Discovery Launches STEM Education Initiative

Gov. Martin O’Malley, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and MCPS Superintendent Joshua P. Starr spoke at the launch event at Benjamin Banneker Middle School last week.

Council Takes Montgomery County Officials to Task on Transit Center Communication

Council members: Post article was the first they heard of Metro's decision not to operate the center.

A communication breakdown over the Silver Spring Transit Center led to harsh words for Montgomery County officials by County Council members Wednesday. Of particular concern to council members was a letter the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority sent to the executive branch on April 12, stating the transit agency would not operate and maintain the transit center. (See the attached PDF for the full text of the letter.) Council members said they did not know of the letter before it was reported in The Washington Post on April 25. They demanded to know why the executive branch had not immediately shared the letter with the council. The executive branch intended to share the letter with the council, but wanted to first sort out the …

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Council to Executive: Explain Status of Silver Spring Transit Center

Letter addresses communication breakdown between Montgomery County Council and County Executive Isiah Leggett

The Montgomery County Council, surprised by news reports of Metro looking for a way out of its agreement regarding the Silver Spring Transit Center, sent a letter to County Executive Isiah Leggett Friday, asking him to appear before the council on Wednesday at 2 p.m. with an explanation. Haven't been following along? Get caught up on the Silver Spring Transit Center.

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Leggett: Costco Subsidy Helps Wheaton Revitalization

Watch a video clip of Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett speaking to reporters Wednesday morning at the Wheaton Costco opening.

Standing outside the newly opened Costco in Wheaton Wednesday morning, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett talked of the $4 million subsidy that the county gave Westfield Wheaton for construction of the Costco. Related Articles on Wheaton Patch: - Costco Subsidy Passes Council (May 17, 2011) - Costco Subsidy Takes Nine Years to Pay Back, Westfield Held to Conditions (April 28, 2011) - Wheaton Costco Opens (April 10, 2013) - Photos: Inside the Wheaton Costco (April 9, 2013)

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Let the Shopping Begin! Wheaton Costco Opens

The membership warehouse store opened to a flood of customers at 7:45 a.m. Wednesday in the Westfield Wheaton mall.

After a delay of almost six months, the Wheaton Costco is open for business. Pat Fahey, the warehouse store's general manager, cut the ribbon at the entrance at 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, and a line of shoppers began streaming into the store, located in the old Hecht's location at the Westfield Wheaton mall. County Executive Isiah Leggett, whose office had announced that he would be cutting the ribbon, arrived shortly before 8 a.m. and the ribbon-cutting was re-enacted, holding up more shoppers who appeared impatient to get inside the store. Fahey said he decided to cut the ribbon earlier because "we have members who are waiting to shop." Montgomery County Councilmember George Leventhal (D-At large) also came to the Costco opening. "This is …

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Montgomery County Launches Child Abuse Prevention Campaign

Leggett: 'The message of the campaign is simple. One person can make a difference in a child’s life.'

Against a backdrop of symbolic blue pinwheels, Montgomery County leaders kicked off Child Abuse Prevention Month on Tuesday. “The message of the campaign is simple,” said Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett in a statement. “One person can make a difference in a child’s life.” The child abuse prevention campaign called The Power of One was kicked off in Rockville. The campaign is a national effort sponsored by Prevent Child Abuse. The blue pinwheels—Pinwheels for Prevention—were meant to be a reminder of childhood and “the bright future that all children deserve.” The idea is to encourage adults to become foster parents or mentors, to report suspected abuse and to be there for parents who are having a hard time adjusting. Leggett was …

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Five Public Hearings for County Budget Scheduled in April

Find out ways you can comment on the budget proposals.

The Montgomery County Council will hold five public hearings in April on the county's operating budget for fiscal year 2014, which begins July 1.  County Executive Isiah Leggett's $4.8 billion budget proposal, which he unveiled on March 15, would add more than 100 new jobs in public safety and libraries. Leggett also proposed a slight increase in aid for Montgomery County Public Schools to meet Maryland's maintenance of effort law, which requires that counties fund schools at the same level or greater from year-to-year or face a fine. The County Council will analyze these recommendations and adopt the budget in late May. Read more about the budget: The public hearings will be held in the Third Floor Hearing Room of the Council Office …

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Leggett Unveils a $4.8 Billion Montgomery County Budget Proposal

The plan holds the line on property taxes and schools aid and boosts aid for public safety.

A $4.8 billion county operating budget plan unveiled by Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett on Friday holds the line on property taxes and schools spending and adds more than 100 new jobs in public safety and libraries. Leggett (D) presented his budget plan for fiscal 2014, which begins July 1, at a news conference in Rockville. The plan would keep property taxes within the limit allowed by the county charter and below the rate of inflation. Average monthly property taxes would increase by $6.67. Tax-supported government spending would increase by 3.9 percent—less than half the increase in fiscal 2013—to $1.3 billion. Leggett also proposed a slight increase in aid for Montgomery County Public Schools to meet Maryland's maintenance of…

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Fred Foo

10:27 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013

It's not as simple as you say. It's important to recognize that while good schools attract people, high taxes repel people. And the people who can most easily afford the taxes can also afford to send children to private schools.   more ›