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January 2021
Vaccines for Covid-19 have arrived in Montgomery County and I want to assure you that they are being administered as rapidly and efficiently as possible. Our ability to vaccinate is ultimately dependent upon the supply we receive from our state and federal partners. While we have administered more vaccines than any jurisdiction in the state, we are only receiving half of the vaccines we have requested from the Maryland Department of Health.
In short: we need more vaccines provided to us.
Many of you have contacted me with questions about when and where you can get vaccinated. To learn when you can get protected visit the county’s Covid-19 vaccine website or the State of Maryland’s site. You can also be notified about when you are eligible by signing up for a vaccine alert.
As a member of the Council’s Health and Human Services Committee, I am proud of the work that has been done but also recognize that we need to do more to keep our residents safe and healthy.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me should you have more questions about the vaccine distribution.
The insurrection that took place at the U.S. Capitol was a direct assault on democracy’s most potent symbol and on democracy itself. It was an assault on the history and principles that have defined the United States for over 200 years.
The Capitol is a part of our lives. Many of us have friends and family members who work in and around the Capitol complex, who were fearing for their lives as they were forced to hide underneath tables and behind doors while being terrorized.
The coup attempt was intended to take down our representative government, but perhaps it was a wake-up call that will serve to bring us together. I pray for an orderly transition of power and for the continuation of the oldest democracy in the world.
2020 was marked by another unfortunate milestone with 18 pedestrians and cyclists killed in traffic incidents in Montgomery County. The collisions have most seriously impacted low-income and immigrant communities, who comprise a majority of non-motorist fatalities.
Join me and Congressman Anthony Brown next Saturday, January 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for a virtual Vision Zero conference to discuss road safety, the county’s efforts to implement Vision Zero and how residents can best advocate for safer streets.
Pedestrian safety has been a core issue for me since joining the Council. These traffic fatalities are preventable and we as a county must do more to make our streets and roads safer for all.
It was a cold but exciting day in late December when I joined with other local, state and federal elected officials for the official groundbreaking of the Audubon Naturalist Society’s Nature for All project. A key feature of the $4 million project is the installation of a wheelchair-accessible trail at Woodend Nature Sanctuary in Chevy Chase.
The project coincides with the the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a landmark moment in American civil rights history, promising individuals with disabilities equal access to government, businesses, public accommodations and employment.
I applaud the Audubon Naturalist Society for their efforts of inclusivity and I’m so looking forward to seeing this wheelchair-accessible trail and outdoor educational space that will be built for all to enjoy!
As temperatures drop and Covid-19 cases increase, it is increasingly dangerous for people who are experiencing homelessness to sleep in the streets. If you see an individual or group of people who are in need of a warm place to sleep, please contact the 24-hour Homeless Information Line at 240-907-2688 to speak with an outreach specialist. You can also email outreach@montgomerycountymd.gov and request outreach assistance.
One of the wonders of Montgomery County is the numerous organizations ready to help our neighbors in need, whether it be in times of peace or in times of crisis. Manna Food Center is one of those great organizations. My team and I recently visited Manna Food Center to help support their mission driven work. In a little over two hours, we prepared 400 meal bags for families in need.
Food insecurity before the pandemic was already high, but since March, the number of residents who experienced food insecurity rose by a staggering 50%. From meal preparation to meal distribution, my team and I are always ready to help our neighbors in need.
A resident reached out to my office after having applied for the County’s Covid-19 Rent Relief program and was concerned about the status of his application. After hearing from the constituent, my office contacted the Department of Health and Human Services and was able to provide him with an update and get him connected to a caseworker.
Currently, the County’s rent relief program is closed to new applicants but with the recent federal stimulus package the County is expected to receive millions more dedicated to rent relief. In the meantime, sign up here to be put on a waitlist to be informed of when the program is reopened.
If you or someone you know needs help accessing government services, don't hesitate to reach out to my office.
The Housing Initiative Partnership recently launched a new home sharing program in Montgomery County. Home sharing is an innovative idea in which homeowners offer spare rooms or Accessory Dwelling Units for rent to home seekers in need of affordable, healthy and safe housing. Participating in this program has many benefits, including reducing social isolation, providing income for homeowners and generating new and affordable housing options for home seekers. Homeowners must live in the home full time to participate. For more information, call the Housing Initiative Partnership at 301-857-SHARE (301-857-4273).
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