Improve Public Services
✔ Take politics out of public safety. Removal of politics will increase recruitment, morale and working conditions of Montgomery County police officers. Ann will support police, firefighters and emergency personnel to protect our communities, places of worship and return SRO’s to Montgomery County schools.
✔ Reform Montgomery County Park and Planning to require engagement with residents as stakeholders on housing, zoning and other decisions that impact their families, homes and communities. Pleas by LD16 residents about upzoning, unnecessary bike lanes and the Little Falls Parkway road diet were ignored repeatedly by officials, including State delegates. To reform National Capitol Park and Planning, a bicounty agency, requires state legislation.
✔ Upgrade water/waste delivery, pipe maintenance and get increased rates under control. The recent pipe collapse that spilled tons of waste into the Potomac River also exposed an aging, waste management infrastructure of intertwined regional authorities. Montgomery County relies on the WSSC, a century old bicounty agency created by state government that is overseen by the County Councils of both Montgomery County and Prince George’s County. Lack of disciplined governance and ineffective oversight, misdirected investments and poorly maintained infrastructure, has resulted in increased costs not adequately controlled and passed on to consumers. Its solvency relies on the property-tax base of the two counties. Reform requires state legislation.
✔ Diversify energy sources to give residents choice and reduce rate increases. We must improve resilience of the electric grid and reduce environmental impact. Clean energy policies forced reliable energy producers out of Maryland which now imports 40% of its energy. Eliminating gas stoves and leaf blowers is not the answer. Return energy to the marketplace and build natural gas and nuclear power.
✔ Reform Montgomery County Park and Planning to require engagement with residents as stakeholders on housing, zoning and other decisions that impact their families, homes and communities. Pleas by LD16 residents about upzoning, unnecessary bike lanes and the Little Falls Parkway road diet were ignored repeatedly by officials, including State delegates. To reform National Capitol Park and Planning, a bicounty agency, requires state legislation.
✔ Upgrade water/waste delivery, pipe maintenance and get increased rates under control. The recent pipe collapse that spilled tons of waste into the Potomac River also exposed an aging, waste management infrastructure of intertwined regional authorities. Montgomery County relies on the WSSC, a century old bicounty agency created by state government that is overseen by the County Councils of both Montgomery County and Prince George’s County. Lack of disciplined governance and ineffective oversight, misdirected investments and poorly maintained infrastructure, has resulted in increased costs not adequately controlled and passed on to consumers. Its solvency relies on the property-tax base of the two counties. Reform requires state legislation.
✔ Diversify energy sources to give residents choice and reduce rate increases. We must improve resilience of the electric grid and reduce environmental impact. Clean energy policies forced reliable energy producers out of Maryland which now imports 40% of its energy. Eliminating gas stoves and leaf blowers is not the answer. Return energy to the marketplace and build natural gas and nuclear power.