Government

Beyond MoCo

U.S. Senate Passes the “Sunshine Protection Act”, Which Would Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

By Patrick Herron

The United States Senate passed the “Sunshine Protection Act” by unanimous consent today. The bill would make Daylight Saving permanent and put an end to having to change your clocks twice a year. The bill will now need to pass through the House, before going to President Biden. According to the H.R.69 – Sunshine Protection Act of 2021, this bill makes daylight savings time the new, permanent standard time. States with areas exempt from daylight savings time may choose the standard time for those areas.

The bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act was introduced by Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Ed Markey (D-MA). Daylight Saving Time began in the U.S. in 1918 and was extended by four weeks in 2007. Daylight saving time began this year this past Sunday, March 13, and lasts until November, 6.

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MoCo Government

Montgomery County Council Meets on March 15 at 9:45 a.m. to Review Latest Public Health Information, Legislation Establishing Police Accountability Board, Measures to Promote Biohealth Campuses and Enhance Sports Opportunities

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County:

For Immediate Release: Monday, March 14, 2022

Go to Montgomery County Council Meets on March 15 at 9:45 a.m. to Review Latest Public Health Information, Legislation Establishing Police Accountability Board, Measures to Promote Biohealth Campuses and Enhance Sports Opportunities Read more
Health

Council to Introduce Resolution That Affirms MoCo’s Support for Public Health Officials After Former Public Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles Resigned After Receiving Threats and Racist/Homophobic Messages

By Patrick Herron

On Tuesday, Council Vice President Evan Glass will introduce a resolution affirming Montgomery County’s support for public health officials. The resolution calls for unity and civil discourse after former health officer Dr. Travis Gayles received threats to his safety, as well as racist and homophobic messages. According to a press release, “two candidates for the vacant Public Health Officer position have declined offers of employment citing the public vitriol and concerns for their safety.”

Back in September, Gayles told WTOP, “unfortunately, public health folks have been made to be the scapegoats or enemies of progress,” when it came to reopening businesses and schools, when “we just want to make sure that people are safe.”

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MoCo Government

Montgomery County’s ‘Housing Week’ Recognizes Public and Private Efforts to Ensure People Impacted by COVID-19 Were Not Displaced and Had a Place to Live During the Pandemic 

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County:

For Immediate Release: Monday, March 14, 2022

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MoCo

Lorna Phillips Forde Announces Candidacy for County Council, District 2

By Patrick Herron

Lorna Phillips Forde announced her candidacy for Montgomery County Council, District 2 on March 2.  She has previously served on the Board of Directors at the Manna Food Center as the Chair of the Advocacy Task Force, as well as served as the president of the Montgomery County Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Press release from Lorna Phillips Forde for County Council:

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MoCo

Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination No Longer Required to Attend Montgomery County Council Meetings 

By Patrick Herron

The Montgomery County Council will hold its first in-person meeting in over two years tomorrow, March 15. Council President Gave Albornoz announced today that proof of COVID-19 vaccination will no longer be required to attended.

At today’s media availability, Albornoz said, “upon further reflection and consultation, we’ve decided to not have that be a requirement, to maintain consistency and access to all of our various county facilities, but we do strongly recommend that people do continue to be vaccinated. It has undeniably been the best tool and resource in our fight against COVID-19.”

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Highways / Interstates

Speed Cameras Could be Coming to the ICC / Maryland Route 200

By Patrick Herron

This past Friday, the Maryland General Assembly held a hearing to consider House Bill 811, which proposes the addition of speed cameras on MD Route 200.

The bill, which was introduced on February 3 of this year, would place cameras in areas where there have been a high number of collisions.

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Education

Nominations for the Board of Education’s Awards for Distinguished Service to Public Education due by March 16

By Patrick Herron

The Montgomery County Board of Education is currently accepting nominations for the Awards for Distinguished Service to Public Education. Nominations must be received by Wednesday, March 16 at 5pm.  Click here to see previous year’s winners.

The BOE established the awards in 1997 to, “recognize and show appreciation to individuals, groups, and businesses that have made exemplary contributions to public education in Montgomery County.”

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