The Deborah A. Vollmer Web Site

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Deborah A. Vollmer

Focusing on Local Issues with larger implications for Social Justice:  Saving the Historic Farm Women’s Market, and Resisting the Trend of Businesses Going Cashless

December 23, 2018


Dear Readers,
 

    There is lots going on in the world:  many causes that deserve our attention, justice for immigrants, people of color, people of low income, LGBTQ, and other marginalized groups; protecting our Earth’s environment--- and resisting the intolerance and boneheaded policies of the Trump administration, to name just a few.  As just one example, the Trump administration’s policies toward immigration are draconian, and cruel.  I am proud to say that my church, Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church is now a physical Sanctuary, having offered safe haven to Rosa, an immigrant woman from El Salvador who, threatened with deportation is pursuing her case for asylum, in the Courts.  See http://cedarlane.org and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj0d1U37GOI .

    I think that sometimes, though, it is important to focus on issues that are perhaps lower on the radar screen, but that have impact on our daily lives, and also may have larger implications in terms of social justice.


Consider, for example, the situation with the historic Farm Women’s Market in Bethesda.  It is a historic institution, and a part of the unique character of its immediate neighborhood: a farmers’ market going back to the time of Franklin Roosevelt and the Great Depression.  Some of the vendors there are descendants of the original founders.  Economic pressures, including exceedingly high County real estate taxes have forced the vendors into a situation where they feel that their only option is to sell the market to large real estate developers, who are only interested in lining their own pockets.  These developers also want to build huge high rises adjacent to, and across Wisconsin Avenue from, the market---this in a part of Bethesda that already has too much in the way of development.  My article on the subject appears in the print edition of the Washington Post, Sunday, December 23, 2018, Metro Section, page C4; and the same article appears online on the Washington Post website at : https://wapo.st/2EA2DEy .

 

    On another front,    I am concerned about a trend of local businesses that refuse to take cash from paying customers for good and services.  Use of cash is simply a lifestyle choice for some; but for others: people of low income, the “unbanked”, and those who cannot afford a credit card or a smart phone, these policies are discriminatory.  I had an article on this subject published in the Washington Post several months ago.  My article appeared in the print edition of the Washington Post on Sunday, August 12, 2018, in the Metro section, page C4, and it also appears online on the Washington Post Website at:  https://wapo.st/2AXzxic and I invite you to take a look, for a further explanation of my views on this subject.               

    The Washington Post website allows readers to comment on stories in the paper, and with respect to my article about businesses going cashless, there is an interesting comment online from a reader in a small rural town in upstate New York, where there is a lot of poverty and a lot of people don’t have smart phones or use credit cards, or even have bank accounts.  A totally different world from those of us who live in neighborhoods like mine.  We need to look beyond our own tech savvy and financially secure bubble! There is another world out there---even in our own country.



Sincerely,

Deborah Vollmer
Deborah A. Vollmer
7202 44th Street
Town of Chevy Chase


Please pardon us while we take time to reorganize this website.
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Information About Deborah Vollmer's Previous Campaigns

To read Debbie's statement concluding her 2018 campaign for Town Council of the Town of Chevy Chase, click here.


To read Debbie's statement announcing her 2018 campaign for
Town Council of the Town of Chevy Chase, click here.

To read a more detailed campaign statement of Deborah’s background, experience, and positions on Town issues in the 2018 Town Council of Town of Chevy Chase campaign, click here.

To read Debbie's statement closing her 2014 Town Council of the Town of Chevy Chase campaign, click here

Positions on Issues (Previous Campaigns) in 2014 Campaign

Candidate's Statement (brief biography and issue summary)
Mitigating Adverse Effects of New Construction

Opposition to Purple Line
Moratorium on Building and Revisions to Building Code

Holding the Town Manager More Accountable
Restricting Pesticide Use in Our Town

Flyer: Summary of Campaign Issues (Previous Campaigns) (for a PRINTABLE copy, click here)
Various Issues (previous Campaigns) (long)
Candidate’s Statement in Town Crier
Other Issues (previous Campaigns) in Chevy Chase Elections (Letter to Gazette)

Click here to read Deborah's position paper for the town council race in the previous campaign.
Click here to read previous messages from Deborah.

Click here to read Deborah's position paper for the previous town council race.
Click here to read previous messages from Deborah.


A Message to Supporters
Deborah Vollmer's Positions (Previous Campaigns) in the previous Town Council Race
Upcoming Forums and Events
Welcome to the Site
Biography of Deborah Vollmer
Index to Site
Articles that Mention Deborah Vollmer
Letters to the Editor
Out of Iraq Flyer (printable pdf file [click here to download pdf reader])
Letter to Voters Flyer (printable pdf file [click here to download pdf reader])
Press Releases & Announcements
Photos

Previous campaign for Congress, Maryland CD-8

 

Index To Web Site:


  • Previous Campaign for U.S. Congress
  • A Message to Supporters
  • Deborah Vollmer's Positions (Previous Campaigns) in Previous Town Council Race
  • Forums and Events
  • Welcome to the Site
  • Articles that Mention Deborah
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Biography
  • A 2002 Message To Vollmer For Congress Supporters
  • A Message On Tolerance
  • On the War on Terrorism
  • Issues (Previous Campaigns) At A Glance
  • Universal Health Care
  • Abolish The Death Penalty
  • Schmootsie Says. . .(Comments on Campaign Finance Reform)
  • - - - The Case for the Public Financing of Campaigns
  • - - - A Letter About Franking Privileges
  • The Frog's Page (Earth's Fragile Environment)
  • Save the Trail
  • On Women's Clothing in General & Pockets in Particular
  • Archives (Material from Previous Campaigns)
  • The Artist's Corner
  • LINKS That Help Us Focus Our Lives
  • Click Here To Write To Deborah

  • Or contact her:
    * by phone: (301) 652-5762
    * by mail: 7202 44th St., Chevy Chase, MD 20815

    Dear Friends,

    For those of you who are visiting for the first time, here's a little history. I started this web site during the primary election campaign in the year 2000, when I was a Democratic candidate in the primary for Maryland's Eighth Congressional District. (I had run previously for the same seat in 1998, but had no website at that time.) We ran a very low-budget campaign based on issues of importance to the voters, including, but not limited to: universal health care, Clean Money campaign reform, protection of the environment, and civil rights and civil liberties for all - - and I came in second in that race, in a field of five.

    Not one to give up easily, I also ran in the Democrat Primaries in 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008, always running low-budget, issue-oriented campaigns.  I then ran for a seat on the Chevy Chase Town Council. For a detailed discussion of my reasons for running in that election cycle see my message to the residents the town of Chevy Chase on this website.

    Thank you.

    Sincerely,

    Deborah Vollmer signature

    Photography Section
  • Photos from Deborah's Walks With Granny D
  • Photos of Deborah at the NOW March
  • Photos from the Health Care Rally

  • Newspaper Coverage
  • Campaign announcement
  • Recent Letters to Editors
  • Recent Articles
  • Press Releases & Announcements
  • Recent Press Releases & Announcements

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