From the Mail bag...

Monday, August 25, 2008

Dear Mr. Leggett:

I'm the mother of Dov Klugerrnan, the 14-year-old pedestrian who was killed by a speeding SUV in May 2006. As you may recall, I was in touch with you some time ago about safety concerns on Arcola Avenue, where we live and where our son was fatally wounded.

Today, I'm writing to thank you for the outstanding work that has been completed on Arcola Avenue. The road work has improved pedestrian safety considerably and compelled motorists to obey the speed limit while allowing traffic to flow easily. Just last week, I crossed the street halfway while pushing my toddler in a stroller, waited on the pedestrian island, and incredibly, traffic stopped to allow us to complete crossing. I have lived on Arcola Avenue for nine years, and I have never in all that time crossed my street as easily and safely as I am able to now.

Any major changes undoubtedly trigger complaints, and I am certain that you and your staff have received a good amount of negative feedback from motorists who were angered at being slowed down. But please know that I not only speak for myself and my family, but also many, many residents of our community when I say thank you for having the courage and resolve to implement these lifesaving measures.

We are grateful to you for making pedestrian safety a priority in Montgomery County. Unfortunately, it will not bring our son back, but it's heartening to know that this important step will undoubtedly save the lives of others.

- Yaffa Klugerman, Silver Spring

Monday, August 25, 2008

Thank you very much for addressing the speed bump concerns raised in my letter. In addition it was a pleasure to discuss traffic issues with Mr. Tracy Wroe to whom you referred me.

Thank you again for being an action Executive who gets things done.

- Joseph, Bethesda

Monday, August 25, 2008

I am a long-time county resident.

I am thrilled (yes, I'm yelling) to see expansion of the plastic recycling program. County money well-spent!. I love the free reusable paint also, plus shoe (textile) recycling. This is what makes me love County services.

Now for recycling bins in downtown Silver Spring, as I had written to you, Mr. Leggett, sometime back. I hope the budget cuts won't cut into this effort.

- Tanya, Takoma Park

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Mr. Leggett

I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the changes you have made to Arcola Ave in Montgomery County - adding pedestrian crossings, road islands...  I look forward to when the lines will be painted so people will have the chance to understand the new traffic patterns.

As someone who frequently crosses Arcola on foot, I think what you have done is super work and I commend your efforts. The weaving design is actually helpful, since it will ensure drivers pay attention to the road and do not operate their cars on auto-pilot while talking on their phone or hitting the keys on their PDAs.

The bottom line is that Arcola is a feeder to a small bedroom residential community and is / should not be a cut through to commercial traffic. You might even consider putting a dead-end in the middle of it so that residents from one direction have to exit Eastwards and the other end Westwards and completely eliminate the cut-through traffic for good (of course we need to address emergency vehicle access, but I will leave that to the experts).


Talmudic law teaches, and you may have heard this in the movie "Schindler's List" that, he who saves even 1 person, it is as if he saved the entire universe. These changes will not eliminate all risk, and anyone who does not avail themselves of the new crossing points are certainly wrong. However, in general, it will be to your merit, that you will have saved someone's life.

- Joel, Silver Spring 

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Hello Mr. Leggett, 

A great big "Thank You" for all your work to get the montgomery county commission on veterans affairs presented & then passed.

This will be a first step in helping our new young vets deal with problems encountered upon their return home. it will also be a help to us older vets.

The celebration for the a.d.a. anniversary had a good turnout. keep up the good work in "the land of we're already doing that!"

Welcome home!

best regards.

- Bill, Silver Spring

Friday, April 18, 2008

I am a resident of Montgomery County and a county employee. I recently saw the press campaign regarding the E85/Propane Fuel Site on Crabbs Branch Way. I knew of it because I fuel there and use E85 in my county vehicle. I was glad to see this advertised as very few residents know about it.

While this was a positive step, I do have a concern about the E85. The price the county charges does not make it economically feasible for me to use the E85 in my private vehicle. The E85 fuel produces approximately 20% less mileage per gallon than regular gas. To make it worthwhile to use, most E85 prices around the country are 20 to 30% less than gas. The price at Crabbs Branch is currently $3.19 a gallon, only a 6% difference. While I would like to reduce my personal vehicles emissions by the 39-46% that E85 does, my wife and I can not justify the added cost.

I am happy to see that Montgomery County has invested in such a valuable and eco-friendly resource. I hope there is something that can be done to make it an economically viable option for residents. I thank you for your service to Montgomery County.

- Darren

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Thank you so much for your responsiveness to my letter concerning the proposed changes to North Four Corners Park and thank you even more for your actions already taken regarding this issue. Its is very heartening to know that our government is keeping the community in mind by weighting in our views, allowing us to have a say in the future of our neighborhood. I am very impressed with the care that you and many others have given in this matter, and am sharing this with my neighbors. Thank you!

-Ron, Silver Spring

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Thank you very much. I really appreciate your PROMPT response. I've told many people how satisfied I was. I had been away and when I returned home at night, I, myself, unbeknownst to me that there was an enormous new hole at Kenbrook Drive and Healy Street right by my house, drove right into the hole. It was a big hazard and Washington Gas did not even put any orange alert cones around it. Friends told me they had called Washington Gas while I had been away, and told me there was no response, as you reiterate in your email. Another friend got a flat tire from hitting it. So, I took digital pictures, got right on my computer, and fortunately, found Mr. Leggett's email addrsss and sent the info to him. Am I gald! He's done a very impressive job! It is now safe and hazard-free. I am proud of Montgomery County for providing such exemplary service, even when they were not in ay way the cause of the hole in the street!

- Ellyn

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

I am a long term resident of Montgomery County, specifically the North Four Corners community. The purpose of this note is to tell you that as a tax paying resident, I support your priorities for budget money (especially in this era of tight money) as laid out in the CIP. I believe that Montgomery Countytaxes should go to benefit the greatest members of the tax paying residents. I am happy that I voted for you

-Pricilla, Silver Spring

Monday, March 03, 2008

Thank you very much for doing this Luxmanor (working on speeding issues in the neighborhood). You have given back our community to us. I always knew you would come through for us and see that the right thing was done is your reputation, after all.

-Tom, Bethesda

Saturday, March 01, 2008

Thank you very much for finding a win-win solution to Ride On route 90. While Damascus is "a ways out", we take pride in being a small town that is part of a "bigger community" (Mountgomery County). For those young adults in this area who do rely on the #90 to get to Montgomery College or to work on Saturdays , I say thank you very much.

- Melody, Damascus

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

I was informed that you decided to revise your Ride-On Proposed 2008 Savings Plan, and you will no longer be canceling Bus Route 37 in Potomac. I want to express my gratitude to you for this decision.

Public transportation is becoming more and more important in our lives, it helps residents to cope with rapidly growing traffic, it allows to get to work and school on time, it takes many cars off the streets and eliminates the need of hard to find parkings, it protects environment and lowers the onsumption of gasoline, it enables the needy and elderly to get around, it opens communities and unites people. Thank you very much again, Mr. Leggett.

Sincerely yours,

- Margaret
Potomac

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

I appreciate your concern for order, as a Montgomery County employee who is affected by the reorganization plan. I realize that some things must be done, in order to more effectively serve "ALL" I don't know what's ahead, but if you are leading, I am following.

-Wess

Friday, February 01, 2008

I wish to express my thanks to Isiah Leggett and the Montgomery County Council for their efforts related to county cable/video consumer options. I am fortunate in that I am able to retain residence in Maryland while I work in New York. The quality of life here is great. As you can see I work for a major broadcast company, CBS Television.

As a Silver Spring resident, in mid 2007, my cable service quickly deteriorated to little or no video/internet delivery. After three months of patience, cajoling, begging and, I confess, some anger, I finally switched. However, I'm one of the lucky homeowners. Our neighborhood had been wired. I know there are many Maryland neighborhoods that still do not have this option.

I cannot stress enough the importance of the steps you are taking. Some may think these services are "optional". However, in today's wired society, if I didn't have the superior quality of these servcies, I could not live in Maryland. These services allow me to telecommute hundreds of miles from my official office. Without them, I could have needed to move my family to New York taking my "upper income" earnings with me.

Again, my thanks for your efforts.

- J.W.
Silver Spring

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

I just want to thank you for fining Comcast. It's so rare to see a big company held accountable for years and years of abysmal service. Seems like a no-brainer to me for keeping your constituents happy! Keep up the good work.

- David
Takoma Park

Friday, January 25, 2008

Thanks so much for listening and hearing those of us with frequent bus-traveling teens. My kids are so relieved that this important program, Kids Ride Free, will stay in place.

As my kids say, "You Rock!"

- Mairi
Mother of 4 bus-riding teens
Takoma Park

Friday, January 04, 2008

Ike, I read in the Post today that you are freezing hiring, except for safety concerns.

I am very much in favor of this plan. However, I look at it as forcing each group to truly look at improving efficiencies and to ultimately reduce an ever increasing bureaucracy. If you can force these changes, you will have truly been successful and the taxpayers would be the biggest beneficiaries.

Thanks for your time.

- Conrad

Friday, December 21, 2007

As a resident of Montgomery County, I think the riding free for seniors and disabled on the metro system is absolutely fantastic!  I volunteer as a Compeer for someone who is disabled.  It blows my mind the things they have to pay for on their limited incomes that those people making 10 times more get reimbursed for….subsidized metro fairs, paid parking, reduced rates on doctor appointments because we have insurance, while the doctors charge those without insurance the full price (often double what we pay).  I admire my friend so much.  She takes responsibility for all these expenses and pays for them by buying second hand clothes and eating meals that are cheap.  I will never complain about what I don’t have again.  And it is so wonderful to be a citizen in a compassionate, caring county that helps those in need, not those in want!

- Joanne