A Month Dedicated to Reducing Health Disparities
For nine straight years, Montgomery County has been named the healthiest county in Maryland, according to the annual County Health Rankings (CHR). Further, at today's Health and Human Services committee session, we learned that there have been zero patient visits to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) since the start of the pandemic. As the County Council’s lead on eliminating disparities in public health, I am pleased to see our county leading the way in improving our residents' health outcomes. Yet, despite all of the progress, communities of color are too often left behind. For Minority Health Month, reducing health disparities is a top priority of mine.
Supporting Minority Health Programs and Initiatives
On April 18, I recognized Minority Health Month with a proclamation. I was joined by the County Executive and members of the county’s minority health initiatives in the Department of Health and Human Services: the Latino Health Initiative (LHI), the African American Health Program (AAHP), the Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI), and the Black Physicians & Healthcare Network (BPHN). This year’s theme, “Better Health Through Better Understanding,” is a critical time to raise awareness about health literacy. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that only 14% of the U.S. population has proficient health literacy, with White and Asian/Pacific Islander adults having higher averages in health literacy than Black, Hispanic, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Multiracial adults. As I deliberate on the county’s budget during Minority Health Month, I am mindful of how we process and support the vital health information and services provided to our diverse communities.
One of the items I am most pleased about in the County Executive’s FY2024 recommended Operating Budget is the increased funding for the three minority health initiatives. These three health programs have been active for over a decade, providing essential services to our minority communities. They deserve an increase in funding for their data-driven approach and success. Earlier this month, AAHI awarded ten local organizations $71,000 through their Asian American Center of Excellence (AACE) micro-grant funding opportunity. I recently met with their organization’s leaders, and I am eager to build off the success of this innovative funding tool.
 School Health and Wellness Tour
The status of our county’s School-Based Health and Wellness Centers and Linkages to Learning sites has been a recurring topic of discussion for the Health and Human Services committee. These sites provide vital resources for young people, their families, and our community. Earlier this month, I toured four health and wellness centers: Watkins Mill High School, Summit Hall Elementary School, Northwood High School, and Rolling Terrace Elementary School. Seeing firsthand what happens in these schools gave me a better idea of how we can improve student access to mental health resources and overall wraparound services. We need the capacity to do the work, and I will continue to support data-driven efforts to address health disparities, as it is less costly in the long run.
The County Executive recommends amending the High School Wellness Centers project to add $1 million provided by the General Assembly. We must ensure that our residents know these resources exist so that they can access them. A public hearing will be scheduled on May 9, where residents can voice their support. Please stay tuned and lend your voice in support of this great initiative.
 Advocating for Black Maternal Health
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women. Further, in Maryland, the maternal mortality rate among Blacks is almost four times that of Whites. These are deeply concerning statistics. On April 11, I delivered a proclamation in honor of Black Maternal Health Week to declare that Montgomery County should be a pioneer in creating a model for improving Black maternal health rates nationwide. I am committed to working with my colleagues and fellow community advocates to make this a reality. To solve this recurring problem, we must partner with educational institutions like Montgomery College and the Universities of Shady Grove to encourage more young professionals to pursue STEM careers in infant and maternal health and continue supporting initiatives like the Babies Born Healthy Program. Black mothers have an essential role in the functioning and well-being of our communities, and we must stay vigilant in advancing racial justice in birth outcomes for all.
 Promoting Public Health in the Community
We are fortunate to have countless community-based health organizations in Montgomery County that are doing phenomenal work. They deserve to be recognized, not just during Minority Health Month, but always. On the first day of the month, I attended the Jesus House of DC’s 22nd Annual Biazo Conference, which brought together dozens of these organizations in a non-traditional setting. This was their first festival since pre-pandemic, and the energy was palpable. Some activities included a cooking demo, mental health awareness and education, dental screenings, Afrobeats Zumba, and breast cancer screening. Moreover, this year's focus was on depression impacting adults and teens alike, post-pandemic. I encourage you to watch my TikTok video capturing some highlights!
Another significant event that brought together community-based health organizations was RespectFest at the Wheaton Community Recreation Center. RespectFest helps teach youth about dating violence, consent, how to help a friend, and the warning signs of abuse to look out for. I applaud all who put together another successful RespectFest and look forward to the event returning in 2024. I will continue to raise awareness for programs supporting the health of our diverse communities and youth.
A Holy Month of Festivities
The time of the year when Easter, Passover, and Ramadan occur in the same month is always special. As an elected official, I am proud to be in a community where individuals of different faiths openly celebrate their religious holidays. I observed the three holidays in different ways: for Easter, I worshiped at Kingdom Fellowship AME Church with friends and Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Matthew Watley; for Passover, I participated in a Freedom Seder at Washington Hebrew Congregation that taught us important lessons about how we can embrace hope during times of oppression; and finally, for Ramadan, I joined the Islamic Community Center of Potomac for a night of Iftar to recognize the month-long holiday focused on prayer, reflection, and community. I hope all who celebrated this holy month had a blessed time celebrating with loved ones.
S.M.A.R.T. Updates Around Our County
S-Advocating for the Germantown Student Services Center at Montgomery College
During the Council’s review of the Capital Improvements Program (CIP), many agencies were asked to provide non-recommended reductions that would cut the deficit in our county’s budget. At the Council’s most recent CIP work session, I requested that we not cut any funds for Montgomery College. Here is why: last month, Montgomery College earned the number one spot in the state of Maryland in Niche’s community college rankings for 2023. The school was also ranked 77th out of 906 eligible colleges nationwide, putting it in the top 15% nationwide. Montgomery College offers a significant return on our county’s investment. They have over 17,000 students enrolled in the college, with more than half being Black and brown. Students need access to state-of-the-art facilities for STEM programs like biotechnology and cybersecurity to ensure that they can acquire the proper skills to return their investment in our county. If the decision were left to me, I would fully fund the CIP for Montgomery College.
M-Affordable solar housing project launch with Governor Moore
On April 19, I had the exciting opportunity to join Governor Wes Moore to celebrate the launch of the largest rooftop solar project on an affordable multifamily property in Montgomery County. This project, funded in partnership with the Montgomery County Green Bank, Virginia Community Capital, and NYCEEC, installed a 2.18 MW rooftop solar array at the Seneca Village affordable apartments in Gaithersburg. This groundbreaking was a historic moment in Montgomery County’s history as we aim to become a nationwide leader in renewable energy. Because of innovative financing solutions and public-private partnerships, we are progressing toward reaching our 100% renewable energy goal by 2035. Investing in more of these projects is necessary to achieve progress on our affordable housing and climate action goals, given that residential and commercial building sectors combine to contribute to 50% of greenhouse gas emissions in our county.
A-Working with the Office of Agricultural Services and the newly formed Office of Food Systems Resilience
The Office of Agricultural Services and the newly formed Office of Food Systems Resilience are critical for addressing farming disparities and food access. Earlier this week, for our fourth Youth Advisory Council session, I invited Heather Bruskin, Director of the Office of Food Systems Resilience, as well as Jeremy Criss and Natalia Salazar of the Office of Agricultural Services, to speak with our students about our local food systems and the Agricultural Reserve. Heather recently came before the Health and Human Services committee to share the Office of Food Systems Resiliences’s vision for the Strategic Plan to End Childhood Hunger and their sustainability plan for FY25 and beyond for the Service Consolidation Hubs and the Food Staples program. She offered critical insights on bolstering our county’s Food to School program by increasing local food procurement from local farmers. Jeremy and Natalia spoke to our students about how their office engages youth and inspires the next generation of farmers. They highlighted the Mobile Science Lab, which meets with dozens of Elementary Schools to provide students with hands-on investigations relating to agriculture and the environment. Our county is fortunate to have their visionary leadership and I will work closely with them on the Health and Human Services committee. For those who missed it, I encourage you to read my Youth Advisory Council press release!
R-Supporting communities heavily impacted by the pandemic
It has been a busy month of keeping up with businesses contributing to our economy. As a member of the Council’s Economic Development committee, I have been focused on showing up and supporting many of the exciting economic developments occurring throughout the county:
- The 5th Anniversary of True Respite Brewery was a great occasion to connect with dozens of restaurants and community organizations and recognize their excellent service to the community. True Respite Brewery is a vital driver of economic growth and consumer satisfaction in the Derwood area.
- The 37th Annual Friendship Heights Community Day recognized the long-time success of their village. I was pleased to support Councilmember Andrew Friedson’s legislation that created a Friendship Heights Urban District, ensuring that this vibrant community continues to make great strides in the local economy.
- The Olney Chamber of Commerce has played a crucial role in the launching of the new Olney Winery location in the Ashton Market development, as well as the name change of Olney Home for Life to “Greater Olney (GO) Rides” to enhance their mission of facilitating neighbor-to-neighbor assistance voluntarily for local area seniors.
- The Scotland community in Potomac had multiple significant developments in two days: the opening of the county’s first ‘Resiliency Hub’ and the announcement of Scotland’s Juneteenth Festival. This historically Black community has been through many struggles in their history, and it is inspiring to see how much progress they have made.
T-Keeping Our Environment Clean on Earth Day 2023
Earth Day is a necessary time to appreciate all that Mother Nature offers by doing everything possible to protect our planet. I spent the day by the beautiful C&O Canal in Potomac with hundreds of volunteers for the 16th annual Canal Community Days cleanup event, sponsored by the C&O Canal Trust. The C&O Canal National Historic Park is one of the most biologically diverse parks in the nation, and it will take a collaborative effort to keep it this way. I am grateful to the C&O Canal Trust and National Park Rangers for their commitment to a litter-free canal to preserve a natural habitat for all. Further, I hope our county can progress on forest and park conservation, with our state leaders bringing back $5.495 million in capital funding for 13 Montgomery Parks projects from the state of Maryland during the 2023 legislative session. Finally, I appreciate the Department of Energy Protection organizing a fantastic GreenFest event featuring dozens of environmental businesses and nonprofits focused on energy consumption, home and appliance efficiency, recycling, transportation, electric vehicles, and green business initiatives. Adriana Hochberg, who has been with Montgomery County since 2019, stepped down last week to join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and I wish her the best in her new role! Her leadership will be dearly missed.
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Budget Season In Full Swing
Thank you to everyone who participated in the public hearings on the FY2024 Operating Budget on April 11 and April 13. It has been over one month since the County Executive submitted his FY2024 Operating Budget, and Council and committee sessions are ramping up. Given that this is my first time participating in the Council’s budget process, I found it helpful to hear from many residents about issues in the community that need to be addressed. Significant topics include the school system’s needs, deteriorating infrastructure, and delays on many of our county's projects. In our budget sessions, I have echoed the concern about the proposed use of property taxes to fund our county’s most significant needs. My focus remains the same: we must hold all of our agencies accountable to address the critical needs in the operating budget and the Capital Improvements Program (CIP). One item that has drawn much interest is the recordation tax proposed by my colleagues, Councilmembers Kristin Mink and Will Jawando. I strongly support Councilmembers Stewart, Fani-González, and Katz’s amendments to Bill 17-23, which provide a balanced approach that acknowledges our CIP needs and the burden on homebuyers as well as the average taxpayer.
The Council and committees will continue to meet frequently through the next month of budget proceedings. I encourage you to track the funding and appropriations for upcoming items here. As always, please contact my team and me at 240-777-7964 or Councilmember.Sayles@montgomerycountymd.gov if you have any specific budget or legislative inquiries, and I will be sure to consider your thoughts.
Sine Die
The Maryland General Assembly wrapped up its 90-day session on April 11 in a celebration called Sine Die. Under the Montgomery County Delegation, led by Senator Ben Kramer and Delegate Julie Palakovich Carr, $218 million of new State capital investments will be directed to projects within the County, reflecting a $79 million increase over last year’s State aid allocation. This is in addition to an estimated $1.1 billion in State aid to support Montgomery County Public Schools, the County’s libraries, and its public safety and transportation efforts. It was a busy session, full of many significant accomplishments, and the complete summary of Montgomery County bills can be found here. I would also like to acknowledge the many Montgomery County leaders who advanced their way to the top ranks of our state and local government: Senator Susan Lee, who became the Secretary of State; Delegate Eric Luedtke, who took the job as Governor Moore’s Chief Legislative Officer; Delegate Kirill Reznik, who accepted a senior management position in the Department of Human Services; and Delegate Kumar Barve, who will be appointed to the Public Service Commission. The future of Maryland is bright!
Federal Aid
With funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) drying up, we must seek new revenue sources. Federal funding can have a significant impact locally, and we will need the support of our Montgomery County federal partners to help protect and expand our county’s core projects. We recently received $4.87 million from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of its Continuum of Care (CoC) grants program to address unsheltered and rural homelessness, which is a first-of-its-kind funding initiative. Also of note: Rep. Jamie Raskin requested funding for 15 community projects that involve mental health intervention, road safety, clean water infrastructure, child care, and electric vehicle charging; Rep. David Trone requested over $3 million in Community Project Funding, which will be directed to the City of Gaithersburg’s Russell Avenue Multimodal and Streetscape Improvement; Rep. Glenn Ivey requested $7 million for Burtonsville Park & Ride Improvements to construct a 500-space parking garage; and Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen have recommended $2.75 million for Net Zero Parking Garages, which would install rooftop solar at three existing County-owned parking garages in Wheaton, Silver Spring, and Bethesda. I had the chance to connect with Rep. Trone and fellow Upcounty Democrats this past weekend and am enthused by the collaboration of our Democratic representatives in Congress!
Upcoming Events
April 27: ‘Contemporary Conversation’ with Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Tyehimba Jess
Tyehimba Jess, a Pulitzer Prize winner and fiction and poetry author, will be the featured speaker at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 27, at the Gaithersburg Library as Montgomery County Public Libraries continues its “Contemporary Conversations” series with a presentation recognizing National Poetry Month. Mr. Jess will speak at the free event on poetry, creativity, expression, and his poetry and fiction writing work.
May 3: Montgomery County Career Fair & Hiring Expo
Learn and apply for various rewarding public service jobs available with Montgomery County at their career fair on Wednesday, May 3, from 3-7 p.m. At the event, you can meet representatives from over a dozen departments, make connections, and interview on the same day for select positions.
May 4: Commission on Aging Forum
The Montgomery County Commission on Aging will celebrate May as “Older Americans Month” by hosting its annual free forum on Thursday, May 4, from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the Bohrer Park Activity Center in Gaithersburg. Although the event is free, registration is encouraged. Register at https://tinyurl.com/CoA2023PublicForum.
May 6: The Schools Our Students Deserve
Join community leaders with labor, education, business, and the Democratic party for a discussion focusing on our kids, communities, and futures. This free event is open to the public and will be moderated by Jennifer Martin, President of the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA).
May 9: ‘Meet the Primes’ Expo
Montgomery County local businesses seeking opportunities to become subcontractors for larger entities will be able to meet with more than 50 prime contractors, government agencies, and local resources on Tuesday, May 9, when the County Department of Procurement holds a “Meet the Primes” expo from 9 a.m.-noon at the Silver Spring Civic Building.
May 19: Bike to Work Day
On National Bike to Work Day, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will sponsor seven pit stops throughout the county and six Bike to Work Day pit stops operated by other organizations. The first 15,000 bicyclists to register and participate in this will get a free t-shirt and will be automatically entered into a raffle for a chance to win a new bike.
May 20: Pride Town Hall
The annual Pride Town Hall will be held from 8:30 a.m.-noon on Saturday, May 20, at Walter Johnson High School, with details soon to come. Last year’s event featured workshops, a resource fair, and keynote speaker Gavin Grimm, a nationally known advocate for transgender rights.
May 20: NAMI Walk for Mental Illness
Join the National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI) at RIO Lakefront in Gaithersburg from 9 a.m.-noon as people from coast to coast come together for NAMIWalks Spring United Day of Hope. NAMIWalks is one of the country's most extensive, vibrant mental health event series. It is a necessary time to grow support for Mental Health Awareness Month.
Community Resource Hub
- Are you seeking funding sources, training opportunities, chambers, and support for small and underserved businesses? The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) Searchable Business Guide is here! Find it all, searchable by topic, for federal, state, and local resources. Start your search here.
- The Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) has introduced a new podcast series to help residents and businesses become more familiar with the permitting process. The first episode is now available.
- County Executive Marc Elrich marked “Maryland Flood Awareness Month” in April by announcing the installation of 35 flood sensors as part of the County’s early flood warning system. For more information on preparing for heavy rain and potential flooding, we encourage you to visit the County’s Flooding website here.
- Nonprofit Montgomery members have the opportunity to join three ‘Table for Ten’ discussions, which explore in a safe, confidential space, steps nonprofit leaders can take, or have taken, to operationalize equity and build (or enhance) a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion in your organization.
- Sustainable Maryland offers Sustainable Communities Grant awards to eligible municipalities and nonprofit organizations in a new partnership with Pepco. This program will provide $60,000 support to fund environmental stewardship projects and $40,000 for community resilience projects across the Pepco service area in Montgomery County, Prince George's County, and Washington, D.C. The grant application is now open through June 29, 2023.
- Applications are now being accepted for the Montgomery County Autism Hiring Program’s summer 2023 cohort, with an application deadline of May 15. The session will run from June – August 2023. The Autism Hiring Program was created by the Howard County Autism Society in 2020 to advance workplace neurodiversity and acceptance, connecting businesses to an untapped workforce of skilled Autistic adults and targeting jobseekers not supported by existing systems.
Yours in service,
Laurie-Anne Sayles
Councilmember At-Large
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