Message from the County Executive

Dear Friends,

On Thanksgiving in 1938, during the height of the Great Depression, Eleanor Roosevelt wrote the following in her newspaper column:

“…you will be giving thanks for the fact that you are citizens of the United States; that under a democracy you still have the right of suffrage and may express your opinion freely and without any fear of interference unless you advocate the use of force in the overthrow of your government. For all these things we are deeply grateful, and those of us who have health are grateful for that, and those of us who have people to love, and interests which keep us mentally active are grateful for that. Above all, we are grateful for the hope of constant growth in vision and understanding as individuals and as a national group. Lastly, we are thankful for our faith in ourselves; for the feeling that we can meet and solve our problems; that we can look at ourselves honestly and finally do away with discriminations and injustices which now exist in our own country, and for the belief that we can eventually grow to the stature required of those who are citizens of a real democracy.”

I wanted to share with you her words as a meditation to reflect upon during Thanksgiving this year. We are living during a time when the President of the United States is leading an attack on the values that she held up then and that are still values that we hold up today. At the same time, I am so grateful to be able to lead this County and for the many amazing residents who live and work here. .

As we celebrate the holidays with friends and families, host dinners or travel to loved ones out of town, I hope everyone considers our neighbors throughout the County who may be struggling, and embrace this Thanksgiving holiday with gratitude, togetherness, and, most importantly, generosity.

Our County is facing unprecedented challenges. We have been hit harder than anywhere else in the nation by federal workforce layoffs and furloughs. The longest federal shutdown in history left thousands of federal employees and contractors without pay and delayed essential programs, including SNAP. Extraordinary pressure is on both our families and on the nonprofits that support them.



Next Tuesday, Dec. 2, is Giving Tuesday, and I encourage all those who can give to consider donating to local nonprofit service providers. This year, we launched the “Montgomery Gives Local” campaign to help promote and boost giving locally.

We, as a County government, have consistently invested to support our community:

• $23.5 million for food assistance
• $62 million for services to end and prevent homelessness.
• $200 million for our local non-profits.
• And just this past month, in partnership with the County Council, we invested an additional $7.75 million Public Service Support Package.

We are doing everything we can, but it is not enough. There are still families in Montgomery County waiting for food or housing help, the mother who isn’t sure she can put a Thanksgiving meal on the table, the father who wonders if he’ll be able to place a single present under the tree. And the nonprofits that open their doors every morning, hoping they’ll have enough funding to stay open because they know there is a line of people depending on them.

That is why I am asking our residents to give local because:

• Our nonprofits are carrying a tremendous load.
• A contribution, no matter the amount, goes further than ever before.
• Financial donations allow nonprofits to stretch every dollar through bulk purchasing and targeted assistance.

Nonprofit Montgomery recently published a supplement to its State of Nonprofits report, focusing on the federal impacts on local organizations. They conducted a survey six months after Trump’s second term began and right after the Big, Ugly Bill passed Congress. This portion of the report stood out to me:

“Not only did respondents report concerns about federal funding sources, but the economic uncertainty facing Montgomery County has led to a decline in individual giving, noted by 74% of respondents. Nearly two-thirds of respondents reported declines in corporate and foundation giving.”

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Reduced individual giving comes on top of a loss of federal support. According to DOGE data from January to July 2025, at least 473 contracts and grants to our local nonprofits and businesses have been terminated. The impact on our non-profits has already been severe.

Our community will continue to feel the consequences of federal decisions, as we brace for deeper funding cuts and greater barriers to accessing housing, health care, and food. Federal actions are creating a situation where demand for help will continue to rise, just as the resources to meet that need is being reduced.

I always say our nonprofits are our greatest partners. They reach people in need quickly, often more nimbly than government can. They are our safety net, but they can’t do it alone. They need our support, and they need the community to give as well. And nonprofits stretch our dollars further by providing services for less than the County would be able to do. There is real value in residents supporting our nonprofits.



Every form of giving matters. If our residents cannot give financially, we ask them to please give locally with their time. We encourage residents to visit the Montgomery County Volunteer Center to explore available organizations and opportunities.

Nonprofit Montgomery Executive Director Brigid Howeand then Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Luisa Cardona joined me on my media briefing this week to discuss the current state of our nonprofits and “Montgomery Gives Local” campaign. You can view that discussion here.

For a list of Montgomery County nonprofits to consider supporting, please go to the volunteer center website here: Home - Montgomery County Volunteer Center. It lists both places to donate and volunteer opportunities.

Lakeforest Mall Redevelopment



This we announced our new transit center at the old Lakeforest Mall site; you can read the press coverage and positive feedback here:

• Bethesda Today: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/11/25/lakeforest-mall-redevelopment-new-transit-center/
• The Banner Montgomery: https://www.thebanner.com/economy/growth-development/lakeforest-mall-gaithersburg-bus-rapid-transit-development-KLAC73WZVVEKHOE4BQD57TBWRI/
• WUSA9: https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/gaithersburg/montgomery-county-moves-forward-with-lakeforest-mall-redevelopment-new-transit-center-housing-announced/65-61c09eec-2306-4478-bc82-041a20806f43
• NBC Washington: https://www.nbcwashington.com/video/news/local/lakeforest-mall-redevelopment-whats-planned-and-what-some-gaithersburg-residents-will-miss/4020093/
• WJLA: https://wjla.com/news/local/montgomery-county-breaks-ground-lakeforest-mall-redevelopment-new-transit-hub-investment-maryland-projects-transportation-public-route-demolition-flash-bus-rapid-commuters-retail
• WTOP: https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2025/11/redevelopment-of-lakeforest-mall-transit-center-site-announced/
• Bisnow: https://www.bisnow.com/washington-dc/news/mixed-use/100-acre-mall-redevelopment-with-transit-center-moving-forward-in-gaithersburg-132061

Lakeforest Mall opened in 1978 and closed in 2023. It was the largest mall in the County for some time and was a well-known community gathering spot for shopping and dining for 45 years.



The Mall site is now being transformed by WRS – a developer from South Carolina - into a mixed-use development that will support residential housing, entertainment, shopping, and public gathering spaces. Under the first phase of the agreement, WRS will prepare nearly two acres of land for construction, including filling in a drainage pond and grading the site, ensuring it is build-ready.

The new transit center will serve the eight Ride On bus routes that currently use the existing Lakeforest Transit Center, as well as a stop on the planned MD 355 Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor.



Building this transit center is critical to this redevelopment process and our BRT system. As some may know, I have been working towards a BRT system since 2008. We just did not have the money then to appropriately plan out and design what we are finalizing today. A BRT system (not just one line) is the best way to connect Our County that is not reliant on rail (which is too expensive to build a system) or more lanes for cars. If you think about it, Metro’s Red Line is a great way to get in and out of Montgomery County and is set up for those working in D.C. As we consider how to grow and expand our economy, we must also consider ways to easily and conveniently navigate around the County.

We have gone from our initial Flash bus route on US 29 to design five more routes along 355, Veirs Mill Road, New Hampshire Avenue, North Bethesda, and an extension of the US 29 line. Three of those lines will intersect at the Wheaton and North Bethesda Metro stations. There are hospitals, college campuses, and countless businesses on these premium bus routes. When we build it out completely, most of the lanes will be dedicated bus lanes to ensure that the ride is efficient and appealing.

The new Lakeforest Transit Center will be an important stop on the 355 BRT route. We will continue to update you on the progress of this redevelopment project in Gaithersburg. To view the website for this development, please visit: https://www.lakeforestredevelopment.com/

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY:



While we are asking folks to give locally this holiday season, we also want you to shop locally. This coming Saturday is the annual Small Business Saturday. Supporting small businesses matters. Studies show that for every dollar spent locally, approximately 67 cents stays within our County.





According to a PwC survey from September, U.S. consumers plan to spend 5% less on seasonal spending compared to 2024, the biggest drop in five years. The survey also found that there will be an 11% drop in average gift spending and a 23% drop in holiday spending among Gen Z.

This reduction in spending could have a profoundly negative impact on all our retail businesses, and an even greater impact on our local and small businesses. For many small businesses, particularly those in retail and dining, the holiday season provides a disproportionately large part of their revenues and profits, and they count on a strong holiday season to buffer them from lower sales outside the holidays. Your support for small businesses now is crucial if we want them to continue serving us.

To make shopping locally even easier, we will offer free parking in County-owned garages and lots on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 29th, and again on Super Saturday, Dec. 20th, one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Please note that parking at on-street meters is not free and will still be enforced. We hope that the free parking in the garages will help encourage residents to explore our local businesses and enjoy all that Montgomery County has to offer.

There are also several holiday fairs and markets on Small Business Saturday around the County, including:

• Takoma Collective’s Market on the Street: https://visitmontgomery.com/events/takoma-collective-market-on-the-street-2/
• 3rd Annual Kensington Holiday Market: https://visitmontgomery.com/events/3rd-annual-kensington-holiday-market/
• Shop Arts Saturday at Glen Echo Park: https://visitmontgomery.com/events/shop-arts-saturday/

For more local shopping events and happenings, please check out: https://visitmontgomery.com/shop-moco/

HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS:

We want everyone to have a safe holiday. I would like to extend my appreciation to all County employees, including our first responders and transportation officials, who work during the holidays away from their families to ensure our safety.





The Thanksgiving holiday is the busiest day of the year for home cooking fires. Our fire department is reminding residents that unattended cooking is the leading cause of residential fires, and we’re asking residents to please cook their Thanksgiving meal with as few distractions as possible.

Please stay in the kitchen when using the stove top and use a timer. If you must leave the kitchen, even for a short time, turn off the stove. Keep anything that can catch fire at least three feet from the stove, toaster oven, or other heat source. This includes pot holders, food packaging, dish towels, paper/plastic bags, etc.



We also want everyone to be mindful of driving impaired during holiday events and gatherings. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) are warning residents to plan ahead and not drive if they choose to celebrate with alcohol or have used cannabis.

MCPD has activated a "Holiday Alcohol Task Force" to detect impaired drivers. MCPD established sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols in advance of Thanksgiving that will end after New Year's Day.

We wish everyone a joyous and safe holiday season.

As always, my appreciation for all of you,



Marc Elrich
County Executive

Message from the County Executive Marc Elrich

 

Dear Friends,

Today, I was at AstraZeneca’s manufacturing facility in Frederick, where I joined Rep. April McLain-Delaney, Gov. Wes Moore, AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot, and Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater to announce AstraZeneca’s decision to invest two billion dollars here in Maryland. This investment includes the construction of a new state-of-the-art facility in Gaithersburg and a significant expansion of its flagship biologics manufacturing facility in Frederick.

The new facility in Gaithersburg, which will be fully operational by 2029, will create 100 new jobs, retain 400 jobs, and support 1,000 construction-related jobs.

Both the expanded facility in Frederick and the new facility in Gaithersburg will leverage cutting-edge AI, automation and data analytics, and be built to the highest environmental standards.

AstraZeneca’s decision to expand its presence in Montgomery County is a powerful testament to the strength of our highly educated and diverse workforce, the depth of our innovation ecosystem, and the quality of life that continues to attract and retain world-class companies.

We’re proud that AstraZeneca’s North American research and development headquarters is in our County, and we support them in continuing to develop more discoveries for patients in our community and around the world. The City of Gaithersburg has been a tremendous partner in supporting this expansion—whether at the former MedImmune campus or at Progress Way along the I-270 corridor.

Just a few months ago, I had the privilege of touring AstraZeneca’s new $300 million cell therapy facility here in Rockville. What I saw there was remarkable: cutting-edge advanced manufacturing already at work and scientists developing cell-based therapies that re-engineer a patient’s own immune cells to fight disease. This isn’t theoretical—it’s happening here, today, in Montgomery County.

Last month in Shanghai, we met with AstraZeneca leaders and gained insight into the scope of their global commitment. With more than 60,000 employees across China alone, and deep expertise in oncology and other critical disease areas, AstraZeneca is a company that builds connections, shares knowledge, accelerates treatments, and strengthens health care innovation worldwide. That global mindset pairs naturally with Montgomery County’s own international identity and diverse talent base.

AstraZeneca represents the kind of partner we value: a multinational leader that understands the importance of talent, innovation, and community. We are proud of its workforce here in the County—proud of the scientists, researchers, engineers, and professionals whose work changes patients’ lives across the world.

I thank AstraZeneca for their continued confidence in our County’s talented workforce. We look forward to supporting their growth for many years to come.

Capital Improvement Budget Limitations 

This week, the Montgomery County Board of Education approved the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Superintendent’s Capital Improvements Budget request, and, in case you missed it, the request is an eye-opener.   

The Capital Improvements Project (CIP) budget is separate from the annual operating fund expenditures. These are larger, long-term investments in facilities and infrastructure. The budget encompasses all of the County’s needs, but I would like to focus on the request from MCPS. 

We plan CIP spending over a six-year period, and this year, roughly one-quarter of the budget is devoted to school improvements. That’s our second largest expenditure behind transportation.  

The MCPS request this year is 54% higher than the last approved CIP. That works out to almost $160 million more each year over a six-year period. Even with that level of investment, we still wouldn’t clear the backlog, which has been accumulating for many years. The long-term lack of transparency by the school system led to this sudden revelation. Today, leaders are more transparent about MCPS needs. This exposes a problem of underinvestment by our County that goes back more than a decade. The CIP budget hasn’t been adjusted to account for inflation in 10 years.

The chart above shows how actual dollars devoted to the CIP have been slipping over that time, too. In 2009, we spent $300 million on capital projects, but over the last four years, we’ve dipped to $280 million. Had we kept pace with inflation, we’d be spending almost $550 million today. The cost of these large projects increases regularly, and the expectation that you can spend $280 million today to buy what you spent $300 million to buy 16 years ago is absurd.

In October, the Council tentatively approved $300 million of my $340 million request. It is simply not enough to move forward without making some deep cuts to improvement plans to meet community needs. These limitations put a burden on the capital budget process. We need to take a hard look at our capital budget, and I’ve proposed an approach that would closely resemble what the District of Columbia and the Northern Virginia counties have been able to do regarding infrastructure funding.

The “Montgomery Way” of handling capital spending doesn’t work. It hasn’t worked for a couple of decades, and it does not meet our needs. Please listen carefully to how MCPS has laid out the problems that they face because they are real. You can watch Dr. Thomas Taylor’s presentation of his recommended budget on the MCPS YouTube page.

Superintendent Taylor’s budget gives a much more accurate reflection of MCPS facility needs than what County leaders have seen before. Previous administrations have not shown us the full picture, so how we prioritize the needs of our schools must be factored into an already complicated math problem. 

When Dr. Taylor was hired, I said our schools need and deserve strong leadership because it is crucial to maintaining our position among the country’s most highly regarded school districts. I appreciate the superintendent’s honesty and transparency regarding the needs of MCPS and look forward to reviewing the school board’s recommended capital budget request. I will be sending my recommended six-year capital budget proposal to the Council in mid-January. I encourage all residents to follow this important process and investments.  

University Boulevard Corridor Plan Amendments

The County Council continued its work this week on the University Boulevard Corridor Plan, focusing specifically on amendments recommended by the Planning, Housing, and Parks Committee. 

The Council modified some of the zoning recommendations submitted by the Planning Board, lowering densities and heights, and agreed to retain the existing zoning for the Woodmoor Shopping Center. They also agreed to dispense with street grid recommendations made by the Planning Board, which would have compromised safety in neighborhoods. I am glad the planning board recommendations on these things were rejected 

The attempt to introduce housing affordability into the rezoning of single-family residential homes along the University Boulevard corridor, however, fell far short of expectations. As a result, there is a distinct possibility that naturally occurring affordable homes will be replaced by more expensive duplexes and townhouses, potentially leading to the displacement of current residents. 

For example, if a developer builds three townhouses on a single lot, one of them would have to be affordable as workforce housing – but workforce housing can serve incomes over $170,000, which is not really affordable. New homes with higher prices would likely be unaffordable to black and brown communities that are already established there. The median income for black and brown families in our area is far lower than white or Asian communities. The corridor plan continues a pattern of displacing people in lower-income groups. When workforce housing has a definition that excludes most members of the two largest minority communities, this is a problem.   

And to add insult to injury, if you replace a single-family house with a duplex, there is no affordability requirement. It may be advantageous to build all market duplexes with larger units than three smaller units. There is no guarantee of affordability for most people in the County. 

Council Vice President Will Jawando was not successful in his attempts to introduce changes that would address affordability and racial equity issues. There was also no serious discussion about the lack of jobs in the area. This, along with a failure to recognize that Bus Rapid Transit is not even in the earliest planning stage along University Boulevard, means that additional residential development will likely precede the infrastructure improvements necessary to support that development.  

While touting bus rapid transit as a traffic reliever, the fact is that increasing density will result in far more drivers, leading to more, not less congestion. It is simply the wrong place to increase density in the County, as it is not near any job centers. The corridor plan along University will subtract from the hoped-for (but unrealized) residential growth in Wheaton, making it less viable as a center. It also ignores decades of work through master planning that focused on development around Metro stations and activity centers.

As I’ve said before, our master plans already have capacity for more than the projected number of households anticipated by 2050. In other words, the housing we need has actually been planned for. This corridor plan is essentially a tool to enable townhouse developers to transform existing neighborhoods into green spaces. 

The focus on safety issues – a prime concern in the area – was also a notable detour, with the plan indicating that rezoning is necessary to implement improvements. That is also patently untrue. As Councilmember Sidney Katz pointed out, implementing master plan recommendations takes years, while safety improvements are needed now and should be addressed through alternative means. Safety upgrades are also the focus of the State’s Pedestrian Safety Action Plan to improve University Boulevard with no rezoning required. 

Statements by Planning Board representatives made it clear that the University Boulevard Corridor Plan is their blueprint for future corridor changes around the County. For those of you who are thinking, “Well, this is not my neighborhood,” don’t take any comfort in that. Their plan is to implement this approach widely, on everything they designate a corridor, so this becomes possible in more neighborhoods in the County. This is the test bed. They are poised to ignore most of the concerns related to what happens inside your neighborhood, and there’s no reason to believe you will be treated differently. This is a Planning Board that repeatedly demonstrated that what you think, what you want in your community, is irrelevant to their vision for your neighborhood. I encourage you to let the Council know that, although you may not be affected today, this is not the kind of planning you want to see throughout Montgomery County.

These plans are singularly focused on rezoning single-family residential neighborhoods while giving scant consideration to the other master plan elements intended to create complete communities. It is not surprising that many people view this as an open invitation for developers to add density to existing neighborhoods, thereby making our streets more congested and straining our existing infrastructure, without requiring developers to help offset the impacts of growth. 

The Council directed its staff to prepare a resolution incorporating the changes they made. They will meet on December 2 to review several chapters of the Plan that were not discussed at this week’s session, then they will take a straw vote on the resolution. The final vote to adopt the Plan is currently scheduled for Dec. 9.  You have five Councilmembers who represent you – four at-large and one district representative; you can contact them and share your concerns. If you are unsure of your position, you can also ask them to slow the process down to allow for more discussion.

Mission First Housing for Seniors Construction Underway

I'd like to highlight one of the special projects currently underway, which aims to provide more options for older residents. On Thursday, I visited the Mission First Housing Group project in Wheaton, which will add 90 units of affordable housing exclusively for seniors. 

This project will help older residents who earn 30-70% of Montgomery County’s area median income. It uses underutilized parking at a synagogue to develop one- and two-bedroom apartments, green spaces, and walking paths that help connect downtown Wheaton. 

I would like to thank the Department of Housing and Community Affairs for its collaboration with Mission First, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Grandbridge, and Truist for recognizing the significant investment being made in this area. It was also a great idea by leaders with the Congregation Har Tzeon-Agudath Achim to better utilize its land in a way that benefits the community. This project is a great example of how we can work closely with Montgomery County’s faith communities to create strong housing options for older residents in the County. 

One goal we’ve set is to make it easier for older residents to age in place. Adding affordable housing set aside for them helps those looking to downsize. Alternatively, the Home Accessibility Rehabilitation Program (HARP) helps older residents who want to make it easier to remain in their home for as long as possible. If you have questions about how HARP can help your situation, email dhcaharp@montgomerycountymd.gov or call 311.

Housing for older adults 65 and older is a growing concern because the population is growing, 18% of the County at last count, and up from 11% in 2000. Older adults who rent should have more housing choices, as a significant portion of their limited monthly income is typically devoted to housing. This creates cost burdens that can leave them vulnerable to financial difficulties. Affordable housing like this project is a key part of meeting the needs of our older residents.  

I’m proud of the nearly $8 million we invested to help in financing the project, which has already put this construction into motion. The County also allowed special tax privileges to help cover the costs to finalize the plans. I look forward to celebrating the grand opening of this facility and witnessing the positive impact it will have on our community. 

Montgomery County Welcomes New Director of Environmental Protection

I am pleased to welcome Jennifer Macedonia as Montgomery County’s new director of the Department Environmental Protection. She was unanimously confirmed by the County Council on Tuesday. 

Jennifer is a nationally recognized environmental leader with over 30 years of experience. She brings deep expertise in climate policy, clean energy, and environmental protection from her time with the Environmental Protection Agency. Under her leadership, and with the support of the Inflation Reduction Act funds, several new programs were launched to help reduce the amount of carbon monoxide produced through transportation, the building sector, and power production.

I want to highlight her remarks to the County Council a few weeks ago. She told them about her passion for protecting human health and the environment, as well as her commitment to using a data-driven and analytical approach to accomplishing our goals. It stands in stark contrast to the non-science-based reasons for many of the decisions being made in Washington today, in which the environment is shoved to the back to advance the interests of fossil fuel companies and large corporations whose sole raison d’etre is to maximize profits regardless of the impacts on our health and environment. 

We need a leader like her here in Montgomery County, which has led the way in developing policies and practices that help us move forward on our Climate Action Plan. Her proven leadership and strong local roots here make her an outstanding choice to lead our efforts toward a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future. I look forward to her starting her new role serving our residents on Dec. 1.  

MCEDC Hires New CEO 

The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) also has a new leader. Jared Smith was named president and CEO of MCEDC this week after leading economic development efforts in Henderson, Nevada, a large suburb of Las Vegas.  

I believe he will be a strong leader of the MCEDC team, and his appointment is an important next step in advancing the County’s long-term economic development strategy. We all know that challenges lie ahead, but we’ve made meaningful progress this year toward building a more coordinated approach to economic development. 

Jared brings hands-on experience from both local and regional efforts in other jurisdictions, and that perspective will be valuable as MCEDC continues its work to attract new investment in a way that aligns with our County’s priorities.

His background in supporting small businesses is particularly relevant here in Montgomery County. Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy. Strengthening that ecosystem remains a central part of our growth strategy. 

I look forward to connecting with him in the coming weeks and discussing how we can continue moving the County forward.

New Environmental Challenges and Saying Goodbye to an Environmental Champion

I was delighted to welcome Paul Pinsky to my media briefing this week. Paul is one of Maryland’s longest-serving environmental champions. For the past three years, he has been the director of the Maryland Energy Administration, and he’s a former Maryland Delegate and Senator going back decades.

He and I share disappointment in the actions of the federal government that seek to peel back the protections many fought so hard to achieve. Environmental protections save taxpayers money and improve public health; ditching them only benefits wealthy corporations looking to avoid regulations. This week, another prime example surfaced (Washington Post report) in which the Environmental Protection Agency, under the Trump administration, proposed a new rule that would dramatically weaken the Clean Water Act. The rule limits protections only to ‘relatively permanent’ bodies of water — like rivers or lakes with a continuous surface connection — which means many wetlands and smaller streams would no longer be protected. Environmental groups estimate that up to 95% of wetlands nationwide could lose federal oversight as a result.

For a place like Montgomery County, that’s not an abstract problem. We have more than 1,500 miles of stream running through our neighborhoods, parks, and backyards — each one contributing to our drinking water, our natural habitats, and our overall resilience to flooding. Some of these waterways are classified as Tier II high-quality streams, meaning they are clean and healthy enough to warrant extra protection. MontgomeryCounty’s Department of Environmental Protection monitors more than 150 sub watersheds to track their condition, and that data helps guide how we plan growth and invest in restoration.

If federal protections disappear, those local efforts become significantly more challenging. Pollution doesn’t respect boundaries, and once a wetland is filled or a stream is paved over, it’s gone for good.

I wish Paul well in retirement and hope he sees the public fight the direction of the current administration so that we continue to strive for a cleaner and greener future.

As always, my appreciation for all of you,



Marc Elrich
County Executive

Message from the County Executive

Dear Friends,

A deal to end the shutdown was made this week, and the federal government reopened after the longest closure in U.S. history. Pressure to close the deal came from the White House, the Senate, and even the corporate world.

The Senate-led agreement ignored the catastrophic implications of legislative proposals that threaten our community. We still need a budget that addresses the health care crisis. Currently, many working Americans and those who depend on government assistance are facing a difficult financial situation come January, when the cost of health insurance is expected to increase significantly.

The expiration of Affordable Care Act premiums will impact every family trying to make ends meet. For some families, it could mean being asked to pay 50% percent of their income toward health care, or worse, seeing millions of people nationwide choose to forgo health care coverage. There are approximately 50,000 residents in the County who spend around half their monthly income on rent, and now keeping their health care could be just as big a burden.

There is also the devastating impact a new fiscal year will have on the civil service ranks. We have seen dedicated employees fired after years of service through draconian Reductions in Force (RIFs). I am glad that the continuing resolution included temporary protections to reverse these RIFs and protect more federal workers from RIFs, but these protections will end in January, and we must go further.

Let's remember that while the shutdown complicated our situation, it was already dire. Marylanders have been struggling to pay their bills due to soaring grocery prices, and higher energy costs are also putting a strain on family budgets. Locally, we have too many federal employees and contractors who have lost their jobs (even with the most recent temporary RIF protections).

Like many others, I am very concerned about this compromise to end the shutdown. What did those senators who caved get for it? (I want to thank our Maryland Senators for standing strong.) We have already seen estimates on the number of uninsured people we’d have to serve in our nonprofit health clinics in 2026. Demand in our County-sponsored health clinics could jump by 10,000 residents or more.

Additionally, this is nothing more than a promise to hold a vote by mid-December on extending health insurance tax credits. This problem needs to be solved as quickly as possible and not just kicked down the road. The deal to end the shutdown failed to deliver any new protections for working families, no additional resources for struggling communities, and nothing that would justify the harm caused to millions of people who live paycheck to paycheck.

What angers me the most is that the sole basis for defunding Americans who already struggle in the most expensive, but not the world’s best health care system, is to give tax cuts to billionaires. This is not about efficiency, not about better ways of doing things; it’s simply about working people in this country receiving a benefit that stands in the way of billionaires paying even lower taxes than they already do.

SNAP payments have been restored (temporarily) but only through Sept. 30, 2026. In other words, instead of reaching common ground and giving people some peace and sense of normalcy, it postpones these battles for a few months. Food and health care should be areas of common ground, something that serves as a baseline for civil society – not sacrificial lambs to placate billionaires. It’s a true testament to the power of money in this country that politicians are so ready to harm so many to benefit so few – particularly when those few can buy anything in the world they want.

This failed compromise, led by eight Senate Democrats, does not include the necessary guardrails to prevent President Trump from ignoring the law and withholding funds for important priorities. As this federal budget debate continues, we must demand that Congressional leaders put forth an agreement that holds this administration accountable to the needs of working Americans – not wealthy tycoons.

Addressing Hunger: SNAP and MC Groceries Updates



On Tuesday, I joined a group of volunteers from my office and other County departments to help distribute food to those in greatest need. This food distribution event takes place regularly through the Christian Reformed Church in Silver Spring.

We joined volunteers from a nearby synagogue, Catholic church, and some local students. We were at this site for a two-hour food event that served approximately 800 families. The disruption to SNAP payments so far this month contributed to a surge in demand for food assistance resources.

The group that sponsored the event is one of over 50 organizations throughout the County that received a community food assistance grant, with total funding of more than $4 million for those grants. These funds are not part of the recent proposed special appropriation from the County Council, announced just after the shutdown began, but rather from the $23.5 million allocated toward food resources in the current year's budget (Fiscal Year 2026).

We invested in our food assistance network during the pandemic and then maintained and strengthened it afterward, as the demand for food assistance persisted. That is one of the reasons for the creation of the Office of Food Systems Resilience.



In Aug. 2024, we launched the “MC Groceries” program. Through this partnership with Instacart, families who don’t qualify for federal assistance but still struggle to afford groceries in a high-cost region like ours—an area known as the SNAP gap — get assistance to round out their monthly grocery purchases. Here is a link to the Washington Post story featured above.

Over the last year, we’ve provided more than $1 million in grocery stipends to working families, giving them the ability to shop where they want and the power to buy the food their families actually eat. We have found that this extra spending power allows families to buy essential items for their families that they would normally forgo, such as protein and fresh produce.

I am pleased that we are expanding this program from more than 500 to 700 households. Most families enrolled in the program have at least two children and have utilized food delivery services. That means more flexibility for struggling families and an ability to devote more time and energy elsewhere. Data shows a 7% increase in employment for families enrolled in the program.

This is just one example of how the money we spend on food assistance resources is paying off.

For more information about food resources, visit montgomerycountymd.gov/foodhelp.

FY27 Budget Forums Concluding





When I became County Executive, I changed the timing of our community conversations about the budget so that I could hear from residents well before my recommendations are submitted to the County Council in mid-March. This has allowed us to incorporate more public feedback into the budget. That gives residents and our community partners a greater say in how our operating funds are used.

On Monday night, many in our African American community joined me for a budget forum focused on their needs. On Thursday afternoon, the audience was older adults from Leisure World and other communities. Pictures from these events and many more can be found on the County’s Flickr page.

I’m proud of the way we have expanded our reach to connect with more people. We are hosting 12 community conversations this year, with the last two discussions taking place next week – one for the Asian American Pacific Islander community on Monday, Nov. 17, at the Chinese Culture and Community Service Center in Gaithersburg and another for the Silver Spring region on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at the Silver Spring Civic Building. Virtual links for the remaining forums can be found on montgomerycountymd.gov/budgetforums.

The budget reflects our community’s goals and values. I hope residents make time to take advantage of one of the remaining opportunities to participate and be heard.

University Boulevard Corridor Plan

I am concerned that the Montgomery County Council’s Planning, Housing, and Parks Committee advanced the University Boulevard Corridor Plan (UBCP) this week. Councilmembers Andrew Friedson and Natali Fani-Gonzalez voted to move this plan forward to the full Council without adequately addressing concerns over racial equity, the environmental impact, or how this corridor plan would impact neighborhoods.

We are once again being sold on the false narrative that we need to rezone our existing neighborhoods to accommodate future growth, and that the way to rezone them is through these new corridor plans that exclude significant parts of adjacent neighborhoods and meaningful public input. These plans, for reasons I have explained in my comments on the UBCP, are not traditional master plans. They are done to facilitate the rezoning, and nothing more. They exclude communities from being part of the decision-making process, which is a role residents had in earlier master plans. If the Council approves UBCP, the subsequent rezoning would not result in more housing; it merely changes zoning, and we already have the zoning we need. In fact, with our existing zoning, we have already planned for more housing than we are projected to need by 2050. And most of the existing zoning is located closer to transit and future projected job sites than what is contemplated in this plan. This corridor plan is nothing more than a giveaway to developers who think that your neighborhoods should become the next green field developments. Changes to this area are not being made through our traditional master plan process, which allowed residents and local businesses to be meaningfully engaged in the process and the decisions. Meaningful engagement is not measured by the number of meetings; it is measured by whether residents have a seat at the table and are actively part of the decision-making process. For residents who may be relieved that this is not their neighborhood, this one plan is not the end of the matter. The Planning staff is already advancing more corridor plans that aim to change neighborhoods for the worse.

The growth map shown below details all the designated corridors in the County; it is from the Planning Department and approved by the County Council.



You can find the map here: Corridor Planning - Montgomery Planning.

I would like to thank Council Vice President Will Jawando for listening to the community and raising important concerns during the committee review process. The plan will now be presented to the full Council for review and consideration on Tuesday. If you are concerned about any aspect of the plan, you can contact the Councilmembers. Each of you has a district Councilmember and four at-large Councilmembers who represent you. You can find out how to contact them here: Members At a Glance - Montgomery County Council, Maryland.

DEP Upcoming Shred Event This Weekend



The County will host a document shredding event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on America Recycles Day, Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Montgomery College campus in Rockville.

These events were halted due to the pandemic, but the public asked the County to resume them. It’s free to participate and open to every resident in our County, regardless of where you live or your financial resources.

Every ton of paper that we keep out of the landfill or the incinerator helps us move closer to our Zero Waste and Climate Action Plan goals. Recycled paper gets sent to facilities where it’s turned into new products. That saves trees, conserves energy, and reduces the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

Disposing of your documents carefully is important because they contain personal identification information, and that is what identity thieves are after. People deserve a simple and responsible way to dispose of personal documents.

If you have old tax records, bills, or files stored in a box at home, this is an opportunity to dispose of them safely and responsibly.

Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade Next Weekend



Next Saturday, Nov. 22, the community will be out once again for the annual Thanksgiving Parade, which starts at 10 a.m. in the Silver Spring Arts and Entertainment District. The parade will begin at Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street, then proceed south on Georgia Avenue to Silver Spring Avenue. More participants than ever are signed up to take part.

This parade showcases the best of who we are as a community. Every year, I see the streets lined with people from end to end supporting our high school bands, cultural dance groups, and live performers.

This year’s parade will also be the first major public event to promote the County’s 250th Birthday. Next year, on September 6, we will celebrate this special anniversary.



Last weekend, I attended the Montgomery County History Conference at Montgomery College in Germantown. It was a well-attended event with fact-based and honest presentations on our County’s history. I want to thank and acknowledge Matt Logan, the executive director of Montgomery History, for inviting me. There is a lot to learn about this County’s history and great value in not whitewashing what happened here generations ago. It is an essential building block in our goal of racial equity and striving for social justice.

Glimpse of Winter and Cold Weather



This week, we all rushed to grab our heavy coats and gloves. The winter-like weather prompted our first Extreme Cold Alert of the year.

When the wind chill dips below freezing, the County increases its efforts to help more people get inside. This year, despite our efforts to help families experiencing homelessness, we continue to serve a high number. There are more unsheltered families now than there were in January during the annual point-in-time count.

This blast of cold weather serves as a timely reminder to prepare for extreme weather conditions. Our Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security collaborates with every department in the County to ensure the public receives a cohesive message about how severe weather affects them.

Winter will bring challenges for many, as heating costs continue to rise. Last week in this newsletter, I shared tips on conserving energy to potentially save money on energy bills. I want to remind people to utilize the services available through the energy companies to break up payments or find relief on their energy costs.

Advance notice of an emergency, even just a few minutes, can make a big difference in your safety. That’s why we created the Alert Montgomery system to help everyone be better prepared for the dangers they face. Another important step is putting planning into action. At montgomerycountymd.gov/MakeAKit, you can find information to help you and your family prepare for a range of emergencies that could impact us all.

Operation Green Light Bus



I hope you are able to see the Operation Green Light bus that will be on the streets for the remainder of the month in honor of military veterans. The County unveiled the bus this week ahead of Veterans Day. I saw a friend at the ceremony whom I have known since my days at the University of Maryland. He was returning from service in Vietnam, and I was engaged in protests against the war. It was a humanizing experience amidst a stormy time. Soldiers do not choose to fight; they are ordered to do so. They don’t vote for the wars, but they do what they are called to do. The bravery they show and dedication to our country should never be overlooked, even when we don’t agree with the politics that control their missions. When you see a green light in our community or a specially decorated bus around the County, it should serve as a reminder to thank a veteran.

As always, my appreciation for all of you,



Marc Elrich
County Executive

Message from County Executive Marc Elrich

 

Dear Friends,

Election night was exciting and a hopeful sign for our country, with big wins by many Democratic candidates in Virginia and throughout the country. The results should send a message to Republicans across the board and hopefully foreshadow next year’s midterms. Voters weighed in after nearly a year of bad and cruel policy decisions by the Trump administration and support from Republican leadership in Congress.

Sounding the Alarm on HUD Cuts

Meanwhile, we are bracing for the impact associated with one of those cruel policies that has been delayed so far by the shutdown. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is on the precipice of slashing funding for the County’s Permanent Supportive Housing and Rapid Rehousing programs by 70%. The Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless (MCCH) risks losing most of its current funding for a proven and successful program that helps clients exit homelessness.  

On Wednesday, I was proud to be part of the “Standing With Solutions” rally at the Seneca Heights Apartments in Gaithersburg, where we raised awareness about the financial cliff we are facing. You can hear my comments from the event on the County’s YouTube page. The facility is a converted hotel that MCCH, with the County’s support, purchased twenty years ago to provide transitional housing. Since then, it has housed families, older adults, and individuals with disabilities, and offers on-site support services.   

The programs funded through HUD money combine affordable housing with supportive services, such as case management. They are evidence-based, cost-effective, and they save lives.

Beyond those living at Seneca Heights, there are close to 1,300 residents experiencing homelessness. We work hard to help them make that a temporary situation by investing in permanent housing solutions. If these cuts are implemented, over 500 households—757 people—across the County could lose their homes.

It is beyond ironic that the Trump administration believes its plan will help address homelessness. Their cry to “clean up” encampments and reduce visible homelessness is meaningless when proven solutions to the problem he bemoans, like Seneca Heights, are abandoned.

Here is what is especially disturbing: in Trump’s initial attack on homelessness, he made statements that the unhoused need to be off the street and receiving services. That sounds sensible, but he followed it up with the threat of cutting off federal money for services. So, he wants people off the streets while cutting the programs that make it possible to actually do that.

HUD funding cuts would be a direct threat to the lives and stability of hundreds of our most vulnerable residents. This federal plan would dismantle much of the excellent work accomplished here in Montgomery County by denying support to our government and community partners through funding for permanent housing.

Montgomery County has always stepped up. We invest more than most local governments in housing and homelessness prevention. But we cannot do this alone. I wrote to our congressional delegation, outlining the devastating impact these cuts would have. We are supporting this request with stories that put a face on what this means to real families, whose futures will be in jeopardy if we turn our backs on those most in need of shelter and support.

Economic Mission to China and Japan

My economic mission to China and Japan, which spanned two weeks in October, was the sixth trip I’ve led in the last three years. I have traveled to Taiwan three times, twice to China, and to South Korea, as well as India, Vietnam, and Japan.   

This trip was scheduled to coincide with the 7th annual US–China Sister Cities conference in Hangzhou, where I was a keynote speaker. To make the most of this opportunity, we arranged meetings with dozens of business prospects not only in Hangzhou but also in Shanghai and Shenzhen, China, before traveling to Japan to introduce our County to innovation clusters there. 

The Japan visit was revealing because we learned how little they know about Montgomery County and its innovation cluster. In Japan, some companies are looking to expand the reach of their biomedical work into the U.S. We were able to explain why Montgomery County is a logical landing space for them since we are in the center of the third-largest biohealth cluster in the U.S. As a result, we are planning a trip where the County can present to a larger audience and showcase our assets.    

Strengthening our County’s global ties is essential work if we want to be considered a destination for companies looking to grow and expand into the U.S. markets. We continue to be a gateway to the Food and Drug Administration, and there is a real advantage to being located here.  

I was joined by Council Vice President Will Jawando and, as always, by Judy Costello, who directs our overseas efforts and serves as the County’s lead on special projects related to economic development. County councilmembers Andrew Friedson, Evan Glass, Kate Stewart, and Natali Fani-González have been part of our delegation on earlier trips. 

We discussed business expansion opportunities in the County with many industry and innovation hub leaders in both China and Japan.  We also met with leaders of organizations with a presence in our County and overseas – including Japan’s Nobelpharma and, in China, AstraZeneca - Shanghai, CBA, ISPE, and the DMV – Shenzhen Chamber of Commerce.

In China, we signed agreements with two organizations committed to establishing a U.S. presence in Montgomery County – a biotech consumables manufacturer and an equipment mold manufacturers association.    

Since this was our first visit to Japan, we focused on promoting the County’s strengths in biotech, cleantech, artificial intelligence, and space communications. Similar to events we hosted in the three cities in China, we invited business prospects to meet with us in Tokyo.  We also visited major innovation hubs in Osaka, Kanagawa, and Kyoto, and met with influential business organizations that represent thousands of Japanese companies.  Each of these meetings generated new awareness about our County and its talent and innovation resources and resulted in our agreeing to pursue further initiatives together.

We have done a good job developing relationships and building an environment that is safe and welcoming to people from all nations and cultures. People overseas recognize that, and I believe that will continue for years to come.  

SNAP Benefits Update  

I am grateful for the court decisions on Monday to protect SNAP users and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore's action to help families who will not receive SNAP assistance on time this month. The federal money they receive is crucial for thousands of families in Montgomery County and beyond, who rely on it to put food on the table each month.

We discussed some of the details on Tuesday when I joined Reps. Jamie Raskin and April McClain Delaney at one of our community’s major food provider partners, Manna Food Center. We heard from Manna executive director Craig Rice about residents who are receiving food donations for the first time, as well as those who have jobs but are in limbo due to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

The federal court’s action on SNAP benefits seemed to force the Trump administration to use $5 billion in USDA contingency funds to cover roughly half of November’s SNAP benefits nationwide, but the president is once again playing games with that money. Those games are impacting our local economy and affecting critical revenue for our food retailers and farm markets. It should never have taken a lawsuit to force the federal government to pay SNAP benefits because threatening to cut off food benefits to families, seniors, and children is cruel.  

Under normal circumstances, Maryland’s November benefits would have begun on Nov. 4. The Maryland Department of Human Services believes the benefits could be delayed a week or more, but that’s only if the Trump administration is forced to spend the money they’ve been ordered to spend.   

I appreciate Gov. Wes Moore for stepping up once again to prevent harm to the people we serve. The money the State is committing will cover the remaining half of November’s SNAP benefits. This crisis has been particularly disruptive for families who are already struggling to make ends meet. County and State leaders, along with our congressional delegation, will continue to push for the timely and reliable distribution of benefits every month.  

If Montgomery County residents need food while they wait for benefits to be issued — or for any other reason — help is available. Our nonprofit partners are continuing regular food distributions and stand ready to support households in need. Information on food distribution sites can be found at montgomerycountymd.gov/foodhelp.   

I know that many of our residents would like to help, and some may be buying food to donate. Manna leaders asked us to remind residents that they and other nonprofits receive food in bulk at lower prices. Donating the cash rather than using it to buy food yourselves can help feed more people more effectively. 

‘Age-Friendly Montgomery’ Turns 10 Years Old

In Montgomery County, our commitment to help residents thrive applies to all ages. Ten years ago, we launched the Age-Friendly Montgomery initiative, which enhances the County and ensures that we remain focused on helping older residents well past retirement.    

Data cited by AARP says that by 2030, more than one-quarter of Montgomery County residents will be 60 or older. It’s why we aligned with the World Health Organization and AARP to join the Age-Friendly Communities Network. In doing so, we committed to working across government and the private sector in a collaborative planning process.

Based on a community needs assessment conducted in 2015, the County and its partners created or modified a wide variety of public spaces, programs, and services. There are many examples of changes within our community that resulted from that work. Here are a few:

• Initiating and expanding new and refurbished affordable housing and introducing a home-sharing program.    
• Supporting the large and growing villages movement, a volunteer-led neighbor-helping-neighbor concept that helps older residents age in place and keeps generations of families together in the community. 
• Expanding low- and no-cost transportation options, including adding wheelchair-accessible vehicles, to help older people and people with disabilities participate fully in family, social, and community life.    
• Expanding safety education through outreach and in-home visits by police, fire, and rescue, and EMS staff.    
• Increasing volunteer participation.    
• Combating social isolation by expanding programming at our Senior Centers and supporting organizations serving our culturally diverse communities.    
• Promoting employment for older workers in partnership with Work Source Montgomery and the Jewish Council for the Aging’s Virtual 50+ Employment Expos and job training programs.   
• Updating area parks to include safety and accessibility features for people of all ages.    
• Distributing over 19,000 Chromebooks to residents living in senior housing and providing support and training through Senior Planet Montgomery.   
• Implementing changes in street design to increase safety and comfort for pedestrians.   
• Opening the Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center, which includes the County’s eighth full-service senior center, and is co-located with affordable senior housing and a health center.

I would like to thank all the government leaders, businesses, and community partners who have contributed to this mission and extend my appreciation for their continued support. Aging should be viewed as something we prepare for together by creating communities that are safe, welcoming, and supportive. Staying focused on older adults through this initiative helps make Montgomery County a stronger and more inclusive community. 

Salute to Veterans

Tuesday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day. I’m proud to join with the Montgomery County Council in supporting Operation Green Light, a program sponsored by the National Association of Counties to honor those who have made immeasurable sacrifices to preserve freedom.  

You will notice displays of green light in our community starting this week. If you own a business or can change the hue of your outdoor lights to support veterans, it would be appreciated.

On Monday, Nov. 10, the County will honor veterans by unveiling the Operation Green Light Bus in downtown Rockville at 10:30 a.m. Keep an eye out for that on the road through the rest of the month. I hope you’re able to express your gratitude to a veteran for their service to our country and their dedication to everyone’s freedom. 

 
As always, my appreciation for all of you,

Marc Elrich

County Executive