Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: Upholding his commitment to protecting the public from those who violate consumer laws, Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced today that his Consumer Protection Division has reached a settlement with Charm City Puppies, Inc. and its owner, Wayne Cossentino (Charm City Puppies). The Division alleged that Charm City Puppies violated the Consumer Protection Act when it sold puppies to consumers in violation of the “No More Puppy Mills Act.”
The Maryland legislature passed the No More Puppy Mills Act, and in January 2020 it became illegal for retail pet stores to sell puppies. Under the settlement, Charm City Puppies is barred from offering, selling, or transferring dogs from Maryland. Charm City Puppies and its owner also agreed to refund payments made by Maryland consumers who purchased dogs with certain conditions since January 1, 2020, or pay for treatment of certain conditions. The settlement bans Charm City Puppies from selling dogs in Maryland and requires the company to pay a civil penalty of $75,000 that increases to $250,000 if the company or its owners breach the agreement.
“The sale of puppies sourced through puppy mills is illegal in Maryland. The No More Puppy Mills Act was passed to protect pets, and our office will not tolerate those who endanger those pets by violating the law,” said Attorney General Brown. “Former Charm City Puppies customers who purchased a dog that was sick or had a congenital defect are eligible for refunds.” Consumers who are eligible for refunds will be contacted by the Attorney General’s Office. Consumers may contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 410-576-6569 with questions.
Per the Maryland Attorney General Office (1/17): Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today demonstrated his steadfast commitment to protecting our communities by holding gun manufacturers and dealers accountable for their conduct that contributes to gun violence. With a coalition of 18 Attorneys General, Attorney General Brown filed an amicus brief supporting states’ rights to enact legislation that protects the public from firearms industry practices that endanger their safety. In the brief, the coalition argues that states – in this case, the challenged
law was enacted in New York – have the authority to protect residents and public safety.
New York enacted its statute to hold gun industry members accountable for the irresponsible sale and marketing of firearms when that conduct results in harm to the public. Under the law, public officials or private citizens can file a lawsuit against a gun industry member that knowingly or recklessly endangers the safety or health of the public in New York state through the unlawful or unreasonable sale, manufacturing, importing, or marketing of firearms. Gun industry members can also be held liable when they fail to use reasonable controls and procedures to prevent
firearms from being unlawfully used or sold in New York state.
“We need to keep guns out of the hands of those who would do violence in our communities. It is lawful and Constitutional for states to enact legislation that protects their residents from bad actors in the gun industry,” said Attorney General Brown. “These entities should be held accountable under the law for any misconduct that threatens public safety.”
Several members of the firearms industry sued New York, arguing that the statute is preempted by federal law and is unconstitutional. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York dismissed the lawsuit. The coalition of Attorneys General is now asking the appellate court to affirm the lower court’s ruling, which found that the law is not preempted by the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, a federal law that limits civil remedies against gun industry members for harms caused solely by the misconduct of individuals who use firearms. The court also found that the law did not run afoul of either the Dormant Commerce Clause or the Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Attorney General Brown and the coalition argue that New York’s statute is lawful and benefits the public. As the brief explains, empirical evidence suggests a direct link between the harmful effects of gun violence and the irresponsible actions of gun industry members, such as dealers failing to enact reasonable controls to prevent straw purchasing or manufacturers designing novel marketing schemes to target vulnerable youth. New York’s law serves the important purpose of deterring gun industry members from engaging in irresponsible practices that actively contribute to increasing gun violence and, where necessary, holds those who engage in such tactics accountable for their actions.
Joining Attorney General Brown in the brief are the Attorneys General of California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/press/2023/011723a.pdf
Wes Moore was sworn in today as the 63rd governor of Maryland at a ceremony in Annapolis that included an introduction by legendary talk show host Oprah Winfrey. Moore is a native of Takoma Park, who grew up in the area until he was 6 years old, moving to New York after his father passed away. He returned to Maryland for college and attended Johns Hopkins University where he studied international relations and economics and graduated Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Beta Kappa in 2001. From 2017 to 2021 Moore served as the CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation– a charitable organization which attempts to alleviate problems caused by poverty in New York City. Moore is the first African American to be elected Governor of Maryland.
Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller was also sworn into office today. Miller is a former member of the Maryland House of Delegates, where she represented District 15 in Montgomery County and is the first South Asian woman to become lieutenant governor.
Maryland we march forward together. pic.twitter.com/COzBBg2LDb
— Gov. Wes Moore (@iamwesmoore) January 18, 2023
Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County’s Department of Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) will re-open its Montrose store under its upgraded retail concept, “Oak Barrel & Vine,” at 9:45 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 27. The celebration and ribbon cutting will occur in front of the store, located at 1205-B Rockville Pike in the Montrose Crossing shopping center in Rockville. County Executive Marc Elrich, other elected officials and alcohol industry representatives plan to attend the opening.
The Oak Barrel & Vine branded stores feature handpicked items with a focus on spirits and local products. The upgraded store will have 25 percent more shelf space, a dedicated tasting area, queue lines for faster checkout and wayfinding signs for a more inviting shopping experience.
For the grand opening, and in the days that follow, some rare and allocated items will be available for purchase. Each specific highly allocated item will be limited to one bottle per customer. No more than two highly allocated bottles can be purchased per customer, per day. The items will be available for purchase when the doors open at 10 a.m.
The grand opening also will include tastings from two local manufacturers between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Customers will be able to sample unique, flavored spirits from Bethesda-based Butterfly Spirits, as well as craft beers from Silver Spring-based Silver Branch Brewing Co. These products will be available for purchase at the opening and throughout the weekend.
“ABS is an incredible County government service, having contributed more than $35 million of revenue last year alone to the taxpayers of Montgomery County and more than $306 million over the last 10 years, in addition to the health and safety benefits through safe alcohol distribution,” said County Executive Elrich. “Under the leadership of Director Kathie Durbin, our ABS employees have been working hard to update their facilities and systems in order to better serve their customers and increase efficiencies. I am impressed with the improvements made at the Montrose location and look forward to more ABS stores being updated in the near future.”
The Montrose store is one of the oldest and busiest ABS stores and is popular because of its central location and ample parking. It is the second ABS store to be upgraded to the Oak Barrel & Vine brand.
The first Oak Barrel & Vine store, located in the Cabin John Village Shopping Center, opened in 2021 and has become a customer favorite. A third Oak Barrel & Vine store is currently under construction in the Gaithersburg Square shopping center and is expected to open in spring 2023. ABS intends to upgrade its remaining retail stores to the Oak Barrel & Vine brand over the next several years.
“We are excited to introduce a second Oak Barrel & Vine store to Montgomery County,” said ABS Director Kathie Durbin. “This is our store of the future, and it is designed to reflect our community by showcasing local products, providing tastings and events and offering a dynamic shopping experience.”
Beginning on Jan. 27, the Montrose store will be open from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon-5 p.m. on Sundays. For a full list of ABS store locations and hours, visit the ABS website.
ABS is the alcohol wholesaler of beer, wine, and spirits for Montgomery County and operates 26 retail stores throughout the County. In addition, ABS manages alcohol licensing, enforcement and education for more than 1,000 businesses. Generating more than $35 million in net income annually, its profits are used to pay down County debt with a large portion deposited in the general fund to pay for resident services that would otherwise be funded by County tax dollars. Follow ABS on Facebook and Twitter.
Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich today transmitted his $5.4 billion Recommended Fiscal Year 2024 Capital Budget and Amendments to the FY23-28 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to the County Council. The recommendations are a $136.7 million (2.6 percent) increase from the previously approved capital budget. This is the second year of the County’s two-year capital budget. As a result, adjustments are limited to project changes that either meet the County’s CIP amendment criteria or are necessary to address capital or operating budget constraints. To see the complete recommended FY24 Capital Budget and amended FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program, go to https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/omb/publications.html
“My FY24 CIP amendment recommendations take advantage of opportunities to leverage significant non-County resources and reflect our broadly shared values of prioritizing education and core infrastructure improvements while considering racial equity and climate change concerns,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “These amendments are all affordable within available resources. However, high inflation due to supply chain issues, labor shortages and a tight construction market has had a major impact on this CIP proposal. Without more funding, we are limited in our ability to solve local problems and to build the kind of healthy, just, economically vibrant community we want for our residents.”
CIP Recommendations Highlights
- $1.72 billion in General Obligation bond issuances over the next six years
- This is $40 million more than the current Spending Affordability Guideline limit.
- A modest increase in bond authorizations is recommended in FY24 and FY25 to respond to a change in conditions affecting State Aid for school construction.
- $1,874,811,000 for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) capital projects.
- This is an increase of $104,010,000 (5.9 percent) from the prior approved budget.
- Record amount of funding for schools if approved by Council.
- Funding recommended for building new Burtonsville Elementary School instead of renovating current building.
- High School wellness center construction funding for Blake, Crown, Damascus, Einstein, Magruder, Northwood, Springbrook, and Woodward high schools as well as planning costs for a future center at Poolesville High School.
- MCPS’ new Materials Management Building Relocation project to facilitate redevelopment of the Stonestreet site in Rockville and modernization of warehouse facilities is added.
- $345,299,000 for Montgomery College capital projects.
- This is a $9,484,000 (2.8 percent) increase over the prior approved budget.
- $30.2 million increase for the preservation of Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) program.
- $282.7 million for Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) CIP projects.
- This is a $7.9 million (2.9 percent) increase over the prior approved budget.
- Substantial funding for the Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center included for the first time.
- The County has selected Montgomery Housing Partnership’s (MHP) proposal to combine an affordable housing development with a new arts center in the Wheaton Arts and Entertainment District
- MHP will develop the former WMATA site with two affordable rental buildings of 280 apartments, a standalone garage and 40 affordable for-sale units.
- The arts center will be included on the ground floor of the building fronting on Georgia Avenue.
- The center will include two performance spaces, classrooms, gallery space, back of house support space, and administrative offices.
- $1.4 billion in funding for projects that advance Montgomery County’s Climate Action Plan goals.
- Additional funding to provide a full upgrade of the County’s recycling center.
- Funding for planning and design of a new transit maintenance depot to accommodate an expanded fleet and low emission vehicle maintenance and fueling/charging facilities.
- Funding for new HVAC systems for the Executive Office Building, the Judicial Center and the 4th District Police Station that will improve energy efficiency.
- New transit maintenance depot.
- Activities to locate a site and begin preliminary design to have a new depot in place prior to the expiration of the Nicholson lease to accommodate fleet growth due to the introduction of Flex, Extra, and Bus Rapid Transit (Flash) services.
- Lactation rooms in all county buildings.
- Recommended funding will assess all County-owned and leased facilities, as well as improvements needed to comply with Bill 11-22 Lactation Rooms in County Buildings.
- Elizabeth Square Mixed-use Development in Silver Spring.
- The South County Regional Recreation and Aquatics Center (SCRRAC) is being built as part of the Housing Opportunities Commission’s (HOC) Elizabeth Square mixed-income, multigenerational, mixed-use development.
- Recommended funding will provide HOC with half the requested funds to demolish their current Elizabeth House public housing development. Additional County loans will also support the demolition project.
- Funding has been increased to complete Elizabeth Square WSSC Water sewer and storm line improvements.
Budget Equity:
As part of the FY23-28 two-year CIP process, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) assisted the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice (ORESJ) in developing a budget equity tool to encourage departments and decision makers to consider the racial equity and social justice impacts of proposed projects, project amendments and budget decisions. ORESJ staff conducted training and provided technical assistance to departments as they requested CIP amendments. In addition, racial equity was considered in assessing possible CIP additions and deferrals. Where possible, efforts were made to hold harmless projects which could address racial disparities.
In their analysis, the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice also noted ways in which different approaches to implementing projects could impact racial equity. This input is useful to continuing conversations about how programs can be structured to achieve our racial equity and social justice goals.
Proposed CIP project changes that have the greatest potential to advance racial equity and social justice include the $30.2 million increase for the preservation of Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing; additional High School Wellness Centers in the highest need schools; the Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center; Digital Equity – Montgomery Connects grant funding to bring broadband to affordable housing complexes; school construction projects serving communities primarily comprised of Black, Latino and low-income students; and Montgomery College projects.
Link to Photos or Video: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzz6XE
Outgoing Governor Larry Hogan released a press release this morning touting a 77% approval rating on his final day in office. Governor-Elect Wes Moore and Lieutenant Governor-Elect Aruna Miller will be sworn in on Wednesday, January 18, at the State Capitol in Annapolis. Per the State of Maryland:
WJZ: Hogan to leave office with high approval ratings intact, Gonzales Poll finds
“A new administration is shaping up in Annapolis as Gov. Larry Hogan says goodbye with his approval ratings intact. … A Gonzales Poll released overnight found Hogan will be leaving the office tomorrow on a high note, departing with the same strong job approval ratings he’s enjoyed for most of his time in office. The telephone poll of about 800 registered voters statewide was taken last week found statewide. The pollsters found 77% of Maryland voters approve of the job Hogan has done as Maryland’s governor. Despite being in an overwhelmingly Democratic state, Hogan—a moderate Republican—has remained popular, with 81% approval among Democrats. Equally significant is Hogan’s job approval rating among Black voters, which stands at 81% percent, compared to 76% for white voters, according to the poll.”
WBAL Radio: Hogan to leave office with a 77% approval rating in Maryland
“Jan. 17 marks Gov. Larry Hogan’s last full day in office, and a new Gonzales Poll finds Hogan is leaving the office with a 77% approval rating. Pollster Patrick Gonzales said that Hogan’s approval rating has remained between 67% and 78% since 2016. ‘In an eight-year period, Hogan’s approval rating has remained very high among Marylanders,’ Gonzales said.”
Maryland Matters: “Political notes: Hogan rides off into the sunset with approval ratings intact… Gov. Larry Hogan (R) will leave office Wednesday with the same stratospheric job approval ratings that he’s enjoyed for most of his time in office. … Hogan’s job approval ratings would be the envy of any politician, and far outstrip voters’ feelings for President Biden.”
WBFF: “After 8 years in office, Governor Hogan is saying goodbye as Maryland’s governor. He’s going out with the same high approval ratings that he enjoyed for all of his time in office.”
Per the State of Maryland: Last night (1/12), Governor Larry Hogan and First Lady Yumi Hogan hosted their final annual Lunar New Year celebration at Government House. More than 200 guests joined the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives and the Governor’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs for the celebration, including dignitaries representing Washington, D.C.’s diplomatic corps and Maryland’s Asian American community leaders.
The Lunar New Year is one of the most widely celebrated and important cultural traditions observed by numerous Asian communities across the world and in Maryland. This year welcomes the Year of the Rabbit—a symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity. In addition to being the last official Government House reception of the Hogan administration, this marked the first official gathering since the permanent installation of the First Lady’s portrait in the main foyer alongside former first ladies.
Lunar New Year celebrations center around visits with family and paying homage to senior relatives. Traditions include lion dances, firecrackers, and eating foods symbolic of health, longevity, good luck, and prosperity, in addition to children receiving red envelopes with money inside.
Per the City of Rockville: The Mayor and Council will hold a public hearing on recommendations by the Charter Review Commission to increase the number of elected councilmembers from four to six during their Monday, Jan. 30 meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. Lowering the voting age to 16, expanding the size of the Mayor and Council, term limits, representative districts, and consideration of ranked-choice voting were among recommendations the city’s Charter Review Commission presented to the Mayor and Council on Dec. 12. The charter change recommendation subject to the public hearing would expand the Mayor and Council from five members to seven, meaning that, if enacted, the legislative body would comprise a mayor and six councilmembers.
HOW TO TAKE PART:
To submit comments, email [email protected], or write to the City Clerk’s Office, 111 Maryland Ave., Rockville, Maryland, 20850, by 10 a.m. the day of the public hearing. Those submitting testimony should provide their names and addresses.
To sign up to testify virtually during the hearing, send your name and phone number to [email protected], no later than 10 a.m. the day of the meeting.
All comments will be acknowledged by the Mayor and Council at the meeting and added to the agenda for public viewing at www.rockvillemd.gov/AgendaCenter. Agendas are typically posted a few days before the meeting.
To practice responsible social distancing, Mayor and Council meetings are conducted by teleconference and broadcast on Rockville 11, channel 11 on county cable, livestreamed at www.rockvillemd.gov/rockville11, and available a day after each meeting at www.rockvillemd.gov/videoondemand.
Learn more about the recommendations made by the city’s Charter Review Commission.
Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Council will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 10 a.m. The meeting will begin with a proclamation presented by Councilmember Kristin Mink, Council President Evan Glass and County Executive Marc Elrich to celebrate Lunar New Year. Two additional proclamations will be presented at 1 p.m. The first, presented by Councilmember Kate Stewart and Council President Glass, will recognize the retirement of Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Executive Director Chuck Bean. The second, presented by Councilmember Dawn Luedtke and County Executive Elrich will recognize Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
More detail on each agenda item is provided below.
Legislative Session
Introduction: Councilmember Sidney Katz will introduce Bill 1-23, which would update eligibility for certain elderly individuals and retired military service members to receive a property tax credit, increasing the assessment threshold by $50,000. This bill seeks to update the assessed value to $700,000 for senior residents and $550,000 for retired members of the military to account for increases in property values during the last few years. The existing credit amount is 20 percent of the County property tax imposed on the dwelling. The credit must be granted each year for seven years, if the individual remains eligible for the credit. Councilmembers Luedtke, Marilyn Balcombe, Natali Fani-González, Gabe Albornoz and Vice President Andrew Friedson are cosponsors of the legislation.
A public hearing is scheduled for February 7 at 1:30 p.m.
Expedited Bill 2-23, Board of Investment Trustees – Membership – Amendments
Introduction: The Council will introduce Expedited Bill 2-23, which would modify the membership of the Board of Investment Trustees by replacing the Director of Human Resources with the Chief Labor Relations Officer as an ex-officio member, and generally amend the law regarding the administration of employees’ retirement benefits.
The lead sponsor is the Council President, at the request of the County Executive. A public hearing is scheduled for February 7 at 1:30 p.m.
Expedited Bill 32-22, Department of Health and Human Services – Structure and Positions
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Expedited Bill 32-22, which would establish the chief of public health services as a position in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and eliminate the chief operating officer position in the department. Additionally, the legislation would remove the requirement that the County health officer also serve as the chief of the Direct Service Division for Public Services.
The lead sponsor is Councilmember Albornoz, who was serving as Council president when the bill was introduced, at the request of the County Executive.
Introduction and vote expected: The Council is expected to introduce and vote on a resolution to approve Executive Regulation 18-22, Amendments to the Montgomery County Personnel Regulations – Performance-Based Pay. The regulation would amend the personnel regulations to provide enhanced performance-based pay for the executive director of the Montgomery County Employee Retirement Plans (MCERP). County Executive Elrich is recommending this change to recruit highly qualified investment executives.
Interview: At 2 p.m. the Council is scheduled to conduct an interview with Dr. James Bridgers for the position of chief of public health services in DHHS. Dr. Bridgers was appointed as acting chief health officer of DHHS on Sept. 8, 2021. The Montgomery County Code requires Council approval for an acting official to serve in this capacity for more than six months. On May 3, 2022, the County Executive requested that the Council approve the extension of this appointment until Sept. 8, 2022, due to the upcoming election. On July 6, 2022, the County Executive requested that the Council approve an additional extension of this appointment until March 8, 2023. Dr. Bridgers’ appointment as chief of public health services will become effective upon confirmation by the Council.
Consent Calendar
Each item on the Council’s Consent Calendar can be found on the Council agenda for Tuesday, Jan. 17, which is available on the Council website.
Introduction: Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles will introduce a resolution to recognize the exiled Kashmiri Pandit refugee and asylee population in Montgomery County on Jan. 19, 2023. The resolution would recognize January 19 as Kashmiri Pandit Remembrance Day.
Receipt and release: The Council will receive and release the Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO) Report 2023-1, Transferable Development Rights and Building Lot Termination Programs in Montgomery County. The report responds to the Council’s request for OLO to prepare a report that examines the history of the Transferable Development Rights (TDR) and Building Lot Termination (BLT) programs, reviews the original intent of these programs and assesses how well implementation over time has aligned with program goals and objectives.
Public Hearings
The Council will hold the following public hearings at 1:30 p.m. Residents can visit the Council website to learn about the multiple ways to provide testimony.
ZTA 22-11, Technical Corrections
Public hearing: The Council will hold a public hearing on Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 22-11, Technical Corrections, which would change the voting requirements for map amendments and zoning text amendments and make other technical corrections to the Zoning Ordinance related to expanding the Council from nine to 11 members.
The lead sponsor is Council Vice President Friedson.
ZTA 22-12, Overlay Zones Clarksburg East & West Environmental Overlay – Exemptions
Public hearing: The Council will hold a public hearing on ZTA 22-12, Overlay Zones -Clarksburg East and West Environmental Overlay – Exemptions, which would clarify that any master-planned bikeway located in the Clarksburg East or West Environmental Overlay Zone is exempt from the impervious surface restrictions. Impervious surface is a hard surface area that prevents or substantially impedes the natural infiltration of water into the underlying soil.
The lead sponsor is Council President Glass, at the request of the Planning Board.
Bill 33-22, Capital Improvements Program – Affordable Housing Feasibility Study – Required
Public hearing: The Council will hold a public hearing on Bill 33-22 Capital Improvements Program – Affordable Housing Feasibility Study – Required, which would require the County Executive to submit an affordable housing feasibility study to the Council for certain capital projects and establish a review process for the Council to determine project feasibility for colocation of affordable housing with the goal of generating more affordable housing units.
The lead sponsor is Council Vice President Friedson. The cosponsors include Councilmembers Katz and Albornoz and former Councilmembers Nancy Navarro, Craig Rice and Hans Riemer.
Public hearing and vote expected: The Council will hold a public hearing and is expected to vote on a $750,000 supplemental appropriation to the County Government’s FY23 Operating Budget to fund additional tree planting as part of the Department of Environmental Protection’s Tree Montgomery Program.
Public hearing and vote expected: The Council will hold a public hearing and is expected to vote on a supplemental appropriation for DHHS’ FY23 Operating Budget and designate a non-competitive contract award to EveryMind to operate the 988 Lifeline Call Center. The funds will support operational and administrative costs related to supplying Lifeline and 988 hotline services and additional technology and equipment expenses.
Public hearing and vote expected: The Council will hold a public hearing and is expected to vote on a supplemental appropriation to the Department of Transportation for the Chesapeake Bay Trust Urban Trees Grant award, which would provide funds for tree planting projects in Equity Focus Areas. The appropriation is needed to authorize the expenditure of the first part of a $362,470 grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust to increase the tree canopy along County roadways. The balance of the grant will be available in fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
The Council meeting schedule may change from time to time. The current Council and Committee agendas, Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review can be viewed at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html.
The Council recommends that residents, who choose to attend in-person Council meetings, get fully vaccinated to protect themselves and others against COVID-19. If this is not possible, virtual participation is encouraged.
Council and committee meetings are streamed live on the Council’s web page via YouTube and on Facebook Live and can be watched on County Cable Montgomery on Xfinity/RCN 6 HD 996/1056, Fios 30, and on the CCM live stream.
Release ID: 23-007
Media Contact: Sonya Healy 240-777-7926, Genevieve Kurtz 240-777-7805
Per Montgomery County:
Dear Friends,
The most important data point we have consistently monitored since the beginning of the COVID-19 health crisis is the stress that our hospitals are experiencing due to significant increase in patients who need care. When our hospitals are too overwhelmed, patients have to deal with long delays before receiving care or getting a beds when they have urgent needs. I think about what happened to former Councilmember Craig Rice’s mother last year after suffering a heart attack and worry about how many more families have gone through something similar. Our ambulance turn-around times at the hospital have slowed down, potentially taking lifesaving services off the street for longer periods of time.
These are real world consequences when our COVID, flu, RSV and other health maladies impact our hospitals. This week, during my weekly media briefing, Patsy McNeil, the chief medical officer at Adventist Health, shared how her hospitals have capacity issues, staffing shortages and how they impact the health care system. The surge in COVID patients is difficult for staff and is a strain on resources. Her comments mirror what we have seen throughout our community with fewer people taking the virus seriously and not protecting themselves and others.
It is not just one hospital. This week, the Maryland Hospital Association reported a 90 percent capacity rate, with some hospitals already completely full.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last year developed the community level status barometer, two-thirds of which is based on how busy hospitals are with COVID patients. For several weeks, our community status has been at the “medium” level, but now we are dangerously close to reaching the “high” category. We are still not close to the transmission levels we saw last winter, but we are trending that way again.
Emergency room data shows a recent spike of more than 300 visits to local hospitals, which is a high we have not seen since the peak of the Omicron surge last winter.
Montgomery County was the first major jurisdiction to reach, and then surpass, the 90 percent full vaccination rate. However, less than one in three eligible residents have gotten the bivalent booster, which is the best defense against COVID-19.
All we have to do is look back over the last several weeks to see the impact. December was our worst month for COVID deaths in Montgomery County in nearly a year.
In response, we are going to focus on how we can increase our outreach to vulnerable communities. Data tells us more than half of our 65-and-over population has received a bivalent, which is good news because they are among the most vulnerable. But we have a lot more work to do with young people and our Black and Latino residents.
We are at a point in the pandemic where vaccines are widely available, but many have tuned out or just do not realize how much protection the new booster provides.
These are numerous studies that show the effectiveness and safety of the retooled vaccine meant to target the Omicron variant. It is still effective despite the fact that we are seeing more subvariants like the X.BB.1.5 accounting for more cases.
Beyond vaccines and boosters, voluntary facemask use in indoor public places is strongly recommended. Facemasks should be worn in health care and congregate sites like shelters and nursing homes. Other safety measures like washing your hands frequently and staying home if you are sick can help stop the spread of disease. Mild and even moderate cases of COVID can be treated at home after consulting a family doctor and do not necessarily mean a trip to the hospital is required.
Let’s remain vigilant and keep everyone’s health in mind as many activities and gatherings are going to be indoors. Please consider those in our hospitals and on the frontlines. Get boosted. Get tested. Wear your mask when appropriate. And, continue to wash your hands regularly.
On Monday, Jan. 16, we will celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Despite it being a holiday, the idea is to not treat it like a “day off,” but as a “day on” to volunteer, participate in community service and take action to serve and assist neighbors and those most in need.
In Montgomery County, we are not just honoring Dr. King for a day, but an entire “Week of Service” from Jan. 16-21. Please follow this link to find out about some of the many projects happening that you can participate in. I encourage everyone to sign up for a service event set up by the Montgomery County Volunteer Center from noon until 3 p.m. at the Bethesda North Marriott Conference Center.
We are thankful for the many community groups that step up to organize volunteer days like this. The Montgomery County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will host a service project at the Silver Spring Civic Building from 10 a.m.-noon. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Eta Pi Zeta Chapter will host a service project at the Bauer Drive Community Center in Rockville from 10 a.m.-noon. There will be a service project in Germantown hosted by Journey’s Crossing Church from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. This year will be the first time the organization will hold the event in-person since 2020. However, the church is offering a virtual option for service for those that are not able to participate in-person.
There also will be a free community concert at 4 p.m. Monday at the Strathmore Music Center in North Bethesda in honor of the life-changing impact of Dr. King and his tireless work for equality. Each year, the Office of Human Rights settles on a theme for the performances. This year’s theme is “We Are Martin.”
Each of the performances will honor the theme and pay tribute to the positive impact Dr. King had on communities nationwide. We are asking concert goers to help those in need by donating toiletry items. Suggested items include portable shower caddies for carrying items, bars of soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, lotion, lip balm, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, new wash cloths and towels. Interfaith Works will use those donations to help in homeless shelters and others.
Tickets are free for Monday’s special event, but they must be reserved ahead of time through the Strathmore ticket system so everyone that wants a seat can have one.
I was fortunate to attend the 1963 March on Washington when I was 13 and witnessed Dr. King deliver his “I Have a Dream” speech. At the time, I had no idea that his speech would become such one of the most remembered moments in history, but I was aware that the thoughts he conveyed were important for how we look at America going forward.
I am proud of the way so many in Montgomery County have embraced his ideals, commitment, compassion and commitment to justice. Please join us in celebrating Dr. King’s legacy next week.
This program has helped approximately 14,000 households in Montgomery County receive $92 million dollars in assistance. However, the Federal government is no longer funding the program.
The County’s Department of Health and Human Services is closing the program to applicants because it is expected that the existing funding will be fully exhausted on approved applicants and current recipients.
We knew the Federal funds would not be enough, so I joined several County Executives and advocacy groups in asking Governor Hogan for emergency funding to help prevent the eviction of thousands of people. That help did not come.
It is unfortunate that the program is ending because there clearly is more need. The program excluded many families that were also struggling, but did not fit the parameters of qualifying for Federal assistance. That is too bad, and I hope that we will be able to help them with future different affordable housing and economic development growth.
As a County, we will continue to offer emergency eviction prevention services whether those hardships are COVID-related or not. For those in need of immediate help because of an eviction, we urge them to call 311 to request housing stabilization services or visit the Department of Housing and Community Affairs website.
Montgomery County Recreation created a buzz online in December with the announcement that passes to use recreation fitness centers would be free for County residents in 2023. Now it is time for County residents to take advantage of free passes. Check out this story from Fox 5 that aired last weekend about this program.
So far, we have had more than 7,500 people sign up for gym passes. This is up from only 40 during the first week of the year last January.
Signing up for a free fitness pass makes it easy for any County resident to work out close to home, near their office or at any center of the nearly two dozen locations.
Aquatic passes remain separate, and pool passes for anyone 10 and over remain available for all indoor pools.
Montgomery Recreation also is focused on Active Montgomery summer camps. Registration for those activities begins Jan. 17. These camps fill up quickly. Click here more information about the camps that we are offering this summer.
January is “National Radon Action Month.” The County’s Department of Environmental Protection is alerting residents to discounts available on radon testing kits.
Radon is an odorless and invisible gas that contains radiation. It can be released from rocks, soil and water exposed to deteriorating uranium in the soil. When it is trapped inside homes and families are exposed to radon over a long period of time, it can lead to serious health problems, especially for former smokers. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that radon is responsible for 21,000 lung cancer deaths yearly.
A study done by the U.S. Geological Survey found that parts of Montgomery County did contain elevated amounts of radon in random testing, above what is considered acceptable amounts of natural occurrence. Since 2016, the EPA has recommended radon testing when preparing to buy or sell a home and after major renovations are done.
The Maryland Department of Environment has an online application you can use to order a kit for $3 if you provide your name, email address, home address and answer a few questions. More information is available at our Radon Awareness page. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about the dangers of radon and get a low-cost test kit to protect your loved ones.
Korean American Day is today, Friday, Jan. 13. This year marks 120 years since South Korean immigrants first came to America. Montgomery County is grateful for the immense contributions of the Korean community. Residents of Korean descent make up 16 percent of our County’s Asian American-Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.
Earlier this week, I hosted a meeting with community leaders including Maryland Senator Susan Lee and Consul General Kwon from the Korean Embassy. It comes in anticipation of the Lunar New Year celebrated by our Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese communities.
I am wishing everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous Lunar New Year, which will be celebrated on Sunday, Jan. 22.
There are certainly many things to look forward with the start of the 2023 Maryland General Assembly legislative session this week. I was in Annapolis for the first day of the session and plan to return regularly over the next 90 days to work with the outstanding legislators who represent Montgomery County as we advocate for greater resources to support projects and initiatives that will improve the quality of life for our residents.
The County will be seeking State assistance on critical projects to propel our growth and boost the economic engine of the State. Exciting planned projects include our Bus Rapid Transit system and the Institute on Health Computing. Building on the progress of the last legislative session, we will be working to increase State support for our comprehensive Bus Rapid Transit system to link more neighborhoods to business corridors across the County.
Just two months ago, I joined representatives of the University of Maryland College Park, the University of Maryland Baltimore and the University of Maryland Medical System to announce the formation of the Institute for Health Computing (UM3 IHC). This new institute will bring together our County’s globally recognized life science community with the Universities’ internationally ranked bio-health and quantum computing programs to create the next generation of medicine and care.
In addition to these two very important projects, we will work with our State delegates and senators to secure financial support for significant school building upgrades, to keep the promise of the Blueprint for Maryland’s future, to combat climate change, to improve public safety and to care for all residents. You can look at a list of our legislative priorities by following this link.
Montgomery County has an outstanding delegation in the State Assembly made up of 35 senators and delegates. In fact, it is the largest delegation in the State., including a portion of District 9A that now includes part of our County. I would like to welcome Sen. Katie Fry Hester, as well as five new delegates: Del. Aaron Kaufman, Del. Bernice Meriku-North, Del. Joe Vogel, Del. Chao Wu and Del. Natalie Ziegler. I am excited to work with each of them to produce real results for Montgomery County.
Once again, our delegation members are well represented in leadership across the General Assembly. Del. Marc Korman has been selected as the new House Majority Leader and Del. Emily Shetty has been named chair of the House Democratic Caucus. They join Del. Kumar Barve, chair of the House Transportation and Environment Committee, as part of the House senior leadership team.
In the Senate, Majority Leader Nancy King and Senate Judicial Proceedings Chair Will Smith will be joined in leadership by Sen. Brian Feldman, who will lead the newly created Committee on Education, Energy and the Environment. In addition, Del. Jheanelle Wilkins will serve as chair of the Legislative Black Caucus. With other County legislators chairing several critical policy and budget subcommittees, our delegation is primed to deliver results for our County. I also look forward to continued partnerships with Senate Delegation Chair Ben Kramer and House Delegation Chair Julie Palakovich Carr.
Congratulations to all the new and returning legislative leaders, especially House Speaker Adrienne Jones and Senate President Bill Ferguson. Their leadership has been critical to the State over the last three years. I value their continued partnership.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Per MCDOT: Below are the transportation related holiday schedules for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 16.
- County offices – Will be closed
- Ride On, extRa and Flex bus services – Will operate on a Holiday schedule.
- Ride On Flash bus service – The Orange line will operate on a Holiday schedule. The Blue line (typically, weekday only) will not be in service.
- TRiPS Commuter Store at Silver Spring Transit Center – Will be open 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
- TRiPS Mobile Commuter Store – Will be closed.
- Parking at Bethesda, Silver Spring and Wheaton Public Garages, Lots and Curbside Meters – Will be free.
- Metrorail service – Will operate on a Saturday Holiday schedule from 5 a.m. to midnight. View timetables here.
- Metrobus service – Will operate on a Saturday schedule. View timetables here.
- MARC Train service – Will operate on an Rschedule on all three lines.
- MTA Commuter bus service – Check schedules at mta.maryland.gov/mlk-holiday-schedule.
View more schedule changes here.
For information on MCDOT programs and services visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, follow @MCDOTNow on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and subscribe to MCDOT’s “Go Montgomery!” newsletter.
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