Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. Via Montgomery County, MD Flickr.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich delivered his annual State of the County Address Friday morning.
Elrich focused his speech on the COVID-19 pandemic’s past and future. He said one year ago to the date, March 5, the first coronavirus cases were reported in Maryland — in Montgomery County. Gov. Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency, and it continues. Elrich said the county has provided more than $70 million over the past year in relief to restaurants, stores, service providers and arts organizations.
“We’ve supported childcare providers, expanded Wi-Fi into more public spaces, and created more outdoor, safe spaces for residents. We continue to do as much as possible to stabilize working families who were already in need,” Elrich said. To those who want the county to reopen because metrics are improving, he reminds that numbers are low due to restrictions the county has implemented.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is delivering his State of the County Address.
"COVID has shaken up everything in our lives. Everything. We have lost too many of our residents… greatest toll on our elderly population and our communities of color." @mymcmedia
— Maryam Shahzad (@maryam_mcm) March 5, 2021
"Every decision that opened things up to allow more interactions between people, also provided more routes for the virus to spread – and minimizing that spread, and its deadly consequences, has been our goal." @mymcmedia
— Maryam Shahzad (@maryam_mcm) March 5, 2021
Elrich said he is “painfully aware” of COVID-19 vaccine anxiety surrounding a lack of doses. On a more positive note, he said he was happy to report that every resident ages 75+ who pre-registered with the county received an invitation to set a vaccine appointment. Looking ahead, he said now “we know there are vaccines shining a light at the end of a very long tunnel.”
Montgomery CE Marc Elrich on vaccines:
"I am painfully aware of the vaccine distribution and how it's caused such anxiety. The state hurried to quickly tell people they could get vaccinated, when there was far too little supply to meet the people’s expectations." @mymcmedia
— Maryam Shahzad (@maryam_mcm) March 5, 2021
"We are following federal guidelines on how to prioritize the doses and I’m happy to report that this week everyone 75 and older who pre-registered with the county has received an invitation to schedule an appointment." @mymcmedia
— Maryam Shahzad (@maryam_mcm) March 5, 2021
The county executive noted several times residents’ adaptability, resilience and commitment to following health measures. He said COVID-19 numbers are low due to restrictions and also are a result of “residents who have been willing to follow the guidelines even as their lives have been severely disrupted.”
“The state of our county is strong because of you,” Elrich said. “We have been able adjust to the challenges that COVID has created and move forward on important policies and programs for Montgomery County.”
“We are fortunate in Montgomery County that our residents understand that the measures we take are central to saving lives. Throughout this pandemic, you — our residents — have been reasonable, understanding, and engaged.”
“Even when you have not agreed with some of the tough decisions that have been made, you have done your best to follow the guidelines and keep our communities safe.”
Elrich concluded his address again praising residents.
“Thanks to your extraordinary response, our County has proven resilient, responding to the present and ready for what the future will bring.”
"We are fortunate in Montgomery County that our residents understand that the measures we take are central to saving lives. Throughout this pandemic, you – our residents – have been reasonable, understanding, and engaged." @mymcmedia
— Maryam Shahzad (@maryam_mcm) March 5, 2021
Elrich: "Even when you have not agreed with some of the tough decisions that have been made, you have done your best to follow the guidelines and keep our communities safe." @mymcmedia
— Maryam Shahzad (@maryam_mcm) March 5, 2021
CE Elrich concludes his State of the County Address:
"Thanks to your extraordinary response, our county has proven resilient, responding to the present, and ready for what the future will bring. Thank you all and my best to you and your families." @mymcmedia
— Maryam Shahzad (@maryam_mcm) March 5, 2021
Elrich discussed other topics including transit, affordable housing and climate change. He said if not for the pandemic, climate change would have been the natural disaster of the year.
Elrich: "If it weren’t for COVID, climate change would have been the headline natural disaster of the year, and the decade, and the century.
This was and is an existential threat to our lives – it was before the pandemic and that has not changed." @mymcmedia
— Maryam Shahzad (@maryam_mcm) March 5, 2021
"During 2021, we will begin installing solar panels on a closed landfill, providing less costly clean energy for lower income households. We are also exploring the feasibility of commingling agriculture with solar arrays…"
— Maryam Shahzad (@maryam_mcm) March 5, 2021
"Over the last year, our Department of Permitting Services has worked with our technology services staff to make significant changes to our permitting requirements by implementing an innovative, clear, efficient cloud-based permitting and licensing system…" @mymcmedia
— Maryam Shahzad (@maryam_mcm) March 5, 2021
"We know that tens of thousands of affordable rental units have been lost and more than 10,000 more are expected to be lost over the next decade." Says county is developing "No Net Loss" strategy to preserve/replace affordable rental units that would be lost in redevelopment.
— Maryam Shahzad (@maryam_mcm) March 5, 2021
CE Elrich on policing/public safety:
"For years every social problem has been dropped on the police to handle when more appropriate responses should be provided by our human services agencies, and that is the path we will build going forward." @mymcmedia
— Maryam Shahzad (@maryam_mcm) March 5, 2021
