It was a tragic week for our County, region and nation. On Wednesday evening, a commercial flight collided mid-air with a military helicopter at Reagan National Airport. There were sadly no survivors.
Our thoughts are with the families, friends and loved ones of all those who lost their lives. This is one of the worst air disasters in our region’s history, and the impact will be felt by communities across the Washington metropolitan area.
I want to acknowledge the incredible efforts of first responders, including those from Montgomery County, who worked through the night and continue to be involved in the response. While we provided some assistance at the crash site, many of our crews also covered D.C. fire stations while their members were responding to this incident.
All of our region’s first responders once again demonstrated how well we work together during disasters that impact us all. Their bravery, professionalism and dedication in the face of such devastation cannot be overstated.
We will continue to collaborate and support one another—not just in times of crisis, but in the ongoing work of protecting and serving our residents. Montgomery County stands ready to assist in any way necessary.
Federal Grant Money Threatened by New Administration
The Trump presidency continues to be marked by chaos and division—not just here in Montgomery County but throughout every community in this nation.
This week, President Trump made the unprecedented decision to pause all federal grants, loans and other financial assistance programs. After a federal judge intervened, granting a temporary injunction to keep funding in place, the White House’s Office of Management and Budget rescinded the memo ordering the freeze. However, the President’s press secretary stated the executive order that led to the memo on freezing funds was still in effect.
I found this to be a confusing series of actions both deeply troubling and potentially dangerous. Federal grants are not abstract line items—they are lifelines that fund essential services. The Montgomery County government alone receives hundreds of millions of dollars annually in federal funding, not to mention our school system and state programs that also rely on this money. Federal support is critical to supporting public health providers, housing assistance programs and services for the most vulnerable among us.
Public safety could also take a serious hit from a freeze on federal grants and loans. The money helps us equip and train first responders, support public health initiatives and maintain critical infrastructure. Without these funds, our ability to respond to emergencies, ensure public health and protect residents will be undermined at a time when our community cannot afford delays or disruptions.
What makes this situation even more damaging is the federal government's lack of clarity and coordination. The haphazard attempt to implement this policy creates chaos and uncertainty, leaving local governments and organizations in limbo.
I am thankful that our County’s congressional delegation is also actively and aggressively addressing these decisions. As we move forward, I encourage you to follow the information and updates provided by Rep. Raskin, Rep. Delaney, Rep. Ivey, Sen. Van Hollen and Sen. Alsobrooks’ offices. Please visit congress.gov for more information, resources and information on how to contact your members of Congress.
Federal Immigration Enforcement Actions
The President’s administration is carrying out a more aggressive approach to immigration enforcement than we saw during his first term. Reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents canceling leave and being given quotas suggest that enforcement actions will continue to escalate.
These developments create fear and uncertainty for many of our neighbors, particularly in our immigrant communities. Montgomery County remains committed to being a welcoming and inclusive community. We will continue to support and protect the dignity and rights of all our residents, regardless of their immigration status.
Our local government does not enforce federal immigration laws—that responsibility lies with ICE. We continue to operate under Executive Order 135-19, which we issued in 2019 during the first Trump administration. This allows Montgomery County to focus on its role in addressing public safety while the federal government enforces immigration laws.
However, we recognize the critical importance of making sure all residents are informed about their rights and prepared for what may come. That is why we have partnered with community organizations, Montgomery County Public Schools and other agencies to provide resources and support. Our residents can find information on their rights, emergency planning and services on the Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center website or through this flyer, available in seven different languages.
MCPS has been a leader in this area, ensuring staff are trained on protocols that safeguard the privacy of students and their families. They do not share information with ICE.
It is also important to address how increased immigration enforcement can impact public safety. For years we have worked hard to gain the trust of immigrant communities that often come here fleeing oppressive governments.
Our federal government is eroding the trust we have built here, which can reduce cooperation and make it harder for our police department to keep everyone safe. Fear of deportation makes some residents reluctant to report crimes or cooperate with law enforcement. Our police officers are not tasked with enforcing immigration laws—they are here to protect and serve everyone in Montgomery County.
We will also hold the federal government responsible for following the rule of law. This week, we filed an amicus brief supporting Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown and other states and municipalities in their lawsuit challenging federal action to end birthright citizenship. This action was a clear violation of the 14th Amendment, and we expect that these lawsuits will prevail in a court of law. Montgomery County remains committed to ensuring that everyone feels safe and supported here.
So far, we have not seen anything that could be classified as a raid. People have been arrested but these are normal operations. We have not seen ICE lockdown neighborhoods or apartment buildings to conduct sweeps. They have not gone into restaurants or lined people up to check their status and make mass arrests. Yet. On the ground, things are as they have been— it’s just that these arrests are making headlines when they did not before.
The lack of clarity from the federal administration is to blame for making people scared. People are afraid because they think every time they see police, it is part of a mass deportation effort. Fear contributes to a climate of uncertainty, causing anxiety within our community.
‘Climate Smart’ Campaign Begins
“They - referring to Democrats - have no idea what they are doing. They use the environment to stop progress, and we are not letting that happen.”
Clearly, we can no longer count on the federal government to support our efforts, but that will not stop us. In this day and age, it is crazy to try to halt the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and the construction of infrastructure like windmills and solar farms to decrease our reliance on fossil fuels. Burning coal and oil has created an unprecedented climate crisis that is unfolding in plain view; reversing course would make it worse.
Here in Montgomery County, we have set the bar high and charted a path to reduced greenhouse gases through a Climate Action Plan. We launched the initiative in 2021. By 2027, we would like to bring down emission levels by 80 percent from 2013 numbers, and we are working toward a 100 percent reduction in emission levels by 2035.
Research through the Yale Program on Climate Change shows that 77 percent of Montgomery County residents are worried about global warming. Unfortunately, the same survey found that only 47 percent of County residents discuss global warming occasionally or more. This shows that many people are worried about global warming but not aware of what to do about it. Taking it a step further, they do not know the impact they can have or that there are County resources in place to help.
This week, we launched a new initiative called Climate Smart to help us reach our goals. Later in this newsletter, we will discuss the campaign's details, including the pledge we are asking residents to make to be climate-smart at home. The pledge is an opportunity for all of us to come together and show how small actions can lead to big change. You can find the link to the pledge page through the Climate Action Portal.
Personally, I have been making these changes over the last several years by leasing and driving EVs, adapting my house to solar power, growing my own garden and reducing the waste my household creates. I hope that this campaign empowers all County residents to help make similar decisions in their households.
The Climate Smart campaign is built around a simple yet powerful idea: “Big Change starts small.” This slogan reflects a truth we all need to embrace—each of us has a role to play in addressing climate change and the small, everyday decisions we make, when multiplied across our community, can drive meaningful progress. To find out how many people are already making some of these changes visit mygreenmontgomery.org.
I also encourage you to watch the announcement of this program, which took place during my weekly media briefing. My guests were Sarah Kogel-Smucker, Montgomery County’s Chief Climate Officer, and Jon Monger, director of our Department of Environmental Protection.
Why We Need Differential Taxation
For our County to thrive, we need the right resources—and that requires smart revenue solutions. The Maryland General Assembly is exploring a key step forward by updating the state's outdated tax system and allowing counties to adopt differential taxation.
House Bill 23 would enable Montgomery County to set separate tax rates for residential and commercial properties, following a proven model that fueled success in Northern Virginia. The results speak for themselves— Virginia ranks first in the nation for business while Maryland trails at 31st. On infrastructure, Virginia is third nationally while Maryland is only 37th.
Businesses in Virginia willingly pay higher taxes than in Maryland. Why? Because they see value in what they get—better infrastructure, reduced congestion and improved transit access. Northern Virginia's use of special taxing districts directly funded projects like the Silver Line and major highway upgrades. They have created a business-friendly environment that continues to attract investment.
Meanwhile, Montgomery County remains constrained by outdated tax laws. Our current system was built for a time when we were primarily a bedroom community for Washington, D.C. It relies too heavily on residential property taxes. Back then, this was enough to support excellent schools and infrastructure. But Montgomery County now has more complex needs.
I want to thank three of the bill’s sponsors, Del. Lorig Charkoudian, Del. Julie Palakovich Carr and Del. Joe Vogel for putting this legislation forward. A committee hearing for the bill occurred on Tuesday, and the County’s Chief Administrative Officer, Rich Madaleno, testified on its behalf. You can watch that testimony through the Ways and Means Committee website with Rich’s testimony occurring around three hours in.
To move forward, we need the ability to raise new revenues and implement forward-thinking strategies—just as Northern Virginia did—to plan for growth, expand transportation options and boost regional accessibility.
We urge state lawmakers to give Montgomery County the tools to modernize our tax system, strengthen our economy and build a better future for everyone.
Black History Month Begins
Montgomery County will mark Transit Equity Day on Tuesday, Feb. 4 in honor of civil rights activist Rosa Parks. Her 1955 protest aboard a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, sparked a movement for civility and equal rights that would not be turned back. This upcoming Tuesday, all Ride On buses will be free of charge.
It is a fitting way to begin every February and Black History Month. I lived through times when racism, bigotry and hatred had an iron-clad clasp on society. It was marked by segregation and unequal justice, or more directly, it was the hallmark of injustice.
We are never going back to those days, and we will also not be satisfied with the status quo. We have made progress in Montgomery County as we have emphasized the equitable delivery of services for our community. We have made it a point to ensure that all our decisions are seen through a racial equity and social justice lens to ensure no groups are left out.
Unfortunately, policies that promote equity have been forbidden in the Trump government. Diversity, equity and inclusion language is being removed from government documents. You can’t speak of diversity, equity and inclusion. Workers are being asked to report other workers who may be favorable toward that to their agencies so they can be fired.
The struggle of the Black population in our country has persisted long past the end of slavery. It impacts access to education, the ability to build wealth and justice in our courts. These are things that have been tolerated for far too long, and they need to change.
To achieve equity, we must remain committed to breaking free from systemic and unconscious racism. We cannot roll back policies that bring disadvantages back into the fold. That would be a disservice to our history and ourselves.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Eighty years later, the horrors of the Holocaust remain a powerful and painful chapter in human history. Yet, despite the passage of time, we are witnessing a troubling resurgence of antisemitism. Holocaust denial, conspiracy theories and outright lies have spread with alarming speed, threatening to distort history and deny the suffering of millions.
This is why it is more important than ever to defend the truth. The stories of Holocaust victims and survivors must be heard, remembered and retold. Many Germans sat silent not believing that Hitler could be the monster that he was. He appealed to nationalism and demonized Jewish people and others as he broadened his attack on disparate communities. There are way too many parallels to our current situation to feel comfortable.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day is not just about reflecting on the past; it is a call to action. It is a reminder that we must reject bigotry, educate future generations and stand against all forms of hatred. Only by remembering the Holocaust can we honor its victims, ensure its lessons endure and work toward a world rooted in peace, justice and the unwavering defense of human dignity.
Lunar New Year Celebrations
One of the great traditions I participate in every year are the Lunar New Year celebrations. Over the past week, I have attended five celebrations (pictures are available on the County’s Flickr page) and joined the County Council in honoring this important holiday for our Asian communities.
I want to thank all the community groups, nonprofit organizations, businesses, volunteers and performers who organized and produced these festive events throughout the County.
This is the Year of the Snake, a year in which we are supposed to be wise and able to transform in a changing environment. I can’t think of a more appropriate sign to guide us in 2025.
Free Tax Assistance for Eligible Taxpayers
Tax season is upon us. Every year, too many people do not claim all the tax credits they are eligible for.
Our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) provides free tax help to eligible residents and connects them with valuable tax credits.
Montgomery County is one of the few jurisdictions that offers a local supplement to the State Earned Income Tax Credit, ensuring even more support for our families. This program not only puts money back into residents’ pockets but also helps build a pathway to self-sufficiency.
Later in this newsletter, you can learn more about the program, including details on who qualifies. Reach our VITA program by calling 240-777-1123 or visiting montgomerycountymd.gov/cashback.
Winter Restaurant Week Ends Sunday
There is still time to take advantage of Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week, which goes through Sunday, Feb. 2. More than 100 restaurants are offering deals, including some in Silver Spring, Bethesda, Rockville and Gaithersburg. Supporting our local restaurants is a great way to keep your money local, helping our economy.
Visit Montgomery has a link to find participating restaurants. While you are there, learn about the Moco Eats Food and Beverage Showcase, which will take place March 30-31. This is the first year of the event. Day one will focus on something special for foodies and spirit enthusiasts. Day two will center around the hospitality industry to help professionals learn and network. If you are interested, you can sign up to be notified when tickets are available.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
County Executive
