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Dear Friend,
No child should ever be injured or killed by falling from an apartment window. Yet each year, up to 20 children are killed and thousands are seriously injured nationwide by window falls - including here in Montgomery County.
I sponsored Ezechiel’s Law to make sure that never happens again to any child in our County. And I named our new law in honor of two-year-old Ezechiel Nguemezi, who tragically died in October 2020 from a fall out of an apartment window in Takoma Park.
On Tuesday, I was joined by Alvine Nguemezi, Ezechiel’s mother, as well as his grandmother, aunt and uncle, as we formally signed Bill 51-20, Ezechiel's Law. Alvine Nguemezi experienced a trauma that no parent should ever have to go through. She was joined by loved ones at the bill signing ceremony and her sister, Malvin Tingwei, shared a touching testimony and tribute on her behalf.
Our new law will create safer home environments for tens of thousands of children living in apartments, condos and other multifamily dwellings in Montgomery County. There have been several similar incidents of window falls in our community in just the past few years.
We have to ensure that preventable tragedies like these lead to effective, lasting change.
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The law, which I introduced back in December and passed unanimously with the support of my colleagues in April, will require building owners to install and maintain window guards in apartments and multifamily dwellings if a child aged 10 or younger lives there or at the tenant’s request.
This is an inexpensive solution that will save lives and is a necessary action that needs to be taken in order to ensure that basic child safety measures are provided by our landlords. The law goes into effect January 1, 2022. We assembled an effective coalition, including CASA, the Montgomery County Renters’ Alliance, Children’s National Hospital, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Consumer Federation of America to create the momentum to pass the law.
We should make every effort to keep our young children safe in their homes and Ezechiel’s Law is an important step in ensuring the safety of the children in our community.
Thanks to my colleagues on the Council for unanimously supporting this bill. Special thanks to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Consumer Federation of America, Takoma Park Mayor Kate Stewart and City Councilmember Jarrett Smith, CASA, the Montgomery County Renters Alliance, Children’s National Hospital and the many other advocacy groups and community activists who pushed to make this a reality.
You can watch the bill signing ceremony here and watch highlights here.
As always, stay safe and stay in close touch.
Sincerely,
Tom Hucker Montgomery County Council President
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COVID-19 Vaccinations
Residents can make their own first-dose appointments at County clinics. Clinic dates, times, and vaccine types are all listed on the County website. The vaccination schedule is updated daily.
Youth ages 12 to 15 do not need to preregister for appointments, and parents/guardians can make appointments for them at clinics using the Pfizer vaccine. Walk-ins will not be accepted if a parent/guardian is not present. The parent/guardian may provide consent and medical history information online or by phone. In all cases, minors must bring proof of identity and age, such as a birth certificate.
If you need help making your first or second dose appointment, email c19vaccination@montgomerycountymd.gov or call 240-777-2982.
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COVID-19 Testing Continues
Free COVID-19 testing clinics are scheduled this week at various locations across the County. No appointment necessary. For clinic locations, hours, and more information, visit here.
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Tips to Prepare for the Summer Storm Season
June 1 marks the start of the Atlantic Hurricane and Summer Storm Season, which will run through November. Montgomery County’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS) and the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service (NWS) are urging residents to familiarize themselves with what to do before, during, and after a severe storm. We highly recommend residents sign up for the County’s emergency notification system, Alert Montgomery.
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MCDOT Free/Discounted Capital Bikeshare Rides to/from Vaccination Sites
Through July 4, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will offer free Capital Bikeshare rides to and from COVID-19 vaccination sites. Some rideshare and e-scooter trips are included. The free rides are available thanks to a White House program and partnerships with Lyft and Uber to help increase access to transportation to get to a vaccination site. Haven’t gotten vaccinated yet? Learn how to access these free rides: https://tinyurl.com/26xvy4m8
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COVID-19 Rent Relief
The COVID-19 Rent Relief Program provides short-term rental assistance to eligible households who have experienced lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing them to fall behind on their rent. While funds are available, the program will provide up to $12,000 to eligible households to pay for back rent owed and/or pay for up to three months of future rent. Applicants can apply online, see frequently asked questions, and get additional program details in English and Spanish at MC311.COM/RENTRELIEF.
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Food Distribution
Montgomery County has various food distribution events across the County this week, including in Bethesda, Olney, Rockville, Silver Spring and Gaithersburg. To find distribution events or food near you, click here. The website also has more information about food resources in multiple languages. For help with getting food, please call the Food Access Call Center at MC311.
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FEMA and Funeral Assistance
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing financial assistance for funeral expenses for COVID-19 related deaths that occurred after Jan. 20, 2020, to help decrease financial stress caused by the pandemic.
To apply for the program, call the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Line at 844-684-6333 (toll-free) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Central Time). For more information, visit FEMA’s website here.
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MCPS Virtual Academy
MCPS is offering a Virtual Academy for the 2021-2022 school year that will provide a full-time virtual learning program for students in kindergarten to Grade 12. The program aims to serve students with qualifying extenuating circumstances. Students interested in the program are required to apply for admission by July 2 and must be approved to participate. Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/ywtam8f9
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Emergency Broadband Benefit
The Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB), an FCC program, can provide low-income families and those who’ve lost jobs during the pandemic a temporary federal discount of up to $50 off their monthly internet bill. Apply here: https://tinyurl.com/2e7adh29
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Workshops for Jobs Seekers
Throughout the month of June, Montgomery County Public Libraries is offering free online workshops and one-on-one sessions geared toward assisting job seekers and entrepreneurs. Sessions are every Monday and include career advice and job search assistance. Find more information and register here: https://tinyurl.com/y7dct6nj.
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Senior Safety Forum
Next week there will be a series of informative and fun webinars discussing Safety and Social Connection during a pandemic and beyond! Each session will include active audience participation via Zoom and Q&A opportunities. Registration is open: https://tinyurl.com/3swk38tx.
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Montgomery Parks Summer 2021
Registration is NOW OPEN for hockey, ice skating, and tennis classes and programs for kids and adults alike! Check out the Summer Program Guide and sign up: https://tinyurl.com/pda35fhv.
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Clean Waterways Art Contest
Enter your environmental-themed designs into Montgomery Parks' Clean Waterways Art Contest and your submission may be selected to decorate storm drains in the parks. Learn more and submit by June 24: https://tinyurl.com/fztkpxxc.
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WAMU: Tom Hucker joins the Politics Hour
“It’s been a year since racial justice protests erupted across the nation, including in our region. Montgomery County Council President Tom Hucker (D-District 5) talks about where police reform stands in the county. We’ll get his thoughts on Maryland’s decision to end its participation in federal unemployment benefits.”
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My MCM: County leaders raise Progress Flag to mark start of Pride Month
“This is the third year county leaders are raising a flag for Pride Month, but the first year they are raising the Progress Pride flag, which adds stripes to highlight transgender people and people of color. Councilmember Evan Glass is Montgomery County’s first openly gay councilmember and led the effort to officially recognize June as Pride Month in the jurisdiction.”
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