Dear Friends,
Patriotism isn’t pretending America has always lived up to its ideals. Patriotism is believing that those ideals are worth defending and expanding.
This week, our nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Anniversaries like this are an opportunity to celebrate what we’ve accomplished, but they should also encourage us to look honestly at our history and ask whether we are still moving toward the ideals our country set for itself.
If I had to recommend some summer reading about our nation’s authentic and honest history, it would be Howard Zinn’s People’s History of the United States: 1492-Present. Published in 1980, Zinn said the following about this book that is still relevant today:
“My viewpoint, in telling the history of the United States, is different: that we must not accept the memory of states as our own. Nations are not communities and never have been. The history of any country, presented as the history of a family, conceals fierce conflicts of interest (sometimes exploding, most often repressed) between conquerors and conquered, masters and slaves, capitalists and workers, dominators and dominated in race and sex. And in such a world of conflict, a world of victims and executioners, it is the job of thinking people, as Albert Camus suggested, not to be on the side of the executioners.”
The American story has never been a straight line. We’ve expanded freedom, and we’ve taken steps backward. We’ve corrected injustice, and we’ve sometimes repeated old mistakes in new forms. Every generation has been asked whether it will leave the country more just than it found it.
The Supreme Court’s decisions this week are reminders that the rights and protections we value should never be taken for granted. Courts matter. Elections matter. Public engagement matters. The guarantees found in our Constitution survive because people are willing to defend them.
Even during difficult times, I remain optimistic because I look around Montgomery County and see a community that has spent generations pushing our country forward.
- Josiah Henson escaped slavery and helped others find freedom.
- Rachel Carson changed the way the world thinks about protecting our environment.
- Clara Barton devoted her life to caring for people in their greatest moments of need.
- And Thurgood Marshall, long before being the first Black Supreme Court Justice, fought for equal pay for Black teachers in Montgomery County. His work ensured that the Constitution meant what it said: that every person deserves equal protection under the law.
That tradition continues today. Our scientists are searching for cures. Our teachers are preparing the next generation. Our first responders are answering calls every hour of every day. People from every corner of the world have chosen to build their lives here because they believe this country is still capable of becoming a more perfect union.
That’s why I remain hopeful.
Patriotism isn’t pretending America has always gotten things right. Patriotism is believing our country is worth improving and then doing the work to make it happen.
As we celebrate 250 years of American independence, I encourage you to spend some time learning about Montgomery County’s remarkable history by visiting montgomery250.org. Our history is filled with people who challenged injustice, expanded opportunity, and strengthened our democracy. Their stories remind us that progress has always depended on ordinary people willing to stand up for what is right.
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I was pleased to welcome Congressman Jamie Raskin back to my media briefing this week. Jamie has dedicated his career to defending the Constitution and our democratic institutions. At a time when those institutions are being tested, his perspective is one I believe is worth hearing.
Independence Day and Heat Warnings/Tips
As we celebrate the Independence Day holiday, this year we have to keep in mind that extreme temperatures are here and we need to take steps to stay healthy and to celebrate safely.
The County will host two events that are free to the public:
- The Montgomery County 250th: Shine Together celebration is on Friday, July 3, at Albert Einstein High School in Kensington. One of my favorite bands, The Nighthawks, will be performing starting at 7:30 p.m. Families are encouraged to bring coolers to stay hydrated, but alcohol is not permitted.
- On Saturday, July 4, UpCounty will have its own celebration with Germantown Glory starting at 7:30 p.m. That will be at the Maryland SoccerPlex, which is part of the big park in Boyds.
Thankfully, these events are not happening during the heat of the day, and even so, we are delaying the usual start of each event to beat the heat. Those planning to attend either event should check Montgomery Recreation’s website for any additional weather-related changes. Updates also will be shared through Alert Montgomery.
On Independence Day, the Department of Defense will conduct military aircraft flyovers beginning just after 1 p.m. and continuing hourly throughout the day. The flyovers will take place over the Washington, DC region and will include a wide range of military aircraft. Be ready for periodic aircraft noise and brief interruptions in normal outdoor sound levels throughout the day.
The County has designated six sites in the community as cooling centers on Friday and Saturday, when County offices are closed for the holiday. They will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and they are intended as places for residents to come indoors and cool off. The locations have been selected to best serve all of our residents and include:
These buildings will be partially open to help residents without air conditioning at home. Other County services typically provided at these locations will not be available, including weight rooms, game rooms, gymnasiums, and checking out books. I want to thank our staff who are giving up part of their holiday to serve residents.
On Tuesday, I joined County Council President Natali Fani-González to host a press event to spell out our preparations in advance of the extreme heat,, emphasizing the importance of taking this heat seriously. If you’re worried about someone living outside, call the Homeless Information Line 24/7 at 240-907-3688. If you’re worried about someone in immediate need of medical care, call 911. The mental health crisis line (988) and the County’s Crisis Center (240-777-4000) are additional resources.
It’s important to remember to stay hydrated, watch for signs of illness, and limit your time outdoors during the hottest parts of the day.
Other reminders include:
- Never leave kids or pets alone in the car, even for a few minutes.
- Avoid strenuous activities in the heat of the day, like exercising or gardening.
- If you are outside, protect yourself by wearing light-colored clothing, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
- Check on your neighbors, friends, and family, particularly those who live alone and those who may be at higher risk of heat-related illnesses.
You can find a full list of recommendations and advice on our extreme heat website.
Let’s all help each other stay safe. You can stay on top of all heat-related warnings, closures, and updates by signing up for Alert Montgomery.
SCOTUS Decisions
Over the last week or so, we’ve seen some shameful decisions handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court, but I want to start with a rare win before focusing on the negative.
The Supreme Court has thankfully reaffirmed a promise this country has kept since 1868: every child born on American soil is an American. The fact that this was in jeopardy is sad and a warning. Relief is not the same as safety. A basic constitutional promise should not be something our families have to win back every few years.
This matters deeply here in Montgomery County, where four in seven children have at least one immigrant parent, many of them born in the United States. I encourage you to read the State of the Economy produced by the Office of the Comptroller to get a better sense of the economic impact of immigration across Maryland.
The ruling means their citizenship and their children’s is secure, not subject to the politics of the moment. Maryland was part of the coalition of states that stood up for that principle, and I’m grateful they did.
We also learned that the Court won’t even look into whether this administration followed the law when it stripped Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from our Haitian and Syrian neighbors. That closes the courthouse door, and it pulls away the legal protection that stood between every other TPS holder and the same fate.
This decision was specifically about our Haitian neighbors. Still, it affects all 33,000-plus Marylanders with TPS, people from El Salvador, Honduras, Venezuela, Syria, Somalia, and more, many of whom have built lives here for decades. They pay taxes, raise U.S. citizens, and keep our hospitals, workplaces, and restaurants running. Now they have been told they can be sent back to countries that aren’t safe.
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Losing TPS means losing your work permit and your legal right to be here. Someone with a home, a job, and children can now be detained and deported at any time. We’re talking about our neighbors, coworkers, and friends. What’s happening to them is cruelty dressed up as policy.
The Court also ruled the government can turn away asylum seekers before they ever reach U.S. soil, denying families fleeing violence the chance to even ask for safety. Seeking asylum isn’t a crime; it’s a right written in our laws. Montgomery County will remain a place that meets people fleeing harm with dignity, not a closed door.
Montgomery County doesn’t ask about immigration status when you come to us for help. Our local laws keep County law enforcement resources out of federal deportation efforts. Our health and human services stay open to every resident, regardless of status. We can’t undo a decision made in Washington, but no one here will face it alone.
If you or someone you love has TPS, don’t panic or act on rumors. We’re working through what this ruling means for our residents and will share clear guidance soon. In the meantime, check your status at uscis.gov, talk to a trusted legal provider before making decisions, and reach out to the Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center for accurate information and real help.
I was disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold laws in West Virginia and Idaho that keep transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports teams. Many transgender residents, especially young people in Montgomery County, now feel isolated and singled out.
I want our transgender community to know that you are seen, you are valued, and you remain an important part of Montgomery County. History shows that progress toward equal rights has rarely followed a straight line. It has come because people refused to give up on the principle that every individual deserves dignity and equal protection.
Montgomery County will continue to stand with our LGBTQ+ community. It’s hard to believe we’re coming off Pride Month and now dealing with this setback. We have resources, like the MoCo Pride Center and the Live In Your Truth website, to help, and we will continue working with our schools, health care providers, community organizations, and advocates to ensure every young person knows they have a place here. No one should lose hope for a more just future.
I am also deeply concerned about the ruling that further eviscerates the country’s campaign finance laws, a process that began with the Citizens United ruling more than 15 years ago. Here in Montgomery County, we’ve seen campaign seasons with obscene amounts of spending, and while it is not always successful, it threatens to drown out voters’ voices and distort information.
The Importance of the County’s Minimum Wage Law
July 1 brought another important update to those making the least in our community. That update is to their paychecks, and it is by design.
We use the new fiscal year to make a minimum wage adjustment that reflects our commitment to building an economy that works for everyone. When wages keep pace with inflation, working people aren’t forced to fall behind as everyday costs rise.
Back in 2017, when I was on the County Council, I sponsored the legislation that ties our minimum wage to the regional consumer price index. Every year on March 1, the rate is recalculatedbased on how much costs increased the year before. That means when rent goes up, when groceries go up, when everyday costs rise — wages for our lowest-paid workers rise with them. They don’t just fall further and further behind.
I believe this is one of the most important things we can do as a local government. If the federal minimum wage had been indexed to inflation decades ago, we probably wouldn’t have needed to pass this law at the local level at all. But it wasn’t, and wages stagnated for years while costs kept climbing. So, we did something about it here.
This also isn’t just good for workers — it’s good for our local economy. When people have a little more in their pockets, they spend it locally, which supports the small businesses that depend on that spending. It also gives employers predictability because they know how the rate will change each year, rather than being caught off guard. At a time when federal policy is letting billionaires get wealthier by the minute, I’m proud that Montgomery County has a law that at least makes sure our lowest-paid workers don’t lose ground.
Keep in mind that our minimum wage law has a serious flaw if you’re concerned about how it impacts a person’s ability to live here. Most of the Council voted in 2024 to allow rents to rise to 3% above the inflation rate, while the minimum wage is tied to inflation. That means the most burdened of our residents living on the minimum wage will fall further behind in terms of affordability if their landlords raise rents above inflation, making it harder for them to afford rent here. Please review the report conducted by our Department of Housing and Community Affairs on the impact of the law.
Helping Venezuelan Earthquake Victims
Over the last several days we have seen heroism on display in Venezuela as people search for missing loved ones following a devastating earthquake last week, many of our neighbors are grieving for friends and family impacted by the devastation. Our hearts are with the families who have lost loved ones, those who are injured, and everyone facing uncertainty in the days ahead.
For community members who wish to help, relief experts recommend contributing financially to established organizations, as the challenges on the ground make it difficult to deliver donated goods. Trusted organizations providing aid include Catholic ReliefServices, the International Organization for Migration, and Jesuit Refugee Service USA.
In moments like this, every dollar entrusted to experienced relief partners can make a meaningful difference. Thank you for your compassion, generosity, and solidarity during this difficult time.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
County Executive
Read the original article at mcgov