Women Belong In All Halls of Power
As the late Ruth Bader Ginsberg once said, “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.” Though she passed away in 2020, her words ring loud and clear today on the Montgomery County Council, where we have a female majority for the first time. The significance of this cannot be understated. Women constitute nearly 3 million (34 percent) elected members in local deliberative bodies worldwide. The six women on our Council are part of a growing trend of women who refuse to sit on the side and remain silent. On March 7, I joined my female colleagues, Councilmembers Marilyn Balcombe, Natali Fani-González, Dawn Luedtke, Kristin Mink, and Kate Stewart, ahead of International Women’s Day, to celebrate the occasion and this year’s theme, “Embrace Equity.” In attendance were representatives from the Montgomery County Commission for Women, the Montgomery County National Organization for Women, and the National Council of Negro Women to receive the proclamations. Together, we highlighted why equal opportunities are not enough. People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action. Equity will only happen when women’s voices are included and reflected in meaningful policy discussions. Please watch this video for more highlights from this special day!
The Future Is Female
Our young people give me much hope. They are keenly aware of the exclusion of women from important leadership positions and its repercussions, and they are ready to demand change. I see this every day in my service to the community:
- I attended the MCPS Business Pitch Challenge last week, where teams from six schools presented their business ideas to a panel of judges from the business community. Students from Northwood High School won the competition for showcasing a financial literacy app aimed at helping anyone understand their finances at the touch of a button on their phone. I was very impressed with the genius and industry of the young women and students.
- As a former Vice President of the Montgomery County Young Democrats (MCYD), I enjoyed being their guest speaker at their Women’s History Month meeting. It was a pleasure reconnecting with Keyna Anyiam and Margie Delao, two MCYD and Emerge Maryland members who will soon be appointed to the Montgomery County Board of Elections and have promising futures in Democratic politics.
- 14 of the 16 students on my Youth Advisory Council are women, and they are all visionary leaders full of bright ideas. During our first two meetings this month, we discussed some of our county's most significant issues. I am excited to see the skills they bring to the table and that they are also acquiring from working with my team and me these next two months as they learn more about the budget and legislative process on the County Council.
We tell young women they can be glass-ceiling breakers, and they should feel empowered to end gender discrimination. The future is in their hands!
S.M.A.R.T. Updates Around Our County
Advocating for Mental Health
Mental health challenges remain a persistent issue for our residents, especially our youth. On March 2, the Health and Human Services, and Education & Culture committees received a briefing from Department of Health and Human Services and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) officials on the status of the implementation of School Based Health and Wellness Centers (SBHWCs), which currently operate at 13 schools around the county. In the Capital Improvements Program (CIP), the County Executive has allocated SBHWC construction funding for Blake, Crown, Damascus, Einstein, Magruder, Northwood, Springbrook, and Woodward High Schools, as well as planning costs for a future center at Poolesville High School. As the Council’s lead for eliminating disparities in public health, the maintenance and effectiveness of our SBHWs is a top priority of mine. In April, I will visit SBHWCs at Watkins Mill High School, Northwood High School, Summit Hall Elementary School, and Rolling Terrace Elementary School. Stay tuned!
Further, in April I will be calling attention to the adverse mental health impacts on our minority communities by honoring Minority Health Month and Black Maternity Health Week with Council proclamations. I have been meeting with the Chief of Public Health Services, Dr. James Bridgers, and the Montgomery County Health Officer, Dr. Kisha Davis, to discuss innovative ideas for how to improve collaboration within the Department of Health and Human Services on issues relating to mental health. We must improve services for low-income individuals and our communities of color.
 Opening Pathways of Economic Necessity (O.P.E.N.)
On Tuesday, Councilmember Andrew Friedson and I introduced the O.P.E.N. zoning text amendment (ZTA) to expedite Montgomery County’s site plan approval times for new mixed-use development projects by approximately 75 percent for new, mixed-use affordable housing projects. The current time it takes from development plans being submitted, to groundbreaking, is approximately two years. Additionally, the Housing Choice Voucher waitlist currently has 27,442 applicants, and the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC) is selecting applicants who applied in 2017. This ZTA is a groundbreaking measure that lets renters and builders know that we hear you and are O.P.E.N. to residents seeking complete, affordable communities. It aligns with my S.M.A.R.T. agenda of making a living in our county more affordable, and it creates a vision for all individuals to live in diverse communities primed for success.
The new O.P.E.N. ZTA provides an expedited review process for mixed-use projects that include 50 percent Moderately Priced Dwelling Units (MPDUs) or 35 percent affordable units, with 15 percent of these units being deeply affordable. By encouraging affordable housing in mixed-use development projects and eliminating parking minimums in transit-oriented areas, this measure will help advance Montgomery County’s economic, equity and environmental priorities.
Protecting Trees and Forest Conservation
This month, I attended the 5th Annual Taking Nature Black Conference on Harriet Tubman Day to honor her legacy in the environmental justice movement and empower attendees to seek solutions to mitigate climate change. I also celebrated 15 years of stewardship of the Little Falls Watershed Alliance with environmental champions like the Honorable Brian Frosh, Delegate Sara Love, and House Majority Leader Marc Korman. I wholeheartedly support the ongoing work of these organizations!
On March 21, the Council passed Bill 25-22, which increases forest planting and conservation throughout the county. I was proud to vote in favor of this legislation. I have been overwhelmed by the amount of support there is from the community to get this done and update the county’s Forest Conservation Law. As a 2017 Gaithersburg Environmentalist of the Year, former Chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government Chesapeake Bay and Water Resources Policy Committee, and past Vice-Chair of the Interfaith Partners of the Chesapeake, now Legislative Committee member, I am committed to protecting and preserving the integrity of natural resources and their underlying ecosystems for future generations. The county must increase support for forest conservation efforts by partnering with State and Congressional leaders to implement innovative ways to retain and grow our tree canopy, while providing an abundance of natural ways to combat climate change.
 The Push to End Homelessness
I am excited to be part of a Council that takes the issue of homelessness seriously and is committed to reducing and eliminating homelessness through several initiatives. Bethesda Cares, a nonprofit working to prevent and end homelessness in Montgomery County, was recently named cochair of the Zero for All campaign, and their goal is to help us reach a functional zero in Montgomery County by the end of 2025 through system improvements and affordable housing initiatives. Between 2013 and 2022, the county experienced a 41% decrease in homeless people, including a 50% reduction in households that included children. While this is excellent progress, we know much more work is needed.
Also, this Tuesday, the Council interviewed Christine Hong as the Chief of Services to End and Prevent Homelessness (SEPH). Ms. Hong has spent over a decade doing great work at Interfaith Works, and her experience as the Director of Homeless Services at Interfaith Works makes her uniquely qualified for the position. Coincidentally, the night before, I visited the Interfaith Works Women's Center to serve clients dinner and learn more about how their organization supports our most vulnerable residents at their lowest moments. I look forward to collaborating with organizations like Interfaith Works and community leaders on supporting viable and essential homelessness initiatives.
Breaking Down and Understanding The Budget
We want to hear from you! On March 15, the County Executive submitted his FY2024 recommended Operating Budget of $6.8 billion for the Council to review. Testimony is a critical time for us to hear from residents and address top concerns in the budget. Public Hearings will be held on April 11 and April 13, at 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Persons wishing to sign up may do so here. Furthermore, the Council will review the Capital Improvements Program (CIP), which addresses critical infrastructure needs. The County Executive will hold six “community conversations” at sites around the county in April and May to discuss long-term priorities and how he will address the budget from FY2025-2030. The first event will be from 7-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12, at the White Oak Community Recreation Center in Silver Spring.
The County Executive's ambitious FY2024 Operating Budget proposal assumes the passage of a 10-cent property tax increase by the Council. As I have traveled throughout the county, I have heard from residents, including older adults, who are concerned about the magnitude of this tax increase proposal. I share their concerns and empathize with the financial pressures on tax-payers who have to fund all the initiatives in our budget. Last week, I sent my colleagues on the Council a memorandum outlining my concerns and requesting data and information to help me make the right decisions that support our agencies without inordinately burdening our residents. I am studying the budget proposal closely, and will continue to ask questions of county agencies that seek more funds so that we can hold them accountable and have a positive return on our investment. It is clear to me that we need an all-hands-on-deck approach to explore more options to address the growing needs in our budget with limited resources.
Finally, we have received many requests from organizations seeking more funding. If you are an individual with one of these organizations, please click here to share more information on your budget request, and we will follow up with information on how we can handle your request.
Protecting and Supporting Our Transgender Community
The Montgomery County Council introduced a resolution in support of Montgomery County’s Transgender community earlier this week. I am grateful for the input of Councilmembers Kate Stewart, Kristin Mink, and Evan Glass as my co-leads, and the rest of my colleagues for unanimously cosponsoring this resolution. In recent years, it has become evident that there is a concerted effort to harm members of the Transgender community. These attacks have taken the shape of harmful legislation, direct and violent confrontation from known hate groups, and general violent attacks on the community that has left over 300 people dead over the last decade, mostly BIPOC. These attacks are not only in the states waging war on people trying to live their lives but also in Montgomery County. The Proud Boys' attack on Loyalty Bookstore in Silver Spring and the deaths of Zella Ziona and Keyonna Blakeney are stark reminders that we must do more.
I will continue working with my colleagues to ensure that Montgomery County is a welcoming community that celebrates diversity and inclusion. My remarks on the resolution at the Council session can be found here.
Upcoming Events
March 31: Black Family Wellness Day
Join the Silver Spring (MD) and Patuxent River (MD) Chapters of The Links, Incorporated, for their Black Family Wellness Expo from noon – 3 p.m. at Montgomery College, Long Nguyen, and Kimmy Duong Student Services Center. The event will include free health screenings, health booths, and fun ways to enjoy fitness.
April: Easter, Passover, and Ramadan
Three big holidays are occurring throughout April! There will be different ways to celebrate each, with Egg Hunts for Easter, Seders for Passover, as well as daily prayer times for Ramadan. I hope that this holy time may be a cause for peace and reflection on the unique religious identities of our communities.
April 1, 20, and 22: Job Fairs for the Department of Recreation
Montgomery County Recreation is hosting job fairs in Germantown, Gaithersburg, and Silver Spring to hire part-time seasonal workers for the 2023 summer season. Available positions include lifeguards, camp counselors, camp directors, and more.
April 16: RespectFest
RespectFest is a virtual and in-person festival aimed at raising awareness to reduce the rates of teen dating violence and provide education on healthy relationships and consent. The in-person festival will include activities to learn about dating violence, consent, how to help a friend, what the warning signs are, and what the resources are in the community.
April 22-23: Green Fest
GreenFest 2023 will be at Brookside Gardens and Marian Fryer Town Plaza in Wheaton. This free event is the largest annual environmental festival in Montgomery County. Stop by to learn, shop, and have fun for the whole family!
April 23: Rockville Science Day
The Rockville Science Center invites you to bring the whole family for fun and discovery at the 32nd Annual Rockville Science Day from noon – 5 p.m. This free event features a variety of science and technology-related exhibits, activities, games, and demos.
Community Resource Hub
- The Summer RISE program accepts applications through April 14 for rising MCPS juniors and seniors seeking career-based internship opportunities during the summer. The program runs for five weeks, from June 26th through July 28th, with at least 50 hours of on-the-job experience. Students can engage in hands-on learning opportunities related to their field of interest.
- Montgomery County, in partnership with local, state, or federal agencies, offers numerous incentive programs to help businesses (Small, Minority, Women, or Disabled-owned businesses) start, grow, and thrive. I recently helped the Department of Permitting Services share more business incentive information on their website that can be useful to all business owners in the county.
- The 2023 Girls Conference: Got the Power is a unique, girls-only conference that is free and aimed at building self-confident, self-aware, and well-informed girls who can serve as role models that positively impact their community. Join them for a day filled with engaging and interactive parent and student workshops focused on financial literacy, college readiness, STEM, mental health awareness and self-care, self-defense, and social media. Registration ends April 15th.
- The second round of funding is open for the Thome Aging Well Program, a grant for nonprofit organizations serving older adults with low incomes looking to scale proven social services and targeted interventions. They expect to award up to $6 million in this round, with grants ranging from $75,000 to $300,000. Applications are due April 14, 2023.
- The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) is available statewide and provides Maryland households with financial relief toward water and/or wastewater bills. Eligible households may receive up to $2,000. LIHWAP funding is limited and applications will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.
- National Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 19. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will sponsor seven pit stops throughout the County. Registration for the free event is now open. The first 15,000 bicyclists to register will get a free t-shirt and be entered into a raffle to win a new bike.
Yours in service,
Laurie-Anne Sayles
Councilmember At-Large
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