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February 22, 2024
Ten years ago, I served on the county’s Nighttime Economy Task Force, where I helped develop policies to promote nightlife and cultural activities. In the decade since, our nightlife has flourished, but there is more work needed to ensure that residents can safely enjoy it.
We have seen a recent uptick in calls to police and other first responders in our downtown business areas, most noticeably between 2:00 - 7:00 am. This creates an additional strain on our police department, due to increased overtime and reassignment of officers from other areas.
That’s why I introduced legislation with Council Vice President Stewart and Councilmember Albornoz requiring tobacco, vape and hookah shops to close at the same time as bars and restaurants that sell alcohol. By aligning the hours of our late-night establishments, we will reduce the number of emergency service calls to our downtown areas, better utilize the county’s resources, and ensure that everyone who visits these areas can enjoy them safely.
 Helping our downtown business centers thrive safely
The Metro system is the lifeblood of our region, and like many community members, I'm deeply concerned about the potential service cuts due to a budget shortfall. The Transportation & Environment Committee recently held a hearing to learn more about these proposed cuts, and I will be continuing these conversations to ensure equitable access to public transit.
On Monday, February 26, WMATA will hold a public hearing about its budget at 6pm at the Silver Spring Civic Building. I encourage you to join me in attending and making your voice heard. If you cannot attend in person, WMATA has provided a survey for you to share your thoughts.
Global pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca recently announced plans to build a $300 million manufacturing facility right here in Rockville. The new project is set to open in 2026 and will initially focus on producing T-cell therapies, predominantly used in cancer treatment, for clinical trials of new medications.
Montgomery County’s continued partnership with the company will create hundreds of new jobs and further expand our prominence in the essential fields of biomedicine and life sciences.
 Image of AstraZeneca's current campus in Gaithersburg
Last year 15 people were killed while walking or biking on our roads. Nearly 600 others were injured. We must continue raising awareness about the dangers of distracted driving.
If you know a high school student living in Montgomery County, encourage them to submit a 30-second video promoting pedestrian safety and the dangers of distracted driving.
Participants will be eligible for prizes including a MacBook Air or Visa gift cards, and be featured on the MCDOT website.
Submissions are being accepted until Thursday, February 29 at 11:59pm. Visit this webpage to learn more.
Communities across the nation are suffering from the devastating impacts of the opioid epidemic, and ours is no exception. Over the past decade, we have seen a staggering 202% increase in opioid overdose deaths in Montgomery County.
Please join me on March 9 for a discussion with federal and local leaders about our partnerships to combat overdose deaths. The event will be an opportunity to learn more about resources for individuals struggling with addiction and hear personal stories and advice from experts. Free Narcan will also be available.
The event is at 10:00 am on Saturday, March 9 at the Council Office Building. You can RSVP here.
An elderly resident reached out to me asking for help in so he and his wife can age in place at their home. His wife had become disabled, making it difficult for her to continue her usual activities and routines. He wanted to reconfigure the layout of their home to be more accommodating to his wife’s needs so that the two of them could continue to live there. My office contacted Aging and Disability Services on their behalf, and we were able to schedule a site visit, during which a caseworker assessed the current layout of their home, recommended improvements and discussed County programs that could provide further assistance.
Montgomery County is one of the only local jurisdictions in the country to offer an additional supplement to the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) — which is itself a supplement to the federal credit. The Montgomery County Working Families Income Supplement is a 56% match of the EITC for eligible county residents. To learn more and see if you’re eligible for this or other local and state tax credits, visit the county’s tax credits webpage. Don’t forget to file your taxes or file for an extension by April 15, 2024.
Please do not reply to this email. To contact my office, email me at Councilmember.Glass@montgomerycountymd.gov.
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