July Update

​Dear Friend:
On August 3rd, the Maryland General Assembly will convene for a special legislative session. At that time, we will take up gubernatorial vetoes from the last legislative session (a full list of his vetoes is here) and send a proposed constitutional amendment to the voters regarding redistricting. Under that proposal, it will be up to you (the voters) whether or not we will do partisan redistricting going forward. As I have said in prior messages, partisan redistricting is not something many of us want to do. But because the President of the United States has begged states that lean his way politically to do it, states that do not lean his way politically also need to act if we want to maintain power in Congress. It is a bad situation that needs a national solution but, until that time comes, I believe Maryland needs to be prepared to act.

 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Every four years, the non-partisan Department of Legislative Services compiles a summary of developments on major issues during the term. The latest entry is now available here.
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I am proud to have earned 100% on the Humane World Action Fund scorecard, particularly because many of the scored bills were passed through the committee that I chair.
Here are the details.

​TRANSPORTATION UPDATE 
We are in the midst of the two month Red Line segment shutdown of Grosvenor, Medical Center, and Bethesda. It has been a challenging experience for drivers and riders (I use the bus shuttles most days). Here is information about the bus shuttles.

​For several years, we have heard concerns about or cars improperly using out-of-state plates. This year, we changed the law to expand the ability of the Motor Vehicle Administration and local law enforcement to issue fines to residents who fail to properly register their vehicles in the state where they primarily reside. Learn more here. 

FRIENDSHIP HEIGHTS UPDATE
The Planning Department is working on a new Friendship Heights Sector Plan. A draft has just been released by the planning staff and can be read here. A public meeting will be held in two parts.
The first part of the Planning Board’s public hearing begins on September 10 at 1:30 p.m. during the Board’s regular weekly meeting in the Planning Board Auditorium on the second floor of The M-NCPPC’s Wheaton headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, MD 20902). The hearing will allow for testimony in-person and virtually via Microsoft Teams.
The second part of the Planning Board’s public hearing will be held on September 14 at 4 p.m. at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center (4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814). This public hearing will include the opportunity to testify in-person only. 
 
COMMUNITY NEWS
Congratulations to Nurith Berstein-Rosales, David Moskowitz, Cynthia Cifuentes, and Alan Rosenberg on their re-appointments and Galia Steinbach on her reappointment to the Montgomery County Commission on Landlord-Tenant Affairs.