Ray

Ray will have been in his home for 50 years next spring. He bought it in April, 1956 and added on to it in 1959 and again in 1964.

He built a house next door for his wife's parents. That house is now the home of Eve & Roger, who appreciate the knotty pine paneling, hardwood floors, and attention to detail he included in its custom construction. Ray's own living room is paneled in solid cherry.

Since Ray's family has been in their house, there have been three studies of the ICC. Every study has found that the ICC would cost too much and have too few benefits to be worth considering. Because of the right of “Eminent Domain”, the State can take people’s homes away from them.

The State Highway Administration says homeowners will get "fair market value" for their houses if the ICC is built. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement says they are guaranteed "comparable housing". But there isn't comparable housing in the County.

Ray is a semi-retired tax accountant. Many of his clients are Montgomery County police officers. He and his wife Kay, who passed away recently after a long illness, raised two children here. Their children and grandchildren visit regularly and enjoy having 2.6 acres to play in.

Like everyone else in his community, Ray wonders why this safe, unspoiled community should be destroyed for a 6 lane toll road that will cost over $3 billion and create more congestion, noise and pollution in Montgomery County.

Ray and some of his neighbors were featured in an article in The Baltimore Sun, "Those in Highway's Way Decry ICC Route Decision".

When asked what he would do if the ICC destroyed his home of 50 years, Ray said "I might just leave the state and get the h*** away from these people... When there's just a few people in control, then they get their way."

Ray loves gardening and has been raising vegetables here for nearly half a century. He has rolling fields, gardens, mature trees, deer, fox rabbits and birds. He prizes the peace and quiet of his home and garden. When he returns home, he says "it's like a different world".