Amnesty International Human Rights Art Festival, April 23-25, 2010 in Silver Spring

Here’s some information about an international event that will be held in downtown Silver Spring on April 23-25—the first ever Amnesty International Human Rights Art Festival! The festival will feature over 400 artists, from 50 nations, bringing over 200 events to over 40 venues.

The festival will engage the audience on human rights issues and the advocacy work that Amnesty International undertakes. Events will include visual art shows, new media events, performance art, spoken word, theater, book readings, panel discussions, film, music, dance, hands-on workshops, art walks from exhibit to exhibit, participatory parades, international foods, and more.

For more information, visit the website at http://www.humanrightsartfestival.com./

Check it out on Facebook.

Follow it on Twitter: http://twitter.com/HRartsfest.

Our Prayers to Officer Hector Ayala’s Family and Friends

On Sunday, Montgomery County tragically lost one of the County’s finest—Montgomery County Police Officer Hector Ayala. Officer Ayala gave his life doing what he loved most—serving our residents and helping his fellow colleagues. He served our County for seven years mostly working the night shift in the Wheaton District responding to events as they were occurring. He is survived by his wife, a son, and triplets expected to be born in June.

Our hearts and prayers go out to Officer Ayala’s family and friends.

Below are the viewing and funeral arrangements for Police Officer Hector Ayala:

Viewing: St. Peter’s Catholic Church
2900 Olney-Sandy Spring Road
Olney, Maryland

Date: Thursday, April 8, 2010
Times: 2–4pm and 6–8pm

Funeral: St. Peter’s Catholic Church

2900 Olney-Sandy Spring Road
Olney, Maryland

Date: Friday, April 9, 2010
Time: 10:00 AM

FY 11 Operating Budget Public Hearings

This week, the Montgomery County Council is holding FY 11 Operating Budget Public Hearings at the County Council Office Building in Rockville, MD (100 Maryland Avenue, 3rd Floor Hearing Room).

Last night was the first public hearing and they will continue as follows:

Tonight, Tuesday, April 6: 7PM
Wednesday, April 7: 1:30PM and 7PM
Thursday, April 8: 7PM

To speak at the hearings, please call 240-777-7803.

Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg Speaks at the Bethesda Chevy-Chase Democrat Breakfast Club Monthly Meeting

Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg spoke this morning at the Bethesda Chevy-Chase Democrat Breakfast Club monthly meeting that took place at the Original Pancake House on Woodmont Avenue, in Bethesda.

As Chair of the Management and Fiscal Policy Committee (MFP) the Councilmember Trachtenberg talked about the various nuances concerning the present budget challenges and touched on the effect on the County from decisions made at the state and federal levels.

The group also heard from Councilmember George Leventhal, in his capacity as the Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee (HHS), the committee of which Counclmember Trachtenberg is a member. Both Councilmembers expressed their concerns with the declining revenue just when the demands for services have been increasing.

After their remarks the meeting was opened for Q & A during which there was discussion on development, jobs creation and an increase utility fees among other things.

MFP Committee Met Today to Discuss IT Requests and the ITPCC

The Management and Fiscal Policy (MFP) Committee, Chaired by Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg, met today at 9:30 am in the 7th Floor Conference Room to discuss agencies’ FY11 Information Technology (IT) requests and the Interagency Technology Policy and Coordination Committee (ITPCC).

The first agenda item was an update of the Interagency Technology Policy and Coordination Committee (ITPCC). The main presenters included Dr. Hercules Pinkney, ITPCC Chair and Interim President, Montgomery College; Dr. Royce Hanson, Chairman, M-NCPPC and Dr. Jerry Weast, Superintendent, MCPS. The Committee discussed the Cross-Agency Resource Sharing Initiative of Montgomery County and identified areas where aggressive action may yield tangible results in FY11 and FY12. Moreover, the Committee will schedule an additional ITPCC work session in June or July to review and approve the FY11 work program reflecting cross-agency resource sharing.

The second agenda item as an overview of the agencies’ FY11 Information Technology programs and budgets. The main presenters included Dick Leurig, Montgomery College, Chair; Steven Emanual, Montgomery County Government and Sherwin Collette, Montgomery County Public Schools. The Committee discussed the Interagency Technology Fund (ITF) which is important for collaboration and interagency sharing of resources. In addition, the Committee highlighted the “Red risk” system and cost projections associated with providing replacement of IT systems for the future.

“A More Efficient Government”: Statement of Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg

I read today’s Washington Post article by Michael Laris titled “Turf issues can impede ending agencies’ overlapping duties” with great interest. It identifies both the opportunities, as well as the challenges, inherent in an effort to consolidate overlapping responsibilities of agencies and departments in order to bring more efficient government to the people of Montgomery County.

The Council’s Management and Fiscal Policy Committee (MFP) has been a long time advocate of such actions, and indeed our last three sessions have focused on the consolidations possible within the IT sphere, both for all Montgomery County departments, as well as across County agencies.

I think the opportunity to explore doing more with less, and to see how sharing resources across organizational units can reduce costs is upon us. MFP will continue to explore this consolidation topic, and explore its use not only in IT, but in all major county functions. The work session this morning brings together the IT interests of all County agencies, and provides a good backdrop to press for action in this important area.

To read the Washington Post's article, click here.

MFP Committee to Discuss Agencies’ FY11 Information Technology Requests

The Management and Fiscal Policy (MFP) Committee, Chaired by Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg, will meet on Monday, April 5th to discuss agencies’ FY11 Information Technology requests and the Interagency Technology Policy and Coordination Committee (ITPCC). ITPCC deals with interagency technology policy coordination issues. The ITPCC presentation will be lead by Dr. Hercules Pinkney, the ITPCC Chair, who will provide some brief comments about the current ITPCC projects, issues, and the ITPCC work program. The meeting will begin at 9:30 am in the 7th Floor Conference Room of the Council Office Building at 100 Maryland Avenue in Rockville.

Health and Human Services Committee Meeting—Monday, April 5, 2PM

The Health and Human Services Committee, on which Councilmember Trachtenberg serves along with Councilmembers George Leventhal and Nancy Navarro, will meet on Monday, April 5 at 2:00PM for the following:

• Report of the MC Reproductive Health, Advocacy, and Education Work Group
• Update - Neighborhood Safety Net Coalition

The meeting will be held in the third floor Council Conference Room of the Council Office Building in Rockville.

Trachtenberg Office Attends the Committee for Ethnic Affairs Meeting

Naomi Bloch attended last evening’s Committee for Ethnic Affairs monthly meeting on behalf of the Trachtenberg office. The Committee for Ethnic Affairs meets on the first Thursday of every month to advise the County Executive and the County Council in matters of public policy relating to the County’s diverse communities. By emphasizing the richness of the County’s linguistic and cultural diversity, the Committee for Ethnic Affairs promotes interaction among the many groups that represent these communities.

Updates were given on some upcoming community events:

• The Arab American Heritage Month at Montgomery College, in April
• Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the Community Resource Fair is taking place on May 8th, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Executive Office Building Cafeteria.
• The first in a planned series of speakers series will take place on May 24th at the Rockville Library from 7-9 in the first floor meeting room and the speakers will be author, Steven Roberts taking about his book: “From Every Corner of This Earth”

For more information about the meetings and events of the Committee for Ethnic Affairs you can check out their Facebook page.

Councilmember Trachtenberg Speaks at Coalition of Kensington Communities Meeting

Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg was the guest speaker at last night’s meeting of the Coalition of Kensington Communities which took place at the Ken-Gar Community Center, 4111 Plyers Mill Road in Kensington, Maryland. The Councilmember’s opening remarks touched on several issue areas ranging from details concerning the current budget crisis to the White Flint Sector Plan to the Costco project.

The Councilmember then took questions from the 20+ people assembled that included official representatives from the several communities represented by the Coalition as well as from members from the community. The questions focused on the infrastructure and traffic issues with the White Flint Plan; opposition to a proposed Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) which would allow Costco to include a 16 bay gas station at the Wheaton Westfield Mall site. Councilmember Trachtenberg told everyone that she supports the plan to have Costco come to this location but that she would not vote for it if it included the 16-bay gas station. She pointed to the extensive research showing the health risks to especially the elderly and the very young.

Others expressed concerns about the prospective closure of the Noyes Library for Young Children.  Councilmember Trachtenberg said that the library would be closed only temporarily, for a projected two years, while the building is brought into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Community members asked if there was any way to have these upgrades made in less that two years and the Councilmember told the community members that they should let their various elected officials know of their concerns and questions regarding this project.

Councilmember Trachtenberg Meets with Reproductive Health, Education, and Advocacy Work Group

Councilmember Trachtenberg met with several members of the Reproductive Health, Education, and Advocacy Work Group, as a follow up to their report on Reproductive Health Services in Montgomery County.

The report, released in January 2010, describes the current landscape of reproductive health services in the County and provides insight into the strengths and needs of service delivery sites, as well as perceptions of barriers women face when accessing or trying to access services. Additionally, the report provides a basic assessment of family planning clinics in Montgomery County and examines the gaps in meeting current needs.

On Monday April 5th, 2pm, a formal presentation--with opportunities for questions--will be made to the Council's Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee by lead investigator Dr. Susan Wood. Among the findings to be disclosed is the need for providers to focus on improving services to women, as well as the vital need to increase outreach to women in the County's expanding diverse communities.

Planning Department Launches ReThink Montgomery, a Weekly Speaker Series Focusing on Smart Growth, Livability

SILVER SPRING – In response to changing demographics, economics and lifestyles, the Montgomery County Planning Department will host a spring speaker series that focuses on ways to meet the challenges of change as we manage growth to shape great communities.

The Rethink Montgomery speaker series focuses on ways to connect culture, health, food, knowledge, ecology, economy, infrastructure, resources, and energy as part of a re-examination of Montgomery County. Experts will join planners and the public to analyze how such elements should be considered as part of planning to create quality places.

How planners link those elements will define Montgomery County for the next several decades. For example, culture plays a big role in how many residents define themselves, their values and their communities. How we use space can respect culture, and guest speakers exploring “culture” will delve into how good planning can foster sports, music, theater, food or public art.

The speaker series runs April 8 through June 3. All sessions will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays at Park and Planning headquarters as part of weekly Planning Board meetings. Some will qualify for continuing education credits for professionals.

On April 8, the series kicks off with a panel featuring five local bloggers: David Alpert (Greater Greater Washington), Cindy Cotte Griffiths (Rockville Central), Dan Reed (Just Up the Pike), Eric Robbins (Thayer Avenue) and Barnaby Zall (Friends of White Flint).

Learn more at www.montgomeryplanning.org/rethink.