October Update

I had a great time saying hello to voters—and eating—at the annual Taste of Bethesda last weekend.  If you are interested in volunteering, scroll down through this email which is also filled with other legislative and community news.

You can always keep up with what I am doing by following me at @mkorman on Twitter, clicking "Like" on Delegate Marc Korman on Facebook, or visitingwww.marckorman.com.  And remember, if you would like to support my reelection financially, you can do so at www.marckorman.com/contribute.

Legislative News

Last year, I was part of an effort to have our state pension fund analyze their holdings and practices and review how it was handling risk from climate change.  The pension's chief investment officer submitted a short report and a hearing was held. Now, the University of Maryland School of Public Policy has released an important report demonstrating that the pension fund can and should do much more. Action can be taken not only to work to mitigate climate change, but also so that the pension fund's investment portfolio is not at risk from climate change: 
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57f412f329687f78aa26ded4/t/59d66bd3be42d6d41ba6865d/1507224543565/Climate+Change+Risk+and+the+MD+SRPS.pdf

I plan to introduce legislation incorporating many of the ideas in the report.
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October 1 is the annual effective date for many Maryland laws.  You can read a list of laws that just took effect this past October 1 by visiting here.

Administration News

Governor Hogan recently made a big splash with an announcement regarding road expansion on I-295, I-495, and I-270.  Although readers of this newsletter know of my commitment to public transit, there is no question that our roads also require investment and care.  I have a number of questions about the Governor's proposal, its environmental impact, the cost, how a public private partnership would be structured, the advisability of some of the highway expansion, the feasibility regarding portions of the road expansion, what would be done about the American Legion Bridge, and what transit components can accompany such significant road investments, to name just a few.  Thus far, there is little information available and significant discussion of these issues will take place over the next few months--and perhaps even years.  It is an important conversation and I appreciate that there is focus being brought to traffic in our region.

Campaign

Here are two great ways to help my election campaign this fall:
Saturday, October 21, 9:45am: Come march in the Potomac Day Parade at Potomac Village.  This is a short, easy route and a good one to bring kids or babies to.  Afterwards there is a small street fair with games and food for you to enjoy.
Saturday, November 18, 11:00am: Come knock on the doors of voters in District 16 and let them know some of the work I have been doing.  Even if you have never canvassed before, this is a great way to meet nice people and get some exercise.
If you would like to assist with any of these activities, email [email protected].

Community News

• On September 9, a group of volunteers led by Beth Rogers and Kevin Kearney held The Great Potomac River Tire Rodeo.  The group dug out 229 tires from the Potomac River in coordination with the Maryland Department of the Environment, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, George Washington Memorial Parkway, C&O Canal National Historical Park, and NRG.  Bethesda Beat ran a story on their great work.

• Susan Kirk, the long-serving head of Bethesda Cares, recently announced her plans to step down from the organization.

• Many of our friends and neighbors have been nominated and confirmed to County Boards and Commissions during the past month:

• Commission for Women
  • Tiffany Boiman
  • Monica Ramirez
  • Tia Zeno
• Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board
  • Jason Yang
  • Eric Grosse
  • Hrant Jamgochian
  • Linda Kohn
• Board of Registration for Building Contractors
  • Josh Rosenthal
  • Edward Harrington
• Commission on Health
  • Desiree de la Torre
  • Kenneth Goldstein
• ​Glen Echo Park Partnership
  • ​Genevieve Twomey
• ​Early Childhood Coordinating Council
  • ​Robin Chernoff
• ​Local Management Board for Children Youth and Families
  • ​Andrew Friedson
  • William Chen
• ​Agricultural Advisory Committee
  • ​Lori Larson
  • Aliza Fishbein

• Condolences to the friends and family of Jean Roesser, a long-serving state legislator and state cabinet official.

• Hannah Wilcove, who grew up in District 16, wrote a witty and insightful analysison women in politics.

• Congratulations to Mike and Reggie Oldak on the birth of their first grandchild!

• District 16's Katie Spurlock wrote a long article for the Washington Post Magazine on her experience with her daughter's dyslexia and her emergence as an education advocate.

Community Events

• A public meeting on the Bethesda Metro plaza will be held on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at 7pm at the Bethesda Chevy Chase Regional Services Center (4805 Edgemoor Lane in Bethesda).

• The second annual Pike District Fall Fest will be held on Saturday, October 14from 2pm to 5pm at Rockville Pike and Marinelli Road.

• A Hurricane Maria Relief Basketball Game will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2017 at Pyle Middle School (6311 Wilson Lane) from 11am to 2pm.  Tickets will be sold at the door. Cost:  $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12.  Additional donations welcome.  100 percent of the proceeds will go Disaster Aid USA (DA USA) a 501-c3 based in Maryland, to provide immediate disaster relief and humanitarian aid in Puerto Rico.  For more information email [email protected]
• On Monday, October 16, 2017 at 7am, the Bethesda Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club will hear from Prince George's County Executive and candidate for Governor, Rushern Baker.  The meeting is held at the Original Pancake House in Bethesda.

• The Purple Line Community Action Team ("CAT") Meeting for the Bethesda area will be held on Tuesday, October 17, 2017 beginning at 6:30pm at the Bethesda Chevy Chase Regional Services Center.

• The Washington Suburban Sanitation Commission will hold a public meeting on potential new rate structures on Thursday, October 19, 2017 at 7:30pm at the County Council Office Building (100 Maryland Avenue in Rockville).  Visit here for more information.

• The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad Alumni Association will hold a crab feast on Sunday, October 22, 2017 from 1pm to 5pm.  Tickets cost $45 per person in advance (or $50 at the door).  For tickets or further information, call 301-442-4136 or visit www.bccrs.org.  Proceeds will benefit the B-CC Rescue Squad.

• On Thursday, November 2, 2017, the annual Consolidated Transportation Program Presentation will take place at 7pm at the County Council Office Building (100 Maryland Avenue in Rockville).  At this meeting, the Maryland Department of Transportation will present on its current plans in Montgomery County.

• The Joint House and Senate Priorities Hearing will take place on Monday, November 13, 2017 at 7pm at the County Council Office Building (100 Maryland Avenue in Rockville).  If you would like to testify on what you would like to see Montgomery County's legislators working on, visit here.

• Hearings on local legislation--bills introduced in Annapolis that only affect Montgomery County--will be held on Monday, December 4, 2017 at 7pm at the County Council Office Building (100 Maryland Avenue in Rockville).  The list of local bills will appear online when they are introduced.

• The second night of hearings on local legislation will be held on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at 7pm at the County Council Office Building (100 Maryland Avenue in Rockville)

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​If you know of a District 16 resident who merits recognition or condolences or an upcoming event, please email [email protected].