The County Council today will introduce special appropriations of nearly $18 million to provide additional assistance for COVID-19 recovery efforts. Also today, the council will hold public hearings and vote on 10 previously introduced special appropriations totaling about $40 million.
The county has launched a summer employment program for residents aged 16–23 who will work throughout the county to assist in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery. The “COVID Corps” will be run by the county’s Recreation Department, which will provide mentors, guidance and training for selected applicants.
Montgomery County police officers are now required to intervene when they witness excessive force being used by other officers under a new policy announced yesterday. In addition, the County Council introduced a bill that would codify additional curbs on police use of excessive force.
Montgomery County will move to Phase 2 of its planned reopening at 5 p.m. Friday, June 19, County Executive Marc Elrich announced. “Phase 2 allows additional businesses and activities to start and/or increase modified operations under specified guidelines.”
A portion of Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring will be temporarily closed as of 5 p.m. June 12 to allow restaurants additional space to provide customers outdoor dining. The right lanes of Georgia will be shut down between Silver Spring and Thayer avenues in a pilot project that will run through at least June 21. The pilot, known as Streetdine, is the result of a collaboration between the State Highway Administration, the Silver Spring Urban District, County Council Vice President Tom Hucker (D-District 5) and local business owners.
VanGo, the free downtown Silver Spring circulator bus service, resumes service today (June 8) after being suspended during the county’s COVID-19 restrictions. In addition, the county has announced a return of certain RideOn routes in an “Essential Plus” plan.
The Montgomery County Planning Board yesterday unanimously approved a Scope of Work for the Silver Spring Downtown Plan that adds portions of adjacent neighborhoods to the study area. The decision at the virtual meeting adopted staff boundary Option D, an expansion within a half-mile/ten-minute pedestrian “walkshed” from the future Silver Spring Library Purple Line Station.
The Montgomery Planning Board will consider a proposed scope of work for a Silver Spring Downtown Sector Plan at a virtual meeting Thursday, June 4. The work, the first step in the planning process, is intended as an update to the 2000 Silver Spring Central Business District Plan. It includes consideration of the boundaries of the current CBD and whether expansion of the area into the downtown sector plan would be a part of the process.
The county will ease the COVID-19 emergency restrictions imposed earlier this year beginning on Monday, June 1, County Executive Marc Elrich announced. In a press conference marred by boos, insults and profanities from the audience, Elrich said the gradual Phase 1 reopening of businesses and activities, under specific guidelines, would be in effect as of 6 a.m. Monday.