Survey Names County #1 Digital Jurisdiction Nationwide

Montgomery County has been named top digital jurisdiction in the country in its population category (500,000+) in the 2013 Digital Counties Survey that recognizes the effective and efficient use of digital technologies in serving residents, streamlining operations and achieving measurable benefits.

Survey questions covered areas such as computing, networking, applications, data and cybersecurity, open government and mobile services. The County’s openMontgomery site was cited in a Government Technology article as an example of a digital initiative that enables County residents, businesses, partners and an increasingly mobile workforce to access high-quality digital government information and services anywhere, anytime, and in multiple ways.

“We are very pleased to be recognized for our efforts, as increased transparency and better online accessibility to County programs and services are high priorities in this administration,” said County Executive Ike Leggett. “We are working hard to make government more accessible and responsive to the people we serve.”

The article also commended the County for “reaching for goals more common in big cities and state governments.”

Montgomery County has placed in the survey’s Top 10 for the past 11 years. Other local counties in the Top 10 were: Fairfax, #3; Prince George’s, #5; and Baltimore, #7.

Read the article in Government Technology.

Read County news release.

Leggett Urges Residents to Take Action on Local, State, Federal Levels to Bring Down E-Book Purchase Prices for Public Libraries; Council Passes Resolution Requesting High-Level Investigation of Issue

County Executive Ike Leggett is urging residents to express -- to all levels of government -- their opposition to the pricing tactics employed by book publishers that result in public libraries paying more for e-books than general consumers.

Leggett said there is a “…need to act now to end this discriminatory practice and bring fairness back to the cost of licensing e-books for public consumption at our public libraries. We have a very strong lobby for public libraries in Montgomery County,” Leggett stated, “and I urge our advocates to call attention to this issue.”

The Executive expressed support for the County Council resolution (pdf) that passed on July 23 requesting a state and federal-level investigation of the issue.

Over the past four years, the demand for e-books in Montgomery County Public Libraries has increased by an average of 87.5 percent. Yet, libraries often pay $75 or higher for an e-book, three times more than consumers would pay to purchase an e-book,

Montgomery County Public Libraries Director Parker Hamilton said, “Any and all attention that can be drawn to the issue of inequitable e-book pricing is most welcome. If not addressed by our elected representatives at all levels, this practice will adversely affect one of the oldest public services that government provides – free access to life-long learning for people of all ages and backgrounds.”

• Read Library Journal report
• See Governing.com article
• Read County's news release
• Council Resolution (pdf)

Leggett Speaks to 40,000 Delta Sigma Theta Members at Lincoln Memorial

County Executive Ike Leggett (center) recently welcomed more than 40,000 Delta Sigma Theta Sorority members, their families and friends to the area as the largest organization for African American women in the world celebrated 100 years of service at its 51st conference in Washington, DC.  Leggett was invited by Delta’s National President, Cynthia M.A. Butler-McIntyre (left), to speak to the gathering during the Welcome Event at the Lincoln Memorial. Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker (right) was also in attendance.

Founded in 1913 by 22 students at Howard University, the organization now numbers more than 250,000 in more than 900 chapters around the world.

The Delta Sigma Theta website explains that the private, non-profit organization was created to promote academic excellence; to provide scholarships and support to the underserved; to educate and stimulate participation in the establishment of positive public policy; and to highlight issues and provide solutions for problems in communities.

Take the Challenge and “Buy Local” at Annual Farm Tour and Harvest Sale

County residents can be part of the statewide Buy Local Challenge by purchasing local produce and other farm-fresh items during the County’s 24th Annual Farm Tour and Harvest Sale on Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28.

The Buy Local website explains, “In addition to providing food that’s fresh and nutritional, buying from local farms promotes cleaner air and water and reduces our carbon footprint. In Maryland, if every household purchased just $12 worth of farm products for eight weeks (basically the summer season), over $200 million would be put back into the pockets of our farmers.” Get details on how to accept the challenge.

The tour and sale will take place, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. More than a dozen Montgomery County farms will participate on Saturday, and nearly a half- dozen will also participate on Sunday.

For the names, locations, activities and offerings of all participating farms, go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/farmtour.

New State Requirements for Home Smoke Alarms; Residents Urged to Update Now

Maryland is the most recent state to require that homeowners replace battery-only operated smoke alarms with units powered by sealed-in, long-life batteries.

The updated law also requires that residential battery-operated smoke alarms be equipped with a “hush-button” feature that temporarily silences the alarm if activated by a non-emergency condition.

The law provides that each new residential unit constructed after July 1, 2013 must contain at least one smoke alarm in each sleeping room, in the hallway or common area outside of sleeping rooms, and in the hallway or common area on each level, including basements but excluding specified unoccupied spaces such as attics.

Fire Chief Steve Lohr said, “Smoke alarms are one of the most important safety features in your home, and while residents will have until January 1, 2018 to comply with the new law, we’re urging them to upgrade their alarms now.”

Get more details.

Brookings Institution Book Praises County’s Response to Rising Poverty Level

A recent book from the Brookings Institution Press – Confronting Suburban Poverty in America – cites a 25 percent increase in poverty in Montgomery County between 2000 and 2010 – and praises Montgomery County’s exemplary response.

“Montgomery County officials and service providers recognized the changing needs of a diversifying population and anticipated the growing demands that would arise as the Great Recession began to take hold,” write Elizabeth Kneebone and Alan Berube in the book.

“In 2006, the newly elected county executive, Isiah (Ike) Leggett, signaled that the county recognized the transitions under way and the need to leverage resources beyond what it alone could provide.”

The book cites the creation of the Office of Community Partnerships and the launching of the Neighborhood Opportunity Network as two creative examples of a responsive local government following a “proactive and collaborative approach” in meeting the growing social service needs of diverse families in the County

See more about the book.

Bethesda-Gaithersburg-Frederick Area Claims Top Spot in Ranking of “America’s Safest, Most Secure Places to Live”

A recent Forbes.com posting of “America’s Safest, Most Secure Places to Live” ranks the Bethesda-Gaithersburg-Frederick area number one among 10 large metro areas in the United States.

The rating reflected a broad range of criteria, including economic stability, crime statistics, extreme weather, risk of natural disasters, housing depreciation, foreclosures, air quality, environmental hazards, life expectancy, motor vehicle fatalities and employment numbers.

In second place, among the top 10, was the Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI area followed by Pittsburgh, PA in third.

The ranking was done for Farmers Insurance Company by Sperling’s Best Places which analyzes data about people and places and rates them for major publications.

To read the entire article, go to Forbes.com.

Bethesda Rated as Nation’s Most Educated Place; Potomac Ranks Fifth

Montgomery County has claimed two of the top five spots of Most Educated Places in America with Bethesda as number one and Potomac in fifth place.

The Washington Business Journal reports that a NerdWallet survey rated cities based on high school drop out rates and the percentage of the population with degrees. More than 27 percent of Bethesda’s population has a professional or doctoral degree as their highest level of education while nearly 27 percent has a master’s degree as their highest level. Just 1.9 percent of the population did not finish high school.

Palo Alto, CA ranked in second place and Wellesley, MA in third.

Read the Washington Business Journal article.

Leggett, Cardin, Van Hollen to Speak at Maryland Hispanic Business Conference

County Executive Ike Leggett will join U.S. Senator Ben Cardin and Congressman Chris Van Hollen as keynote speakers at the annual Maryland Hispanic Business Conference to be held on September 3 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center.

The elected officials and Hispanic business leaders, entrepreneurs and executives will continue to highlight the significant role of the Hispanic small business community.

Sponsored for the last two years by the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development, the conference provides networking opportunities for start-ups, seasoned entrepreneurs and anyone looking to do business with the Hispanic community. Workshops and seminars will be held to inform and educate the small business owner and those aspiring to own a business.

For more information and to register, go to www.mdhbc.com.

Local Libraries Host a Sneak Peak of This Year’s Fair

Get a taste of this year’s Montgomery County Agricultural Fair before everything gets underway at the Fairgrounds on August 9.

Meet princesses, princes and live animals. Learn about the Fair, listen to a story and sing some songs at a Montgomery County public library. The programs, suitable for pre-school ages and up and families, will be presented at the following libraries:

• Quince Orchard – Thursday, July 25 @ 2 p.m.;
• Little Falls -- Wednesday, July 31@ 10:30 a.m.; and
• Marilyn J. Praisner (Fairland) -- Thursday, August 1 @ 3 p.m.

For more information, visit the MCPL special events calendar and look for the branches and dates listed above.