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Purple Line A Big Focus In Town of Chevy Chase Election

By WTOP Staff

Town of Chevy ChaseWith three seats up for grabs and the Purple Line on track for construction sometime next year, the transit system has unsurprisingly become a focus for many Town of Chevy Chase Council candidates.

The Town Council, a five-member group that includes the mayor, approved a $350,000 contract in February with a cadre of lobbyists and legal firms to fight the Purple Line and its proposed route behind a number of homes in the Town.

That decision elicited a wealth of opinions in the Town and an open meetings investigation spurred by Purple Line advocates.

Of the seven candidates for three Council seats in the May 6 election, five mentioned the Purple Line in their candidate statements. Councilmembers Al Lang and Kathy Strom are running for reelection. Councilmember David Lublin announced on Wednesday he won’t run again.

Mayor Pat Burda and Councilmember John Bickerman were elected in 2013 and have terms that will end next year.

In his statement, Lang came out strongly against the Purple Line lobbying contract — not because he favors the transit system, but because he opposes the way the Town went about picking the firm. “BIR” is the lead firm chosen for the contract, Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney:

There are many examples, (tackling the $9M reserves being one), but none is more important than my recent vote against the $360,000 for BIR, our Purple Line lobbying firm. While I have worked hard during my 6 years as Councilmember to find the right resources to mitigate this project, we are elected fiduciaries. Sadly, this contract lacked critical elements; there was not a request for proposal; it was not a competitive process; and we did not negotiate price. Elements well understood by all, not just a business person.

Candidate Grant Davies said the Town’s “mishandling” of its advocacy against the Purple Line has given it a bad reputation in Montgomery County:

Third, we need to improve the Town’s image with the public and the rest of the county. We have always been advocates for good government and considering the needs of the larger community. Our mishandling of our advocacy against the Purple line has given the Town an unwarranted black eye.

Candidate Donald Farren took it a step further, emphasizing that he is for the Purple Line. He also said he is “Pro transparent Town government,” an apparent jab at the contract process.

Candidate Deborah Vollmer is completely opposed to the 16-mile, $2.37 billion light rail:

Over the years, I have actively opposed current plans for the Purple Line; I do believe that improving public transportation is important, but the current plans are unacceptable, as they would destroy the canopy of trees in what is really a linear park, cause other environmental damage, and cause negative impact to all residents, especially those living at the Town’s borders, close to the rail line.

Another recurring thread in the candidate statements was the desire to keep a buffer between the development of downtown Bethesda and the Town, what is predominantly small streets of single-family homes.

Lang had perhaps the most interesting proposal: The purchase of county-owned and operated parking lots just east of Wisconsin Avenue and the conversion of those lots into green space that would “create the buffer the town needs to Bethesda encroachment.”

Vollmer said she would propose a moratorium and the building of new homes. Like much of Bethesda and Chevy Chase, the Town is home to a number of teardown projects. She also said she would put the Town manager’s job on the line every two years by making the extension of that person’s contract a ballot question.

The candidates will participate in a moderated forum on Thursday, April 24 at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall (4301 Willow Lane).

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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