Saturday, October 14, 2006

Gaithersburg, Maryland Approves Day Laborer Site



Gaithersburg, Maryland Approves Day Laborer Site



Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney A. Katz and City Councilwoman Geri Edens listen Thursday at a session on the proposed center.

I currently live in Gaithersburg, but I work in Herndon, Virginia, and lived nearby when they opened a day laborer site last winter. The place in Herndon caused a huge uproar, even drawing the Minutemen to the site (as noted here). Now it looks like I get to relive the fun all over again. Yay!

On the other hand, I do think this is a great idea, as our neighborhood seems to have a lot of potential laborers for the site.
After a lengthy and tense public hearing, Gaithersburg leaders last night approved an empty storefront in the Festival at Muddy Branch shopping center as a day laborer center.

The City Council’s 3-1 decision clears the way for Montgomery County to negotiate the center’s lease with Nellis Corp., which owns the shopping center off Muddy Branch Road near Interstate 270.

The decision opens a new phase in the city’s two-year struggle to resolve one of its most divisive issues. The city now must clarify several details with the county, including who will run the center and whether the city will pick up any of the tab in opening the center.

Supporters of the center were gratified that the city finally made a decision.

Posted by crimnos @ 12:35 PM