Unlocking Affordable Housing Opportunities, A Call to Action

As your Councilmember, I am dedicated to addressing the housing crisis in our county. Drawing from my experience as the former Mayor of Takoma Park, I am working closely with my colleagues to develop comprehensive and practical solutions that can improve access to affordable housing for all.

One of the first bills I have cosponsored is Bill 33-22, authored by Council Vice President Friedson, legislation that would require a feasibility study for the inclusion of affordable housing when building county facilities. I also was thrilled to join my colleagues at the groundbreaking for the Randolph Road Community, a joint project at the former Montgomery County Department of Recreation Headquarters that will add 195 deeply affordable homes in a key location of the county. We also anticipate council bills addressing rent stabilization to be put forward soon by my colleagues. Montgomery County has an affordability crisis and to solve it we need to look at every tool in the tool box, from policies to assist renters to increasing the supply of homes and increased transit oriented development, to make sure there are affordable options for anyone who wants to live, and continue to live in our beautiful county. 

Uniting to Create a Safe, Thriving Community for All

When I was elected to the County Council in November, my staff and I joined the District Community Action Team (DCAT) for a ride along in Downtown Silver Spring just weeks into my term.

I did this ride along to better understand the landscape of Silver Spring specifically late at night and how the police were patrolling the area. As noted by the officers we spent time with Silver Spring is not unique in the post pandemic challenges around crime. Many areas around the region have seen similar problems, from DC to Prince George's County as well as Northern Virginia. 

Our police department has implemented many changes to help deter and respond to criminal activities in the Silver Spring Central Business District that include:

• ​​Increased the number of police officers in DTSS and added a District Community Action Team or DCAT
• Officers and security guards added to garages.
• State troopers assisting on Friday and Saturday evenings.
• Foot patrols seven days a week from 10am to 3pm
• Increase partnership with businesses to hire security. 
• Additional cameras in the area have been approved.
• Placing cruisers in highly visible areas
• And, increasing patrols in surrounding neighborhood patrols

I joined County Executive Elrich on February 13th for a press conference related to a bill that would require safety plans for businesses open past midnight. I look forward to the Council taking up this bill and will be offering some amendments to strengthen opportunities for all businesses to receive assistance to implement individual safety plans and to assist businesses that have been impacted by crime. You can watch a recording of this event here.

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been looking at the best ways to bring together members of our community to discuss and look for solutions to ensure people feel safe in our community. I am committed to this work and will be holding a community meeting on March 26th with Montgomery County Council President Evan Glass, to take place at the Silver Spring Civic Center, more information coming soon.

Connecting with Parents, Teachers, Administrators, and Ensuring Safe, Supportive, and Accessible Schools

Last month, I toured Silver Spring International Middle School alongside Board of Education Member Grace Rivera-Oven (Dist. 1), MCPS Associate Superintendent Peter Moran, Montgomery County Education Association President Jennifer Martin, SSIMS Principal Karen Bryant, PTSA members, teachers, and parents to see firsthand the safety and health issues that have been raised by constituents. You can read more here. I am committed to working to ensure all our students have safe places to learn and educators and staff a safe place to work.

Another concern that impacts student safety at schools is the rise in youth Opioid overdoses, which nearly doubled from 2021 to 2022. To raise awareness of the dangers and prevalence of Fentanyl, and to provide access to prevention tools and resources for treatment, MCPS and Montgomery Goes Purple are hosting their second school forum on February 25, 2023, from 9:30 - 11:30 am at Northwood High School. You can learn more RSVP here.

Combating Antisemitism, Our Commitment to a Safer Community

A challenge our county and our region is confronting is antisemitism. I have been working closely with local Jewish organizations and communicating with MCPS staff to take concrete steps to combat hate and bigotry in our community. Before being sworn in and since, I have met with staff of the JCRC, AJC, and JUFJ. I have attended vigils at Congregation Beth El, the Bethesda Trolley Trail, Whitman High School, and attended services at Temple Shalom. I have been in touch with MCPD District 2D regarding their investigation into antisemitic vandalism found at multiple local schools in addition to flyers found in our district. I appeared on FOX5 to discuss the important steps being taken to confront antisemitic incidents in our schools.  

As chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), I organized a webinar Friday in collaboration with the ADL: Fighting Hate for Good: How to Speak Up Against the Rising Tide of Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism. The webinar will be open to public officials and residents throughout the region. A recent change, our county police will now handle all reports of graffiti to their non-emergency number so hateful graffiti can be investigated before it is removed. My office will continue its efforts to distribute quality information about how to confront, call out, and combat antisemitic tropes and vandalism. Please report any incidents immediately to MCPD non-emergency at 301-279-8000. 

Transportation

Additionally, our office has received copious constituent correspondence regarding the recently constructed State Highway Administration project installing bike lanes on Old Georgetown Rd. My staff and I have been reviewing the project as it was approved prior to my taking office. The new bike lanes and buffers were put in by the State Highway Administration (SHA) to try to address the loss of life and injuries that have occurred along Old Georgetown Road.

My Regional Leadership at the Council of Governments

I am pleased to announce that I have been elected by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments as the Chair of their Board of Directors. As Board Chair, I will lead the organization’s governing body as we work in collaboration to address the region’s transportation, housing, climate change and other challenges while advancing economic development and job growth.

COG is an independent, nonprofit association, with a membership of 300 elected officials from 24 local governments, the Maryland and Virginia state legislatures, and U.S. Congress. Every month, more than 1,500 officials and experts connect through COG to develop solutions to the region’s major challenges and plan for the future. The Board of Directors is COG’s governing body and is responsible for its overall policies. In addition, a wide network of city and county managers, police and fire chiefs, housing and planning directors, environmental officials, chief equity officers, public health officials, transportation planners, and more, coordinate through COG’s committees. You can check out my first meeting as chair here!