Recent Stories
Solar Permitted in Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve, Carefully
Areas with the soils needed for growing food are protected.
Hans Riemer voted against his own bill to permit industrial solar in the Agricultural Reserve.
Evictions Imperil Thousands of Families in Montgomery County
Economic devastation of the pandemic has 14,000 eviction cases waiting to be heard for failure to pay rent, mostly held in check by a moratorium
A “tsunami of evictions is on the horizon,” said Gabe Albornoz, at-large councilmember, at a session on Covid Rental Relief and Eviction Prevention on Feb. 11, 2021.

Once and Future White’s Ferry?
Operating since 1786, the ferry could begin running again soon.
White’s Ferry has operated since 1786, recently as an $8 cable ferry service that carried vehicles across the Potomac River from Poolesville to Loudoun County.
New Visions for Public Schools in Montgomery County
Restorative justice practices offer hope to reduce racial disparities in school discipline.
“It’s not easy to do what my colleagues did today,” said Craig Rice, chair of the Montgomery County Council’s education committee, “which is to open themselves up.”

Simultaneously: Different Directions in Montgomery County
Council introduces another bill to keep and reimagine SROs before the public responds to bills that prohibit SROs
Two days before the public hearing on council member Will Jawando’s bill to remove School Resource Officers in public high schools because of the disproportionate impact it has on Black and brown students, councilmember Craig Rice introduced a bill to build positive law enforcement relationships within schools.

SRO Program: ‘Fundamentally Mismatched for Schools’ in Montgomery County
Kyson Taylor told Montgomery County Council that every school day before the pandemic he would dread the walk to portable classrooms at Richard Montgomery High School.

MDOT Prefers 4 Toll Lane Option
‘Surprise announcement’ raises concerns of rushing forward with a PPP.
Hundreds of people testified against Gov. Larry Hogan’s proposed public-private partnership to build toll lanes – nearly 83 percent of responders voiced disapproval – but the Maryland Department of Transportation chose the option to add four toll lanes to the American Legion Bridge and up I-270 as the best choice to mitigate traffic congestion.
Final Tweaks Protect the Reserve in Montgomery County
Solar will be permitted but restricted in the Agricultural Reserve.
Soil is important enough that the Office of Agriculture rates it by levels based on how fruitful it is for farming.

Will Police Remain a Force in Montgomery County Schools?
Registration already full for public hearing on School Resource Officers program Thursday, Feb. 4, at 7:30 p.m.
Let’s repeat the known facts: Black and Hispanic students are suspended twice as often as their white peers in elementary, middle and high schools.
Three Down to Two Stories in Potomac
Consensus reached when Spectrum Retirement Communities revised plans for a 100-unit building at Behnke’s property on River Road
Instead of arguing, debating or even objecting, land use attorney David Brown told hearing examiners with the Office of Zoning and Administrative Hearings, “I’ll be sitting back and listening.”