April 25, 2025

Message from the County Executive Marc Elrich


Dear Friends,

This week, I delivered my State of the County address, and in lieu of my weekly video message, we are re-airing the speech.

I talked about the progress we’ve made, the challenges we’re facing and the work ahead. But more than anything, I talked about how all of it is connected—housing, education, transportation, climate, health, the economy—none of these exist in a vacuum. One problem leads to another, and one solution opens the door to more.

I also spoke about the dangerous turn we’re seeing from the federal government—how censorship, fear and disinformation are being used to divide us. Montgomery County will not go along with that. We’re going to keep living our values, and we’re going to keep investing in people.

We celebrated investments in education, from early childhood to higher education, and the growing partnership with Montgomery College and the Universities at Shady Grove (USG). We talked about new housing projects, affordable unit preservation and changes we’re making to better serve working families. I shared the progress we’ve made on bus rapid transit, clean energy, tree planting, public safety staffing and climate action.

On transportation, we covered the work we’ve done to expand Ride On service, add zero-emission buses and prepare new Bus Rapid Transit lines along MD 355 and Veirs Mill Road. We’re also investing in micro transit and regional connections—including service to Howard County along Route 29. And we’re finally fixing the basics— 500 miles of repaved roads, 63 bridges, 190 miles of rebuilt sidewalks and every County streetlight converted to LED. That’s the kind of infrastructure that makes daily life better and safer.

On health and public safety, I talked about how those areas overlap more than people think. A lot of the 911 calls we get aren’t for crime—they’re for people in crisis. So, we’re responding with more outreach, crisis counselors and partnerships between Health and Human Services and first responders. We’ve continued the weekly health briefings that started during COVID, because our work on substance use, housing instability and food insecurity didn’t end when the headlines moved on. And I talked about the successes we are seeing in our public safety and first responder recruitment efforts, that is addressing recent staffing shortages.

On economic development, we’re seeing results from years of steady work. In North Bethesda, the new Institute for Health Computing has grown to over 100 employees and is putting us on the national map for health and biomedical innovation. In East County, Viva White Oak is finally moving forward, and I’ve personally helped get every stalled project in that area unstuck. We’ve expanded our business grants, supported early-stage companies and grown our international partnerships—especially in Asia.

I also talked about the outdated tax structure holding us back. We can’t compete with regions like Northern Virginia when we’re barred from using tools that they’ve used successfully for over a decade. They’ve used their commercial taxing structure to build infrastructure, which has been crucial to attracting economic development. They didn’t see those taxes as a burden – they understood them to be investments that made their commercial corridors more competitive. And they were right – look at how the Silver Line has transformed the Tyson’s Corner area and elsewhere along the Reston corridor. If we want to build the infrastructure we say we need, we must change the way we fund it—and that means making smart, fair reforms that bring in revenue from the right sources.

If you didn’t catch the speech, I hope you’ll take some time to watch it. I don’t just want you to hear about what we’ve done—I want you to understand why we did it, and what’s next.

If you have thoughts, questions, or feedback, please reach out. This government belongs to the people who live here, and you deserve to be part of the conversation.

Recommending Withdrawing the Property Tax, Focus on the Income Tax (more progressive) and More

When I transmitted my FY26 recommended operating budget in March, I was clear about my intention to revise that recommendation after the Maryland General Assembly finalized how they were going to deal with the State’s $3 billion budget gap. Now that their session has ended, we have sent over to the County Council amendments to my recommended budget that reflect both new revenues and new costs that have been shifted to the County.


Here is what I want people to understand—Montgomery County is facing more financial pressure than we have seen in years. The federal government has been eliminating jobs and freezing grants, causing uncertainty and chaos. The State is pushing costs down to us. And the needs in our community—whether it is for schools, housing or public safety—continue to grow.

So, we have had to make some choices.

My original budget proposed a modest property tax increase that would have only applied to an education supplemental rate. But now that the State has changed the law to allow counties to raise their income tax rate from 3.2 to 3.3%, I am proposing that we do that instead of adopting the property tax increase. It is more progressive, and it allows us to eliminate the property tax increase altogether.

In addition to withdrawing the proposed property tax rate increase, I am also recommending an increase of the County’s Income Tax Offset Credit (a $60 additional credit on your property tax for a total of $752) to offset some of the fee increases. I also recommend increasing the Working Families Income Supplement, to give low-income workers a little more support.

The increase in the income tax rate is estimated to generate between $70 and $80 million in additional revenue. The total proposed budget remains at $7.7 billion.


These changes accomplish a few important things:
  • They allow us to fully fund the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) budget request.
  • They help close the structural deficit without draining reserves.
  • They protect working families from being hit hardest, especially when we know people are already struggling due to what is happening at the federal level.
If the Council does not support these revenue changes, we will be forced to make cuts. That means either MCPS or critical County government services will suffer. That is not a threat; that is just math. We cannot keep up with growing needs and declining support from the State and Federal government unless we have the resources to do it.

In addition to changing the source of revenues, we will also be submitting amendments to cover new costs pushed onto us by the State. That includes additional pension contributions for teachers and community college staff. A new cost-sharing formula for the State Department of Assessments and Taxation will now require the County to pay 90% of the costs related to the local office. Additionally, I’m sending an amendment to ensure that the Parks Department’s employee contract is fully funded. You can read the most recent memos I sent to the Council here and here. As this Federal budget changes, we will also have to adjust to what are certain to be declining levels of funding, impacting incomes throughout the County.

We have been careful in our budget recommendations and made difficult decisions. The budget I sent to the Council does not contain easy cuts. Safety net items have been a priority for both my office and Council leaders. Cutting that support may save money, but it comes at a cost.

Hungry children do not do well in school, and we will pay for that later. Reducing homelessness services only puts more people on the streets. If you try to arrest your way out of that, the cost to house them in jails is greater than the cost of providing services.

We could fund less rent support and create more families who must choose between essentials like food and medicine because they will not earn enough to keep up with everything. We could reduce funding for our health care clinics and create more sick people, who often put an added burden on hospitals. We provide a safety net because the cost of not having one is even more expensive.

Finally, we will also be adjusting a few fee-based revenues, including Emergency Medical Services and Mobile Integrated Health fees.

On my weekly media briefing, the County’s Chief Administrative Officer, Rich Madaleno, joined me to discuss the new budget plan. You can hear his thoughts and our answers to reporters’ questions by following this link.

We are doing everything we can to avoid harmful cuts and make this budget as fair, responsible, and responsive as possible. Investments in key areas are still essential and I hope to get the support from the County Council to keep serving our residents in the best possible ways.

Veto of Bill 2-25: Forgoing 100% of Property Taxes for 20 years for Select Office-to-Housing Conversions

I have vetoed Expedited Bill 2-25 because it would automatically eliminate 100% of property taxes for 20 years for developers who convert or demolish certain commercial buildings to build residential rental housing. It does that without any serious focus on affordability.

This bill gives away desperately needed County revenue without any demonstration of need. There has been no analysis determining a need for a subsidy to convince developers to convert empty office space into residential units. Developers could get millions in tax breaks, even if their projects were already viable. That’s not responsible policy—it is a blank check, and it is a corporate giveaway.

We have already seen successful conversions in Montgomery County without a single dollar of subsidy. The Guardian apartments in Silver Spring added five stories and created 178 new units, and no tax breaks were needed. So why would we now turn around and give away revenue for something the market already supports?

This bill does not meaningfully expand affordable housing either. It bumps up the moderately priced dwelling unit requirement by just a few units, barely moving the needle. And despite all the talk about workforce housing, this bill does not require any.

It also undermines the MOVE grant program, which the Council passed and I signed. This program was designed to bring businesses back into office spaces. This bill does the opposite. It encourages developers to push businesses out of half-occupied buildings. That is not good planning, and it is not good for job growth.

There is also the issue of fairness. This bill creates an uneven playing field. Developers who are already building housing in the County and paying their fair share of taxes get nothing, while others get a 20-year exemption. Why would we want to begin subsidizing market-rate housing? That is a troubling shift.

And then there is the long-term cost. Hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue would vanish. That is money we need for schools, infrastructure and public services. We have already had to cut important programs because revenue has lagged. This bill would make it even harder to fund the things residents count on, including the new residents of these buildings.

We have also heard from residents like Cheryl Gannon (president) and Alan Bowser of the Montgomery County Civic Federation; Lisa Blackwell of MCGEO; Jenny Sue Dunner and Howard Schoenholz with the Montgomery County Communities Coalition; Rohit Khanna, a Somerset Town councilmember; Lloyd Guerci with the Citizens Coordinating Committee on Friendship Heights; and Brit Simantov, representing the Kemp Mill Community.

Gannon argued that the bill should require a competitive or negotiated approach to allow the County to choose proposals with the greatest public benefit and encourage developers to put forward their best proposal. Under this bill, there is no incentive to do more than the minimum. The Council also rejected spending caps for this program, which would have contributed to fiscal certainty.

The Council passed this bill on a rushed timeline. From the introduction in early February to the final vote in early April, there was very little time for public input or serious analysis. Only one Councilmember—Vice President Will Jawando—voted against it. Unless four other Councilmembers change their vote, the Council will override my veto.

If you are concerned about what this would mean for the County’s finances, equity or the ability to deliver basic services, now is the time for residents to speak up, reach out to Councilmembers, and let them know that this isn’t the right way to encourage housing development and is not a smart use of public dollars. You can find their email addresses here.

We can support housing without blindly giving away revenue. We already have tools to approve tax exemptions when they are needed. That’s how we should operate—not through automatic giveaways.

You can watch my press conference here, during which I explain the reasons for the veto and am joined by community members who explain their reasons for supporting it. You can also read the press release here.

Stronger Protections for Renters in Montgomery County

This week, I signed Bill 6-25: Consumer Protection for Renters into law (photos). The bill strengthens the County’s ability to take action against landlords who repeatedly ignore housing code violations by allowing the Office of Consumer Protection to investigate and enforce these issues under consumer protection laws.

The law, sponsored by Councilmember Kristin Mink, cosponsored by Council President Kate Stewart, Council Vice President Will Jawando, and Councilmember Dawn Luedtke, and supported by a broad coalition of community groups, ensures that renters finally have meaningful recourse when facing unsafe living conditions. It goes into effect on July 14, 2025.

This law will not apply to most landlords in Montgomery County who maintain their property, but it is necessary for the few who, unfortunately, need this law to hold them accountable. I have watched tenants struggle for years with bad property owners who allow them to live in horrid conditions until the day before a court date and then fix the issue, avoiding any penalties. That is no way to treat people who rely on an apartment, townhome, or rented house for their homes.

The new law will enable us to sue landlords who demonstrate a pattern of deceptive practices in Circuit Court. This sends a clear message: landlords who fail to provide safe, livable homes will be held accountable. I want to thank Councilmember Mink and the unanimous vote of the Council for moving this important legislation forward. Everyone deserves a safe and livable place to call home.

Connecting Students to the Jobs of Tomorrow with the InnovateED Initiative

We continue to see a real disruption in our workforce due to Federal layoffs and the loss of contracts and grant funding that local organizations and employees have relied on. This creates a ripple effect—people lose jobs, and they need to find new ones or update their skills to stay competitive.

At the same time, we have been working to grow our private sector economy because we know we cannot rely on federal employment like we used to.

That is part of what made Wednesday’s InnovateED event so important. The summit at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) was about ensuring our residents have access to training and education programs that actually connect to the jobs that exist today, and the ones coming in the future.

The programs coming out of this initiative—from the ignITe Hub to the translational life sciences track—are grounded in partnerships between Montgomery College, USG, the University System and the County. They’re designed to give people real pathways, whether they are high school students, mid-career workers looking to pivot or folks who haven’t had access to these opportunities before.

When Amazon passed over Montgomery County for their HQ2 project in 2018, it was not because we offered less money. We offered more financial incentives than Virginia did, but Virginia won because it used its education system strategically and planned a better transportation network. It did not just show what jobs it had; it showed how it was going to deliver the talent Amazon would need. It weaponized its education infrastructure. And it worked. Maryland’s Gov. Hogan missed the mark by focusing on money.

We have been building our own version of that strategy ever since. InnovateED is a big part of it—along with other training and education initiatives we have supported, like BioHub Maryland, based in Rockville. The University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing, along with the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business, will bring AI training and expertise to our workforce. This is another example of our focus on workforce development. We also support Montgomery College, whose biotech, cyber and data science programs are among the best at any two-year college in the country.

We are also working to provide more support for our innovation centers (through our Business Center) and our County’s entrepreneurs, providing not only training but real-time job opportunities for former federal employees and other County job applicants.

Our goal is to build a stronger, more resilient economy from the ground up. If you are interested in using some of our public resources to upskill, visit WorkSource Montgomery.

Amicus Brief Filed to Protect Birthright Citizenship

On Friday, April 11, Montgomery County joined 30 other local governments and over 100 local elected officials in filing an amicus brief in the Ninth Circuit Court. This brief opposes President Trump’s executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship.

Let’s be clear—ending birthright citizenship is unconstitutional. It directly contradicts the 14th Amendment, and it attacks children born in this country by denying them the citizenship they are entitled to. If this were allowed to move forward, it would create chaos. Local governments like ours would be left trying to figure out how to handle a legal and bureaucratic mess, while families suffer the consequences.

I want to thank our County Attorney’s Office for their work, and I especially want to recognize Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown. His office has led Maryland in being among the first states to challenge this executive order in court. He has taken several strong legal stands against lawless and unconstitutional actions by this administration, and I’m grateful for that leadership.

I also want to reiterate my appreciation for U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen. Last week, he traveled to El Salvador and met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man who was illegally sent to a prison there by the Trump administration. Sen. Van Hollen’s visit brought clarity to Garcia’s family and helped ensure that this case would not be ignored.

It takes courage to confront authoritarian governments directly, and he did it because it was the right thing to do.

At a time when federal policies are stripping away rights, sowing fear and shifting burdens to local communities, we are going to keep using our voice and every legal tool we have to push back.

Death of Pope Francis

I want to extend my condolences to the Catholic community in Montgomery County and around the world on the death of Pope Francis. Catholics make up one of the largest Christian denominations in our County, and I know this loss will be deeply felt by many, especially those who felt pride in the fact that he was the first Latin American pontiff.

Pope Francis may have led the global Catholic Church, but his life and legacy inspire many other Christian denominations and religious communities.

Pope Francis was a global figure whose character and leadership reflected the best of what religious faith can inspire. His unwavering commitment to the poor, the imprisoned and the marginalized, regardless of their faith, embodied values that speak to our shared humanity. He reminded the world that compassion, humility and justice are not abstract ideas, but principles that must guide how we treat one another.

I particularly appreciated his willingness to engage with those who had long felt excluded, including the LGBTQ+ community. He sought to hold space for tradition while responding to the realities of people’s lives with understanding and grace. That is not an easy path, but it is a courageous one.

No matter one’s faith, or lack of it, Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the great humanitarians of our time. He was a moral voice during an era increasingly defined by nationalism, authoritarianism and rising inhumanity. His death is a loss for the world, and I hope his legacy continues to inspire acts of kindness, empathy and justice in all of us.

GreenFest 2025

This week, we observed Earth Day. In Montgomery County, we take it further and celebrate Earth Month. On Saturday, April 26, we will end the month on a high note with the 10th anniversary of Montgomery County GreenFest, starting at 11 a.m. at Marian Fryer Town Plaza in Wheaton.

I am proud to celebrate a decade of community-driven environmental action. What began in 2015 to bring people together around sustainability has grown into the County’s largest environmental festival, thanks to the dedication of our government and nonprofit partners—and most importantly, our residents.

This year’s event will feature everything from electric vehicles and eco-vendors to live music and kids’ activities. But I hope people understand this is also about the serious work of tackling climate change and promoting environmental justice in every corner of our County.

We have a lot to be proud of in creating a greener community than we had even 10 years ago, but there is a long way to go to combat the damage done over the decades. I am encouraged by the progress we have made, yet I am far from satisfied, as we have much more to accomplish.

Learn about ways to be sustainable or about incentives that can help you go green for less at mygreenmontgomery.org.

As always, my appreciation for all of you,



Marc Elrich
County Executive

April 18, 2025

Message from the County Executive Marc Elrich


Dear Friends,

Before I address some of the events at the national level, I want to explain why I am going to veto Expedited Bill 2-25, which would automatically eliminate property taxes for 20 years for developers who convert or demolish certain commercial buildings into residential rental housing without focusing on affordability.

This bill makes no sense. It gives away desperately needed revenues to developers without demonstrating need, and it is directly opposite a bill that the Council passed, and I signed that aimed to increase occupancy in office buildings.

After I veto a bill, it goes back to the Council. For it to become law, seven Councilmembers must vote to override this veto. That’s the process. If you are concerned about the financial and other impacts of this bill, as I am, now is the time to speak up. Reach out to your Councilmembers. Let them know what this means to you.

Only one Councilmember, Council Vice President Will Jawando, voted against this bill. Unless four Councilmembers reconsider their vote, this bill will move forward over my veto.

This is a great opportunity for them to take some additional time. The entire process from introduction (February 4) to the single Council session/vote on April 8 was rushed. Several questions were raised that deserved further exploration before a final decision. Understanding the potential consequences is especially important when so many federal workers and contractors are losing their jobs. We don’t know what that means for the region.

This bill was sold to help with housing, but it gives developers converting certain commercial buildings to residential units automatic, 100% property tax exemptions for 20 years.

I want to lay out some of the problems.
  1. There is no analysis of the need for subsidies, and, in contrast, we have examples of developers already doing these conversions, that are financed by banks and requiring no subsidies at all. That means that both the banks and builders in these projects believe the projects are viable without tax exemptions. With this bill, we could easily see projects with exemptions of a million dollars or more for 20 years. No analysis, no oversight—just a blank check. That’s not sound policy. That’s a corporate giveaway.
  2. This does not focus on affordable housing. While the Council increased the required number of moderately priced dwelling units (MPDU), from 12.5% or 15% (depends on the area of the County) to 17.5%, the increase is no more than five units out of every 100 units built—under no circumstances would the County subsidize so few units for so much money. And despite all the rhetoric from some Councilmembers about the need for more workforce housing, this does not address it at all.
  3. There were also claims that we’ll get more total income taxes because of residents in these buildings, but that ignores how the housing markets work. While the County is zoned for over 100,000 units, they don’t get built all at once – they only get built in response to market demand. These units, first, aren’t needed to supply housing that otherwise couldn’t be built. If there’s a demand for 4000 units in 2027, that’s likely to be the number of units that would be built – and they’d be built from our existing capacity (click here for more detail) which exceeds 85,000 units, or from the approximately 30,000 units that are already approved (development pipeline report here) and can start as soon as a developer pulls a building permit. So, with this bill, 500 units built to replace offices would produce no property taxes for 20 years, while the other buildings would yield full property taxes, and the income taxes would be the same in both cases, regardless of where the units are built. There is no evidence that this bill would increase the total number of units built, only where they would be built. There is no economic upside for the County.
  4. They ignore that this proposal runs counter to another proposal they celebrated last year. This was the MOVE (Make Office Vacancies Extinct) legislation, which has the County incentivizing developers/companies to bring employees back into the buildings to fill them. In contrast, Bill 2-25E, which is part of the More Housing Now package, incentivizes developers to kick out tenants in buildings that are 50% occupied.
  5. Fifty percent vacant is also 50% full. Since when did reducing jobs become a good idea? This bill providing an incentive to move existing businesses out of buildings will not have negative repercussions for the County because these businesses may blame the County, which they should, for losing their space? Additionally, if we don’t knock down offices, they’ll likely continue to produce some taxes as opposed to losing that revenue while gaining no additional revenue than we’d otherwise get.
  6. The bill also creates an uneven playing field. Some developers will get 20-year exemptions, while others, who are already building housing here, get nothing. We’re subsidizing market-rate housing now? That’s the new standard? I am concerned that this will morph into a general request for the County to subsidize residential development for everyone.



  7. And what about the long-term cost? This bill would drain hundreds of millions of dollars in future County revenues—money we’ll need for schools, infrastructure and public services. It continues a disturbing trend where the costs of growth are shifted away from developers and onto residents.
In building budgets for this County, we have had to cut important programs—for our low-income families, our students and others—because we don’t have the revenue. Many Councilmembers do not want to consider tax increases to fund these programs, yet they vote to reduce future revenues that will only exacerbate the problem. This bill sounds good, but when you examine it, it makes our situation worse.

Normally, when a developer's project is under water, several things might happen.

Some developers simply hand the keys back to the bank and walk away. Their LLC dies, they don’t have to pay back lost or future rents, and they are able to continue to build new projects with no liability from the old project. When the bank regains the property, they put it on the market at a price the market can bear, and the building is re-tenanted.

The other way developers with projects under water have handled this is to sell the building at market value, pay the bank what they receive and walk away. The new buyer is now able to put the building on the market at rents affordable to new tenants.

We already have the authority to approve tax exemptions, and we’ve used it before, for projects that include meaningful levels of affordable housing and need the help. We look at the gap and figure out whether County support is necessary to make a project viable. That’s how it should work.


But this bill skips that step. It assumes every conversion needs a subsidy, and it doesn’t. We’ve already seen conversions happen without incentives, like the Guardian apartments in Silver Spring. Developers converted an office building to build those units without any tax break.

This is the moment to speak up. If you believe the County shouldn’t be giving away property tax revenue with no accountability, let your Councilmembers know now. This is not how we build a fair economy, or a stronger community. To contact the County Council, please click here.

Federal Immigration Enforcement Ramping Up

It was reported last week that federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI have commenced what are being called “wellness checks” at the homes of migrant and immigrant families around the country. While we have not heard of any here in Montgomery County, I have serious concerns about why this is happening.

It is hard to take the concept of “child welfare checks” for immigrant children seriously because he’s the President who separated children from parents and put them in cages.

What they’re really doing is targeting children as a pretense to get access into people's homes where they can observe the layout and who lives there to facilitate the more drastic actions that are yet to come. This is shameful. And it’s perverse to pretend that the president and his cronies care about child welfare, immigrant or otherwise.

Furthermore, we have seen plenty of news reports about agents showing up in unmarked vehicles, covering their faces and arriving without clear coordination with local authorities. That is terrifying and anti-democratic.

We have never seen this kind of approach to federal immigration and deportation processes before. Not even in Trump’s first term.

Let me be clear: I expect any federal law enforcement official who is making a lawful apprehension in Montgomery County to show their government identification and NOT wear a mask or face covering when apprehending an individual. If you’re going to do this dirty work, at least own it.

Every day we inch closer to fascist practices that typify the former Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. Our country fought a war, and our grandparents laid down their lives to keep fascism from coming to America - and now it’s coming here, carried by people who wrap themselves in the American flag.

Our policy here in Montgomery County when it comes to immigration actions is clear. Our police officers do not engage in federal immigration enforcement activities. That’s not new. It’s the result of an Executive Order that has been reviewed and approved by the Maryland Attorney General’s Office.

We don’t want anyone to avoid calling the police when they need help, we don’t want parents to be afraid to bring their children to school and we don’t want people hiding in the shadows because they’re afraid of being targeted just for being here.

At the same time, we’re not interfering in federal enforcement actions—that’s not our role. But we do have a responsibility to ensure that our residents know their rights, understand what’s happening and have access to trusted information and resources.

That’s why we encourage anyone with questions or concerns to contact the Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center. The staff there can help connect you with legal support, language assistance and information about your rights under the law.

We’re a County that believes in protecting the dignity and safety of all people—regardless of immigration status.

This week, Senator Chris Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador to intercede in the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia—a Maryland resident who was illegally detained and shipped to El Salvador due to an “administrative error.” He had no criminal record and was legally in our country. Even though the courts have directed the Trump administration to bring him back to Maryland, the Trump administration has refused.

His plight and the anti-immigrant rhetoric reminds me of the famous quote from Martin Niemoller:
"First, they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."

On behalf of Montgomery County, we applaud and appreciate Senator Van Hollen’s courageous effort. I was proud to join other elected leaders who rallied in Silver Spring to support Senator Van Hollen’s efforts to bring this Maryland resident home and to call for a return to due process and democracy.

Displaced Workers Convene for Career Fair in Silver Spring

This week, I attended a Career Fair at the Silver Spring Civic Center for displaced federal workers, contractors, non-profits and vendors. This event attracted more than 1,200 people looking for work or training. Over 40 different state and local government agencies, academic institutions and private companies shared job opportunities. Another 22 organizations were there to help with resume writing, interview prep and career support.

The University of Maryland organized this career fair in partnership with the Maryland Department of Labor, the Montgomery County Government, Worksource Montgomery and Mobilize Montgomery.

While I appreciate the effort of so many to create this event, seeing so many people at this job fair was sad and upsetting. Quite frankly, without a Trump administration, there would have been no need for this job fair. All those who attended are dealing with chaos and uncertainty. Jobs are being cut. Programs are being frozen. People who’ve spent their careers serving the public are being told they may not have a place anymore.

A group called Work for America is connecting people with state and local government jobs that fit their skills. The program—Civic Match—is building a pipeline for experienced public servants to stay in public service—even if they’ve been displaced by federal changes. You can check out their website at workforamerica.org/civicmatch.

I want to recognize our County’s Chief Innovation Officer, Michael Baskin for connecting the County, State and the University of Maryland to Civic Match’s resources. When I conceived the idea of having an innovation team, it was to foster productive partnerships like this to support our residents during challenging times.

WorkSource Montgomery and Mobilize Montgomery are going to continue to coordinate more events and opportunities like this one. These County resources are helping residents build skills, update resumes and find their way into jobs—whether they’re just getting started or looking to shift careers. And we’re identifying County positions that align with federal experience to help make that transition easier.

I continue to remain concerned about the stress that this is causing so many individuals and their families. We want anyone going through a job loss during this difficult period of transition and struggling with their mental health to reach out to our 24-hour Crisis Center at 240-777-4000 or dial 9-8-8 if they need help.

Defunding Earth and Atmospheric Science is the Antithesis of Earth Month

This April, we’re celebrating Earth Month across Montgomery County—and we’ve already had some great events. Next week, we are marking the 10th anniversary of our Tree Montgomery program, which has planted more than 18,000 shade trees at schools, homes, places of worship and throughout our neighborhoods. And next Saturday, April 26, we’ll celebrate 10 years of GreenFest, our largest and most popular environmental event.

These programs matter. They connect people to action. They show how local government can support healthier communities and a more sustainable future.

But I also want to acknowledge what’s happening beyond our County—because this Earth Month comes at a difficult time.

We’ve already seen this administration dismantle parts of HHS, NIH and FDA. Now they’re turning their attention to climate and Earth science, targeting the work being done at NOAA and NASA—two of the most important scientific agencies we have when it comes to understanding climate change and protecting lives from extreme weather.

What they’re doing is reckless. They are undermining decades of progress that the public depends on—for early warnings, research and long-term planning. I recommend reading this Union of Concerned Scientists article on the “5 Reasons NOAA and NASA Cuts Will Be Disastrous for Everyone in the US.”

This also hits close to home. We have hundreds of residents in our County and across the region who work at NOAA in Silver Spring or College Park and at NASA Goddard in Greenbelt. These are people who’ve dedicated their careers to understanding our planet and helping keep communities safe. And now their work is under threat.

These cuts aren’t abstract. They’ll slow down climate monitoring, weaken effective weather prediction and make it harder to respond to natural disasters in a timely manner, which we know are becoming more severe and frequent.

This is a real fear. If you remember, in his last term, he told people that a hurricane wasn’t to land where scientists had projected. Had first responders followed the president’s distortion of reality, they would have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, creating far worse impacts for the people who got hammered by the hurricane—fortunately, the President was ignored. Did he admit he was wrong? Absolutely not.

So yes, we’re going to keep celebrating Earth Month. We’re going to keep planting trees, expanding solar, pushing toward zero-emission transit and holding polluters accountable. But we’re also going to keep calling out the attacks on science and standing up for the people who do this work every day.

If we want to build a safe and sustainable future, we can’t ignore the threats or remain silent while progress is being destroyed.

“The Fitz Way:” Montgomery County Loses Business Legend, Jack Fitzgerald

Last week, Montgomery County lost a titan of our business community. Fitzgerald Auto Malls Founder Jack Fitzgerald died at the age of 89. Our thoughts are with the Fitzgerald family and all the employees of Fitzgerald Auto Malls.

Jack Fitzgerald was not only a great businessman but also a true partner in building a stronger, safer Montgomery County. His work on child safety wasn’t for show; it was personal, and it made a real difference. Thanks to his initiative, more than 52,000 families received critical help installing child safety seats correctly—an effort that undoubtedly saved lives.

Jack also stood up when it mattered. During the General Motors and Chrysler bankruptcies, when dealerships across the country were shuttering, Jack fought to restore what others had given up on. He believed in people, workers and fairness.

In 2023, he put his values into action by transitioning Fitzgerald Auto Malls to a 100% employee-owned company. That’s a legacy that empowers working people and keeps opportunity rooted right here in our community.

Jack was someone who used his success to lift others up. His impact will be felt for generations

MCFRS Assists Flooding Victims in Kentucky

Earlier this week, members of Montgomery County’s Urban Search and Rescue Team, Maryland Task Force 1 (MD-TF1), returned home safely after being deployed to Kentucky to assist with flood rescue and recovery operations. Over the course of their mission, our team worked in extremely difficult conditions—conducting water rescues, searching isolated areas and providingcritical support to communities that were devastated by severe flooding.

This team represents one of the greatest gifts we offer—not just to our own residents, but to the entire nation. When disaster strikes, MD-TF1 is ready to go wherever help is needed, and they do it with professionalism, skill and a deep sense of humanity. They are some of the best ambassadors we have for the values our County stands for.

Their service reflects a culture rooted in compassion and community. It doesn’t matter how far someone lives from here—if there are people in need, our teams will show up. That’s what makes Montgomery County special. I want to thank each of them, and the families who supported them while they were away, for reminding us of what public service is really about.

National Public Safety Communicators Week

This week is National Public Safety Communicators Week, and I want to recognize our outstanding 9-1-1 call takers and dispatchers.

Being a 9-1-1 operator is one of the hardest—and most important—jobs in County government. They are the first voice you hear in an emergency, and they stay calm and focused during the most stressful moments anyone can face. They help save lives every single day, and we don’t thank them enough for the role they play in our public safety system.

We’re also currently hiring 9-1-1 representatives. If you want to serve your community and help save lives, I encourage you to apply. This is a rewarding job that comes with great benefits and career opportunities.

Thanks to all our public safety communicators—we appreciate you.

Happy Easter and Passover

As we head into the weekend, I want to extend my best wishes to everyone celebrating Easter or the conclusion of Passover. I hope your gatherings with family and friends are meaningful, peaceful and safe.

As always, my appreciation for all of you,


Marc Elrich
County Executive

April 11, 2025

Message from the County Executive Marc Elrich

Dear Friends,

The 2025 General Assembly session ended this week with the typical Sine Die fervor. I visited Annapolis Monday to support our local lawmakers and thank them for the work they did over the last three months.


State leaders took on a $3 billion deficit and produced a balanced budget. That was no easy feat and came with many difficult choices. I want to thank the Montgomery County delegation, led by Julie Palakovich Carr and Ben Kramer, and all the State leaders who took on this challenge.

One thing Gov. Wes Moore made clear from the start was that this hole was not going to be filled by taxing the middle class and I support the progressivity that has been introduced into the tax structure. Creating two new income tax brackets for Marylanders who have the means to share more is the right way to approach tax collection. The governor’s full statement on Sine Die is available on his website.

While we are still unpacking the impacts of the legislation and decisions made by the General Assembly, we saw a lot of progress and good news for the residents of Maryland—such as improving public safety, health care access and lower prescription drug costs.

One of several public safety wins was a bill that better protects all of us on the road. In 2023, Montgomery County Police Department Sergeant Pat Kepp was out of his car on 270 trying to stop a speeding driver when he was targeted and hit by that vehicle. Sgt. Kepp was seriously injured in that incident but has worked hard and is already back on duty.

I was deeply disappointed to learn that the jury acquitted the man of the most serious charges of first- and second-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault. You can read my full statement on the verdict here.

Sgt. Kepp’s tireless advocacy for the State legislation was instrumental in its passage. I also appreciate the work of State Senator Nancy King and State Delegate Gregory Wims on the legislation.

The driver who hit him should not have been on the road that night because he was a repeat offender. Our police had on numerous occasions witnessed this person driving wildly and baiting them into a chase, but our police avoid high-speed chases because of larger public safety concerns. Sgt. Kepp’s story has been featured in many articles and videos, one of which is a deep conversation with his MCPD colleagues you can watch here.

And there was great news for Marylanders when it comes to improving health care. New legislation aims to lower prescription drug costs by expanding the authority of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board. This is a measure I have been behind for a long time. We have got to stop the prescription drug companies from putting our residents between a rock and a hard place. I am not the only person who knows people who are forced to sacrifice food for their families to keep up with out-of-control drug prices.

What makes this situation infuriating is when you realize that you could go to Canada, Mexico, Colombia or Europe and buy the same name-brand drugs for less than you would pay in the United States. There is no rational reason for the price disparities other than our Federal government’s refusal to protect us from price gouging.

The State also extended a successful health insurance subsidy program for young adults (HB 297/SB 5) and is preparing for potential federal health care changes by establishing a state subsidy program (HB 1082) and reinstating a commission to assess impacts (HB 718). Despite budget constraints, the legislature resisted major cuts to the vital Medicaid program.


My guest for this week’s media briefing was Vinny DeMarco, president of the Maryland Health Care for All coalition. This week, he published an op-ed in Maryland Matters called "A Tale of Two Governors," which I encourage you to read. In the commentary, Vinny highlighted the difference between the Moore and Hogan administrations in their approach and prioritization of health issues.

For more information about these new law changes and what it could mean for you, please visit Maryland Healthcare for All at https://healthcareforall.com/

Re-Open White’s Ferry!


This week, we announced a financial incentive package in partnership with the State of Maryland and the Town of Poolesville to get White’s Ferry back up and operating.

We are offering a $3 million incentive to the Maryland and Virginia landowners who have been unable to reach an agreement to restart the ferry since the Virginia property owner blocked the ferry's landing over four years ago.

Gov. Wes Moore recommended, and the General Assembly approved, $1.5 million of the $3 million. The rest of the money will come from the County capital improvement budget. I sent a budget amendment to the County Council for approval. The Town of Poolesville is also helping.

The money will only be distributed after Potomac Crossing, LLC, the Maryland property owner, and Rockland Farm, LLC, the Virginia owner, reach a binding agreement. A reopening date for the ferry must also be established before the $3 million dollars is given to the ferry partners through a grant agreement.

Our County and members of our Maryland delegation have worked hard for over four years to reach an agreement between these two parties. I want to specifically thank Del. David Fraser-Hidalgo for his work in this matter.

A final agreement will require both sides to come to the table with an open mind and a willingness to be flexible. You can read more about the proposal here .

Reopening the ferry will positively impact local businesses, provide economic stability and improve the quality of life for many residents. And it will save tens of thousands of miles of wasteful travel having to go down to the American Legion bridge or up to Point of Rocks to cross the Potomac.

When it was operational, the ferry carried nearly 800 daily users between Maryland and Virginia, and its history goes back to 1786. In 2021, a White’s Ferry Operations Alternative Study was released containing further details about the ferry’s history and impact.

I urge the private parties to meet soon and for both to have an open mind and to be flexible.

This offer is about giving the private parties one last opportunity to find a workable solution. We cannot force an agreement, but we are putting real money on the table to help make one possible. If this doesn’t get resolved now, it won’t be for lack of effort from the County, the State or the Town of Poolesville.

Speaking Out

Last Saturday, I joined tens of thousands of people nationwide in a “Hands Off!” rally at the National Mall wearing my favorite T-shirt (you can see it in the photo above). There were also rallies in Olney, Garret Park and Leisure World, not to mention hundreds of rallies nationwide. Another nationwide day of demonstrations is being planned for Saturday, April 19.

People turned out to express tremendous concern about President Donald Trump and Elon Musk's ongoing actions. Last week was one of the worst weeks in this County’s history, with more than 2,200 jobs lost through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The President’s tariff plan then threw financial markets around the world into chaos, which left many people worried about the security of their retirement.

Saturday’s protests were important as they allowed people to speak up in defense of democracy and due process. They show that there are many people like us who are outraged over these reckless and chaotic policies.

Energy Summit 2025



Earlier this week, more than 300 building owners, property managers, developers, energy contractors and sustainability professionals attended the 12th Annual Energy Summit in Silver Spring.

Our County’s Energy Summit gave both newcomers and experienced leaders in the commercial building sector a chance to explore the latest advancements in energy efficiency, sustainable practices and emerging technologies.

This year, the Energy Summit was sold out, highlighting the importance of helping company leaders enhance their buildings' energy future and meet compliance requirements. I want to thank our Department of Environmental Protection, headed by Jon Monger, and our Climate Action Teams, led by Climate Change Officer, Sarah Kogel Smucker.

The theme of this year’s energy summit was “Beyond Benchmarking: Navigating Energy Performance.” The gathering focused largely on our Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) legislation and regulations, and on implementing them with our business and nonprofit communities.

This week, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation clarifying that building owners in Montgomery County only need to comply with the County BEPS program.

Buildings are one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases. BEPS is an important tool to make meaningful changes to reduce carbon pollution from our buildings.

Beyond our buildings, we are committed to helping businesses and residents be more sustainable in their waste practices. Last week we announced the expansion of our curbside recycling program to include electronics and batteries. Residents will soon be receiving a mailer on when the program will begin in your neighborhood.


We have a lot more Earth Month events and activities in the upcoming weeks, concluding with our 10th-anniversary celebration of Tree Montgomery on Friday, April 25, and our annual GreenFest gathering at the Marian Fryer Plaza in Wheaton on Saturday, April 26. GreenFest is free to the public and gives you and your family a chance to celebrate and learn more about sustainable practices in our community. Please watch this Montgomery Municipal Cable video previewing the event. I hope you have visited our Climate Smart page and discovered how to turn small actions into big changes.

We are living in a time when our current federal government is undermining efforts to slow climate change and instead is promoting fossil fuel development.

This is bonkers.

At least here, we understand science. Last month, when we presented our Climate Action Plan update at Walt Whitman High School, I was inspired by the conversations and questions from the young adults. The work we do in this climate, energy and environmental space is about them.

The war on climate change is just another part of the current war on science—a threat to our existence that too many people are deliberately ignoring.

Food Waste Prevention Week


Another way to improve sustainability at home or at work is to limit what we throw away. Food Waste Prevention Week is recognized to help spread awareness and help residents identify ways to limit the amount of trash disposed of and collected.

Leaders in food waste prevention use this week to celebrate local leaders, nonprofit partners and community advocates who work on our behalf to educate the public. They are behind many of the activities that promote environmental sustainability. I am encouraged by the number of community partners who share our mission to reduce, recover and recycle wasted food.


Here are some tips you can use to reduce food waste:
  • Plan your meals to avoid over-preparing.
  • Use durable, reusable dishware not disposable plates and cutlery.
  • Recycle all bottles, jars, cans and containers.
  • Mind the time of year: food waste tends to spike around holidays.
  • Consider composting food scraps.
The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection Recycling and Resource Management Division estimates that approximately 97,000 tons of food waste, or food scraps, were discarded in Montgomery County in 2023. You can find more information about composting on the Food Scraps Recycling Drop-Off Program page, email your zero-waste questions to AskDEP@montgomerycountymd.gov or call 311.

I will be at the Bethesda Central Farmer’s Market on Sunday, April 13, to highlight the Food Scraps Recycling Drop-Off program. By offering food scraps recycling at local farmers’ markets, we are making it easier for people to reduce waste and contribute to our work toward a greener, more sustainable future. The locations are listed on the DEP website.

I have heard the compliments thanking Montgomery County's leadership for addressing wasted food and food insecurity, but it is not our credit to take. I thank the people who have helped execute the plan and wisely use the limited resources we can share to ensure we are creating a greener future today.

Council Passes Bill to Give Away Tax Dollars to Some Developers

I was disappointed in the Council’s vote on Tuesday on Expedited Bill 2-25, which would automatically eliminate 100% of property taxes for 20 years for certain commercial properties that convert half-vacant (or half-full) buildings to residential or demolish. I had urged them to take more time to consider the issues and, at the very least, to delay final passage. You can read my letter here. The fiscal impact analysis estimated that Bill 2-25E would cost the County hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenues. Those revenues are crucial to addressing the County’s many needs, including good schools, parks, recreation and public safety. The racial equity and social justice analysis advised that the bill would have a negative impact. You can read the analysis here.

As I laid out in my letter to the County Council, the bill was not fair to residents and it was not fair to some developers. It was also a process that was too rushed – it went from introduction on February 4 (along with a number of other bills), before the Planning Board on March 4, a public hearing on March 11, one joint committee session on March 27 and one Council session – with a final vote – on April 8. This was too important to rush.

The Council also passed Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 25-03 that expedited the approval process for these conversions/demolitions.

I have no problem with the ZTA. We should make the process as simple and direct as possible. The County has already approved office-to-residential projects, even without legislation. One project in Silver Spring created 178 new housing units and added five stories. And they did that without any tax giveaway, which is proof that these projects can be done without subsidies.

The County already has the authority to negotiate payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) and uses them to get more affordable units than are currently required. Making the PILOT (which means exempting from property taxes) automatic takes away negotiating room and, in this case, delivers very few additional affordable units. And it does not require proof that the money is needed to make a deal feasible. The foregone revenue could have subsidized many more affordable units through negotiations than will be built with this legislation.

I appreciated the efforts by Councilmember Will Jawando and Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles to attempt to improve the legislation; I am sorry the bill was not improved at the full Council. The legislation gives away County revenues and gets nothing in return, which is why I will be vetoing it. I will have further commentary at that time. So stay tuned for that.

National Public Health Week


Public health workers were recognized for their work and dedication during the first Dr. Ulder J. Tillman National Public Health Week Symposium earlier this week. The late Dr. Tillman was a County Health Officer that I worked with when I was on the County Council. (Photos)

The gathering was meant to spotlight the vital role of public health professionals, particularly their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, and highlight the 2025 theme, "Success in Community. It Starts Here." That theme reminds us to work together to help everyone understand the importance of preventative measures.

The 2025 County Health Rankings found that Montgomery County is one of the healthiest places to live in the State and nation. We should acknowledge that we do have areas that we can improve, but our County health officials, hospitals, community-based nonprofit health providers and other stakeholders continue to prioritize improving health outcomes.

Too often, the work done by our health professionals goes under the radar. During the pandemic, one positive aspect of such a dismal time was seeing our community rally behind these hard-working professionals who were up to the task despite high stress levels, uncertain conditions and watching so many people die. I hope you realize that our community would have been far worse off had it not been for their dedication to the community’s health.

Montgomery County is committed to health equity—ensuring everyone has access to the same level of care regardless of their economic status or religious beliefs. We have several community initiatives that focus on reaching out to specific segments of our population, such as the African American Health Program, the Asian American Health Initiative and the Latino Health Initiative.


We also acknowledged the County’s health team at the County Council on Tuesday for their tireless work to help our community and protect it from communicable diseases and chronic ailments. They help seniors, expectant mothers, families in need and people lacking health care coverage. Their work helps lift our community, and I couldn’t be prouder of what they accomplish on behalf of Montgomery County residents.

Library Workers Week


I also want to acknowledge the hard work done by Montgomery County Public Libraries during Library Workers Week. Our dedicated library media specialists encourage a love of reading and help transform lives to strengthen our communities.

Libraries offer something for everyone, and that is reflected in a new campaign we asked the public to participate in. Our workers are getting some love in the form of video messages from the community detailing why they love the library. I shared a video as well, and I hope it reflects how much I appreciate what they do, including their work on early learning, continuing education and engaging our community.

I encourage everyone to visit montgmoerycountymd.gov/library to explore our resources, learn about our community events or participate in reading challenges.

As always, my appreciation for all of you,



Marc Elrich
County Executive

April 10, 2025

Montgomery County Offering Adult Bike and E-Scooter Classes in May and June 

 Montgomery County Offering Adult Bike and E-Scooter Classes in May and June

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will offer low-cost adult bike classes in May and June. The classes will include six Learn to Ride and one Basic Skills class. Following select bike classes, MCDOT will also offer four free, walk-up e-scooter classes.   

Advance registration is required to participate in the bicycle classes, with a cost of $10 for Montgomery County residents. There is no charge for Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) or Capital Bikeshare For All members. Registration is still required.    

Bicycles and helmets will be provided at no charge for the adult Learn to Ride class participants and can be rented from WABA on-site, if needed, for the Basic Skills class participants.   

“Our adult bike and scooter classes provide residents with the skills and confidence they need to ride safely—whether for commuting, running errands or simply enjoying the outdoors,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Riding a bike is a fun and healthy activity and when bikes are used for local trips in place of cars, they can help reduce congestion and lower our carbon footprint."   

Participants in the Learn to Ride bicycle classes will learn how to start and stop, balance, glide, pedal and steer a bike. Each student will progress at their own pace. Students in the Basic Skills class should be able to ride a bicycle and will continue to practice basic biking skills. The classes will be led by experienced WABA instructors.   

The bike classes are open to residents 18 and over, are limited to 25 people and fill up quickly.  Online registration for May classes is now open on the WABA website under the Classes tab. June class registration will open at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 2.  Registration is full for all of the April Learn to Ride Bike classes. There is no fee or registration required for the adult e-scooter classes. Walk-ups are welcome. 

Adult E-Scooter classes in April: 
  • Sunday, April 27. 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Wheaton Ice Arena (back parking lot), 11717 Orebaugh Dr., Wheaton.  
Adult Learn to Ride Bike class schedule:   
Adult Basic Skills Bike class schedule:   
Rain dates for all adult bike and e-scooter classes will be held two weeks after the original class date and time, except for the June 22 class (rain date will be June 29).   

The two-hour adult e-scooter classes are being offered on a drop-in basis immediately following select bike classes, including April 13, April 27, May 24 and June 14. E-scooter classes do not require pre-registration. Anyone 18 or over with a valid driver’s license or ID can join. E-scooters and helmets are provided.   

 To register for the bike classes, visit waba.org/classes. For more information, and to view any future inclement weather cancellations, visit MCDOT’s website here or call 240-777-8380.