Continuing to Lead

Montgomery County Maryland sent this bulletin at 11/19/2021 01:16 PM EST
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A Game Changer for #GoVaxMontgomery

The 11-year-old son of a senior legislative aide in the Office of Councilmember Friedson receives his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

An 11-year-old constituent receives his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine from his pediatrician.

Vaccines for ages 5 to 11 are now being distributed to local health departments, private medical practices, and pharmacies in Maryland. Parents are encouraged to take advantage of the many places to get vaccinations.

Of the 56,943 Marylanders ages 5 to 11 who've received their first vaccine dose, 19,207 (33.7%) are from Montgomery County, effectively doubling our proportion of the state population! This is another example of how our residents are continuing to step up and do their part to keep our community safe. With approximately 105,000 Montgomery County residents in this age bracket, we hope to keep this momentum going in the weeks ahead to continue Montgomery County’s leading vaccination rates around the nation. Thank you to our public health professionals, community partners and local healthcare workers for their efforts and, most importantly, to each of you for doing your part. Click here to learn more and let's keep this going!

Raising the Bar on our Climate Goals,

and Providing a Ladder

Montgomery County Green Bank Energy Tax Revenue Proposal Press Conference

Councilmember Friedson Announces Introduction of Bill 44-21 on the Council Office Building Front Steps on Monday, November 15, 2021

This week, Council President Tom Hucker and I introduced Bill 44-21, a major piece of climate legislation that will dedicate roughly $20 million annually to the Montgomery County Green Bank. The Green Bank will leverage those funds in private and public markets and provide greater access to capital for residents and businesses who are seeking energy efficiency retrofit and renewable energy projects. We anticipate the Green Bank will be able to leverage 4-5 times the value of the starting capital and put $80-$100 million toward making our County’s building sector greener. Not only are we raising the bar for climate action, but we are providing the ladder so our residents and business can actually reach it.

Four years ago, the Council passed a resolution stating our County’s climate goals of reducing greenhouse gases by 80 percent by 2027 and eliminating 100 percent of greenhouse gases by 2035. Then in 2019, the Council funded the Climate Action Plan. We need to act urgently and methodically to reach these ambitious climate targets, and we need to work collaboratively with the public, private and nonprofit sectors to turn our rhetoric into reality. We know that the building sector accounts for 50 percent of carbon emissions countywide and about half of those emissions come from commercial buildings. Unfortunately, the businesses and residents who we know want to make these necessary changes to reduce their carbon consumption too often lack the capital to do so.

With this legislation, we are leading with the power of our example rather than the example of our power. We are putting our money where our mouth is, dedicating revenue, and taking advantage of the Green Bank’s unique position to leverage capital and encourage energy efficiency retrofit projects where they might not otherwise occur. With the recent passage of the federal infrastructure bill, the funding we provide to the Green Bank can be matched with State and federal funds, which means that much more capital to transform energy efficiency in our County’s building sector.

This legislation builds on a bill I passed with Councilmember Hans Riemer last year to update the County’s green building tax credit program, which establishes a first-of-its-kind incentive program to focus on actual energy efficiency.

Our work here is far from done, but this legislation is a big step toward bridging the funding gap in the market for energy efficient retrofit projects which will bring us one step closer to reaching our climate goals.

All in on Biohealth

Biohealth Stock Image

I recently introduced an important economic development measure that will help us build upon the successful biohealth/life sciences industry here in the county. ZTA 21-09 - Biohealth Priority Campus will provide our county an important economic development tool to help attract and retain biohealth companies. Montgomery County is a premier location for biohealth given our access to the nation’s capital, proximity to prominent federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and our highly educated talent pool. However, we cannot rest on our laurels when it comes to growing our economy.

We must double down on our efforts to attract and retain companies doing cutting edge work in the biohealth arena. This effort will make it easier for our existing biohealth companies to expand and grow and will ensure that Montgomery County is the best place in the world to start, invest, and grow life-saving and life-altering businesses. By green-taping the regulatory review process, biohealth businesses can focus on their research, product development and trials rather than time-consuming regulatory requirements. 

A public hearing is scheduled for November 30 before this ZTA goes to the Planning, Housing, and Economic Development Committee for review.

Thrive Montgomery 2050 Update

Thrive Montgomery 2050 Logo

The Planning, Housing, and Economic Development (PHED) Committee concluded its review of the Thrive Montgomery 2050 draft and the Committee recommended draft is now posted online and available for review. Because the Committee made numerous changes, the version posted online is not a redlined-markup version. Council Staff determined that the markup would just be too difficult to read. However, the first few pages provide highlights of the changes made by the PHED Committee that you might find informative. In addition, you can find descriptions of chapter-specific changes in the staff packets prepared for the committee work sessions. You can view those packets and/or watch the work sessions here. 

The full Council held a briefing on the changes made by the PHED Committee on November 16th. This meeting was broadcast and can be viewed on demand on the Council website, County Cable Montgomery, and on the Council's Facebook and YouTube pages. 

At my urging, the Council will hold a Listening Session on Thrive on November 30th at 7:00 pm. If you would like to speak at this hearing, you can pre-register here until November 26th. If you prefer to submit written comments, you can do so here.

Redistricting Commission’s Final Report and Recommended Map Have Arrived

Recommended Redistricting Map

The Redistricting Commission's Recommended Map

The Redistricting Commission was established in February 2021 and has worked diligently over the course of the year to produce its final report and the recommended map pictured above. On November 9, 2021, the Council received a briefing from the Redistricting Commission and enabling legislation was introduced. Public hearings were held on November 16 and November 18.

As you know, in the November 2020 election, Montgomery County voters approved a Charter Amendment that added two Council Districts. By adding two new Council Districts, each of the current five Council Districts needs to be reduced by about 40,00-50,000 residents, or 20-25%. To do this, the Redistricting Commission needed to balance many factors and consider several imperfect options.

The Council is now charged with making its decision on the recommended map, so there is still time left in the redistricting process for your voice to be heard. I encourage you to advocate your thoughts on the Redistricting Commission’s map to my colleagues on the Council because, ultimately, any revised map would need to have consensus among councilmembers. To ensure your message reaches each councilmember, I am providing the best email addresses and phone numbers to reach them below:

The Council has 90 days to act on the recommended map, starting on November 9, 2021. If the Council does not approve or amend the Redistricting Commission’s recommended map within 90 days, it will become law. We anticipate that the Council will act on the recommended map before the deadline and before the Council breaks for the winter recess in mid-December.

*Please note that the redistricting of councilmanic districts does not impact Board of Education districts nor school boundaries.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Councilmember Friedson speaks at the unveiling of the “Walter & Shirley” bronze statue at Shirley Povich Field.

It was thrilling to be a part of the unveiling of the “Walter & Shirley” bronze statue at Shirley Povich Field. The statue honors two of the all-time greats in Montgomery County sports history, Major League Baseball pitcher Walter Johnson and longtime Washington Post sportswriter Shirley Povich.
Walter and Shirley Bronze Statue

MoCo Made - The Ag Reserve Welcomes Landmade Brewing

The Agricultural Reserve was established in 1980 to preserve greenspace, support farmers and families, and bolster economic development through agriculture and agritourism. A great example of the opportunities created by the Ag Reserve is Landmade Brewing. Please join me in welcoming them to Poolesville!

 Councilmember Friedson welcomes Landmade Brewing to the Agricultural Reserve.