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I was honored to join the County Executive, Public Safety Chair Sidney Katz, Chief Marcus Jones, Sheriff Max Uy, State’s Attorney John McCarthy, among other leaders for MCPD’s annual award ceremony. Among those who received awards for their bravery and heroic acts were the officers who helped save Sergeant Patrick Kepp’s life last October, after he was intentionally struck by a reckless driver. The honorees that were recognized have served Montgomery County residents with great honor and distinction. Through their selfless service to others, they have put their own safety on the line to save the lives of a fellow officer and other members of our community. We are so fortunate to have an exceptional police department made up of dedicated public servants like those we recognized last week. They work hard every day to protect and serve our 1.1 million County residents, and we are grateful for their commitment to our community.
Thank you to the hundreds of community members who came out to the Council's FY25 operating budget public hearings earlier this month. Due to high community interest, we expanded the opportunity for public input, with five public hearings over three days and a total of 255 speakers who testified live and remotely before the Council. This is the largest turnout in recent history and a 55 percent increase over the number of residents who participated last year!
I want to thank everyone who took time out to provide live and virtual testimony, and to those who submitted written testimony to the Council. We will weigh all of the feedback we have received as we continue to deliberate on the FY25 budget, with a focus on ensuring that every dollar goes to its highest and best use. Residents can also continue to post their views on the budget on the Council’s website.
Montgomery County kicked off Earth Month with the 11th Annual Montgomery County Energy Summit in Silver Spring. The summit serves as a space for building owners, property managers, developers, energy contractors, and other sustainability professionals working in Montgomery County and across the region, to learn about the latest trends in green building, energy efficiency and renewable energy. Montgomery County is at the forefront of the climate movement. We declared a climate emergency in 2017 and have set ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 100 percent by 2035. As the Council’s chair of the Planning, Housing and Parks Committee, I’m deeply involved in and committed to working collaboratively to advance our climate goals, and we have been working hard to develop and adopt policies and programs that will help get us there. As the Council works through the County’s more than $7 billion budget, we will ensure significant investments in climate initiatives, including the $19.1 million in dedicated funding for the Montgomery County Green Bank which is required after the passage of the Montgomery County Green Buildings Now Act which I co-authored.
The Council recently appointed Caven West as its new executive director responsible for leading the 100-person staff that provides fiscal and policy analysis of the $7.1 billion County operating budget and day-to-day oversight of all Council operations. Following a comprehensive national search, Caven was the Council’s unanimous choice among an outstanding group of highly qualified candidates. We look forward to bringing his talents and expertise to Montgomery County. He succeeds Marlene Michaelson who is retiring after serving as the executive director since 2018. As we welcome Caven West into his new role, I want to express my deepest appreciation to Marlene Michaelson for her leadership and for the more than 35 years of service she has provided to Montgomery County. We are grateful to have an excellent team of dedicated and talented professionals at the Council who work hard to support our residents.
Councilmembers Sidney Katz, Evan Glass, and I recently led the Council in a proclamation recognizing Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins at sundown on May 5 and ends at nightfall on May 6. Yom HaShoah is a day to reflect on the atrocities committed during the Holocaust and ensure that the memory and legacy of those who were murdered will never be forgotten. In Montgomery County, we share a collective commitment to educate current and future generations and rededicate ourselves to teaching the history of the Holocaust and explaining its continued impact on the world. We were honored to be joined by Holocaust survivors as well as second and third generation children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors for this sobering commemoration.
As we recognize Yom HaShoah, we urge all residents to not bear silent witness to injustice and to always remain vigilant to the principles of a just society. View the commemoration here.
I recently visited the Bethesda Central Farm Market to recognize Mitch, Debbie, and the team for their impact and service to the community, particularly during the height of the COVID pandemic, when they served as a community hub and supported farmers and local businesses during such unprecedented and challenging times. The market is open each Sunday in Bethesda and features over 100 vendors and food producers year-round each Sunday. Since 2008, the Bethesda Central Farm Market has been a dedicated source for high quality, locally grown, fresh and prepared food. I am there most Sundays myself so I hope to see you at the Bethesda Central Farm Market for fresh and local food, local artists, and community!
Learn how WSSC Water funds and prioritizes water and sewer projects, including planned work in communities throughout Montgomery County, by joining one of their upcoming community conversations. WSSC Water invites community members out to Gaithersburg on April 30, Silver Spring on May 2 and Chevy Chase on May 9 to receive feedback on projects you would like to see and answer questions about ongoing work in your neighborhood. A virtual meeting will be held on May 16. Register and submit questions in advance.
The Housing Opportunities Commission is seeking applicants to fill four public member vacancies, with two incumbents eligible for reappointment. The seven-member commission is responsible for building, managing and financing housing for low and moderate income people. Commissioners serve as volunteers for five-year terms. The commission meets monthly in Kensington and members are expected to attend regular committee meetings and property boards of directors to which they are assigned. Members are required to attend at least 75 percent of the scheduled meetings. The deadline to apply is May 3. Apply today.
I encourage residents to continue to engage with my office on issues of importance to our community. We appreciate your patience and understanding as our small but mighty team works to respond to your inquiries. Please continue to engage with us by email, visiting our website, Facebook, and Twitter pages, and subscribing to our newsletter.
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