A Big Announcement on the Purple Line

by Nancy Navarro on August 6, 2013 in Uncategorized

I appreciated Governor O’Malley inviting me to speak on behalf of the Council yesterday at an event announcing almost an $1 billion in new state transportation funding for Montgomery County, including $400 million for the Purple Line, along with new funding for the Brookeville Bypass (a high priority in my district), for the Corridor Cities Transitway (a planned transit line along the I-270 corridor), and several other important projects.

The Governor and Lt. Governor Brown also announced that they will seek to find a private partner to help finance and build the Purple Line. This will be the first time the State has used a Public Private Partnership (P3), an innovative funding mechanism, to finance a transit project of this scale.

I was also joined at the announcement by County Executive Leggett, Prince George’s County Executive Baker, many of my Council colleagues, members of our state delegation, a number of municipal leaders. I was happy to see many pro-Purple Line activists in the audience, some of whom have been working for years, even decades, to get us to this point.

Wheaton High School 2013 Commencement Address

by admin on June 5, 2013 in Uncategorized

Council President Nancy Navarro provided the keynote commencement address for graduating seniors at Wheaton High School. The commencement ceremony took place at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. In the address, Council President Navarro recounted her inspirational journey from a child growing up in Venezuela to President of the Montgomery County Board of Education to President of the Montgomery County Council. You can read her prepared remarks below.

2013 Wheaton High School Commencement Address by Council President Nancy Navarro

As prepared for delivery on June 5, 2013 at DAR Constitution Hall

Good morning Graduates! Parents, families, friends-

What a glorious day it is. It is a great honor to be with you today.

I want to acknowledge the members of the Board of Education, Superintendent Joshua Starr, Wheaton HS Principal Kevin Lowndes, faculty, administrative staff, and support service personnel. Thank you for all that you do for our students and families- you have the most important job in our society, that of educating our future!

Para la comunidad Latina presente: quiero decirles que es un honor para mi poder compartir este dia tan especial en sus vidas. Los felicito por este gran logro y les deseo mucho exito en esta nueva etapa. Adelante siempre.

Today we celebrate the acquisition of a dream. A dream rooted in the vision, tenacity and faith of parents, grandparents, uncles, cousins, neighbors from faraway places. Places nestled in Central America, South America, the Caribbean, West, East, North or South Africa, South-East Asia or Europe.

Somehow we all converge here in this Hall, in this region, in this country, to witness your “bridge moment”- the moment when you begin your own journey towards your personal dream. That dream that we as parents envisioned for you the moment we laid eyes on your beautiful, perfect faces.

You are the protagonists of a new era — The face of the United States is changing, and it looks like you!

This is why it’s imperative that you own your potential and your power, so you can make a positive difference. A positive difference for this country of ours and for the world. Each of us has a story and today you are taking an important step in the development of your own narrative.

Once upon a time–in 1974 to be exact–in a place called Judibana, Estado Falcon, Venezuela, a father casually asked his 9 year old daughter if she wanted to come to the United States with the family for two years. He would be a student at the Department of Petroleum Engineering at the University of Missouri, Rolla, and that little girl would have the chance to fulfill a dream: learning to speak English.

That little girl was me, and I wanted nothing more than to learn to speak English. That desire came from my time spent in the town square, La Plaza, listening to many children and their parents, who worked for the oil industry, speaking this intriguing language. I would play dolls and pretend I spoke English too— “wishy, washy, hello, bye-bye, ice cream, stop” that was the extent of my English proficiency.

So, I was elated to make the move, even if it meant moving from a spacious home to a 2 bedroom student apartment, from a peninsula surrounded by the Caribbean Ocean with 365 days of glorious sun, to a place where people would often say, “if you don’t like the weather wait 5 minutes and it will change,” blizzards, tornadoes, scorching heat all at once. It meant leaving my aunts, uncles, cousins, and my beloved “Abuelita” to be in a place full of complete strangers who spoke the wishy, woshy Language.

I just took it all in, I learned English in 6 months, became a champion at tether Ball and kick-ball during recess, painted a mural for the U.S. Bicentennial celebration of 1976, and learned not to get dizzy at the local supermarket isle of hundreds of breakfast cereal choices. Then when 1977 rolled around, I made an announcement to my parents:

“I want to stay in the United States so I can go to College when I grow up, my friend Michele says I can stay with her family”

My parents tried very hard not to burst out laughing, and instead told me some story about how it was against the law for a 12 year old kid to stay in another country by herself- but that when I graduated from High School in Venezuela, if I still wanted to, I could come back.

So, in 1983, I did just that. I arrived at the University of Missouri-Columbia, 17 years old- I knew one person, my friend Michele. I had a great College experience. I graduated in 1987, worked for 2 years and as I was preparing to move back to Venezuela, I came to DC for a short stay.

During that stay, I met my husband- we have been married for 22 years, and we have two amazing daughters ages 20 and 16. We started from the bottom, (now we’re here). He built his small business from the ground up and now employs more that 125 people- and last December I became the First Latina, (and Immigrant) President of the Montgomery County Council. Thus making history.

I wanted to share a snapshot of my journey, because often times we may have a sense of what we want to be, where we are going, or which turn to make- but somehow life may have other plans for you- so you must always be prepared for what comes your way.

This is especially true today. We live in a time of rapid transition and you are defining this shift. Think about it, your class started Kindergarten in the year 2000- a pivotal marker for humanity- but in that year:

Not a single state recognized gay marriage; today 12 states and DC have legalized gay marriage
30% of the 360 million global internet users were in North America. Today, only 11% of 2.4 billion global internet users are in North America
In 2000, there were 8 cell phones per 100 people worldwide. By 2010, it was 76 per 100 people.
US Population grew 9.7% from 2000 to 2010. Maryland grew by 9%, although the DC Metro Area grew by 16.4%.
In 2000, Barack Obama ran unsuccessfully for the US House of Representatives- He is now on his second term as the First ever African American President
Between 2000 and 2010- The Latino population in the US grew by 44%- There are 50 million Latinos
2008 marked the beginning of an unprecedented global recession

And looking ahead, we are at the cusp of some amazing changes, such as:

Expansion of mobile internet across the globe;
Rise of robots and automation of everything like: Driverless cars, Drones, Manufacturing, even skilled knowledge jobs like searching documents for law suits or customer service.
3D printing – If you can design it (or find a design on the internet) and its made of plastic, you can print it out
Gene sequencing and personalized medicine
Wearable Computers (Google Glass)
Online Education – especially hybrid classroom/online models, can revolutionize the acquisition of education world-wide
Big Data–We can increasingly use data to find the answer to anything
The human genome was first sequenced in Montgomery County, and as the procedure gets cheaper and cheaper we will be able to use genetics to customize our medicine, our diets, and more.

The amazing thing is that you are poised to succeed in this changing environment because you are graduating from one of the best school systems in the country. Montgomery County Public Schools is a system that reflects the nation’s demographics, and thus the global stage. You have been exposed to different cultures, languages, socio-economic diversity, as well as, educational rigor and high expectations.

These are skills that will set you apart, and will provide you with an edge to compete in this global economy. So make sure to continue developing these skills, because they are great assets, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

In closing I want to share 6 lessons that I have learned along the way:

1. Each of you is a collection of greatness. You have all that is necessary to achieve and succeed. Be impeccable with your thoughts and your words. Stay away from negativity, surround yourself with positive people, and positive habits.

2. Be specific in the drafting of your dreams. Put it out to universe. You will be surprised at how quickly the Universe responds.

3. Be patient and strategic. Plans are the opposite of instant gratification. You must build stepping stones, you must think through your decisions. Every decision is a step towards or away from your destination.

4. There are no short cuts. Everything worth having takes effort. You will doubt yourself, you will be scared! In those moments remember that you have what it takes to overcome, to perform, to achieve. Ask your soul to help you and you will be amazed. No matter what- work your plan! Bring it to life!

5. Always pray for wisdom and humility. Learn from those who have been there and done that. Like your elders. Once you have achieved greatness be humble- there is no one better or less than you.

6. Give back. Share your greatness- over and over

Congratulations Graduates.

May God Bless Each and every one of you! Que Dios los bendiga!

PROMISES KEPT: Council President Navarro’s FY14 Budget Accomplishments

by admin on May 24, 2013 in Uncategorized

The Council unanimously votes to approve the FY14 Budget

Last month, as Council Committees began worksessions on the budget, Council President Navarro sent a memo to the Council Staff Director about her priorities for the year. On Thursday, May 23rd, the Council unanimously voted to approve the FY14 Budget and all of the Council President’s top priorities were included. Some items include:

Fully funded the Board of Education’s budget request for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)
Approved an additional $280 million in funds outside the MCPS budget to serve students and their families
Significant funding increase for the Wheaton Urban District for marketing, light pole banners, gateway signs, and increasing the “Clean Team” from 5 to 7 days a week
Pedestrian Safety Outreach and Education Campaign
2 new Linkages to Learning sites in District 4 (Arcola Elementary School and Georgian Forest Elementary School)
2 new school-based health centers in District 4 (Viers Mill Elementary School and Weller Road Elementary School)
Reinstating funding for Montgomery Housing Partnerships to continue outreach in Glenmont
Funding for streetlights along New Hampshire Ave. in Colesville
New funding for IMPACT Silver Spring for community building in Bel Pre and Wheaton
Increased funding for the Student Teen Employment Program and additional staff for the Department of Recreation to support youth and senior programming
Additional funding to reduce the waiting list for Montgomery Coalition for Adult Literacy (MCAEL)
Increased staffing for the Street Outreach Network gang-prevention program
Funding for a “Village Coordinator” position to help communities establish villages throughout the county to help support seniors aging in place
Funding for 40 additional police officers, including 6 more School Resource Officers
Increasing the Libraries budget by nearly 11% compared to FY13, including additional funds to purchase E-Books
Increased Code Enforcement staff in the Department of Housing and Community Affairs
Expanded funding for the Working Parents Assistance Child Care Subsidies Program
Added about $5 million to the County Executive’s recommendation for the Health & Human Services Budget, including a 3% Cost-of-Living Adjustment for nonprofit service providers
Increased the Working Families Income Supplement (County match of the Earned Income Tax Credit) by 10% compared to FY13
Reduced the Fuel & Energy Tax Increase of 2010 by 10%, bringing the 2-year total reduction to 20%

Council Unanimously Reaches Tentative Agreement on FY14 Budget

by admin on May 16, 2013 in Press Releases

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 16, 2013—Montgomery County Council President Nancy Navarro today made the following statement after the Council unanimously reached tentative agreement on the County’s Fiscal Year 2014 operating budget:

First, I want to say thank you to my colleagues, to the Council staff, the County Executive and his staff, everyone at OMB, along with the school system, Park and Planning, WSSC, Montgomery College, and all the other groups and individuals who have worked so hard to put the pieces of this budget together.

Budgets are a reflection of our values. There are always more needs, and more wants, than there are resources available. This year’s budget continues to invest in our economic and social infrastructure.

We, as a Council, have been entrusted by our Charter and by the voters who elected us to decide how to allocate these limited resources, and our decisions reflect the values of our County residents. In my view, this is our most important responsibility.

I was elected Council President by my colleagues, but at the end of the day I’m still just one of nine votes. My primary responsibility as President is to shepherd the body through its work.

Montgomery County prides itself on having an open, democratic decision-making process and I am proud of our broad-based and inclusive budget process.

At this year’s public hearings, 153 people signed up to testify about their priorities, including 8 who testified in languages other English. We heard from people like:

Diego Diaz, a Montgomery College student who testified about how the College’s biotechnology program has enabled him to discover his passion and launch him on a promising career path.
Timothy Hill, a Community Living Assistant who works with people with developmental disabilities, who testified about how critical County funding is for the services he provides.
And Hanna Marken, a young girl from Kensington who testified about the importance of providing adequate services for the mentally ill.

We also received hundreds of letters, emails, and phone calls.

Through this process, we have been able to craft a balanced, sustainable budget that fully funds the school system’s request, begins to reverse the most painful of the cuts made at the height of the recession, prioritizes services for the most vulnerable in our County, enhances out-of-school opportunities for at-risk youth, reduces the energy tax, and provides compensation increases for our dedicated County employees for the first time in four years.

We met the Board of Education’s request without exceeding Maintenance of Effort. This funding will allow MCPS to continue providing a world-class education to students across the County, while expanding programs designed to address the persistent academic achievement gap. In addition, this year’s budget includes nearly $300 million in funds outside the MCPS budget that serve our students and their families.

We also approved 40 new positions in the Police Department, allowing Chief Manger to continue his targeted approach to reducing crime in the highest risk areas of the County.

We approved continuing the youth enhancement initiative I proposed last year with the support of the County Executive, which included an additional Excel Beyond the Bell site, and new funding for other youth programming. The Council also expanded the Student Teen Employment Program.

This budget also:

· Reduces the increase in the Energy Tax by 10 percent, providing a 20 percent reduction over the last two years.

· Increases the Working Families Income Supplement by 10 percent, bringing the County match to 85 percent.

· Adds a 3 percent cost of living adjustment for the many non-profits that do vital work for our most vulnerable residents. In all, we added almost $5 million to the HHS budget recommended by the Executive, strengthening one of the agencies hit the hardest during the recession.

As I said, budgets are a reflection of values. For me, this budget reflects the diverse needs of the people we serve, while recognizing that we are One Montgomery. As we emerge from the Great Recession, we must never forget the difficult choices we’ve had to make. Our investments must be strategic, recognizing the new fiscal reality faced by our County and the entire nation.

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Council Letter to County Executive on the Silver Spring Transit Center

by admin on April 26, 2013 in Press Releases

This morning’s Washington Post reported that WMATA has sent a letter to David Dise, the Director of our County’s Department of General Services, stating that they will not accept or operate the Silver Spring Transit Center after completion, as agreed upon in the Memorandum of Understanding between the County and WMATA regarding the project. The members of the Montgomery County Council sent this letter to County Executive Ike Leggett today, requesting a briefing next week on how this development affects the project.

My testimony on the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act

by Nancy Navarro on March 15, 2013 in Uncategorized

The Ways and Means Committee of the Maryland House of Delegates is holding a hearing today on HB 1515, the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013. This critical bill would increase funding for transportation projects across the state. Here is the testimony I will be submitting to the Committee:

The Montgomery County Council unanimously supports HB 1515: Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013.

On behalf of the Council, I want to commend Governor O’Malley, Speaker Busch, and Senate President Miller for putting forward a solution that will address Maryland’s transportation needs. This legislation recognizes that we will rise or fall together – as One Maryland. This statewide solution will raise revenue to fund projects from Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore. Having resources available to build our transit infrastructure and maintain our roads and bridges will help our private sector grow and economy thrive.

Maryland’s economic future rests on our ability to fund our state’s transportation priorities. The Council is supportive of indexing the gasoline tax and phasing in the state sales tax on the wholesale price of gasoline. The funding mechanisms offered by this legislation will keep our gas prices competitive with surrounding jurisdictions. The Council also supports the “lockbox” provision in the bill to ensure that revenues generated remain dedicated for transportation purposes. As with any revenue increase, we hope the General Assembly will explore ways of minimizing the impact on lower income families.

Montgomery County continues to have serious concerns about shifting responsibility for funding transportation to local jurisdictions. We are glad to see no local funding element is included in this legislation and look forward to reviewing the recommendations of the working group that will study funding mechanisms for local transportation systems.

My colleagues on the Council and I continue to remain optimistic that the General Assembly will take decisive action this year to address our state’s growing transportation needs. Both Montgomery County and Maryland’s economic success depends on moving our transit projects and transportation infrastructure forward.

A stroll through Brookeville in 1812

by Nancy Navarro on March 12, 2013 in Uncategorized

I am very excited about a project that the Sandy Spring Museum is seeking to undertake in Brookville. “A Stroll through Brookeville in 1812” would be a weekend long event featuring a tour of historic homes in Brookeville where costumed interpreters would teach visitors about the history of the homes, the occupants, the architecture, and the history of the town of Brookeville. There would also demonstrations of period crafts like weaving, spinning, and blacksmithing.

Brookeville, of course, has a rich history having been “U.S. Capital for a Day” during the War of 1812. The town, and many of its residents, have gone to great lengths to preserve many of its historic resources, and in addition to helping to document and preserve a piece of Montgomery County’s history, this program could bring visitors from all over the country, people who might also visit our stores, restaurants, and hotels.

I recently wrote a letter to the Maryland Heritage Area Authority supporting the Sandy Spring Museum’s application for a grant for this project, and I am optimistic that it will succeed.

Montgomery County Council to Host Town Hall Meeting for Silver Spring Area

by admin on March 8, 2013 in Press Releases

ROCKVILLE, Md., March 7, 2013 — The Montgomery County Council will continue its efforts of going throughout the County to find out what issues most concern residents and the business community when it hosts a Town Hall Meeting for the Silver Spring area starting at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, at the American Film Institute (AFI) Silver Theatre and Cultural Center.

The AFI Silver Theatre is located at 8633 Colesville Road in downtown Silver Spring. The theatre is close to the Silver Spring Metrorail Station on the Red Line. Parking is available in nearby public garages.

The Council is composed of President Nancy Navarro, Vice President Craig Rice and Councilmembers Phil Andrews, Roger Berliner, Marc Elrich, Valerie Ervin, Nancy Floreen, George Leventhal, Craig Rice and Hans Riemer.

The meeting will be recorded for broadcast at later dates on County Cable Montgomery (CCM—cable Channel 6 on Comcast and RCN, Channel 30 on Verizon. Susan Kenedy, a producer for the County station, will moderate the meeting.

It is expected that schools, development, the climate of the Downtown Silver Spring business community, transportation, public safety and planning for the Fiscal Year 2014 operating budget are among the key issues expected to be part of the evening’s focus.

“The County Council takes much pride in being open and accessible to our residents,” said Council President Navarro. “We realize that, because many of our meetings are conducted in downtown Rockville during the work day, they are not convenient for many people to attend. For this reason, in addition to broadcasting all Council and Committee sessions on the County’s cable channel and engaging the community through our web site, we host community forums throughout the county, in the evening, so that we can hear from more residents, listen to their concerns and answer their questions.”

For more information about the Town Hall Meeting, call 240-777-7931.

Making our streets safe for pedestrians

by admin on March 7, 2013 in Uncategorized

Patch is reporting that, this morning, another pedestrian was struck by a car in East County, this time in downtown Silver Spring.

That makes at least five pedestrian accidents in East County in the past seven weeks, including four deaths.

On January 22, 54-year-old Georgina Afful-Asare was killed when a car drove onto the sidewalk where she was walking on Broadbirch Drive at about 6:15pm.

On February 7, 44-year-old Charles Oppong Aboagye was standing in the median of Route 29, waiting to cross, when he tripped and was killed by an oncoming car at about 10:30PM.

On February 11, 59-year-old Frank Sedwick was killed crossing Georgia Avenue at about 10:00PM.

On February 26, 53-year-old Marlyn Eres Ali was killed crossing Connecticut Ave between 7:00 and 8:00PM.

Here is a map of the incidents:

View 2013 Pedestrian Accidents in Montgomery County in a larger map

This is simply unacceptable. Ben Ross of Action Committee for Transit has called for police to aggressively ticket drivers who don’t stop for pedestrians in crosswalks and expressed dismay at MCPD’s reponse that the solution is for pedestrians to wear reflective clothing. Blogger Another Day in Wheaton called for increased ticketing for speeding violations.

We all have a role to play in keeping each other safe. The County DOT has some safety tips for drivers and pedestrians, here are some of the most important:

Pedestrians

Be aware of your surroundings at all times. It may not be feasible for everyone to dress head to toe in reflective orange, but if you are wearing dark clothing at night, be aware that cars are less likely to see you and take extra precautions crossing busy streets. Cross at crosswalks, and on sections of the road that are well lit.

Drivers

First and foremost, follow the traffic laws. Don’t speed, especially in residential areas. Stop for pedestrians, even if they aren’t crossing in a crosswalk. Be extra vigilant at night.

Government

County and state agencies need to step up to make every corner of our County as safe as possible for pedestrians and vehicular traffic. The county’s Department of Transportation and the State Highway Administration should install crosswalks with reflectors and other pedestrian safety enhancements, and every major road must have adequate street lighting. Montgomery County’s Police Department should aggressively ticket drivers who speed or fail to stop for pedestrians at crosswalks, and should focus these efforts in the areas of the county where there have been an unusual number of pedestrian accidents.

Of course, agencies have limited budgets, and all of these efforts cost money. As the council considers the county’s FY14 budget over the next couple of months, pedestrian safety is one of Council President Navarro’s highest priorities. Several weeks ago, our office began preparing a supplemental to the Capital budget to fund installation of streetlights on the darkest portions of New Hampshire Avenue. A year and a half ago, Council President Navarro announced, along with County Executive Leggett, a number of pedestrian safety improvements at Castle Boulevard, including relocating bus stops to safer locations and new traffic signs, pavement markings, and pedestrian “refuge islands.” Though they seem small, these kinds of improvements significantly lower the chances of a pedestrian accident.

If you think an intersection in the County is particularly dangerous for pedestrians, please contact our office so we can bring it to the attention of the proper agency.

Ken Silverman analyzes transportation, land use, economic development, and other issues for Council President Navarro.

Public Hearings for the FY14 Operating and Capital Budgets

by admin on March 7, 2013 in Uncategorized

Public hearings on the FY14 Operating Budget, the FY14 Capital Budget and amendments to the FY13-18 Capital Improvements Program (CIP), and WSSC’s FY14-19 CIP are scheduled for April 9, 10, and 11, 2013 at 7:00 pm, and April 10 and 11, 2013 at 1:30 pm.

Beginning March 15, 2013, persons wishing to testify can sign up by calling 240-777-7803.

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Pedestrians

Drivers

Government

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