MoCo Archives - Page 411 of 613

Montgomery County to Launch Fourth Phase of COVID-19 Rent Relief Program, Applications Available Starting May 16

Published May 11, 2022 at 3:20PM

“Addressing the economic impacts of the pandemic will take a sustained and intentional effort by governments at all levels,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “We want our most vulnerable families that have been negatively affected by COVID-19 to be able to stay in their homes, and this fourth phase of rental relief funds will help us do just that. Thank you to our state and federal partners who have helped our County in this collective work to keep our families whole.”

Funding for this fourth phase comes from U.S. Department of the Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance funds in direct allocations to the County and as a sub-grantee to the State of Maryland. $78 million in rental assistance has been distributed to approximately 10,500 Montgomery County households in the previous three phases of the program.

Additional Details on This Year’s Pride in the Plaza in Silver Spring

By Patrick Herron

Published May 11, 2022 at 12:14PM

Pride in the Plaza will feature food, music, an LGBTQ+ focused resource and vendor fair, bilingual Drag Queen Story Hour, and the championship finale of Live in Your Truth Program’s Drag Duels series. The day will conclude with the second annual Pride in the Plaza Mini-Ball, a free voguing competition with cash prizes, starting at 5 p.m., in partnership with Capitol Ballroom Council. Local businesses that want to support Pride in the Plaza can visit PrideInThePlaza.com/partners-in-pride.

Pride in the Plaza will showcase a diverse cross-section of local nonprofit organizations, LGBTQ+ owned businesses, artists, and networks tabling to share information about their services for Montgomery County’s LGBTQ+ communities. HIV and other health screenings will be provided free of charge, in honor of National HIV Testing Day (June 27).

Foreign National Who Fled and Was Later Extradited from the United Kingdom Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bank and Wire Fraud in Relation to Theft of Over 2,600 Checks from Religious Institutions

By MCS Staff

Published May 11, 2022 at 6:55AM

Florin Vaduva, age 31, of Dania Beach, Florida pleaded guilty on Monday to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud. As part of his plea agreement, Vaduva will be ordered to pay at least $1,085,151.42 in restitution. Though specific details have not been released regarding the institutions that were defrauded, Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department was among those who announced the guilty plea indicating that at least part of the illegal activity occurred in Montgomery County.

Per the press Maryland District U.S. Attorney’s press release: The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Postal Inspector in Charge Greg L. Torbenson of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Washington Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge Selwyn Smith of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Acting Special Agent in Charge Quenton Sallows, of the Mid-Atlantic Region, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG); Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department; Chief Toni Dezomits of the Cary, North Carolina, Police Department; and Sheriff Dusty Rhoades of the Williamson County, Tennessee, Sheriff’s Office.

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich Announces New $1 Million Dollar Fund To Ensure Access to Abortion Services

By Patrick Herron

Published May 10, 2022 at 4:47PM

“We live in a time where people’s rights are under attack – from the Supreme Court to the halls of Congress, to State Houses throughout this nation,” said County Executive Elrich. “We must do all we can to protect women’s health and their personal rights. With this allocation of funds, we are helping ensure that any woman who needs assistance will be able to access it. I want to thank our nonprofit partners, doctors, and nurses who are so critical to our efforts. In Montgomery County, we are committed to working in partnership to stand up for all people and will continue to do so.”

“The County Executive’s initiative is in great alignment with the County Council’s resolution on reproductive rights, which I spearheaded,” said County Councilmember Nancy Navarro. “The resolution affirmed our commitment to ensuring that health care organizations that provide reproductive health services have the appropriate supports and capacity to safeguard the reproductive rights of residents in our communities. As the lone woman Councilmember on the Council, I will continue to do all I can to support the County executive and the County Council in doing the right thing – protecting our reproductive rights and safeguarding the welfare of all our residents. I also call on Governor Hogan to support reproductive rights in Maryland by releasing the $3.5 million earmarked by the legislature for training.”

MCPD 100th Anniversary Celebration This Saturday at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds

By Patrick Herron

Published May 10, 2022 at 10:58AM

Montgomery County Police will be holding a community event this Saturday, May 14, from 12-6pm at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in celebration of the departments 100th anniversary. According to MCPD, this will be the largest community event the department has ever hosted and will feature food trucks, police displays, music, face painting, and more. The event is scheduled to take place rain or shine.

Annual Montgomery County Ride On Bus Food Drive to Run from May 15-22

By MCS Staff

Published May 10, 2022 at 8:58AM

Montgomery County Ride On bus riders can donate non-perishable food to the County Department of Transportation’s (MCDOT) Ride On food drive from May 15-22. Non-perishable food items can be dropped off on all Ride On, extRa, Flex and Flash buses. A food donation bag will be available next to the farebox.

“We must ensure that no one in Montgomery County goes hungry,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “Food insecurity was prevalent before the pandemic hit—and COVID-19 made it even worse. So many people lost jobs and higher food prices continue to make it exceedingly difficult for families to make ends meet. I am grateful to MCDOT and Manna Food Center for this important effort and encourage residents to donate non-perishable food items on all of our buses between May 15 and May 22.”

Councilmember Navarro to Host Press Conference on May 10 on Resolution Supporting the Preservation of Reproductive Freedom Under Roe v. Wade

By Patrick Herron

Published May 9, 2022 at 1:44PM

“The potential overturning of Roe v. Wade is outrageous and devastating for all women and a clear violation of women’s rights,” said Councilmember Navarro, who chairs the Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee. “This would be a culmination of a coordinated and relentless effort to eliminate hard-fought progress. For decades, I have joined the fight to ensure women’s access to quality and safe reproductive health services.

“In Montgomery County, we need to be prepared to be a beacon for women in need of this potentially life-saving medical treatment. As President Biden said, it is up to the nation’s elected officials at all levels of government to fight for a woman’s right to choose, and we are stepping up to the challenge. It is also up to all of us to use our voice, our vote and our collective power to protect women’s rights.”

Explore Rockville by Decade; History Tour & Scavenger Hunt

By MCS Staff

Published May 9, 2022 at 12:22PM

You’re invited to Explore Rockville’s long and rich history through a self-guided outdoor tour and scavenger hunt that will walk you through sites and stories in Rockville through the decades. Learn about Rockville from its beginnings to the 20th century, and visit parks and public art along the way, in this event by Peerless Rockville.

Per the event listing: Tour stops are a SURPRISE! The 10+ stops about Rockville’s unique sites, stories, and art are located across the city – you’re invited to explore places you’ve never been and sites you pass by all the time unaware. This tour features highlights from our three previous Explore Rockville events plus a few new stops.

Montgomery County Sends Over $4 million in Tax Refund Checks to Homeowners After State Error

By Patrick Herron

Published May 9, 2022 at 10:11AM

Montgomery County has sent out over $4,000,000 in tax refund checks after a tax error by the state of Maryland. The mistake was first discovered by Olney resident Louis Wilen back in 2016, which FOX 5 first reported on in 2020. Maryland had been miscalculating the Homeowner Tax Credit, which is for seniors and low-income residents. Montgomery County has issued over 5,000 checks to homeowners eligible for the $346 senior supplement, according to FOX.

Per Montgomery County, “Homeowner tax credit refunds for the County portion (issued by Montgomery County Treasury Office in Finance), have now been completed and refund checks are being mailed out to taxpayers now. Refunds are being issued because of a State Department of Assessment and Taxation (SDAT) error that was made in the calculations. Checks and letters for the State portion of the refund have already been mailed out to taxpayers from the State Department of Assessments and Taxation. The refunds cover levy years 2017, 2018 and 2019, however, not all homeowners will receive refunds for all years, it just depends on what the homeowner applied for and were deemed eligible for.”

Honoring my heritage: How Montgomery Planning’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Project brought me closer to my family

By MCS Staff

Published May 9, 2022 at 6:28AM

Montgomery County’s first AAPI Heritage Project is examining the history of AAPI county residents as early as the 1900s By Karen Yee, published on MontgomeryPlanning’s Department Blog

Of the 86,000 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the nation’s repository of historic structures, sites, buildings, districts and objects that are deemed significant to American history, less than 8% relate to Asian Americans and other underrepresented communities. In Montgomery County, where 15% of residents are Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), there is only one locally designated resource associated with AAPI heritage, the Pao-Chi and Yu Ming Pien House. Even this house was only recently recognized—it is located within the Potomac Overlook Historic District, designated in April 2022. In order to address this disparity, Montgomery Planning’s Historic Preservation Office applied for and was awarded a non-capital grant by the Maryland Historical Trust in 2021 to identify historical and cultural resources associated with AAPI communities in Montgomery County.

Montgomery County Supports Preservation of Affordable Housing at Snowden’s Ridge in Silver Spring

By Patrick Herron

Published May 7, 2022 at 10:02AM

The property, located at 2035 Harlequin Terrace, Silver Spring, held its grand reopening celebration Friday. This is APAH’s first property in Montgomery County, as well as the State of Maryland. “Here at Snowden’s Ridge, the County supported preservation of existing affordable housing,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “To expand affordable housing efforts, I proposed $140 million housing budget – the largest in County history – including a dedicated $40 million NOAH fund to preserve affordable housing. Preserving affordability preserves communities and protects families from displacement. We need the $40 million NOAH Fund to protect more residents, as we did here at Snowden’s Ridge.”

The County provided a $1.5 million CDBG loan and $1.25 million HIF loan in 2019 to support the acquisition. When the initial HIF loan was repaid, the property retained the existing CDGB loan and the County provided a new $5 million HIF loan for recapitalization and renovation, along with a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement. The loans and PILOT provided by Montgomery County support affordability, with all 87 apartment units utilizing project-based vouchers targeting families at 30 percent AMI. The property includes 12 one-bedroom units; 21 two-bedroom units; and 54 three-bedroom units. Five units were converted to be fully accessible.