Dear Neighbors:
It has been a hard few weeks with loved ones in our community suddenly and tragically losing their lives. A few days ago the County Police Department reached out to inform me that a neighbor in Forest Glen lost her life to gun violence when her ex-boyfriend shot her as she was leaving a residence. He is now under arrest thanks to great efforts of the police.
Last Saturday, I attended 16-year-old James Anderson’s heartfelt funeral mass in Kensington. Hundreds came to pay tribute to James, an amazing student athlete from Wheaton High School. He lost his life crossing University Blvd. The same state road we have been asking for years to be redesigned to make it safe for people to walk and bike. I recently wrote to the Maryland State Highway Administration requesting an update on the reclassification of roads within District 6, a process that directly impacts long-overdue safety improvements. I’ve urged SHA to work with MCDOT on targeted improvements, including consolidating three uncontrolled crossings on University Boulevard (St. Paul, Hobson, and Drumm) into one signalized intersection to reduce pedestrian exposure and improve visibility. I also requested updates on signalization and median safety upgrades at high-incident areas, simple but strategic fixes that could save lives if we act together. It is unacceptable to keep on waiting while people die.
I appreciate the State for lower the speed limits in certain places and adding cameras, but that’s certainly not enough. This particular area on University Blvd has a lot of pedestrian activity. Yet, we are not allowed to raise crossings, narrow the lanes, or even add a stop signal to slow drivers. It’s incredibly frustrating.
Summer Lim, an amazing 11-year-old artist lost her life in a crash with a MCPS bus in Aspen Hill at the intersection of Russett Road and Bauer Drive last week. I have visited the crash site several times since this tragedy and have talked to neighbors, public safety and DOT officials about this incident. I am eager to learn from the bus camera views and also the nearby cameras our police departments may have access to (i.e., ring cameras from people’s homes) as this investigation unfolds. As a mom with children in school who also ride their bikes around the neighborhood and to school just like Summer, I feel heartbroken and angry. There is an investigation underway, and we expect to learn more in November. Meanwhile, I have requested that MCDOT evaluate the intersection of Bauer and Russet for a three-way stop, as many neighbors have asked about.
We are failing our community.
This brings me to the University Blvd. Sector Plan we are currently working on. The Council’s Planning, Housing, and Parks (PHP) Committee held its first worksession on September 29 (read the staff packet | watch the worksession) and has scheduled additional worksessions on October 20 and November 4. I will continue my strong support to make University Blvd. safe for people to walk, bike, roll, and drive.
Veirs Mill Road BRT Meeting
Once again, I will be co-hosting a public meeting with the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) on Tuesday, October 21st, 2025, at 6:30 PM at Albert Einstein High School (11135 Newport Mill Rd, Kensington, MD).
This meeting is a follow-up to the summer town hall conversation we had with residents about the Veirs Mill Road Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. Together, we’ll continue the discussion on safety improvements, design updates, and how this major transit investment can better serve our community along the Veirs Mill corridor.
For anyone unable to attend in person, a presentation video and virtual one-on-one discussions will be available after October 20th.
In-Person English/Spanish Meeting:
What: Veirs Mill Road BRT Community Meeting
When: Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 6:30 PM
Where: Albert Einstein High School, 11135 Newport Mill Rd, Kensington, MD
Community Concert in the Heart of Wheaton
Join us for a Community/Musical Concert in the Heart of Wheaton on Thursday, October 16, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Marian Fryer Town Plaza (2424 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, MD 20902).
This free, outdoor event is open to everyone and will bring together families, students, neighbors, and friends from across our community. Enjoy live performances by talented students from John F. Kennedy and Odessa Shannon schools, along with the vibrant sounds of Max Rosado & The 7th Street Band.
Come celebrate music, community, and local talent—we hope to see you there!
ECON Committee Happenings
Federal Worker Career Center Opening
Last week, the County, in partnership with Worksource Montgomery and many other local partners, launched the Mobilize Montgomery Federal Workforce Career Center (FWCC). This center will provide personalized coaching, services, and programs to laid-off federal workers. It is a great resource for those hurting from the Trump administration’s cavalier personnel decisions and who are trying to reposition themselves for a career after federal service.
This center is made possible by $700,000 in funding appropriated by the Council, following a recommendation from the ECON Committee and the County Executive.
State of the Retail Market
Also last week, the ECON Committee held the first in a series of worksessions on the County’s retail market. The purpose of the meeting was to convene the ECON Committee and a range of stakeholders in retail, including businesses, landlords, and brokers, for a dialogue on issues and challenges facing the County’s retail economy, and opportunities for the County to support the sector. You can watch the session here and read the staff memo here.
It was a great conversation with much to follow up on. Council staff will be compiling all the feedback with policy and budgetary options for the Committee to consider in the upcoming year. If you have any ideas or would like to learn more, please just write me directly at Councilmember.Fani-Gonzalez@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Community Meeting and Survey for Stoneybrook Local Park Renovations
Montgomery Parks is starting to plan for renovations to Stoneybrook Local Park, including adding a skate park, as well as several other significant improvements. To gather public feedback, Parks will be having a virtual community meeting in English and Spanish on October 28 and is conducting an online survey. Please let us know what you think!
Sincerely,
Natali Fani-González
Councilmember, District 6
Chair, Economic Development Committee