S.M.A.R.T. Updates Around Our County
Strengthen 21st century learning from cradle to career and beyond
1. Engaged with educators at the MCEA’s annual legislative reception to discuss increasing pay, improving health and safety benefits, promoting smaller class sizes, and fully implementing the Blueprint for Maryland's Future.
2. Reviewed budgets in the Capital Improvements Program with the Council and County Executive Marc Elrich. We will fund 19 additional wellness centers to support all of our high schools, as well as deliver universal broadband access for our youth.
3. Toured the University of Shady Grove campus to explore their USG 2.0 strategic plan. As a member of the HHS and newly created Economic Development Committee, I am focused on strengthening our career and workforce pipeline to address pivotal employment needs in every sector, with a special focus on technology, mental health, public safety, and skilled labor.
 Make a living in Montgomery County more affordable
1. Broke ground on the new affordable housing project at Randolph Road that will offer nearly 200 deeply affordable homes. This residential project will have many amenities and options for homeownership, thanks to partners like AHC Inc. and Habitat for Humanity.
2. Held our first HHS & Public Safety Joint meeting yesterday. I have been conducting deep analysis of our county's homelessness data, and as the Lead for Disparities in Public Health, I will be focusing on improving outcomes for those experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable populations.
3. Advocated for residents living in unsafe apartment conditions in Gaithersburg, Rockville, and Silver Spring. I support policies like expanding the MPDU program, pathways to homeownership, and building efficiency, to ensure that tenants have access to an abundance of quality housing options.
 Advance sustainable local food production in the Ag Reserve
1. Met with food producers to discuss how we can streamline the process for new and existing farmers to purchase affordable land, cultivate their crops, and access building permits to produce healthy food options.
2. Discussed anti-hunger initiatives like universal meal programs with the Montgomery County Food Council. The Food Council offers a vast amount of food assistance resources we can leverage in partnership with the Department of Heath and Human Services (DHHS) to address food insecurity.
3. Pushed for White’s Ferry to re-open. This ferry transports people to the Agricultural Reserve and its 93,000 acres of preserved green space. We are fully committed to working with the Town of Poolesville, MCDOT, members of the State Delegation, Loudon County, and County Executive Elrich, who is now personally involved, to get this key economic driver reopened.
 Revitalize the economy while recovering from the pandemic
1. Collaborated with colleagues serving on the Economic Development Committee for our first committee meeting. Streamlining the regulatory environment for businesses is an essential priority of ours to ensure shorter timelines for completing quality residential, commercial, and mixed use projects in our county.
2. Highlighted the Lakeforest Mall Redevelopment plan which includes more than 1.2 million square feet of employment, commercial and retail space, 1,600 mixed-income residential units, and green space. Having worked on this plan as a member of the Gaithersburg City Council in 2021, I am eagerly anticipating the construction of this innovative project and its subsequent contributions to a booming economy.
3. Spoke with Maryland’s new Comptroller Brooke Lierman about the importance of expanding the County's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, which provides free tax preparation to income-eligible households in both English & Spanish.
 Tackle climate change through multi-modal transportation infrastructure
1. Voted to expand transportation services such as Bus-Rapid Transit networks, MARC trains, bike lane infrastructure, and other Vision Zero projects during the State Transportation Priority Letter hearing.
2. Committed to working with smart transportation groups to electrify our school bus fleet, oppose Hogan's plan to widen I-270, promote equitable electrification initiatives, and protect bikers and pedestrians on busy roadways.
3. Observed updates on the Purple Line construction sites in Montgomery County. This project will significantly upgrade our county’s infrastructure, better connect businesses and people to our neighbors in Prince George’s county, and bring much-needed investment to some of our most underinvested communities in East County.
110 Years of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
I love my Delta Sigma Theta Sorors with all my heart and know that our shared legacy, established by our 22 founders 110 years ago on January 13, 1913, will always inspire our passion for community service and sisterhood. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was the only Black Sorority to participate in the Women’s Suffrage March on March 3, 1913, less than two months after its founding, which blazed the trail for Black women in politics. Today, they create safe spaces for young Black adults to excel in higher education and unite Black communities with service and professional opportunities. It brought me immense joy to join Council President Evan Glass to recognize the Montgomery County Alumnae Chapter and the Potomac Valley Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. with a Council proclamation in honor of their legacy of service, scholarship, and numerous achievements at their first Annual Delta Day at the Council.
Celebrating the Lunar New Year
The Lunar New Year is an important and exciting time for the AAPI community. Two weeks ago, I joined the Maryland Vietnamese Mutual Association at Northwood High School for their 35th Annual Tet Festival to commemorate the Year of the Cat. And last week, I attended the Chinese Culture and Community Center's annual Chinese Lunar New Year festivities at Montgomery Mall to honor the Year of the Rabbit. These two organizations add such rich culture to our communities and we thank them for all they do to help AAPI immigrants feel welcome and valued. We have seen a rise in hate and violence against AAPI communities since the pandemic, but coming together for this important holiday serves as a reminder that their contributions are valued and will always be embraced by our diverse county. I hope that the Lunar New Year brings longevity, peace, and prosperity.
Save the Date!
I am excited to share an inaugural event in March to commemorate Women’s History Month! It will be featuring prominent women in the media, and this year's theme is women who tell our stories, tell their stories. This groundbreaking event will be held at the AFI Theater in downtown Silver Spring on March 11, 2023, from 3 to 5 p.m. We will be headlining a dynamic panel of women trailblazers who have made tremendous strides as professionals in the news media. We will be watching a short film, followed by a panel discussion of local women in the media who tell stories about our community through their own lived experience. More details will be forthcoming, but I wanted to alert you to this event so you can save the date ahead of time.
Community Resource Hub
Montgomery Goes Purple hosted a Family Forum on Fentanyl and life-saving Narcan training in partnership with MCPS this past Saturday. My heart breaks for all those who have lost loved ones recently due to opioids and drug overdoses. The first step to prevention is awareness, so if you or anyone you know is affected by this, we encourage you to share these life-saving resources with them.
Montgomery Parks will hold a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, February 15, at 7 p.m. to present traffic study results for the Little Falls Parkway project. If the lane reduction is made permanent, the next phase of the pilot project will include the implementation of a temporary linear park with amenities including seating, games, programmed activities, and space for biking, skating, running, and walking.
Montgomery County is looking for individuals to serve on the Council’s 26-member Sports Advisory Committee to advocate for enhanced sports opportunities and address discrepancies in youth sports. Also, registration for summer camps is now underway for 2023, and we encourage anyone interested to sign up now, as programs fill up quickly.
Volunteers are needed to assist sexual assault victims and their families through Montgomery County’s Victim Assistance and Sexual Assault Program. There has been an alarming rise in rates of sexual misconduct since the start of the pandemic, and the services we provide to victims are crucial for addressing the root causes of misogyny and sexual harassment.
MCPS and the Montgomery County Chapter of the NAACP will be hosting the 15th Annual HBCU Fair from 6–8:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 17. This free in-person event provides students in Grades 8–12 an opportunity to meet representatives from more than 50 HBCUs to learn about admissions, financial aid, testing, majors and much more. Many HBCU representatives will also be holding virtual interviews with 12th grade students.
Lastly, with COVID-19 rates remaining high, we ask that you please continue to monitor your health and be safe. We encourage you to stay up-to-date with Montgomery County’s COVID-19 Portal, where you can sign up to receive the latest updates from the County, view Montgomery County-specific COVID-19 data, find information on how to get vaccinated, and more. You can also collect free rapid at-home test kits and N95 masks at any of the following MCPL locations.
Yours in service,
Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles
Please do not reply to this email. To contact my office, email me at Councilmember.Sayles@montgomerycountymd.gov
Office of Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, MD 20850
Email: Councilmember.Sayles@montgomerycountymd.gov
Phone: 240-777-7964
Website: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/Sayles/
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