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Below is a statement by Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson on the investigation into Montgomery County Public Schools employee misconduct and promotion processes following the Thursday morning hearing involving the Montgomery County Council and Education & Culture Committee (the full hearing can be seen here):
“This morning, the entire Montgomery County Council joined the Education & Culture Committee for a hearing to review the deeply alarming workplace harassment and employee misconduct allegations in MCPS and their processes for promoting principals and administrators.
Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) has removed permitting barriers to allow produce growers to build high tunnel-type greenhouses on urban and suburban properties, a benefit previously reserved for land designated as agricultural. High tunnels can be a key piece of farm infrastructure for vegetable growers to increase food production. Similar to a greenhouse, a high tunnel is a less permanent structure, built with a metal frame and plastic cover instead of glass and metal. High tunnels extend the growing season by trapping heat and protect crops from diseases and pests.
Urban agriculture is fundamental to achieving food systems resiliency in the County, increasing urban access to nutritious food and empowering urban residents. Previously, a building permit from the County was required for high tunnels on properties not agriculturally assessed for tax purposes. It is often difficult for properties with fewer than three acres to obtain the necessary agricultural assessment. This requirement had presented a barrier to new farmers and those with fewer means on urban and suburban properties.
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Beginning October 9, McDonald’s is a adding Mambo Sauce to its menu for a limited time. Mambo sauce, also know as Mumbo sauce, is a sweet, sour, and spicy condiment that originated in Washington, DC carry-out restaurants and can be found across Montgomery County in restaurants like Kenny’s Sub Shop (Gaithersburg, Rockville, and Wheaton).
McDonald’s describes its Mambo sauce as a “tomato-based, sweet, spicy and vinegary sauce; inspired by the regional Washington, D.C. area sauce staple.” McDonald’s will also be adding a Sweet & Spicy Jam Sauce, a “jammy red pepper sauce with a tongue- numbing Szechuan peppercorn kick and extra heat from cayenne pepper; finished with apple cider vinegar,” that the company claims is the first-ever breakfast-inspired dipping sauce to hit US restaurants.
Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office (9.27.23): Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today joined a multistate coalition of 19 Attorneys General in filing an amicus brief opposing a state law in Indiana that severely blocks the ability of transgender youth to access critical, lifesaving gender-affirming care. The plaintiffs in K.C. v. Indiana are suing to block Indiana’s Senate Enacted Act (S.E.A.) 480, which prohibits healthcare professionals from providing gender-affirming care to transgender youth.
“Access to evidence-based, gender-affirming healthcare is critical to the health and well-being of transgender people,” said Attorney General Brown. “Youth, in particular, have better health outcomes when providers can address and treat gender dysphoria early, without interference from unlawful state bans on these life-saving health care services.”
Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (DVCC) is urging residents to “Know the Signs” of domestic violence. That is the theme as October will be recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Montgomery County Council will present a proclamation on Tuesday, Oct. 3, recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Throughout October, visitors to the Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza will notice a display of several dozen yard signs containing warning signs for those experiencing domestic violence and information about available resources.
People in need of assistance or having concerns for a friend or family member should call the Montgomery County Family Justice Center at 240-773-0444, the Montgomery County Crisis Center at 240-777-4000 or email [email protected]. More information about Domestic Violence Awareness Month and how to know the signs of domestic violence is available at www.tinyurl.com/mocodvam.
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The Education and Culture (EC) Committee will meet on Thursday, Sept. 28 at 9:30 a.m. to review initial report findings and processes for investigations of employee misconduct in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). The members of the EC Committee include Chair Will Jawando and Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz and Kristin Mink. The joint EC and Public Safety (PS) Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. to receive an update on school bus and traffic safety. The members of the PS Committee include Chair Sidney Katz and Councilmembers Dawn Luedtke and Mink.
More detail on each agenda item is provided below.
Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is applauding the County Council’s passage of Bill 18-22, which will phase-out the sale and use of gas-powered leaf blowers and leaf vacuums. The Council voted10-1 to enact the bill, which is an amended version of the legislation County Executive Elrich sent to the Council last year. The bill will be signed into law by the County Executive and is the latest step in the County’s continued efforts to reduce noise pollution.
For more information on Bill 18-22, including the Sept. 26, 2023, County Council staff report, click here. The final approved version of the bill is not yet available online. It should be posted online later this week. To watch the Council session, click here.
Per Montgomery County: Montgomery Parks is conducting an online survey, seeking community input on the renovation of Jesup Blair Park. At 15 acres, Jesup Blair Park is the largest park in Downtown Silver Spring.
Jesup Blair Park is located near the Washington, D.C. line and bordered by Georgia Avenue, CSX/transit railroad tracks, Blair Road and Jessup Blair Drive.
Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich announced today that Sarah Kogel-Smucker is the new Climate Change Officer. Ms. Kogel-Smucker joins Montgomery County after leading the creation of the climate change division of the District of Columbia’s (DC) Office of the People’s Counsel. Prior to her work in the District, she served as senior counsel for the New York City Law Department’s Environmental Division. In this role, she advocated for the deployment of affordable clean energy initiatives, analyzed environmental legislation and advised other divisions on climate policy. She has more than 15 years of experience in environmental issues, particularly in the area of environmental law.
“Addressing climate change and designing and implementing effective environmental policy are top priorities for us,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “I am pleased to welcome Sarah Kogel-Smucker to our team. We are looking forward to her using her experience and passion to help us reach our goal to achieve an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2027 and a 100 percent reduction by 2035. As a county, we cannot solve the problems created by climate change but we can be a leader and a model for other jurisdictions, and Sarah’s work will be an important part of those efforts.”