This Earth Month, there are still opportunities for youth and adults alike to give back to our earth and local community.

The Earth Day Celebration- April 20

We are seeking volunteers to support a few of our upcoming events, including the Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 20th! Student Service Learning (SSL) sign-offs for students are available, and volunteers get a free t-shirt!

• When: Saturday, April 20, 2024 10am-2pm
• Where: Sligo Creek Steam Valley Park (Houston and Kennebec Ave)

Learn more and register on the Sustainable Takoma Park signup form.

I recently received a Courtesy Notice from Code Enforcement alerting me to flaking and peeling paint on my house. Why is this a problem?

This information from the Environmental Protection Agency might be helpful:

Older Homes and Buildings

If your home was built before 1978, it is more likely to have lead-based paint. In 1978, the federal government banned consumer use of lead-based paint, but some states banned it even earlier.

Lead-based paint is still present in millions of homes, normally under layers of newer paint. If the paint is in good shape, the lead-based paint is usually not a problem. Deteriorating lead-based paint (peeling, chipping, chalking, cracking, damaged, or damp) is a hazard and needs immediate attention.

Lead-based paint may also be a hazard when found on surfaces that children can chew or that get a lot of wear-and-tear, such as:

• Windows and window sills;
• Doors and door frames; and
• Stairs, railings, banisters, and porches.

A few tips to reduce sources of lead exposure in older homes and buildings:

• Inspect and keep all painted surfaces in excellent shape and clean up dust frequently with a wet cloth or paper towel.
• Consult a certified lead professional before beginning renovation, repair or painting projects. Renovation, repair or painting activities can create toxic lead dust when painted surfaces are disturbed or demolished.
• Avoid tracking lead dust into the home by wiping and removing shoes before entering the home and placing dust mats both inside and outside of entryways.
• Learn if you have a lead service line. Contact your water utility or a licensed plumber to determine if the pipe that connects your home to the water main (called a service line) is made from lead.

Soil, Yards and Playgrounds

Soil, yards and playgrounds can become contaminated when exterior lead-based paint from houses or buildings flakes or peels and gets into the soil. Soil may also be contaminated from past use of leaded gasoline in cars, from industrial sources, or even from contaminated sites, including former lead smelters. Lead is also naturally occurring and it can be found in high concentrations in some areas.

Lead in soil can be ingested as a result of hand-to-mouth activity that is common for young children and from eating vegetables that may have taken up lead from soil in the garden. Lead in soil may also be inhaled if resuspended in the air or tracked into your house thereby spreading the contamination.

Older playground equipment can still contain old lead-based paint, and artificial turf and playground surfaces made from shredded rubber can contain lead. Take precautions to ensure young children do not eat shredded rubber or put their hands in their mouth before washing them.

To reduce exposures to lead from soils, yards and playgrounds:

• Check the exterior of your home, including porches and fences, for flaking or deteriorating lead-based paint that may contaminate soil in your yard or be tracked into your house.
• Put doormats outside and inside all entryways and remove your shoes before entering to avoid tracking contaminated soil into your house.
• Wash hands several times a day using soap and water, especially after playing or working outside.
• Plant bushes close to the house to keep children from playing in soil near your home.

In addition to the lead-based paint concerns, please remember that paint is a protective coating. Without it, wood can rot and metal can rust. Rotted wood and rusted metal can cause structural safety issues.

Learn more about Code Enforcement Initiatives on the City webpage.

It’s tax season! This year, the deadline to file taxes is Monday, April 15, 2024. While tax season can often be stressful and intimidating, there are plenty of resources to assist in simplifying the process. We encourage you to take advantage of the following resources as you prepare to file your taxes!

Update: March 13, 2024

Congressman Jamie Raskin IRS Virtual Information Session
Tuesday, March 5, 2024

• Unable to make the March 5 information session? Catch up with a recording of the IRS information session on Congressman Raskin’s website.

Join Congressman Jamie Raskin and special guests from the IRS and the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service as they answer some common tax questions, including questions about the filing process, tax credits and rebates, and more.

Congressman Raskin  2024 Tax Season FAQ guide

From Congressman Jamie Raskin

• When is the deadline to file my taxes?
  Most taxpayers have until Monday, April 15, 2024 to submit their tax returns or to submit an extension to file. If you request an extension, you’ll have until Tuesday, October 15, 2024 to file (but remember to request the extension!). People who owe taxes should still pay by Monday, April 15 to avoid late-payment penalties, as an extension to file is not an extension to pay taxes owed.
• Where can I file my taxes?Montgomery County offers free tax preparation services for low- to moderate-income county residents. Households earning $64,000 or less can make in-person and virtual appointments here. If you are outside of Montgomery County, you can find tax help services with this locator from the IRS. The IRS also advises that the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program can provide free tax preparation for seniors. Interested taxpayers can visit the IRS website to learn more about free tax return preparation assistance from AARP, VITA and more.
  • If you cannot file electronically, you may mail in a paper Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. Please note that return filing addresses vary based on your circumstances, and that you can find the right one for you at the IRS website here.

• How can I get my tax return processed as soon as possible?
  The IRS encourages you to file electronically as early as you can and to opt for direct deposit if you anticipate receiving a refund. This is the best way to ensure you receive your tax refund in a timely fashion. Taxpayers with Adjusted Gross Income less than $79,000 can file electronically for free using IRS Free File.
• Do I qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Child Tax Credit?
  Low- to moderate-income Americans may qualify for the EITC, which can reduce the taxes you owe and potentially increase your refund. You can find out if you are eligible with this tool on the IRS website. If you have children, you may qualify for the Child Tax Credit. Visit Credits and Deductions for more details.
• What improvements has the IRS made for the 2024 tax filing season?
  Congress and President Biden worked together to pass the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in August of 2022, which provided historic investments in the IRS, allowing the agency to make much-needed improvements to its customer service, modernize its technology and operations, and more. Prior to the IRA’s investments in the agency, the IRS saw an 18% cut to its budget over last 20 years and saw dramatic staffing reductions of over 20,000 employees—even as its responsibilities continued to increase. It processed millions more tax returns each year and implemented new legislative mandates from Congress, even as its resources were dwindling due to partisan attacks. With the investments from the IRA, the IRS has made the following improvements:

1. 1. Expanded in-person service by opening or reopening Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs), including eight additional centers since the first anniversary of the law’s enactment. The IRS will offer extended hours at many TACs nationwide for the 2024 tax season.
   2. Increased help available on the toll-free line and expanded customer call back.
   3. Answered over 7.7 million calls during the 2023 tax filing season, an increase of over 65% compared to the previous year.
   4. Reduced the average call wait time from 28 to 3 minutes.
   5. Enhanced paperless processing that allows taxpayers to submit correspondence, non-tax forms and responses to notices digitally.
   6. Enhanced the IRS Individual Online Account which includes chat, the option to schedule or cancel payments, revise payments and validate bank accounts.
   7. Eliminated nearly all of its processing backlog of individual tax returns.With the IRA’s historic investments, the IRS will continue improving taxpayer services for the 2024 filing season. Sustaining this investment beyond 2031 will yield over $851 billion in revenue over the next decade. On the other hand, slashing IRS funding—as some of my conservative colleagues have proposed—would worsen the IRS’s customer service and widen our country’s $688 billion tax gap in which wealthy corporations and individuals choose to evade the taxes they owe.

• Where can I find more detailed information about the 2024 filing season?
  The IRS website is a great resource for all things taxes. In particular, its Interactive Tax Assistant can answer more of your questions, help you find out how much your standard deduction is, determine whether or not you can claim dependents, discover what tax credits you may qualify for and more.My district office stands ready to help you communicate with the IRS, should any problems with your return arise. For example, if your return is not processed within five months from the date of filing, please feel free to contact my district office for assistance.To get our help with the IRS or any other federal agency you may be interacting with, please fill out my online request form.