Hopkins Slams Costco Subsidy

District 1 County Council candidate Ilaya Hopkins condemned the Leggett administration's $4 million subsidy for Costco at Westfield Wheaton today, a deal that includes a zoning text amendment expediting Costco's construction of a 16-bay gas station. District 1 incumbent Roger Berliner supports the subsidy but has not taken a position on the gas station. Following is Hopkins's press release.

Media Contact:

Chris Gill, Campaign Manager
Phone: (301) 461-1100
Email: chris_gill@ilayahopkins.com

Hopkins Opposes Berliner-Backed $4 Million Handout to CostCo

Deal includes Fast-track Zoning Process for High Volume Gas Station

BETHESDA, MD – April 19, 2010 – Ilaya Hopkins today announced her opposition to a proposed $4 million subsidy to support locating a CostCo store in Wheaton. The special deal also includes a fast-track zoning amendment for a high volume gas station that will bypass key environmental approvals. Hopkins’ opponent, Councilmember Roger Berliner, is on record supporting the proposal.

“As we face a record $780 million budget deficit, it is irresponsible for my opponent to support a $4 million giveaway to CostCo, while at the same time cutting services, laying off County employees and asking for money from Annapolis,” said Hopkins. “I am also concerned that providing shortcuts to the County’s rigorous zoning and environmental review for the gas station sets a dangerous precedent for future projects. We can do better, and should expect more from the County Council than giveaways to big box stores and environmental shortcuts,” Hopkins said.

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About Ilaya

Hopkins serves on the County Executive’s Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Implementation Committee, the Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board where she co-chairs the Quality of Life committee, and is a board member of Bethesda Green, a public-private partnership to promote a healthy economy and sustainable living practices. She chaired the Coalition of Military Medical Center Neighbors, whose members represent 10,000 people who live, work, attend school and do business in the vicinity of the Medical Center Metro, home to the new Walter Reed National Medical Military Center in Bethesda. She is the immediate past president of the East Bethesda Citizens Association, a neighborhood group of 1,200 houses adjacent to the Bethesda Central Business District between East West Highway and Jones Bridge Road. She is in the current core class of Leadership Montgomery, active in the Rosemary Hills Primary and North Chevy Chase Elementary Schools PTAs and is a member of Montgomery Women. She received her MA from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and her BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She lives in Bethesda with her husband and two sons.

To learn more about Ilaya, her position on the issues and campaign activities visit www.ilayahopkins.com. You can follow Ilaya on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ilayahopkins and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ilayahopkins.

The Democratic primary is Tuesday, September 14th, 2010 and the general election is Tuesday, November 2nd.