Neighbors:
Our work to build a more inclusive, safe, and prosperous Montgomery County continues – regardless of where you were born, your gender or economic status.
We will continue working together, and in that spirit, I’d like to share the following updates with you.
AfriThrive Award
I am incredibly honored to have received the “Economic Impact Award” by AfriThrive. They noted my work on helping stand up urban farming projects in District 6 as well creating new opportunities for AgriTourism in Montgomery County. Thank you to AfriThrive for all that you do in our community.
Legislative victories
The last month saw passage of several of my key legislative priorities.
Lowering costs for public safety personnel
Today the Council unanimously approved legislation (Bill 15-24) from Councilmember Gabe Albornoz and me to extend an existing property tax credit to Park and WSSC police, our municipal police forces, and crisis center employees. As we continue to face recruitment challenges in public safety, this extension of the property tax credit provides another tool to support and attract these essential staff members. These public safety professionals deserve the same recognition and benefits as those covered by the existing credit.
Modernizing our public campaign finance system
I’m a proud supporter (and user!) of the County’s public campaign finance system. It brings a greater say to ordinary citizens in the selection of their elected officials. But for it to continue to work as intended and keep pace with the traditional system, it needs to evolve with the times. That is why I am incredibly proud to have worked with Councilmember Glass, Council Vice-President Stewart, and Councilmembers Albornoz, Mink, Balcombe and Sayles to pass legislation (Bill 20-24) today to modernize our system. Based on findings and analysis from the Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO), the notable updates are:
- increasing the individual donor contribution limit from $250 to $500;
- increasing the matching ratios, and;
- permitting limited candidate affiliation in accordance with state law.
- Read more here
Providing adequate public infrastructure from new development
Today the County Council unanimously approved the 2024-2028 Growth and Infrastructure Policy. This policy guides how new development contributes to nearby public infrastructure. I am proud to have worked with my colleagues on the Planning, Housing, and Parks Committee, Chair Friedson and Councilmember Jawando, to recommend a modernized policy that simplifies the regulatory process and more precisely allocates school and transportation dollars from new development. All in all, the approved policy will make us more competitive for investment while ensuring that our roads and schools get the resources they need.
Reducing Excessive Vehicular Noise with Automated Noise Cameras
In October, the Council approved legislation authored by Council Vice President Kate Stewart and me to create a pilot program to reduce excessive muffler noise with automated enforcement. I have heard from many of you that excessive vehicular noise from modified or defective mufflers is more than a mere annoyance. It has become a serious quality of life and safety issue on the roads of Wheaton, Forest Glen, Glenmont, Aspen Hill, Rockville and beyond. By leveraging advanced technology and automated enforcement, we can more effectively enforce existing vehicular noise laws everywhere without redirecting other valuable police resources.
In the coming months the Police Department will be procuring the noise cameras and developing the program and locations for the cameras. Learn more here.
Public safety updates
Glenmont
As your Councilmember, I am committed to revitalizing and redeveloping the Glenmont area, a vision I know the community strongly shares and we are all so desperate to achieve.
The Glenmont Shopping Center is a unique site owned by multiple private entities; I continue to meet and communicate with these owners, advocating for your concerns and urging swift, coordinated progress on redevelopment efforts. While these discussions require patience, I am fully committed to ensuring that Glenmont’s redevelopment meets the community’s needs and potential to move us forward.
At the same time, one of my main priorities has been ensuring that property owners uphold their responsibilities to maintain safe, clean, and code-compliant spaces. With the support of the County Executive, I recently took a significant step by requesting the Department of Permitting Services pursue legal action against those owners who have consistently failed to adhere to county building maintenance standards. This action has resulted in multiple cited violations that are now going through the judicial process.
Thank you for your trust and continued engagement as we work together to bring positive change to Glenmont.
Collaboration to fight the fentanyl crisis
Getting help to our youth using fentanyl requires coordination. With our State Delegation from Districts 18 and 19, I organized interagency meetings that meet regularly to propose concrete measures against the use of fentanyl in our community. Several ongoing initiatives include:
- Identifying and ultimately opening a youth treatment center in the County
- Streamlining the process to be admitted into treatment centers
- Strengthening criminal law against distributors of fentanyl
- Increasing/Extending the stay in treatment centers
Upcoming events
Public meeting on the Georgia Ave Bus Only Lane Pilot
As many of you know, the State Highway Administration (SHA) installed bus-only lanes on Georgia Ave in late spring 2024 during the Metro Red Line closure that temporarily closed several stations along the route while critical maintenance and construction work was performed at the Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, Silver Spring and Takoma Metro stations. The bus-only lane pilot project has continued on through the fall for further evaluation. SHA has been analyzing the performance of the pilot project and will be presenting its findings and collecting public feedback at a public meeting on November 20. I hope to see you there. More details below.
When: Wednesday, November 20. 6-7:30pm
Where: Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission HQ, 2425 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, MD
Project website
Thanksgiving Parade – walk with me!
Thanksgiving is around the corner and that means the annual Thanksgiving Parade is even closer. This year it will be on Saturday, November 16th. If you are interested in walking with me, please join us from 9AM – Noon and fill out this form. SSL hours are available. Learn more here.
2024 Phyllis Campbell Newsome Awardee
We all know that our nonprofits are essential service providers, particularly for those most vulnerable in our county. But they are also important to our economy, providing job opportunities and spin off economic benefits.
I am, therefore, particularly proud to be the recipient of the Center for Nonprofit Advancement’s 2024 Phyllis Campbell Newsome Award given to one public official from the District of Columbia, Virginia, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County who has made an impact on the nonprofit sector. The award ceremony will be on November 14, 2024 at the Eaton Hotel in DC. Learn more here.
Wheaton Placemaking Initiative
Join Montgomery Planning for an Open House for the Wheaton Placemaking Initiative on Wednesday, December 11 from 5-8pm at the M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, MD). Come and go as you can to learn about the project, see and provide input on initial placemaking designs, and provide feedback on the direction of the project at interactive stations. This is your chance to shape the temporary placemaking installations that will be put into place in the Wheaton Triangle next spring! All are welcome, and Spanish interpretation will be available. Visit the Wheaton Placemaking Initiative website to learn more about the project and take our survey to ensure your voice is heard! Contact project lead, Sophie Kotzker (Sophie.Kotzker@MontgomeryPlanning.org), with questions.
ECON and PHP schedules
I’m highlighting the schedules of the two committees I serve on (Economic Development Committee, Chair, and the Planning, Housing, and Parks Committee, Member).
November 18, PHP
Discussion on Design for Life and Accessory Dwelling Units
December 2, ECON
Executive Regulation 13-24, Adoption of the 2021 International Building, Energy Conservation, Mechanical, Fuel-gas, Residential Code, Swimming Pool and Spa Codes, and the 2021 International Existing Building Code
Executive Regulation #14-24, Adoption of Fire and Life Safety Codes
December 2, PHP
Incentive Zoning Update
December 9, ECON
Real Estate Needs of Technology Industry in Montgomery County
December 9, PHP
Incentive Zoning Update