1. Email the Council to Support Restorative Justice Funding in the FY2025 Budget — The Education and Culture Committee of the Montgomery County Council recently voted to add additional funds to this year’s budget for the Montgomery County Public Schools, in part to ensure sufficient funding for restorative justice programs. There is a danger that the fullContinue reading “TWO OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTION!”
Tag Archives: Montgomery County Council
SSJC Delivers Testimony on the FY2025 County Operating Budget
SSJC will deliver its FY2025 Operating Budget Testimony to the County Council on April 10. Our testimony addresses three primary areas. First, we argue for an expanded and more cohesive mental and behavioral health response system that provides a health-centered, civilian-led response, which involves police only and as necessary by expanding the number of mobile crisis teams,Continue reading “SSJC Delivers Testimony on the FY2025 County Operating Budget”
Take Action Now to Support the Freedom to Leave Act!
Following the powerful public hearing on the Freedom to Leave Act, which would prohibit consent searches and prolonged detentions during traffic stops, we are asking the community to continue to write to the County Council to express their support for this critical bill. While the work session on the bill will not take place untilContinue reading “Take Action Now to Support the Freedom to Leave Act!”
SSJC PARTICIPATES IN A POWERFUL SHOW OF SUPPORT AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FREEDOM TO LEAVE ACT NOW IT’S YOUR TURN TO TAKE ACTION!
Last Tuesday night, almost 50 people testified at the Montgomery County Council on the Freedom to Leave Act, which would prohibit consent searches and prolonged detentions during traffic stops. The overwhelming majority of testimony was in favor of the bill, with testimony presented from a wide range of viewpoints including community members who had beenContinue reading “SSJC PARTICIPATES IN A POWERFUL SHOW OF SUPPORT AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FREEDOM TO LEAVE ACT NOW IT’S YOUR TURN TO TAKE ACTION!”
Report Back: Worksession on the 911 Registry Bill
Last Fall, SSJC submitted testimony in opposition to a bill that would create a voluntary registry for people with a range of disabilities that first responders could access prior to responding to a particular residential address. SSJC’s opposition to this bill is rooted in the fact that in our County’s emergency response system, police areContinue reading “Report Back: Worksession on the 911 Registry Bill”
Report Back: January 16 County Council Hearings on CIT Bill
On January 16, SSJC and partners delivered testimony against Councilmember Luedtke’s Crisis Intervention Team bill. There were 10 speakers who opposed the bill, including the Vera Institute for Justice, the Montgomery County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Young People for Progress, Jews United for Justice, and Presbyterians for Police Transformation, amongContinue reading “Report Back: January 16 County Council Hearings on CIT Bill”
County Council Passes Special Appropriation for Drone as First Responder Program
As we’ve reported here previously, MCPD asked the County Council to fund a “Drone as First Responder,” pilot in which drones will be dispatched in response to 911 calls for services to three specific areas of the County. SSJC objected to MCPD’s request for funding for this program during the FY2024 budget cycle and whileContinue reading “County Council Passes Special Appropriation for Drone as First Responder Program”
SSJC Testifies in Opposition to the Drone as First Responder Pilot Special Appropriation
As we’ve reported here previously, MCPD asked the County Council to fund a “Drone as First Responder,” pilot in which drones will be dispatched in response to 911 calls for services to three specific areas of the County. SSJC objected to MCPD’s request for funding for this program during the FY2024 budget cycle and whileContinue reading “SSJC Testifies in Opposition to the Drone as First Responder Pilot Special Appropriation”
Public Safety Committee Passes Amendments to Block the Bill to Undermine the Policing Advisory Commission
SSJC and partners attended a worksession of the County Council’s Public Safety Committee on October 2nd. The Committee was considering Bill 32-23, which aims to radically change the Policing Advisory Commission by eliminating seats reserved for youth, giving votes to the police department and the police union, and requiring seats for special interests including businessContinue reading “Public Safety Committee Passes Amendments to Block the Bill to Undermine the Policing Advisory Commission”
SSJC Attends Worksession on the 911 Registry Bill
On September 18, SSJC members watched as the County Council’s Health and Human Services and Public Safety Committees met to consider Bill 33-23, which would create a 9-1-1 voluntary registry for persons with disabilities. As we reported last week, SSJC testified against the bill at its public hearing. You can read our testimony here. You canContinue reading “SSJC Attends Worksession on the 911 Registry Bill”
Silver Spring Justice Coalition 