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Dear Friend,
This week, the County Council unanimously voted to pass the Mercury Service Regulator bill, a bill I introduced in December, which will require landlords to notify Washington Gas and their tenants if their building has a mercury service regulator like the one that caused the horrific explosion at Flower Branch apartments in 2016.
While the Public Service Commission first mandated that Washington Gas remove the regulators almost 20 years ago, hundreds of these dangerous, obsolete mercury regulators are still in use in apartment buildings throughout our county. Replacing all of them is the only way to reduce the risk of future injuries and deaths. I’m grateful my colleagues joined me in taking action that will save lives. Learn more here.
We’re also doubling down on our efforts to protect pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers on our roadways in line with our Vision Zero goals.
The Council also held an important briefing on our Vision Zero 2030 Action Plan, the County's strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries. Watch the Council session for an important update on our vision for the future and the projects that have been completed in the last year.
The plan is anticipated to be finalized in July. This plan aligns with other ongoing programs and projects aimed at reaching our Vision Zero goals, like the launch of the speed reduction program, 20 is Plenty, a pilot program we launched earlier this month that reduces speed limits in certain neighborhood streets.
With more people back on the roads, we must ensure people can walk, run, bike, and drive safely through our neighborhoods. See an update of the Vision Zero plan here.
Lastly, we held our second public hearing on the Thrive Montgomery 2050 plan on Tuesday. The plan will update policy recommendations on countywide land use, economic development, housing, transportation, and other critical issues that impact our community, and lay the groundwork for a 21st century general plan.
Thrive Montgomery aims to improve and facilitate economic health, environmental resilience, and equity in our County. I appreciate all the input from our community and business partners, planning experts and people in the community thus far. We’ve heard testimony from dozens of residents and received feedback from hundreds more. If you’d like to submit additional material to the Council for review, there’s still an opportunity to do so through July 9.
The PHED Committee is scheduled to begin its review of the plan on July 12, 2021. You can learn more here.
As always, stay safe and stay in close touch.
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 Tom Hucker
Council President
Montgomery County Council
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Bethesda Beat: Regional service directors to retire
“It’s a big loss of institutional memory and talent and experience,” Hucker told reporters. “And I don’t think there’s any sort of papering that over — that’s going to be felt for a while. And in a county with as much talent as Montgomery County, with a workforce that’s as talented as ours is, I’m very hopeful we’ll be able to replace them very quickly with very talented replacements.”
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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. Residents can also walk into a County-run vaccine clinic without an appointment.
Young people 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 at County Sites
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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Hyperthermia Alerts & AC for Tenants
We have seen a number of hyperthermia alerts in effect this past week. Make sure to check in on those who are high risk to be sure they are not showing signs of heat-related illnesses.
Reminder that Montgomery County now requires landlords to provide working air conditioning for all tenants, following legislation I sponsored. Call 311 or reach out to us if your landlord does not provide you with a working AC.
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Food Distribution
Montgomery County has various food distribution events across the County this week, including in Rockville, Olney, Bethesda, Takoma Park, Silver Spring. 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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Child Tax Credit Update Portal
The IRS has released a Child Tax Credit portal to help families understand, register for & keep track of this new tax cut. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, payments will begin next month for eligible families. For more information visit: https://tinyurl.com/y2wus8sv
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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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Nonprofit Grant Program
The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) will administer a new state-funded economic development grant program for qualifying local nonprofits. Applications will open on July 6, 2021 and close on July 16, 2021. The MoCo Economic Development Grant Program for Nonprofits supports local organizations that serve our community with programs in Minority Entrepreneurship, STEM Education, Research & Innovation Development, or Small-Scale Manufacturing. Read more: https://tinyurl.com/cnd76kwm
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Montgomery Parks
With over 400 parks to visit, there is no shortage of beautiful scenery and interesting features to take in at any Montgomery Parks location! To visit the location in the photo, travel to Burnt Mills West Special Park, and maybe take a hike up the Northwest Branch Trail this summer.
You can also join in the community fun by taking a photo at one of many selfie stations with remarkable scenery and then share it by tagging @MontgomeryParks and using the hashtag #ShowUsYourParkie. You can also upload your selfie to the website.
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MCDOT Bike Racks
Did you know you can request to have a bike rack installed anywhere in Montgomery County as part of an incentive program to encourage the use of alternative modes of transportation? You can request one today: https://tinyurl.com/fmfjft6s
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Summer Read and Learn with MCPL
Want to get the child in your life to read more this summer? Have them join Montgomery County Public Libraries Summer Read and Learn program, which offers kids and teens a chance to fill their summer with great books and fun activities. Programs are divided into cohorts for early literacy (ages 0 to 5), children (ages 6 to 12), and teens (ages 13 to 17). The program is ongoing until August 31: https://tinyurl.com/ar2jsshy
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Metro Service July 4 & 5
Metrorail service will be operational on July 4 and 5 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Additional trains will be operating to accommodate crowds attending the fireworks display on the National Mall and other festivities around the region. See more details about metro service information: https://tinyurl.com/2fruu8nh.
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Operation: Feline Freedom, a Fee-Waived Adoption Event
The Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center (MCASAC) operated by the Montgomery County Office of Animal Services will be holding a month-long adoption event from July 1 - July 31 where adoption fees will be waived for all cats and kittens. MCASAC’s Operation: Feline Freedom is sponsored by the nonprofit organization Montgomery County Partners for Animal Well-Being (MCPAW). More information on the event here.
Guidelines for adoption, the pre-visit checklist, and the adoption questionnaire can be found at https://tinyurl.com/3dskndvd.
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