Notes From County Executive Marc Elrich’s State of the County Address

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich delivered his 2022 “State of the County” address today at the Silver Spring Civic Building. This was Elrich’s first in-person State of the County address since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following notes courtesy of @MontCoExec on Twitter:

• The State of the County in 2022 reflects that the challenges and obstacles of the past two years have not and will not stop our progress, our compassion for one another, and our hope for better tomorrows.
• There may be no greater long-term impact of the pandemic than the learning loss incurred by our students. I am proud to have provided record funding to our schools – $117.4 million above the State’s Maintenance of Effort Requirement, and fully funded student needs.
• In MCPD news, we are going to enhance police recruitment and retention by strengthening the competitiveness of compensation, but also recommending expanding the police recruitment unit to attract the next generation that will better reflect the diversity of our population.
• Our public safety efforts also involve continuing our re-imagining public safety efforts that focus on prevention and stopping crimes before they even happen because when our police, fire, EMS, and corrections departments get involved, items already late in the process.
• I am also recommending $6.3 million for our African American Health Program, Latino Health Initiative and Asian American Health Initiative. All three of these efforts have made a significant impact. Not only are they using established networks and community engagement……but are also utilizing culturally competent communications.
• Last July we launched the Climate Action Plan, the most aggressive for a jurisdiction of our size anywhere. If we take the steps prescribed, we can reduce 100% of our greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.
• If it wasn’t for the pandemic, climate change would have been the lead story over the last two years. We are taking actions, introducing policies, making investments, and utilizing innovative solutions – not just giving the same old lip service to this existential problem.
• While climate change is an existential threat, preserving and building affordable housing has been a problem for decades now in @MontgomeryCoMD
  We are being innovative to create real affordable housing by simple three-pronged approach: Preserving, Protecting, and Producing.
• Inequities were made all too clear during the pandemic with communities of color and low-income families disproportionately impacted. To change this, we must continue to build capacity with @MontgomeryCoMD gov to implement policies and programs thought county gov to address this
• Covid-19 not only affected our health but also the business community & the employment picture throughout the world. At the height of the pandemic, the unemployment rate in@MontgomeryCoMD reached 8.6%. Now, it has dropped to 3.9%, + than a point lower than the statewide rate
• Our life sciences industry has been showing exponential growth over this year alone, including 3 million square ft. of lab & related space in MontgomeryCoMD . We have removed barriers to the growth of these businesses and will continue doing so for this & other key industries
• I am proud of the way we embrace our diversity to make us stronger and I am proud of the work all of us have done together as a community. It has been my greatest honor to be your County Executive and especially at this critical time in history. And because of the compassion……and energy of our
  @MontgomeryCoMD residents, the state of our county is strong.