New year, new updates on East County developments! Plus: White House meeting , first look at Capital budget, and more KRISTIN MINK COUNCILMEMBER (District 5) - February 5, 2024 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN EAST COUNTY, CAPITAL BUDGET, ADVOCATING FOR OUR HAITIAN MIGRANT NEIGHBORS AND MORE! - Message From Kristin Hello neighbors, I hope you've had a good start to the new year. It's been a busy month so far at the Council and across District 5! See below for updates on: * exciting new developments in East County, * statewide advocacy efforts I led with elected officials across Maryland for our large Haitian migrant population, * transportation improvements for Leisure World, * highlights from the County Executive's proposed Capital Budget, and * pedestrian and traffic safety improvements my office has facilitated based on constituent requests. As always, please contact my office if you have any questions or if we can be of assistance. I look forward to seeing you around District 5! Sincerely, Kristin Mink Signature Kristin Mink, She / Her / Ella Montgomery County Council | District 5 - HIGHLIGHTS - East County developments: Burtonsville Crossing, White Oak Town Center, Viva White Oak The snowstorm couldn't stop Burtonsville from turning out for the Grand Opening of Burtonsville Crossing's long-awaited new grocery store: Sprouts Farmers Market! I was thrilled to help cut the ribbon, and to shout-out the invaluable support of the District 14 state delegation (hard at work in Annapolis). The opening marks the end of the Burtonsville community's decade-plus wait for meaningful development at the site. (See the grand opening and store preview on Facebook or Instagram) Community members were lined up in the snow before 7 a.m. for their first spin around the shop, which features a wide range of natural and organic offerings. Also coming soon to Burtonsville Crossing: * TJ Maxx * ULTA * Domain Fitness * My Eye Doctor * Eggspectation * Chipotle * and more! (See how the whole site's coming together on Facebook or Instagram.) Kristin Mink, Marc Elrich and other County leaders holding cut green ribbon outside Sprouts Market Burtonsville. Sprouts Farmers Market grand opening on snowy January 19th White Oak Town Center at Rt. 29 and Industrial Parkway is expected to open in the first half of 2024! The list of tenants now includes: * First Watch (breakfast/brunch restaurant), * Starbucks, * Dave’s Hot Chicken (backed by Drake), * Jersey Mike’s (sub shop), * Oak Barrel & Vine (liquor store featuring tasting rooms and beer on tap), * Inspire Nail Salon, * European Wax Center, and * AT&T. After over a decade of delays, Viva White Oak has finally made concrete forward progress. Last year, a new development partner invested significant time and funds into due diligence work on the site, including engaging with my office and with the community. And in December, they signed an agreement to develop the property! My hope is that the site will also prove to be the right home for a new Montgomery College East County Campus. Kristin poses with other attendees of a Viva White Oak bus tour, including developers, community leaders, and the President of Montgomery College Councilmember Mink with community leaders, County representatives, and Dr. Jermaine Williams, President of Montgomery College, following a bus tour of the Viva White Oak property with the property owners and developers. White House Visit + Press Conference Supporting Haitian Residents Hundreds of Haitians arrived in Maryland over the last year, including many in Montgomery County, after fleeing historic violence and unrest. County departments and local faith groups and nonprofits have been holding service events in East County to support these residents and provide legal aid. I was asked by these groups to help with a federal issue specific to Haitian newcomers: Many are facing removal proceedings despite having recently entered the U.S. legally to apply for asylum from a country we recognize as unsafe and unstable. This is highly unusual and counter to United Nations guidance. So, on January 12th, I brought a Haitian Burtonsville resident facing potential deportation to the White House to meet with Senior Advisor to the President Tom Perez (who, you may recall, is also a former Montgomery County Councilmember!). Meritha shared her story, and we delivered a letter that I had organized -- signed by 50 of Maryland's local, state, and federal electeds -- requesting relief for Haitian newcomers. A few days later, I held a press conference with Congressman David Trone and Prince George’s County Council Chair Jolene Ivey to continue to highlight the issue. The Washington Post and WUSA9 covered our efforts. My office is continuing to work on this issue. Councilmember Mink, Community leaders walking outside White House Councilmember Mink leaves the White House with Burtonsville resident Meritha and advocates for Haitian immigration reform Kristin, Tom Perez, and Community Leaders posing for photo inside the White House Tom Perez, Senior Advisor to the President, meets with Councilmember Mink, Montgomery County's Caribbean Liaison Rodrigue Vitale, advocates, and a directly impacted District 5 resident about how the current treatment of Haitian newcomers is affecting communities on the ground. Transportation Grant for Leisure World In August, my office worked with Leisure World residents to arrange a presentation and bus tour highlighting the community's transit shortcomings. Attendees included Senator Ben Kramer, Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles, and the Montgomery County Department of Transportation's Ride On Chief for Planning & Implementation. In addition to ensuring the community's needs are accounted for in the Ride-On Reimagined draft, my office has worked to find and support related grant opportunities, as has Senator Kramer and the District 19 state delegation. I am thrilled that Leisure World has now secured the Enhance Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities grant through the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. These funds ($418k) will allow Leisure World to purchase three much needed wheelchair-accessible shuttles for their residents. Kristin poses with community advocates, Senator Kramer, Councilmember Sayles, and others in front of a Leisure World shuttle bus. Leisure World bus tour on transit needs Capital Budget and CIP On January 16th, County Executive Marc Elrich transmitted his recommended Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2025 to the County Council. The Capital Budget and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) maps out six years of county facilities and infrastructure investments. This includes school construction, transportation infrastructure, major renovations of county facilities, and more. The Council will now hear from the public as we consider this proposal and potential amendments. Here are a few important investments for District 5 that are part of the draft as transmitted: * $60.5 million for design and construction of an East County Campus for Montgomery College * $40 million for road construction to support the Viva White Oak redevelopment project. * $7.91 million for improved pedestrian and cycling infrastructure near FLASH Bus Rapid Transit stations along US 29. * $3.08 million for streetlights along US 29 (Columbia Pike) between I-495 and MD 198 (Sandy Spring Road). Looking across the county, the Capital Budget proposes large investments in priority areas including:  * $4.86 billion for Montgomery County Public Schools, and $1.11 billion for Montgomery College. * $4.65 billion for transportation infrastructure projects. * $737 million for housing and community development, including $194.7 million in new funding to support the production and preservation of affordable housing. * $178 million in total investments in our library system. Sign up to testify here!  % TOTAL EXPENDITURES BY CATEGORY = Montgomery County Public Schools = Transportation LSS General Government = Montgomery College RRE e = Community Development and Housing BT ] M Conservation of Natural Resources LRI R L G ® Health and Human Services Recycling and Resource Management BT e T T Y e T Revenue Authority Pi chart showing capital project expenditures by category over the next 6 years, as proposed by County Executive Elrich. Constituent Requests for Pedestrian Safety Improvements My office continues to facilitate numerous requests from constituents for pedestrian and traffic safety improvements with the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and the State Highway Administration (SHA). In addition to speed humps, stop signs, and other upgrades which have already been completed across District 5, these are some projects for which we've received approval, some of which may take a year or more due to SHA's limited funding: 1. Four-way stop signs to be installed at Schindler Drive and Gatewood Ave. in February 2024 2. No Parking restrictions to be established on US 29 ramps to Blackburn Road and MD 198 in Winter 2024 3. Continuous pedestrian lighting to be installed along the pathway between Oak Leaf Drive and Prelude Drive in Spring 2025 4. Traffic signal to be installed at Brunett Ave. and University Blvd. in 2025 5. Traffic signal to be installed at MD 650 and Notley Road in approximately 2 years If you have requests for pedestrian or traffic safety improvements, please send details to [email protected] or call us at 240-777-7955. - UPCOMING EVENTS, OPPORTUNITIES, & RESOURCES Montgomery County Celebrates Black History Month! Black History Month began on February 1st, and we will be celebrating at the Council and throughout the county all month long! Montgomery County Public Libraries is hosting a series of programs and events. Find one in your neighborhood here! Summer Camps with Montgomery Parks and the Department of Recreation If you, like me, are you looking to fill your children's summer schedules, there are some great resources available through Montgomery Parks and the County's Department of Recreation. Please reach out to my office if you have any questions about these or other opportunities.  Lunar New Year Celebrations Across the County * On January 31st, I joined the Maryland Vietnamese Mutual Association's annual Tết Festival. (Check it out on Facebook or Instagram) * On February 6th, I will be presenting a proclamation with County Executive Marc Elrich to celebrate Lunar New Year at the Council. * Saturday, February 10th, 12:30-4:30 pm: The Chinese Culture and Community Service Center (CCACC) is hosting their annual, free celebration at Westfield Montgomery Mall, with a parade, dragon dance, and more. See details here! Testify on the 2025-2030 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) On February 6th, residents can testify at the Council to give their input on important capital projects such as specific school construction projects, Montgomery College East County Campus, and transportation priorities. It's important for other councilmembers to hear how important our projects are in District 5, so please consider signing up to testify here! Ride On Bus - Transit Advisory Group (TAG) Montgomery County DOT - Ride On is looking for persons with disabilities, high school students, bilingual people, and older adults to join our Transit Advisory Group. If you are interested, send your application questions to [email protected]. Please include in your e-mail of interest: 1. What are the main bus routes you use? 2. City of residence 3. Email Address 4. Phone Number 5. How frequently you use Ride-On / MCDOT Services 6. Why would you like to join the Transit Advisory Group (TAG) Traffic Advisory: State Highway Administration (SHA) - Expect Delays on New Hampshire Avenue until Fall The State Highway Administration has started a $4.6 million safety and resurfacing project on New Hampshire Avenue from Milestone Drive to Shaw Avenue in White Oak. If the weather allows, the 1.75-mile project should be finished in the fall. - Thank you for reading! If you have any comments, questions, or constituent inquiries, you can reach my office at <[email protected]> or 240-777-7955. - SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:   |    |  Help This email was sent to you using GovDelivery, on behalf of: Montgomery County, Maryland Government. As a subscriber, you agree that we may contact you by email and use the information you submit as described in the Montgomery County . Please do not reply to this email. Replies to this email will not be responded to or read. If you have any questions or comments, please visit the MC311 Portal at www.mc311.com or call 3-1-1 (240-777-0311 if outside the County) to speak with a Customer Service Representative. - This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Montgomery County Maryland · Monroe Street · 13th Floor Rockville · Rockville, MD 20850  GovDelivery logo