Council Executive Announces Phase 1 Reopening

The County Executive this afternoon announced Montgomery County will be moving into "Phase 1" of reopening starting Monday at 6 a.m. Our residents and business owners deserve much appreciation for taking the extremely difficult but necessary steps over the past few months to get us to a position in which key COVID-19 metrics are steadily declining and it is safe to restart some activities and business operations. It's critical we all continue to take required safety precautions such as social distancing, wearing face coverings in public, limiting gatherings to 10 people or fewer, and teleworking when possible. You can read more about what specific activities will be allowed and safety precautions required for each here.

Here are more updates about the County's COVID-19 response:

• The County announced last week that it is partnering with Rockville-based AdvaGenix on a COVID-19 testing program that will first be rolled out to first responders, nursing home and long-term care facility staff and residents, and corrections department employees. Phase 2 of the testing plan will begin Sunday and reach essential County workers and hospital and healthcare frontline workers. Phase 3 will begin June 8th with 20,000 tests per week made available to the general public.
• The application period will open June 1st for the County's COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program, funded with a $2 million special appropriation we made at the Council on April 28th. Read more for eligibility criteria and for how to apply. This funding will serve as critical help with the rent for those facing COVID-19-related income losses.
• For small businesses, sole proprietors, or independent contractors, the County is opening a Microenterprise Stabilization Program (MSP). Assistance is up to $10,000 per business and applications will be accepted between June 10-16th. For more information on the eligibility requirements and required documentation, please click here.
• There is still time to apply for the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation's (MCEDC) Telework Assistance Program if your business incurred expenditures to implement a teleworking policy. Grants of up to $2,500 will be given to eligible County businesses and non-profits. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm on Wednesday and qualified applicants will be selected during a weekly lottery. Learn more about the Telework Assistance Program and if you or your business or nonprofit is eligible here.

Adapting to Help Businesses Survive

Even after the immediate public health emergency is over, the local employers who power our community will face a new normal with changing behavior due to public health concerns and lingering effects on consumer confidence. Adjusting business practices to keep employees and customers safe must be the number one priority, and the county will need to step up to provide guidance and support. 

This moment requires a change in the way we operate as a county and a state, just like it does for businesses. That’s why I spearheaded a letter from all nine Council members to Governor Larry Hogan and Comptroller Peter Franchot requesting that they extend the State's alcohol takeout and delivery allowances until at least next year, past the end of the official State of Emergency. These modest changes have benefitted consumers and they’ve been a lifeline for local businesses at a time when they need it most. I'm grateful that Comptroller Franchot has already said he will support extending this measure and look forward to working with him and Governor Hogan to move this proposal forward. 

Similarly, restaurants will be faced with the new normal of social distancing and other important health safeguards as restrictions are partially lifted on dining in. I've had ongoing discussions with business owners, the Bethesda Urban Partnership, and the Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce about closing down some downtown Bethesda streets to allow for outdoor dining. It's an idea many local jurisdictions around the country are putting into place and another example of how we must adapt to give our local employers a fighting chance to keep the lights on.

Child Care: Key to Reopening

Many parents and grandparents have asked about when and how child care facilities will reopen. The Governor put out a general plan (Maryland Together: Maryland’s Recovery Plan for Child Care) last week explaining that under Phase 1, sites may begin serving parents working in businesses opened by the Governor. The transition continues as businesses continue to reopen until Phase 3 where all child care programs would be open for children with recommended health and safety precautions.

While this plan provides guidance on how best to adjust operations to better protect children, I led a letter this week with colleagues requesting the Governor add child care as a specific industry advisory group to provide critical feedback to the Coronavirus Recovery Team. The financial viability of child care providers is absolutely critical because of how intrinsically tied they are to successful reopening and economic recovery. Child care is a social necessity and an economic imperative.  

Spurring Growth in the Pike District

Last week, I joined the Planning Department, Friends of White Flint, residents, and business owners to kickoff "Advancing the Pike District." Spurring growth in the Pike District/White Flint area to meet the County's long-held vision of a walkable, bikeable, more urban, and vibrant place will be central to Montgomery County's economic recovery beyond COVID-19.

The vision of the Pike District set out in the White Flint I and White Flint II sector plans requires both private sector and public sector investment -- especially in modernized transportation infrastructure. We successfully pushed in this year's capital budget for restoration of funding for the White Flint Metro Northern Entrance, funding to eliminate the dangerous channelized right turns at Rockville Pike and Old Georgetown Road, and protected Bus Rapid Transit on MD 355 so preliminary engineering can start this fiscal year.

It's vital that we make these key investments, not just to fulfill the vision and economic development potential, but also to make the area more walkable, bikeable, and safe right now.

Vote by Tuesday!

The deadline to vote in the primary election is June 2nd so please drop your ballot in the mail on or before Tuesday.

Don’t forget to use a black pen and be sure to sign your ballot.

If you haven't received a ballot from the State Board of Elections, please call our office at 240-777-7828, email me at councilmember.friedson@montgomerycountymd.gov, or reach out directly to the Montgomery County Board of Elections.

Updates and Resources

MCPS

• MCPS will honor the Class of 2020 with a systemwide live Universal Graduation Celebration on Sunday, June 7, featuring Jose Andres, world-renowned chef and founder of World Central Kitchen as the commencement speaker. The event will pay tribute to our more than 10,500 high school graduates. Produced in collaboration with NBC4, it will air at 6 p.m. on Cozi TV (broadcast over-the-air channel 4.2, Verizon Fios channel 460 and Xfinity channel 208). The ceremony will be emceed by NBC4 anchor Leon Harris. Replays of the ceremony will be available on the MCPS website and the MCPS YouTube channel after the event. Additionally, individual school virtual graduations will be held June 8-12. 

• MCPS is providing meals at these sites for students.

COVID-19 Renter Relief Act

• The Council passed the COVID-19 Renter Relief Act, which became effective April 24, 2020 and prohibits landlords from increasing existing tenants’ rent by more than 2.6% after April 24th and during the COVID-19 catastrophic health emergency. Helpful FAQs are now online.

Montgomery Cable Channel with COVID-19 Updates

Reminder on the Stay at Home Directive

Special Grocery Store Hours

• The County has compiled a list of stores with dedicated shopping hours for seniors and those at-risk.

Closures

• County Facility Closures and Service Suspensions
• Business Closures Required by the State
  • Please see the details on which businesses are exempt.

How You Can Help

• Support Neighborhood Restaurants: Please support local employers by getting take out or delivery. Search the Visit Montgomery list here.
  • Bethesda Area and Pike District Restaurants
  • Kensington Restaurants and Delivery Options 
  • Poolesville Restaurants with Curbside Pickup, Takeout and Delivery Services
• Volunteer Opportunities: The County has compiled a list on how you can to help. If you are a medical or public health professional willing to assist, the state has a site for specialized volunteers.
• Making or Donating Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Frontline staff need additional supplies and so you can make a mask for them or donate new items you may have in your possession. 
  • Donation site for new or handmade PPE. 
  • For companies interested in selling PPE to the County, please use this email procure@montgomerycountymd.gov
    
• Donate Blood: American Red Cross now faces a severe blood shortage due to an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations during this coronavirus outbreak. Sign up for an appointment now.
• Give Locally: The Greater Washington Community Foundation has started a COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to bolster nonprofits working to help low-income hourly workers, gig workers, small business owners, families in need of childcare services, homeless individuals and many more who will continue to be severely impacted during this public health emergency.

If You Need Support

• Restaurant Employee Relief Fund: The National Restaurant Association has launched a Relief Fund to give $500 checks to restaurant employees experiencing hardship in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
• Food Assistance: See the Montgomery County Food Council's Resource Directory, which includes information on the location, hours, and eligibility guidelines of more than 100 sites where residents can access food and benefits application assistance.
  • Poolesville Grocery Distribution Service: Orders can be placed online by visiting www.mysaval.store/ Order on Tuesdays before 4:00PM and pickup Thursdays between 2:00-3:30PM at the United Methodist Church in Poolesville. Drivers are asked to remain in their cars as orders will be loaded into the backs of vehicles. If you have any questions please call John at 443-896-7244.
  • Taxi Delivery: The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) announced that it has partnered with local taxi companies during the COVID-19 health crisis to initiate a new program available to participants in the Call-n-Ride program to use taxis for delivery of essential goods from grocery stores, food banks and restaurants. This program is for low-income older adults and individuals with disabilities.
  • For Individuals with Disabilities: The State and other partners are collaborating to supplement existing programs for people with disabilities who may be experiencing food insecurity during this pandemic. To connect with these feeding opportunities, constituents should call 2-1-1.  The  2-1-1 call specialist will connect the caller to a variety of statewide program options. 
  • My Groceries To Go! for Seniors: Montgomery County applicants are required to provide supporting documentation to prove income eligibility. Particpants receive get eight pounds of free, fresh produce every month. Please call the Grocery Plus main line at 202-921-7471 or email mg2g@capitalareafoodbank.org for more information. The Capital Area Food Bank's website on this program is here.
  • Senior Nutrition Program: Frozen meal packs are available to seniors through the County’s Senior Nutrition Program. Partners and volunteers are operating “grab and go” locations and are making a limited number of home deliveries to the County’s senior population. To be eligible, most people must be 60 years of age or older. Spouses of participants or a person with a disability living with a participant, are also eligible. To register for the meal program contact the Senior Center closest to you. D1 Locations:
    
    • North Potomac Senior Center Sheila Hall 202-450-8057 Sheila.hall@montgomerycountymd.gov 
    • Holiday Park Senior Center Dolors Ustrell-Roig 240-460-2236 Dolors.Ustrell@montgomerycountymd.gov
• Healthcare: If you do not have insurance and want to get health insurance through the state marketplace now, Maryland has a Coronavirus Emergency Special Enrollment period so that residents can enroll by June 15th (new date). You can compare prices and possibly receive financial help in order to afford coverage.
  
• Pepco: Pepco is extending its customer support policies, through at least June 1st, which include suspending service disconnections, waiving new late fees, and reconnecting customers who were previously disconnected.
• Unemployment Claims: You can start your claim online or by phone.
• Housing Issues: Evictions related to this public health emergency are prohibited at this time, if you face housing or eviction issues, please contact our office at 240-777-7828 or dial 311.
  • COVID short-term rent subsidy program: Call 311 to apply. Households must be at 40% AMI, paying more than 50% of income toward rent, and loss of income directly related to COVID.
  • Renters: The County has issued this Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Residential Buildings​​ that may be helpful to review. In addition, you may be eligible for the Maryland Renters' Tax Credit program that provides up to $1,000 in direct funds.
• Federal Relief: This guide on federal programs outlines the benefits recently passed by Congress.
• Seniors: You can sign up now for a new free program called Senior Call Check by calling toll-free to 866-502-0560 or by registering online. Under the program, participants receive an automated call every day. If the participant does not answer, they will be called two additional times in the same day. If those calls go unanswered, an alternate person, selected by the participant, will be notified in order for them to check in on the participant. 

*Additional resources listed at InfoMontgomery