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Dear Friend,
I wanted to take a moment to share the latest Council updates and news with you.
First, a COVID-19 update and the latest on vaccination rates. Montgomery County continues to lead the nation in vaccination rates, with 91.2 percent of residents ages 12 and up having at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the CDC.
I am so proud of the progress we have made. But we’re not out of the woods just yet. With the highly transmissible Delta variant, getting vaccinated is more urgent than ever. If you have unvaccinated friends or family who are eligible for the vaccine, please encourage them to get vaccinated today!
If you or someone you know needs assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to my office.
If you haven’t already, please connect with me on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates and news.
As always, stay safe and stay in close touch.
Sincerely,
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 Tom Hucker
Montgomery County Council President
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White Oak Community Celebration
Many of our residents face barriers to easy voting, especially the residents of White Oak, which is 40 minutes away by bus from any early voting center. I've been fighting for an early voting center in White Oak for over three years, and recent state legislation makes this a possibility.
On Monday, I brought together 100 community members, State and County officials to call for an early voting site at the White Oak Community Recreation Center. I was proud to be joined by Senator Will Smith, House Majority Leader Eric Luedtke, Delegate Lorig Charkoudian, Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins, Councilmembers Evan Glass and Will Jawando, White Oak community activists Fatmata Barrie and Daniel Koroma, and Montgomery County Board of Elections members Alan Banov, Elisse Barnes and David Naimon, and others.
The White Oak Community Recreation Center is again being considered as a potential site for an early voting center in next year’s election by the Montgomery County Board of Elections, but is not guaranteed as an early voting center yet.
The Board of Elections will hold a public hearing on early voting sites on September 18 at 10 a.m. and will vote on the two new early voting sites at the board meeting on October 18.
Please share your support for an early voting site at the White Oak Community Recreation Center by contacting the Board of Elections at elections@montgomerycountymd.gov and sign up to testify at the September 18 public hearing. Public comments will be accepted until October 14.
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Reopening Long Branch and Coffield Community Centers
Last Thursday I sent the County Executive a memorandum requesting that the emergency homeless shelters currently housed in the Long Branch and Coffield Community Centers be relocated as soon as possible so that those sites may reopen as recreational facilities for these historically underserved communities, who have been gracious and understanding hosts throughout the pandemic.
While 19 out of 21 community centers in the County have reopened after temporarily closing due to the pandemic, the Long Branch and Lyttonsville communities still do not have access to these important community hubs. Now residents are patiently waiting for these centers to re-open, with no information or timeline being provided for when this might happen. These rec centers were taken away from two of the lowest-income communities in the County -- with no equity analysis or alternatives analysis, no public meetings, no notification to the community or even me as their local councilmember.
We need both temporary shelter and long-term housing for our residents experiencing homelessness, but the County has better options than commandeering rec centers in our most underserved neighborhoods and taking vital services away from other needy residents.
Instead, we’re now being told that these two rec centers will not resume normal operations until 2022. In my letter, I’ve requested a proposal for re-opening and refreshing these facilities for their intended purposes, including a timeline and proposed cost. My team and I will continue advocating with community members to get these facilities reopened as soon as possible.
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Council proclamation honors County employees lost to COVID-19
On Tuesday, I organized a special presentation from the Council in memory of the County employees we lost to the COVID-19 pandemic. As we emerge from the worst months of this pandemic, we know that the families and loved ones of those we lost from the virus will never be the same.
Within the County government, we lost great colleagues and friends, who were honored through a memorial video. They include Lanol Dove of the Recreation Department, Michael Miller of the Department of Transportation, Nelvin Ransome of the Department of Transportation, David Allen of the Department of Technology Services and Blanca Kling of the Montgomery County Police Department. We were joined by their family members Tuesday morning to remember those we’ve lost to COVID-19 and honor their legacy of public service. If you missed it, please watch the memorial video here.
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WTOP: Council President: “Time to reopen community centers being used as homeless shelters”
County Council President Tom Hucker said community members should have access to the recreation centers, which serve as a sort of one-stop hub for a range of activities for children, teenagers and seniors. Residents had been patiently waiting for access to the facilities. Hucker wrote that when the Long Branch and Coffield community centers in Silver Spring and Lyttonsville respectively were converted for use as homeless shelters, area residents “lost a valuable part of the neighborhood fabric along with a vital resources hub.”
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My MCM: Leaders Urge Early Voting Site For White Oak
Council President Tom Hucker said a site in White Oak is common sense. The area is home to many lower-income, African American, immigrant, and senior voters, many of whom do not have access to a car. “Up to 35% of adults in this community don’t have access to a vehicle,” Hucker said at the White Oak Community Recreation Center. He said taking public transit to the nearest early voting centers in Silver Spring or Burtonsville takes over 40 minutes.
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Patch: BioNTech, Pfizer Vaccine Partner, Opens Research Plant In MOCO
"We are thrilled that BioNTech will build on its lifesaving work and support more of the high-skilled jobs that help fuel our economy," County Council President Tom Hucker said. "There is real value in locating here next to the nation's capital with nearby access to numerous federal labs, 18 federal agencies, three major airports and the nation-leading diversity that characterizes our county."
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Update on COVID-19 Vaccinations
As cases increase nationwide, we urge all residents that haven’t received their COVID-19 vaccines to make their first-dose appointments at County clinics as soon as possible to protect, their loved ones and their communities. 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 Eviction Protection
Residents struggling to pay their rent have a few eviction protection options available through the County:
- Apply for rental assistance of up to $12,000 through the County’s COVID-19 Rent Relief Program.
- Contact a support organization. Spanish-language assistance is available as well.
- Go to court if called – there is free legal help at court for eviction protection.
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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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MCDOT Partners with BUP for “Paint the Town” Mural Project in Downtown Bethesda
MCDOT and the Bethesda Urban Partnership’s (BUP) is calling artists to apply for the Paint the Town project for a mural on MCDOT’s public parking garage 11 on Old Georgetown Road. Submissions are due by Friday, August 6. For more information and to apply click here.
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Summer Twilight Concert Series
Brookside Gardens will be hosting the free Summer Twilight Concert Series on Tuesdays this August with the following artists:
- August 10 - Sandra Dean Band
- August 17 - Crawdaddies
- August 24 - Ocho de Bastos
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