Council President Kate Stewart joined other Maryland legislators in vowing to make sure Montgomery County remains true to its values regardless of what occurs during the upcoming Donald Trump presidency.
“We know who we are here. Look around this room. This is Montgomery County. We know who we are, and we are going to remain true,” she said Friday morning during the 24th annual Minority Legislative Breakfast.
Members of the African American Chamber of Commerce, Asian American Political Alliance and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce laid out their joint legislative priorities that involved education, housing affordability, economic opportunity, social justice/racial equity and health care.
“It is important that we remain united,” said Janice Freeman, president of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County. “Now more than ever, we need to stand together to make sure this community remains safe and prosperous.”
She noted, “Many in the county cannot afford housing” and do not always understand how best to deal with impending foreclosures and evictions.
She urged federal, state and county legislators who attended the breakfast at the Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in Bethesda to support affordable childcare near jobs, continued funding for the food insecure and health care. She urged the local government to establish a hot line for immigrants facing threats or deportation.
“The diversity of our county can also be our strength,” Freeman said.
Carmen Ortiz Larsen, president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County, urged everyone to support minority-owned business.
“Maryland is now ranked number one in the country in terms of minority-owned business,” said U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, noting that more than one-quarter of businesses in the state are minority owned.
He told members of the three minority groups, “You have succeeded in making us a more inclusive state.”
As we prepare for #MDGA25, we are hearing from the communities we represent – today at the 24th Annual Minority Legislative Breakfast. TY African American Chamber of Montgomery County, Asian American Political Alliance & Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County. @hccmc pic.twitter.com/rVt7fxK9dH
— Lorig Charkoudian (@LCharkoudian) December 6, 2024
Both Van Hollen and U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin spoke about what could occur during the incoming Trump administration.
“A big part of our job is going to be preventing bad things from happening, and I can tell you right now, we are not going to turn the clock back,” Van Hollen said.
Raskin said he foresees “some tough times ahead,” but that as the likely ranking member of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, he plans to stand up for the Constitution.
“You still got your marching shoes. I hope you do,” he declared to a cheering crowd.
Maryland Sen. Ben Kramer, District 19, spoke of the state’s “significant deficit,” and then stated, that his job will be to “fight for and ensure that we are doing our very best to bring back to Montgomery County. That is our number one priority, and we will continue to do that even in the face of the daunting budget.”
He called the county “the backbone” of the state’s economy, adding, “We need to invest in our minority business community, because that brings a return to our entire community and the entire state.”
Kudos to the team who host the Minority Legislative Breakfast. Great job. We heard from our National, State, and County. With this leadership team, we are ready the future!@ChrisVanHollen @cmkatestewart @MoCoCouncilMD @MontgomeryCoMD pic.twitter.com/8LK0z7xU8k
— CM Marilyn Balcombe (@MarilynBalcombe) December 6, 2024
“We are spending record amounts of money” to bring minority owned businesses to the county, declared Executive Marc Elrich. However, he noted, “Our success in the past hasn’t been cheap.”
To pay for the needs of the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) as well as public safety throughout the county, Elrich said the tax structure needs to be reformed.
“Montgomery County rates among the bottom” in terms of commercial taxes in the Washington, D.C. area. “We’ve gone in the wrong direction.”
Rep. Jamie Raskin addresses the 24th Annual Minority Legislative Breakfast in Bethesda Friday morning, vowing to fight attempts by the Trump Administration to go around the Constitution. @mymcmedia @RepRaskin pic.twitter.com/FItlx2D7XM
— suzanne pollak (@SuzannePollak) December 6, 2024
