Dear Resident,

Every year National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15. As Montgomery County Council President and as the first Latina ever elected to the Council, this month holds special significance for me. In an era of Washington politics where the Latino and Hispanic population of the U.S. is being scapegoated at every turn, it is a time to stand up, reaffirm our place in American history, and highlight our contributions at every level of American society. The United States of America would not be the nation that we are without Latino and Hispanic people.

Latin Americans: A History of Serving Our Nation

Tomorrow at 11 a.m. I am hosting the Council’s annual commemoration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The theme of this year’s event is “Latin Americans: A History of Serving Our Nation.” Those who will be recognized include: Claudia Campos Galván, program director, Nueva Vida; Moisés Linares, sports anchor, Telemundo-NBC; Jonathan Acosta, singer and writer; the Honorable Ana Sol Gutiérrez, former Md. Delegate; the Honorable Maricé Morales, former Md. Delegate; Javier Solís, entrepreneur, Total Taxes; and María José Solís, entrepreneur, Total Taxes. I encourage you to come and mark the occasion with us.

Following the commemoration, the Council will introduce the following two bills:

Bill 30-19, Human Rights and Civil Liberties - Race Discrimination - Protective Hairstyles

Bill 30-19  would prohibit discrimination based on certain natural hairstyles. Councilmember Will Jawando and I are the lead sponsors. The goal of this legislation is to prevent workplace and other forms of discrimination against people who wear such hairstyles including braids, locks, afros, curls and twists. As a mother of two amazing Afro-Latina daughters, I know the struggles of a society that puts arbitrary constraints on one of the most personal expressions of culture and ethnicity - a person’s hairstyle. Montgomery County is a welcoming, diverse community, and our structures must be updated to better reflect who we are as a County. Read more here.

Bill 31-19, Health and Sanitation - Electronic Cigarettes - Distribution

Bill 31-19 would, among other things, prohibit the distribution of any tobacco product, coupon redeemable for a tobacco product, cigarette rolling paper, or electronic cigarette to any individual under 21 except under certain circumstances. Councilmembers Tom Hucker and Gabe Albornoz are the lead sponsors. The goal of this legislation is to update County law to reflect state law changes and provide an enforcement mechanism for young people using and possessing tobacco products and electronic cigarettes. Read more here.

The Council also is scheduled to vote on the following bill:

Bill 22-19, Accessory Dwelling Units - Licensing - Requirements - Amendments

Bill 22-19 would replace the phrase “accessory apartment” with “accessory dwelling unit.” Councilmembers Hans Riemer, Andrew Friedson, Will Jawando and I are the lead sponsors. Bill 22-19 also would do the following: amend the standards for minimum ceiling heights for basements or cellars used for an accessory dwelling; amend the accessory dwelling unit licensing procedures concerning ownership and common ownership associations; require information and notice concerning common ownership communities in the application and review of an accessory dwelling unit license; and require reporting by the County Executive on accessory dwelling unit problems and planned solutions. The Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee recommends enactment with amendments to lower the ceiling height for habitable space and make technical changes. Read more here.

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.

Wheaton Arts Parade and Festival

I was so thrilled by the amazing turnout for the annual Wheaton Arts Parade and Festival yesterday. The weather was perfect and the community came together in a beautiful way. Special thanks to Dan Thompson and team, the local businesses and all the volunteers for the amazing work you do to celebrate our local artists, our diverse cultures, and to support the Wheaton’s Arts & Entertainment District.

Stay tuned for updates on the Wheaton Cultural Arts Center, a project that I have proposed and continue to champion. Feasibility studies have been completed and the county has engaged an architectural firm to come up with a Program of Requirements (POR) which will define the scope and cost of the project, so things are moving right along!

Finally, in case you missed it, here are my remarks from my introduction last week of the Racial Equity and Social Justice Act.

Thank you, and I hope you have a wonderful week.