Dear Friends,
More acts of hate-based vandalism in the County surfaced this past week. Last weekend, some antisemitic and disturbing statements were painted on the Bethesda Elementary School sign, parking lot and nearby building, and earlier this week a sign saying “We support Israel” outside of Congregation Beth El in Bethesda was defaced. Police are investigating both incidents.Hate speech and vandalism are not acceptable mechanisms for expression even as events in the Middle East have spurred strong feelings amongst our residents. Our County has worked for years to create an environment of acceptance and cooperation among the diverse residents of this community. I have been at gatherings held in response to attacks on one group, where many representatives of different faiths and cultures stood together, united against hate.
Those who seek to inflame people’s emotions and drive them apart will not succeed, but they undermine efforts to make our community stronger and more resilient. And to what end? What kind of constructive change does anyone think they will achieve by spewing hate?
I appreciate the community's quick reporting of what happened and the work of the Montgomery County Police Department, Montgomery County Public Schools, the Bethesda Regional Service Center, Bethesda Urban Partnership and volunteers in investigating and quickly removing the graffiti.
I encourage anyone with information about the perpetrators to contact the Police Department at the non-emergency number 301-279-8000. You can also report what you know online at crimesolversmcmd.org and click on the p3tips link at the top of the page or call 1-866-411-8477. Tips leading to an arrest may be eligible for a reward of $250 up to $10,000. Tips may remain anonymous.
Hate has no place in Montgomery County. We will keep working to catch the perpetrators and at the same time working with our partners, including Montgomery County Public Schools, to educate our community about the harm such divisive language causes our neighbors and friends.
Gold Bar Scam Suspects Being Charged
The Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office has filed criminal charges against five suspects concerning the well-publicized Gold Bar Scam that affected residents here and across the nation.
The criminal charges brought so far account for nearly $3 million in losses going back to January 2023. Investigators believe the losses still being investigated bring the number of victims close to 20. Many victims have lost their life savings.
In this scam, thieves pressure victims to convert money into gold by insisting they represent the Federal government or that their money is at risk of being stolen by cybercriminals. The sad reality is that victims are on the phone with the people who intend to steal their money.
Authorities stress that to protect yourself from the gold bar scam and others. You should not answer phone calls if you do not recognize the number calling you and not click on pop-up ads on your screens. These tactics are meant to scare you and act quickly. Slow down and think about what you’re being asked to do.
The photos above show how thieves try to instill fear or urgency. These graphics are fabricated, and their information should be scrutinized.
Federal authorities said the Federal government would never ask you to make large withdrawals or odd transactions for things like gold, gift cards or cryptocurrencies.
These scams target older adults, who tend to hide their losses. The money lost in these schemes is hard to recover because the thieves spend it or launder it quickly.
It is encouraging to know that because of the work done by the Montgomery County Police Department’s Fraud Division and the State’s Attorney’s Office, we are catching and charging suspects. We also are raising awareness so that other families do not fall victim to the gold bar scam. If you believe you have been victimized, contact MCPD on the non-emergency number 301-279-8000. You can also report suspected fraud directly to the Montgomery County Office of the Inspector General through an online complaint form.
The County’s Office of Consumer Protection is another trusted source for information about protecting your identity and money. The office just launched the “Consumer Connection” podcast to help the public identify suspicious behavior and address consumer needs.
Please spread the word about these threats and help protect your loved ones. This organized crime effort has made thousands of phone calls, and more are sure to come.
‘Melanie Diaz Act’ Signed into Law to Help Protect Tenants
Last week, I joined County Council Vice President Kate Stewart, Councilmember Will Jawando, Fire Chief Corey Smedley and others to mark the start of the Tenant Fire Safety Law. While the legislation is very important, the event was tinged with sadness. The legislation was a result of efforts that began with Melanie Diaz's tragic death from smoke inhalation during a fire at the Arrive Silver Spring complex last year.
Since her death, Melanie’s parents, Cesar Diaz and Zuleika Madera (pictured above), have fought at the State and local levels to ensure her death was not in vain. They have pressed lawmakers for long-range changes in older buildings so those renters have the same protections as renters in newer buildings.
The bill I signed strengthens tenant protections and requires landlords to notify tenants of fire safety, insurance and building maintenance issues. It will ensure all renters have this information up front when deciding on a place to live, which could help save lives.
Our next step is to work with our community partners to inform everyone that this law is now in place and that renters should be expecting information about a safety plan and other important information about a rental before committing to a lease.
I want to thank Council Vice President Stewart, who spearheaded this new law and advocated for the Diaz family and many tenants. I want to thank Cesar Diaz for taking the pain of losing his daughter and using it to enact change that can help other families in our area and across the state.
Renter advocates played an important role in ensuring there was enough support on the local level to bring these changes forward. I appreciate the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service's expertise in helping identify the safety measures included in these new protections and setting up the framework for regular inspections in the new law.
One thing Mr. Diaz spoke about at a recent news conference you can watch here was the hesitancy of tenants around the County to talk about unsafe living conditions. They fear being evicted for calling on code enforcement to inspect their buildings and require the landlords to make repairs. They are concerned about retaliation. These serve as a poster child for why the State must pass a cause eviction law to prevent retaliatory evictions. People should not be afraid to request repairs, and landlords should not be allowed to evict tenants who call the housing department for help.
I know that Maryland State Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins has been leading the effort for years to get this reform passed, and hopefully, it will pass in 2025. I especially want to thank Delegate Wilkins for her leadership on this issue.
This is part of the ongoing work to improve housing conditions countywide. We have changed inspection protocols, and I applaud efforts in Annapolis to give us more authority to go after property owners who do not abide by the law or give tenants a safe place to live.
Many Montgomery County residents are renters. They need to know that where they live is safe and their safety is the priority. As Melanie’s father put it, this law focuses on saving lives. He does not believe this fight is over, and I look forward to his continued advocacy for renters everywhere.
Longtime School Board Member Judith Docca Passes Away
Montgomery County recently lost a fierce advocate for education and civil rights, Dr. Judith Docca. The four-term Montgomery County Board of Education member had a tremendous impact on the schools and our community.
Dr. Docca was named a 'Montgomery County Living Legend' earlier this summer during Juneteenth activities for her more than 40 years of service to our community. Before retiring from the board of education in 2022, she was a longtime teacher and administrator for Montgomery County Public Schools.
She always wanted to get more of the community involved in our schools. She chaired the communications and public engagement committee and served on the special populations committee. Her involvement went beyond her duties on the school board. She was instrumental in launching several community outreach programs, such as the 'Read with Dr. Docca' initiative, which aimed to improve literacy rates among underprivileged students.
Dr. Docca was active in the Montgomery County NAACP, the Lincoln Park Historical Foundation and the County's Head Start program. She was named to the County Human and Civil Rights Hall of Fame and most recently served on the Montgomery College Board of Trustees.
As a former teacher, it was a great honor to know Dr. Docca. Her warmth, compassion and unwavering commitment to education were evident in every interaction. I saw her influence spread through generations of educators and community leaders. Montgomery County owes a great deal to her advocacy and giving spirit. I hope when people visit the media center named after her or earn the scholarship that bears her name, they realize how important she has been to Montgomery County.
COVID-19 Cases on the Rise
You can see the trend in the graphic above. As of Tuesday, we had 56 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Montgomery County, 23 more than just two weeks ago. Statewide, 242 hospital beds are in use for COVID-19 patients, including 21 people in intensive care. Numbers have not been this high since February. Numbers have been steadily climbing over the past several weeks. Until the numbers recede, I urge everyone to think about older adults and the immunocompromised. They face the most danger of becoming gravely ill.
COVID-19 is still more deadly than the flu, and the vaccines do suppress the likelihood of getting a fatal case. Information about vaccines can be found here.
Updated shots that target the latest variant should be available soon. We continue to encourage people to get vaccinated and keep themselves as safe as possible—for their own sake and for the sake of those around them.
I also want to reiterate the importance of washing your hands frequently, staying home when people are sick, and keeping a facemask handy if you are in a crowd or around a lot of strangers.
‘Community Conversations’ Focused on the Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget Set
We are again preparing well before next year’s operating budget deadline and scheduling “community conversations” to discuss ways to improve Montgomery County beginning in less than a month.
Many of the budget discussions have already been set with details of the finalized dates, times and locations listed here:
- East County Community Conversation. Monday, Sept. 9. 7-8:30 p.m. White Oak Community Recreation Center, 1700 April Lane, Social Hall, Silver Spring.
- Mid-County Community Conversation. Monday, Sept. 16. 7-8:30 p.m. Wheaton Community Recreation Center, 11701 Georgia Ave., Wheaton.
- Bethesda-Chevy Chase Community Conversation. Wednesday, Sept. 18. 7-8:30 p.m. Bethesda – Chevy Chase Regional Services Office, 4805 Edgemoor Lane, East West Room, Bethesda.
- Up County Community Conversation. Monday, Sept. 30. 7-8:30 p.m. BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown.
- Spanish Language Community Conversation. Wednesday, Oct. 2. 7-8:30 p.m. Wheaton Community Recreation Center, 11701 Georgia Ave., Wheaton.
- Silver Spring Community Conversation. Wednesday, Oct. 16. 7-8:30 p.m. Silver Spring Civic Center Building, 1 Veterans Place, Buffalo Soldiers Great Hall, Silver Spring.
- Older Adults Community Conversation. Monday, Oct. 21. 12:30-2 p.m.
- Leisure World, 3701 Rossmore Blvd., Clubhouse 1 Crystal Ballroom, Silver Spring (Only Leisure World residents may attend in-person at Leisure World)
- Satellite viewing location: Wheaton Community Recreation Center/Senior Center, 11701 Georgia Ave., Social Hall, Wheaton.
- Riderwood Senior Living Community residents in Silver Spring can view the presentation in their homes on Riderwood TV.
- Chinese Language Community Conversation. Wednesday, Oct. 23. 7-8:30 p.m. Chinese Culture and Community Service Center (CCACC), 9318 Gaither Road, Suite 215, CCACC Art Gallery, Gaithersburg.
We hold as many of these community conversations as possible to give people a chance to be heard. The ideas and feedback we hear help drive our decisions. In the budget process, which benefits from the arguments, advocacy and activism of those supporting specific requests and needs.
I encourage you to participate in these conversations because your voice shapes our path forward. Learn more about our current spending and use our open budget tool by visiting montgomerycountymd.gov/budget.
Register Now for Fall Recreation Activities
Registration for fall recreation programs and activities in Montgomery County is now open. Our Montgomery County Recreation team does a great job creating programming that meets the needs of our diverse community. We are committed to providing activities for people of all ages, and I encourage everyone to explore what the Department offers this fall online with the help of this guide.
If you are interested in participating, create an Active Montgomery account. Once you do, you can easily explore program offerings or build your guide to check. You can choose from several interests, including after-school activities, fitness and sports programs, and activities designed for our 55+ residents. The youth flag football program is expanding this fall, Kids Day Out is back and programming at the new Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center is in full gear.
A new waitlist feature has been added, allowing participants to sign up to be next in line for full activities. Once notified of an opening, those on the waitlist have 48 hours to accept or reject an enrollment offer.
Do not let financial constraints hold you back from participating. Apply for Rec Assist, the financial aid program. We are still accepting applications, and County residents who meet program requirements can receive $400 per family member to help with program costs. It is our way of ensuring everyone can enjoy fall recreation programs.
Montgomery County Athletes Achieve Olympic Success
Congratulations to the eight Montgomery County athletes who competed in Paris for Team USA at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Five local athletes earned medals, including two in the same event.
Swimmers Erin Gemmell and Katie Ledecky won silver medals as part of the 4x200-meter freestyle relay. Erin has already returned to the County to visit her neighborhood swim team, Potomac Woods, and share her Olympic experience. You can watch local coverage of that here.
Katie had a history-making Olympics by winning her ninth gold medal in four Games and her 14th Olympic medal overall. Her newest gold medals came in 1,500- and 800-meter freestyle races. She is the most-decorated U.S. female athlete ever and carried the nation’s flag in the closing ceremonies.
Rockville wrestler Helen Maroulis made history by becoming the first woman to win three Olympic medals in wrestling. Potomac sprinter Masai Russell took gold in the 100-meter hurdles. You can read her story on the Bullis website.
Gaithersburg teenager Quincy Wilson earned a medal by becoming the youngest Olympian to ever compete on the track, breaking a record more than 100 years old. The current Bullis student ran in a qualifying race for Team USA before being replaced on that gold medal-winning 4 x 400-meter relay.
Another athlete—Thea LaFond—grew up here and won a gold medal in the triple jump for her home country. Thea was the only person from Dominica competing on the track in Paris. She was born abroad, but moved to Silver Spring when she was 5. She attended John F. Kennedy High School and competed at the University of Maryland.
If Maryland were an independent nation, it would have earned 11 medals—the same as the nations of Kenya and Sweden. Montgomery County is proud to lead Maryland with so many notable athletes competing on the world stage.
Also of note: American women dominated the competition. You can see that in the number of females who returned to Montgomery County with medals. American women earned 63 medals compared to 45 won by American men. American women won 23 gold medals; American men won 11.
It is inspiring to see the impact of Title IX, which eliminated discrimination based on sex in education. In 1973, women won a fraction of the medals the U.S. collected. Now, women are carrying the team despite competing in fewer events.
Giving women more opportunities to prove themselves and compete in high school and college has increased participation and helped our nation lead by example in the argument for equal rights.
Let’s celebrate the excellent Olympic games and cheer on the next group of competitors. If you dream of competing in the Olympics, go for it. We have an excellent source of talent and training opportunities within our County, so you should never count yourself out. You may have some great experiences on your journey.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
County Executive
