meredith Wellington, writing in a handwritten note: "Meredith, when I suggested to Gene [Meyer] that he contact you for the Bethesda Mag article, I did not expect he would go in the direction he did. I hope it did not cause you much concern or attention.’ ”
Wellington called that response “a day late and a dollar short” and called for Stanley’s resignation, Bethesda Magazine reported.
Read the full story at Bethesda Magazine.
Do you think Stanley should resign his post because of his comments?
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The Big Egg
3:15 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012
Ms. Wellington can bluster about a resignation all she wants. I think it would be terribly disruptive to have a change of director, and I think his apology should end this.
What is not ended is the matter of why four admittedly rich, white women are going around Montgomery County (not just village of chevy chase) purporting to say what is best for Montgomery County regarding development. Why should we not conclude that your goal is actually just to cut down on the amount of traffic that flows through your village on Connecticut Ave?
Mike
4:11 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012
agreed.....I don't think these women represent the voice of MoCo
Janis
12:01 am on Saturday, March 10, 2012
Well then step right up Egg! Oh, but you can't. Impossible for anonymous people who hide to present their views in public.
The public process is open to all. You have nothing to say if you don't show up and take your place. The very anonymous comments on this issue are designed to tamp down those that do show up and participate. Exactly what Mr. Stanley was going for.
And exactly what the Planning Board has said they do NOT condone.
Ricky W Kracker a.k.a. Diggy Swagga
10:21 am on Saturday, March 10, 2012
"Janis" is just as anonymous. It's an unverified username. You could be anyone.
Janis
10:28 am on Saturday, March 10, 2012
@ Rick. Not really...
http://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2012/03/mc-planning-board-mr-stanleys-comments.html
Corbin Dallas Multipass
10:24 am on Monday, March 12, 2012
Janis: "Impossible for anonymous people who hide to present their views in public."
I think you meant with a public identity, but who cares, a view isn't invalid because it's pseudonymous, and for all you know TBE could be showing up to planning meetings.
TBE: "Why should we not conclude that your goal is actually just to cut down on the amount of traffic that flows through your village on Connecticut Ave?"
Drive through Virginia during rush hour and experience the thrill of congestion due to over development. You'll understand where anyone with concern is coming from when it takes 2 hours to travel 15 miles on back roads. I don't know enough about the plan to say one way or another about whether or not these concerns are addressed, and maybe these women's concerns are specific to one neighborhood, but I do know I don't want MoCo turning into Fairfax traffic wise.
Bringing up petty crap like "The Coven" or "Four Rich White Women" is a bad PR move and he deserves this treatment. He could have just said their concerns were addressed and are being listened to and moved on instead of spewing ad hominem attacks on them. It makes me question his basic intelligence if he can't handle simple PR like this, or if he didn't realize he couldn't and forgot to hire a PR person to help. Act like a professional or hire one, it's not hard to do.
lena
4:29 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012
I think the way they (the rich, white women) have handled this is appalling. They have made a mountain our of a mole hill, and to those who would say this will have a chilling effect on Montgomery County citizen's participation in public matters, I say they have not spent any time in China, Cuba or North Korea. To equate being called, rich, white women, or even "the coven" with 20 years in jail for dissension is beyond absurd. It is offensive.
Janis
12:04 am on Saturday, March 10, 2012
So how many Montgomery County citizens participate in the public process?
Let's see. Recent public budget forum in auditorium for 800 had under 30 people in attendance.
Compared to other jurisdictions in the USA the involvement of the public in Montgomery County is pitiful. There are whole meetings where no one even attends to observe.
So yes, when those that do bother to show up, participate, read all the documents are called names and bullied it is appalling.
Mike
4:42 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012
The only thing that was made clear is that these women have way too much time on their hands and have this personal vendetta against a planning director who's main goal is to find ways to make the county housing more affordable for the rest of us. Not all of us can afford million dollar mansions in chevy chase and would love more affordable 1 br apartments to choose from in a lively mixed use community
Janis
12:06 am on Saturday, March 10, 2012
Do you want to review what happened in Rockville Town Center to all the people that were supposed to buy those housing units?
Caroline Taylor
9:56 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012
The Planning Director would have been wise to make those types of personal observations off the record or not at all. I do believe that he did not know that the reporter was going for that angle. Really though, any thing spoken is fodder for print.
While I don't know the details of the activists' interactions with Mr. Stanley, I believe that a person that holds that position should be more adept at dealing with the public. It simply is part of the job.
Nonetheless,
Mike Moran
9:12 am on Saturday, March 10, 2012
Are they indeed rich white women? If yes,....
Elizabeth Forbes Wallace
10:28 am on Saturday, March 10, 2012
If "rich, white women" is an accurate description of the group:
- part of the 1% or close to it
- all Caucasian
- all female
Then it might not have been "blatantly racial and sexist" but accurate reporting of the demographic. If he had said "female residents of Chevy Chase" would it have prevented the reader from imagining an RWW from his or her experience? I doubt it.
An RWW might imagine a friend. A non-RWW might be reminded of someone or people with whom they have come in contact. If the reader ever felt diminished or negated by the interaction, the memory will be negative and that is something the women involved cannot stop from happening -- whether or not the director apologizes-- nor ignore in the long run.
If you are RWW, you could be a great person. A generous person. Well loved across socio-economic boundaries. Or not. You could possibly give off an air of entitlement.
However, the RWWs involved are probably loving this really. It deflects attention from the real issues at hand.
On the other hand, it could be an opportunity to have a dialog with persons who are not RWW, contemplate the stereotype, and reflect, and change your life.
Or get a job in retail in the area, and see how the public and your co-workers interact with you. Maybe you could write a book: RWW Like Me.
Janis
10:29 am on Saturday, March 10, 2012
Then "yes" name calling is appropriate for County officials?
Focus on the issue at hand. The Planning Board has and has issued a statement. The Planning Board is Mr. Stanley's boss. And here is what his boss has to say about his unauthorized interview and statements:
http://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2012/03/mc-planning-board-mr-stanleys-comments.html
Don O'Neill
10:10 am on Saturday, March 10, 2012
Montgomery County planning leaders need to keep Mr. Stanley with his tap dancing presentations off the speaker platform. His detractors number more than “rich, white, women”. They include men as well.
Mr. Stanley came to Montgomery Village to sell Vision 2030, an unwanted faux urban style transformation of a settled 40-year old suburban community of 45,000 resident.
One of the features in this “vision” is a four-story parking garage just dozens of feet from Whetstone, the crown jewel of Montgomery Village.
Like Mr. Stanley, the Vision 2030 is a flop.
MD
11:23 am on Saturday, March 10, 2012
Agree Mr. O'Neill, I'm not a "rich white woman", and his ideas are too out there for this county. His behavior is unacceptable especially when you are being interviewed! Makes me wonder how he truly feels the rest of the time. He needs to either resign or be fired. No government employee should ever behave like this.
Sally Joyner
9:38 am on Monday, March 12, 2012
Mr. O’Neill, It looks like you didn't get the hint in the Montgomery Village Elections, you are on the wrong page with the majority of the residents. I participated in the meetings at the golf club held for the 2030 Vision; Mr. Stanley spoke of the future and how to plan for just that. He did not say one word about any 4-story garage near Whetstone; those comments came for residents looking at what they would like to see. That garage is part of a potential redevoplment into residential and office project, you make it should like a stand-alone garage. Have you thought that you might just be wrong or are you what looks to be a one-man show?
Ricky W Kracker a.k.a. Diggy Swagga
10:32 am on Saturday, March 10, 2012
On the one hand, Stanley's attitude towards citizens is appalling.
On the other hand, wealthy melanin-deficient, er, personages with million-dollar homes claiming to be victims of "racism" is risible.
Janis
11:28 am on Saturday, March 10, 2012
Let's be clear on who started this. It was Mr. Stanley - the taxpayer paid MC Planning Director - doing an interview without the authorization of his supervisors. The tone was set by Mr. Stanley.
MD
11:31 am on Saturday, March 10, 2012
Excuse me? Doesn't matter if you are rich or poor, we all are citizens and should be treated with respect especially from a government employee. Your choice of wording leaves to be desirable.
ED
1:20 pm on Saturday, March 10, 2012
Am I missing something or were the words not printed? Where are the words "I apologize" or "I'm sorry" for my actions? Once again, Rollin Stanley only speaks of his "intentions" and, in this case, someone else acting without considering his "intentions".
Lezlie Crosswhite
3:57 pm on Saturday, March 10, 2012
ED, he did say he regretted "any pain or embarrassment" his words "may have cost."
Sharon Cranford
10:12 pm on Sunday, March 11, 2012
We have had quite a different experience here in Montgomery Village. Rollin Stanley was the guest speaker at the opening of our Vision 2030 process in February 2011. His presentation riveted his audience, drawn from all corners of the Village, old and young, newcomers and original owners. Hundreds of Village residents came out to participate in the kick off event, three charrettes, and the several follow up meetings. Rollin Stanley is a visionary leader. His ideas were fresh, invigorating and compelling. After his presentation, I was pleasantly surprised by the positive energy that flowed through the audience. I am looking forward to working with him and the planning board staff as we move Montgomery Village forward into the future. The Vision 2030 Report is posted on the Montgomery Village Foundation web site at www.mvf.org under About the Village.
Sharon Cranford
Member, Vision 2030 Steering Committee
What a joke
11:29 pm on Friday, April 13, 2012
Leave it to the toadies in Montgomery Village to come to Stanley's defense. He has offended people all over the county. His "visions" will stack us on top of each other and destroy Montgoimery County. He is arrogant, defensive and vicious. Get rid of him!
Mike
10:04 am on Monday, March 12, 2012
http://www.wtop.com/?sid=2780947&nid=120
read this article and you tell me if these women don't represent the minority
The Big Egg
10:38 am on Monday, March 12, 2012
Mike--just to clarify, when you say, "represent the minority," I read that as the minority view, not the view of minority groups. This whole discussion got kicked off by his referring to them as "rich, white women," and has led some of us to wonder why four rich, white women are going around talking about what is best for Montgomery County, when they don't really have the life-experience that is the growing face of the county.
Janis
10:57 am on Monday, March 12, 2012
And eggs have life experiences? Please. Your thinking is scrambled.
If you were a person you would know that in a democracy ALL voices can be heard. All voices are welcome. Mr. Stanley's comments were rejected by the Planning Board because he was stating publicly that he did not want to hear from ALL voices. That is counter to our democratic process. The public waits to see what action the Planning Board will take now that they have stated that Mr. Stanley does not speak for them.
The Big Egg
12:02 pm on Monday, March 12, 2012
Janis--I get the yoke. Lots of egg-talk here. I can't speak for Mr. Stanley, but I can understand his frustration. He was hired for his transformative views on down-county, and is trying to implement them. There is a group of hard-charging critics, who refuse to accept that theirs are not the prevailing views. They do spread fear--about traffic and schools and people living in apartments rather than single-family homes. They refuse to let the process work simply on the merits. You make it sound as though Mr. Stanley does not want to hear from critics. I doubt this is true. I think, to be fair to him, he would like to hear from everyone. But, once a group of stakeholder (even Rich White Women ) has stated its position, they should step out of the way an let the other voices be heard. Instead, RWW dominate the conversation, repeat themselves, and stir up dissent with fear and half-truths. I can appreciate frustration at having to counter this constantly.
Ricky W Kracker a.k.a. Diggy Swagga
3:15 pm on Monday, March 12, 2012
Everyone should have a say, not just ones with clout, connections, or wealth. Do affordable housing advocates have as much say as the millionaire home crowd? Clearly a very narrow interest if being advocated by these critics.
Mike
4:40 pm on Monday, March 12, 2012
Well said again