Councilmember Andrew Friedson

Thrilled to host last night’s virtual community conversation with special guest Montgomery County Police Department’s 2D Commander, Amy Daum. Thanks to the nearly 120 participants who came and discussed a wide range of topics with us, including Bethesda’s Drone as First Responder, economic initiatives, climate and housing.

Very excited to participate in the grand opening of Montgomery Parks Wheaton Gravity Mountain Bike Park this weekend. This world-class bike park is yet another example of how Montgomery Parks is meeting the modern demands of our community with activated facilities that serve all residents. Happy riding!

Had a great time celebrating the second annual Pint-Size Polar Bear Plunge this weekend to benefit Special Olympics Maryland.

It was wonderful hearing from some of the inspiring Special Olympics athletes, who reminded us all of the uniting impact sports have.

Please join me and Montgomery County Police Department’s 2D Commander, Amy Daum this Wednesday, (7/24), from 7-8:30 pm for a virtual community conversation, where we will give the latest updates on District 1.

Please register for the event through the link below:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=-bEBbuWxc0Csl3eAaaCtZMY8IS0gnppHsBHmpCQz9uxUOVJaN0tTRUpSRUVRNkRGRlFKOEpVM1I0Vy4u

Hope to see you there!

Yesterday’s assassination attempt in Pennsylvania was a horrifying assault on the former president and on our country.

Political violence has absolutely no place in a free society.

I continue to pray for the victims and their families as my heart breaks for our deeply divided nation.

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of attending the opening of the LuminoCity Dino Safari at Westfield Montgomery. This festival is truly a partnership that showcases the best of Montgomery County. I encourage everyone to check out the festivites until August 4th, with some of the proceeds going to Interfaith Works.

Great to join Jamie Raskin, Comptroller Brooke Lierman, Senator Sara Love & Delegate Marc Korman last night to throw out the first pitch at the Bethesda Big Train baseball game as we celebrated Bethesda’s own Eve Rosenbaum, now an Orioles executive, who was honored with her own bobble head!

Out of many, we are still one nation!

Stopping by community festivities and Independence Day parades has reminded me that our nation’s promise far outweighs our problems. Here’s to celebrating country and community as we continue our ongoing journey to becoming a more perfect union.

Happy 4th!

From Toys “R” Us to Tech Hub, today’s ceremonial signing, marking a partnership with Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division and the Pike District, highlights our efforts to transform the area into an innovation hub with strong partnership at the federal, state, and county levels and public-private sectors.

Delegate Marc Korman, Delegate Jared Solomon, Delegate Sarah Wolek, County Executive Marc Elrich, Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services.

This week I was pleased to celebrate Montgomery History’s 80th anniversary. Since 1944, the Montgomery Historical Society has meticulously detailed our county’s history and continues to tell our accurate collective story with intentionality. As we approach our 250th anniversary as a county and country, thanks to all who do this vitally important work, here’s to the next 80 years and beyond!

Bravo to Allie Williams on being named the 2024 Maryland Chamber Executive of the Year. The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce has grown in membership and enhanced the business community in the greater Bethesda area under Allie’s steadfast leadership. A well-deserved congrats my friend on this prestigious award!

Congratulations to Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department on his retirement after 38 years of service. Chief Jones led the MCPD with grace, humility, and integrity in his 5 years leading the finest police department in the country to culminate a distinguished public safety career. We are better and safer because of his leadership. Congrats, Chief Jones!

My spirits are soaring after a powerful and uplifting Scotland Heritage Festival Interfaith Service alongside my dad on Father’s Day where we created community and found fellowship as we gave meaning to the “House of Lovingkindness” for which Bethesda was named.

Join us TONIGHT at the Bethesda Theater for the second annual Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival Opening Night Celebration! We’ll be partying for a purpose with great local music, dancing, and a lot of fun. See you there!

Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival Opening Night Celebration Come celebrate the VIP kickoff of Montgomery County’s premiere Black cultural event, the Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival!

Last night we kicked off by celebrating Montgomery County’s African American Living Legends. It’s a reminder that “Freedom Day” is about the progress we’ve made and what we have to do, recognizing our history and the work at hand to live up to our ideals and values. BlackRock Center for the Arts, Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe, Councilmember Kate Stewart, Gregory Wims, Lorig Charkoudian.

Thrilled to join the groundbreaking of the Equipment Maintenance & Transit Operations Center (EMOTC), the largest microgrid project in the country. The green energy center is an example of how Montgomery County is leading the charge in sustainable energy and climate initiatives.

It was great meeting with the Montgomery County Retired Employees' Association yesterday to discuss the County's FY25 budget and review specific items that protect their benefits. We need to do right by our retirees who have given so much to our county.

Today, we joined together for the County’s Homeless Memorial Service to honor the lives and memories of the 62 souls lost over the past year and recommit ourselves to ensuring homelessness is rare, brief, and one-time only. Thanks to Christine Hong and Montgomery County Health and Human Services - MD , the People’s Committee, and our partners for all your critical work living out our values of dignity and inclusion.

Honored to join County Executive Marc Elrich and the Montgomery County MD Council this morning for the 6th annual Montgomery County LGBTQ+ Progress Pride Flag raising ceremony. We're sending a clear message that Montgomery County is a welcoming and inclusive community where everyone can be their true, authentic self.

Incredibly grateful for the very generous donation from the Marriott family to help rebuild the historic Scotland AME Church, which has been a source of local pride for 100 years. We are blessed to have strong leaders like the Marriott family in our community. Marriott International, Friends of Scotland in Potomac, MD, Scotland A.M.E. Zion Church

Historic Black church gets $1M gift ahead of Juneteenth celebration - WTOP News A historic Black community in Maryland is planning its biggest Juneteenth celebration to date after receiving a donation of $1 million from the Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation.

Public Safety Day at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds today until 6 pm and it’s already a blast. Come on out with the family!

Happy Bike to Work Day! Great to stop by pit stops in Bethesda & Friendship Heights.

Thanks to all who came out to promote today’s event throughout the County with the healthiest, most sustainable way of traveling around our community. Delegate Marc Korman Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Bethesda Urban Partnership Friendship Heights Alliance.

Be sure to fill out the Montgomery County Department of Transportation survey to give feedback on the Electric Scooter and Bike program:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScoQGW6qEZ6UZvd7iblkJgkt-lou-a921KDs6Wpdifi5KmZEA/viewform?pli=1

After months of hard work, the Montgomery County MD Council preliminarily approved of the FY25 Operating Budget.

This $7.1 billion Operating Budget is a reflection of compromise, collective values, and the complex needs of our growing community. I am proud to say that this budget focuses on our core priorities: investing in education, supporting public safety, producing and preserving affordable housing, combatting climate change, protecting the most vulnerable, and jumpstarting economic development to grow our tax base.

Putting together a fiscally sound budget that meets the needs of Montgomery County’s 1.1 million residents is the ultimate balancing act. Like residents across Montgomery County who create household budgets, the Council had to make difficult choices with finite resources, especially as we sought to increase funding for public education. With an unprecedented level of community engagement throughout this deliberative process, the Council has produced a budget that meets today’s needs and makes strategic investments for Montgomery County’s future so we can strengthen our social safety net and maintain our high quality of life.

We are adding significant additional resources for Montgomery County Public Schools by funding 99.2 percent of the Board of Education’s request without raising taxes or increasing the County’s debt, while maintaining our reserve levels above 10.8 percent, and providing the necessary flexibility to respond to potential fiscal emergencies in the months ahead.

Read my full remarks here:
https://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail.aspx?Item_ID=45249&Dept=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vGXavtth_E

Council President Andrew Friedson's Statement on the FY25 Operating Budget and FY25-30 Capital Improvements Program Montgomery County Council President Andrew Friedson made the following statement about the Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget and the Fiscal Year 2025-2030 Capital Improvements Program. The Council’s final vote on the capital and operating budgets for Montgomery County is scheduled for May 23. 

Housing is an economic, environmental, and equity imperative. I was proud to join the Affordable Housing Conference conference today along with my friend Secretary Jake Day to highlight Montgomery County MD Council’s work to re-establish ourselves as a national housing innovation leader as we make MoCo more vibrant and inclusive.

I am deeply disturbed and upset by the senseless destruction of a community asset at the Greenbriar Local Park. The playground was a cherished spot for many families and children in our community. I urge you to come forward if you're aware of any details related to the incident. To help Montgomery Parks, anyone with information on what happened should contact the Montgomery County Fire Department, Fire and Explosives Investigations Office at 240-777-2269 or by email at [email protected].

The Montgomery County MD Council commemorated May as Jewish American Heritage Month in Montgomery County. Home to more than 100k Jewish residents, comprising one of the country's largest communities, Montgomery County's dynamic Jewish community has contributed immensely to our county's success and positively impacted far beyond it.

Happy Go MoCo month! Today Montgomery County, MD Tourism stopped by the Montgomery County MD Council to share the incredible deals and experiences that are offered in Montgomery County this month. Be sure to check out all the ongoing offers here:

visitmontgomery.com/go-moco/

Huge day in Montgomery County with today's UNANIMOUS passage of the New J.O.B.S. Initiative. With unprecedented partnership between Montgomery County MD Council, County Executive Marc Elrich Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation - Maryland & private sector partners, we're working together to spur innovation and jumpstart our local economy in an inclusive way.

https://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail.aspx?Item_ID=45208&Dept=1

Great to join Catherine & Ike Leggett along with Sara Love and a full house of friends and neighbors to support Montgomery History this afternoon in Bethesda.

To determine where we want and need to go as a community, we need to fully understand how we got here and Montgomery History is at the forefront of those efforts to understand our past and make it useful for the present and future.

Great Saturday despite the rain celebrating community throughout Montgomery County with multiple stops including: Montgomery Parks Sligo Creek Fest, Potomac Community Resources Annual Gen Ryan Memorial BBQ at Smokey Glen Farm Barbequers, Inc., and Poolesville, Maryland SpringFest.

Cup filled!