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October 9, 2025
Last Friday, I joined Governor Wes Moore in Silver Spring to highlight how the ongoing federal government shutdown is affecting Maryland families. We met with Montgomery County Health Department staff and discussed the growing concern about higher health insurance costs for Marylanders.
Montgomery County is home to more than 60,000 federal employees and tens of thousands of contractors. I stand firmly with our federal workforce.
 Councilmember Glass joins Maryland Governor Wes Moore at Department of Health and Human Services in Silver Spring.
If you’re a federal employee or contractor affected by the government shutdown, we have resources to help you get through this challenging time. You may qualify for unemployment benefits, emergency no-interest loans, housing protections, and utility safeguards. These programs are designed to ensure families can meet essential needs while waiting for paychecks to resume.
Help is available for federal workers and contractors across Montgomery County and Maryland:
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Maryland is offering help with unemployment insurance, emergency loans, eviction and foreclosure pauses and furlough protections.
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Montgomery County (or call 311) programs provide food, childcare, housing support, mental health support, and job openings in County Government.
- Utility companies like Pepco (202-833-7500), BGE (800-685-0123), and WSSC Water (301-206-4001) have payment assistance programs to support you.
In times of uncertainty, I remain committed to ensure that you and your families have the support you need. My office is always here to help. Please reach out if you need assistance.
Phone: 240-777-7966
Email: councilmember.glass@montgomerycountymd.gov
My heart broke twice last month by two traffic fatalities. First, a 16-year-old Wheaton High School student, James Anderson, was struck and killed while crossing University Boulevard in a crosswalk. Just two days later, a 52-year-old woman lost her life in a hit-and-run on Veirs Mill Road.
These tragedies are not isolated. Last year, approximately 600 people walking or biking in Montgomery County were struck by vehicles. That’s why I passed the Safe Streets Act to make our roads safer for everyone. But more must be done. We need stronger traffic enforcement, more HAWK signals and lights, and safer infrastructure across our county.
Together, we must keep pushing until our roads are safe for pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers, and everybody.
 Councilmember Glass's introducing the Safe Streets Act in 2023.
At the Transportation & Environment Committee public hearing on September 22, we received an important update on the Purple Line. The project is now 80% complete, with track work expected to finish by spring 2026. After that, focus will shift to conducting safety tests and reopening the Capital Crescent Trail between Bethesda and Silver Spring.
I understand many residents and business owners are feeling construction fatigue. It has been a long time in the making, but steady progress is being made, with service scheduled to begin in Winter 2027.
I’ll continue advocating for clear communication with residents, support for small businesses along the corridor, and safe access to this transformative project.
 Councilmember Glass tours the Purple Line construction in Silver Spring and Bethesda.
I was delighted to join families and neighbors in Montgomery Village for the Great Pumpkin Race & Fall Festival. Watching children proudly decorate their pumpkins and cheer them on as they rolled down the track was pure joy and a reminder of the creativity and community spirit that make Montgomery County such a special place to live.
 Councilmember Glass attends Great Pumpkin Race & Fall Festival in Montgomery Village.
St. James Episcopal Church and School in Potomac recently installed a 41.7 kW solar system, generating clean energy and reducing their carbon footprint. This project honors the legacy of John Combs, a devoted member of their Care for Creation team, and demonstrates how faith-based institutions can lead the way on sustainability.
I highly appreciate St. James for their leadership and hope their example inspires other organizations across Montgomery County to explore renewable energy solutions.
 Councilmember Glass joins members of St. James Episcopal Church.
A resident recently reached out about a Pepco power line hanging from an unstable tree in their front yard. My team contacted Pepco and the Department of Transportation (MCDOT) to request a fast fix. Pepco crews arrived the next morning to replace the line, and MCDOT expedited the inspection so the resident could safely remove the tree.
If you need help navigating Montgomery County government, fill out this form and my team and I will assist you.
 A tree in front of a resident's house
Please do not reply to this email. To contact my office, email me at Councilmember.Glass@montgomerycountymd.gov.
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