Happy December everyone!
Per Council annual tradition, we kicked off the month electing new Council leadership. Congratulations to our new Council President Kate Stewart and Vice President Will Jawando!
Take a look at these upcoming events:
Energy Efficiency Workshop
Join me on Monday, December 9 for an informational workshop focused on energy efficiency assistance programs. This workshop will inform homeowners and home improvement businesses about financial support available for energy-efficient home improvements and weather resilience upgrades. Attendees will also learn about programs designed to enhance property sustainability, reduce energy costs, and improve community resilience against extreme weather.
When: Monday, December 9, 2024
Time: 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Where: WorkSource Montgomery Wheaton American Job Center, 11510 Georgia Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902
Featured speakers include:
- Councilmember Natali Fani-González, Chair of the Economic Development Committee
- Linette Hatley, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
- Anthony Featherstone, WorkSource Montgomery
Wheaton Placemaking Open House
Montgomery Planning is hosting an open house for the Wheaton Placemaking Initiative on Wednesday, December 11, from 5 to 8 p.m. Stop by to learn about the project and provide your input on placemaking installations that will be on the ground next spring. Planning will provide light refreshments, and Spanish interpretation will be available. RSVP here.
The Wheaton Placemaking Initiative aims to launch physical temporary placemaking installations in Wheaton based on recommendations from the 2012 Wheaton sector plan and 2023 Wheaton Downtown Study. This project will make physical some of the recommendations from those plans, including public space improvements, and safety and connectivity improvements for those walking and rolling.
Don’t miss it!
The Garden Railway Exhibit at Brookside Gardens’ South Conservatory. Check out model trains traversing tracks between iconic buildings, bridges, and miniature landscapes of Montgomery County. It’s free and open until January 4 from 10:00AM – 3:45PM.
Garden of Lights
Montgomery Parks’ and Brookside Gardens’ winter-season tradition runs from Friday, November 22, 2024, to Sunday, January 5, 2025. It is open daily, 5pm – 9:30pm. More information.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES:
Uplifting Victims and Immigrant Safety Act (Bill 26-24)
I’m leading with my colleagues Councilmembers Glass and Luedtke an initiative that aims to remove barriers for victims of violent crime to qualify for legally protected status. A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday January 14th, 2025 at 1:30PM. If you’d like to speak, sign up here.
Updates on legislation I authored:
Veterans Property Tax Bill (Bill 6-24)
This year, we passed legislation to provide a well-deserved tax relief for our severely disabled veterans. The Department of Finance is working on the application process, which we expect to roll out in 2025. I’ll keep you updated as we get more details! Please note that the property tax credit only applies starting in the year 2025.
Public Safety Officers and Crisis Response Professionals Taxation Bill (Bill 15-24)
This legislation also passed, and now public safety officers employed by county agencies, including M-NCPPC and WSSC police, as well as crisis response professionals will soon benefit from expanded property tax credits. The Department of Finance is finalizing the application process, and we’ll share more information as it becomes available early in 2025.
Sincerely,
Natali Fani-González
Councilmember, District 6
Chair, Economic Development Committee
P.S. The County will be offering free parking in all County garages and lots on Saturday, December 21 to support the bustling retail activity in the holiday season. Shop local! Read more.