I grew up in Brooklyn, New York, in the 1970s. As a child, my mother would send me to the corner market to pick up groceries. I had a list that I would hand to the owner, stretching on my toes to reach over the counter. He would hand me back a bag of groceries and add the total to my mother’s account.

These memories of growing up and the small businesses that made my neighborhood feel like a community are a big part of why I wanted to raise my family in Takoma Park.

Takoma Park businesses are a huge part of our lives. From the first time, my children went to the Co-op by themselves, to their first haircuts at Shampoo (and now at Scissor & Comb), to ordering flowers for special occasions from Park Florist, to always taking my mother to Mark’s Kitchen and then for ice cream when she visited, to ordering from Red Chilis or Sardis for Friday night movie night, or being able to find amazing jollof rice at Mansa Kunda or Patrick’s in the Crossroads; Takoma Park businesses and the people who own them are part of what makes this City home.

For a City of 2.4 square miles, we have an incredible number of diverse, independently run small businesses. You can buy fabrics at Sarah’s Fabrics, children’s clothes at Discount Mart, cowboy boots at El Alazan Western Wear, tea sets at JK Mart or have a dress custom made at McDoris Fashion and Fabric and so much more. These businesses, owned and run by our neighbors and friends, play a big part in creating a sense of community in our City. They add to the uniqueness and character that we love in Takoma Park.

And, right now, they need us.

Across the City, our businesses are struggling as they try to stay afloat through the current crisis.

There are also many small businesses and sole practitioners who don’t have a storefront but who provide vital services to our community, including educational consultants, dentists, optometrists, and physicians. And, we cannot forget our vibrant creative community of artists, photographers, designers, dancers, and musicians.

We really pack a lot into 2.4 square miles!

As Councilmember Searcy stated at a recent Council meeting, one of our jobs right now as a City is to come together to make sure our small businesses can weather this crisis. To ensure we can see as many as possible of these businesses re-open and resume their work, we need the assistance of the federal, state, county, and city governments and our community. This is truly going to take all of us.

In particular, many of the businesses in our community face barriers to accessing the relief funds available from the federal and state government. The difficulty of navigating complex applications and the lack of existing relationships with banks and lenders put many of our small businesses at a disadvantage in applying for relief. This makes the funds and staff assistance we can provide at the City level even more vital.

Over the last few weeks, the City has undertaken a multi-layered campaign to support small businesses in Takoma Park.

The “Takoma Together Campaign” highlights three ways that the community can assist businesses during this trying time.

The Takoma Park Together (#TogetherTKPK) Campaign

Working with Laura Barclay of Old Town Business Association, City staff were able to quickly get up and running the Takoma Park Citywide Small Business Mini-Grant Program. We received over 100 applications for grant assistance of up to $3,000. Requests came in from local businesses ranging from home-based businesses to 49-year long-standing businesses across varying industries. At the writing of this blog, we have been able to provide assistance to a third of the businesses. We are counting on our community for additional support.

Donations can be made online:

Support local businesses that are raising money for the mini-grants program.

• No Plan Press has created three unique posters featuring designs promoting the Takoma Park Together campaign. 100% of the profits from the sale of these limited-edition posters will benefit Takoma Park’s Citywide Small Business Mini-Grant Program and the Old Takoma Business Association’s (OTBA) Micro-Grants Program
• Order online at No Plan Press online to purchase an exclusive “Takoma Park Together” poster. 
• Coming soon, plants by Indigro Plant Design!
• Buy a Meal from a “Takoma Park To-Go” Restaurant and TAG Your Favorite Takoma Park Together Mural on Social Media (#TogetherTKPK)
• Thanks to a partnership with ChalkRiot, up to 40 small chalk murals and designs will be created on sidewalks and walkways around the City in the next two months to identify our To-Go businesses and brighten the daily walks of our residents. Chalk murals will be created in and around restaurants listed on the “Takoma Park To-Go” website as a demonstration of our ongoing support and commitment to our beloved small businesses.

I want to recognize some of the amazing work of individuals and businesses. This is by no means a complete list of all those who are coming together to help, so please send me more stories!

Small businesses stepping up for community:

• Old Town Business Association continued its micro-grants program to assist businesses in Takoma DC, and in Old Town, and Takoma Junction during the COVID-19 crisis.
• Food donations: Takoma Beverage, Middle Eastern Market, Cielo Rojo, and others.
• Emergency donation of toilet paper to Victory Towers: Girl and the Vine and Takoma Beverage
• Stepping up to assist with social distancing and providing resources: Old Town ACE Hardware, Takoma Park Farmers Market, Crossroads Farmers Market, OTBA, Takoma Park/Silver Spring Co-op, Aldi, and Red Apple Farmers Market
• Rental assistance: Urciolo Properties – rent assistance for businesses in Old Town and Takoma Junction
• Thank you to all who have stepped up to donate to the City’s mini-grant program:
  • 26 family and friends online and 142 fundraising posters ordered from – No Plan Press
  • Crossroads Development Authority
  • Neighborhood Development Company

There is still a lot of uncertainty about when businesses will be able to get back up and running. Our small businesses are a vital part of what makes Takoma Park a great place to live. Let’s make sure they can survive and thrive in the future.

During the health emergency, I have been trying to remember to get outside each day. This week, during a walk around my neighborhood, I noticed the dogwoods coming into bloom.

The dogwood is a personally meaningful flower – it appears very fragile but can withstand harsh conditions. As a symbol of strength and durability, it speaks to the challenges we all overcome in our lives.

Three years ago, I had a dogwood flower and the words, “Be Kind. Be Bold. Resist.” tattooed on my left forearm. It was right after the 2016 Presidential elections, and I wanted a reminder of our collective ability to stand together in the face of challenges. Today, as we face the health crisis, I am again reminded of our need to be kind, be bold, and resist.

Be Kind.

As we enter this fifth week of the crisis, the stress and the uncertainty are mounting. For some in our community, the fears of falling ill or losing loved ones have become a reality. Remember that now, more than ever, we need to treat each other and ourselves with kindness and compassion.

Be Bold.

My resolution for the new decade was to, in the words of Angela Davis, “act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And… do it all the time.”

Right now, that is a difficult task as the uncertainty and enormity of COVID-19 hang over us all. It is hard to think about a time after the crisis. But each day, there are little things we can still do that will radically change our world. Here in Takoma Park, we have so many heroes in our community, stepping up to care and support each other.

From donating food or money to standing outside and cheering our public works department as they pick up trash and recycling, to calling a neighbor or friend to give them support – there are things each of us can do to uplift others and ourselves.

No act is too small.

Resist.

Resist facing this alone. If you need assistance, please reach out. We have resources on the website, and my blog has listed other ideas. You can also call the City at 301-891-7100.

Like the dogwood flower, we are strong. By treating each other with kindness, by remembering to act boldly, and by resisting the idea that you or your family must face this alone, we will get through this crisis together.

As the country faces the current health crisis, we are all learning to do things differently. Over the past week, your City government has been shifting how we work.

We are here for all of you and will continue to be here.

I appreciate all the support, patience, and compassion as we face this crisis together. Our City staff has been working around the clock to make sure we can put in place processes and new ways of conducting the work of the City and delivering essential services.

All essential services are continuing. Police officers continue to work, and public works employees continue to collect trash, compost, and recycle. Other City employees have transitioned to teleworking. Our staff continues to assist residents and businesses in need as we face this crisis.

This past week we successfully held our first virtual City Council meeting which was broadcast on all the usual channels — on City TV (RCN – Ch. 13, HD Channel 1060; Comcast/Xfinity – Channel 13; Verizon Fios – Channel 28), on the City Council Video Page of the City Website; on YouTube, or on Facebook — and is recorded for residents to watch.

We will continue to meet virtually over the next few weeks. Our next meeting is on April 1^st. We will be building on the success of the first meeting and looking for ways to incorporate more public comments. Please check out the City website for more information and instructions on how to give public comments.

Next, our City staff has created and keeps updating a resource page where you can get information about:

• City Facilities and Services
• Resources and Programs
• Business Information
• Things to Do

Please refer to this for information about COVID-19 and resources you or your neighbor may need at this time. There are also recommendations on how you can volunteer and support local organizations and businesses during this time. Check back frequently because we are adding more each day.

To stay connected with the City

• Please also be sure you are signed-up for Takoma ParkAlerts to receive emergency alerts. This is very important.
• Please email us at askus@takomaparkmd.gov to ask questions or make suggestions. We are gathering these for a Frequently Asked Questions page on our website.

Social distancing – staying 6ft apart and no more than 10 people gathering at a time – will be challenging for us all. I cannot stress enough the importance of social distancing, with our families especially our children. We are a tight-knit community that likes to be around each other and gather. So, I am glad neighbors are looking for ways to be together virtually, on the phone, or at a distance.  The Recreation Department is also in the process of rolling out programs and ideas. Here are some I hope people will take advantage of:

• Phone a Neighbor: Feeling like you want to do more to help your neighbors during this public health crisis? Sign up for the Rec Dept’s “Phone a Neighbor Program”. We are looking for seniors who want to receive occasional phone calls and the residents who can volunteer to make them. To sign up please email JavonteM@takomaparkmd.gov or call Ms. Paula at 240-687-4132.
• Chalk Your Walk: As we all practice social distancing and still get out for fresh air, take the time to do some fun artwork and share words of kindness and compassion on the sidewalk.
• Takoma Park Arts Online: Use this Youtube link to watch some of our concerts, theater performances, poetry readings, lectures, film screenings, art exhibitions, and more. You can take the arts home with you and share the link with your family and friends.

The health and safety of our residents, businesses, and staff is our top priority.

Please check our website frequently, and consult the CDC.  Montgomery County also has resources and updates on its website and I want to thank our County Executive on his leadership at this time.

We know the next few weeks and months will not be easy ones. Our lives are being disrupted. And, I know by supporting and treating each other with kindness, we will get through this together.

Our country and community are facing a fast-evolving public health crisis. As we face this crisis, we do so together.

It is times such as this that we are reminded that we live in a wonderful community and have an incredibly hard-working, dedicated staff.

For the last few weeks, the City staff have been preparing for the events that are now upon us.

The state and county have announced widespread closings of public facilities and out of an abundance of caution, the City is also putting in place closures. All of this is to minimize contact with others that could spread the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Tonight, on March 13^th, at 7 pm, the City of Takoma Park facilities will be closed to the public. Almost all meetings, events, classes, and sports will be closed to the public through at least Sunday, March 29.  The Community Center, Library, Rec Center and public access to Public Works will all be closed.

All essential services will continue. Police officers will continue to work, and public works employees will continue to collect trash and recycling. Other City employees will work at home, as well as they are able to. We will be consistent with the State and County approach to the crisis.

As it became clear this week that we would be facing school and other closures, members of the community have begun to step forward and ask how they can be assistance. I want to share below a list of just some of the ways people can help others in our community during this time. This is not a complete list and please send me any additional resources we should share with members of the community.

Citywide Programs:

• Apply now! Small Business Mini-Grant Applications being accepted

  The City of Takoma Park has established a Takoma Park Citywide Small Business Mini-Grant Program to provide emergency assistance to small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The City will issue grants of up to $3,000 per business for their immediate needs.
  
  Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic. The City will issue grants of up to $3,000 per business for their immediate needs. For more info: Grants Program

• Donation: The City of Takoma Park has established a Citywide Small Business Mini-Grant Program in response to the immediate needs of small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. For more info: Donations

• Emergency Assistance Fund– The City of Takoma Park offers an Emergency Assistance Fund to support residents in need of emergency financial assistance for basic needs such as housing, utilities, prescription drugs, or food.
• Meals on Wheels– There are local Meals on Wheels program that provides assistance for those who need meals.
• Village of Takoma Park– The Village of Takoma Park provides support for older adults and people with disabilities.
• Food Pantry at TPMS – The Difference Makers at TPMS have a food pantry for families. During the school closing, volunteers will continue to provide food for families’ needs. To donate food you can go her here to order nonperishable items that will be delivered to TPMS.
• Support local businesses – Old Town Business Association has a micro-grants program people can donate to support grants to local businesses.
• TPSS-Co-op – For taking steps in our community.

Many other individuals and organizations work in our City to support those in need. We thank Manna Food Center, Capital Area Food Bank, Adventist Community Services, Crossroads Community Food Network, Small Things Matter and many others.

The next few weeks will not be easy. Our lives will be disrupted. And I know that together, supporting and treating each other with kindness we will get through this together.

“You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time.”                                                                     -Angela Davis

As we look forward to the year ahead in 2020 and the opportunities and challenges we will encounter, we must take Angela Davis’s advice and face each day “as if it were possible to radically transform the world.”

Takoma Park, as a community, has put these words into action throughout 2019 and will continue to do so in 2020.

We did a great deal in 2019. Here are my top 10 highlights for the year.

1. Adoption of Housing and Economic Development Strategic Plan: Building a Livable Community for All
2. Declaration of Climate Change Emergency and Working Toward 100% Reduction by 2035
3. Advancement of Racial Equity Work
4. Reaffirmation of our Commitment to Being a Sanctuary City and Welcoming Immigrants in our Community
5. Moving Forward with Plans on New Hampshire Ave and the Recreation Center
6. Increased Tenant Outreach and Support to Improve Living Conditions for Residents
7. Plastic Straw Ban
8. Increased Community Engagement
9. Our Amazing City Committees and Commissions
10. Award-Winning, Smart, Skilled, Hard Working City Staff

1. Adoption of Housing and Economic Development Strategic Plan: Building a Livable Community for All

When we have stable, high-quality housing available for all, families thrive, and our community succeeds. Right now, our region is facing a housing crisis. This fall, the City took the critical and necessary steps to work toward the realization of the human right to safe, high-quality, and affordable housing and the interrelated right to an adequate standard of living. As the City looks to meet its critical housing needs, housing initiatives are interlaced with the City’s economic development initiatives, particularly in light of the positive and negative challenges of the coming Purple Line light rail line, the recent closing of the hospital in the heart of the City, and changing regional market forces.

Adoption of the Housing and Economic Strategic Strategic Plan: Building a Livable Community for All is a culmination of four years of community conversation, research, Council and staff work, and more. The themes of the Strategic Plan are:

• Preserve existing businesses and affordable housing in Takoma Park, including in revitalizing areas.
• Produce more housing and opportunities for businesses to start and grow across the income spectrum and in neighborhoods across the City to meet the diverse housing and economic needs.
• Protect renters, homeowners, and local businesses from discrimination and displacement; and protect our environment from destruction.

The Plan is guided by our race equity and environmental sustainability goals. You can read the full Plan here and more background information on how we got here.

The City staff have already begun working on implementation steps, such as our Home Stretch down payment assistance program that has already helped move three Takoma Park families from renting to homeownership and each year the Council continues to fund the Affordable Housing Reserve, which we established in 2016 knowing that we need resources to address housing affordability and ensure stable, quality housing for people across income and wealth levels.

This year, we also continued to provide assistance to residents in need of help. In the budget we passed this spring, we included:

• $174,500 for our Tax Rebate Program for nearly 150 low-income homeowners who qualify to receive assistance on paying their property taxes. The Council also included an additional $22,500 for new rebate programs for those eligible based on income and will be discussing the next steps on these before the next budget.
• Assistance for residents in need: $55,000 is in the budget for income-based emergency assistance, which provides families with assistance for things such as rent, health care costs, and other expenses in emergency situations.

As we move into 2020, continuing to implement the strategies in the Strategic Plan will be a top priority for the City.

2. Declaration of Climate Change Emergency: Working Toward 100% Reduction by 2035

Building on the work we have already been doing on climate change, this spring the City declared a climate emergency, establishing a goal to reduce the City’s greenhouse gas emissions 100% by the year 2035. Over the last year, under the direction of our Sustainability Manager, Gina Mathias, we have been working to update our Sustainability Plan from 2014 to put in place the needed strategies to take aggressive action on climate change in the City. I want to thank Councilwoman Dyballa for her continued work in this area and representing the City at numerous regional and national meetings on this issue.

In November, we received the final report by the Cadmus Group, which provides guidance on how we can greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while increasing resiliency to climate change. When we return in January, the Council, working with our Sustainability Manager and Committee on the Environment, will be focusing on how we can implement some of the suggested strategies. For more information on the report from Cadmus and the work over the last year, please, see the project page: Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (2019).

In addition, this year:

• We focused efforts to work with multi-family and commercial businesses, including connecting them to State and other grant funds they can use on energy efficiency efforts.
• Under the direction of and with a lot of hard work by our Public Works Director, Daryl Braithwaite, has now converted all the streetlights in the City to LED. In addition to improving the lighting of the streets and reducing light pollution, the move will reduce the City’s annual electricity use from 850,000 kWh to 340,000 kWh and will reduce annual expenditures by up to approximately $100,000.
• We also continue to expand electric vehicle infrastructure throughout the City and have combined this with a public art project. And, this year our staff helped connect a local business, RS Automotive, to the opportunity to establish the nation’s first conversion of a gas station to an EV station. We are so proud to have business owners like Doley in our community and thank him and his whole family for taking on this project.
• The Council is also advocating at the county and state level for Delegate Charkoudian’s Community Choice Energy bill. Community Choice Energy is a powerful tool that lets local governments bargain for cleaner, more affordable energy on behalf of residents and businesses. At the moment, it is not allowed in Maryland, and we hope that will change in 2020.

3. Advancement of Racial Equity Work

• We continue to deepen our work on racial equity:  We started this year with our Council priorities retreat. Thanks to Councilmember Smith, we worked with consultants on racial equity to facilitate the retreat and help inform our discussions.
• Most of the Councilmembers and Department heads have now completed racial equity training through the Government Alliance for Racial Equity (GARE). And this year, four members of higher-level staff are participating in the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s regional cohort on race equity, with the goal to bring back information and training skills to other staff.
• I had the honor to continue as the Co-Chair of the Racial Equity And Leadership (REAL) Council for the National League of Cities, which enables us to learn from what other cities around the country are doing to implement a racial equity framework. At the recent NLC conference, I represented the City on a panel with a researcher from the Brookings Institute and members of the Dallas and Peoria City Councils to talk about our work in the City around housing and racial equity.
• The City continued to provide workshops on racial equity and a group of 17 residents, including members of the City’s resident committees, took part in the “What’s My Bias?” training. Councilwomen Kostiuk and Dyballa were part of the cohort.
• In addition, as we look at racial disparities in the City, we see gaps in homeownership, as well as in income levels and unemployment rates. As noted above, we have put in place the Home Stretch down payment program to start to help to address the homeownership disparities. We also hold First Time Homebuyers Classes in Partnership with the Latin Economic Development Center (LEDC). Participants receive a Certificate of Completion allowing them access to low-interest loans through the State and County, as well as the City’s Home Stretch grant. Thank you to the work of our Housing staff for coordinating these programs.
• Our Economic Development Manager, Samira Cook Gaines, who came to the City in January, has helped the City focus more on workforce development. We are partnering with WorkSource Montgomery and the Ethiopian Community Center to provide resume writing and other career assistance for residents. She has organized a Success Fair and is working on a number of projects for next year to assist business owners, tech startups, and entrepreneurs.
• And our recreation staff – including Javonte McDonald, Youth Success Program Coordinator, and Leicia Monfort, Teen Programs Manager – have greatly increased our programs for young people. These programs have particularly attracted girls of color to programs they previously had not participated in, such as E-gaming. For example, teaming up with Samira this summer they arranged for 15 preteens to receive scholarships to a summer coding class. Housing Manager Grayce Wiggins helped identify young people from several multi-family buildings for the class. Other Recreation Department programs also help support young people and seniors, a majority of whom are people of color. These programs include an afterschool homework club at Hampshire Towers Apartments (serving about 25 young people and with adult volunteers from the building), the Youth Summer Employment program run by Leicia Monfort (serving 10-12 young people), and the remarkably popular Senior Summer Camp for Takoma Park seniors.

4. Reaffirmation of Our Commitment to Being a Sanctuary City and Welcoming Immigrants in Our Community

We continue to defend our status as a Sanctuary City and work towards making sure we are a welcoming and inclusive community. This year, we stood with Mayor Bowser in her opposition to a proposed detention center for children in D.C. and we were featured on CNN responding to the President’s threats of sending immigrants being detained to Sanctuary cities. Kiyoko Merolli’s protest Birthday Party at the White House, which stressed the need to be kind and welcoming, was also a highlight of the year!

5. Moving Forward with Plans on New Hampshire Ave and the Recreation Center

Over the last few years and particularly this year, the City Council and staff have been focusing on advocacy for improvements along New Hampshire Avenue. Councilwoman Searcy has been a fierce advocate and successful at engaging with Maryland representatives, specifically in the area around New Hampshire Avenue and University Blvd.

• A major step forward this year was the City becoming the property owner of the Takoma Park Recreation Center which we have operated on New Hampshire since 1997. In the next year, we will be contracting for a public process to determine how to redevelop the property to ensure that City goals are met for recreation, as well as for housing or other economic development needs. I want to thank the residents who are part of the Friends of the Takoma Park Recreation Center who have long advocated for improvements.
•  In addition, the staff has been hard at work applying for and receiving grants to improve the area. One example is the New Ave Bikeway Grant which the City received $235,000 in grant funding from the Maryland Bikeways Program. The grant moves forward design work for the conversion of the southbound service lane on New Hampshire Avenue into a two-way separated bike lane. The realization of the bikeway will help to support multi-modal transportation on New Hampshire Avenue and will connect to the future Purple Line station. Another example that benefits us city-wide is a $50,000 grant from the Council of Governments for a bus stop accessibility inventory that is now underway.
• The City has also been granted a Neighborhood Revitalization Award from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. The grant will be used for targeted facade and signage improvements for businesses along the New Hampshire Avenue corridor. The $100,000 two year grant will be managed by the Economic Development Manager and will include opportunities for collaboration with local artists and signage companies to help revitalize the commercial district. The City of Takoma Park is the only Montgomery County city to receive an award from the Strategic Economic Development Fund this year.
• The City’s work on New Hampshire Avenue was the focus of a presentation at the last national conference of the American Planning Association.
• In addition, as we look on New Hampshire Avenue and across the City to improve transportation and improve the walkability of our community, Councilwoman Kostiuk has done a phenomenal job of advocating on behalf of the City and bringing new ideas for us to consider. I look forward to seeing what she has in store for us in 2020.

6. Increased Tenant Outreach and Support to Improve Living Conditions for Residents

As we work on the Housing and Economic Development Plan, we also see the incredible need in the City to assist tenants and residents who live in condos to ensure residents of varying incomes and all races and ethnicities have quality, affordable housing options.

To begin to address this need:

• We increased the half-time Landlord-Tenant Mediator position to fulltime, which, when filled, will greatly enhance our ability to advocate on behalf of renters and housing associations.
• Staff and Council, especially Councilwoman Searcy, have done outstanding new work with residents who live in condominiums this year and that work has been met with deep appreciation from the condominium communities.
• A great amount of onsite outreach has occurred with tenants, as have some very interesting discussions with landlords. Residents who have never reached out to City staff before are coming into the City offices for assistance. Housing Manager Grayce Wiggins has been working long hours because the need for assistance is so great right now. As the residents come in for housing assistance, we also connect them to job assistance and other resources.
• We have also increased both housing and recreation services to more people in vulnerable situations, such as those with disabilities or mental health challenges. In addition, we help residents with undocumented family members who have fewer options for assistance. Some assistance has also been provided to a group of women from Ethiopia who have formed a mutual support organization and held a successful picnic (with City assistance) in Opal Daniels Park.
•  Last year, we advocated for Delegate Wilkin’s Stable Homes (Just Cause Eviction) bill which promotes stable housing by requiring a landlord to state a justifiable reason before evicting and displacing residents in the county. We will be in Annapolis again this year advocating for passage of the bill.

7. Plastic Straw Ban

Shout out to the young people in our community from Piney Branch Elementary School who started The Last Plastic Straw Takoma Park campaign and continued the tradition of advocacy from our young people. In the spring, the Council passed a ban on the commercial use of plastic beverage straws and stirrers. Because of the hard work of the students and residents who did the research and outreach to local businesses, we were able to move quickly in passing the ban, which becomes effective in January. Thank you to everyone who worked on this effort. Along with our ban on plastic bags, Safe Grow ordinance, composting program and many other initiatives, Takoma Park continues to be at the forefront of environmental efforts.

8. Increased Community Engagement

The Council and City staff are always looking for ways to increase our engagement with the community and make sure we are a responsive and service-oriented government.

Some changes we have made this year include:

• We started to hold meetings prior to formal Council meetings to facilitate greater discussion with members of the public. We have had presentations followed by question and answer sessions from County Councilmember Hucker, the U.S. Post Office (thank you, Congressman Raskin, for coordinating this meeting), Pepco, Montgomery College, State Department of Assessment and Taxation, one focused on Accessory Dwelling Units, and more. If you missed any of these you can always find the recording on the City website. Thank you to Councilmember Kovar for his suggestions and assistance in pulling together a number of these meetings.
• Councilwoman Kostiuk and I have been working with DC Council representatives to coordinate meetings regarding the work on Eastern Avenue. It has been frustrating dealing with many of the entities since the road is completely within DC. However, we have been able to hold two meetings this year with most of the utilities and DC Department of Transportation in the same room to hear from residents and report about the project.
• When specific concerns or issues come up in the City, we have been responsive in pulling together experts around the region to present information and answer residents’ questions. A great example of that this year is the excellent panel of experts our Director of Public Works, Daryl Braithwaite, pulled together on why oak trees are dying.
•  In addition, we continued the Friday morning coffees in different parts of the city and the Friday lunches in the Crossroads area that allow the public to drop in and chat with Councilmembers and key staff. Individual Councilmembers also held meetings, play dates, walks and other great gatherings to get to know, listen and engage with residents.
• Donna Wright, the City’s Communication Specialist, has been putting in place a number of new ways for the City to communicate with residents. We started the new Takoma Insider which is sent via email each Friday. Sign up here. In addition, we have focused on providing information in different languages, specifically Spanish and Amharic.

9. Our Amazing City Committees and Commissions

We have amazing committees and commissions in the City that help the Council and staff tackle the work of the City. This year, we began to look at how we can increase participation in the Committees and improve the experience residents have when they serve on Committees. We conducted a survey to gather input and are working on recommendations to share with the full Council on how to improve the system.

In particular, many of our Committee members stepped up in a big way this year:

• The Tree Commission and Committee on the Environment have been invaluable as we tackle the Tree Ordinance and Tree Canopy work and continue the work to address Climate Change;
• The Board of Elections is busy working to prepare us for our 2020 Elections which will be the first City elections in sync with national elections;
• The Grants Review Committee has been taking a careful look at how we run the program and expanded the pool of grantees;
• The Arts & Humanities Committee put in place a new Cultural Plan with an emphasis on racial equity;
•  Thank you to the residents and Councilwoman Kostiuk who have helped revitalize the Safe Roadways Committee, now the Complete Safe Streets Committee;
•  And all the work of the Youth Council, Commemoration Commission, and the Recreation, Pension, and Nuclear-Free Committees, the Noise Control Board, the Commission on Landlord-Tenant Affairs, Ethics Commission, Emergency Preparedness, Façade Advisory Board, Police Chief’s Advisory Board.
•  We also have a number of short term task forces such as the Parking Task Force, Council Compensation, and the Legal Services Review Advisory Group.

I want to specifically thank City Clerk, Jessie Carpenter, who assists the City Committees in functioning.

10. Award-Winning, Smart, Skilled, Hard Working City Staff

None of the above work would be possible without our amazing staff in the City. Every day our staff work on behalf of our community and residents. Many times the work they do goes unrecognized. I am glad to say this year our staff has been recognized and brought much praise to our City!

Here are just a few examples:

•  City Manager, Suzanne Ludlow, received the Caring Heart Award for Outstanding Service to the Community and was just voted by her peers from around the region to be the next Chair of the Council of Governments Chief Administrative Officers Committee.
• Jessie Carpenter, City Clerk/Director of Council Affairs, and Leicia Monfort, Teen Program Manager, were recognized by Takoma United for an Engaged Community as 2019 Unsung Heroes!
• Jason Damweber, Deputy City Manager, was elected by peers from across the state to serve as the Vice President of the Maryland City/County Manager’s Association.
• Finance Director, Susan Cheung, and her staff were awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for the FY2019 City Budget. This is the first time the City has received this award and was the result of the staff’s great work on improving the presentation of information in the budget document.
• Lucy Neher, the coordinator of the Safe Routes to School Program, secured a grant for $86,494. The budget includes coordinator salary, non-infrastructure activities such as Walk to School Day activities, and the iCan Shine Bike Camp for two years. This is the 10th consecutive award for Takoma Park since 2007. In addition, Lucy’s work coordinating the TKPK 5K race resulted in $30,000 going to local schools to promote safety and wellbeing.
• We have outstanding Planning Division staff members and this year three of them became “EcoDistrict Accredited Professionals” – Rosalind Grigsby, Community Development Manager, Jamee Ernst, Planner, and Alex Michael, Planning Intern. The EcoDistricts Protocol is a neighborhood and district-level approach to urban planning that prioritizes equity, resilience, and climate protection to guide community development. This approach aligns with the City Council’s sustainability, livability, and racial equity goals, as well as the Housing and Economic Development Strategic Plan, to help guide growth in the City. The certification is a step toward creating a certified EcoDistrict in Takoma Park to accelerate neighborhood-scale sustainability, green infrastructure, and community-based decision making. More information and case studies can be found on the EcoDistricts website.
• Karen MacPherson, the Library’s Children, and Young Adult Manager have had numerous articles published in the Washington Post. One example is her June 2 article, “Yes, Parents, there is a magic formula to keep your kids reading through the summer.” The article provides strategies on steps parents and caregivers (who are “the secret ingredient” in the magic formula) can take to help kids keep reading during the summer while school is not in session.
• Our Police Department has dealt with a number of very tough cases this year and has shown professionalism, caring, and gone above and beyond to assist residents. In particular, under Chief DeVaul, the departmental structure has been changed, the Chief’s Advisory Board has been revised, and several new community outreach programs have been initiated. I want to thank Councilmember Seamens for his vision and advocacy to support and improve policing in our community.
• We have many more staff in the City and it is impossible to name each of them and their accomplishments. I want to extend my thanks to all of them for their dedication and hard work.

Looking Ahead to 2020

In the year ahead, we will continue much of the work discussed above, and specifically, we will wrap up our work on the tree ordinance and tree canopy goals. Thank you to Councilmembers Kostiuk, Dyballa, and Kovar for leading these efforts.

Other projects will include the library renovation, Census 2020, upcoming City Elections, and much more.

In addition to working on projects, I want to thank my colleagues on the Council for their participation in regional and national associations and committees. With their work with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, the Maryland Municipal League and the National League of Cities and other organizations, the City of Takoma Park “punches far beyond its weight class,” in the words of Council of Governments Executive Director Chuck Bean.

I want to also take this time to thank our Deputy City Manager,  Jason Damweber. He will be leaving the City and moving with the family to Colorado. It has been an honor to work with Jason these last few years. His dedication, professionalism, and excellent work have greatly benefited our community and he will be missed.

Every day I have the great honor to work for the residents of Takoma Park, with my colleagues on the Council, and with the most dedicated staff of City employees.

Together, we accomplished a great deal in 2019. I am looking forward to transforming the world with all of you in 2020!

Thank you!
Mayor Kate

Since our Community Conversation on Affordable Housing in February 2016, the City Council and staff have been working on a Housing and Strategic Development Plan. This multi-year process of research, staff facilitation, community discussion and Council consideration have led to the current draft of the strategic plan: “Building A Livable Community for All: Housing and Economic Development Strategic Plan.”

We knew when we started this process the importance of addressing housing affordability in our community. The need has only increased and become ever more urgent. We need to move forward with an aggressive plan to address the needs of people in our community, protect renters, homeowners, and local businesses from displacement, and to advance our efforts to fight climate change and create a more equitable community. On a daily basis, our city staff is working with individuals and families who face a housing crisis whether it is needed repairs, inability to pay rent or utilities, or inability finding an affordable home. We need to establish policies, programs, and advocate at the state and county level to help us address these problems not just in the near term but in the future as well.

When I first moved to Takoma Park from DC I was able to rent a small home on Philadelphia Avenue while my husband and I

saved the money and borrowed from our parents to purchase our first home on Elm Avenue. We have been here for almost 25 years and raised our family. Unfortunately, the opportunities to rent a small home and then save up and find a home to purchase have all but disappeared and for too many people these opportunities never existed. We need to work so that we have a range of housing options in our community for the young couple starting a family, the police officer, teacher or others who work in the city and want to live here, the senior looking to downsize but stay close to neighbors, and many others. This goes to the heart of who we are – a welcoming, diverse, inclusive community.

The adoption of the plan is not the end of our work but really just the beginning. Over the last 3 and half years, we have compiled a lot of data and feedback. You can find all it on the project page. 

The objective of this current document is to take all that we have been working on the last few years and boil it down to our vision, goals, and objectives to provide a road map for the work ahead. We plan to use this as document to set priorities for the staff, our budget, as well as advocate at the county and state for the changes needed to implement our vision.

Staff has started putting together an implementation plan which they presented in June. You can find it here. We have also started working on indicators in order to mark our progress in meeting our goals and objectives. Once we have this finalized the overall plan, we will be putting in place the indicators.

Over the next couple of weeks, the Council will continue its discussion of the plan, and I’d love your feedback. Please email me and other members of Council your thoughts at Kates@takomaparkmd.gov. Our goal is have the plan adopted by the end of October so we can start advocating at the county and state level for changes we need to implement many of these ideas.

This summer, one of the films scheduled in the We Are Takoma film series was, “The Occupation of the American Mind.” As with other We Are Takoma films and arts programming, the Mayor and City Council, do not endorse nor back the content.

The initial date for the screening was June 13. The film had been postponed after the screening came to the attention of the Council due to expressions of concern as well as support from a number of organizations and individuals. The Takoma Park City Council appreciated the comments and asked the Arts and Humanities Commission to postpone the screening.

The Mayor and Council requested that any future plans for the screening include space for a conversation about the points the film makes in a way that allows for people to express their thoughts and perspectives.

Over the past month, City staff have worked to put together a program agenda for the film screening.  We have engaged a professional facilitator, Theo Brown, Public Engagement Associates, to help us structure and lead the program.  Invitations have been extended to a number of organizations. We regret to say that the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington (JCRC) has declined our invitation to participate on the panel and we are disappointed in their decision.

We will continue to update our Program Agenda as more information becomes available.

The City of Takoma Park is committed to creating spaces for people to discuss various films and the issues they raise. We understand and have heard from many residents and non-residents about this particular film and the complexities of these issues and deeply held views. Our goal is to create a space for people to listen, critique, discuss, and learn from each other.