CNN host diagnoses an embarrassing Montgomery County Council fiscal problem

CNN host Fareed Zakaria stirred controversy last week when he delivered straight talk on why many jurisdictions like Montgomery County have become simultaneously unaffordable while operating on fiscal thin ice. He mentioned a number of familiar factors, but he articulated a particular problem quite well: The fact that the growth of Montgomery County's budget and spending outstrip every other relevant growth factor from business growth and school enrollment to population growth. We know the County spends way too much, as evidenced by our structural budget deficit and the shocking doubling of the budget's size over just the last decade. But when you compare the lack of growth in these other benchmarks to the steadily ballooning amount of spending, the County Council's reckless budgeting looks truly ridiculous.

For example, looking at the supersizing of the County budget, you would think that Montgomery County was enjoying rapid population growth. But even as the budget has reached one record high after another, MoCo's population has actually been shrinking. The County experienced a net loss of more than 9500 residents between 2020 and 2022, and an additional net domestic migration loss of another 11,153 people between 2022 and 2023. And of course, as we know, the very rich are exiting, and the majority of the people moving in are low-income.

"The arithmetic is brutal," Zakaria said in describing a similar population loss (relative to size) over the same period in New York City. "A larger [tax] bill is divided among fewer payers."

Likewise, the budget of Montgomery County Public Schools has grown to obscene heights, even as enrollment has plummeted this decade. And the more generous the Council is with our taxpayer money toward MCPS, the worse the performance outcomes are. It's literally money flushed down the toilet.

"New York already sits at the extreme end of the American tax spectrum," Zakaria noted. So does Montgomery County, whose residents shoulder the highest total tax and fee burden in the Washington, D.C. region. Incredibly, the County Council is currently proposing to raise property taxes yet again this year, and to massively increase the already-gargantuan real estate recordation tax. Both play a role in the unaffordable housing market. Property taxes have become the equivalent of a second mortgage, and high recordation taxes already dissuade homeowners from selling their properties, reducing supply even further while jacking up prices for struggling buyers. Heckuva job, Brownie!

In Europe, Zakaria adds, the NYC and MoCo-level of extreme taxation earns you perks like "free" healthcare, university education, and "amazing infrastructure." In Montgomery County, you get an unfinished master plan highway system, an unbuilt Potomac River bridge, an unbuilt M-83 Highway, an unbuilt Corridor Cities Transitway rail system, an unbuilt Montrose Parkway East, and no bus service to Damascus on weekends and holidays. Trash collection is down to once a week, and is picked up at the curb, requiring homeowners to do most of the job by hauling bins down to the street and back. Snow from a January storm is still melting on many streets.

Jurisdictions like NYC and Montgomery County, Zakaria concluded, "are out of control, promising more, spending more, delivering less and pushing off the fiscal problems to some future date." And then he dispensed this well-worded diagnosis of a central problem in Montgomery County's "leadership:"

"Unaffordability is what happens when government becomes a machine that grows faster than the society it governs." That is exactly the situation in Montgomery County. In a County that hasn't attracted a single new major corporate headquarters in over 25 years, the only booming growth industry is Montgomery County Government, and the best position to be in is either an elected office chair, or one of the many cronies and crooks in the Montgomery County cartel who receive financial kickbacks of taxpayer funds in the bloated County budget.

Robbery at knifepoint at apartment complex in Silver Spring

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed robbery at an apartment complex in the White Oak area of Silver Spring last Saturday afternoon, February 28, 2026. The robbery was reported at 4:23 PM in the 11500 block of February Circle. That is at the Flats at Columbia Pike apartments at 11542 February Circle. The incident took place in the parking lot, and a knife was the weapon employed in the robbery.

AI firm KnowBe4 chooses Virginia over Maryland for D.C.-area office

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has touted artificial intelligence and quantum computing as "lighthouse industries" he wants to develop in the state, but yet another such firm has chosen Northern Virginia over Montgomery County. Florida-based KnowBe4 was seeking a location in the Washington, D.C. area to advance "the company’s continued investment in the public sector and its commitment to helping government organizations address workforce trust management, AI-enabled threats and evolving national security challenges." After an extensive search process, the firm chose Two Liberty Center at 4075 Wilson Boulevard in the Ballston area of Arlington County.

"KnowBe4’s strategic decision to expand its offices into Arlington, VA is a testament to the enduring strength of Arlington as a key destination for companies seeking top talent and a welcoming business climate," Arlington Economic Development Acting Director Kate Ange said in a statement. "KnowBe4 will benefit from a unique and thriving innovation ecosystem of federal cybersecurity policymakers and thought leaders working collaboratively with private enterprises and research institutions, all in Arlington." Meanwhile, Montgomery County and Maryland officials are on the sidelines again, watching helplessly as Virginia continues to eat our lunch just because the radical Marxist totalitarian-left elected officials on our side of the Potomac can't put their ideology aside for the good of their constituents.

Mark Warner, U.S. Senator from Virginia, participated in a ribbon-cutting at the new Arlington office on February 23 (see photo at top). KnowBe4's focus on human and agentic AI risk management is a topic of news headlines on a daily basis at the moment. Economic development in Montgomery County and Maryland is not. MoCo and Maryland haven't attracted a single new major corporate headquarters in over 25 years. Heckuva job, Brownie!

Photo courtesy KnowBe4

Driver crashes into Potbelly in White Oak

A driver crashed into the storefront of the Potbelly sandwich shop in the White Oak area of Silver Spring last Sunday, February 22, 2026. The front of the restaurant was then boarded up, as seen in the above photo, taken Wednesday evening. Montgomery County police have not commented publicly on the cause of the crash. Potbelly is located at 12273 Tech Road, in the Westech Corner shopping center.

Photo by Michael Schwartz 

Purple Line signage installed at Silver Spring Library station (Photos)

A mysterious obelisk has landed at the intersection of Fenton Street and Wayne Avenue by the Silver Spring Library. It's not from 2001: A Space Odyssey, but rather, signage for the future Purple Line station at the library. Alas, it is still in protective wrapping, so we can't see it yet. But a second sign nearby is fully visible. This one warns pedestrians to look, and then "look again," as the light rail "trains may not stop." T-minus two years, folks!

Maryland should cut taxes now while socialist Virginia crashes out

Moribund Maryland and Montgomery County have an unexpected opportunity to make up lost ground against dominant rival Virginia. Elected officials should seize it, and cut income, property, and corporate taxes across the board. New Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger had been expected to govern as a pro-business moderate in the mold of her Democratic predecessors Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam, who were generally as successful as their Republican counterparts in sustaining the state's strong economic development record. But once sworn in, Spanberger has taken an unexpected radical left turn, and Virginia is suddenly spiraling for the moment.

Spanberger is not discouraging the Democrat controlled Virginia legislature from sending over a dozen tax increases to her desk. She is raising the minimum wage to meet Maryland's $15 mandate (it will still be lower than Montgomery County's, alas). And she is reducing prison sentences for violent felons. Is axing Right-to-Work next?

Boeing has now announced it is relocating its Virginia operations to Missouri. That move was probably in the works for some time, as it was obvious three years ago that Spanberger would win against a weak GOP candidate, but Boeing apparently knew Spanberger's ideological bent better than most political observers.

What better way for Maryland Governor Wes Moore to juice the state's moribund economy, and his re-election campaign, than to call a special session to reduce taxes across the board? The Montgomery County Council will be setting the FY-2027 budget at the same time, and should cut taxes and spending at the County level simultaneously. We could lure the millionaires and billionaires of Great Falls, McLean, Leesburg, and Middleburg to Montgomery County. Remember Council staff member Jacob Sesker's eye-opening presentation that showed what a huge revenue windfall is delivered by just a couple dozen millionaires and billionaires, what a significant percentage of the total annual haul they can account for. And a high-profile tax reform will alert relocating corporations that Maryland is open for business.

Gov. Moore needs to let the education Blueprint go. Tear it up and throw it away. Same with the Red Line project in Baltimore. We don't have the money. But Virginia is giving us a rare chance to get some. Take it!

Society transitioning to Society Seafood House in Silver Spring

The Society Restaurant & Lounge at 8229 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring is temporarily closed. According to the restaurant's Instagram, it is rebranding as Society Seafood House. "Coming soon. Downtown Silver Spring's destination for seafood, cocktails and ambiance," their IG bio now reads. The rebranding was first reported by The MoCo Show.

Significant progress at Royal Farms in Silver Spring (Photos)

Construction has been dragging on forever at the future Royal Farms at 9475 Georgia Avenue in the Montgomery Hills area of Silver Spring, but there has been a spurt of progress at a higher pace since my last report in December. Most obvious is the completed installation of the tall roadside sign that will display gas prices. It's notably taller than the sign permitted at the Royal Farms in Gaithersburg. Second most-obvious is the progress on the convenience store building. Windows and a brick facade treatment have been installed, but no logo above the storefront yet.

Maryland law leaves McDonald's large fries lovers holding the bag

Maryland McDonald's customers ordering medium and large french fries are finding out Ronald has a brand new bag. Instead of the iconic red cardboard medium and large fry containers, those orders are now being handed out in paper bags, at least at some Golden Arches locations in Montgomery County. Some customers say the weight and portion size of the bagged fries are less than those served in the cardboard containers. But it's not simply a shrinkflation attempt alone by McDonald's. It turns out that Maryland passed a law in 2024 that mandated the retirement of cardboard fry sleeves forever.

The George "Walter" Taylor act was presented to the public as a bill almost no one would oppose. It would ban the sale and use of firefighting foam that contained "forever chemicals." This would reduce health risks and impacts for firefighters, and who could disagree with that? Well, it turns out another provision was hidden in the bill, one that applied a similar restriction to food packaging. Cardboard fry containers often are lined with a chemical coating that resists grease, and that supposedly contained a forever chemical. Cardboard was out, and the bill was signed into law by former Governor Larry Hogan.

I found the fry transition has been underway in a few other nanny states for at least a couple of years. Like so many nutty laws paased by the Maryland legislature and Montgomery County Council, this was yet another plagiarized from the great state of California. Now, thanks to both local legislative bodies, we not only have paper straws that melt and ruin the taste of your drink, but potentially smaller fry portions for the same high price.

McDonald's swears that the portion size is the same. Fast food packaging experts have noted that the shape difference, and dimensions of the opening of the new bag, together make it more difficult to stuff the same amount of fries into the bag as filled the cardboard. The jury is out. Your mileage may vary. And it will be something to watch in the coming weeks and months - please share your experience in the comments below.

More signs of Hakim 1 Stop Shop in Silver Spring

More "coming soon" signage has been installed at the future Hakim 1 Stop Shop at 8433 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring. This signage is placed where the convenience store's permanent signage will eventually go, above the storefront. Alas, the windows are still covered, so the status of the interior fit-out of the store remains a mystery for now. The sign has some nice images of downtown Silver Spring and the dome of the U.S. Capitol.

Armed robbery in Glenmont Forest

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed robbery in the residential neighborhood of Glenmont Forest on February 14, 2026. The robbery was reported at the intersection of Grandview Avenue and Newton Street at 7:53 PM. According to police, one male suspect displayed an unspecified weapon, and his male accomplice physically assaulted the adult male victim. They proceeded to take his money and flee on foot.

Police describe the suspects only as two Black males of unknown age. If you have any information that could assist detectives in closing this case, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Renovations ahead for Chick-fil-A in Olney

Chick-fil-A at 18115 Georgia Avenue in Olney will be making minor renovations to the restaurant this spring. Outdoors, a new order pick-up canopy will be installed. The dumpster enclosure will be relocated. And a new employee break room will be constructed. The restaurant is expected to remain open during the renovations.

Takoma Park hotel maid finds bullet in room

A maid cleaning a hotel room in Takoma Park on February 10, 2026 found a bullet left behind. Takoma Park City police were called to the Quality Inn at 7411 New Hampshire Avenue at 6:41 PM. Officers determined the bullet was a live round. It has been impounded by the department.

Armed robbery in downtown Silver Spring

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed robbery in downtown Silver Spring on February 15, 2026. The robbery was reported at Ellsworth Place mall at 8661 Colesville Road at 5:49 PM. A firearm was the weapon employed in the robbery. An assault was also reported during the same incident.

Assault at movie theater in Silver Spring

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at a movie theater in downtown Silver Spring on Valentine's Day night. The assault was reported at a theater in the 8600 block of Colesville Road at 11:56 PM Saturday. AFI Silver Theatre is located at 8633 Colesville Road.

Hakim 1 Stop Shop opening soon in Silver Spring

Downtown Silver Spring residents will soon have a one-stop shop for all the essential items they need. Hakim 1 Stop Shop is opening soon at 8433 Georgia Avenue. The convenience store will replace Kuku's Beauty Supply, which has moved down the road to 7327 Georgia Ave NW. We've seen in the recent snowstorm just how handy one-stop shops like this can be.

Police investigate shots-fired incident in Burtonsville

Montgomery County police are investigating a report of a shots-fired incident in Burtonsville in the early morning hours of February 4, 2026. Residents reported hearing gunfire in the 4200 block of Dunwood Terrace. That's a townhome community north of Fairland Recreational Park. Police have no suspect descriptions at this time, and did not announce if any shell casings were recovered at the scene. If you have any information that could assist detectives in closing this case, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Another auto theft on Bel Pre Road in Aspen Hill

Oh, no, not again! Auto thieves continue to live their best lives on Bel Pre Road in Aspen Hill. A car parked in a commercial parking lot in the 2200 block of Bel Pre is the latest to be snatched. It was reported stolen at 12:39 PM on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. 

A tax-and-spend warning for Maryland as 2030 fiscal disaster looms

A warning about the fiscal ruin that results from aggressive and excessive taxation and spending is coming to Maryland - and its greatest offender, Montgomery County - from a state known for its coffee, grunge music, and Communist autonomous zones. The scariest part is that Maryland and MoCo are further down this road than Washington state. But due to a series of radical left turns, the Evergreen State appears determined to adopt Maryland tax-and-spend policies at an increasing clip. The saga doesn't just remind us that we can't keep going with tape over the Check Engine light on Maryland's fiscal dashboard, but of the proven economic development boost that comes from a competitive tax policy.

"For decades, Washington state's economic advantage was its lack of a personal income tax," Ryan Frost and Mark Harmsworth write in an op-ed in The Washington Post. "Washington built its economy by attracting companies such as Microsoft and Amazon with no income tax." Some elected officials in the state have apparently grown tired of winning, though. "Washington state Democrats, who have largely controlled the state government for 40 years, are now proposing an unconstitutional income tax." Unconstitutional? I like the sound of that. Give Washington's Supreme Court credit for reaffirming that income taxes are illegal and unconstitutional way back in 1933. Where's our William J. Millard?!

Taxes can not only be illegal, but ill-advised. "Seattle recently imposed new payroll taxes, and businesses responded by relocating to neighboring cities," Frost and Harmsworth explain. "An income tax would make that exodus statewide. High earners are already leaving Washington amid the recently enacted taxes, and those moving in earn substantially less than those departing."

Maryland has already seen this happen. Montgomery County dropped off the Forbes Richest Counties in America list many years ago, and watched its vaunted "Montgomery County's Rodeo Drive" in Friendship Heights devolve into vacant storefronts, aging apartments, and smashed-up bus shelters, as the ultra-wealthy fled to lower-tax jurisdictions in the region. Businesses have relocated to Northern Virginia. And, like Washington state, the residents moving into MoCo and Maryland are mostly low-income.

But Washington state isn't just aping our massive tax burden, which is the largest in the D.C. area. They've also got the same crack addiction to spending that our County Council and state legislators have had since 2002. Washington state has a multi-billion dollar budget deficit just one year after the largest tax increase in state history. "The pattern is predictable: increase taxes, allocate the revenue to permanent new obligations and then point to the resulting 'shortfall' as justification for the next tax hike," Frost and Harmsworth summarize in a nutshell. 

Sound familiar? Annapolis started with a "millionaire tax" in 2012. Only two years after that tax hike, there were 1000 less such "millionaires" filing tax returns in Maryland, tanking state revenue. Current Maryland Governor Wes Moore walloped Marylanders with IT taxes and massive fee hikes for vehicle registration last year. The Montgomery County Council kept a disastrous energy tax and absurdist tax on the rain(!!) in place, while adding annual property tax hikes and a gargantuan recordation tax to the burden of homeowners.

And like their fellow spending junkies on the West Coast, the appetite of our elected officials to burn through taxpayer cash has only increased alongside the taxes. The Montgomery County Council has more than doubled the County budget over a mere decade. Their counterparts in Annapolis found a "permanent new obligation" in a reckless waste of money known as the "Blueprint for Maryland's Future," which is really a blueprint for teacher's union endorsements for the legislators who voted for it with the full knowledge that it would bankrupt the state in the next decade.

As Frost and Harmsworth correctly diagnose the illness, "the problem isn't that citizens aren't paying enough. It's that the government has lost the ability to say no." Have voters in Montgomery County and Maryland also lost the ability to say no to our incompetent and corrupt elected officials? Election results so far this century would suggest they have. Is there a breaking point, a level of taxation that's too high, or a realization of impending fiscal doom that can provide a smelling salts moment?

To paraphrase the op-ed authors, "Maryland is no longer a shining example of how to build a prosperous economy. It is a case study of how to dismantle one."

Strong-arm robbery in South Four Corners/Sligo Woods area of Silver Spring

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery in the Sligo Woods/South Four Corners area of Silver Spring Tuesday morning, February 10, 2026. The assault and robbery were reported in the 700 block of Dennis Avenue at 7:35 AM Tuesday. That is near University Boulevard and Collins Funeral Home.

Maryland is 2nd-worst state to start a business, study finds

 

Maryland is the second-worst state in America in which to start a business, a study by WalletHub found. Rhode Island is rated the worst of all. The latest ignoble recognition for the Old Line State is compounded by other recent rankings showing Maryland is #46 out of 50 in tax competitiveness, according to the Tax Foundation, and is way down at #36 on the list of best states to retire in - also compiled by WalletHub.

Montgomery County has the highest overall tax and fee burden in the region. What else makes Maryland a terrible place to start a business? A poor business environment, WalletHub says. That includes measurements of current small business growth statistics, job growth, variety of industries, startups per capita, five-year business survival rate, share of fast-growing firms, and the entrepreneurship index. 

Another criteria examined was the cost of doing business. Beyond high County and State taxes, that takes into account the cost of living, the cost of office space, labor costs, employer-based health insurance costs, and the corporate tax rate. Not surprisingly, Maryland scores poorly across the board on business costs.

Also considered were access to capital and a skilled workforce. This includes the amount of venture capital being invested in Maryland businesses, rankings of colleges and universities in the state, and growth of the working age population.

Which states are the best to start a business in? According to WalletHub, Florida, Utah, Texas, Oklahoma, Idaho, Mississippi, Georgia, Indiana, Nevada, and California. Better start voting for better-qualified elected officials, or rent a moving truck for your business to relocate to greener pastures.

Imagine if they had factored in the exorbitant cost of energy in Maryland! We might have dropped to dead last. As it is, we're in real trouble, folks. How many more miles can Montgomery County and Maryland go down the road with tape over the Check Engine light on the economic development dashboard? Heckuva job, Brownie!

Auto thieves still prowling Bel Pre Road in Aspen Hill

Auto thieves continue to target Aspen Hill, and specifically, the Bel Pre Road corridor there. They struck again Sunday, February 8, 2026. And once again, they hit the 3300 block of Weeping Willow Court. A vehicle was reported stolen from a residential parking lot there at 8:53 AM Sunday. Remember to lock your vehicle, remove all visible items from the cabin, don't leave keys or key fobs in the glove compartment or ignition(!!), and use an anti-theft device like The Club to deter thieves.

Attempted armed robbery in Wheaton

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed robbery in the Wheaton Triangle area of Wheaton on January 27, 2026. The robbery was reported in the 11200 block of the Triangle Lane at 6:58 PM. Police say the adult male suspect displayed a weapon, and demanded money from the adult male victim. He was unsuccessful, and fled the scene.

Police describe the suspect only as a Hispanic male, approximately 35 years of age. If you can identify this suspect, or have any other information about this incident, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Wild night keeps cops busy at Orchard Center in Silver Spring

A wild night at the Orchard Center in the White Oak area of Silver Spring on February 4, 2026 saw Montgomery County police called twice to the grocery store there in as many hours. Officers were summoned first at 8:00 PM for a shoplifting incident, and found the suspect in question in possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia, a growing trend in Montgomery County. Just an hour and fifteen minutes later, a second shoplifting incident escalated into an aggravated assault at the supermarket. Giant is located at 12028 Cherry Hill Road.

Raskin secures $3,150,000 to improve Georgia Avenue bus lanes in Silver Spring

Congressman Jamie Raskin (D - MD-8) has secured $3,150,000 in American taxpayer funds to improve bus lanes along Georgia Avenue between Glenmont and downtown Silver Spring. The money will be used to "upgrade pavement markings, painted lanes, signage and design modifications and lane transitions," Raskin's office announced yesterday. Dual goals include increasing driver awareness of the lanes, and compliance with bus lane rules. The appropriation is part of a $16.5 million haul for his Maryland congressional district that Raskin touted Friday. Raskin is running for re-election this fall, facing Democrat Stephen Alan Leon in the primary, and Nancy Wallace (Green Party) and Cheryl Riley (Republican) in November.

Strong-arm robbery in Aspen Hill

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery in Aspen Hill on the evening of February 3, 2026. The robbery and assault were reported in the 13800 block of Aspen Hill at 7:51 PM Tuesday. They took place at a bus stop.

Montgomery County property taxes now exceed mortgage payments for many

For many years, I have written about the fact that property taxes in Montgomery County have essentially become the equivalent of a second mortgage for many homeowners. If we believe we have honest elections in the County, suffering the highest overall tax and fee burden in the region has yet to spark revolt among County voters. Would property taxes higher than your annual mortgage payment be enough to get taxpayers reaching for their proverbial torches and pitchforks? That's why I was delighted to read Chevy Chase resident Glenn Easton's letter to the editor in the rapidly-shrinking Washington Post.

Easton reported that this shocking event - the Taxological Singularity, if you will - has now taken place. "My property taxes exceed my mortgage payment and threaten my ability - and the ability of many others - to age in place in this state." He noted that the latest tax increase on his property was 13% in 2025, and have been as high as 26%. Easton has challenged assessments of his property each time, and has lost each time. Like me, Easton is "not sure why more homeowners (and voters) are not outraged."

California voters, in a very, very different era in the Golden State, led perhaps the most famous tax revolt in America since 1776. Easton called for a similar revolt and reform to that storied uprising of 1978, which led to property tax increases being capped at 2% annually.

With all County offices on the ballot once again this November, are Montgomery County taxpayers finally ready to revolt?

The County's disastrous fiscal situation indicates that change must come sooner or later, the (somewhat) easy way, or the hard way. Our tax burden must be reduced, and our master plan highway system completed, to attract high-wage jobs and corporations to the County. Montgomery County hasn't attracted a single new major corporate headquarters in over a quarter century. The only growth is in residential housing, and our structural budget deficit confirms that the costs new housing generates far exceed the tax revenue they generate.

Speaking of revenue generation, Council members have delivered multiple tax cuts to their developer sugar daddies, even as they've raised yours every single year except FY-2015 (in which the average homeowner received a whopping $12 tax cut). Perhaps inspired by the $72 million tax cut the Council delivered to developers in White Flint back in 2010, Councilmember Andrew Friedson has successfully pushed through two major tax cuts for developers in recent years. These have created massive exemptions from property taxes for projects at Metro stations and for office-to-housing conversions. The latter law is so permissive, its 20-year full property tax exemption(!!) applies to so many projects that it will blow a massive hole in County tax revenues over the next two decades. Most offensive is that these projects were going forward anyway, with the tax elimination simply an act of profiteering.

When taxes get lighter for real estate developer Friends of the Council, guess who taxes get heavier for? Yep, you the home and business owner. We can't keep shifting the tax burden to homeowners and small businesses, and we can't keep forgoing all of the lost business and commercial revenue we are losing due to our non-competitive tax burden and moribund County economy.

We also can't keep spending the way we are. Where the Council and our equally-corrupt Apple Ballot School Board are satisfied with a generously-funded school system that performs poorly, we instead need an adequately-funded school system that performs exceptionally. And an in-depth reform of profligate spending on Council-connected "non-profits" is long overdue. Many of these have organizational directors and officers who make financial contributions to Councilmember campaigns. Taxpayer money effectively ends up in the pockets of Councilmembers, and provides lucrative careers for the donors. 

The tax policies of Montgomery County are eerily reminiscent of those in Bell, California. Elected officials there ultimately ended up in prison.

Taxation is theft, to begin with. Property taxes by their nature are insidious, particularly at the almost-comically-excessive level charged in Montgomery County. If you don't pay, the government takes your home. Which means that all "private property" is effectively owned by the government, and you are paying government a rent to live there.

Enough is enough. Beyond a stagnant economy, gross incompetence by elected officials, high violent crime, and failing transportation and school systems, is a property tax that exceeds your mortgage payment enough for you to act? We'll find out on Election Night 2026.

To the barricades!

Auto theft wave continues in Aspen Hill

Auto thefts are getting out of control recently in the Bel Pre Road corridor of Aspen Hill. At least six vehicles were stolen from that area between January 20 and January 24, 2026. Thieves have returned to prey on the neighborhood again. Vehicles were stolen on January 29 from the 3800 block of Dunsinane Drive and 14500 Macbeth Drive. The following morning, a vehicle was reported stolen in the 3700 block of Capulet Terrace. Finally, on January 31, a car was reported stolen from a school parking lot in the 2400 block of Bel Pre Road at 1:54 PM.

Ride On LoveFlash buses to travel Rt. 29 in Silver Spring this month

Love is in the air this February—and it’s also on the road. If you’ve spotted a neon glow while traveling along Colesville Road or Columbia Pike lately, you aren’t seeing things. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is spreading the love by transforming its Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service into a moving Valentine. Five Flash BRT buses serving the U.S. 29 route have been decked out with vibrant neon heart lights and striking red frames. These "LoveFlash" buses are part of a month-long celebration of transit and its role in connecting the community in Montgomery County.

MCDOT wants to see your best shots of these glowing commuter transports. By participating in the #LoveFlash social media contest, you could win a $35 gift card (hear that in the voice of Dr. Evil - "Thirty-five dollars") in their weekly drawing. To enter: Snap a photo of a decorated LoveFlash bus. Post it to Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or X. Tag and Follow @MCDOTNow to finalize your entry. The contest runs until Saturday, February 28, 2026.

"Flash is a great option for those who travel on Rt. 29 because it’s fast, reliable, and easy to use," County Executive Marc Elrich said in a statement today. "Adding a little fun during February is a reminder that public transit can be welcoming and human, while still doing serious work connecting people to jobs, schools, and each other. When we invest in high-quality transit and make it free to ride, we’re building a County that’s more accessible and better for everyone."

Assault at restaurant in Silver Spring

Montgomery County police were called to a restaurant in the Long Branch area of Silver Spring on the afternoon of January 31, 2026, after someone reported having been assaulted there. The assault was reported at a restaurant in the 8500 block of Piney Branch Road at 2:33 PM Saturday. There are multiple restaurants on that block, and the establishment in question has not yet been identified by police.

Aggravated assault at shopping center in Olney

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an aggravated assault at a shopping center in Olney on January 24, 2026. The broad-daylight assault was reported at a retail property in the 18100 block of Town Center Drive at 4:49 PM. Fair Hill Shopping Center is located at 18100 Town Center Drive.

According to police, two suspects assaulted the adult male victim. Police describe the suspects only as a Black male and a White female of unknown age. If you have any information about this case, call police at (301) 279-8000. 

Strong-arm rape reported in parking lot in Wheaton

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm rape in a commercial parking lot in Wheaton on the afternoon of January 24, 2026. The sexual assault was reported in a parking lot in the 11100 block of Veirs Mill Road at 2:26 PM Saturday. That is in the vicinity of the Wheaton Triangle and Wheaton Plaza.

Shoplifting incident escalates into drug bust in Silver Spring

A shoplifting incident escalated at a downtown Silver Spring supermarket on January 28, 2026, when the suspect had more than store merchandise on their person. Police responded to a shoplifting report at a grocery store in the 900 block of Thayer Avenue at 2:48 PM Wednesday. Officers determined the suspect possessed drug paraphernalia. Safeway is located at 909 Thayer Avenue.

Amazon Fresh closing in White Oak

The Amazon Fresh grocery store at 12263 Prosperity Drive in White Oak will permanently close this Sunday, February 1, 2026. Amazon is closing all of its Amazon Fresh and Go grocery stores across the country, as a very expensive experiment with Amazon-branded physical grocery stores by the retail giant concludes. In Montgomery County, that means the losses of Amazon Fresh stores at Chevy Chase Lake, Friendship Heights, Shady Grove Road on the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg, and White Oak. It's an especially raw deal for all involved at the Chevy Chase locations, as residents of Chevy Chase Lake had expected to have an on-site grocery store, Friendship Heights residents will now have only the hipster house brands of Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Market as full-size supermarkets within walking distance, and the Chevy Chase Land Company was counting on both to anchor their respective developments of Chevy Chase Lake and the Collection at Chevy Chase.

Glenmont McDonald's drive-thru expansion planned

The drive-thru at the McDonald's at 12313 Georgia Avenue in Glenmont is about to get upgraded. Plans call for doubling the size of the drive-thru, with additional menu boards, canopies, and ordering microphones. Dual drive-thrus have become standard at many fast food chains these days, including McDonald's and Chick-fil-A. Drive-thru business accounts for a whopping 70% of sales at quick service restaurants.

Montgomery County Council seeks to restrict ICE access, ban face masks for law enforcement

Montgomery County Councilmembers Will Jawando (D - At-Large) and Kristin Mink (D - District 5) have introduced two bills aimed at curbing the impact of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) within the county. Flanked by community members, educators, and fellow lawmakers at a joint press conference, they vowed that Montgomery County will not be a silent partner in federal immigration enforcement that relies on "fear, intimidation, or abuse." Mink has directly engaged ICE officers in Maryland, posting video of her encounters that earned TV news coverage. 

The County Values Act (Bill 3-26), led by Councilmember Mink, focuses on restricting ICE's access to and use of county-controlled properties. Key provisions include:

• Requiring a judicial warrant for ICE to enter any areas of county facilities not open to the general public.
• Mandating clear signage in those areas explicitly barring ICE access.
• Providing comprehensive staff training on how to handle such encounters.
• Prohibiting immigration enforcement activities in county parking lots, garages, and vacant lots.
• Requiring county staff to report any observed enforcement activities and to restrict or block access where feasible.
• Directing the county to develop and post a signage template that private businesses can voluntarily adopt.

Mink's bill is cosponsored by Councilmembers Kate Stewart (District 4), Will Jawando, Shebra Evans (At-Large), Andrew Friedson (District 1), Laurie-Anne Sayles (At-Large), Evan Glass (At-Large), and Marilyn Balcombe (District 2). "We cannot make ICE agents operate lawfully, but what we can do is employ the strongest possible protocols at every facility the County owns or operates,” Mink said.

Complementing this effort is the Unmask ICE Act (Bill 5-26), sponsored by Councilmember Jawando. It prohibits masking or facial coverings by all law enforcement officers operating in Montgomery County—including federal agents like ICE—with limited exceptions for public health reasons or specific operational necessities. The goal is to ensure transparency and build trust by allowing residents to clearly identify officers. Cosponsors include Councilmembers Mink, Evans, Stewart, Sayles, and Glass.

Jawando, who is running for County Executive, cast masked law enforcement officials as a horror of America's past. "Throughout history, masks have been used in American law enforcement to shield the wearer from accountability, and used for terror, impunity, and anonymity for violence," he said. "We are seeing that play out again before our eyes, and we cannot accept that as our new reality. As our local law enforcement recognizes, safety requires trust, and trust requires transparency. Our community is calling on us to do more, and we must listen, work together, and move forward with courage to protect our community."

Councilmembers sought to make the human cost of ICE enforcement actions the focal point of a joint press conference held after the bill introductions.

Orchid Dargahi, a teacher at Newport Mill Middle School who had a family member arrested by ICE, described the "trauma" rippling through her school: "Before I can do anything else in my classroom, I need to make sure my students feel safe. But I field questions like, ‘Can ICE just come into school?’ before teaching kids how to write an essay for or against zoos."

Gaby Rivera of the Montgomery County Immigrant Rights Collective (MoCo IRC) shared the story of a 19-year-old forced to raise his younger siblings after both parents were detained. Rivera urged the Council to pass these bills alongside the previously introduced Trust Act, arguing that together, they send a clear message that the County refuses to be complicit in "fear, intimidation, or abuse."

Kako Claw arcade opens in Wheaton

This past weekend, Westfield's Wheaton Plaza mall embarked on its new effort to become a regional destination not only for shopping, dining, and blockbuster movies, but also for family fun. Kako Claw is now open. The claw machine arcade offers token packages starting at $10. Win blind box toys and collectibles Win keychains. Win plushies. Win plushie keychains! Already tired of what you won? Trade up at the Trade Station.

Kako Claw claims every machine gives you a fair chance to win. Look for Kako Claw on Level 2 of the mall, across from Classic Diamond & Jewelry. And the fun has just begun. A larger arcade and bowling alley entertainment center will be opening at the mall later this year, as I reported last month. Round1 Bowling & Arcade will be down on Level 1. 

Sinners guitar case popcorn bucket available at 2 AMC Theatres in Montgomery County

Sinners, one of the biggest blockbuster movies of 2025, just set a new record in 2026 for the most Oscar nominations of all time. While an anticipated nomination haul had already spurred a return to the big screen for the vampire flick, AMC Theatres has sweetened the even-better-than-fans-expected 16 nominations celebration with a very limited-edition Sinners guitar case popcorn bucket. So limited-edition, that the chain has currently removed the collectible from its website, where some lucky fans have successfully scored one when it has intermittently appeared in the online store.

That leaves buying one the old-fashioned way as your best bet. But the guitar case is not available at every AMC cineplex. Fortunately for Montgomery County moviegoers, two AMC locations here are on the list: AMC Montgomery 16 at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, and AMC Dine-in Rio Cinemas 18 at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg. If they sell out there, or if it's more convenient for you, the bucket is also available at the AMC Columbia 14 in Howard County, the AMC Georgetown 14 in Washington, D.C., and the AMC Tysons Corner 16.

You may want to call ahead to confirm they still have some in stock. Tonight's showing of Sinners is already sold-out at AMC Montgomery 16. You don't have to see the movie to buy the popcorn bucket, though. Tomorrow is likely to be a no-go due to the expected impact of the winter storm that is hitting the area tonight, but tickets are still being sold for Sunday's screening as of this writing.

Police arrest suspect in Aspen Hill Papa John's assault and robbery

Montgomery County police have arrested a suspect in the October 8, 2025 robbery at the Papa John's pizzeria at Northgate Plaza in Aspen Hill. Dean Steve Bodjona-Ali, 20, of Olney has been charged with robbery, 2nd-degree assault, and theft. He is accused of stealing a pizza that had been ordered by someone else, and of assaulting an employee who tried to stop him. Bodjona-Ali is being held without bond, pending a bond hearing.