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We look forward to seeing you at our Community Conversation in Kensington on Thursday April 4th. This is an opportunity for us to hear your questions, comments, and concerns about how we can better serve District 1. The event will start at 7:30PM at Kensington Town Hall (3710 Mitchell Street, Kensington, MD 20895). If you can't make it, we will also be hosting another Friday with Friedson on April 19th at Bagel City (12119 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852). This is a more informal conversation, so just grab a cup of coffee, maybe a bagel, and share what's on your mind. We will be there from 8:00-9:30AM. Similarly, our May Friday with Friedson will be in Poolesville at Watershed Cafe (19639 Fisher Ave, Poolesville, MD 20837). Looking forward to connecting with you!
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On March 7th, I joined Council President Navarro, County Executive Elrich, and the rest of our Council colleagues to announce Montgomery County’s Early Care and Education Initiative. This four-year action plan, initiated with a $7 million dollar down payment in this year's budget, will generate tremendous momentum on this moral and economic imperative.
Today, nearly half of our children are not ready for kindergarten. Brains aren't born, they're built. Recognizing our greatest asset here in the County is our talent, the earlier we invest in our children, the greater the impact for our economy and community.
Click the image below for more detailed information on this initiative.
Over the next two months, we'll be tackling the budget. As we review the details line-by-line and make difficult decisions, I'm committed to ensuring our budget is fiscally responsible and reflects the values and priorities of our community.
On the Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee, we will be closely examining whether the proposed budget doesn't make short-sighted decisions that may unintentionally shortchange our long-term needs. In the same spirit of efficiency and fiscal responsibility, we're working together as a committee on a set of legislative reforms and budget proposals to foster adequate oversight of County government. Our main focus is ensuring your taxpayer dollars are invested appropriately and effectively.
If you are interested in testifying on the FY2020 budget, please be sure to sign up by April 7th at this website for the date you prefer. The dates and times of the public hearings are below:
- April 8, 2019 - 1:30PM
- April 8, 2019 - 7:00PM
- April 9, 2019 - 7:00PM
- April 10, 2019 - 1:30PM
- April 10, 2019 - 7:00PM
We want your input as we weigh the many priorities for our County.
Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of visiting the Enhanced Social Emotional Support Services (E-SESS) Program at Magruder High School, and was moved by the impact that it’s having on students previously struggling to find a connection elsewhere. Parents shared with me how only a few years ago their children were having severe difficulties, often not attending school at all. Many had tried private placements or home schooling, but nothing seemed to work. That prior helplessness was replaced by a sense of relief and appreciation as they told their powerful stories one by one.
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Starting in 2015-2016 with 8 students, the E-SESS Program now includes 48, with demand and interest for more seats. By having its own section of the school, it promotes small classroom environments, limited transitions for students, and easy connection to counseling and case-management services. Students shared their personal stories of how they built trust with staff, relationships with peers, confidence in their abilities, and a positive connection to school.
Now, many of them are headed to college, and it was awe-inspiring to hear their excitement and triumph over adversity. I am proud that MCPS provides a program that is truly tailored to the unique and individual needs of students who require additional and different types of support. What a powerful tool to help these students find a community where they feel comfortable and the confidence to be the best version of themselves.
The Veirs Mill Corridor Master Plan is the first to focus primarily on how we design roadways so they are safer for all users — including pedestrians and bicyclists.
We know that highway speeds lead to potentially life-threatening situations on Veirs Mill and too many roadways throughout the County, including in District 1. I’ve worked hard on the Council’s Planning, Housing, and Economic Development Committee over the past several weeks to ensure the Veirs Mill Plan will serve as a model moving forward for how we correct dangerous by design elements such as high-speed channelized right turn lanes and unsignalized crosswalks.
We must stop thinking of “failing intersections” only in terms vehicle speed, and start measuring and considering them on the basis of safety.
I recently cosponsored Councilmember Hucker's Bill (2-19) to reduce lead levels in our schools' drinking water to 5 parts per billion, based on the FDA standards for bottled water. This is about sending our kids to school to develop their brains, not to subject their brains to damage.
In 2017, the state required all schools to test for lead in drinking water outlets and last year, MCPS's report showed lead levels higher than the state action level of 20 parts per billion in 86 out of 206 schools.
While MCPS has remediated 97% of these outlets of concern to the state level, we want to ensure we set a more restrictive level to further protect our children. There is no safe level of lead exposure and we have no greater responsibility in public service than to protect our children from harm.
On March 13th, the County Council hosted the kickoff for its new Racial Equity & Social Justice Policy framework with a press conference and community conversation at the Silver Spring Civic Building.
The goal of this initiative is to acknowledge and consider the impact that policy decisions made by County government have upon under-represented communities. In order to address institutionalized racism, solutions need be operationalized within our institutions of government.
For a full timeline of upcoming events and activities related to this issue, please see this link.
In our ongoing effort to Bring the Council to the Community, we had our first “Friday with Friedson” last week at Tally Ho Restaurant in Potomac. It was a casual, convenient conversation with constituents about a host of important local issues. No agenda — except what was on the minds of our constituents.
Check out the video below.
It's been another busy month as we continue to be present throughout the district.
Neighborhood Leaders Breakfast & East Bethesda Citizens Association
Honoring Our Farm Community on National Agriculture Day
Joining Board of Bethesda Green & Bethesda Implementation Committee
Celebrating Nourish Now on 2 Million Pounds of Food Recovered & Kenwood Forest HOA meeting
It is truly an honor and privilege to represent our extraordinary community on the County Council.
As always, we hope you will continue to keep in touch and reach out to us with any issues.
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