-
Council Passes Bill to Create Policing Advisory Commission
The Montgomery County Council yesterday unanimously adopted Bill 14-19 to create a Policing Advisory Commission. The commission’s goal is to improve council oversight of the county’s police department. In addition, it’s intended to increase the community’s trust in police by advising the council on certain police matters, including best practices, policies and programs.
-
Hucker Elected Council Vice President
Councilmember Tom Hucker (D-District 5) was elected vice president of the County Council for a one-year term. Traditionally, election as vice president is a precursor to being chosen as council president the following year.
-
Anti-vaping PSA contest announced; council committee advances related bills
County students in grades six through 12 can win up to $750 in a contest seeking video public service announcements about the dangers of vaping. Healthy Montgomery, the county’s community health improvement program, and Montgomery County Public Schools are cosponsoring the contest as part of an anti-vaping tobacco prevention campaign in collaboration with the Department…
-
Council to Hold Hearing Tonight on Forest Glen/Montgomery Hills Plan
The County Council will hold a public hearing on the draft Forest Glen/Montgomery Hills Sector Plan tonight, according to the schedule released this week. The plan covers the Georgia Avenue corridor from the edge of downtown Silver Spring at Spring Street to Dennis Avenue. It is intended to consider land use and transportation strategies, including…
-
Council Votes to Prohibit Discrimination of Natural Hairstyles
Montgomery County became the first local jurisdiction to prohibit discrimination on the basis of natural hairstyles with the passage this week of the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act. The bill, which the County Council passed unanimously, would add a definition of race to the underlying anti-discrimination law to specify…
-
Council Unanimously Confirms Jones as Chief of Police
The County Council unanimously confirmed Marcus Jones to be the county’s 17th chief of police yesterday. County Executive Marc Elrich nominated Jones, who had been serving as acting chief following Thomas Manger’s retirement in April, for the position on Oct. 21.
-
Tech Company with Local Roots Relocates to Silver Spring
A San Francisco company run by three men with local roots is relocating its headquarters to Silver Spring. Truebill Inc., founded in 2011 by brothers Haroon, Yahya and Idris Mokhtarzada, has taken over space in the Silver Spring Centre at 8455 Colesville Rd.
-
Bill Would Formalize County Community Policing Guidelines
A bill to formalize community policing guidelines for the county’s police department was introduced this week by Council President Nancy Navarro (D-District 4) and Councilmember Craig Rice (D-District 2). Bill 33-19, Police – Community Policing would address “core community policing values,” diversity on the force, engagements with the community, complaints against county officers and other…
-
Glass Bill Would Tax New Home Construction After Demolition
Councilmember Evan Glass (D-At Large) has introduced the Housing Impact Fairness Tax (Bill 34-19) that would, under certain conditions, tax new home construction following the demolition of an existing single-family home. Co-sponsored by Councilmember Will Jawando (D-At Large), the bill would earmark the new revenue for school construction and affordable housing initiatives.