July Update

I am in the midst of my second "interim" (Annapolis speak for the time between legislative sessions).  While the three month legislative session moves along on a tight, specified schedule as we accomplish our annual work, the time between sessions is much less organized.  We have a few committee meetings and other official activities, but most of the work is done between obligations for our day jobs as we try to keep in touch with our constituents; provide oversight of state government; help those who contact us navigate issues with state government, such as problems with the MVA; and plan legislation for the next session.  All of these activities and more have been filling my time these past few months.  You can always keep up with what I am doing by following me at @mkorman on Twitter or clicking "Like" on Delegate Marc Korman on Facebook.

Legislative News

Each fall, the Montgomery County Delegation (the State Delegates and State Senators you send to Annapolis) hosts a series of meetings in Rockville including a meeting with the Maryland Department of Transportation on the Consolidated Transportation Program,  priorities hearing where you can testify about what matters to you, and hearings on local legislation.  You can see the dates for this year's meetings here.
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One of my ongoing legislative efforts has been to put Maryland at the forefront of energy storage technology.  Batteries, flywheels, and other technology can be paired with renewable energy sources such as wind or solar to better deploy such renewables and make our electric grid more efficient.  Maryland's institutions of higher education have been national leaders in researching energy storage and several spin-off companies have been created from these research efforts.  I was pleased to help organize a letter of my colleagues to the Maryland Department of Commerce seeking their support for a federal funding opportunity related to energy storage.  Click here to read the letter. 
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Program Open Space takes the state's transfer tax and puts it towards open space preservation and park programs.  Counties apply to the state for a portion of the funds and Montgomery County has recently submitted its plans for this year's funds:  The plans include funding for the Josiah Henson Park in North Bethesda.

Administration News

Last fall, I joined Councilman Berliner, my District 16 colleagues, and others in a "Day of Action" to bring attention to safety issues along two state roads: River Road (MD 190) and Massachusetts Avenue (MD 396).  We sent a follow-up letter to the Maryland Department of Transportation shortly thereafter, which can be viewed here.  It took an excessive seven months, but the state Transportation Secretary has sent a reply pledging to work with us on both short-term and long-term solutions.

Metro

Metro's SafeTrack effort has been proceeding relatively smoothly this summer.  I consider this a mixed bag, as a good deal of SafeTrack's "success" is because many riders have been able to move to alternatives with relative ease.  Will those riders ever return to the system?  Moreover, while I applaud Metro taking radical action, my attitude with Metro is trust but verify when it comes to their work.  I hope these repairs are actually rebuilding the system for the long-term, but time will tell.  The SafeTrack Red Line work begins this August.  Click here for the full schedule.

Community Events

• Come meet new Democrats and UNITE for the White House at an Ice Cream Social on Sunday, July 17 from 3pm to 5pm.  RSVP by making a $20.16 donation: https://www.hillaryclinton.com/finance/?raiser=10930.  The event is at the home of Councilwoman Nancy Floreen, 10801 Keswick Street, Garrett Park.
  
• The last community-wide meeting before moving into the Planning Board review phase of the Rock Spring Master Plan has been scheduled for Monday, July 18 from 7:00-9:00 PM at Walter Johnson High School.  At this meeting, staff will present preliminary (draft) recommendations for the Master Plan, focusing on Land Use and Zoning, Transportation and Connectivity, Sustainability, and Parks and Open Spaces.

• On Thursday, November 3 the Maryland Department of Transportation will present on the Consolidated Transportation Program.  The meeting will take place at 7pm at the Council Office Building in Rockville in the 3rd floor hearing room.

• On Wednesday, November 16, the House and Senate Montgomery County Delegations will be hosting the annual joint priorities hearing.  Check a future email for information about signing up to testify.  The meeting will take place at 7pm at the Council Office Building in Rockville in the 3rd floor hearing room.

• On Monday, December 5, hearings on local and bi-county bills will occur.  The hearings will take place at 7pm at the Council Office Building in Rockville in the 3rd floor hearing room.

• On Wednesday, December 7, further hearings on local and bi-county bills will occur.  The hearings will take place at 7pm at the Council Office Building in Rockville in the 3rd floor hearing room.

If you know of an upcoming community event, please email marc@marckorman.com.

District 16 Notes

• Now that summer is in full swing, congratulations to all of the high school graduates in the area including those from Whitman, BCC, WJ, Churchill, and other area public and private schools.  Among the graduating seniors was my terrific intern, Rebecca Stryer.  Many of you may have met Rebecca when she has attended community events on my behalf. Congratulations Rebecca!

• Congratulations to Cathy Bernard on her reappointment to the Strathmore Hall Foundation Board of Directors.

• Congratulations to Scott Hunger and Luis Hurtado on being appointed to the County's Commission on People With Disabilities.

• Every Fourth of July, the Village of Friendship Heights makes several community awards.  Community Service Awards were given to Dorothy Hall--for her work with the Village Center's Tuesday Tea program--and Sheila Manes--for her work with the Village Center's Book Club.  The Elizabeth Scull Award was given to the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Fire and Rescue Squad.

• Congratulations to Susan Shipp for taking over the leadership of the Cabin John Citizens Association.  Susan succeeds Burr Gray, who held the position for 20 years!

• Imagination Stage's Bonnie Fogel received the Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce's William Prescott Allen Award.  Congratulations Bonnie!

• Congratulations to Susie Turnbull for winning the JCRC Community Leadership Award.

• Michael Flyer was also honored by the JCRC and received the JCRC Breslau-Goldman Award.

• A big thank you to Barbara Leister who is retiring after 29 years as principal of Wyngate Elementary.

• Many District 16 residents are in the 2017 Leadership Montgomery classes.  I graduated from the 2013 core program and highly recommend it:

Emerging Leaders Class: Anna Heiserman and Michael Marks
Senior Leadership Class: Sally Cameron, Robin Chernoff, Eric Grosse, Isadora Hare, Andrea Huber, Gabrielle Korab, Betsy Loyless, Grant and Margaret Moy, Margo Reid, Judith Saks, Ruth Spodak, and Dorothy Unger
Core: Alvin Carlos, Susan Esserman, Melissa Graves, Deborah Lindenberg, Regina Oldak, Samir Paul, and Sonya Sbar.

​If you know of a District 16 resident who merits recognition or condolences, please email marc@marckorman.com.