Dear Friends,
This week I began my second term as County Executive, and we have a new and historic County Council. This is the most diverse County Council we have ever had with six women, two black members, two Latino members and our first openly LGBTQ+ Council president, Evan Glass. I look forward to working with every member of the 20th Montgomery County Council on many pressing issues and challenges.
In lieu of my weekly video this week, I wanted to share with you my inauguration speech that I hope you find time to view or listen to. In my speech, I focused on the urgent need to provide more affordable housing, continuing efforts to combat climate change, creating jobs by merging our education assets and economic development efforts and expanding equity and opportunity for all throughout Montgomery County.
As I stated in the conclusion of my inaugural speech, my hope is that we will face these tough challenges together and not be our own worst enemy.
This week I began my second term as County Executive, and we have a new and historic County Council. This is the most diverse County Council we have ever had with six women, two black members, two Latino members and our first openly LGBTQ+ Council president, Evan Glass. I look forward to working with every member of the 20th Montgomery County Council on many pressing issues and challenges.
In lieu of my weekly video this week, I wanted to share with you my inauguration speech that I hope you find time to view or listen to. In my speech, I focused on the urgent need to provide more affordable housing, continuing efforts to combat climate change, creating jobs by merging our education assets and economic development efforts and expanding equity and opportunity for all throughout Montgomery County.
As I stated in the conclusion of my inaugural speech, my hope is that we will face these tough challenges together and not be our own worst enemy.
“I still see myself as an activist. I serve the interests of people and I try not to over-promise. I recognize I don’t have magical powers and sometimes I can’t do what I would like to do because that’s just the way it is.
But I don’t think that just because you are an elected representative that the job description requires you to defend the institutions, policies or practices just because they exist. So, I have told my staff, at all levels, that if there are better ways of doing things, I am not afraid of change.
Some people see changing as a confession of errors. I see change as a growth opportunity.
At my core, I know:Montgomery County is the best place to raise a family, the best place to open a business and the best place to look to the future.
I am appreciative of all those who helped us get to where we are today, of all the people who believe in our County and the path we are on. I look forward to the work and partnership ahead with all of you.
I know that Montgomery County’s best days lie ahead. And we will get there together.”
I also look forward to renewed relationships and continued partnerships with our Congressional and State delegations, as well as welcoming the administration of Governor-elect Wes Moore and Lt. Governor-elect Aruna Miller. We very much appreciated Lt. Governor-elect Miller joining us and speaking at our inauguration ceremonies on Monday, and we are looking forward to seeing the new administration in action in Annapolis next month.
On Thursday, I joined many other leaders including U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen; Governor-elect Moore; Congressman Jamie Raskin; our State delegation chairs, Senator Ben Kramer and Delegate Julie Palakovich-Carr; and newly elected County Council President Evan Glass in speaking at the annual legislative gathering of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County, the Asian American Political Alliance and the African American Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County. In our discussions about the coming year and beyond, we shared a lot of optimism about the possibility of more economic progress, as well as understanding and fulfilling the needs for residents and businesses who are still struggling.
I am hearing similar optimism, as well as appreciation, from those attending the budget forums we have been hosting over the last several weeks. I enjoyed meeting many residents, answering their questions and listening to their opinions and ideas. There are only two more budget forums left, so please join us.
You can attend a forum in person at the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown on Monday, Dec. 12, or at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center on Wednesday, Dec.14. If you cannot attend in person, you can attend these forums online. You can also watch previous budget forums at our website.
Hospital Overload
Hospitals in our region continue to see elevated patient levels driven by this year’s “tridemic” of RSV, flu and COVID-19.
Graphics shared by our Department of Health and Human Services show our hospital emergency department visits are higher than at the same time last year and as high as the peaks of the first Omicron wave.
During my media briefing this week, we heard from Dr. Louis Damiano, president of Holy Cross Health Acute Care in the Maryland Region, about the impacts they are seeing. He said around one-third of all emergency room activity daily in Silver Spring and Germantown is tied to an upper respiratory infection. Some health experts predict this could be the worst flu season in many years, especially considering mild flu seasons since 2020. While hospitals have plans in place to expand the number of beds, if necessary, he is hoping that the public can help stem the wave of infections in need of hospital care by taking preventative steps.
Washing your hands, avoiding sick people and voluntarily wearing a facemask when you know the risk factors are high are some of the things you can do to protect yourself and loved ones. Just this week, the CDC put out new guidelines asking people in high transmission areas to wear facemasks on public transportation, in airports, on planes and while shopping in crowded stores. The FDA also has expanded its parameters and now encourages anyone six months and older to get their booster vaccines if they are eligible. Health experts are just as worried about the spread of the flu and RSV as they are about COVID-19 because severe cases of any of those three could squeeze hospitals even more.
At this point, health experts say if you feel sick and need to test, urgent care facilities may be your best options. The first call right now should go to your primary care physician to discuss what is going on with you or your children before rushing to the emergency room.
COVID-19 Update
As far as COVID goes, we have seen a jump in our case rate. We had been averaging around 80 cases per 100,000 people, but now sit around 130 per 100,000. That rate could continue to rise as we approach January.
As we have mentioned before: Your best defense is to stay up to date on boosters and get a flu shot. So far, only 31 percent of Montgomery County residents have received a flu shot and 27 percent have received the updated COVID booster.
The County hosted a children’s flu clinic this week in Silver Spring and next Saturday, on Dec.17, we will host our fourth “Boosterama” event at the Westfield Wheaton Mall from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. This will be the first one that will also offer flu shots.
As you begin to make plans for the holidays, one of the most important things you can do is take preventive measures for gatherings with family and friends. Get tested before and after attending gatherings, take your facemasks and routinely wash and sanitize your hands.
Please consider that there may be others in your presence who are more vulnerable or take care of others who are compromised. Let’s help protect them and our healthcare workers—and let’s have a better holiday season and winter than last year.
Racist Vandalism at Scotland AME Church
The Montgomery County Police Department continues to investigate a case of burglary and vandalism at Scotland AME, a historic Black church in Potomac. It happened in late November, but new video showing the suspected vandals was recently shared by MCPD.
It saddens me to see our community plagued by more racist and hate-filled vandalism. My thoughts are with Pastor Dr. Evelina Huggins and all the members of the Scotland AME church during this difficult time of fear and uncertainty. We want them to know that the entire County stands with them and condemns these actions.
Throughout our nation’s history, Black churches have been a refuge from racism, hate and injustices. In fact, Black churches were at the epicenter of the civil rights movement.
It is a shame that, despite our efforts to make our Country more inclusive, there are still those who hate so much that they desecrate one of our sacred and historic landmarks like Scotland AME.
An attack on a house of worship or people in our community, is an attack on all of us. Hate has no place in Montgomery County. We are going to continue to work with our interfaith and nonprofit communities to ensure that their members and property are safe and secure.
Just a few months ago, we cleared the way for $800,000 in grant money to be used by organizations like churches for security improvements. The idea was to give groups and organizations that could be the targets of hate crimes an extra layer of protection. The money can be used to purchase security cameras, giving police a better chance of catching those responsible.
I am glad to hear that Scotland AME did apply for this grant and the security camera that was purchased with that money was the same one that caught these vandals on camera.
In this case, a reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to arrests. I would encourage everyone who needs it to utilize our non-emergency police phone number to report any bias or hate crime incidents at 301-279-8000.
Business Accelerator Program Now Accepting Applications
The Montgomery County Office of Human Rights and M&T Bank will join forces to hold its second free Small Business Accelerator Program starting in early January. Registration for the 10-week course is now open.
The program brings together financial experts and government business leaders to help guide small business owners through strategic planning, banking fundamentals and ways to tap into capital. Lessons will also include developing a business plan, common legal issues for small business owners and marketing.
There are some requirements that must be met. The Small Business Accelerator Program is for Montgomery County-based businesses with at least two years in business. Business owners must be in good standing with the County and the business must produce revenue. Some exceptions will be made in certain circumstances with a compelling reason to be considered for the program.
Only about half of new businesses survive past five years. With the help of partners like M&T Bank, we hope to improve those statistics to give small businesses in Montgomery County a better chance of success. In the past, this program has been used to help minority-owned entrepreneurs reach new heights and access important resources. This upcoming course is open to anyone.
Classes will be held every Tuesday from 5-6:30 p.m. starting Jan. 10. You can find an application through the M&T Bank website and more information on our Office of Human Rights website by clicking this link.
These classes are a great way to start off the new year for our small business communities.
Montgomery Police Assist Santa
The holidays were on a Harley this week, as Santa Claus and the Montgomery County Police Department once again came through for kids staying at the National Institutes of Health’s Children’s Inn. On Wednesday, motorcycle police officers joined Santa for a shopping spree and tour across the County. I met up with the group as it stopped in Rockville to check out the Christmas tree before it made an early toy delivery in Bethesda.
The Children’s Inn served 657 families in 2021-22. Those numbers remain low as compared to pre-pandemic levels, but some of the world-class clinical research has resumed in order to give kids a chance at overcoming life threatening illnesses.
I am proud of the role Montgomery County, and specifically, our police department play in making sure these children and their families do not feel forgotten over the holidays.
The police department also is collecting toys for area families this Christmas. You can drop off toys at any police station through Monday, Dec. 12. The UpCounty Hub is helping distribute those toys ahead of the holiday.
The County’s Department of Health and Human Services also is busy with the “Holiday Giving Project.” For more than 30 years, the program has provided help to families over Thanksgiving and throughout December to help struggling households. Most of the referrals come through the public school system and Holiday Giving Project Coalition providers. We then use our network of community partners to get that assistance to families. In 2021, the project helped 12,240 families, with 25,804 children benefiting.
There are other programs helping local families including Toys for Tots, which will be helping families from a pickup location at Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg this year. I want to thank everyone for their generosity, and I am encouraging our own County employees to contribute to the charities of their choice during our annual Employee Giving Campaign.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
Marc Elrich
County Executive
