 Moderating a Community Public Safety Forum with Commander Amy Daum, Park Police Chief Darryl McSwain, MCPS Chief of Security Marcus Jones and MCPS Chief of Schools Peter Moran
Dear neighbors,
Keeping our kids, our families, and our community safe is our most fundamental obligation. Public safety is essential to everything else we do. Recent alarming events after a series of prior school lockdowns have shaken our community and raised serious concerns about safety in and around our schools.
That’s why I convened a Public Safety Community Meeting this week at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, bringing together law enforcement, school leaders, frustrated students and parents, and concerned community members for an open, direct, and constructive conversation. I appreciate everyone who participated including Park Police Chief Darryl McSwain, 2nd District Commander Amy Daum, MCPS Chief of Security Marcus Jones, and MCPS Chief of Schools, Dr. Peter Moran because public safety is a shared responsibility.
The voices of students, parents, and community members were powerful and the concern and frustration was palpable. I remain committed to working together with law enforcement, school leaders, and community members to improve communication, collaboration, and coordination and push urgently for timely and actionable solutions to keep our schools and community safe.
This week’s conversation was not the end. There are many takeaways from the meeting that require follow-up and follow-through. So our work does not stop here. We are in this together to address these safety challenges and protect our students, schools, and communities.
Sincerely,
 Andrew Friedson
Councilmember, District 1
Montgomery County Council
 The Drone as First Responder program will soon be operating in Bethesda, providing real-time intelligence to improve response times and enhance public safety
The Drone as First Responder program is seeing the sky in Bethesda! I was proud to join my colleagues two years ago when we approved funding for the pilot program which was officially launched in November of 2023 with two sites that included Silver Spring and Wheaton. After experiencing its success in improving response times and emergency call efficiency, the program’s expansion to Bethesda and Gaithersburg became a top budget priority for me last year. The UpCounty site has been up and running since the summer and now finally, I look forward to attending the long-awaited launch in Bethesda next week.
This innovative program provides critical, real-time intelligence to officers prior to and while responding to a call. It has proven to increase response time and efficiency while supporting officers with live visuals. The DFR program has helped law enforcement with missing persons cases, assisted in arrests, and has been crucial in securing convictions. You can take a look at flight maps and find more information and view up-to-date statistics and call data on the dashboard.
The wellbeing of every resident in our District and throughout the County is of the utmost importance as we continue to leverage technology to support law enforcement. I am proud of the work that has been done by MCPD and especially the Special Operations Division in finding innovative ways to make our neighborhoods and our officers safer.
At a time when government employees are being demonized and scapegoated, Montgomery County is choosing to invest in our public servants, recognizing their dedication and the vital roles they play in our community. That is why I introduced and passed the Paid Parental Leave Act in 2022, ensuring that County employees have the time they need to care for and bond with a new child without sacrificing their financial security. Since then, the program has proven its value, with participation increasing each year—totaling nearly 900 employees in the first three years—demonstrating the real impact of supporting working families
The first few weeks of a child’s life are critical for healthy development, forming the foundation for emotional security, cognitive growth, and lifelong well-being. Providing six weeks of fully paid parental leave allows employees to focus on this crucial bonding time without the impossible choice between work and family. Stronger connections between parents and infants lead to stronger families, a healthier community, and a more effective government workforce. As Montgomery County continues to lead by example, I am committed to ensuring we uphold policies that reflect our values and honor the contributions of those who serve our community every day.
As property assessments continue to rise across Montgomery County, more homeowners are becoming cost-burdened and in need of relief, especially those on fixed or limited incomes. In most cases, their greatest asset, their home, is the most significant driver of their rising costs. That’s why I have consistently pushed back against property tax increases amid rising assessments and why I’ve been working on targeted tax relief to help older adults in our community age in place.
Since legislation I proposed to expand access to the property tax credit for Individuals 65 and Older and Retired Military Services Members was tabled by the Council in March 2024, I have continued my efforts to seek relief for homeowners by introducing a new bill last month alongside my Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee colleagues, Council President Kate Stewart and Councilmember Sidney Katz, to update the local supplement to the Homeowner’s Tax Credit (HOTC).
The HOTC is a progressive tax credit administered by the State of Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) where lower income households receive a larger credit on their property taxes. This structure targets relief to residents on limited incomes who need it the most. The bill would expand the credit by raising the eligibility requirements, such as the maximum incomes and net worths of eligible households and increasing the amount of the assessed value of the property to which the credit applies. For more information on Bill 3-25, please see the February 11 press release and packet prepared for the introduction of the bill.
If you were unable to testify at the public hearing this week, the Council will continue to receive and review written testimony after the public hearing. If you want to share your feedback with the Council, please consider using this webform or call and email your councilmembers.
Later this month, the Council’s GO Committee is scheduled to hold a work session on Bill 3-25. I hope you will consider tuning in and providing your feedback on the discussion. You can stay up to date on the Council’s agendas and tune in to the committee work session by visiting the Council’s website.
 I was honored to speak at last week’s ceremony celebrating the renaming of the Montgomery County Executive Office Building in honor of Isiah "Ike" Leggett Building, recognizing his lasting impact on Montgomery County
Last week, we gathered to celebrate a historic and well-deserved recognition—the renaming of the Montgomery County Executive Office Building to the Isiah “Ike” Leggett Building. As the first African American elected to the County Council and the only African American to serve as County Executive, Ike Leggett’s legacy is one of extraordinary leadership, resilience, and service. I was honored to propose this renaming last year as Council President, and I’m grateful to my colleagues and County Executive Elrich for their strong support in making it a reality.
Ike Leggett has always represented the very best of Montgomery County. Throughout his decades of public service, he led us through some of our most challenging times, expanded opportunities for countless residents, and ensured that government worked for everyone—especially those who had been historically left out of the decision-making process. His story, from humble beginnings to the highest levels of government, law, and academia, is an inspiration. Every County resident who receives services and every public servant who provides them at “The Ike” will be reminded of the values, leadership, and unwavering commitment to our community that Isiah Leggett has embodied throughout his decades of service.
The ceremony was a powerful tribute to Ike’s legacy, featuring remarks from local and national leaders, moving musical performances, and a shared sense of gratitude for all he has done. It was more than a celebration of one individual—it is an enduring reflection of our values as a county. In Montgomery County, we strive to make government more inclusive, more responsive, and more representative of the people it serves. Naming this building in honor of Ike Leggett ensures that we continue to live out those values every day.
 Montgomery County’s security camera rebate program is now available countywide, helping residents, businesses, and nonprofits enhance safety
Montgomery County Police are expanding efforts to enhance public safety. The Private Security Camera Incentive Program now covers all locations countywide, offering financial support for residents, businesses, and nonprofits to install security cameras. Additionally, MCPD has launched MoCoConnect, a voluntary camera-sharing program that allows residents and businesses to register or integrate their security cameras to assist with investigations.
 Click the flyer to register for tonight's informational session
On February 4, Councilmember Natali Fani-Gonzalez and I introduced the More Housing N.O.W. workforce housing package which takes five steps to increase housing supply, drive down costs, and increase pathways to homeownership for the hardworking residents of Montgomery County. Since then, we have both held a series of public informational meetings to answer residents' questions about the legislation. You can find information on the four pieces of legislation, an outline of the housing package, and an interactive map showing applicable parcels on my website.
Want to weigh in? Two public hearings will be held on March 11 – at 1:30pm and 7:30 pm. There are several ways to provide testimony – you can choose to testify in-person or submit written, audio, or video testimony. You may register for the public hearings until March 10 at 2pm. We look forward to hearing from you.
Committee work sessions, which are always open to the public and streamed live, will begin later this month. You can find committee meeting and Council session dates on the Council’s website.
 Stay tuned for a specific time for our next Friday With Friedson
Constituent Services
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.
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