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Dear Resident,
I am proud and excited this week to introduce a piece of legislation that is long in the making, and one that I believe will have a positive long-term impact on our African American and Latino residents and other communities of color in Montgomery County.
Addressing issues of racial equity and social justice is not only a moral obligation but it’s also a socio-economic imperative, if we are to ensure the continued economic vitality of our county. While Montgomery County has a proud history of, and is known for, embracing its diversity, disparities continue to exist in education, employment opportunities, health care and housing across races and ethnicities, income levels, genders and English language proficiency.
Bill 27-19, also known as the Racial Equity and Social Justice Act, is the result of formal community conversations with over 750 Montgomery County residents, as well as extensive work by myself and my Council colleagues and rigorous analysis by our Office of Legislative Oversight. It will establish a Racial Equity and Social Justice Program that will be implemented across county government by a new Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice. The County Executive will be required to adopt a countywide racial equity and social justice action plan by regulation. Also, each county department and office must develop a racial equity and social justice action plan. The Council and the County Executive will monitor the progress of the Racial Equity and Social Justice Program.
 In addition, Bill 27-19 requires that legislation, public policy initiatives and government programs, supported by budget requests, include a racial equity and social justice impact statement. The bill also will establish a Racial Equity and Social Justice Advisory Committee that will include public members.
Since land use plans and policies are major drivers for shaping communities, Bill 27-19 requires the Montgomery County Planning Board to consider racial equity and social justice issues when preparing master plans that are submitted to the Council. These plans include recommendations for land uses, transportation and public facilities such as schools, libraries, community and recreation centers, parks and fire and police stations.
The Racial Equity and Social Justice Act isn’t the end of the road – it’s a major step forward on what remains a long journey ahead. We held formal community conversations with stakeholders in Silver Spring, Germantown and White Oak, and a youth meeting at Gaithersburg High School in creating this legislation. We made sure that people who don’t speak English as their native language were included in the discussion. I believe this legislation reflects the urgent call for progress on equity that we heard from residents of many backgrounds. When dealing with entrenched systems and dynamics that have suppressed opportunity for people of color and other marginalized people for decades and even centuries, there can be no quick-fix solution. The work is ahead of us, and I am happy to be leading this effort.
Public hearings on Bill 27-19 will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Residents can beginning signing up to testify at those public hearings here beginning on Sept. 20.
We also have several other bills being introduced, as well as normal Committee meetings today and Thursday. As always, you can view the Council’s and Committee’s agendas and stream Council and Committee meetings live and after the fact here. You can read our Council Coming Attractions for an overview of everything that’s coming up.
Thank you, and I hope you have a wonderful week.
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