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Thursday, October 31, 2024 

Preventing Labor Trafficking in Montgomery County

As the Council’s representative on the County’s Human Trafficking Prevention Committee, I introduced legislation this week to prevent the County from doing business with contractors or subcontractors found to have violated state or federal human trafficking laws.

Human trafficking takes many forms and includes forced labor, which the U.S. Department of Homeland Security defines as “when individuals are compelled against their will to provide work or service through the use of force, fraud or coercion.” While there are no known instances of human trafficking involving current County contractors or subcontractors, the federal government and Prince George’s County have recently taken steps to improve procurement processes and bring attention to this type of blatant violation of human rights and often unreported activity.

The bill would establish meaningful penalties for contractors or subcontractors found in violation of human trafficking laws, including debarment, suspension, contract termination, and/or breach of contract damages.

Thank you to the subject matter experts who helped craft this bill, and to my colleagues who are co-sponsors: Council President Andrew Friedson, Council Vice President Kate Stewart and Councilmembers Sidney Katz, Evan Glass, Will Jawando, Gabe Albornoz and Laurie-Anne Sayles.

A public hearing on Bill 25-24 is scheduled for December 3 at 1:30pm.

Councilmembers Dawn Luedtke presents a proclamation for Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

November 21: Let's Talk Public Safety

Please join me for a community meeting to discuss public safety in and around Montgomery Village. Representatives from Montgomery County Police and the Department of Health and Human Services are slated to attend to provide updates and discuss strategic initiatives to make our community safer.

There will be a brief presentation followed by questions and answers. The event will take place on November 21 at 7 p.m. in the Watkins Mill High School cafeteria located at 10301 Apple Ridge Road. Register for the meeting. (Registration is not required.)

Click the image above to register for the November 21 Montgomery Village public safety community meeting.

November 14: Recreation Center!

Join the Montgomery County Department of Recreation and partners for a community meeting on November 14 at the Lake Marion Community Center!

Share your experiences with local recreation and family services, learn about current offerings, and express your preferences for a future indoor community recreation facility in Montgomery Village. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., shuttle buses will transport participants from South Lake Elementary School, Whetstone Elementary School, Watkins Mill Elementary School, and Montgomery Village Middle School to Lake Marion. Dinner will be provided at 6:30 p.m., followed by the discussion at 7 p.m. 

The Montgomery County Department of Recreation will host a community meeting in Montgomery Village on November 14.

Honoring People and Organizations Who Help Our County Thrive

Councilmember Luedtke pictured honoring local leaders and organizations

Throughout October, I have been honored to help celebrate many people and organizations who make Montgomery County an amazing place to live. 

Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber

Congratulations to the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce on 75 years - here's to many more! Thank you for providing vital support and resources to enhance our economic prosperity, serving more than 50,000 employees and 450 business members.

Fire Prevention

Awareness and education foster safety and empower people to take proactive steps to prepare in case of emergency, which is why it's important to commemorate Fire Prevention Month. As one of the members of the Council’s Public Safety Committee, it's my honor to support and appreciate the many dedicated and hardworking civil servants in Montgomery County Fire and Rescue for all that they do to keep us safe and for going above and beyond to provide for communities around the country in times of urgent need.

National Farmer's Day

As one of two district councilmembers representing the Agricultural Reserve - home to nearly 600 farms and more than 10,000 residents, contributing almost $300 million annually to the County’s economy - it was my pleasure to celebrate National Farmer’s Day. Thank you to the hardworking agricultural producers who bolster our economy, preserve our open lands, and feed our communities.   

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities/Autism Program

We're celebrating 20 years of the Montgomery County Police Autism/Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Alzheimer’s, and Dementia Outreach Unit! The unit has protected countless Montgomery County residents, educated families and communities, and empowered the community it serves. 

Innovation at the Agricultural History Farm Park

I was proud to attend the ribbon cutting ceremonies for two new projects at the Agricultural History Farm Park: the Composting Education Hub and the MoCo Microhub. 

Built in partnership with the University of Maryland Extension, Montgomery County Master Gardeners, and the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, the Composting Education Hub will train County residents and farmers on food scrap composting and compost use. The objective is to demonstrate how to "close the loop" on organic waste and food production while improving soil quality and reducing the need for fertilizer, thus contributing to the County's goals for solid waste reduction and climate action.

The MoCo Microhub, an outdoor shared-use refrigerated unit established in collaboration with Washington Gas and the Montgomery County Food Council, will allow County farmers to store their excess products safely at one central location before delivery to food assistance providers, schools, and businesses. The MicroHub intends to address the need for increased cold storage capacity for County farm products and thereby contribute to the County's food system resiliency goals. 

Councilmember Luedtke attends the ribbon cutting for two new innovative projects at the Agricultural History Farm Park.

In the Community...

Click the image to watch the video recapping the Damascus Placemaking Festival.

For the weekend of October 19-20, the Damascus Placemaking Festival transformed Main Street into a walkable, human-scaled, and easily identifiable town center and vibrant community gathering space.

For six months, Montgomery Planning worked with residents, businesses, and other stakeholders to plan the festival, incorporating cost-effective and temporary features to improve Main Street and help strengthen community ties to local businesses. The event cultivated a shared vision for shaping the future of Main Street and Damascus that embraces the community’s agrarian past and small-town character while addressing the needs of the future.

Check out the video recapping the festival, and stay tuned for the community feedback report and next steps. 

November 5 is Election Day 

Planning to vote in-person on Election Day? Find your designated polling place. If you have a disability or require voting assistance, please inform an election poll worker or notify the Montgomery County Board of Elections immediately at: 240-777-8500, MD Relay: 711 or elections@montgomerycountymd.gov. Additional information - including sample ballots, the ballot canvassing schedule, mail-in ballot deadlines and tracking, and ballot drop box locations - can be found on the Montgomery County Board of Elections website.

Registration for Winter Recreation Programs Begins November 13 

Registration for Montgomery County Recreation’s winter classes and programs will begin at 6:30 a.m. on November 13 for County residents. Registration for senior programming (including Bone Builders) will begin at 9 a.m. Non-County residents will be able to register beginning November 15. 

Montgomery County Community Action Agency Seeking Volunteers 

The Montgomery County Community Action Agency is recruiting volunteers for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which provides free tax help to eligible County residents. Volunteers can become IRS-certified VITA tax preparers, schedulers, greeters, quality reviewers, and site coordinators. Last year, volunteers dedicated 3,008 hours to assist the program in serving 2,246 households, resulting in a tax impact of nearly $8.6 million. All VITA volunteers receive free training and can serve in Rockville, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg, or Wheaton. High school students may also earn Student Service Learning (SSL) hours by volunteering as greeters or schedulers. Register to volunteer. 

Remembrance and Reconciliation Month 

Each November, the County commemorates Remembrance and Reconciliation Month as a time to reflect on the County’s complex history, understand how it shapes our present, and foster healing and understanding. The 2024 observance will highlight the 160th anniversary of Maryland's Emancipation Day. The County’s Commission on Remembrance and Reconciliation has partnered with various community organizations to plan free events throughout November including:

• Sandy Spring Slave Museum Annual Emancipation Day Event will celebrate the liberation of enslaved people of African descent through education and conversation. 12-3 p.m. on November 2. 
• Montgomery County Public Schools Community Changemaker Workshop offers middle and high school students the opportunities to learn about how to make a difference in their community through activism. 6:30-8 p.m. on November 14. 
• Webinar: Exclusionary Housing Policies with Dr. Paige Glotzer will provide information about the history of housing segregation nationally and locally. 7-8 p.m. on November 14. 

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