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Dear Friends,
This week, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore directed the Department of Juvenile Services to develop pilot programs here in Montgomery County and in Baltimore City targeting juveniles involved in motor vehicle thefts. This effort is specifically aimed at children who are too young to face criminal charges. I want to thank the governor for recognizing this as a public safety priority.
A devastating tragedy occurred in Germantown this August. A 58-year-old father of five was on his way to work at the National Institute of Standards and Technology when his car was hit by a stolen car allegedly driven by and packed with juveniles.
Car thefts have increased by about 20% over the last year in Montgomery County. Police told the County Council this summer that close to 100 juveniles had already been arrested in 2026 on auto theft charges, and some of those offenders are as young as 11 years old. Overall, more than 1,700 auto thefts were reported as of Aug. 19. Technology makes it easier to break into some cars, using stolen or manipulated key fobs. It’s why police urge residents to continue using anti-theft measures like steering wheel locks that you can pick up for free at your local police station or purchase at many stores.
This is not about punishing children. These are kids. In many cases, they are kids who have grown up in difficult circumstances who feel like the doors to a better life are closed to them.
As someone who taught in the public schools here, I saw and heard students express their belief that they wouldn’t live to be 25. Those are scary words coming from 10-and-11-year-old children. I’m pretty sure that for most of us, that is not how we looked at the world as we were growing up. That doesn’t excuse what’s happening—but it should inform us about what the response has to look like.
We have no system of care for children who feel this way, and criminalizing the behavior is not going to fix this, but neither does ignoring the behavior and hoping that it will go away.
We can’t just respond to the symptoms. If we look at juvenile crime in isolation, we risk missing the underlying problems that are actually driving the behavior, such as mental health issues, generational poverty, and a lack of opportunity and connection. These factors impact how some troubled youth look at the world and ultimately the decisions that shape how they interact in the world.
What works is intervention. When we get involved early with coordinated, wraparound services that help the whole family, we all benefit. In the long run, less money is spent on social safety net programs.
That’s the approach we’ve tried to take in Montgomery County, especially after we saw a spike in juvenile crime in 2023. Our summer intervention programs have worked well, but we still don’t have the resources needed to reach everyone. We are pairing troubled youth with the support they need to help themselves. We need to provide more support to parents who are struggling to control their children. I have heard reports of a youth who has stolen many cars, but after being apprehended and released to his parents, he’s back out the next day doing it again.
I understand the distaste of putting a young child in jail, but if the home environment is not adequate to prevent repeat offenses, then the cycle continues. We simply don’t have the facilities or capacity to help children who need more intense interventions, and that is something I’m going to continue to push for.
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Getting Maryland’s Department of Juvenile Services, law enforcement, social workers, and schools to work together to identify kids at risk before they jeopardize their future is a positive step. You can read the governor’s directive here. It won’t be a quick fix, but it is worth the effort to be comprehensive.
Meals on Wheels Visit and Food Insecurity
On Wednesday, I joined County Council President Natali Fani-González and Councilmember Kate Stewart at Meals on Wheels in Takoma Park (they also serve Silver Spring residents). The Meals on Wheels staff and volunteers prepare fresh meals and deliver them to older adults and medically vulnerable neighbors each weekday. They play an important role for those who can’t shop or cook for themselves and serve more than 55,000 meals a year across Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. That’s more than double what they were doing before the pandemic.
The increase tells you something. Too many people in our County, especially older adults, immigrants, and people with disabilities, still struggle to get consistent, healthy food.
I want to focus on what we’re doing about it.
The pandemic made it painfully clear that far too many of our families live close to the poverty line. Even if they bring home a steady paycheck, the cost of living has risen so much lately that one or two missed paychecks can be financially devastating. The federal government understands this, too. This week, it was announced that the Social Security Cost-of-Living-Adjustment will increase by 3.6% next year.
According to the 2026 Hunger Report released by the Capital Area Food Bank, 38% of survey respondents in the DC region reported at least one instance of not knowing where their next meal would come from in the previous year. In Montgomery County, we have been aggressive in addressing hunger as a critical issue.
I was pleased that our efforts seem to be helping. Montgomery County was the only County in the Washington metropolitan area where food insecurity declined over the past year.
This week, I invited two guests to join me for my media briefing to dive deeper into these hunger issues. Radha Muthiah is president and CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank. She went through the report extensively, discussing the economic conditions that are driving a spike in need.
Heather Bruskin, director of our Office of Food Systems Resilience (OFSR), talked about the work we are doing as a County. Since 2023, this office has been instrumental in maximizing our partnerships and the $12 million in annual funding we provide for food access services. Their strategies help stretch our dollars further.
One successful program, MC Groceries, launched in early 2024 in partnership with Instacart. It is on pace to serve over 680 families experiencing food insecurity this year by making it easier for families who don’t qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to shop for food online and to provide healthy, culturally relevant meals for their families. To date, participating families have placed more than 12,000 grocery orders, with benefit purchases totaling more than $1.32 million. You can learn more about the program on the OFSR website. It is one of several initiatives implemented through the County’s Strategic Plan to End Childhood Hunger.
Thank you to the more than 100 community partners and organizations making sure those families don’t go hungry. If you have the time, learn more about lending a hand to one of these organizations that help us create a sustainable, equitable food system.
Online Community Survey Deadline is Monday, Oct. 19
Time is running out for Montgomery County residents to participate in the community survey. The deadline is Monday, Oct. 19.
This survey is important to us because it allows us to be guided by our residents. We need to know what’s working and what might not be working in the service we provide to County residents.
For instance, we know that close to 90% of our residents consider Montgomery County a good or excellent place to live. They’ve told us this repeatedly in this biennial survey. The survey helps us evaluate our work in public transportation, customer service, and the operation of our recreation centers and other public facilities. Click through to see results from the most recent survey in 2024.
The questions are easy, and the survey is easy to find on the County homepage. I encourage every resident who is at least 18 years old to visit montgomerycountymd.gov and look for the ‘online community survey’ link.
Wearing Purple to Support Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Domestic Violence Awareness Month continued this week, and I shared my support by wearing purple on Thursday.
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There were a pair of special events at Montgomery College’s Rockville campus this week to raise awareness, and later this month, I’ll join the County Council in a proclamation to show support for survivors of domestic violence and to educate the community about the resources available to victims.
Last week, I shared phone numbers for the Family Justice Center and the Crisis Center. I hope your friends and family never need them. Here are those numbers again.
Medicaid Rules Changing
Another shoe will soon drop for Americans struggling to make ends meet as the brutal cuts from the Trump Administration hit health care. Starting Nov. 1, open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act begins. That includes residents eligible for Medicaid.
This is an important date to remember because it could have an impact on how much you pay for health care coverage next year. Some people may be re-enrolled in similar coverage at a much higher monthly cost. If this impacts you, visit the Maryland Health Connection online, create an account, and keep an eye out for mail, email, text messages, or online notices with updates. The state-managed health coverage exchange is the Maryland Health Connection. You can get an estimate of those expected costs right now.
On top of that, the federal government is adding new rules for some Medicaid recipients to keep their coverage, such as requiring proof of employment or other approved activities. Some recipients may be required to renew after six months rather than annually.
At the start of October, previously eligible immigrants lost their ability to obtain tax credits through the Affordable Care Act. These are people with green cards and those applying for them, refugees here for asylum, and survivors of war crimes and human trafficking. Many others also fall into this category.
These changes make it harder for financially burdened families to obtain health care coverage. Our social services network is already under significant strain due to federal layoffs and cuts to government programs, and this will likely compound it. We are expecting to see an increased use of our health clinics, already stretched for funding, as more people lose access to health care—either through cost increases or changes in eligibility.
Weekend Events
As I wrap up, let me highlight a few weekend events that deserve your attention.
On Saturday, Oct. 17, the MoCo Smoke Show will be in Wheaton. This barbeque competition will bring out some of the best outdoor cooks, competing for cash prizes and bragging rights. It will be set up in Marian Fryer Town Plaza along Reedie Drive and run from 11 a.m.–6 p.m. It is a sanctioned competition, but it will also be a good time for those who are just there to taste some BBQ. Barbecue is pretty much my favorite food, so I’m excited. Live music and family fun will be free.
Also in Wheaton, my friend Del. Pam Queen is hosting her annual “The Park Goes Pink” event to raise awareness about breast cancer. Advocates use the month of October to promote early detection, education, and support for those who have developed breast cancer. This is a diagnosis that hits 1 in 8 women over their lifetime. I want to thank the African American Health Program for playing such a large role in this event happening from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at Wheaton Regional Park.
A parade is coming to Potomac on Saturday as the area celebrates Potomac Day. It starts at 10 a.m. and travels along Chapel Road. Falls and River Road will be closed to accommodate the route. After the parade, you’ll find a car show and family fun continuing through 3 p.m. at the Potomac Promenade Shopping Center off River Road.
There are also community celebrations in East County, including the Happy Harvest and Health Festival from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. at the White Oak Recreation Center and the annual RocktoberFest in Poolesville from 2- 6 p.m. at Whalen Commons.
Enjoy the weekend.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
County Executive
Read the original article at mcgov
