MoCo Government

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Council will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 9 a.m. The meeting will begin with two proclamation presentations. The first, presented by Councilmembers Sidney Katz, Will Jawando and Laurie-Anne Sayles, will recognize Rachel Carson Elementary School student Aubrey Campbell’s Make-a-Wish trip. The second, presented by Councilmember Jawando and County Executive Marc Elrich, will recognize National Mentoring Month.

More detail on each agenda item is provided below.

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich was joined by County Council Vice President Andrew Friedson and members of the County Council in Rockville today for the announcement that a total of $800,000 in grant funding will be provided to 91 County organizations to improve security and deter hate crimes. The funds will come through the County’s Nonprofit Security Grants program.

In May 2022, the County Council approved $800,000 to be available in the Fiscal Year 2023 budget for use by eligible local nonprofit or faith-based organizations whose facilities have experienced, or are at a high risk of experiencing, hate crimes.

Per Montgomery County: The Transportation and Environment (TE) Committee will meet on Monday, Jan. 30, at 9:30 a.m. to discuss Executive Regulation 10-22 regarding the Transportation Services Improvement Fund (TSIF), the state transportation priority letter and the general manager’s proposed FY24 Operating Budget for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). 

The members of the TE Committee include Chair Evan Glass and Councilmembers Marilyn Balcombe and Kate Stewart.

Per Montgomery County: Our thoughts are first and foremost with the Nichols family and the people of Memphis as they grieve the senseless murder of Tyre Nichols. Our nation once again mourns the brutal loss of a young Black man’s life at the hands of law enforcement and must now cope with the collective trauma that this tragedy has triggered.

It’s difficult to grasp the lack of humanity that was displayed by these officers during this heinous incident. We share the outrage and pain felt all across our country, at the disregard of basic human rights at the hands of those who took oath to protect and serve the public. As a county, a state, and a nation, we must have zero tolerance for police brutality.

Per Montgomery County: In recognition of National Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day on Jan. 27, low-to-moderate income Montgomery County residents are reminded that valuable tax credits, including the State and Federal Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credits and County’s Working Families Income Supplement, may help them and provide thousands of dollars in tax refunds.

To help residents access these credits, the Community Action Agency’s (CAA) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Partnership hosts free tax sites throughout the community for households earning $60,000 or less. VITA sites offer in-person appointments in Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, Rockville and Wheaton. Virtual appointments also are available.

The panel will cover topics including the economics of affordable housing, market rate housing and a discussion surrounding rent burden and rent relief. Panelists will include leaders from County agencies, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), nonprofits, including AHC, Montgomery Housing Partnership, Renters Alliance and PolicyLink, and the private sector, including Stonebridge Real Estate, EYA, Southern Management Companies and the Small Multifamily Owners Association. 

The members of the PH Committee aim to connect data, context and conversation with a variety of stakeholders to guide future policymaking around the affordability of rental housing. The committee plans to subsequently delve into additional critical housing matters, including home ownership programs, and the Housing Initiative Fund and Housing Production Fund, the county’s primary financing vehicles to subsidize affordable housing projects.

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County community-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions decreased by 30 percent between 2005 and 2020, despite a 13 percent growth in population, according to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) GHG emission inventories. COG has 24 member jurisdictions in the Washington Region, including Montgomery County. Montgomery County’s inventory covers GHG-emitting activities from the entire community, including the County government, businesses, industry, residents and visitors.

“This inventory demonstrates that in every sector of our County—from our businesses to our residents and local governments—we are successfully working together to bring down greenhouse gas emissions,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “Our Countywide efforts, including moving toward electrification and away from fossil fuels, encouraging electric vehicle adoption, planting more trees and making it easier and safer for people to bike and walk, are all contributing to our goals to cut GHG emissions 80 percent by 2027 and 100 percent by 2035.”

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has added 16 electric vehicle charging ports in County garages over the last four months, increasing the total of electric vehicle (EV) charging ports to 56 for public use in County parking garages and parking lots. Eight ports were added in the NOAA Garage (G58) in Silver Spring this month, four ports were added in the Cordell-St. Elmo Garage (G40) in Bethesda in December and four ports were installed in the Wheaton Market Place Garage (G13) in October. MCDOT has eight more charging ports planned. Four will be installed in the Bethesda-Elm Garage (G57) later this winter and four ports have been ordered for the Cameron Street Garage (G7) in Silver Spring.

EV charging ports are now available in the following County parking facilities within each of the three County maintained Parking Lot Districts (PLD):

Per Montgomery County: Nominations are now being accepted for the 2023 Montgomery County “Women Making History Award.” The award is presented by the Montgomery County Commission for Women and Montgomery Women. The deadline for nominations is 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 7. The annual award is given in recognition of outstanding women in Montgomery County who are making significant contributions to their vocation and to the community.

Recipients of the Women Making History Award will be recognized and featured during Women’s History Month in March and again at a panel discussion and dinner to be held at a later date. To be eligible, nominees should exemplify one or more of the following:

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Council will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 9 a.m. The meeting will begin with two proclamation presentations. The first, presented by Council President Evan Glass and Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles will recognize Delta Sigma Theta Day. The second, presented by Councilmembers Sidney Katz, Dawn Luedtke, Kristin Mink and County Executive Marc Elrich will recognize the retirement of Department of Correction and Rehabilitation Director Angela Talley.

Interview: The Council will conduct an interview with Rabbiah Sabbakhan, the County Executive’s appointee for the position of director within the Department of Permitting Services.