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November 2022
Last week a husband and wife were tragically killed in Gaithersburg while walking to their polling place. They were in the crosswalk when a car struck them. I am deeply saddened that incidents like this continue to occur across our county; there have been 14 deaths and 444 injuries on our streets and roadways this year. We must take a proactive, preventative approach to traffic safety.
Over the past few months a number of residents from Derwood contacted me advocating for safety improvements to along Shady Grove Road, where there have been several car crashes and two pedestrian fatalities. That is why I organized a safety walk with community members, State Delegate Vaughn Stewart and officials from Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation to get a first-hand look and propose needed solutions.
During the walk residents expressed the need for more automated enforcement, lower speed limits, more sidewalks and enhanced pedestrian and bike safety infrastructure. We observed that nearby streets like Crabbs Branch Way and Redland Road also needed safety improvements, underscoring the point that achieving Vision Zero is not just about spot-treatments for one intersection along one stretch of road, but requires a network-wide approach.
I am committed to working with our state partners and our Department of Transportation to ensure we implement a wide range of traffic calming techniques and send a signal that we are building a safer Montgomery County for everyone.
Montgomery County is the fourth largest biotech hub in the nation, with more than 300 companies employing 40,000 workers in the life sciences. With the signing of a new partnership between Montgomery County and several of the state’s largest academic institutions, we are now set become the “Silicon Valley of health computing”. The Institute for Health Computing is a planned research center in North Bethesda that will bring together renowned researchers who are exploring artificial intelligence, machine learning, and virtual and augmented reality and medical experts to create a world-class hub of biotech discovery.
The flu season is off to an unusually fast start. Getting flu and COVID-19 vaccines is an essential step to stopping the spread of respiratory disease. My office recently partnered with CCI Health Services to host a vaccination clinic outside the Bestway Supermarket in Long Branch and provided free flu shots and COVID-19 boosters to over 60 local residents. CCI is a nonprofit organization that works to reduce barriers to healthcare and create safe communities for all.
Did you know that MCPS has the largest fleet of electric school buses in the nation? The use of electric buses will reduce fuel costs and the school system's overall carbon footprint. On a typical school day, MCPS buses use approximately 17,000 gallons of diesel fuel. Replacing the diesel bus fleet with electric buses will help MCPS achieve its goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2027 and 100% by 2035.
Our nonprofits are the backbone of our community, providing many vital educational, health, arts and social services in Montgomery County. Each year, the Center for Nonprofit Advancement awards the Phyllis Campbell Newsome Public Policy Leadership Award to public officials who exemplify their mission. I am honored to have been selected as a 2022 recipient.
Since joining the council four years ago, I have worked to increase supports for the nonprofit sector. This work has included securing funds for arts and humanities organizations during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting our homeless and social service providers, and helping keep our faith communities and houses of worship safe.
Thank you to everyone who supports our nonprofit sector. Whether you are a staff member, a volunteer, or a donor – your work is greatly appreciated.
As always, please feel free to reach out to me about any issue you may have. Email me at Councilmember.Glass@montgomerycountymd.gov or you can call my office at (240) 777-7966.
Montgomery Connects is providing 50,000 new loaner Chromebook laptop computers to lower-income Montgomery County residents who do not have a computer. Closing the digital equity gap means having access to a home computer; affordable high-speed broadband and digital literacy training. Montgomery County aspires to empower 100% of our residents and local businesses to be fully connected and engaged in our shared digital world.
For information on eligibility and how to sign up, go to: Computer for You (montgomerycountymd.gov)
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