Dear Friends,
I got a welcome surprise on my weekly media briefing when four members of Maryland Task Force 1 joined me and Fire Chief Corey Smedley for a quick update on their two weeks of helping hurricane victims in Georgia and North Carolina.The group shared the photo below before returning home. Their work to save lives during and in the immediate aftermath of big storms like Helene and Milton is amazing. If you would like to hear more from Battalion Chief Chase Fabrizio and the returning crews, follow this link.
More professionals from our area were ordered by FEMA to move in and help in the wake of Hurricane Milton. I want to thank the Maryland Task Force 1 team for answering the call and those that support this important group. It takes coordination to leave Montgomery County adequately covered while so many of our professionals are on assignment elsewhere. I asked the firefighters on the briefing to convey my thanks to their departments for supporting these efforts and keeping Montgomery County safe.
Planning Strategies Move Us In the Wrong Direction
Following up on my comments last week on two proposals that are before the County Council: the Growth and Infrastructure Policy (GIP) and the Attainable Housing Strategies (AHS), I want to explain their connection to each other and why the County Planning Board’s recommendations would negatively shape the future of our budget and the services we provide.
I want to be clear that, at this point, these comments are about the Planning Board’s proposals on the AHS and the GIP. The Council committee has made some improvements regarding the GIP, which goes to the full council next week.
The GIP is supposed to be the implementation tool for the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO). The APFO was created in response to public frustration with growth that came without the necessary infrastructure and the means to pay for it. This is a policy that has been in place for years, with the goal of making sure new development does not outpace the services and facilities we need to support it. That view changed as developer contributions to campaigns grew, and memories of the efforts it took to create this policy faded. The planning board and various councils began eroding the traffic and school standards and, most importantly, reduced the developer share of the costs for this infrastructure.
When I became a County Councilmember in 2007, we were able to strengthen the ordinance, but now the standards are worse. The payments we receive are less. Subsequent Councils did not insist on adequate funding from developers and did not want the political consequences of raising taxes on residents, so the County went down the worst possible path—reducing revenues. We have seen five reductions since 2013, weakening the definition of what is “adequate.”
The easiest solution was to redefine the adequacy tests so that nothing failed. That is part of why we have a backlog of school and transportation projects, and a bond policy that has held bond spending pretty much unchanged for seven years. Because of inflation, we have less ability to address a growing list of needs. The Planning Board’s proposed GIP is another blow in the wrong direction: fewer revenues and more exemptions from standards.
As proposed, the AHS would rezone 82 percent of the County’s single-family homes, opening neighborhoods up to denser development such as duplexes, triplexes, quads and multi-unit housing. If it were to pass as is, it would invite growth without planning for the infrastructure to accompany that growth.
At least one Planning Board member and staff have said the APFO would address the infrastructure problem. That is a nice concept, and might have been true in 2007, but because of what I outlined above, the standards and fees are no longer adequate for needs.
While the Planning Board advocates dense growth deep into single-family neighborhoods, it has also recommended a GIP that would cut the funding needed to support growth.
With growth comes increased infrastructure needs for transportation, schools, and stormwater systems. The GIP is supposed to address increased traffic and parking problems, overcrowded schools and flooding.
The Office of Management and Budget estimates that the Planning Board’s recommendations for the GIP would reduce the County’s revenue by about $28 million over the next six years. That is $28 million we will not have for transportation and schools. We are creating an inevitability of overcrowded classrooms. This is not just theory—it is what we have seen happen in parts of the County when development is not matched by infrastructure improvements.
But here is the worst part: the growth that you are being told is coming has already been planned for. The growth numbers are based on estimates by all planning boards in the region for how much of what they have already zoned will get built over the next 30 years. We planned out expected growth, and there are plenty of opportunities to build housing of all types inside these plans, particularly if the Planning Board backed off its obsession with high rises and zoned some areas for lower buildings that could be built far more affordably.
The disconnect between pushing dense growth and cutting the funding to support it does not add up. Infrastructure must accompany the development – it cannot be an afterthought.
I have said it before, and I will say it again: We cannot afford to “do harm” to our infrastructure funding through this GIP approval process. Passing this policy as proposed by the Planning Board would be harmful. We have to be able to fund the roads, schools and transit systems that our growing population will need. And cutting $28 million in revenue without a clear plan to replace it would leave us without the means to do that.
Without implementation of the APFO, residents end up shouldering the entire cost—either by paying for the infrastructure or by suffering the consequences of insufficient infrastructure like traffic and overcrowded schools.
The Planning Board has proposed a workgroup to explore replacement revenue. But there are no specifics and meanwhile, the revenues would decline. Four years ago, a different County Council cut the impact taxes, especially impacting school funding. I vetoed that bill because of harm to revenues. That Council overrode the veto and later increased recordation taxes, on residents particularly, to compensate for the loss of revenue by cutting the developer share. I do not think anyone wants to do that again.
I have long supported the idea of special taxing districts—similar to what Northern Virginia has successfully implemented—where developers and commercial property contribute their fair share to fund the infrastructure that supports their projects. But we cannot afford to cut funding now while hoping that a new system will be put in place sometime in the future.
In Tysons, the county tax on commercial property is $1.51; in Montgomery, it is $1.04. So Tysons-area companies are not fleeing to pay taxes that are almost 50 percent higher than ours. In fact, they asked for higher taxes so that Fairfax County could build the infrastructure companies need to grow their businesses and economies.
I hope we can seriously reconsider the Planning Board’s recommendations. We all want to see the County grow, but we need to make sure it grows in a sustainable and fair way. Let’s ensure we do not underfund the infrastructure that supports our growth and that the growth we are planning for benefits all our residents.
Grand Opening of Millipore Sigma Building
There is a big new addition to the Great Seneca corridor. This week Millipore Sigma held a grand opening for its new space in Rockville, near the Universities of Shady Grove.
The building is spectacular, with 250,000 square feet devoted to biosafety testing, which is a critical stage in the drug approval process. It is essential for developed drugs to be tested so they can pass safety benchmarks and make it to the marketplace. The new facility is a $286 million project and represents an $8 million investment in automation technologies.
Through the years, I have met employees at this company who worked at different locations spread across Montgomery County when it was known as BioReliance. Millipore Sigma bought out BioReliance, which had a more than 75-year history in Montgomery County, but nothing like this new state of the art facility.
This opening helps the company grow to 870 employees locally, with the expectation of at least another 300 jobs over the next several years. Having all the employees in one location in the County will enable them to collaborate and innovate more easily while serving pharma clients here and around the world.
Maryland's Secretary of Commerce, Kevin Anderson, joined us for the opening. The State loaned the company $1 million through the Maryland Department of Commerce’s Advantage Maryland program. The project also benefited from a $100,000 incentive package from our County’s Economic Development Fund.
This addition comes on the heels of recent expansion announcements from United Therapeutics and AstraZeneca, as well as development of the new University of Maryland- Institute for Health Computing. This is a strong sign that we not only have a robust biohealth industry already in place, but that we continue to grow. We will continue to be the heart of the nation's third-ranked hub for life science companies and welcome expansions like this to Montgomery County.
Save a Life: Donate Blood
The American Red Cross this summer saw the national blood supply fall by 25 percent. Blood supplies were needed faster than donations were coming in. That happened even after the organization declared a national emergency due to the shortage of blood in January.
I encourage everyone to help replenish the blood supply. One opportunity to do that is happening from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 20, at the Public Safety Training Academy on Snouffer School Road in Montgomery Village.
The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service will hold a blood drive in memory of local firefighters Carlos Alfaro, Senior and Junior. Both father and son were lost way too soon from occupational illnesses.
In 2009, Carlos Senior died after four years of treatments for multiple myeloma, which required several bone marrow transplants and many units of blood throughout the course of the illness. It came three years after Carlos Junior died from liver disease, another ailment that required multiple blood transfusions and a liver transplant. Both were born in Peru, but spent 30 and 18 years, respectively, serving Silver Spring through the Fire and Rescue Service. They were deeply devoted men who helped our community and their homeland as well.
I hope you can support this blood drive because there are many good reasons to.
Treatment Facility Opens, Data Shows Overdose Improvements
I want to provide an update on our efforts to help parents and youth dealing with drug use issues.
In September, the County started taking advantage of a new substance use treatment facility for youth available in Maryland. The County’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) worked in partnership with the Maryland Department of Health and Behavioral Health Administration to fund the reopening of the inpatient treatment program for adolescents. Even though it is not physically located in Montgomery County, more than half of the admissions so far have been Montgomery County youth in need of help.
I want to thank the State for its work in providing these needed resources. Starting two years ago, we heard from the community about the need for an in-patient option for minors in need of recovery from substance use. This facility is a welcome addition.
We are also working to find other solutions. Earlier this week, our DHHS team was back in the community listening to the public about ways to use opioid abatement funds. These are millions of dollars allotted to support services in the County from legal settlements reached with drug companies over opioids and fentanyl.
We have taken a holistic approach to the problem by increasing awareness about the dangers of fentanyl, a synthetic drug 50 times more powerful than heroin. We have also made anti-overdose drugs like Narcan widely available. Our DHHS professionals have also been proactive in hosting community meetings and using our community and state partners to address concerns. An update from the Centers for Disease Control shows that nationwide, there has been a sharp decline in overdose deaths. It amounts to a 10 percent drop in deaths over the previous 12-month period.
On Wednesday, Rahul Gupta, the director of the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy and Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller were in Montgomery County to get a look at the wellness centers of Montgomery County Public Schools. The County operates 16 Health and Wellness Centers in our schools, focused on a comprehensive range of services. They include preventive medical care, sick care, mental health, social services and other services that promote positive youth development in a familiar and family friendly environment. Addressing the mental health of students is crucial, and these community resources help us do that to provide the support for every student.
I am proud of the work our County is doing to help address concerns around mental health substance use in the County. I hope we continue to see positive developments from these efforts and a continuing decline in overdoses moving forward. If you would like to keep up with local overdose reports from our emergency responders, visit knowtherisksmd.org.
New Event Tied to Breast Cancer Awareness
Montgomery County is cohosting “The Park Goes Pink for Breast Cancer” at Wheaton Regional Park from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12. The free event aims to highlight the importance of early detection and the need for regular screenings and education to address this life-threatening disease.
I want to thank Maryland Delegate Pamela Queen for joining me this week during my weekly media briefing and the African American Health Program for leading the way on this initiative. The event will feature free health screenings, giveaways, raffles, music and local vendors. Breast cancer survivors and caregivers will receive special recognition.
There are many people in our community, including Delegate Queen, with first-hand knowledge of the breast cancer battle. She is a survivor and one of many people with encouragement and lessons to share.
Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths for females in Maryland after lung cancer. There are significant racial disparities between Black women and White women for breast cancer mortality, with Black women diagnosed more often at a later stage.
Another problem noted by Montgomery County’s Public Health Officer Dr. Kisha Davis is that despite low rates of breast cancer in Black women, the mortality rate remains high because it is not detected until too late.
Preventative measures and early detection are crucial in treating the disease effectively and saving lives. The National Breast Cancer Foundation has a three-step guide to early detection that includes information about self-exams, what to expect during a doctor’s visit and guides next steps after a mammogram.
To learn more about the different ways to detect cancer early, visit the African American Health Program website at aahpmontgomerycounty.org.
Interfaith Outreach on Climate Change Event
Our faith community is nationally known for being one of the most diverse places of worship in the nation. Those organizations are also good at working together, which is one reason we decided to bring together as many as possible to help with our climate crisis.
Faith leaders and representatives from houses of worship are invited to attend "Climate Solutions for Congregations" from 2-6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13, at the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s Wheaton headquarters. The summit will focus on the benefits of environmental stewardship. It will bring together different congregations to expand outreach and connect faith communities to grant opportunities for green infrastructure.
Our faith communities have been important partners in helping combat hunger, provide for the needy, address health disparities and address divisions and hate. We already working with them on developing affordable housing on their excess property. They can also play an important role in addressing the climate crisis both locally and globally. We are asking everyone to think about reducing their carbon footprint as we try to combat climate change.
The County has taken unprecedented steps over the past few years toward a cleaner and safer place to live for everyone. That effort continues this budget cycle, which you can see here. This summit is a great way to advance climate-smart programs that benefit the entire community.
Office of Food Resilience Funds Grants for Local Growers
The County’s Office of Food Systems Resilience has announced how community grant money will be distributed to help increase the amount of locally produced food that benefits families in need.
The Farm to Food Bank Collaborative Funding Program awarded $134,000 to 10 farms in Montgomery County. The mission of this grant program is to support long-term resilience in the food supply and to enhance nutritious options for residents receiving help with groceries.
On the recipient’s side, grant money will go toward purchasing equipment that improves day-to-day operations in a number of ways. Farms will be able to expand the amount of food they grow, store and share. Investing in community partners is a great way to help show that that their role is essential in the local food chain.
Our local farms play a critical role in ensuring that fresh, healthy food is available to our residents, especially those experiencing food insecurity. A report released a few weeks ago by the Montgomery County Food Council found a five percent jump in the need for help from last year and the highest rate of demand the group has ever seen.
The issue of hunger is hitting families due to rising costs of living. Nearly one out of every three people in our region in need of assistance has a college degree and three out of four have jobs, but are still struggling to feed their families.
The Office of Food Systems Resilience worked with Manna Food Center to determine the recipients of these grants. The Morningstar Foundation also provided nearly $30,000 so that more of these products can be refrigerated and help more families. I want to thank our partners for helping get this grant money into the hands of people who can turn it into more nutritious options for families.
Yom Kippur Begins on Oct. 11
Yom Kippur begins this evening, Friday, Oct. 11, and continues through sundown on Saturday. For the Jewish community, it is a day of reflection, repentance and reverence.
It is also a time to hope that the coming year brings peace to all.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day
For the fourth consecutive year, Montgomery County will honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the second Monday of October. We stand with numerous other municipalities in forgoing Columbus Day recognition to pay tribute to the men and women who lived in North America before the European explorers. Columbus was not a good human being, and he opened the new world to hundreds of years of brutal subjugation to enrich the kings, queens and nobles of Europe.
We have a responsibility to own the truth that these continents were not “discovered” by Christopher Columbus. They already were occupied by many people. The mistreatment of our indigenous people continues today, and we should be cognizant of that. It is not ancient history—it is ongoing.
I remember when people first started asking why we should be celebrating someone as bad as Columbus. It was not immediately accepted, but over time, people came to learn of what he did when he got here, and it made many of us uncomfortable. As a County, we pride ourselves on our diversity, but among those different groups and nationalities, there are 30,000 Marylanders with indigenous roots and close to seven million nationwide. This is an important day to recognize and acknowledge our history.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
County Executive
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