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December 2021
I am honored that my colleagues have unanimously elected me to serve as Council Vice President for the next year. Working alongside newly elected Council President Gabe Albornoz, my commitment is to keeping all residents healthy and safe –– during the pandemic and beyond. With over 93% of residents ages 12 and older fully vaccinated, Montgomery County is the most highly vaccinated large county in the U.S. This is a testament to you and all of our smart residents who value their health and the health of their neighbors, friends and loved ones.
Throughout my first term, I have focused on issues of equity and social justice: passing the Montgomery County Pay Equity Act to close the gender wage gap, spearheading the expansion of the Kids Ride Free program, and initiating the COVID rental assistance program. And with so many of our small businesses deeply impacted by the pandemic, I sponsored a law to reduce century-old fees that will increase the competitiveness of our local entrepreneurs.
I look forward to working with my colleagues and all community members to build a more equitable, inclusive and hopeful path forward for the residents of Montgomery County.
Relief is on the way for small businesses impacted by delays from the Purple Line construction. On Tuesday the Council passed a special appropriation of $231,000 that I introduced to help small businesses facing economic hardship from the ongoing transit construction. Businesses in Long Branch, Lyttonsville, Takoma Park and Bethesda will be helped by these funds, which will be administered by the Latino Economic Development Center.
In addition to these funds, the General Assembly voted last week to approve another $2 million in support of small businesses along the Purple Line. I appreciate all the work of our Maryland State Senators and Delegates to support our small businesses.
Over the last year the Redistricting Commission had the tough task of redrawing the County Council map. With a population increase of 90,000 people over the last decade and a voter approved referendum to add two new districts, the nonpartisan Commission worked overtime in an effort to create fair and equitable boundaries. While we could not accommodate every boundary change requested, I believe this new map will serve the County well for the next decade. The final version of the map, which reflects our community’s increased population and diversity, is good for democracy and local representation.
You can view an interactive version of the map here.
 Photo Credit: Bethesda Beat
I’m glad to share that the Council recently voted to extend fare-free Ride On bus service through July 2, 2022. This exciting news comes a week after I published a Washington Post op-ed advocating for free bus service, as part of our broader effort to build back better in a post-pandemic society.
If you sit on any bus and look outside the window, you’ll see single-occupant vehicles passing by. With a majority of Ride On users having a household income of just $35,000, far below the county’s median household income of $108,000, our roadways have become the best example of the economic disparities in society.
With cities and counties around the country trying to encourage a return to transit, we need to keep in mind the people who most benefit from it — our front-line workers, our students and those who can’t afford to own a car. As we rebuild our post-pandemic community, free bus service should be leading the way.
The pandemic has exposed the inequities in our community and we must commit ourselves to supporting our neighbors in need. Earlier this month, I helped distribute nearly 500 winter coats to children and adults at the Long Branch Library, as part of a broader effort to provide clothing, Covid-19 vaccinations and legal aid to residents. My appreciation to Montgomery County Public Libraries, Montgomery County Recreation, Community CHEER, Maryland Legal Aid and Macy's for making this happen.
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Montgomery County’s Emergency Rental Assistance program’s (ERA) COVID Rent Relief application portal will close on Friday, December 31. An additional round of rent-relief funding, with an updated application process and eligibility criteria will be announced in early 2022. More than $40 million in direct assistance has been provided through these funds to residents, preventing more than 3,700 evictions. Residents who have already applied can check their application’s status on the county’s COVID-19 rent relief portal or you can contact my office at Councilmember.Glass@montgomerycountymd.gov.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is advising the public about scams that use fraudulent SSA letterhead to portray legitimacy and gain trust to target individuals for money or personal information. Scammers can rob you of hard-earned money, personal information, and, at the very least, a festive mood — recognizing the signs of a scam can help you avoid falling victim to one.
 Photo Credit: Department of Environmental Protection
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