Dear Friends,
Montgomery County rarely sees large snowfalls. The last time snow exceeded 10 inches was seven years ago, and it's been a decade since we had a major winter storm hit Montgomery County. Watch the County’s winter storm preparedness press conference on the County’s YouTube page.
Our emergency management, transportation, and public safety teams have prepared. Forecasts helped them work together to determine where to stage our snow removal equipment, and coordination has already taken place so we can step in quickly if power outages force us to set up emergency shelters. You can sign up for real-time alerts and emergency notifications at alert.montgomerycountymd.gov.
During every snowstorm, plowing begins once there is 3 inches of snow on the streets. Plows are responsible for 5,300 lane miles in Montgomery County, and their main job is to make roads passable by emergency vehicles and cars, so residents are unlikely to see bare pavement for a while after a significant snowstorm. Our plows need room to work, so for your safety and ours, please stay off the roads during the storm unless you absolutely have to travel. Bookmark montgomerycountymd.gov/snow to reach the County’s Snow Portal so you can request help getting your street plowed.
Winter storm announcements and alert messages are updated frequently during a storm. Our Alert Montgomery system can help everyone stay up to date on changes, like when offices and roads are closed. Sign up at alert.montgomerycountymd.gov.
Please take time to prepare — check on neighbors, especially seniors, stock up on essentials, and make sure emergency kits are ready. Emergency shelters are open to those without a home, and residents concerned about the well-being of someone who is unhoused can call the 24-hour Homeless Information Line at 240-907-2688. Outreach partners will attempt to locate the individual and urge them to come indoors to a shelter. If someone is seeking shelter, call the 24 Hour Crisis Center at 240-777-4000.
The County’s Public Health Officer, Dr. Kisha Davis, also warns residents to take it easy during this weather event. You can help avoid frostbite by dressing in warm, loose, waterproof layers and covering your head, hands, and feet from the snow and ice. Limit how long you and your family stay outside and watch for numbness or changes to skin color. Removing wet clothes promptly can help prevent frostbite. If you already deal with chronic issues like heart trouble or back pain, don't overdo it when you're out. Shovel in stages and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.
As many of us stay inside for long periods, space heaters need space to avoid a house fire. You’ll also want to properly ventilate generators that may be heating your home in an emergency to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Having smoke and carbon monoxide detectors can help keep your family safe.
Animals should not be left outside unattended. The Animal Services team is enforcing all laws protecting pets. If you see an animal left outside that appears to be in danger, call 301-279-8000.
Our Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service shared these links that could also help you prepare:
- Home Safety: montgomerycountymd.gov/mcfrs-info/tips/citizens/homesafetytips.html
- Car Safety: montgomerycountymd.gov/mcfrs-info/tips/citizens/wintercar.html
- Ice, Cold Weather Safety: montgomerycountymd.gov/mcfrs-info/tips/citizens/winter.html
Main Street Honor for Long Branch
There is some fantastic news to share about the Long Branch neighborhood. We are officially celebrating Long Branch’s designation as a Main Street Maryland Community. This is a major milestone in the revitalization of one of the most culturally vibrant commercial districts in Montgomery County.
Long Branch lies between downtown Silver Spring and Takoma Park, and is defined by its strong neighborhood identity. Visitors and residents can enjoy incredible international restaurants, support family-owned businesses, or enjoy local public art. Community leaders are on a mission to improve Long Branch to help create more jobs, greater opportunities, more cultural events, public art, and public places.
This Main Street designation will help bring more attention to Long Branch. It is now the 35th Main Street Maryland community in the state and only the second in our County, joining Old Takoma, which received the honor back in 1998. This is the highest tier in the program, meaning we have the full support of the state to help this area reach its full potential as a thriving, lovable place for every resident and entrepreneur.
The upcoming Purple Line stations will take people right to Long Branch, which will certainly help increase foot traffic and new economic opportunities. Many people are going to want to experience the unique character of this neighborhood.
Achievements like this don't happen in a vacuum. I want to thank Governor Wes Moore and Housing Secretary Jake Day for their partnership. I also want to congratulate the Montgomery Housing Partnership for their leadership, along with Councilmember Kate Stewart, our District 20 Delegation, and our dedicated county teams at DHCA, M-NCPPC, the Long Branch Business League, and the Silver Spring Regional Services Center. But most importantly, this designation belongs to Long Branch. Your commitment to fostering an inclusive, vibrant community is what made this possible. Let’s continue to invest in our future, together.
1st Year of President Trump
This week marks one year since the start of Donald Trump’s second term.
I said then that his return to the White House would not change how we govern in Montgomery County, and that remains true. But there’s no denying that the decisions coming out of Washington over the last year have had real and damaging consequences here at home.
What we’ve seen over the past twelve months follows a clear pattern: incompetence, corruption, and cruelty. Montgomery County felt all three.
We’ve watched unqualified people placed in charge of critical federal agencies. We’ve seen chaos created by reckless decisions, watchdogs removed, and public office treated like a personal business venture. And we’ve witnessed cruelty aimed directly at federal workers, immigrants, working families, and people struggling to stay housed, fed, and healthy.
Here in Montgomery County, those impacts are not abstract.
In just the first few months of this administration, we experienced more federal-related job losses than we saw in the previous two years combined. Thousands of residents who dedicated their careers to public service were suddenly out of work, without warning and without stability.
Immigrant families began living with daily fear. Mental health providers, supportive housing programs, and homeless shelters faced uncertainty just as need increased. And during the most extended federal shutdown in our nation’s history, families who rely on SNAP benefits were left waiting while food banks struggled to keep up. Our court system helped delay the implementation of some of the administration’s most damaging actions, or else the impact on the County could have been far worse.
Those choices tell you a lot about priorities. At the same time, we’ve also seen something else over the past year — and it matters in a good way.
We’ve seen what strong partnerships and competent, values-driven government can do, even in the face of federal disruption. When federal workers were laid off, Montgomery County didn’t wait. We partnered with Gov. Wes Moore’s administration, our Congressional Delegation, our County Council, WorkSource Montgomery, and community partners to respond quickly and decisively.
Together, we launched Mobilize Montgomery and opened the Federal Workforce Career Center, creating a coordinated, one-stop response for displaced federal workers and contractors.
The scale of the federal job losses in our state and region is becoming clearer. As of the end of November, Montgomery County’s unemployment rate was 4.5 percent. As you can see from the chart above, this is up from 2.5 percent in January when Trump took office.
We are absorbing more federal job losses than anywhere else in the country. Still, we continue to diversify our economies and add jobs in biotech and even manufacturing to offset these job losses. But we can’t fool ourselves either; many federal employees and contractors are in specialized positions, such as scientists, researchers, and policy experts.
Last year, my administration, in partnership with the County Council, passed a $700,000 supplemental appropriation for WorkSource Montgomery to create the Federal Workforce Career Center. Since opening in October, the center has served over 1,100 former federal workers and contractors. WorkSource Montgomery Executive Director Anthony Featherstone was my guest on this week’s media briefing to discuss the center’s impact.
Data Center Conversation Set for Tuesday, Feb. 3
Data centers have been in the news a lot recently and are the topic of many conversations. To help shape the conversation around government policy, my staff and I have compiled a list of recommendations based on best practices, research, and many discussions. We have sent these recommendations to the County Council and many stakeholders, including industry, utilities, civic associations, and environmental advocates, and we have asked for their comments.
On Tuesday, Feb. 3, I am holding a public meeting to hear from people. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. at the Leggett Executive Office Building, with an online option.
I have offered these recommendations to help guide the development of local legislation and policy as the Council begins its deliberations.
DC Water Works on Sewer Overflow Impacting County and Region
A primary DC Water sewer line collapsed along Clara Barton Parkway, causing a significant sanitary sewer overflow into the C&O Canal area.
DC Water crews and contractors are on-site and working around the clock to construct a temporary bypass to contain the overflow and prevent further impact to the Potomac River. That work is critical, and it will allow engineers to fully assess the damage and determine the safest path to permanent repairs. You can follow updates on that work through the DC Water media page.
I want to be clear about a few things. Our drinking water is safe. Water service has not been disrupted. The wastewater system involved here is separate, and DC Water has taken protective steps in coordination with regional and federal partners. There are traffic impacts near the Clara Barton Parkway, and residents nearby may notice odors.
If you believe you have come into contact with the overflow:
- Leave the area immediately.
- Wash exposed skin thoroughly with soap and clean water.
- Disinfect any affected areas or items.
- Do not consume food or water that may have been exposed.
- Seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
- Report exposure to DC Water at (202) 612-3400.
No Place for Hate in Montgomery County
I was deeply disturbed by the anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, and anti-Palestinian graffiti recently discovered at Walt Whitman High School. Targeting Palestine impacts multiple faiths (not just Muslim), including Christianity. It does not reflect who we are as a County.
Montgomery County is proud to be home to people of many different faiths, cultures, and backgrounds. We are proud of our Muslim community and thankful for all of their positive contributions to the County. We will not tolerate hate towards them or any other religious community.
We recognize that our diversity is one of our greatest strengths. When acts of hate occur—whether they are directed at Muslims, Jews, Christians, or any other community—they undermine the safety and dignity of all our neighbors.
I stand in solidarity with everyone who feels targeted or threatened by this incident. Hate has no home in Montgomery County, and we will continue to speak out against bigotry in all its forms. We remain committed to being a community where every resident is respected, protected, and valued.
An investigation involving the Montgomery County Police Department, Montgomery County Public Schools and the Whitman High School community is underway to find those responsible for this act. Furthermore, we should ensure we educate our community about the significant harm that divisive language causes.
I ask for your help in keeping our community safe. If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact the MCPD non-emergency number. If you witness or are a victim of a hate or bias incident, please use the resources below:
- MCPD Non-Emergency: 301-279-8000
- Report Hate/Bias Incidents: Call 311 or Visit montgomerycountymd.gov/report-hate
- Emergencies: Always Call 911
Volunteers Needed in Upcounty for Annual Homeless Count
This Wednesday, Jan. 28, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments will conduct its annual Point-in-Time homeless count with the help of volunteers and partner agencies here in Montgomery County. This survey informs funding decisions, service planning, and long-term housing strategies. We cannot solve what we do not measure, and the Point-in-Time count is a vital tool in our mission to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.
Last fall, we pushed back against a federal proposal that would have dismantled permanent supportive housing — one of the most effective tools we have to reduce homelessness. Thanks to advocacy from our State Attorney General and regional partners, that proposal was stopped.
To conduct this year’s overnight count, we need more volunteers, particularly in Upcounty, beginning at 8:30 p.m. at Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg. You can help us identify our most vulnerable neighbors so we can connect them with the permanent housing and supportive services they deserve. I encourage you to volunteer and join this effort to ensure every person in Montgomery County is seen and supported. Register to volunteer through montgomerycountymd.gov/homelessness.
Governor Moore Supports Large Capital Improvements in Montgomery County
I’m encouraged to share an update from Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s office on his proposed capital budget for fiscal year 2027. It includes several projects that help our schools and community resources.
The largest proposal is a $25 million investment in water-quality improvement projects across the County. With cutbacks at the EPA and other federal environmental programs, this money will help keep our waterways safe. Another project focused on drinking water protection would deliver $5 million for the Poolesville Emerging Contaminants Treatment facility. Nearly $5 million is also slated to help build a new Clarksburg library.
Our schools stand to benefit from State support as well. More than $11 million will help finish Crown High School, more than $20 million will be spread across the school district to help with heating and cooling systems at Sherwood and Springbrook high schools, Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School, and Strawberry Knoll Elementary School, to name a few.
State funding improves our quality of life by supporting a wide array of community improvements, from affordable housing projects to bike trail construction. Nearly every facet of government, including recreation, public safety, and emergency services, will benefit from the $105 million earmarked for Montgomery County in the governor’s proposed capital budget. I want to thank the governor for his support and hope his proposals move easily through the budget process.
MLK Tributes
This week began with the County’s annual birthday tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Day of Service event benefiting dozens of our community partners. I want to thank everyone who volunteered or attended the concert at Strathmore.
I also had the opportunity to share my thoughts on Dr. King’s impact at an event hosted by the Renters Alliance, focusing on the role of civil rights in housing reform from the 1950s onward. It is a time I lived through and saw blockbusting firsthand. Like many places, Montgomery County’s history can’t be told without acknowledging racism. We are still living with disparities created by biased policies. My address to the crowd at the Strathmore addressed some of this. Watch the livestream now on our Facebook page, featuring the wonderful performances captured during this year’s ceremony.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
County Executive
