Economic Development 

Focus primarily on small businesses that serve the full range of ethnicities. Create “ethnic centers” for various nationalities to sell their products and services. Provide vocational partnerships with schools to provide “book” learning and with businesses to provide “applied-in-the-field” learning. 

Education  

Every child who graduates must meet at least the “national average” for reading and math; MOU with Montgomery College so children seeking immersion classes in other than English can pay all or partial for M.C. to provide the course – get out of school budget.  Spend more money on small group teachers and tutors – less on administration and buildings. Teachers should be paid for advanced degree only when teaching in that subject area.  Teachers and students should have security based only on need. Teachers should not be pushed into passing students with “below national average” performance. 

Environment

Food  

Encourage purchase of local produce.  Establish a system whereby those in need have access to food based only on need.  Collect food from restaurants that will go to waste if not used immediately.  Percentage on the dollar to be paid and/or tax deductions provided to donors.

Government Operations

Fees based on “cost to serve.” Provide award programs for employees to identify potential cost-savings, particularly related to overhead. Conduct salary surveys that include short and long-term benefits to compare with local employers. 

Health

Housing and Homeownership

Do not allow unlimited development within existing neighborhoods.  Limit neighborhood expansion with a formula that will allow the neighborhood to retaincharacter and quality of life.   

Focus on homeownership – not rentals – to establish legacy wealth and pride in homes.  Implement Europeans and other housing models that better serve groups with special needs (e.g., retirees, singles, single heads of households).  Identify less expensive models than MPDUs.  Give condominiums first chance at property tax sales and bank foreclosures.  Provide revolving loan fund to support condominiums that purchase units at foreclosure, remodel and sell. 

Condominiums 

Only primary structure to be considered as and charged as being “commercial”.  All other “unit” structures charge as single-family homes.  All County agencies charging condominiums at commercial rates must justify those charges and be signed off on by Council. Utilities:  All utilities using paper bills must mail bills within 24 hours of producing the bill to stop generating unnecessary late fees.  WSSC must lower its state-supported late fee of 5% on all bills.  All utilities must give residential rebates to all forms of owned homes, including condominiums.  All utilities must implement tiered rates based on usage per resident or square footage of home. Clothing:  County support for clothes closets for those in need.  Tax deductions provided to donors.  Employ unemployed folks to work with faith-based volunteers in the facilities. Medical and Dental:  Drop-in 24-hour clinics run by local medical and dental schools.  Equipment and medications to be provided by the County.

Policing

Minimum of police per population in every District. Maximize police based on populations/density/crime rates in Districts. Extra staffing, equipment (e.g., drones), subsidized cameras and alarm systems to concentrate on multi-family dwellings and commercial business districts because the greatest crime rate is there. 

Real Estate Development

Safety Net

Taxes - Time & Money

Transportation & Transit 

Public transportation: free for those in need.  For those who qualify, cards that can be used at gas stations. 

Vulnerable Populations