Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Thursday, April 17, 2025

Action on Housing Affordability 

One of the most common concerns I hear from constituents is how increasingly expensive it is to live in Montgomery County. We know that property values and the cost of living continue to rise, so the Council is taking aggressive action to make our communities more affordable. 

The Council this month approved legislation spearheaded by the Government Operations & Fiscal Policy Committee to expand eligibility for the County Supplement to the Maryland Homeowners’ Tax Credit, targeted for residents on fixed incomes or who are cost-burdened because of significant rises in triennial property assessments. The bill expands the program in three key ways: 

• Increases the combined income eligibility level from $60,000 to $75,000;
• Increases the net worth criteria from $200,000 to $250,000; and
• Increases from $300,000 to $375,000 the assessed value upon which the credit could apply.

Residents can apply via the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation. 

Additionally, applications are live now for two other recently improved property tax credits - Property Tax Credit for Disabled Veterans and the expanded Property Tax Credit for Public Safety Workers.

I was proud to co-sponsor these three pieces of legislation and the More Housing N.O.W. package to enable the building of new housing supply that's necessary to stabilizing home prices and rental rates.

Bill 2-25, the first major piece of the More Housing N.O.W. initiative, also passed earlier this month. This legislation tackles the much-discussed topic of spurring market-rate and income-restricted affordable housing in vacant office or commercial buildings. 

Throughout my conversations with residents, civic leaders, and neighborhood associations about affordable housing - the need to be more aggressive in repurposing vacant offices as residences has been a consistent theme.

Converting them would help to address our critical need to increase housing supply, but retrofitting these properties is expensive.

This will help ease that significant cost and encourage the new housing supply that simply isn't happening enough right now. This new supply will help stabilize housing costs for everyone. Learn more.  

April is Earth Month 

Counclimember Luedtke with colleagues, organizers, and volunteers at the opening of the composting site at the Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood

Earth Month is a time to recommit to sustainability. Montgomery County is honoring this annual celebration with the expansion of our curbside recycling program. By the end of 2025, all households in the County will be able to recycle electronics and batteries curbside. Residents will receive notice in the mail when this service becomes available in their area.

Once available in their area, residents can call MC311 to schedule curbside collection. Since this is an on-call service, residents must book a collection in advance of their regular recycling day. To ensure safety, do not place electronics and batteries in curbside bins or mixed with regular trash as that can lead to fires. Learn more. 

Another key component of our waste reduction efforts is food scraps composting. District 7 is fortunate to have two of the four farmers market pickup sites: Olney Farmers and Artists Market and Derwood Market. Residents can drop off food scraps such as fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, dairy products, and meat and fish bones for recycling. Learn more.

Additionally, Ride On is waiving passengers’ fares on April 22. 

Mark your calendars for these upcoming Earth Month events: 

• 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on April 26 is the 10th annual GreenFest. 
• 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on April 26 is Mill Creek Stream Valley Park Cleanup. 
• 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. on April 27 is Rockville Science Day. 
• Check out more events on My Green Montgomery. 

Major Grant Opportunity!

With the recently completed State budget, the County's Office of Grants Management (OGM) is looking for applications from nonprofits doing capital projects with State grant commitments.

The County's FY26 Cost Sharing Capital Grants program is a great way to support local projects that benefit our entire community.

If you're involved or know of a nonprofit capital project you think may be eligible, check out these resources now:

• Details on Stage One, support resources, and the application itself can be found on the FY26 CSCG Solicitation Page or directly from the OGM County Homepage. 
• OGM will be hosting and recording an MS Teams Live Online FY26 CSCG Grant Program Information Session on Friday April 18, 2025 from 9:30 am to 10:30 am.

In the Community...

Help Fight Back Against Invasive Vines

Montgomery County has long had a problem with invasive vines killing trees. Some of our oldest, strongest trees are at risk of being smothered and strangled by vines. Invasive vines crawl up a tree, talking over the tree's resources and eventually strangling branches until the tree is dead. There are many active volunteer groups and resident advocates doing good work regularly cutting vines. However, to make a widespread impact we need residents to look out for invasive vines on trees on their private property and take action. Learn about how to cut invasive vines by watching this video and visiting MCDOT’s Vine Program page. Volunteer with local vine cutting groups, such as Tree Friends United. 

Bike to Work Day

May 15 is Bike to Work Day, an annual celebration of bicycling as a fun, healthy, and environmentally-friendly way to travel. More than 100 pit stops will be located in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. This event is free and open to riders of all ability levels. The first 18,000 who register will receive a free shirt. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation will sponsor eight pit stops with refreshments, live music, local vendor displays, giveaways, and raffles. 

Spring Forum on Mental Health and Substance Use 

On May 17 from 8:30 a.m. to noon, attendees of the Spring Forum on Mental Health and Substance Use will learn about achieving and maintaining strong mental health; the dangers of fentanyl, alcohol, and other substances; school and community-based support; harm reduction and treatment; and what insurance is required to cover. The free event at Montgomery College East County Education Center has sessions for both youth and adults and will be presented in English and Spanish. Register.

New Podcast for Parents and Early Childhood Educators 

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), has released the first episode of a podcast designed to support parents, educators, and community partners in fostering the growth and development of young children. It offers expert insights, real-life stories, and practical advice to help create enriching learning environments. The podcast will cover a variety of topics, such as developmental milestones, social-emotional growth, play-based learning, and effective parenting strategies. The podcast is available now on the DHHS website and various podcast platforms. 

Celebrate 5 Years of Main Street 

For the past five years, Main Street has been an affordable, accessible apartment and a membership-based community center for people of all abilities. I am thankful for all they do to foster community and connect individuals with needed services. Register now for the celebration on May 14 at Lone Oak Farm Brewing Company in District 7! 

World Pride Mixer at Olney Theatre 

Mark your calendars! In partnership with Capital Pride and World Pride, Olney Theatre is hosting Drag Bingo, Wine & Nibbles on May 29. Hope to see you at this fun community event! 

Community Planning Academy 

The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is inviting residents to be a part of the first cohort of the Community Planning Academy. Participants will explore the planning and development review process, including key topics such as master plans, zoning, and permitting. Participants will also learn how to effectively engage in the process and help envision the future of their neighborhoods.This first group will take the course and offer feedback to guide the academy for future users. Learn more and apply.

Office of Consumer Protection Warns Homeowners of Rise in Driveway-Paving Scams

The Montgomery County’s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) and the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) are warning residents about a rise in driveway paving scams after receiving multiple recent reports from homeowners. These scams involve unlicensed workers offering low-cost paving or resurfacing services, often resulting in poor-quality work, unfinished jobs, or unexpected payments. The County urges residents to report these encounters early so investigators can intervene. OCP and MCPD are actively identifying and stopping these groups before they can defraud other residents. Learn more.

Improve Safety on Montgomery Village Avenue

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is planning safety improvements -  including new crosswalks, median extensions, road resurfacing, and new signage - along a 2.4 mile segment of Montgomery Village Avenue. MCDOT is accepting public input through April 27. Visit the project website for more information. 

If you were forwarded this email and would like to subscribe to my newsletter, click the button below. I look forward to remaining in touch with you.