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Dear Friends,
We got some encouraging news about Councilmember Will Jawando on Thursday. After suffering a heart attack last weekend and being discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, he shared a video on Thursday thanking supporters for the calls and emails he’s received expressing concern. He used that update to remind everyone about the importance of listening to warning signs and encouraging everyone to be vigilant about cardiovascular health.
My thoughts are with his family as he takes time to rest and get healthy. We all look forward to seeing him at work for County residents again.
TPS Status in Limbo for Immigrants from El Salvador
Almost 30 years. That’s how long many Salvadorans here under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) have been legally in the U.S. That was all put in jeopardy months ago when the Trump administration announced TPS protection would end this week for immigrants from El Salvador. Now, their limbo hits new levels of agony.
Nerves are frayed as we await word from the Trump administration on the future of these immigrants. The Department of Homeland Security and the Trump administration remain vague about whether termination is actually happening or being extended.
Last month on my media briefing, I talked about the impacts of TPS ending on our Haitian immigrant community. Since then, DHS has already deported 450 Haitian nationals across this country, according to reports in the New York Times. We have no way of knowing for certain if any of these individuals were Montgomery County residents.
Our Salvadoran immigrant community is much larger, with at least 10,000 and as many as 30,000 individuals in our County. We are home to one of the largest Salvadoran communities anywhere in the nation.
The potential end of TPS is fueling real anxiety. People are living day to day. Families who have been here for decades, who have built homes, paid taxes, and raised children, are having their lives uprooted. Here is the hardest part: these are not, as the administration would have you believe, the “worst of the worst.” The people being targeted are hardworking, taxpaying residents, some running their own businesses, some homeowners of 20 years or more. Removing them doesn’t make us feel safer. It endangers the very businesses that depend on them and weakens the community they help support.
Back in February, I signed the Trust Act into law in a video you can watch here. It was one of several measures passed by the County Council that I have supported to help our immigrant community. Council President Natali Fani-González and I went even further by recording public service announcements in both English and Spanish to ensure that information about the Trust Act reached every corner of our community.
We did this because we believe that enforcing federal immigration laws is the responsibility of the federal government, not Montgomery County. Our focus is where it belongs: on local services and public safety.
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Just last month, over a two-week stretch, Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it made more than 1,300 arrests across Maryland and Virginia. Behind each of those apprehensions could be a child who loses a parent and/or a family who lost an income earner.
And there are other consequences too. Businesses of all sorts, especially in the construction trades, hospitality, child care, and health care, are losing workers, hurting both those companies and our broader economy.
Since Trump’s second term began, I have been warning about the ramping of staffing of “Trump’s ICE Army” and that it was only a matter of time before we start to see them invade our County and disrupt our communities. Again: this is not about removing criminals. It is about people who go to work every day, pay taxes, and have done everything required. Their only “crime” is that they were never granted citizenship. That someone could vanish instantly, with no due process and no chance to make their case, is stunning.
We continue to encourage the use of our ICE Tracking portal at montgomerycountymd.gov/protecting. Any immigrant residents with questions or concerns can reach out to the Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center or We Are CASA’s Rapid Response Hotline at 1-888-214-6016.
This week, I welcomed two guests to my media briefing to discuss the impact of these TPS decisions on our community. They made strong cases for how being on the edge of deportation is so disruptive to many in our community. I encourage you to watch the full discussion on our YouTube channel.
Rejecting New Plans for Friendship Heights Recommended by the Planning Board
This week, I submitted comments to the Planning Board regarding the Friendship Heights Sector Plan. These included comments from the Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Protection, and the Montgomery County Police Department. I urged the Board to reconsider its recommendations because they conflict with environmental standards, public transit goals, and community feedback.
I outline a number of concerns in the letter, and I begin with the Board’s inexplicable decision on July 30 to approve redevelopment of the former GEICO site while recommendations were being developed for the entire sector, including that site. Because of the Board’s action, the entire section regarding the GEICO property in the Public Hearing Draft needs to be rewritten to reflect the significant consequences of their decision. As the County’s Department of Environmental Protection points out, the sector plan area lost about four acres (6%) of its tree canopy between 2009 and 2023. Pushing through a redevelopment plan without mandatory tree preservation requirements increases flood risks associated with the loss of trees and the addition of impervious pavement, which also has significant stormwater and heat island implications.
The Department of Transportation is also concerned about the Draft Plan’s transportation recommendations. The Plan proposes the abandonment of Wisconsin Circle and the relocation of the bus terminal that now sits on top of the Friendship Heights Metro Station, with no requirement to provide the same level of service that currently exists. As now written, the Draft Plan prioritizes private real estate development over seamless, accessible public transit connections.
I have shared my critiques of the plan on the County Executive’s page on the Montgomery County website; you can also click here to read them. If you have concerns about the plan, please be sure to express them to the Planning Board, which will hold its second public hearing on Monday, and to the County Council, which will have final approval of the Plan next year. As I said in my letter to the Board, I have noticed that many executive comments on previous plans have been dismissed, and I hope this time will be different so that this plan better serves its residents and more fully addresses future housing, environmental, economic, and transportation challenges.
Recognizing the Importance of “988 Day”
On Tuesday, the County and its partners held a “988 Day” virtual event to raise awareness of the national crisis line. This year’s campaign, “988 Reasons,” is a reminder that there are countless reasons to reach out—whether you or someone you care about is facing a mental health crisis, substance use issue, thoughts of suicide, or simply need emotional support. It is heartwarming to read through the comments on the social media posts about #988Day and realize the impact it is having on lives nationwide.
Help is free, confidential, and available 24/7 by phone, text, or online chat. It’s also there if you’re concerned about someone else. Getting help should be simple and immediate. It is always okay to reach out. Connect by calling or texting 988, calling the Montgomery County Crisis Center at 240-777-4000, or visiting in person at 1301 Piccard Drive in Rockville. No appointment is needed. Mobile Crisis and Outreach Teams can come to many locations in the County to help individuals experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. Become familiar with the County’s key programs and services by visiting the Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Health and Crisis Services page.
Future of the Potomac River
This week, I welcomed a group from the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, who met at Crossvines in Poolesville to discuss the future of our most important waterway. Our drinking water comes from the Potomac, so keeping it viable through drought, pollution, and climate change is vital.
The long-term outlook for our water supply is concerning. Most modeling shows reduced flows, with the possibility of upstream releases becoming necessary to maintain sufficient river depth to feed the river intakes. Any solutions will require time to implement–this is not something that gets fixed tomorrow.
Protecting our streams requires work throughout the entire watershed, including large amounts of land that our County doesn’t own or control. I am encouraged by the grant work that continues in Montgomery County and gives community organizations the resources to tackle pollution at its source. I also want to thank our Department of Environmental Protection for its emphasis on stormwater management, tree canopy programs, and support for the RainScapes initiative, which helps prevent flooding and puts rainwater to better use.
Just this past week, I joined County Council President Natali Fani-González and some of our Maryland delegation, including David Fraser-Hidalgo, Lily Qi, Emily Shetty, and Jared Solomon, to celebrate more than $960,000 in Clean Water grants recently awarded to local organizations. I look forward to continuing our work with the federal, state, and local governments, and water suppliers like WSSC to improve water resiliency. We need regional solutions and continued teamwork at all levels because our water supply affects everyone who calls the Washington D.C. area home.
Montgomery County Recognizes 25th Anniversary of September 11
This is 25th anniversary of the deadly Sept. 11 attack on our country. Eleven Montgomery County residents died that day: William Edward Caswell, Gerald Paul Fisher, Lawrence D. Getzfred, Michele M. Heidenberger, Angela Marie Houtz, Teddington Hamm Moy, Darin H. Pontell, Scott A. Powell, Todd Hayes Reuben, Patricia J. Statz, and Ernest M. Willcher.
We honored them this morning at a ceremony in Rockville, at the corner of Jefferson Street and Maryland Avenue, where 11 benches sit across from the courthouse, each engraved with lines chosen by the victims’ families. Nearby, a small stainless-steel pavilion built in the form of a book lists their names.
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A generation has passed since that terrifying day. We will always remember the courageous first responders, including Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service personnel and Maryland Task Force 1, who rushed to help in the rescue effort. And we will never forget the more than 2,900 victims nationwide.
I want to thank NBC Washington and the County’s Chief Administrative Officer, Rich Madaleno, for highlighting the impact of 9/11 on Montgomery County in a segment that aired last week that you can watch here.
Rosh Hashanah Begins
Today marks the start of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. This holiday marks the beginning of the Jewish High Holy Days, which lead up to Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement.
For many, it is a time to both celebrate and take a closer look within. A chance to reflect on how one can do better in the upcoming year. These days are the most sacred time of the year for our Jewish community.
Shanah Tovah to all who are celebrating.
Recognizing the Professionals Who Help Support Residents with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
As we prepare to observe Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week from Sunday, Sept.13, through Saturday, Sept.19, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the dedicated professionals who support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) across Montgomery County.
This week, I joined Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles to welcome more than 200 people to the Leggett Executive Office Building for a reception celebrating our direct support professionals (DSPs) and to present a joint proclamation. As the father of an adult son with developmental disabilities, I know firsthand the immense value of this work and how essential these care givers are in helping their IDD clients live their best lives.
These skilled professionals assist with daily routines, foster community inclusion, and build trusted relationships that empower people to live with dignity and independence. With earlier diagnoses and longer lifespans, our need for compassionate professionals will only continue to grow, making it critical that we encourage more dedicated individuals to choose this noble career.
To help build a stable, qualified workforce, Montgomery County has dedicated more than $22 million this fiscal year to assist provider agencies in offering competitive wages to attract and retain skilled professionals. Our DSPs deserve our recognition, respect, fair compensation, and gratitude. That’s not just for one week, but every single day of the year.
Thank you to all of the compassionate professionals who help those in need. I’m proud of your work to help everyone thrive.
A Musical Weekend
The Silver Spring Jazz Fest returns Saturday, Sept. 12, at Veterans Plaza, headlined this year by Grammy-nominated Cuban artist Cimafunk, who blends funk, soul, hip-hop, jazz, and R&B. He’s one of seven artists performing across two stages starting at 3 p.m.
Arriving by public transportation is your best bet to avoid parking and traffic issues. The festival is a short walk from the Silver Spring Metro Station on the Red Line. Bring a blanket or a low-back lawn chair. Full lineup and artist bios are at silverspringdowntown.com.
For a different sound, “Bluegrass on the Farm” runs from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday at the Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood. Three bands will be performing live. Bring your own instrument to jam on the farmhouse porch. Learn more at friendsofthefarmpark.org.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
County Executive
Read the original article at mcgov
