I’m thrilled that the Baltimore Banner is launching a MoCo bureau and that Ginny Bixby is going to be part of it!!

I’m not smart enough to have planned this last night but hey, just learned that signups for the March 11 hearings on a package of good bills just went live. Please sign up to testify in support, slots fill up fast. See my shoddy highlighting and link here www.montgomerycountymd.gov/council/cale...

“Montgomery County calls itself progressive but in practice it is a deeply conservative place that cannot abide conflict or discomfort.” Dan’s words (truth) about a place I love hurt my heart, but are 💯 correct. We must act to make MoCo an accessible & welcoming place.

anyway. the County Council needs to be reminded to do their jobs, and if you have just a few minutes, you can do so right here secure.everyaction.com/Z5qs3AYACkSt...

Montgomery County calls itself progressive but in practice it is a deeply conservative place that cannot abide conflict or discomfort. I grew up here, I love it, and it continues to let me down montgomeryperspective.com/2025/01/10/m...

Seconding every part of this

Excellent thread.

More housing options would help mitigate increases in tax assessments. Oh, plus, more people would have homes! I wish the Council would act!

How it started (NO on ending exclusive-SFH zoning). How it's going (help needed to count individuals and families experiencing homelessness).

Yeeeeeah, this left me scratching my head too. Like, if we need to count homeless folks then maybe we should keep pushing for more housing. And lordy, if I see one more "but attainable housing isn't affordable" argument, I'm gonna start posting Econ 101 links here. I bet my daughter has her notes.

Our current system of clearing sidewalks is hopelessly broken. Every time it snows, pedestrians suffer.

The title of this photograph is You Don't Matter If You Aren't In A Car, January 2025, Part 2.

The title of this photograph is You Don't Matter If You Aren't In A Car, January 2025, Part 1.

Agree with everything @jlyonsraeder.bsky.social says here!

Excellent thread from Planning Board member Josh Linden.

on @ggwash.bsky.social today: four years after introducing legislation to open up single-family zoning in Montgomery County, one councilmember just came out against a proposal to do exactly that. what gives? ggwash.org/view/98018/m...

@justupthepike.bsky.social, as usual, powerfully outlines what is at stake here. We already paused A pause is a “no” that you feel too guilty to say out loud. The county hurts itself, and its current and future residents by preserving the status quo.

“The past four years have been a pause since More Housing for More People, and the council’s inaction on housing production has come at a big cost.” As always, an excellent article and important read from @justupthepike.bsky.social. The Council must act!!

My friend @benjamin-bradley.bsky.social hit directly on what’s so wrong and frustrating about this announcement

Agree completely!

@natalifg.bsky.social gets it.

Exactly, the longer we wait to act the worse the problem becomes. Excuses for doing nothing is not leadership

2/3 of Montgomery County Democrats support zoning changes to allow more homes for more budgets, and there’s no better time than now to do something about it ggwash.org/view/97339/m...

For far too long our leaders have ignored our housing crisis. We must confront it NOW. I strongly believe that we need to create more housing for families at all income levels, and zoning reform is a key strategy to do so.

Calling for a pause on reform is detrimental to those who live here and just as importantly for those who want to live in MoCo. Our mandate as elected officials is to provide opportunities to all. #HousingForAll

Agree 💯! Thank you, @natalifg.bsky.social!

I don't have time to read this right now, so...maybe he has good reasons for this move? But I strongly suspect I'm going to be banging my head repeatedly against the wall. (Before reading, I'm guessing it's pandering as he runs for county exec. I hope I'm wrong.)

Thank you @NataliFGonzalez for continuing to lead on finding solutions to our housing crisis. More housing is pro family!

Greatly disappointed that Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando is turning his back on attainable housing. Not good news

*sighs in need for state intervention*

"Now's not the right time to build more housing in Montgomery County" is an absolutely deranged stance!

Montgomery County leaders are refusing to address the housing crisis if it upsets existing homeowners. CM Jawando now says that even mild recommendations to loosen some zoning restrictions are off limits. The message to those who don't yet own homes in MoCo: too bad for you.

extremely disappointing from the county councilmember who first introduced a missing middle zoning proposal in 2020 ggwash.org/view/79872/t...

Yes, I’m so appreciative of @natalifg.bsky.social’s leadership on zoning reform and other policies to make it possible for more people to live here.

I cannot possibly disagree more strongly

This is extremely disappointing. MoCo has already “paused” on attainable housing for far too long. I hope that the rest of the council will strongly support the Attainable Housing Strategies Initiative. Be like @natalifg.bsky.social and support needed zoning reform.

I have no doubt that the hardworking reporters at MoCo360 will continue to do great work, but this decision from ownership does make a statement about what parts of Montgomery County they value most bethesdamagazine.com/2025/01/07/m...

A new bill from @cmkatestewart.bsky.social would provide a large parking discount for child care and homelessness services workers affected by Purple Line construction in downtown Silver Spring: moco360.media/2024/12/12/c...

Yay!! The very best of the YIMBY/urbanism world is here!!

I hope this was just bad phrasing from MoCo’s VZ Coord RE why the county hasn’t seen a significant decline in ped deaths: “…nothing ever happens quite as quickly as you want it to, but that’s by design. We want to make sure we get plenty of feedback from the community” moco360.media/2024/12/05/m...

They're attacking Olson-Kennedy who is literally in the middle of the most extensive study of trans youth health outcomes in the history of humanity. they claim to want more research and yet they are trying to kill the credibility of the one biggest researcher doing the work!

Democrats want their Democratic local officials to lead on housing. it is simply not that complicated

MoCo needs to be a County of Yes!

Great @welcomingneighbors.us meeting today wrapped up by @justupthepike.bsky.social and @think-katrina.bsky.social flanked appropriately by Philly skyline…

Wondering what it’s like to go to the Supreme Court? I sat with trans teen L.W. during the historic oral arguments: wapo.st/4fjKpFn

In those marble halls, I hugged L.W. and her family and told them, with the most sincerity I’ve ever spoken, thank you, before heading off to the press seating. Casey Parks spent the day with the family at SCOTUS. I’m so proud of this kid and her family for fighting. Read Casey’s story.

Another great coffee shop in DTSS!! 😊☕️🥐