Dear Friends,

As we near Thanksgiving, I want to take this time to thank the residents of District 4, my terrific team, and the staff who work in our County addressing the needs of residents.

As we give thanks this year, we also hold in our hearts all those who are suffering here in our community and in other parts of the world. We must look for ways to support each other and work to be an inclusive community where hate and acts of hate have no place. 

As always, feel free to contact my office if you have any questions or need assistance.

Sincerely,

Councilmember Kate Stewart 

(she, her) why pronouns

Policy Update

At the County Council, we have made a change in the way we handle supplemental and special appropriations where we review that at the Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee and relevant committees based on the topics. I chaired these joint committee meetings where we have moved appropriations to fund a new Drone Pilot Program to assist our police department in the central business districts in Silver Spring and in Wheaton. In addition, we were able to pass an appropriation to expand and fast track nonprofit Security Grants for entities at risk of violence in the wake of disturbing increases in Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Anti-AAPI hate, and Anti LGBTQIA+ hate. 

On the Transportation and Environment Committee, we received an update on the county’s progress on deployment of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. I will continue to work to streamline EV charger construction for residents as we pursue our climate goals.

Kate in the Community

Sunflower Bakery: I always love visiting Sunflower Bakery. At Sunflower, young adults with learning differences are empowered and provided training for careers in the pastry, baking, and food industries right here in our county. I visited both their bakery and cafe, where I met a number of their employees and tried some tasty sweets! Checkout this video to learn more about Sunflower Bakery.

Neighborhood Meetings:

In the last couple of weeks, we have been all over District 4 meeting with neighbors. We held a meeting with Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and Delegate Jared Solomon to hear community feedback on the Grubb Rd and Spencer Rd intersection project. We also held meetings with residents at the Midtown Bethesda North Condominiums and with neighbors who live in Old Georgetown Village and Georgetown Village Condominiums. Both evenings we engaged in conversations on issues from transportation to public safety and responding to hate crimes in our schools and communities. 

Partnering with Pike District Partnership (PDP):

We held a Pike District Cleanup in partnership with PDP. A big thank you to the fantastic neighbors who joined our cleanup in the Pike District! Keeping our community clean is a shared priority, and we look forward to more events like this. Our team had a great time at the Bark, Brews, and BBQ event in North Bethesda, meeting residents, working on constituent services, and enjoying the company of some adorable pups! Thanks to PDP for a great event. You can learn more about PDP or sign up for their newsletter here.

Visit to Walter Johnson High School: 

One of my priorities is making sure we have a strong partnership with the schools in our district. I had a great visit to Walter Johnson High School and appreciated Principal Baker taking the time to show me around some classrooms, discuss their first-generation college assistance program, and share in attending a Diwali celebration with students.

Visit to Montgomery College Takoma Park-Silver Spring West Campus and tour of the Silver Spring YMCA:

I recently toured the Montgomery College Takoma Park/Silver Spring West Campus. I am so proud to be in a county with such a strong institution that has state-of-the-art facilities — from art studios to hospital room simulators. Montgomery College provides so many vital services to our residents.

I also visited the Silver Spring YMCA with their District Executive Director David Rodriguez. It’s great to have such a beneficial facility in our community for residents of all ages. Sign up for their youth leadership program below:

The Silver Spring YMCA is opening a new Leaders Club for middle and high school teens! See this flier for more information and register by December 7th. 

If your neighborhood association, community, or building would like to invite me or my staff to attend to hear from you, please email me at Councilmember.Stewart@montgomerycountymd.gov with the details.

Beyond the Rails - Purple Line Community Grant Program

To tangibly support organizations dedicated to improving our communities particularly along the Purple Line, the Maryland Department of Transportation and Maryland Transit Solutions are sponsoring a community grant program entitled Beyond the Rails.

Grant applications are being accepted for two categories - community and environment. Community projects aim to support the overall wellbeing of adjacent communities (e.g., environment, health, recreation, education, economic opportunity, etc.). Environment projects aim to enhance or protect the natural environment.

Grant awards range from $1,000 to $3,000 per year. The application deadline for the initial group of grants is November 30th and the application can be found here. Please contact grants@purplelinepartners.com with any questions or for assistance in completing the grant application.

Landscapers in Montgomery County, MD—we want your input on using electric leaf blowers!

Montgomery County has passed a law prohibiting the use of gas-powered leaf blowers starting July 1, 2025. This 5-minute survey will gather your perspective on a possible gas to an electric leaf blower exchange and rebate program to help offset any financial burden of making the transition. Please complete this quick survey and share these links with others, especially with solo landscapers and small businesses! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KWKQLBJ

Compañías de jardinería en el Condado de Montgomery, MD: ¡Nos gustaría saber su opinión o experiencia acerca del uso de sopladores de hojas eléctricos! 

El Condado de Montgomery ha aprobado una ley que prohíbe el uso de los sopladores de hojas que utilizan gasolina a partir del 1 de julio de 2025. Esta encuesta de 5 minutos recuperará su perspectiva sobre un posible programa de intercambio de sopladores de hojas que utilizan gasolina a sopladores de hojas eléctricos y reembolso que ayudaría a compensar cualquier carga financiera al realizar el cambio. Por favor, complete la encuesta y comparta estos enlaces con otros, especialmente con trabajadores de jardinería independientes y compañías pequeñas. https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/7C8BY22