Dear Friends,
It has been several years since we had a storm like this. Making our streets and sidewalks passable has been a grueling process that isn’t completely over yet. It is not from a lack of trying. We have gotten very used to just brushing light snow off the road, but this storm did not disappear so easily. And the sunshine we’ve seen since is little help. It’s just too cold for much of the snow to melt. This persistent cold will continue to stick around, making this job and all our lives more difficult.
In response, we extended the moratorium on sidewalk-clearing enforcement until Monday, Feb. 2. Normally, we would expect residents to clear their sidewalks within 24 hours of the last snowfall, but these are far from normal circumstances. Problems keep piling up, like the fact that the light metal used in many snow shovels won’t break through the ice. I had to use a garden shovel to crack the top three inches of ice, toss the mini-icebergs aside, and then use the regular snow shovel to move the nice fluffy snow underneath. It is not my idea of fun, and I’m sure many of you can relate.
I want to extend my gratitude to the County employees who undertook this enormous challenge to keep our community safe during and following the storm. This includes our emergency responders, transportation crews, and snowplow operators, Health and Human Services outreach teams working to shelter close to 1,000 unhoused residents, and MC 311 staff handling high call volumes. I also want to recognize the municipal governments, nonprofits, faith organizations, community groups, volunteers, and elected officials at every level who have stepped up to help neighbors and strangers alike. They have delivered supplies, checked on older adults, and supported people who need assistance.
Our transportation team is actively addressing MC311 requests. MC311 received over 12,000 calls this week, double the usual number. We appreciate residents' patience in reporting their requests, issues, and concerns.
We acknowledge the frustration and feedback from our residents regarding the accuracy of our plow tracker. It inaccurately said the job was 100% complete when there were still streets that needed attention. Some of the streets marked as completed were inaccessible to our crew because cars were stopped, stranded, or parked, blocking the road. Mechanical failures and other factors were not considered when the system marked the route as completed, simply after crews were dispatched, whether or not they were successful.
There were several instances in which our ability to complete entire routes was disrupted, but this was not accurately reflected in the reporting system. I want to thank MCDOT Director Chris Conklin for detailing these issues extensively during my weekly media briefing.
You can follow all related updates on our Winter Storm Information Portal at montgomerycountymd.gov/snow and on our social media channels.
Staying Safe in the Cold
I want to remind residents of some tips shared by County Health Officer Dr. Kisha Davis to help deal with this bitter cold. The drop in temperature and physical exertion from snow removal can create a "perfect storm" for medical emergencies, including heart attacks, hypothermia, and frostbite.
Remember these things:
- Protect Your Heart: Cold weather constricts blood vessels, raising blood pressure and straining the heart. If you have heart disease or risk factors, please do not shovel snow yourself. If you must shovel, pace yourself, take breaks, stay hydrated, and call 9-1-1 immediately if you experience chest pain or difficulty breathing.
- Alcohol/Drug Risks: Alcohol and drugs can impair judgment and alter temperature perception, increasing risk during extreme cold.
- Practice Heating Safety: The majority of house and apartment fires occur during the winter when individuals use dangerous methods to heat their homes. Please keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything flammable and never use a stove or oven to heat your home.
- Check Your Neighbors: If you see someone who is unhoused and in need of shelter, call our 24-hour Homeless Resource Line at 240-907-2688. During the winter storm, we provided shelter to nearly 1,000 people.
Also, be aware that hypothermia can set in quickly. Dress in layers and cover your skin, especially your extremities. If you or a family member starts shivering uncontrollably, feels exhausted, or has slurred speech, get to a warm place immediately. Check on your elderly neighbors to make sure they keep warm and have enough food.
You can find more information about winter safety at montgomerycountymd.gov/hypothermia. Let’s continue to look out for one another and stay safe as this cold continues to haunt us.
Standing in Solidarity with Minneapolis
What has occurred in Minneapolis with the loss of two innocent lives this month is tragic. Beyond that, the federal occupation and lawless manner of federal agents nationwide, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has eroded public trust and violated fundamental constitutional rights.
This ugly national disgrace called our immigration policy started when the current President was campaigning and asserted that he was going to remove the criminal element. For years, even local ICE officials affirmed that they were not after all immigrants. They focused instead on people who had committed serious crimes. From the moment this madness started, however, it has spiraled into removing everyone – people who’ve been here for decades, who built lives and businesses here, and were successful and contributing residents of our communities.
These actions demonize entire nationalities. Our president has even suggested revoking citizenship and turning our backs on Afghans who supported the U.S.'s failed war there. These allies would be prime targets of the Taliban if they’re forced to return there. The brutality and inhumanity of this man are staggering, and instead of calling on our better angels, he’s raising the specter of elevating our worst instincts and inciting blind hatred. And inside our own house, he’s erasing Black History and the long history of slavery and discrimination. He and his cronies apparently don’t think slavery was such a bad thing. None of this is good.
Since the start of the Trump administration, there have been 16 confirmed shootings involving U.S. immigration agents. Communities across the country, as well as here in Montgomery County, are living with the reality that federal activity has intensified in ways that increase fear, heighten tensions, and risk serious harm. When federal immigration enforcement looks and feels like a military occupation, trust collapses and violence escalates.
I took part in a peaceful protest in Silver Spring following the Rachel Good killing. We have many people here in our own community with the strength and compassion to take a stand on behalf of minority communities that are being persecuted. The cameras reveal the truth amid the lies coming out of the White House.
Finally, after the brutal execution of Alex Pretti by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents, we are starting to see some sort of rationality take root within Congress. Even the NRA is questioning the actions of federal agents. It is sad that elected officials listen more to the gun lobby than common sense, but in this case, the Second Amendment advocates staying true to their principles made a difference in beginning to de-escalate the tensions in Minneapolis.
No neighborhood should feel like a battlefield. No family should fear that routine encounters with federal government officials will end in violence. Montgomery County stands in solidarity with Minneapolis. We share their concern, their grief, and their demand for accountability and transparency.
Bruce Springsteen released a new song this week called "Streets of Minneapolis." I encourage you to listen. As always, Bruce (aka “The Boss) captures the voice, thoughts, and emotions many of us are experiencing during these tough times.
We know ICE activity is likely to increase even more in our region. We are seeing increased staffing at the local offices and more ICE vehicles in the area. We are coordinating with the governor’s office and local justice partners to share information and prepare. There is little doubt that the nature of what we’re experiencing from ICE now will begin to reflect what we’ve seen elsewhere unless Congress forces a change in ICE's behavior as a condition of passing the budget. Holding up the budget to prevent more murders would be worth it.
In the meantime, I urge people to:
- Do not engage or interfere with federal agents because some of them have no regard for the law.
- Attend ‘Know Your Rights’ presentations or watch them online to better understand constitutional protections and legal options.
- Seek out training for those who want to help document enforcement activity safely.
- Families who may be impacted by immigration statutes should create a comprehensive family preparedness plan.
- The community should continue to support established organizations standing with and serving immigrant needs by donating time, money, or resources. The Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, Catholic Charities, CARECEN, CASA, and Identity are just a few.
Remember, physically interfering with or failing to comply with an order to back up can put you in danger and risk your arrest. Arresting officers can’t prohibit your ability to record them as long as you’re not interfering with an arrest.
We need elected leaders and the public to get behind these efforts to stop these illegal federal immigration enforcement activities within neighborhoods. We cannot allow the Trump administration to move forward with this reckless approach to community safety. It is a matter of protecting lives and preventing a miscarriage of justice, embodied in their disregard for the Constitution.
Data Center Conversation Next Tuesday, Feb. 3
I want to remind you that I am holding a community forum to discuss the future of data centers in our County at 7 p.m. next Tuesday, Feb. 3, at the Leggett Executive Office Building in Rockville, with a virtual option available.
Data centers offer economic benefits through investment, job creation, and personal property tax revenue, yet they can also place significant demands on power grids, water systems, and surrounding communities. The County cannot control state energy policy, or regional grid planning, but we can set strong local standards.
I recently developed draft Legislative and Policy Recommendations for Data Centers; I encourage you to read them and share feedback with us.
We have crucial decisions and policies to consider regarding data centers, and your input is essential. Please attend in person or virtually. I look forward to getting your feedback. You can email comments and questions to climate@montgomerycountymd.gov.
February is Black History Month
Black History Month begins on Sunday, giving all of us an opportunity to reflect on the contributions of Black Americans in Montgomery County and across the country. I'll continue to stress the importance of being honest about the history that shaped where we are today. We've seen those in charge literally try to whitewash events from Smithsonian exhibitions or rewrite parts of our history they don't agree with. More than 50 years after Black History Month was first recognized, it remains as important as ever.
I believe strongly that this country cannot heal or move forward unless we confront its full history. For too long, we avoided meaningful conversations about racism and inequality. Here's what I lived through: for generations, policies helped promote racism in housing, schools, and society. It is deeply concerning that even today, there are efforts to deny that racist policies ever existed or to dismiss the lasting harm they caused. Ignoring history guarantees that inequities persist.
Our County was a bastion of racism and segregation – when D.C. integrated its schools, many white federal workers left the city, fearful of integration (not a surprise since racism was the norm at the time). When they looked at Montgomery County, they saw a place that promoted itself as still segregated in 1960. The racial covenants that created those conditions were eliminated in 1967.
In Montgomery County, we use Black History Month to educate, reflect, and engage. Our libraries, recreation centers, and cultural institutions offer programs that highlight Black history and its connection to our community. The Underground Railroad ran through Montgomery County, helping enslaved people escape to freedom in the North. That history should not be forgotten: It happened here, and it matters.
Next Wednesday, Feb. 4, the County's African American Advisory Group will present the inaugural Good Trouble Awards during a ceremony featuring speakers, music, and food. It marks the kickoff to Black History Month and is being held at the Isiah "Ike" Leggett Executive Office Building.
Feb. 4 is also Rosa Parks’ birthday and national “Transit Equity Day”. To honor Rosa Parks' life and legacy, our fleet of nearly 400 Ride On buses will display interior commemorative posters that educate the public about Parks' bravery and the importance of the movement she ignited.
On Sunday, Feb. 22, the African American Health Program will highlight the ongoing impact of HIV and AIDS on the Black community in Montgomery County. The public is invited to join National Black AIDS/HIV Day at the Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza. This government is committed to removing barriers so Black communities, but especially Black women, can make healthy choices.
I encourage residents to take advantage of our many community resources spotlighting Black History Month, including the Gaithersburg Community Museum, Oakley Cabin African American Museum, Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park’s Black History Month Family Day, and performances at BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown. You can find a comprehensive list of Montgomery County's historic sites and heritage museums on visitmontgomery.com.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
County Executive
