 Wednesday, July 12, 2023
Public safety has always been a concern of mine, and the last few weeks in District 2 have brought this issue to the forefront for our community. There have been a tragic number of gun related incidents in District 2 in the past several weeks, a trend which is deeply disturbing. I have been in close communication with the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) about the situation we are facing and thank them for the work they are doing to reverse this trend.
Crime rates have been on the rise nationally, regionally, and locally. Violent crimes are also known to spike during the summer months. There is no easy solution to this pressing matter, but it is clear that it will take the full efforts of our entire community to combat rising crime. I stand ready to support MCPD officers with the resources that they need to enhance their ongoing efforts to keep our Montgomery County neighborhoods safe. I will continue to keep you all updated with important public safety updates from the MCPD as I receive it, and assure you that I will continue to be in touch with our police partners.
I want to close with some ways that each of us can make our community safer:
- Call 911 for an emergency. Call MCPD's non-emergency number (301-279-8000) to report crimes. Reports can be anonymous.
- Spread the word about police recruitment efforts. MCPD is still actively recruiting.
- Talk to your neighbors about issues going on in your community. Increased vigilance can assist with MCPD investigations.
 In response to the recent wave of violent crimes, the County's Department of Health and Human Services and the Street Outreach Network are hosting a community town hall meeting TONIGHT from 6:30PM to 8PM at the Germantown public library to address the rising rate of violent crimes amongst our youth. Please spread the word and come out to this incredibly important discussion. It will take the entire community to address this issue and begin making strides towards progress.
If you have any questions about the event, contact Donald Davis at 240-447-6472. I cannot answer specific questions about the town hall, as I am not the organizer.
Last Friday, I had a wonderful morning chatting with community leaders across District 2. My first stop of the day was an early coffee with Carrie Yearick of Creekside Church. Creekside Church is a big player in cultivating a strong and tight knit community in Clarksburg, where it routinely holds free events for the community such as summer beach parties at local parks!
 Kudos to Carrie Yearick for her work in Clarksburg!
After a full day of meetings, my last stop was the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services' graduation ceremony for Recruit Class 52. It was a joyous celebration of our newest firefighters and a great way to end the day!
MCFRS is currently recruiting for the position of Firefighter/Rescuer I (Recruit). If you are interested in applying or learning more, click here. You can also join the MCFRS email list to receive updates on hiring.
 At the MCFRS graduation ceremony for Recruit Class 52!
Economic Development (ECON) Committee
The Economic Development (ECON) committee last met this past Monday, July 11th, for a discussion about the Purple Line Project's grant program for small businesses and to review programs to support small businesses. The County has received two state grants that will provide direct relief to businesses impacted by construction of the Purple Line.
When the ECON committee was working through the FY24 Operating Budget, we requested another discussion about County programs that support small businesses. We revisited this conversation during our July 10th meeting, where we learned more about the programs and heard directly from non-profit organizations that assist small businesses.
You can view the committee agenda here and watch a recording of the work session here.
Transportation and Environment Committee
The Transportation and Environment (TE) committee met on June 29th to work on Bill 11-23 (Safe Streets Act) and Bill 24-23 (Airpark Community Advisor Committee - Established), as well as to receive a briefing on the Maryland Department of the Environment's actions regarding the county's 10-year comprehensive water supply and sewerage systems plan.
The Safe Streets Act is an incredibly important piece of legislation that would work to keep pedestrians safe. The committee recognized this, and supported the legislation unanimously. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this bill, which will be brought to full Council in the coming weeks.
You can view the committee agenda here and watch a recording of the work session here.
Upcoming Public Hearings
There will be a number of public hearings held on July 25th. A full list of public hearings can be found here. Click here if you would like to testify at a future public hearing. The deadline to sign up to testify for 1:30PM hearings is 2PM the day prior, and the deadline to sign up to testify for 7PM hearings is 5PM the day prior.
July 25, 2023
- Pedestrian Master Plan
- ZTA 23-05, Vehicle Parking Design Standards - Commercial Vehicle Parking for Properties with a Residential Use
- Transfer of Unexpended Project Balance within the FY24 Capital Budget and Amendment to the FY23-28 CIP, MCPS from multiple construction projects to MCPS Local Unliquidated Surplus Account, $3,400,000
- Transfer of Unexpended Project Balance within the FY24 Capital Budget and Amendment to the FY23-28 CIP, MCPS- from MCPS Local Unliquidated Surplus Account, $3,400,000 to multiple construction projects
- The Jewish Council for the Aging is holding a free public transit travel training workshop for those ages 50+. The workshop will be held at the Rockville Senior Center on August 9th from 9:30AM to 12:30PM. To reserve a seat or learn more, call 301-738-3252.
- The County is seeking applicants for the Dickerson Area Facilities Implementation Group. Learn more and apply here. The deadline to apply is July 26th.
- The Department of Transportation is holding a virtual public hearing on July 13th about the proposed abandonment of a portion of public right of way along Frederick Road in Clarksburg. Read MCDOT's press release here.
- The BlackRock Center for the Arts is continuing its outdoor concert and movie series throughout July! Find a full list of upcoming events and performances here!
- Montgomery Parks has a great lineup of fun events planned at Black Hill Regional Park. Click here to learn more.
- The 2023 Farm Tour and Harvest Sale is coming up on July 22nd and 23rd! Support our Agricultural Reserve by taking a trip to one of the 21 farms participating in this year's event. Learn more here!
- Montgomery County Tastemakers is hosting a self-guided craft beverage tour throughout the end of the month. Visit its website here to learn more and to download a trail map.
- Watch 50+ in Montgomery County has a new episode out. Click here to watch!
- Montgomery County has partnered with Access HEARS to provide free, over-the-counter hearing aids and person sound amplifiers to eligible residents who are 60 years or older. Apply online here or by calling 410-929-0394.
- The Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center has waived fees for the next 50 dogs adopted, as the adoption center is at critical capacity. If you are interested in an adoption, you can start the process by submitting the online questionnaire and emailing in the required documentation.
This summer, Team Balcombe is joined by a Ameya C., a Northwest High School student participating in the Summer RISE program. Summer RISE is an opportunity for rising MCPS juniors and seniors to participate in career-based learning during their summer vacation. Ameya will be contributing to my July newsletters and I am excited to share her first reflection with you all.
"Throughout my life, I’ve always been strongly and undeniably drawn to advocacy and politics. I was always at the “adults only” table growing up, engaging in debate and as I began to grow into myself and refine my interests, I started to notice just how much that draw impacted the person I was and how I perceived the world around me. To say that this passion exploded during the pandemic would be a grotesque understatement. While my peers were doing TikTok dances and watching Tiger King in early 2020, I was on the edge of my seat watching and analyzing the various ways that our political scene, the economy, and the world was rapidly evolving and simultaneously falling apart. My political interests have indisputably made me a better and more empathetic person, and have given me a perspective that I can confidently say will help mold me into a better adult one day. I’m so excited about this opportunity because I deeply admire our local government and want to be able to see change playing out in front of me. I have immense respect for our County Council members and their tireless efforts to create and positively impact systems that are designed to protect and serve us." - Ameya C.
If you would like to get in touch with me regarding anything mentioned in this newsletter or any other concerns you may have, please email me at Councilmember.Balcombe@montgomerycountymd.gov or call my office at 240-777-7960.
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