Skip to main content

County Identifies Multi-Faceted Approach To Increasing Nightlife

By WTOP Staff

County Executive Isiah Leggett watches as Task Force Chair Heather Dlhopolsky speaks about the recommendationsvCounty Executive Isiah Leggett with the Nighttime Economy Task Force report

The county’s Nighttime Economy Task Force formally presented County Executive Isiah Leggett with its recommendations for upping nightlife in the county.

Now, it’s time for local and state lawmakers to balance the call for more lenient liquor and noise laws with the county’s largely suburban way of living.

The 60-page report includes 32 recommendations including incentives for developers to build small performance art spaces, a “business concierge” to help those interested in opening bars or lounges and more free taxi services for bar patrons too drunk to drive.

Councilmember Hans Riemer (D-At large) says he hopes the process going forward will be a combination of self-review by county departments and local and state legislation — especially when it comes to changing alcohol law.

The Task Force recommended the county create a “social venue” license to allow new bars freedom from a Depression-era requirement that restaurants sell at least as much food as alcohol. The Task Force also recommended adjusting that ratio to 60 percent alcohol sold and 40 percent food sold, a measure that will have to be taken up in Annapolis.

That process has gotten a lot of attention through the six months of the Task Force’s work. But also of concern is how the Department of Liquor Control, which warehouses and distributes alcohol to all stores and restaurants in the county, serves private businesses.

Many have complained the process for filling special orders takes too long, which has hurt competitiveness with restaurants in D.C. or Northern Virginia.

“A lot is actually happening, way more than I would have even thought frankly at the start of this,” said Riemer, who took a lead role in creating the Task Force. “There are proposals on the table that I would support. To make the Department of Liquor Control an enterprise fund, so it’s more independent from the county government, still provides resources back to the county government but isn’t sort of trapped by procurement and job classification rules that are designed for libraries and not for the restaurant sector. I think we can move forward on things like that.”

Heather Dlhopolsky, a Bethesda attorney and chair of the Task Force, again emphasized the Task Force wasn’t just about catering to the 20-34 year-old crowd, citing the potential of attracting empty nesters to more vibrant downtown urban areas.

In his prepared remarks, County Executive Isiah Leggett didn’t talk much about the push to attract millennials. But the notion that Montgomery County is missing out on the tax paying population of young professionals who demand relatively few government services was the major impetus for the Task Force.

“We educate a large number of young people. Young people are here for that formative phase of their lives,” Leggett said. “They go off to college. When they are of an age to buy cars, buy homes, buy clothes and everything else, many of them decide because of jobs and because of the attractive appearance of the quality of life, they go to some other location. We’ve lost them.”

A reporter asked Leggett why the county held the press conference about the recommendations in a room in the Executive Office Building in Rockville, instead of in an outdoor space, perhaps in downtown Silver Spring.

“These changes are going to have to be made in Rockville,” Leggett said.

The Task Force also recommended urban park guidelines for parks in downtown areas, with the idea that some could be opened up at night to provide for a wider range of activities.

Also included in the recommendations is funding for public safety liaisons in each urban area that would respond to any late night-related concerns of trash workers, code enforcement staff, local businesses, neighborhood organizations and police commanders.

Leggett and Riemer said budget-related requests would take time.

“It took us many years to get into this situation, so it’s going to take time to fix it,” Leggett said.

The bullet points version of the recommendations are available on the county’s website.

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote