Español /አማርኛ 

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year! I hope you had a restful and restorative holiday season. The start of this year has unfortunately brought alarming and horrific actions from the federal administration, including last week’s fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by ICE agents. Please know that I am committed to advocating and working with our immigrant community and dedicated to ensuring justice, dignity, and safe communities for all.

As we enter 2026, the Council is gearing back up for regular sessions. Yesterday was our first full Council Session of the year and we started it off with a proclamation recognizing Muslim American Heritage Month. As the first Council President to lead this proclamation, I am glad to see its recognition continue on the Council.

With Martin Luther King Jr. Day coming up, you may be thinking about how to volunteer your time to support our community. The Montgomery County Volunteer Center and the Montgomery County Alumnae Chapter (MD) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is hosting their annual Day of Service and Volunteer Fair on Monday, January 19th from 9:30 AM - 12 PM at the Silver Spring Civic Building. You can sign up to volunteer on their event page. You can also explore the Montgomery County Volunteer Center’s website for additional volunteer opportunities as we honor Dr. King's legacy through service and action.

As always, feel free to contact my office if you have any questions or need assistance.

Sincerely,

Kate Stewart

Councilmember

(she, her)

BYOB is now in effect!

Montgomery County’s Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB) Law went into effect on January 1st. In December, I joined the County Executive for an announcement on the upcoming changes in our retail stores. We hope to curtail plastic bags clogging our waterways, parks and public spaces and reduce the public health impacts of microplastics, as we use more reusable bags in checkout lines. So next time you head to the grocery store, remember to bring your reusable bags and help be the change!

Smoke Safety Hoods now in Montgomery County

I am grateful to have joined the Diaz family and members of our county government to announce the use of the smoke safety hoods in Montgomery County. A huge thank you to the Diaz family’s donation, in memory of their daughter Melanie Diaz who died in the Arrive Fire. Their donation enables the use of this tool, which is possible for the first time, not just in the county but in the entire country. Many thanks as well to Fire Chief Smedley, our Department of Permitting Services, and representatives from our state government, in particular Delegate Lorig Charkoudian, for working together to prevent another tragedy like the death of Melanie Diaz. Learn more about how to use these safety hoods and other tools by watching this video.

D18 & SHA Town Hall on Changes to University Blvd

Thank you to Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) Administrator Pines and the D18 delegation for convening a road safety meeting on state highways in the Kensington and Wheaton areas to hear directly from residents and for SHA to detail specific improvements. We are working across state, county, and town governments to make changes to this area where James Anderson and Ganga Prajapati were struck and killed this fall.

Special thanks to Del. Jared Solomon for convening the meeting and providing a full meeting recording with embedded slides.

Montgomery County Police have placed a new speed camera on University Blvd near the location of the crash that killed James.

Montgomery County Police also placed a speed camera on Montrose Road approaching Tildenwood Dr in response to requests my team made after hearing from residents. Montgomery County Police are continuing to roll out cameras from an updated county vendor. We continue to work with constituents in these areas, across District 4, and countywide on pedestrian safety concerns to make our streets safer for all road users.

Celebrating Christmas Day with the MoCo Pride Center

I was grateful to spend Christmas Day at the MoCo Pride Center’s Chosen Family Dinner this year with my husband and daughter. Thank you to the MoCo Pride Center for providing a welcoming space for all members of our community everyday, and especially during the holidays.

ICYMI: Rep. Jamie Raskin’s Local Heroes Video Series

In case you missed it, I was featured by Representative Jamie Raskin as MD-08’s final Local Hero of 2025. I am honored to be recognized by Rep. Raskin and thankful for his partnership as we face these uncertain and troubling times. As we start 2026, we will all need to support and lift each other up as we work to protect our democracy, our values, and our neighbors. You can watch the full video on YouTube.

Mental Health Corner

NAMI Montgomery County

The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Montgomery County (NAMI MC) is dedicated to building communities of peers to provide support, education and advocacy for individuals with mental health conditions and their family members. They offer peer-led support groups and classes for individuals with mental health conditions and their families year-round at no cost to participants.

In addition to the NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group for individuals with mental health conditions and NAMI Family Support Group for family members and caregivers, they also offer specialty groups for parents of children 21 and under, LGBTQ+ individuals with mental health conditions, and individuals who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color). For more information, visit namimc.org or email info@namimc.org.

Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day and More on January 30th

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is often considered the most effective anti-poverty tool available but too few people in Montgomery County who can benefit from the credit are aware of it or how to apply. We hope to change that!

The Community Action Agency, in partnership with the Universities at Shady Grove, the Equity Center, and Montgomery County VITA sites, invites community members to the County's EITC Awareness Day/VITA Kick-Off event on Friday, January 30th. The event celebrates the substantial impact of the EITC and will also highlight free tax filing programs in the County that link households with valuable credits, helping many in our community move towards the Self-Sufficiency Standard. A resource fair, from 11 AM - 1 PM, will include local non-profits, VITA programs, and County services. This event is free and open to the public. You can RSVP for the event by filling out this form.

Office of Food Systems Resilience Distribution Calendar

The Office of Food Systems Resilience (OFSR) offers an up-to-date calendar of upcoming food distributions throughout Montgomery County. Based on households’ needs and preferences, there are a list of options that offer distributions in the mornings, weekdays, or weekends, meals for older adults, meal delivery, and more. Click here to view OFSR’s calendar and full list of resources.

Free Resource for Parents and Caregivers

Is your child facing stress or struggling in school? Learn to support your child’s mental wellness and resiliency while connecting with other parents around your shared struggles. The PEP Family Resiliency Program is a free 8-week online program for parents/caregivers of children ages 5-18, in English, Spanish, or Amharic. The program is offered by the Parent Encouragement Program (PEP). Sessions start the first week of February. Attend 5 sessions and the evaluation to earn a $50 gift card.

Register online at pep-frp.org, call 301-929-8824 or email FRP@PEPparent.org for more information.

For more community resources, check out Councilmember Kate Stewart's website.