|
We are currently working to complete our annual budget deliberations. We have finished up committee sessions and are now preparing for our final budget vote on Thursday, May 23rd. As part of the budget process, we hosted public hearings to hear from residents about their priorities with a record number of 255 speakers joining us to share their views. We also received many emails and calls and appreciate everyone’s time as we look at how within our budget to address the urgent needs of residents and plan for the future.
Our office has been working with residents, small businesses, and agency partners throughout construction of the Purple Line to ease disruptions as we work to get this long-awaited project done. This summer, we have the exciting news that tracks are being laid along the Purple Line’s route through Long Branch and Downtown Silver Spring. The laying of tracks is an exciting step forward and it comes with a challenging summer of construction detours and work ahead of us. Our team is working closely with our transportation agencies and the Purple Line to pursue all available steps to keep our region moving and reduce disruptions where we can.
 |
So far, we have joined colleagues including CM Fani-González to press the state and WMATA for free shuttle bus service that is more direct and has dedicated bus lanes, along with discounted MARC rail fares direct from Silver Spring to Union Station–all of which are being done. My staff and I have worked closely with state leaders including Del. Charkoudian and state agencies to increase the public notice being given of detours and other modes of transportation and to push for better detours especially for pedestrians.
If possible this summer, if you are able to take alternate routes to avoid the intersections of University Blvd and Piney Branch Rd, and the intersection of Wayne Ave and Dale Dr from June until late August it will help alleviate the congestion in the area.
Once tracks are embedded into the roadway at the end of the summer, those areas of road surface will be reopened again. We will continue to communicate with the community about this. Below are the plans the Purple Line has communicated about their plans for the summer at University and Piney Branch, and at Wayne and Dale.
  During the Red Line closure to install a Purple Line pedestrian connection at the Silver Spring Metro, WMATA has made the following free bus routes along the Georgia Ave corridor available to residents, including a weekday express route from Silver Spring to Metro Center.
 To find information about Purple Line construction and links to their public meetings, please visit their website here.
As part of continued work to support communities surrounding the Purple Line, I serve on the Housing Accelerator Action Team (HAAT) leadership team, a part of the Purple Line Corridor Coalition. I was glad to join them at their Surviving to Thriving Along the Purple Line event on April 24th, where we highlighted opportunities and challenges for small businesses, homeowners, and renters. I am also supporting in the budget this year increased grants to businesses impacted by the construction.
 |
We would like to welcome Montgomery County Council’s new executive director, Caven West. With over 25 years of experience, Mr. West brings a strong track record of success in managing complex and largely funded organizations while also holding seniority positions. He was previously the Chief of Staff to the Detroit City Clerk, where he oversaw a $30 million budget. Prior to that, he oversaw budgets of $130 million and $2.2 billion in various positions at the Wayne County government. Through these experiences, Mr. West has worked with hundreds of employees and been responsible for the budgets of Michigan’s largest county with 1.7 million residents. We are impressed with his experiences and qualifications and are excited to welcome him to the team and see the changes that he will make here in Montgomery County.
 |
WAMU’s The Politics Hour - I had the honor of speaking with Kojo Nnamdi on WAMU’s The Politics Hour where we covered a wide range of topics. Take a listen to our discussion on their website.
Opioid Awareness and Narcan Training - I appreciated being invited to the Montgomery College and Takoma Park Police’s narcan training and opioid overdose awareness event. A special thank you to Dr. Rolando Santiago from DHHS for his presentation.
Kensington Estates Civic Association and Old Farm Neighborhood Association - Thank you to the Kensington Estates Civic Association for inviting me to one of their meetings. It was great to meet some new constituents and discuss topics related to traffic and the environment. I also had the pleasure of seeing residents of Old Farm recently to discuss budget priorities and neighborhood concerns affecting their area and North Bethesda.
The Village of North Chevy Chase’s Centennial - Council President Friedson and I were thrilled to celebrate the Village of North Chevy Chase’s centennial anniversary with their village council and residents. We greatly appreciated highlighting the history of this tight-knit community in District 4 and looking towards its future with the Village Council, Dels. Kaufman and Solomon, and Sen. Waldstreicher.
The Byeforde Rock Creek Highlands Citizens Association - I was pleased to join the Byeforde Rock Creek Highlands Citizens Association with CM Gabe Albornoz to meet residents and update them on our council work, including addressing constituent concerns regarding green space in the community.
Affordable Housing Conference of Montgomery County - I had the pleasure of participating in a panel on Zoning Reform at this year’s AHCMC at the Bethesda North Marriott alongside Council President Friedson and Montgomery Planning Director Jason Sartori. We discussed our FAITH ZTA and other efforts to address our county’s lack of affordable housing. It was a great opportunity to speak to concerned residents and community leaders, and to discuss ways we can make homeownership more attainable.
My office received word from a resident concerned about poison ivy starting to overgrow a path at White Flint Neighborhood Park. We have reported it to Montgomery Parks staff and they are intervening to remove it so our parks are welcoming to all residents.
Together, we will demonstrate the power of community when we walk for mental health on Saturday, May 18th, 2024 at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg. Take strides with us, and make a lasting impression on the mental health landscape in Montgomery County, Maryland.
NAMIWalks is about people who think nothing of giving everything - their time, their stories, their heartfelt dedication to the cause: Mental Health for All.
For more information and to register, visit NAMI’s website.
The Historic Takoma Covenants Project seeks to understand and address the history of racially restrictive covenants in the City of Takoma Park, Maryland. The project consists of three principal components: (1) Locating properties with racially restrictive covenants, (2) Assisting property owners with removing those covenants, and (3) Maintaining a register of properties that have had racially restrictive covenants removed.
Although no longer enforceable, racially restrictive covenants remain attached to property deeds throughout Montgomery County. The State of Maryland provides a process for property owners to remove these covenants. The removal is recorded in the county’s land records, just as a sale, mortgage, right-of-way agreement, and other actions are recorded. The process does not remove the original covenant from the land record, but records that the covenant no longer applies.
The process for removing covenants requires filing two forms with the Montgomery County Circuit Court at no cost.
See Historic Takoma’s guide, Removing Racially Restrictive Covenants in Takoma Park, Maryland, for instructions for preparing and submitting these two forms. This guide focuses specifically on Takoma Park properties. A similar guide, Removing Racially Restrictive Covenants in Montgomery County, provides information useful to those outside of Takoma Park.
For more information, please visit Historic Takoma's website.
|
Office of Councilmember Kate Stewart
