Three articles appeared in last week's issue that describe the economic crisis in Howard County. In the article headlined "Tight state budget puts squeeze on county," County Executive Ken Ulman stated that aid to the counties has been cut almost to the bone. In another article, he warns that county employees will likely have to be furloughed again this year. Our county and state's fiscal situation sounds pretty bleak to me.

Yet, Mr. Joel Goodman, observatory chair of the Howard Astronomical League, stated in a Jan. 28 letter to the editor that his group cannot comment on whether state support of his nonprofit's project to build an observatory for an antique telescope is fiscally prudent or not.

That's right, Mr. Goodman wants state money to help pay for building an observatory for an antique telescope. He leaves out the part that a current County Council member is also a founder of the group. I feel compelled to side with Ed Priola. This project should be considered an earmark and therefore an abuse of power as well as a waste of taxpayer money during our continuing economic crisis.

Ron Bartyczak

Owen Brown

user comments (9)

user says...

The earlier suggestion made by Mr. Priola, and now parroted by Mr. Bartyczak, that the observatory project that the Howard Astronomical League (HAL) is spearheading in a partnership with the Howard County Recreation and Parks is anything other than an educational project that will benefit the public in Howard County in particular, but also persons from other regions, is entirely wrong. Additionally, the claim that HAL is a private club in the sense that Mr. Priola implied is patently false. The enthusiasm of the men, women, and children of HAL for the wonders of Nature, and our desire to share this gift with others, are such that no organization strives harder for inclusiveness. HAL meetings are open to the public without restriction. We invite attendees to join our club with a pro-forma statement at the beginning of each monthly meeting, but it ends there; no person is ever pressured to join HAL, no matter how many meetings or HAL events they may attend as non-members. That is hardly the definition of "private" in the disingenuous and disparaging way that Mr. Priola used the word. What are Mr. Priola's and Mr. Bartyczak’s qualifications to judge the modernity and usability of the Watson telescope? Important scientific research is done every night and day by telescopes that are far older than the Watson telescope. The Watson is a thoroughly modern instrument that is ideally suited for use in public education; no one should make a connection between this telescope and an antique that is suitable only for a museum display. The Watson’s Newtonian optical design is the most popular paradigm for small telescopes in the world today and for the foreseeable future. The Watson telescope has been laboriously restored by skilled members of the Howard Astronomical League for the benefit of the public. Any suggestion that it is for the private benefit of any individual or group is demonstrably false. HAL has incontrovertible proof of that in the form of a long history of public star parties and educational events for students at Alpha Ridge Park and other parks, the Howard Community College, the County Libraries, and Howard County Schools. “It is fabulous to see your community outreach.” -- from an e-mail sent to HAL by a Howard County PTSA officer, 29 January, 2010. That public education is a waste of taxpayer money is a cornerstone of a political philosophy that cannot leverage an educated public. Gentlemen, the American people voted in 2008 to end the eight-year war on education, and the campaign against science education in particular. 
It is time to end this fallacious notion that the people should not pool their resources and spend to promote the public good. 
I am the Secretary of the Howard Astronomical League. The views expressed herein are, however, entirely my own; I do my own thinking and I am not compelled to side with anyone on any issue. My views are informed by my knowledge that education is the most necessary and profitable investment that a people can make and by a long-held belief in fair play. I am a private donor to the Howard Astronomical League Observatory Project, 2006-present. I am a Maryland resident who, along with many others, is relatively under-taxed because of regressive laws and policies that have the poor and lower middle class carrying a disproportionately high share of the tax burden, whether overtly or through hidden taxes such as state-sponsored gambling. Unlike many others, I take no pleasure in that fact. 
David Illig
 Gambrills, Anne Arundel Co.

Posted 2:06 PM, 02.05.10 | Permalink

user milton says...

Mr. Illig, HAL most certainly is a private club. This is not a point of debate, it is a hard fact. Your club is private. If you don't want people to complain about using public funds for this project, FUND THE PROJECT WITH PRIVATE DOLLARS.

Posted 3:08 PM, 02.05.10 | Permalink

user davidillig says...

Mr. Milton, I did not say that HAL is not a private club. This is not a point of debate, it is a hard fact. I said that HAL is not a private club "...in the sense that Mr. Priola implied..." That sense was that HAL is exclusive and elite. Save your distortions of the truth and misquotes for your own ilk; they don't work with me. HAL meetings and events are utterly and completely open to the public without regard to race, creed, religion, nationality, or membership requirements. I don't think that an organized club cannot be much more open than that, but I assure you that if there is a way for HAL to be more open than we are at present, we will find it and implement it. David Illig

Posted 12:40 PM, 02.06.10 | Permalink

user milton says...

Mr. Illig- many groups are open to the public, this does not mean that they deserve our tax dollars to fund their projects. The National Rifle Association is not a private club under your loose definition. I would appreciate it if you could pay for your toys on your own dime. In case you are not reading the newspaper, we are in the midst of a severe economic recession. Please stop trying to steal my tax money for your private club. Thank you.

Posted 1:11 PM, 02.06.10 | Permalink

user says...

Mr. Milton, I'm afraid you are considerably mis-informed. HAL is in no way trying to steal your taxpayer money. Rest assured we have indeed "paid for [our own] toys". Most HAL members own their own observing equipment, and freely share it with whoever comes to our open-to-all star parties. That's more than half the fun - to see the excitement and wonder in the faces of those who don't often get the chance to view the universe around them. I've more than once had people lined up for a chance to look through my telescope for a look at the Moon, Jupiter, or the Milky Way. HAL exists as an outreach organization. We host bi-monthly observing events at Alpha ridge Park, as well as work with libraries, schools, and other entities to foster a knowledge of and love for that half of our world that happens to be over our heads. What you don't seem to understand is that the Watson Telescope Project will benefit no one in HAL - it's quite the other way around. We, individually, already have all that we need to enjoy the skies. The people who will benefit are the good citizens of Howard County, who will enjoy a greater access to the universe they live in through the observatory being there. It will be open to all, and will become a focal point for advancing science education among our young people (and older folks, as well). All the hard part - the painstaking (and costly) restoration, the dome, the construction, the maintenance and operations, will all be provided for by HAL - to the county's great enrichment. The Watson Telescope will become a source of pride for our citizens, and a good advertisement for our commitment to science, education, the environment, and community involvement. Mr. Milton, the skies above Howard County are the common property of all of its citizens, and anything that makes this inexhaustible treasure more accessible to those, who (unlike those few of us who can "pay for our own toys") for one reason or another cannot enjoy and learn from it, is to everyone's great benefit. Why anyone would wish to deliberately exclude people from such an opportunity is beyond me. I most sincerely invite you (and anyone else) reading this to HAL's next Star Party. It may open your eyes (in a very literal sense!). Bob Prokop, HAL President

Posted 4:37 PM, 02.06.10 | Permalink

user milton says...

Great, then you don't need any taxpayer money for the Watson Telescope project. You can solicit private contributions to pay for it and leave our tax dollars alone. Glad we could that misunderstanding figured out!

Posted 5:40 PM, 02.06.10 | Permalink

user prokop says...

The Howard Astronomical League is proud of the public support shown in the private (and tax deductible) contributions it has raised to date. Our website, www.howardastro.org , shows that we have received $17,027 in donations to date. And that figure is actually low, as it does not reflect some recent donations. Public support for this project is wide and enthusiastic, since the overwhelming majority of the citizens of Howard County understand the value of education, and realise that we all benefit from spirited community involvement in our public infrastructure. While it would be all too easy to sit back and take an "I've got mine" attitude, it is far more satisfying to share one's talents and treasure with the people around us. How much poorer we would all be were we to "take our ball and go home", there to sulk alone, jealous of our time and abilities. Bob Prokop, HAL President

Posted 7:59 PM, 02.06.10 | Permalink

user belovedcartoonmouse says...

Without exploration of space, there wouldn't be any jokes about uranus.

Posted 10:44 AM, 02.07.10 | Permalink

user milton says...

Thank you, Mr. Prokop, for providing additional evidence that public funds are not needed to support this project since ample private contributions can be obtained. I understand that this project has great significance to you and members of HAL. In your small world, this is project is a big deal. However, most people in the county, including those whose tax dollars you wish to take, can think of dozens of other projects that have a better bang for the buck. Politicians should not be making these decisions for us. Each of us should contribute our own dollars to the projects that make the most sense. You are correct that people in Howard County understand the value of education; perhaps that is why more than half of our tax dolllars are already funding education. How much poorer would we all be if every project like the Watson Telescope was funded with public resources? I am getting a little tired of all these groups that want to put their hand in the public till during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.

Posted 11:28 AM, 02.07.10 | Permalink