The following is the text of a letter submitted to the Frederick News Post by Local 24 Business Manager Michael McHale.
Moratorium on growth will cost Frederick County residents jobs
I am writing in response to the story about Frederick County’s proposed building moratorium (“Public hearing held on councilman’s proposal to pause growth in county,” Aug. 28).
The Frederick News-Post reported on the various views expressed in the public hearing for the proposed growth moratorium bill (Council Bill 24-12). However, the piece only gave a passing mention of the impact on Frederick County workers.
As the business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 24, I’d like to highlight just how impactful a moratorium on new housing would be for our workforce.
The IBEW proudly represents over 11,000 skilled electrical professionals across the state of Maryland. More than 1,000 of our dedicated members call Frederick County home, with hundreds contributing their expertise to projects and businesses throughout the county.
Based on the fiscal note and analysis of the bill, seven pending developments would be impacted by this moratorium, totaling nearly 1,700 units. Those lost projects translate directly into lost jobs for our members — lost hours, lost wages, and lost income.
Based on our experience, lost projects would translate into hundreds of lost job opportunities. With our current wages, that would be millions of dollars in lost income for Frederick County residents.
I am excited to see our membership in Frederick County grow, and I’m proud to have an office here to better support our Frederick members.
However, that growth — both in our membership and in the opportunities for workers — will come to a standstill if the Frederick County Council moves forward with a growth moratorium ordinance.