Thank you to everyone who helped, volunteered, and contributed to Rockville's Holiday Drive.  Together we helped so many families!  This weekend, as a Rockville Elf, I was overjoyed to help many children choose special holiday gifts!  I am so thankful to our wonderful communities!  

As the year comes to a close, I am extremely thankful for Chief West and the incredible leadership at the Rockville City Police Department!  During a recent public safety work session with the Mayor and Council, Chief West related that a nearly fully staffed RCPD is seeing results in fighting crime and serving the community. The RCPD presentation included data from the 2024 annual report and from Jan. 1-Oct. 31, 2025. Assaults dropped 9% between 2023 and 2024 and the downturn continues in 2025, according to data reported to the FBI through the National Incident-Based Reporting System. The City saw no homicides in 2023 or 2024. There were three in early 2025.  All those cases have been closed with arrests. The RCPD's efforts have led to a decrease in motor vehicle thefts, a crime that spiked due to thefts by juvenile offenders. RCPD enforcement and community engagement included distributing free steering wheel locks. Vehicle thefts dropped from 258 offenses in all of 2024 to 115 through the first 10 months of 2025.  

Additionally, the RCPD's newest officer has four legs and big floppy ears.  Dare, a bloodhound, reported for duty today, and she is now on patrol on Rockville’s streets alongside her partner, Cpl. James Shieder Jr.  She is the latest in a line of Rockville K-9 officers that spans more than half a century. Dare is the first bloodhound K-9 in the history of RCPD.  You can meet Dale here: https://youtu.be/lJ3GtSOGhaE  Additionally, as you may know, I will be joining RCPD in supporting Special Olympics Maryland in the Annual Police & Public Safety Plunge this upcoming January!  Yes, together with our amazing police department, I am going back into the frigid Chesapeake Bay... but for a great cause!  Please consider helping me support the Special Olympics by making a donation through my fundraising page link below.  Even a small donation will help!  Thank you to all who have provided support so far! https://support.somd.org/fundraiser/6826187

Our city's 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration will be on January 19th and will be titled “Reclaiming the Dream: Justice, Equity, and Action,” as we explore what it means to advance equity and justice in our communities today.  Through deep and engaging presentations and conversations on equitable governance, shared leadership, systemic change, and restorative practices, this event will highlight the power of collective action, civic innovation, and healing justice. Together, we’ll reflect, reimagine, and recommit to building a future rooted in justice for all. https://www.rockvillemd.gov/services/martin-luther-king-jr-celebration/

As you may know, I am extremely concerned about the state of our school buildings in Rockville, specifically Wootton High School and Twinbrook Elementary School as both schools need new buildings and have been taken off the County's list for school upgrades after previously being placed on the list.  I have been regularly speaking with Board of Education Members and County Councilmembers regarding the situation.  Most importantly, I am appalled that MCPS is considering closing Wootton High School.  Such a potential closure threat is extremely troubling to me.  Here are some of my thoughts in opposing such a potential closure: https://montgomeryperspective.com/2025/12/17/rockville-city-council-member-makes-the-case-against-relocating-wootton-high-school/  Please contact Board of Education Members and County Councilmembers yourself (if you have the time) to let them know about these serious concerns.