Dear Friends,
I hope you are keeping one of our Montgomery County Police Department leaders in your thoughts. Early Wednesday morning, Sgt. Patrick Kepp was on duty and trying to stop a dangerous driver going more than 100 miles per hour on I-270. Police say the driver of that car intentionally hit Sgt. Kepp as he was outside of his vehicle trying to get that vehicle to stop.
Sgt. Kepp lost use of both of his legs in this incident and his life has been forever changed. I extend my sympathies to this brave officer, his family and every member of the MCPD.
I spoke to Maryland Governor Wes Moore on Wednesday, and he expressed his support and well wishes for Sgt. Kepp, his family and our entire police department. The Governor told me he also reached out to the Kepp family. I appreciated the Governor’s call and his concern for the welfare of all our police officers during this difficult time.
During that conversation, I mentioned to the Governor that the driver responsible for this had been stopped many times previously, leading to hundreds of citations and minor warnings, including the suspension of his driver’s license. When the charges pile up and behavior is not impacted, it means the penalties we have are not enough. Using an automobile as a dangerous weapon that threatens lives and puts the community in danger should be a criminal offense with serious consequences.
As we prepare for the upcoming General Assembly, I support legislation that would heavily penalize this kind of driving. Sgt. Kepp put his life in danger to prevent others from being hurt. It was a sacrifice he should not have been asked to make. But it is the sacrifice that every officer and first responder who works for this government is willing to do. What they encounter daily is unimaginable to the rest of us. The entire police family could use our support right now. Police look out for their own in every circumstance so it should come as no surprise that the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Officers Relief Fund is there to help any member of the police department injured on the job.
MCPD Officer Indicted for Allegations of Jan. 6 Involvement
I am very disappointed and quite frankly angry to learn that a suspended Montgomery County Police Department officer, Justin Lee, was indicted this week by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
At this moment, I have more questions than answers. As I understand from our police department, we had no previous knowledge about his activities. Throughout his interview, background, training and brief time as a sworn officer, we were not made aware that Federal investigators suspected his involvement in the insurrection. Lee was sworn in as a new officer in January of 2022.
When MCPD was made aware in July that Lee was being investigated by the DOJ, Chief Jones immediately and rightfully removed his police powers. Now that he has been indicted, Lee is currently suspended without pay pending termination.
On Jan. 6, the men and women of our police department responded bravely to assist law enforcement at the Capitol. To this day, we still have MCPD officers out on leave from injuries sustained on Jan. 6. It is shameful that Mr. Lee concealed his actions during the riot and attempted to work on the same side as officers that he allegedly attacked that day.
Moving forward, our police department is reviewing its background and polygraph procedures to ensure that the process and questions weed out anyone with insurrectionist ideology.
An officer’s trustworthiness is their most important asset, both with the community and their fellow officers. It is evident that Lee failed the standard of trust we expect from MCPD officers.
Local Impact from Hamas-Israel War
Over the past two weeks, I have had many conversations with members of the Jewish and Muslim communities and others with connections to the Middle East. While our diverse communities fear for the safety of their family and friends abroad, they also fear for themselves and their loved ones at home here in Montgomery County. They are worrying about what could occur here in their neighborhoods, synagogues and mosques. The recent murder of a 6-year-old in Chicago, as well as a rise in harassment and hateful rhetoric, has heightened concerns.
As a local government with significant Jewish and Muslim communities, we are committed to listening and engaging with our residents who are concerned and feeling attacked and vulnerable. People in our community are deeply impacted and suffering because of what is happening in Israel and Palestine. There are County employees who are Jewish and Muslim who have lost loved ones, and we have neighbors who are afraid to walk down the streets here in our community. We are determined that Montgomery County will remain a safe place for all.
I appreciate the County Council for supporting my supplemental request that I sent over last week, adding an additional $100,000 to the Nonprofit and Faith Communities Security Grant program for communities fearing for their safety and well-being. Montgomery County also has the Partnership Fund for Victims of Hate/Violence in our Office of Human Rights. It has been part of our community since 1987 to help provide partial compensation for property damage and help victims of racial, ethnic or religious based attacks. Individuals and private institutions may be eligible to receive financial assistance from the fund to repair or replace property if it has been damaged because of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or disability. Groups must apply for the assistance soon after through the Office of Human Rights. For more information on the Partnership Fund, visit montgomerycountymd.gov/humanrights.
Civilian deaths are horrifying, regardless of where they occur. The emotional impact on people from the deaths of loved ones who were simply trying to live their lives and harming no one is hard to accept. We will not tolerate acts of hate by anyone. I hope all of us can grieve as we need to, but that we can also restrain ourselves from lashing out at our neighbors and friends. What has happened abroad should not change how we interact with people here.
We need our schools to double down on anti-bullying resources for Muslim and Jewish students. Schools should be a safe place for students and should help students to process the hurt and rage they are feeling. We need to support our children who are struggling to make sense of this.
I recommend subscribing to our Faith Community Advisory Group newsletter, which updates the community on matters related to organized religious groups and community partners with ties to those groups. The latest newsletter had good information about County, State, Federal and nonprofit resources to help support communities during these challenging times. You can visit faithmcmd.org to sign up for newsletters or find resources that can help through tough times.
Honoring an Advocate During Homeless Resource Day
Our area’s yearly survey of the homeless population conducted in January showed that the number of people experiencing homelessness surpassed pre-pandemic levels in Montgomery County with 894 people counted. This total grew 54 percent compared to the 2022 survey. The comparison shows the last time we had numbers this high was in 2017. You can review and download many of the Homelessness in Metropolitan Washington reports compiled by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments by visiting their website. These findings are not a surprise because many people thought that COVID-19 would negatively impact efforts to eliminate homelessness. How we choose to respond says a lot about the kind of community we are and how much support our residents give to organizations that support aid efforts.
Montgomery County this week hosted the Nadim Khan Memorial Homeless Resource Day in Gaithersburg, a one-day event offering many services and resources to residents experiencing homelessness. The County Department of Transportation helped bus participants to Bohrer Park so they could attend. Among the offerings were health screenings, financial counseling, free legal advice, information about veterans benefits and job opportunities. Thank you to the more than 300 volunteers needed to host an event like this.
I also want to recognize the work of Gloria Huggins, a key member of the Services to End and Prevent Homelessness team in our Department of Health and Human Services. I was honored to present her with a certificate for her outstanding leadership through the years and her efforts specifically with Homeless Resource Day. This is the ninth year that we have been able bring together dozens of community partners and volunteers to help those in need. The original idea for Homeless Resource Day came from the late Nadim Khan, who was chief of DHHS’ Special Needs Housing (now called Services to End and Prevent Homelessness). The day was a success in large part because of Gloria’s efforts in organizing the event. She and many others made it a good day for those who came for help.
One of my goals is to create an affordable and welcoming community for a lifetime for everyone who calls Montgomery County home. Please consider volunteering with one of the many organizations that help individuals experiencing homelessness year-round. Here is a list of some of the organizations we work with on a regular basis that devote much of their time to our shared goal of ending homelessness for all.
Affordable Housing Update
Producing, preserving and protecting affordable housing in this County is a top priority of my administration.
We are proud of this project, which is just one of many recent affordable housing accomplishments. Since July, we closed deals on six new projects that will generate 754 affordable units for Montgomery County residents. While each of these projects required different levels of funding, the overall cost to the County is a little over $58,000 per unit.
This is just a fraction of what we have been able to accomplish over the last few years in which we have provided record funding for affordable housing.
Over the last 18 months, Montgomery County has helped produce or preserve 1,729 affordable units. Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA) Director Scott Bruton joined me on my weekly media briefing and said nine more projects will be complete by the end of 2023, producing an additional 607 affordable housing units.
Recently, we closed another big deal at the Falkland Chase complex in Silver Spring. The plan will convert 170 garden-style apartments into at least 1,250 units. We are investing $20 million dollars in this project and are excited to partner with Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing, which purchased the property for $36.5 million. We are making this investment not only so families can afford to stay in their homes, but to create brand-new, economical, low-cost housing opportunities for more working families. A successful project here may lead to future collaboration with APAH. The original plan, approved by Park and Planning, would have replaced these affordable units with high-end housing. That is why we are really grateful that APAH acquired this property with the goal of preserving and increasing affordable opportunities that we badly need in the County.
We cannot sit back and expect the development community to build us out of this affordable housing crisis. If we do nothing, we will watch our affordable housing stock dry up and be replaced with units that too many of our residents cannot afford.
Fortunately, we are in a position as a County to be creative and find partners who want to work with us as we strive for a better housing situation for everyone.
While we focus on producing and preserving affordable housing, we also most ensure that those living in affordable housing are treated with respect and dignity. On Thursday evening, I joined County Councilmembers Kristin Mink and Kate Stewart and Maryland State Delegate Lorig Charkoudian for a rally at the Enclave apartment buildings in White Oak. The Enclave has one of the worst records in the County when it comes to the number of complaints and housing code violations. I heard from many people who listed countless issues from unresolved bug and pest issues to security and safety concerns we expect management to address. One woman said she only moved in 18 days ago and already regretted the decision. We expect better treatment of people and families in this County.
I was proud to work with Councilmember Mink earlier this year on the passage of our historic rent stabilization bill. This is another measure we have implemented to ensure accountability and protections for our renters. After hearing about double-digital rent increases occurring throughout the County, we had to act to ensure that no one was going to be priced out of their home. Regulations for this bill are currently being finalized and I look forward to updating you upon its completion.
For more information about regarding all of our housing efforts and when spaces open up in our Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit program, visit the DHCA website.
Results of First LGBTQ+ Community Survey Released
It was only 50 years ago, in 1973—when I was in my early 20s—that the American Psychiatric Association (the largest psychiatric organization in the world) made history by issuing a resolution declaring that homosexuality was no longer a mental illness or sickness.
When I was on the Takoma Park City Council, we had to fight to make sure partners of patients in the hospital would be assured equal access to their loved ones. Literally, gay couples were not allowed to be at the bedside of their companions when they were sick, hurt or even dying. Since then, we have seen LGBTQ+ rights quickly expand.
Maryland was the first State to pass same-sex marriage by public referendum, and that was just a little over a decade ago in 2012. This was due to historical LGBTQ+ legislation originally sponsored by our current County Chief Administrative Officer Richard Madaleno when he was a State Senator.
Today, LGBTQ+ individuals are more welcomed, accepted and protected than ever before. But they continue to face challenges, discrimination and hate – even in a community as progressive, diverse and inclusive as Montgomery County.
To better help us understand and serve our LGBTQ+ residents, we conducted the County’s first-ever LGBTQ+ Community Survey last year. The results of the survey can be found at MontgomeryPride.org. There were more than 800 respondents to this survey. This was an incredible response, and I am grateful to all who took the time to share their thoughts.
The survey asked our LGBTQ+ community members whether they felt safe and welcomed in Montgomery County. It also asked about their experiences with housing, healthcare and interacting with law enforcement.
The good news is that three out of every four respondents consider Montgomery County a safe place to live openly as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. However, 45 percent of those surveyed said they experienced discrimination in at least one place over the past year. Nearly one in four respondents stated that they experienced this discrimination in a public space. These are shockingly high numbers.
It was also clear from this survey (and illustrated in the graphic above) that trans, gender expansive and questioning residents were experiencing more difficultly with housing stability and access to healthcare. They also had more negative interactions with law enforcement than our non- trans, gender expansive and questioning residents.
Since this survey was the first of its kind, these results are a baseline. They clearly show that we have work to do to better serve this community.
In this County, we are committed to making sure all LGBTQ+ residents are being heard. Just across the border in Virginia, that state’s Governor is leading the charge to tighten school restrictions that ostracize transgender students in public schools. These attacks are classified as “parents’ rights.” What they really do is fan the flames of those trying to deny gender identity and free expression. This is not acceptable.
We can, and are committed to, doing more in the coming years to increase resources and create opportunities for inclusion of our LGBTQ+ residents. I encourage you to read the report on the website MontgomeryCountyPride.org.
Health Update
All key metrics used to gauge the threat from COVID-19 are currently trending down. That means fewer week-to-week hospitalizations, diminishing case rates and lower test positivity percentages. This is good news, but as the weather gets colder, we often see cases spike.
And with holiday gatherings beginning just weeks from now, we must consider those who are most vulnerable to being infected, especially older adults and anyone with weakened immune systems.
Of the 54 new deaths across Maryland associated with COVID-19 over the last week, 69 percent of the victims were 70 or older. It is a reminder of how vitally important it is for family members to encourage seniors to follow the CDC recommendations. Cases in nursing homes and assisted living facilities dwarf other areas where cases are being traced back to.
At this point, nearly everyone ages six and older is encouraged to get a new booster shot. New vaccines are widely available at pharmacies and through doctors’ offices everywhere. Visit vaccines.gov to find a provider near you and schedule an appointment.
Fall Colors at their Peak
You'll find yourself in good company this weekend if you visit one of our many parks to see the changing fall leaves. The website visitmontgomery.com has highlighted a few options for leaf peepers. They include Brookside Gardens, Black Hill Regional Park and Rock Creek Regional Park but there are many more options maybe closer to your home to enjoy the wonderful weather and the colorful sights. We are in the peak of fall colors. According to experts with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, a majority of the leaves will lose their bright hue and start to fall just before Halloween. Enjoy the season however you choose to spend it.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
County Executive
