News

Ensuring Accountability, Transparency, and Trust in Policing

“The changes in this package increase accountability and transparency, and in turn can keep someone else from having to lose their life in a police encounter” – LaToya Holley, sister of Anton Black, a Black Maryland teenager who was killed in 2018 after being chased and subdued by police. “Duty to intervene, duty to report, accountability in Read more about Ensuring Accountability, Transparency, and Trust in Policing[…]

COVID-19: Resources for Immigrants

CDC Information on COVID-19: Haga clic aquí para acceder al centro del sitio de idioma español para el control de enfermedades. Click here to access the Center for Disease Control’s Spanish language information site. COVID-19 testing does not negatively affect immigration status: The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) published a notice regarding non-citizen testing Read more about COVID-19: Resources for Immigrants[…]

COVID-19: Food Assistance Options

Meals on Wheels: Low Cost meals are delivered to those who struggle with mobility or otherwise have difficulty going to the grocery store. Takoma Park (20910 and 20912) For more information, click here. 301-434-1922 Colesville (20901, 20903, and 20904) For more information, click here. 301-384-7440 Manna Food Center: Manna Food Center is an outstanding organization Read more about COVID-19: Food Assistance Options[…]

COVID-19: Dedicated Grocery Shopping Hours

Safeway Hillandale 10101 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20903 | 301-445-6190 Downtown Silver Spring 909 Thayer Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910 | 301-565-0686 Four Corners 116 University Blvd, Silver Spring, MD 20901 | 301-593-7526 7:00-9:00 am Tuesdays and Thursdays for Senior Citizens and at-risk members of the community. Giant Long Branch 8750 Arliss St, Read more about COVID-19: Dedicated Grocery Shopping Hours[…]

COVID-19: Assistance for Small Businesses

U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Assistance: Maryland has been designated as a Coronavirus disaster zone by the U.S. Small Business Association (USSBA), which opens federal disaster loan assistance to Maryland small businesses. To apply and find more information, click here. Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Relief Loan Fund: This COVID-19 Emergency Relief $75M Loan Read more about COVID-19: Assistance for Small Businesses[…]

COVID-19 Update

This past week the Maryland General Assembly took the extraordinary step to end the legislative session early; a measure we haven’t taken since the outbreak of the Civil War. We made the decision to adjourn after fulfilling our constitutional duty of passing a balanced budget and after passing critical legislation aimed at assisting Marylanders during Read more about COVID-19 Update[…]

The Baltimore Sun: Montgomery County’s Smith named to lead Maryland Senate’s judicial committee

By Pamela Wood | December 5, 2019 Sen. William C. Smith Jr. of Montgomery County will lead the Maryland Senate’s high-profile judicial committee, the incoming Senate president announced Wednesday. Speaking at a fundraiser for Smith, Sen. Bill Ferguson — a Baltimore Democrat who has been nominated to become Senate president in January — said Smith Read more about The Baltimore Sun: Montgomery County’s Smith named to lead Maryland Senate’s judicial committee[…]

The Baltimore Sun: After helping with Afghanistan election, Maryland senator-sailor has renewed sense of urgency

By Pamela Wood  |  November 19, 2019 When state Sen. William C. Smith Jr. returned to BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport after a six-month deployment with the Navy to Afghanistan, he was most nervous about reuniting with his 18-month-old daughter, Jacqueline. They’d been video-chatting while he was away, but would she remember her dad? At the Read more about The Baltimore Sun: After helping with Afghanistan election, Maryland senator-sailor has renewed sense of urgency[…]

Capital News Service: Maryland’s consumer advocates push for new debt collection laws

By Brooks Dubose  |  May 20, 2019 Jailing a person for an unpaid debt has been illegal for almost two centuries in the United States. But in Maryland, through a roundabout court procedure, hundreds of people every year are jailed for essentially just that: Owing money. In debt collection cases, a creditor can file a Read more about Capital News Service: Maryland’s consumer advocates push for new debt collection laws[…]