Jawando, Pollard Introduce Community Informed Police Training Act
Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando, joined by Montgomery College President Dr. DeRionne Pollard, introduced the Community Informed Police Training Act to require police to work with local academic partners on recruitment and training.
The council bill would require a 30-hour training program, developed in collaboration with Montgomery College, about community services and social justice for all prospective Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) officer candidates. Performance in the course must be used to evaluate acceptance into the police academy, Jawando explained during a press conference Tuesday.
“One of the major challenges we have is that first step where we need to assess: are these guardians, are these folks who represent our community, understand[ing] it and should be protecting and serving?” he said.
Virtual Conversation Addresses COVID-19 Vaccine Concerns in the Black Community
A panel of elected officials and local health experts held a virtual community conversation on Monday about COVID-19 and its specific impact on the local Black community.
The forum focused on raising awareness and addressing concerns some residents have regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and the access they have to it.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich discussed how the virus has disproportionately impacted African Americans, not only nationwide but also locally.
According to the Montgomery County Vaccine Distribution Dashboard, as of Feb. 25, more than 137,000 residents have received their first vaccine dose, which is about 13% of the population, and more than 60,000 residents are fully vaccinated.
Montgomery County is having a bunch of conversations right now about opening up some of its wealthiest neighborhoods to more affordable homes The big question is: when? ggwash.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ggwash.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Montgomery County cops accused of harassing 5-year-old boy
By Natalie Rubino article
A Silver Spring mother is suing Montgomery County Police, saying an officer harassed her five-year-old son. (FOX 5 DC)
SILVER SPRING, Md. - A Silver Spring mother is suing the Montgomery County Police Department and local school board following a disturbing incident with her five-year-old son.
The civil lawsuit accuses officers of assault, false arrest and emotional distress after the child wandered out of East Silver Spring Elementary school. If you watch the video and slow it down frame by frame you just see terror in his eyes, Matthew Bennett, attorney to plaintiff Shanta Grant, said.
One bill would introduce rent control
The first bill would make Montgomery County’s “voluntary rent guideline” or suggested rent increase mandatory for rentals within a mile of stations on the Red and Purple lines, and within a half-mile of Bus Rapid Transit stations.
Montgomery County could institute rent control for apartments near transit, like these buildings in East Silver Spring. Image by the author.
Landlords in those areas wouldn’t be allowed to raise the rent above the guideline, which changes each year. The guideline is based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), or how the cost of basic needs changes from year to year. This year, it’s 2.6% (or an increase of $52 for a $2000/month rental). For new rentals, the law would kick in after five years.