Council Passes Bill to Enhance Support for Small Businesses Engaged in Research and  Development
November 29, 2022 - Newswires
“These changes are just the latest in our committee’s and this 19th Council’s intentional efforts to grow and expand Montgomery County’s global strength in biohealth sciences,” said Councilmember Friedson. “By supporting early stage life science companies, we’re ensuring these world-changing, life-saving businesses will grow, invest and enhance quality of life right here where they belong, in Montgomery County, Maryland.”

What concerns Montgomery Co. Council ahead of Md. General Assembly session in January?
November 29, 2022 - WTOP
That proposal brought a strong objection from Council member Andrew Friedson, whose district includes Bethesda and Potomac. “That is not an evenhanded, thoughtful public policy discussion over governance. That’s a power grab,” he said, suggesting the council’s authority would be diminished under the proposed legislation.

'Stomach churning' antisemitic graffiti discovered in Maryland
November 15, 2022 - The Jewish Voice
County Council Member Andrew Friedson condemned the graffiti. “Unfortunately, these are just the latest in an alarming rise in antisemitic incidents across our county and throughout the country,” he said in a social media statement. “We will not accept or tolerate anti-Jewish hatred in our community and will not allow antisemitism in any of its forms to be normalized or desensitized. We must continue to come together to make clear that hate has no place here.” Friedson said that law enforcement has opened an investigation and the Department of Transportation is cleaning up the graffiti.

"Hate has no place here" - County officials condemn antisemitic graffiti found in North Bethesda
November 14, 2022- Bethesda BEAT
According to Friedson’s statement, police were actively investigating the incident and the Department of Transportation is currently working to get the graffiti cleaned up as soon as possible.

Antisemitic graffiti found near Bethesda Trolley Trail
November 14, 2022 - The Washington Post
“I am deeply disturbed by several horrific antisemitic graffiti” incidents that recently occurred, Montgomery County Council member Andrew Friedson (D-District 1) said in a statement Monday afternoon. “Unfortunately, these are just the latest in an alarming rise in antisemitic incidents across our county and throughout the country.” Friedson introduced a resolution denouncing antisemitism that  passed unanimously earlier this month after some controversy over the measure’s definition of antisemitism. Despite some pushback, the council unanimously supported the resolution as an “educational tool” to combat acts of hate against Jews in Montgomery County... “We will not accept or tolerate anti-Jewish hatred in our community and will not allow antisemitism in any of its forms to be normalized or desensitized,” Friedson said Monday.

County Council unanimously approves resolution to condemn and combat antisemitism
November 2, 2022 - Bethesda BEAT
Friedson reaffirmed his commitment to the resolution that he had first introduced to the council during the summer. “For three months we’ve received feedback on this resolution in light of concerns raised and worked diligently on a series of language modifications to address them by reiterating protection of free speech and political debate, affirming the definition as an educational tool rather than adopting or endorsing it,” he said.

Montgomery County Council passes antisemitism resolution amid pushback
November 1, 2022 - Washington Post
“This resolution serves as a powerful statement to our community and, in many ways, is just the start to this very important conversation,” Friedson said.

Husband of bicyclist killed to hold bike ride to Congress for safer streets
October 21, 2022 - WUSA9
Councilman Andrew Friedson said he and the delegation have been in contact with the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway every other week. Friedson said there are plans to implement near and long-term changes soon. "There are opportunities to have a more continuous bikeway for the stretch of road to make sure we provide a protected barrier," Friedson said. "We have to do better. We have to do more, and we can't solve this problem just intersection by intersection. We need holistic approaches."

Bike ride to Capitol Hill pushes for safer streets after cyclist's death
Octover 21, 2022 - WTOP News
Friedson said changes are being made on Old Georgetown Road and other areas throughout the county to increase safety. “Specifically on River Road, we are working with the State Department of Transportation and State Highway Administration on implementing immediate safety changes,” Friedson said. “And also for medium- and longer-term improvements, as well.”

Montgomery Co. still a long way from 'Vision Zero' goal - WTOP News
September 20, 2022  - WTOP News
Council member Andrew Friedson represents Bethesda, where two teenage cyclists were killed along Old Georgetown Road in collisions just three years apart. Referring to the deaths of 18-year-old Enzo Alvarenga, who  was killed in June, and 17-year-old Jake Cassell, who  died after being struck by a vehicle along the same stretch in 2019, Friedson called for road design changes. “Pylons were added after Enzo died; the original bike lane happened after Jake died,” Friedson said. “We have to get to a situation where we’re making some of these changes before somebody dies.”

Season of Glass: Montgomery official preps for elevated role on council he helped reshape
September 14, 2022 - Maryland Matters
“It’s going to be an interesting time for the county council,” Friedson said. “There’s going to be more [political] change in Montgomery County than there’s been maybe in our history.”

Md. county leaders want trail near Purple Line to open early
September 13, 2022  - WTOP News
“I am going to strongly urge you to find any and all opportunities” to reopen the trail prior to the planned fall 2026 opening, Friedson said. He explained that for many residents, “the trail is just as important and would be used just as much — if not more — than the train itself.”

Purple Line, Capital Crescent Trail Expected to Open in Fall 2026
September 13, 2022 - Montgomery Community Media
“We are behind. We’ve got some trust to make up,” said Councilmember Andrew Friedson to the representatives of the Purple Line. Friedson pressed officials as to why the Capital Crescent Trail cannot open earlier, as promised originally. “I am going to strongly urge you to find any and all options to open the trail” before the Purple Line is complete. “It is a very, very significant issue for a lot of residents,” Friedson said.

Purple Line Delays Frustrate Maryland Residents
September 13, 2022  - NBC4 Washington
“I’m going to strongly urge you to find any and all opportunities to open the trail,” Montgomery County Council member Andrew Friedson said.

Montgomery Co. resident, councilman concerned about bike lane safety along River Road
September 9, 2022 - ABC 7 News
"Our roads are for everybody and they need to be safe for everybody,” Friedson opined. "The issues with the bike lane on River Road are similar to the issues on Old Georgetown Road and on many state highways where certain interim measures have been taken, but they aren't enough." ... Friedson noted that it took one death to gin up enough support for a dedicated bike lane and the second death for approval to place bollards between the vehicle travel lanes and the new bike lane. "But those bike lanes are only for .6 miles along Old Georgetown Road,” Friedson added. “We've been advocating for the entire corridor of Old Georgetown Road between two urban areas, North Bethesda, which is emerging where Pike & Rose is, all the way down to Downtown Bethesda. We can't have part of that roadway protected with bike lanes, we need all of that roadway protected with bike lanes." ... "We don't just need a bike lane with some stripping in certain parts of River Road. We need a protected bike lane with a buffer that keep bicyclists safe and protected from the speed and the danger of cars, and we also need to make sure that it's continuous. That these are viewed as corridors,” Friedson concluded.

Residents call for more safety measures along Old Georgetown Road
September 9, 2022  - Bethesda Beat
Friedson told those gathered on Friday that he and other elected officials organized the walk to raise awareness and urge action on dangerous corridors in the county, like along Old Georgetown Road.

Friedson Holds Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Walk Friday
September 2, 2022 - Montgomery Community Media
Councilmember Andrew Friedson is holding a walk Friday, Sept. 9 in Bethesda along Old Georgetown Road (MD187) to draw attention to pedestrian and bicycle safety. He will be joined by representatives from the Maryland State Highway Administration; Maryland Senator Susan Lee; and Maryland Delegates Ariana Kelly, Marc Korman, and Sara Love to discuss much needed pedestrian and bicycle safety measures.

County Announces $1 Million in Grants for Abortion Access
September 2, 2022 - Montgomery Community Media
“We are going to fight back,” Councilmember Andrew Friedson said during the news conference. “At a moment of darkness and tragedy, we are going to be a light for the country.” Friedson added, “We don’t take backward steps when it comes to rights. We take forward steps. We add rights for people. We don’t take rights away.”

County Council to face issue of rent stabilization after summer recess
August 17, 2022  - Bethesda Beat
Andrew Friedson, unopposed in his re-election bid for council District 1, which covers Bethesda, Potomac, parts of Chevy Chase and other areas, noted Tuesday that permanent rent stabilization could cause “unintended consequences” that result in less availability of existing affordable housing. Friedson said those who advocate for broad-based rental increase cap policies have good intentions, but supporters must consider the potential effects of displacement, especially when it comes to younger residents trying to find a place to live. Building more housing is the most effective step in lowering rent prices, he added. “This is what the data and the research show us … the people who are benefitting from broad-based rent control are long-time renters who have gotten really good deals,” Friedson said. “It’s then the youngest and most diverse residents who usually suffer because the people who have been here all along want to stay because of those good deals.”

Meet me at the mall: Police have a new space in Bethesda
August 11, 2022 - WTOP News
Montgomery County Council member Andrew Friedson, whose district includes Bethesda, said at Thursday morning’s event: “We need to have that type of community partnership with law enforcement to make sure that residents feel safe, to make sure that businesses feel safe, to make sure that we can have the type of quality of life and amenities that we expect.”

How state governments are reimagining American public housing
August 4, 2022 - VOX
Andrew Friedson, a Montgomery County councilmember who has been leading efforts in Maryland to address his region’s housing shortage, told Vox he’s been supporting the public development idea because “there is now much broader recognition and understanding” that governments have to be more aggressive. “The status quo and even marginal improvements are not going to come anywhere close to meeting the need,” he said.

Zoning Measure Expands Biohealth in Transit-Oriented Areas
August 1, 2022 - Montgomery Community Media
“It takes a series of intentional policy decisions like this one to create an environment in which the life sciences industry can grow and flourish. Through targeted workforce development efforts and the assistance of our partners at the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, we are doing just that and are seeing the benefits of those efforts,” Friedson said. 

Council Approves New Zoning Measure to Expand Biohealth in Urbanizing, Transit-Oriented Locations
July 30, 2022 - Newswires
“This economic success does not happen by accident," Councilmember Friedson said. "It takes a series of intentional policy decisions like this one to create an environment in which the life sciences industry can grow and flourish. Through targeted workforce development efforts and the assistance of our partners at the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, we are doing just that and are seeing the benefits of those efforts.” 

Council's Antisemitism Resolution Delayed Until September
July 27, 2022 - Montgomery Community Media 
“It really wasn’t tabled,” Friedson. “It wasn’t like a vote count thing. There is support for it.” Friedson said the resolution was a response to the antisemitic flyers in Kemp Mill and other instances of antisemitic graffiti, vandalism and harassment gainst Jewish community members.

Voters to decide in November whether to tweak county attorney removal process
July 27, 2022 - Bethesda BEAT 
Council Member Andrew Friedson of Bethesda, who represents District 1, said more discussion would be “helpful.” “I think we’ll have an opportunity again in two years where frankly there would be higher voter turnout, I would expect, in a presidential election, which may be a better opportunity to understand what the will of the voters would be,” he said. 

County Council to consider resolution defining and condemning antisemitism in September
July 27, 2022 - Bethesda BEAT 
“We’ve had flyers in Chevy Chase as part of a national white supremacist group that directly threatened Jews,” he said. “There’s just a number of incidents that have happened in our county, in our community that are part of the rising number of incidents in the country and globally.”  

Council Votes for Lactation Rooms, Paid Parental Leave for County Employees
July 27, 2022 - Montgomery Community Media 
“It’s really part of county government, as a large employer, really trying to model the type of family-friendly policies that we should be implementing,” Friedson said during Tuesday’s council  meeting. “I think both of these efforts will help us retain and attract great talent that we need and it will also allow us to provide better services to our residents,” he said.

Council Passes Bills Sponsored by Councilmember Friedson to Support Working Parents
July 27, 2022 - Newswires
“I am proud that the Montgomery County Government will now provide paid parental leave and accessible lactation rooms to our public employees, modeling the type of family-friendly policies we want all employers to implement,” said Councilmember Friedson. “This standard requirement will help our working parents avoid the impossible and false choices between work and family life to support our labor force and ultimately improve the services we provide to residents.” 

County Council establishes private security camera incentive program
July 26, 2022 - Bethesda BEAT 
Council Member Andrew Friedson, a co-sponsor of the bill, told Bethesda Beat that the program isn’t up and running yet because the bill was just approved and money would need to be appropriated first.

Montgomery County voters await results in executive, council races
July 20, 2022 - The Washington Post
“I feel great,” Friedson said with a campaign sticker affixed to his short-sleeve polo. “It’s always fun to watch democracy in action.”

Wisconsin Avenue development in Bethesda includes affordable housing
July 14, 2022 - Bethesda BEAT
Montgomery County Council Member Andrew Friedson, who represents Bethesda, said it will be beneficial to replace the lots with housing and open space that community members can use.  “It is a good day for Bethesda,” Friedson said. “It’s a good day for Montgomery County. It’s a good day for housing and for building the type of welcoming community we talk so often about.”

Bethesda Churches Vandalized, Set on Fire Over Weekend 
July 11, 2022 - Montgomery Community Media 
Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson called the incidents “abhorrent” and “horrifying.”  “I’m not an investigator or prosecutor but certainly believe they should be and have every confidence they will be. We can’t allow this type of violence against religious institutions in our county,” Friedson said in a tweet.

Montgomery County leaders address rise in youth violence
June 29, 2022 - The Washington Post 
“We’re in a crisis with our kids,” county council member Andrew Friedson (D-District 1) said this week during a youth safety presentation. “I think these challenges are going to get a lot worse before they get a lot better.”

County Council says it expects to vote on Thrive Montgomery 2050 plan by end of October
June 21, 2022 - Bethesda BEAT
County Council Member Andrew Friedson said Tuesday that he wants council staff to come up with a more specific timeline for Nspiregreen to deliver its findings to the council. He said he’s worried that if the consultant takes too long, the council might not be able to meet the deadline of voting by late October.

Montgomery County Honors 60 Homeless People Who Died
June 17, 2022 - Rockville, MD Patch
Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson said the county must commit to valuing everyone in the community. "The way we honor the lost is to take care of the living," Friedson said.

Councilmember Friedson Introduces Bills to Support Working Parents
June 15, 2022 - EIN News
“I believe that Montgomery County government, as an employer of almost 10,000, must lead by the power of its example. We must model an environment that acknowledges, values and uplifts women, parents and families,” said Councilmember Andrew Friedson. “Historically, women in the workforce have been overburdened and under supported. COVID-19 has only exacerbated existing challenges. Helping new parents productively balance their work and family lives will strengthen the County government workforce and improve services we provide to residents.”

Friedson introduces bills providing paid family leave, lactation rooms for county employees
June 15, 2022  - Bethesda BEAT
Fundamentally, the paid family leave bill shows that the county values its workforce, he said. Even if co-workers need to cover for those using family leave, providing paid family leave will show the county is serious about recruitment and retention efforts, and keeping a healthy, happy workforce, Friedson added.  “No matter what, people are going to have to pick up the slack [for those on leave]. The difference is, is it going to be permanent, or are we going to want them back?” Friedson said. “Are we going to encourage them to stay in the county workforce, or are we going to discourage them to the point that they leave?”  “We don’t want to spend all the time building up the institutional knowledge, training members of our workforce, getting them the skills to be productive supporters of our community — and then, when they have a child, to not have the right support here, and have to make that awful, impossible decision between taking care of their family and their newborn or their foster child or returning to work,” Friedson added.

Bills Would Provide Paid Parental Leave, Lactation Rooms for County Employees
June 14, 2022 - Montgomery Community Media
On Tuesday, County Councilmember Andrew Friedson introduced two bills to help county employees. One requires six weeks of paid  parental  leave at 100% salary, and the other requires all county buildings to have a  lactation  room or alternate accommodation. Friedson hopes the legislation will encourage other employers to offer similar policies for their own employees.

Bills tackle parental leave, provide lactation rooms for Montgomery County employees | WTOP News
June 14, 2022 - WTOP News
“Candidly, I was learning about our parental leave policies in the county, and I was shocked to learn that we really didn’t have a parental leave policy,” said the bill’s sponsor Council member Andrew Friedson...  “We can model an environment that acknowledges, values and uplifts women, parents and families,” Friedson said.

Maryland lawmakers seek solutions to improve safety on Old Georgetown Road
June 3, 2022 - WTOP
“We have a combination of outdated, dangerous designs and extremely high rates of speed,” Friedson said. “And, when you combine those two factors, there are deadly consequences, and we’re unfortunately facing yet another tragedy related to our dangerous-by-design roads.”  He said that on a “walk along” with state highway officials, they observed, in some areas, signposts, utility poles and even fire hydrants were placed in the middle of the sidewalk.  “An absurdity,” Friedson said. “You would never have that in the middle of a lane of traffic.”

Safety concerns growing after another teen bicyclist killed on same road in Bethesda
June 2, 2022 - WUSA 9 
"Every time somebody dies on the roadway is a policy failure," Councilmember Andrew Friedson told WUSA9. "Every fatality of a pedestrian or every fatality of a bicyclist is an engineering failure,"... "We are not making nearly as much progress we need to make sure our roadways are safe," Friedson added. "Until we get to the point we reengineered our roadways to be safe, we're going to continue to have tragedies."

Leaders Gather for Vigil in Wake of Uvalde, Texas School Shooting
May 31, 2022 -  Montgomery Community Media
“We do have to make a choice of whether or not we value our children more than we value our guns,” said Councilmember Andrew Friedson. “Whether we value our neighbors more than we value this idea of the frontier, this idea of personal protection.” 

Council Unanimously Adopts $6.3 Billion Fiscal Year 2023 Budget
May 26, 2022 - Montgomery Community Media
Following adoption, Councilmember Andrew Friedson said, “I am proud to say that we were able to fulfill our fiscal obligations without raising taxes on our residents who are still recovering from the pandemic. Of course, a single number and short description can’t possibly capture the magnitude of investment and impact these programs have, but our hope is that this graphic will demonstrate the value  and values  we worked hard to uphold in this budget process.”

Montgomery Co. considers changing hiring requirements for vacant health officer role
May 19, 2022 - WTOP News
“We’re going to trade one problem for another unless we deal with the root issue here,” Friedson said, noting the state requires for a medical doctor as either the health officer or the deputy health officer.

The Chevy Chase Library: A surprising victory, and a new responsibility
May 19, 2022 - Greater Greater Washington
“Probably not my preferred method… but we have missed opportunity after opportunity after opportunity after opportunity to do this…I’m still hearing why (other similar past projects) can’t be done, and I just can’t imagine being here 6 years, 7 years, 8 years from now and having the same conversation that my colleagues were having with my predecessor in 2013… I’m willing to try something that isn’t perfect… We gotta do something, we gotta do something different than we are doing right now, cause it isn’t working.”

Nourish Now Opens Larger Warehouse to Help Feed More People
May 18, 2022 - Montgomery Community Media
Councilmember Andrew Friedson said he has been “a friend of Nourish Now since Brett was running around in his Honda with frozen chickens.” He praised the non-profit organization and the work it has done both before and during the pandemic.  Of all the basic human needs, food security is number one, Friedson said. “If people don’t have food, if families don’t have food, if children don’t know where their next meal is coming from, nothing else matters.”

County Council says it supports housing at Chevy Chase Library site
May 12, 2022 - Bethesda Magazine
Council Member Andrew Friedson, whose District 1 includes the site, said there have been multiple opportunities over the years to consider building housing alongside other projects on county-owned land.  One example, he said, is the recent construction of the new county police station in Bethesda, although that project ultimately did not include housing.  Friedson asked how much affordable housing County Executive Marc Elrich and his administration were expecting to see as part of the project...  Friedson and others said they were concerned about “mixed messages” being sent by Elrich’s administration to Chevy Chase and the surrounding communities about the future of the library site.

'They Tried to Shame Us': Germantown Family Urges MCPS to Sensitize Staff to African Students
May 11, 2022 - Montgomery Community Media
Councilmember Andrew Friedson was alerted to her tweet and responded, “very sorry to hear about this,” adding, “We would be happy to reach out to @MCPS.”  In a text to MyMCM, Friedson said, “We’ve been in touch with the family following the exchange on Twitter. We reached out to Dr. Bohorquez, acting director of Student, Family and School Services/International Admissions & Enrollment. They are currently looking into it and we hope to have a response soon.”

County fire and rescue service could get more first responders, increase salaries
May 10, 2022 - Bethesda BEAT
During Tuesday’s council meeting, Council Member Andrew Friedson also highlighted $150,000 for fleet and building maintenance service for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad. Friedson said that squad formerly served both the Bethesda and Chevy Chase communities and parts of northwest Washington, D.C. But now, it just serves the Bethesda and Chevy Chase areas, he said. Friedson said the additional funding is in recognition of the squad’s efforts to provide life-saving services as well as community outreach. An example of its community work is the Nourishing Bethesda coalition, which provides food to underprivileged families throughout Bethesda and Chevy Chase, Friedson says.

Downtown Silver Spring master plan aims to spur development, address climate change
May 4, 2022 - Bethesda BEAT
Friedson, along with Council President Gabe Albornoz and Council Members Nancy Navarro, Craig Rice, Tom Hucker and Sidney Katz voted to leave structured parking as a public benefit...  Friedson said that although the Pike & Rose neighborhood is different than downtown Silver Spring, it is a good example of how structured parking can be accomplished effectively. 

Montgomery County's plan to give local winegrowers a boost
April 28, 2022 - WTOP News
Montgomery County Council member Andrew Friedson, whose Bethesda district is home to “restaurant row,” said it was exciting to think about the future for the agricultural and the restaurant industries.  “When you go to a restaurant anywhere across the region, you want local wine, you want local beer,” Friedson said. “I look forward to being able to go into a restaurant and having the choice of dozens and dozens of local wines and local beers for residents to enjoy. I’m looking forward to it being a huge success.”

County Council staff concerned about executive branch's revenue projections
April 20, 2022 - Bethesda Magazine
But Council Member Andrew Friedson and others said that a more thorough review of the OPEB trust fund and how it is funded is needed before county officials withdraw money from it. Doing so would be bad fiscal policy, he added. “It’s an obligation and not an option,” Friedson said about funding OPEB. The county allocates some of its budget every year toward funding the trust fund. “The policy goes first, the action goes second, and we have got our order way out of whack here,” he added. 

Montgomery County to Affirm Support for the Francis G. Newlands Memorial Removal Act 
April 19, 2022 -  EIN News
“The Francis G. Newlands Memorial Removal Act will send a strong message repudiating housing discrimination and segregation which should not be accepted or tolerated in Montgomery County, our Nation’s Capital, or anywhere,” said Councilmember Andrew Friedson (District 1) . “For too long, this statue has represented exclusion and division rather than a welcome sign to an inclusive community.  As we do the critical work of dismantling the structures that perpetuate institutional racism, the symbols and statues that normalize it matter, too.”

Montgomery County Council sets salaries for police conduct review boards
April 6, 2022 - Bethesda Magazine
When the council agreed on Tuesday on a $10,000 salary for Police Accountability Board members, Council Member Andrew Friedson was the only one to vote no. Friedson didn’t explain his vote during the meeting, but later wrote in a text message, in response to a question from Bethesda Beat, that he supported the pay for the Administrative Charging Committee because it is “arguably quasi-judicial.”  But he was opposed to approving pay for the Police Accountability Board because it was being singled out for compensation among numerous county boards and committees. Friedson wrote that he preferred a “holistic” approach. “We have dozens of county advisory boards, committees and commissions with thousands of volunteers who we don’t pay,” Friedson wrote. “So it is hard for me to justify paying some who volunteer to serve the county $10,000 a year while not compensating others who also dedicate significant time and talent on important issues.” Friedson’s objection is a continuation of a debate from January 2020, when the County Council considered whether to pay people for serving on county volunteer boards and commissions.

Montgomery County Approves New Pediatric Mobile Medical Clinic
April 5, 2022 - DCist
“During the pandemic, we’ve learned that we can’t just sit back and wait for folks to come to us for services, we have to go to them,” said Councilmember Andrew Friedson in a statement. “We have to do it on their turf, in their terms, in their language, in a way that is culturally competent. By partnering with local nonprofits and leveraging private dollars, this exciting effort will help us do that.”

Residents Voice Support for Pediatric Mobile Medical Clinic
March 29, 2022 - Montgomery Community Media
“We, in the pandemic, have learned a lot,” said Councilmember Andrew Friedson. “But, one of the things we’ve learned is that we can’t sit back and wait for folks to come to us for services, we have to go to them. We have to do it on their turf, in their terms, in their language, in a way that is culturally competent. This is going to help us do that.”

Council supports plan outlining transit options for I-270 corridor
March 22, 2022 - Bethesda Magazine
Council Member Andrew Friedson shared Riemer’s view that county planners and officials need to be ambitious about future transit. Friedson said Corridor Forward does a good job of establishing both practical goals and aspirations — what he compared to a magic wand.   “This document now … really does have the current moment and the magic wand option for the future,” Friedson said.

Approved Opportunity Zone Incentive Program will Attract and Retain Biohealth Companies in Montgomery County 
March 16, 2022 - Newswires
“The Biohealth Opportunity Zone Incentive Program will add a tool to our Economic Development Fund toolbox,” said Councilmember Friedson. “As a companion to ZTA 21-09, it will encourage investments in biohealth in traditionally under-invested communities. As we seek to expand economic opportunities throughout the county, we need to ensure that no communities are left behind.” 

Loudoun County hopes to reopen White's Ferry by purchasing landing
March 15, 2022 - Bethesda Magazine
“Ultimately, Montgomery County is not in a position to directly purchase property outside its jurisdiction. But we can work with Loudoun County, as we have to be a constructive partner and to do what is needed in order to facilitate a solution to this challenge,” he said. 

Montgomery County Affirms Support for Public Health Officials Amid Public Vitriol and Safety Concerns
March 15, 2022 - Newswires
This resolution is co-sponsored by Council President Gabe Albornoz and Councilmembers Will Jawando, Tom Hucker, Sidney Katz, Nancy Navarro and Andrew Friedson. 

Teachers union backs almost all incumbents in state, County Council races
March 11, 2022 - Bethesda Magazine
The union also has picked one candidate to back in each of the seven County Council district races: District 1: Andrew Friedson, an incumbent. 

Council Passes Bill to Require Establishments to Offer Healthy Children's Meal Option
March 5, 2022 - Source of the Spring 
The bill was passed by a vote of 8-1 with Councilmember Andrew Friedson (D-Distict 1) the sole dissenting vote.

County hiring outside consultant for Thrive Montgomery 2050
March 3, 2022 - Bethesda Magazine
Council Member Andrew Friedson said the dates might change, but the consultant and public need to know roughly how many more work sessions exist for Thrive Montgomery 2050, before the council votes on the plan.

MOCO approves healthy kids meal options bill
March 3, 2022 - WDVM25 & DCW50
Councilmember Andrew Friedson had concerns about how this would impact small businesses, so pushed for an amendment that this would only apply to businesses with 20 or more chains but that was voted down. “For most of the mom and pops in the county, they don’t offer children’s value meals, combo meals… it really isn’t the primary focus of this bill,” said Friedson.

Healthy Children's Meal Option Moves Closer to Restaurant Menus
March 2, 2022 - Montgomery Community Media
The bill was adopted by an eight to one vote with Councilmember Andrew Friedson voting against it, fearing it would be too onerous to businesses still recovering from the pandemic.

Montgomery County Passes Bill Requiring Restaurants To Provide Healthy Kids' Meal Option
March 2, 2022 - DCist
The only “no” vote, from Councilmember Andrew Friedson, argued that the bill should exempt smaller restaurants from compliance, as they may not have the funds, resources, or staff to offer meals in line with the bill’s requirement.

Montgomery County restaurants will be required to offer a healthy children's meal option
March 2, 2022 - FOX 5 DC
Bill 1-22, titled "Eating and Drinking Establishments – Healthy Meals for Children," passed 8-1 Tuesday with only Councilmember Andrew Friedson dissenting... C ouncilmember Friedson introduced an amendment that would have only included businesses that have 20 or more chains, leaving the smaller "mom and pop" restaurants out of it. That amendment was voted down.

Montgomery Co. Council members have questions on likely change to school mask policy
March 1, 2022 - WTOP
Council member Andrew Friedson agreed, saying the online attacks on O’Looney went from unacceptable to “completely unfathomable.”

County Council approves bill requiring healthy meal options for children
March 1, 2022 - Bethesda Magazine
In the 8-1 vote in favor of the bill, County Council Member Andrew Friedson was the only one opposed. He unsuccessfully tried to amend the bill to exempt smaller restaurants. Friedson’s amendment called for exempting any restaurant with fewer than 20 locations in the United States as a measure of relief. The amendment failed 7-2, with only Friedson and Council Member Sidney Katz voting yes

Montgomery County Council and Committee Meetings on Feb. 28, 2022
February 25, 2022 - EIN News
T he members of the PHED Committee include Chair Hans Riember and Councilmembers Andrew Friedson (Lead for Parks) and Will Jawando. 

County Council Approves Streamlined Process for New, Expanding County Biohealth  Facilities
February 17, 2022 - Source of the Spring 
Lead sponsor Councilmember Andrew Friedson (D-District 3), speaking at a press conference hosted by  UT  yesterday, called the ZTA “an absolute game changer for our biohealth industry in Montgomery County, one of our most important and most strategic industries that is changing lives and creating opportunities."

Friedson on Council Approving New Zoning Measures: 'It's a Sunny day for Biohealth Companies'
February 16, 2022 - Internet Archive
Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 21-09, Office and Professional - Biohealth Priority Campus, was led by Councilmember Andrew Friedson and cosponsored by all councilmembers... Friedson and Montgomery County biohealth and economic development leaders held a press conference today at the outdoor plaza of United Therapeutic Corporation in Silver Spring.  

Montgomery Co. makes it easier for biotech industry to expand
February 16, 2022 - WDVM
“It will roll out the red carpet in the bioindustry by significantly reducing the regulatory review process by 75 percent,” said Andrew Friedson, Montgomery County councilmember.

Friedson on Newly Approved Zoning Measures: 'It's a Sunny Day for Biohealth Companies'
February 16, 2022 - My MCM
“ZTA 21-09 will provide our county an important economic development tool to help attract and retain biohealth companies. Montgomery County is a premier location for biohealth given our access to the nation’s capital, proximity to prominent federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and our highly educated talent pool. However, we cannot rest on our laurels when it comes to growing our economy,” Friedson said... “I commend our Planning Department and executive agencies for their willingness to embrace a new review process to advance our economic development goals,” Friedson said. “By green-taping the regulatory review process, biohealth businesses can focus on their research, product development, and trials rather than unnecessary regulatory requirements.”

Zoning change could speed up county's review process for biohealth facilities
February 16, 2022 - Bethesda Magazine
The zoning change shortens the time for review by the county’s Planning Department, public input from 420 days — the current “speed to market” process — to 160 days, Council Member Andrew Friedson said Wednesday... “If we’re not having that conversation every time we’re making an investment, whether it’s an incentive or whether it’s a program, then we are failing taxpayers,” Friedson said. 

All-Gender Restroom Bill Introduced by County Councilmembers 
February 15, 2022 - Montgomery Community Media
Councilmember Sidney Katz and Council Vice President Evan Glass announced the introduction of an all-gender restroom bill, co-sponsored by councilmembers Will Jawando and Andrew Friedson.

Councilmember Friedson Hosts Press Conference on Expediting Innovation and Expanding Economic Development through Zoning Changes for BioHealth Priority Campuses
February 15, 2022 - Newswires EIN
Councilmember Andrew Friedson and Montgomery County biohealth and economic development leaders will hold a press conference to reinforce Montgomery County’s commitment to innovation and the biohealth sector at United Therapeutics Corp. in Silver Spring.  On Tuesday, the Council is expected to vote on a zoning measure, led by Friedson, which would dramatically accelerate and streamline the regulatory process to develop biohealth facilities in Montgomery County.

With Montgomery County indoor mask mandate ending soon, impact on schools unclear
Feburary 15, 2022 - Bethesda Beat
County Council Member Andrew Friedson asked on Tuesday if MCPS and county health officials were going to make different recommendations than what might come from the state.

Trail tunnel planned for downtown Bethesda faces another funding battle 
February 10, 2022 - Washington Post
Montgomery County Council member Andrew Friedson (D-District 1), who represents Bethesda, said the trail tunnel is critical to make cycling and walking safer and to encourage people to forgo driving.  “This was a major piece of transportation infrastructure that was taken away from the community and was promised to be returned to them better,” Friedson said. “This idea of taking something out of service and then not returning it is totally inconceivable to me.”

Councilmembers, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Climate Advocates Celebrated Passage of Major  Climate Energy Bill at Virtual Press Conference
Februrary 3, 2022 - Newswires EIN
“This legislation is an absolute game changer for the way Montgomery County combats the climate crisis,” said Councilmember Andrew Friedson, who serves as the Lead for Parks on the Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee. “It is the most significant climate investment in County history, representing tens of millions of dedicated dollars which will be leveraged to generate hundreds of millions more. The public sector can’t solve these vexing challenges alone, but by bringing together advocates and experts, businesses and nonprofits, labor and government, we can make a meaningful impact in actually reaching our ambitious climate goals.”

Councilmember Friedson Calls Bill Reducing Carbon Emissions a 'Game Changer'
February 2, 2022 - My MCM Media
“There is absolutely no doubt this is going to be a game changer,” Councilmember Andrew Friedson said. “It shows what we can do when we work together.” The Green Bank is “turning tens of millions into hundreds of millions” of dollars to fight climate change, he said. “We are either serious about about our climate goals or we are not,” Friedson said, adding, “I look forward to a lot of ribbon cuttings.”

Council designates millions in energy tax money for environmental goals
February 1, 2022 - Bethesda Beat
Council Members Tom Hucker and Andrew Friedson led the move as co-sponsors on the bill, and said before Tuesday’s vote that efforts on it started about three years ago... Friedson called the bill “critical” as the county addresses those goals in the coming years. 

Montgomery County extends indoor mask mandate to Feb. 21
January 25, 2022 - Bethesda Beat
County Council Member Andrew Friedson on Tuesday proposed the Feb. 21 end date as an amendment to that original measure Tuesday. He also recommended changing the automatic trigger for termination based on health metrics to a weekly conversation with public health officials. The council approved Friedson’s recommendation. That move indicates that the mask mandate could end sooner than Feb. 21, if the metrics continue to trend downward, showing a reduced spread of the virus. “We need to have the conversation of moving from pandemic to endemic, what level of risk and tolerance we’re willing to accept, how we’re going to make sure that residents have the information they need to keep themselves and their families safe, [and] what businesses can do to keep their employees or customers safe,” Friedson said.

Montgomery Co. Council extends mask mandate, shelves COVID-19 vaccine requirement for customers
January 25, 2022 - WTOP
A draft version of the extension of the mask mandate would have kept it in place through Feb. 28, but an amendment from Council member Andrew Friedson, also unanimously adopted by the council, shortened the end date by a week.

Sen. Van Hollen, Councilmembers Discuss Legislative Priorities
January 19, 2022 - Montgomery Community Media

Councilmember Andrew Friedson questioned Van Hollen on what could be done to end hatred, pointing specifically to the recent hostage incident at a Texas synagogue.

Montgomery County Council Sends Letter to Governor Hogan Requesting Authority for MCPS to Implement an Opt-Out COVID-19 Rapid Testing System
January 19, 2022 - EIN News
Cosigners include: Council President Gabe Albornoz, Council Vice President Evan Glass, Councilmember Hans Riemer, Councilmember Andrew Friedson, Councilmember Sidney Katz, Councilmember Craig Rice, Councilmember Nancy Navarro and Councilmember Tom Hucker.

Business Owners And Residents Voice Opposition To Vaccine Mandate In Montgomery County
January 18, 2022 - DCist
But Councilmember Andrew Friedson asked Stoddard why Elrich wasn’t working with county schools to mandate vaccines, or demanding a school vaccine requirement at the state level, if the goal is to get more five to 11-year-olds vaccinated.

Council digs into logistics of Montgomery County vaccine passport proposal
January 18, 2022 - Bethesda Magazine
Council Member Andrew Friedson said Tuesday that he supports the vaccine passport idea, but he previously was interested in creating an “opt-in” passport option.

Council could return to in-person meetings by early February 
January 10, 2022 - Bethesda Magazine 
County Council Vice President Evan Glass and Council Members Andrew Friedson and Will Jawando hinted on Monday that they are willing to return to in-person meetings as soon as possible, perhaps by late January or early February

Company Working on Medicines for Rare Diseases Expanding to New Rockville Site
January 6, 2022 - Montgomery Community Media
Upon hearing the news, Councilmember Andrew Friedman tweeted, “This exciting addition builds on our reputation as one of the fastest growing life sciences communities in the nation, coupled with an unparalleled local talent pool.”

Indoor Mask Mandate Extended to End of January
January 4, 2022 - Montgomery Community Media
The new mask mandate will automatically terminate Jan. 31 at 11:59 p.m., per an amendment proposed by Councilmember Andrew Friedson, which was also unanimously approved.

Amid omicron surge, Montgomery Co. extends mask mandate — with new end date
January 4, 2022 - WTOP News 
“I think it is important that emergency powers have a termination and we meet on a regular basis to analyze the data and to make determinations on when how they should proceed … I think this allows us to be transparent and accountable,” Friedson said.

Mask mandate order changes in Montgomery County
January 4, 2022 - WDVM25 & DCW50
Councilmember Andrew Friedson said, “We’re doing this because we are in a very serious and sobering moment. Based on what we heard earlier, but I think it is important that emergency powers have a termination and that we meet on a regular basis to analyze the data to make determinations on when and how they should proceed.”

Important Storm Emergency Contact Info to Know
January 3, 2022 - Montgomery Community Media 
Councilmember Andrew Friedson shared a list of important links and contact info on Twitter that may be helpful to residents today and in the future.

 

Councilmember Andrew Friedson questioned Van Hollen on what could be done to end hatred, pointing specifically to the recent hostage incident at a Texas synagogue. “Immediately speak out, call it out whereever we see it. We just need to be on full alert and vigilent,” Van Hollen said. “We’ve got to address hate in all its forms.”

Business Owners And Residents Voice Opposition To Vaccine Mandate In Montgomery
January 18, 2022 - DCist
Councilmember Andrew Friedson asked Stoddard why Elrich wasn’t working with county schools to mandate vaccines, or demanding a school vaccine requirement at the state level, if the goal is to get more five to 11-year-olds vaccinated.

Council digs into logistics of Montgomery County vaccine passport proposal
January 11, 2022 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson said Tuesday that he supports the vaccine passport idea, but he previously was interested in creating an “opt-in” passport option. For that, the county would provide technological assistance to businesses that want to opt-in to a vaccine mandate for their establishments.

Council could return to in-person meetings by early February
January 10, 2022 - Bethesda Beat
County Council Vice President Evan Glass and Council Members Andrew Friedson and Will Jawando hinted on Monday that they are willing to return to in-person meetings as soon as possible, perhaps by late January or early February.

Company Working on Medicines for Rare Diseases Expanding to New Rockville Site
January 6, 2022 - Montgomery Community Media
“This exciting addition builds on our reputation as one of the fastest growing life sciences communities in the nation, coupled with an unparalleled local talent pool.” He also tweeted, “We welcome Horizon’s commitment to science and compassion as it works to transform the lives of individuals suffering from rare autoimmune, severe inflammatory, and rheumatic diseases.”

Amid omicron surge, Montgomery Co. extends mask mandate — with new end date
January 4, 2022 - WTOP
“I think it is important that emergency powers have a termination and we meet on a regular basis to analyze the data and to make determinations on when how they should proceed … I think this allows us to be transparent and accountable,” Friedson said.

Mask mandate order changes in Montgomery County
January 4, 2022 - WDVM
Councilmember Andrew Friedson said, “We’re doing this because we are in a very serious and sobering moment. Based on what we heard earlier, but I think it is important that emergency powers have a termination and that we meet on a regular basis to analyze the data to make determinations on when and how they should proceed.”

Montgomery County Council enacts legislation to provide more affordable housing
Dece mber 14, 2021 - WDVM
“We must act aggressively to address the housing affordability crisis in our County and in our region,” Councilmember Andrew Friedson said. “Government alone cannot provide enough affordable housing to serve our residents’ needs. This measure builds on our partnerships with nonprofit affordable housing providers to add certainty and lower the costs of building new, quality affordable housing so more people can live in and be part of our community.”

Montgomery County Council approves final redistricting map
December 8, 2021 - Bethesda Beat

Friedson said he supported the “refinements” made to the map, including keeping the Kemp Mill community together and “protecting the historic Ken-Gar community from being separated by train tracks from their historic connection to the town of Kensington.” “However, our goal was to keep communities together and I remained concerned with precincts in Bethesda south of the spur being separated from the rest of Bethesda,” Friedson wrote later in a text message to Bethesda Beat. He also said he appreciated that the final map put the Seven Locks community in Potomac back together, but only at the cost of splitting up parts of Chevy Chase. “That change, which was previously not considered, is a significant change which I’m not sure the residents of those communities in north and east Chevy Chase were even aware of,” Friedson wrote. He also cited “the North Bethesda concerns which I tried to address throughout the process” as a reason he rejected the map. Friedson tried to postpone a vote on the map, but his colleagues on the council overruled him.

Montgomery County Council elects new leaders, reflects on 2021 legislation
December 7, 2021 - WDVM
“We all had plans of what we had hoped to do. All of our plans had to be made secondary to continuing to navigate through what has been an unprecedented time with an indefinite end,” Councilmember Andrew Friedson said as he reflected on a tough 2021 during Tuesday’s session.

85 lives lost on roads in Montgomery Co. remembered in Wheaton
November 23, 2021 - WTOP
“We know that one life is too many but we can’t forget any of them, so we’re going to read each and every one of their names and recommit to the work that we have been doing the urgent need to make our roads safer for everybody,” said Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson... Friedson said that the names of those lost should inspire changes to roadways in Montgomery County and beyond.  “There’s a long list of changes. The challenge that we have is that we need major changes. Not just intersection by intersection,” Friedson said.

County Council majority expresses support for Montgomery Thrive 2050
November 16, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson, who sits on the Planning, Housing and Economic Development committee, said the committee took longer than initially anticipated to review and amend the plan. He said Thrive Montgomery 2050 is meant as a guide and “visionary document” to other area master plans and zoning text amendments that council members would deliberate over. It’s important to get Thrive Montgomery 2050 right, but also valuable to remember its overall purpose versus those other policy decisions, Friedson said. “It is very hard to choose a destination and pick the directions at the same time…That is not a winning strategy,” Friedson said.

Council bill would send almost $18 million to energy investments
November 15, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
Friedson said that if the county is setting high goals — including eliminating greenhouse gas emissions in the county by 2035, and cutting them 80% by 2027, per th county's Climate Action Plan — the public sector should offer as much assistance as possible to the private sector to reach them. “When we talk about raising the bar for our energy standards, particularly when it relates to the building sector, we can’t just raise the bar and not provide a ladder to help people get over it,” Friedson said.

Montgomery County could start using energy tax to fund green projects
November 15, 2021 - WDVM
Councilmember Andrew Friedson says this is a concrete step toward making a big difference. “When we talk about raising the bar for our energy standards, particularly as it relates to the building sector, we can’t just raise the bar and not have a ladder to help people get over it,” said Friedson.

Council Wants to Redirect 10% of Energy Tax for Energy Efficient Loans
November 15, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
Friedson called the need for this dedicated funding “more urgent now then it has ever been.” Reducing emissions “is all our responsibilities, and that should start with the public sector.” The county can’t mandate reducing carbon footprints and then just sit back, he said. “We can’t just raise the bar without providing the ladder.”

Montgomery County pitches a major annual investment in its green bank. It could mean millions for building energy upgrades
November 15, 2021 - Washington Business Journal
“We can’t solve the climate crisis by pointing fingers and putting it on to someone else,” Friedson said. “It should start with us in the public sector…and then we can work together in a public-private partnership to tackle this existential threat to our future.”

Council approves bill providing protections for county renters
November 3, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson voted against the Department of Housing and Community Affairs changes, although he voted for the overall bill. He said the assistance to renters should have been more targeted to residents who really needed assistance. And rent control can affect residents moving into Montgomery County, he said.  “You look at certain places with significant rent control: The cost of new housing is really expensive,” Friedson said. “And so there’s an equity issue with a county that is getting more and more diverse with more and more new residents.”

Indoor mask mandate to kick in after 7 days of 'substantial transmission'
November 2, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz and Council Member Andrew Friedson previously told Bethesda Beat that the purpose of amending the order was to prevent the “yo-yo effect” of the mandate being lifted and then quickly reinstated...Friedson proposed two additional amendments to the order Tuesday. One included a sunset provision that would permanently end the indoor mask mandate at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31, and would require the county’s health officer to provide an update on COVID-19 health metrics by Dec. 16.

Council members did not support that, though, so it did not reach a vote. They did, however, approve an amendment that would end the indoor mask mandate once 85% or more of the county’s total population is fully vaccinated. The county’s health officer or the Board of Health would not need to take any action for that to take effect. “This regulation must terminate, and must have no further force or effect: effective 12:01 a.m. on the calendar day immediately following the date that 85% or more of the County’s total population is fully vaccinated, as reported by the CDC on its COVID Data Tracker,” the amendment states.

County now in 'substantial transmission' of coronavirus, pending CDC confirmation
October 30, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
County Council Member Andrew Friedson wrote in a text message on Saturday that he had been working on proposing potential changes to the Board of Health order before the county entered substantial transmission on Friday. Both he and Albornoz said the proposed changes to the Board of Health order are meant to avoid a “yo-yo effect” of the mask mandate being lifted and reinstated multiple times in a short time frame.

Montgomery Parks Reinstates Program Allowing Alcohol on Some Park Grounds
October 22, 2021 - NBC4 Washington
“We encourage people to gather with their friends and families in our parks for birthdays, barbecues, and other events, and this program is part of that effort,” said Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson, who serves as the council’s lead on parks.

Montgomery County Reinstates Program Allowing Drinking In Parks
October 22, 2021 - DCist
“We heard from many residents who really appreciated being able to enjoy a glass of wine or beer outdoors on a nice day,” said Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson in a release.

In new Montgomery County economic report, a call for action
October 21, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
County Council Member Andrew Friedson said the report is a good extension of legislation the council passed in May to strengthen the county’s economic development strategy. Like Wu, Friedson said Montgomery County has many assets, including in the biohealth and biotech sectors, to ensure future growth. 

A zoning text amendment Friedson sponsored was introduced to the council earlier this week. It aims to allow more companies in that sector to locate here. The  zoning text amendment sets up a framework for how biohealth companies can set up their businesses in the county, and aims to streamline the regulatory process for new facilities or those increasing their capacity by 50,000 square feet or more. “It takes a similar framework to what we put in place for Amazon in 2018,” Friedson said in an interview. “We’re saying if it’s good enough for Amazon, it’s good enough for the most important growth industry we have in the county.” He added that he understands the challenges businesses can face, but that his zoning text amendment is hopefully one of many improvements the county can make. “Some of it is perception, some of it is reality, but when it comes to economic development, perception is reality. … The [zoning text amendment] that we introduced is one recent example of a substantive change to make it dramatically easier to build biohealth facilities here,” Friedson said.

County Council Introduces Bill to Help with Childcare Costs: 'This is a Moral Imperative'
October 20, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
Councilmember Andrew Friedson noted, “This is really important. This is a moral imperative. It is an economic necessity.”

New Bill Would Establish Property Tax Credit for First Responders
October 20, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
“We know how challenging this work is. We know how particularly challenging it’s been over the last two years,” he said. Councilmembers Nancy Navarro, Sidney Katz, Andrew Friedson, Will Jawando, Evan Glass and Craig Rice requested to be added as co-sponsors of the bill.

State Treasurer Nancy Kopp to Step Down by End of Year
October 20, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
“Nancy Kopp leaves an exceptional and enduring legacy of remarkable public leadership and will go down in history as one of Maryland’s most accomplished women,"  County Councilmember Andrew Friedson wrote in a Twitter thread Monday.

64 Ride On Bus Route Schedules Changing Sunday To Improve Service
October 7, 2021 - Patch.com Bethesda
"Extending the Ride On fare holiday will help us improve transit access, grow bus ridership, and help our workforce get to and from their jobs as we continue our economic recovery," said Councilmember Andrew Friedson in a statement last week. "It's a win-win for our climate and our local economy."

County Council delays action on bill extending protections for renters
October 6, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
The vote to table on Tuesday was 6-3. The majority — Friedson, Tom Hucker, Gabe Albornoz, Nancy Navarro, Craig Rice and Sidney Katz — wanted to further explore Friedson’s amendments.

Friedson to run for re-election to Montgomery County Council
September 30, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
“Representing the only place I’ve ever called home, where I was born and raised in District 1, has been the most profound privilege of my professional life,” Friedson said. “… We have the strongest economic bones, the strongest social opportunities, the best community you could possibly imagine, so all of the challenges that we face pale in comparison to the people that we have and the opportunities that we have to address them.”

Free Ride On Bus Service Extended To Jan. 1, County Council Says
September 29, 2021 - Patch.com Rockville
"Extending the Ride On fare holiday will help us improve transit access, grow bus ridership, and help our workforce get to and from their jobs as we continue our economic recovery," said Councilmember Andrew Friedson in a statement. "It's a win-win for our climate and our local economy."

Will Montgomery County government adopt a vaccination mandate?
September 23, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
Friedson said in an interview this week that he strongly believes the county should adopt a vaccination mandate, because county residents should expect that their health is not at risk when interacting with county employees. “I think if we’re going to have to ask county residents to be vaccinated … we should be leading with the power of our example, and not just the example of our power,” he said....Friedson said county employees should do the right thing and get vaccinated.“Just as much as I believe we shouldn’t forgo training for firefighters and police officers in order to recruit firefighters or police officers, I don’t think we should forgo vaccination for firefighters and police officers, in terms of fear of recruitment,” Friedson said. 

Montgomery County expands housing opportunities for older residents
September 22, 2021 - WDVM
“I hope that we’ll have more opportunities for more of our residents. It is important for community members to feel included despite age or disability,” said Andrew Friedson, Montgomery County councilmember for district one.

Council members appreciate work, but think county's Climate Action Plan lacks specifics
September 22, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson said he appreciated the work on the plan, including the 86 climate action steps....Each one of those steps is a “massive undertaking,” Friedson said. But he agreed with colleagues that the plan could be more specific in how to accomplish some of those goals. “It does feel a little bit more like a menu than a manual, in terms of how we move forward, when we’re moving forward, what the process is going to be in order to move forward,” Friedson said. That means moving from the rhetoric of talking about climate change to actually reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other actions, he added. “How do we transition this menu of options and ideas into a manual of what we’re going to do, when we’re going to do it, how we’re going to do it, and who’s going to be involved in it?” Friedson said. 

Council committee examines, critiques opening chapters of Thrive Montgomery 2050
September 21, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson asked several questions Monday, aiming to alleviate some misconceptions residents countywide might have about the plan. One of them was about the “15-minute living concept.” ...Friedson asked about the difference between the concept of “complete communities” versus the “15-minute living” concept....Friedson asked about why River Road, a road that runs along the western side of the county through Potomac and the Capital Beltway, was included as a corridor in the plan, especially north of the Beltway. Friedson said that corridor, also known as Md. 190, does not have a plan for immediate transit projects and does not connect “activity centers.”...Friedson asked why this road was included as a corridor while Old Georgetown Road, which connects the Pike District in North Bethesda to downtown Bethesda, was not selected. 

County Has Spent About Half of Latest Rent Relief Funding
September 21, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
“There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t have the best technology, the best systems in place to be able to reach the most amount of people,” Councilmember Andrew Friedson said.

Councilmembers Urge Elrich to Support 'Viva White Oak' Development Project
September 20, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
In a statement  Monday, Council President Tom Hucker, Vice President Gabe Albornoz, and Councilmembers Andrew Friedson, Sidney Katz, Nancy Navarro and Hans Riemer said they were “deeply disappointed” by Elrich’s continued opposition to the plan.

Sports & Social Now Open In Bethesda For Fans Of Food, Athletics - Patch
September 20, 2021 - The Patch
"Sports & Social is not only creating over 80 jobs, but providing quality career opportunities for our community," said Councilman Andrew Friedson, in the statement. "As someone who grew up in this area, it's extremely exciting for me to see a place like Sports & Social for friends and family to gather."

Some Montgomery Co. lawmakers push for stronger vaccine mandate for county workers - WTOP
September 14, 2021 - WTOP
“The fact that only 60% of the workforce has responded is really disappointing, and there’s an obvious confirmation bias risk here — that those who are the fastest to respond are the most likely to have been vaccinated,” said Council Member Andrew Friedson, who represents District 1. “And so we really don’t know what the numbers are.”

County Executive Elrich Announces New Initiative to Digitize Licensure and Regulator Services' Applications
August 26, 2021 - Montgomery County Governemnt
“With all the pressure on local businesses today, we need to do our part to reduce paperwork,” said Councilmember Andrew Friedson. “I wanted to make sure our teams had the tools to rapidly bring services online and make it easier for local business to get back to work.”

Montgomery Co. votes to reimpose indoor mask mandate amid rise in COVID-19 cases
August 5, 2021 - WTOP
Another exception was added via an amendment authored by Council member Andrew Friedson, who represents District 1. It exempts mask wearing by a person giving a speech or performance as long as they are 6 feet away from others.  The automatic phaseout of the new mask mandate was also the brainchild of Friedson, who initially pushed for a quicker trigger. Before the council settled on seven consecutive days of moderate levels of community transmission, Friedson suggested both three consecutive days as well as a single day of moderate transmission.

Potomac Streets Were Named for Defenders of Slavery
August 4, 2021 - Potomac Almanac
“With residents and members of the Mason and Dove families, we celebrated the replacement of the signs bearing the names of the Confederate soldiers these streets used to be named for,” said County Councilmember Andrew Friedson, who represents Potomac, and who advocated for the changes, and a comprehensive review of names of streets, parks and facilities.

Some council members, executive branch spar over FEMA reimbursements
August 2, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
For months, Council Member Andrew Friedson and other council members have criticized the overall reimbursement process and how federal dollars are being distributed.  In October , they criticized Elrich and the staff for not distributing federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funds quickly enough. In January, Friedson continued his criticism , especially as the county continued to provide hazard pay for its employees into 2021 without County Council approval. He remained concerned about how the county would pay for them, given that the county had not been reimbursed by FEMA....Friedson spent more than 20 minutes at Tuesday’s council meeting questioning Madaleno. He asked if the county had contingency plans if it doesn’t get full reimbursement. He repeatedly expressed concerns about the county’s overall financial approach to reimbursements during the pandemic. “The lingering concern is the continued pattern here where the executive branch seems to cherry pick small bits of information and extrapolate it out of context to justify major departures from financial best practices in our county’s fiscal policies,” he said Tuesday.

Council approves change to pave the way for expanded 5G coverage
July 27, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
The latest legislation, which Riemer spearheaded, incorporates changes by the full council and by the Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee. The changes include....Friedson’s proposal that replacement poles meet a “preferential placement” standard: close to intersections, close to property lines between dwellings and “along the non-front-facing side of residential properties, or abutting properties used for a non-residential purpose.”

Amid delta uncertainty, Montgomery Co. keeping eye on COVID-19 hospitalizations as 'alarm bell'
July 27, 2021 - WTOP
“We are an employer, a very large employer, and I think we can lead by the power of our example,” said Council member Andrew Friedson, who represents District 1 on the council.

Potomac Street Names Now Honor Black Community Pioneers
July 23, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
County Councilmember Andrew Friedson, who was instrumental in getting the street names changed, spoke Friday as the signs changed. “As we dismantle the structures of institutional racism, we’re also changing the symbols that institutional racism normalizes, like street names,” he said.

Regional planning board reverses course, votes to include I-270/I-495 plan in air-quality study
July 21, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
On Tuesday, five Montgomery Council Members wrote a statement indicating that they now supported advancing the highway project, meaning the council’s Planning Board vote would change from no last time to yes this time. The five council members — Gabe Albornoz, Hans Riemer, Andrew Friedson, Nancy Navarro and Craig Rice — responded to a letter from Transportation Secretary Greg Slater.

Council committee amends settlements disclosure bill
July 20, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
On Monday, the council’s Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee adopted several amendments, including:

• Allowing the county attorney’s office to settle cases independently for up to $30,000. The previous limit was $5,000.

Council Member Andrew Friedson said the new limit matches the minimum public disclosure limit within civil cases in the county’s District Court, as discussed at the bill’s public hearing last month. The committee approved Friedson’s change. 

I-270 toll project could include money for dedicated bus lanes in Montgomery Co.
July 20, 2021 - WTOP
In response to Slater’s letter, five Montgomery County Council members — Hans Riemer, Gabe Albornoz, Andrew Friedson, Nancy Navarro and Craig Rice — released a statement indicating support for reversing last month’s vote by the members of the Transportation Planning Board.  They wrote that Slater’s statement indicating that a commitment to adding funding for bus rapid transit lanes “builds on prior changes we have been asking for,” and that the council hopes to work with Slater “in a way that does not make the much-needed improvement to the American Legion Bridge ineligible for federal approval and funding.”

Council amends zoning bill allowing placement of 5G technology
July 20, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson’s proposal that replacement poles meet a “preferential placement” standard: close to intersections, close to property lines between dwellings and “along the non-front-facing side of residential properties, or abutting properties used for a non-residential purpose.”

On eve of key board vote, majority of County Council proclaims support for I-270/I-495 project
July 20, 2021 - Bethesda Beat 
Friedson, Navarro and Rice all said in interviews Tuesday that that aspect of the overall I-270/I-495 project is important for relieving congestion in the region, and part of the reason they signed on to the statement...Friedson said multiple times Tuesday that the planning board’s vote on the project is not the determining factor for whether the overall I-270/495 widening project will proceed. There are important issues that remain, including how much residents would pay to use the two toll lanes in both directions, neighborhoods near the project that would be affected and the overall impact on county taxpayers, he said. But most importantly, the planning board’s stance could determine the fate of the American Legion Bridge, he said. “The most important impact of the action that was taken at the Transportation Planning Board is that it made the much-needed improvements to the American Legion Bridge ineligible for federal approval and funding,” Friedson said. “That is the dynamic that we are working in.”

Some council members hope for final vote on Thrive Montgomery by year's end
July 14, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
Riemer, Jawando and Council Member Andrew Friedson said they hope to finalize the plan to send to the County Council at some point this fall, in order to have the full council vote to approve it before the end of the year. More public hearings are likely.

County Council amends bill that could allow 5G cell antennas, rejects further delay
July 13, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
Council members approved three amendments unanimously on Tuesday...One, proposed by Council Member Andrew Friedson, states that a new pole can only be constructed if there is no utility pole or streetlight within 150 feet of the proposed spot

UPDATE: Elrich blasts report on county's economy; others say it raises concerns
July 1, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
“When it comes to economic reports like this, it’s more important to see what story the data is telling rather than focusing on the data itself,” Friedson said. “Montgomery County remains a place where we have some of the strongest economic bones of any place in the country, if not the world, but we are not necessarily producing an economic climate that is as strong as what we need.”

Affordable housing legislation proposed to tweak PILOT program
June 30, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
There are many financial parts to affordable housing projects, Riemer and Friedson said. There are not only loans or investments from private banks, but also federal, state or local assistance, which can be in the form of tax abatements, grants or other instruments. By setting affordability guidelines into law, it will let developers know whether they can piece together all those sources of funding sooner in the process, they said. Now, each developer has to negotiate with officials in the county’s Department of Housing and Community Affairs on a project-by-project basis, Riemer and Friedson said. 

“We’re just taking a small piece of that uncertainty [away],” Friedson said. “It’s basically saying that rather than negotiating every time … if you provide this amount of affordable housing at this level, you get this level of funding.”

Council's New Regulations Incentivize Housing Development at Metro Stations
June 29, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
The Montgomery County Council on Tuesday unanimously approved regulations to implement the “More Housing at Metrorail Stations Act,” which aims to incentivize high-rise housing construction at Metro stations by providing a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT), with some criteria for development....“We’re ready to turn parking lots at Metro stations into vibrant places for new residents and businesses,” Friedson wrote on Twitter. The bill went into effect in January. The council approved it in Oct. 2020 after overriding a veto from County Executive Marc Elrich.

As pandemic abates in Montgomery, business leaders renew warnings over slowing economy
June 25, 2021 - The Washington Post
County council member Andrew Friedson (D-District 1), who received an early copy of the report and has positioned himself as an ally to the business community, said a job creation fund is a “serious proposal to consider.” But he also said he doesn’t think any single measure can serve as a silver bullet to the county’s lagging growth.  “Individual grants to individual businesses, while important, is not an economic development strategy,” Friedson said. 

He disagreed with Nulsen’s remarks that officials have not taken bold steps to drive job growth, citing the recent government-backed push to establish a “Global Pandemic Center”  in the county and a tax credit  approved by the council last year to encourage the construction of high-rise buildings above Metro stations. The county has also worked to attract biotech companies by cutting down on bureaucratic red tape and offering training for entry-level biotech jobs.

Council committee supports proposal to help agritourism
June 24, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
In an interview Thursday, Friedson said businesses often view county government as one entity, and not several agencies or divisions... “It was clear during the discussion that the various departments and the planning department weren’t fully reading off the same song sheet, so to speak,” Friedson said. “And sometimes, we work in silos in government, and it’s our goal as council members to break those silos down.” 

During the meeting, Friedson also said the current cap on the indoor occupancy limit for buildings exempt from the plat recordation might be too low....He said in an interview that no matter the indoor capacity cap — or if it’s eliminated — county officials must do what they can to help agritourism and related businesses start up in the county’s agricultural reserve and beyond...

...the amendment would also exempt businesses from having to pay other costs, like potential land dedication. Friedson said a business in his district, Windridge Vineyards, had to pay tens of thousands of dollars to dedicate a right-of-way and for improvements for part of a future bike lane. That money could have been used to improve the business or invest in the community in other ways, Friedson said.  “In order for the agricultural reserve to be protected and preserved, it can’t just be environmentally sustainable. It has to be economically sustainable because farmers rely on their farms to live, and to feed their families,” Friedson said.

Council Fills New Position to Aid in Transparency, Reappoints Inspector General
June 22, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
The county inspector general is “really the caretaker of the public trust in making sure we are holding ourselves accountable,” added Councilman Andrew Friedson.

Hartman named to new administrative position to improve ties to County Council
June 22, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
Before the council’s vote Tuesday, Hucker and Council Member Andrew Friedson commended Hartman for his leadership in the community and in county government. 

Mercury regulator bill amended to include older buildings
June 21, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson agreed with Smith, calling the county’s bill a “belts and suspenders” approach to the PSC order — an extra safeguard.

County chooses new names for Potomac streets that honor Confederate leaders
June 21, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
The renaming initiative began when Council Member Andrew Friedson spearheaded a June letter from the council to County Executive Marc Elrich and Planning Department Chairman Casey Anderson. The letter asked for all streets and facility names in the county to be reviewed  to determine which are named after Confederates, sympathizers or slaveholders.

'20 is Plenty': Montgomery County pilot program aims to reduce speeds on area roads
June 17, 2021 - WTOP
“20 is Plenty is an important way to build awareness about the dangers of driving at dangerous speeds,” Montgomery County Council member Andrew Friedson said at the news conference. “Although we’ve had fewer drivers, we’ve had incredibly dangerous speeds during this past year.”... Friedson said the focus by Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation has shifted. It’s no longer “just how quickly we can get from place to place, but how safely we can make sure we all can travel from place to place.”

Lawmakers extend Open Streets program through the summer in Montgomery County
June 16, 2021 - WTOP
“We are rethinking the way we’re looking at public infrastructure,” said council member Andrew Friedson, who wrote the resolution that garnered full council support.

Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson Named 'Legislator of the Year'
June 16, 2021 - Potomac Almanac
“I'm deeply humbled and extremely grateful to the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce for this recognition and for their strong partnership as we've tried to help County employers through one of the most challenging years in our history,” Councilmember Friedson said. “These businesses are our partners and their success is central to our ability to provide a high quality of life to our residents, support the most vulnerable in our community, and achieve our social and environmental goals.”

Councilmember Andrew Friedson Named Legislator of the Year
June 11, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
“I’m deeply humbled and extremely grateful to the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce for this recognition and for their strong partnership as we’ve tried to help County employers through one of the most challenging years in our history,” Councilmember Friedson said. “These businesses are our partners and their success is central to our ability to provide a high quality of life to our residents, support the most vulnerable in our community, and achieve our social and environmental goals.”

CDC Data: Montgomery Ranks First Among Large Counties for Vaccinating Ages 12+
June 10, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
Councilmember Andrew Friedson tweeted about the data on Friday, adding, “Credit to our public health professionals, community partners & residents who GET IT!”...A spokesperson for Friedson told MyMCM that the councilmember has been working to get Montgomery County’s COVID-19 data to account for residents’ vaccinations that occurred out of state.

County Council Introduces Resolution to Support Maintaining Open Streets Programs
May 28, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
“Vehicle-free streets have proven wildly popular and demonstrated we CAN rethink how public spaces are used to best serve the public,” Councilmember Andrew Friedson, who drafted the resolution, wrote on Twitter.

Montgomery passes budget that boosts funding for lower-income workers, social services
May 27, 2021 - The Washington Post
“On a fundamental level, the makeup of the budget hasn’t changed,” said council member Andrew Friedson (D-District 1). “Have there been shifts in priorities? Yes. But with a nearly $6 billion budget, we don’t have that much discretionary movement to make big, sweeping changes.”

Montgomery County Asks WMATA to Rename White Flint Metro Station to 'North Bethesda Metro Station'
May 26, 2021 - Potomac Almanac
"The Metro station is crucial to the viability of this area and our community's vision for it," District 1 Councilmember Andrew Friedson said. "We need a Metro station that reflects that vision and helps our economic development, regional competitiveness, and placemaking efforts so the Pike District and North Bethesda becomes an even more vibrant, walkable, and livable destination."

Montgomery County Council Reaches Preliminary Agreement on FY22 Operating Budget and FY21-26 Capital Improvements Program Focusing on Recovery 
May 26, 2021 - Potomac Almanac
Hucker, Vice President Gabe Albornoz and Councilmembers Andrew Friedson, Evan Glass, Will Jawando, Sidney Katz, Nancy Navarro, Craig Rice and Hans Riemer unanimously supported the preliminary agreement on the operating budget and capital budget.

County Council denounces recent anti-Semitism
May 25, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
Friedson said Jewish students have been subjected to epithets and other harassment while eating lunch outside their schools and synagogues in recent months. He added that some Jewish residents have dealt with similar abuse when walking from their home to school and their synagogues. “We felt it was very important in this moment, when these types of incidents are on the rise nationally and internationally, and some of them unfortunately, happening in our community … that we stand up and speak out,” Friedson said.

Elrich Urges WMATA to Change Name From White Flint Metro to North Bethesda Metro
May 25, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson of District 1 and State Del. Marc Korman of District 16 also both released statements expressing support from the County Council and the Maryland House of Delegates.  “The Metro station is crucial to the viability of this area and our community’s vision for it,” Friedson said. “We need a Metro station that reflects that vision and helps our economic development, regional competitiveness, and placemaking efforts so the Pike District and North Bethesda becomes an even more vibrant, walkable, and livable destination.”

Montgomery Co. executive seeks name change for White Flint Metro stop
May 25, 2021 - WTOP
“The Metro station is crucial to the viability of this area and our community’s vision for it,” Montgomery County Council member Andrew Friedson said in a statement Monday .  “We need a Metro station that reflects that vision and helps our economic development, regional competitiveness, and placemaking efforts so the Pike District and North Bethesda becomes an even more vibrant, walkable, and livable destination.”

Governor Signs Law Extending Alcohol Take Out, Delivery Provisions
May 24, 2021 - Source of the Spring
The County Council, in May 22 a letter spearheaded by Councilmember Andrew Friedson (D-District 1), requested the governor to extend the order to allow the state legislature to consider how to make it permanent. The letter also was sent to Comptroller Peter Franchot (D), who lent his support to the request in May 2020..."The restaurant industry has been among the hardest hit during COVID and will continue to feel the lasting and lingering impacts. I'm pleased State leaders acted on our request last year to extend the ability to serve alcoholic beverages to go."

Montgomery County adopts less restrictive mask guidelines
May 18, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
Montgomery County officials on Tuesday voted to relax some mask-wearing requirements, aligning with recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The county’s Board of Health, which includes the County Council, unanimously approved new regulations, after some minor clarifying amendments from Council Member Andrew Friedson. Under the new county guidelines, people are no longer required to wear a mask outdoors. Also, people who are fully vaccinated no longer have to wear a mask indoors.

SBN At-Home: America's Small Business Community
May 17, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
Councilmembers Nancy Navarro and Andrew Friedson join Kelly Leonard for MyMCM’s May episode of Small Business Network at Home.  The series of monthly sessions facilitated by Leonard address topics of interest to small business owners in Montgomery County. April’s topic is “America’s Small Business Community.”

Montgomery County enters second phase of reopening plan
May 17, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
“Please be respectful of businesses that choose to continue their own mask requirement and individuals who choose to continue wearing one,” Council Member Andrew Friedson posted on Twitter on Monday.

Hogan Lifts Indoor Mask Mandate in Maryland Effective Saturday
May 14, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
Councilmember Andrew Friedson said Friday, “A clarification on the mask rules will be announced shortly and formally taken up in an amended health regulation on Tuesday.”... The Montgomery County Council, sitting as the Board of Health, passed its latest regulation in late April, which implements reopenings based on the percentage of county residents vaccinated. More than 50% of county residents have been fully vaccinated, Friedson said Friday. According to the council’s phased plan, that means the county will enter its final reopening phase two weeks from Friday. All county restrictions will be removed and the county will align with state guidelines.

Movement Grows to Change Name of White Flint Metro to North Bethesda Metro
May 5, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
In a letter to Executive Marc Elrich and Councilmember Andrew Friedson, Friends of White Flint explained that following a public meeting and other discussions, a consensus was reached to call the metro stop on Rockville Pike North Bethesda. Even some who preferred other names said they could support calling it North Bethesda, noted Ginsburg, in a  blog post  on the nonprofit’s website.  More than 60 residents and business owners attended a virtual meeting March 31 with Elrich, Friedson, the Greater Bethesda Chamber and Friends of White Flint. While several names were suggested, including North Bethesda White Flint and Pike District, a consensus was reached favoring North Bethesda.... Friedson previously explained that the next step is to weigh the options and then speak with the county executive staff. If the county decides it wants to change the station name, it must then make a request to Washington Metropolitan Area Authority Transit. The county will seek state funding to help offset the cost, he said.

Council approves employee raises, union contracts
May 4, 2021 - Bethesda Beat 
Council Member Andrew Friedson was the only member to vote against that $3.8 million appropriation — $3.3 million of which was for the current fiscal year, which ends on June 30.

Opinion: Commentary: Montgomery County Council Approves Phased Reopening Tied to Improving Metrics
April 28, 2021 - Potomac Almanac
I have consistently pushed for our County to employ target reopening metrics because of our responsibility to be transparent about the conditions public health experts believe would be safe to begin loosening restrictions. Today's  amended public health order  does just that and is modeled on phased reopening strategies that are being successfully implemented in states such as Illinois and California.

Glen Echo Park's Carousel Reopens for Park's 100th Anniversary
April 27, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
The 45-minute ribbon cutting ceremony is expected to include a ceremonial first ride with officials and Carousel 100th Anniversary sponsors. Some of the officials expected to attend are Rep. Jamie Raskin, N ational Park Service Superintendent Charles Cuvelier, Maryland State Senator Susan Lee, Maryland State Delegates Mark Korman and Sara Love, Maryland State Arts Council Director  Ken Skrzesz, County Executive Marc Elrich, County Councilmembers Andrew Friedson, Gabe Albornoz and Evan Glass, and Mayor of the Town of Glen Echo and Partnership Board Member Willem Polak. Major sponsor and former Partnership Board President Carol Trawick will also attend.

Montgomery County to Reopen in 3 Phases Based on Vaccination Numbers
April 27, 2021 - NBC4
“The sooner we get there depends on people showing up for their second doses,” Council Member Andrew Friedson said. 

Local leaders not lacking in ideas to reduce aircraft noise around Reagan National
April 18, 2021 - Inside NoVa
Local leaders are suggesting an alternative that would disconnect the routes from FERGI and have air-traffic controllers direct flights manually to the next waypoint to the southeast, DARIC. This would provide more variety, instead of channeling incoming aircraft into one air corridor. The current situation “is like a superhighway now,” Friedson said. “The idea is to spread it out and share the burden.”

Some council members concerned about balance of budget for next year
April 15, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson, who often takes charge with budget discussions, said there are several “alarm bells” because the budget strays from the fiscal policies the council approved several weeks ago. “It’s more important than ever that we follow our fiscal policies and avoid using one-time revenue to fund ongoing expenses, so we don’t end up with a budget that is structurally unbalanced and fiscally unsustainable,” he said. “My strong preference — and I believe the fiscally responsible approach — would have been to propose a structurally balanced budget without federal money.”....“What happens if our revenues drop or our spending grows, like it did last year to meet the crisis? How will we be able to weather the storm without another round of federal bailouts?” he said. “We have to put ourselves in the position to do that.”

Results of Arlington and Montgomery County Collaboration on Airplane Noise
April 14, 2021 - Arlington Connection
Friedson recalled that in 2018, community members and staff realized that to make real progress, they would need the help of a third-party airspace expert, a vendor who fully understood the technical details of designing and implementing airplane flight paths and procedures expertise...."We would also need to work together with neighboring jurisdictions to come up with solutions that don't just move the noise problem from one community to another, but that best mitigate and balance in the ways across the entire region," Friedson said.

Leaders, Residents Working to Mitigate Air Traffic Noise From Reagan National Airport
April 7, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
More than 150 residents from both sides of the Potomac River, including County Councilmember Andrew Friedson and officials from northern Virginia, tuned into the  Airplane Noise Virtual Community Conversation  on Monday to get a progress report on the  NOWGEN-DCA Project .  “Montgomery and Arlington Counties joined together to hire an airspace expert to help us gather data and devise new flight procedures to mitigate the intense noise our communities have been experiencing from planes arriving at and departing from Reagan National Airport,” said Friedson.

Five-Year-Old Handcuffed for Hating School in Montgomery County
April 6, 2021 - Potomac Almanac
“This is just an absolute and an incomprehensible failure, not just of policy and laws, but of basic humanity,” said Potomac’s councilmember Andrew Friedson...“I’m appalled, I’m horrified, I’m truly shaken,” he said.

...“I’m appalled, I’m horrified, I’m truly shaken,” he said.

Maryland, Virginia residents push for relief from Regan National Airport noise
April 6, 2021 - WDVM
“Let’s see if we can solve this issue in the most equitable way possible, where no individual part of the region, no specific residents, are bearing a disproportionate share of the burden unreasonably or unfairly,” said Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson, who represents District 1, encompassing the westernmost areas of Montgomery County along the Potomac River.

Suggested changes to Reagan National Airport noise study to be released
April 4, 2021 - WTOP
The latest study on airplane noise north of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport will be released during a virtual meeting on Monday night.  It will be the first time that anyone outside of those tasked with studying airplane noise north of the airport will see newly proposed changes to the way planes come and go.  Montgomery County Council member Andrew Friedson and Arlington County Board member Libby Garvey are hosting the Reagan National Aircraft Noise Mitigation Study meeting at 7 p.m.

Online forum to provide update on airport-noise study
April 3, 2021 - Inside Nova
The Aircraft Noise Mitigation Study meeting, to be hosted by Montgomery County (Md.) Council member Andrew Friedson and Arlington County Board member Libby Garvey, is a follow-up of a meeting held last year by those localities.

County still working with FEMA on reimbursement of hazard-pay funding
April 2, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
Friedson has repeatedly voiced concerns about the county’s plan for covering hazard-pay costs. He told Madaleno that he still has concerns about the county’s challenge of basing fiscal decisions on the assumption that the county will be reimbursed for hazard pay. “I remain concerned that there’s really a lot of unanswered questions and we don’t know where it’s going to result,” he said.

Montgomery Co. leaders, residents discuss White Flint station name change
April 1, 2021 - WTOP
Montgomery County Council member Andrew Friedson pointed out that Metro is open to the name change, and the cost would be mitigated due to several factors, including potential access to state funding to help.

Meeting Ends With Consensus to Change Name of White Flint Metro Station
April 1, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
Councilmember Andrew Friedson told MyMCM that he received “good feedback” at the meeting. He noted that his objective “has always been to facilitate consensus around a name change to help advance our broader placemaking and economic development vision for the area. “I think it’s a good time to make a change,” he added....Friedson explained that the next step is to weigh the options and then to speak with the county executive staff. If the county decides it wants to change the station name, it must then make a request to Washington Metropolitan Area Authority Transit. The county will seek state funding to help offset the cost, he said.

Possible Name Change for White Flint Metro to be Addressed at Meeting
March 31, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
A virtual meeting to discuss whether to change the name of the White Flint Metro is set for Wednesday at 7 p.m.  Friends of White Flint, Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce, County Executive Marc Elrich and Councilmember Andrew Friedson are sponsoring the meeting on the possible renaming of the rail station.

Getting the Numbers Right in Montgomery County
March 27, 2021 - Potomac Almanac
Potomac’s councilmember Andrew Friedson wanted to take politics out of estimating costs. “To come up with consensus estimates on the front end to take politics out of revenue estimating and to have as many voices in the room at the beginning so when the budget process starts everyone is in agreement,” he said....“Accurate and useful revenue estimates are the foundation on which our County’s budget is built. By having better data, we’ll be able to better predict and communicate the County’s fiscal situation, including changes in recordation and transfer tax rates that impact our economy,” Councilmember Friedson said. “Importantly, the Revenue Estimating Group will bring together staff from the County Council and County Executive branch to help build consensus and improve our County’s budget process.”

Council approves up to 50 spectators for sports; more allowed with safety plan
March 26, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson said outdoor and masked spectating by parents is a step in the right direction. “Not all activities are equal in terms of their size, so finding a way to allow that to take place in a safe way, I think, allows for us to balance that,” he said.

Majority of Montgomery Council says they'll vote for the return of high school football
March 18, 2021 - ABC7
"The key here is to allow it to happen to ensure that it is as safe as it possibly can be in order to happen and to allow everybody to move forward. I believe sports can happen safely, but they have to be done with strict adherence to guidelines and we are trying to find that balance," Councilmember Andrew Friedson said.

Montgomery County is opening a mass vaccination site at Montgomery College
March 17, 2021 - WUSA9
"That is going to save lives and provide access to people who otherwise don't have it," Councilman Andrew Friedson said. "It's going to fix a problem...it shouldn't be a journey."

Council to Review Future of High School Football Friday
March 16, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
“I strongly do believe kids need sports,” Friedson said during Tuesday morning’s council meeting. He called sports an important part of a young person’s mental and physical well-being.

A 'doomsday scenario' | Public hearing brings up concerns in Maryland over WMATA budget cuts
March 10, 2021 - WUSA9
"The threat of closing an entire Metro station and eliminating bus routes that serve key areas of our communities will have a chilling effect on the ability of residents to live and businesses to operate in Montgomery County," explained Montgomery County Councilman Andrew Friedson, who said during the meeting that the "doomsday scenario" must be rejected. 

Council approves employee raises to replace COVID-19 hazard pay
March 9, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson was the only member who voted on Tuesday against the $3.8 million appropriation. Friedson said he could not approve the supplemental appropriation because it “isn’t fiscally sustainable and doesn’t follow our established fiscal policies.” “At a time of deep fiscal and economic uncertainty, the county executive’s proposal that’s before us uses the current year’s reserves, which are already below our 10% policy target to fund nearly $33 million in costs over the next 15 months and approximately $29 million in ongoing annual obligations,” he said.

Council supports public campaign financing expansion, if state funds it
March 8, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
The bill would establish public campaign financing for candidates running for clerk of the circuit court, register of wills, sheriff, and state’s attorney in Montgomery County. Council Member Andrew Friedson said that if the council supports the bill, it should include an amendment in its support that the state cover the public funds for the campaigns. The county matches small donations with public funds for the campaigns for county executive and County Council. “I’m comfortable supporting [the bill], but under the context that we include the full position which is that we believe the state ought to appropriate funds for this,” he said. “This is different than the county executive and the County Council. Those are established under county charter. These positions are established under state law.”

County to Spend $500000 to Accommodate Two Additional Councilmembers
March 8, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
“In doing the people’s work, having staff that is able to serve in a way we would expect them to, is something we need the building to be able to provide,” said Councilmember Andrew Friedson. He called the current building on Maryland Avenue “a significantly aging building with some built-in challenges.”

Montgomery asks state if Purple Line can be single-tracked in Bethesda station
March 6, 2021 - The Washington Post
Montgomery County Council member Andrew Friedson (D-District 1), whose district includes Bethesda, said the state rejected the idea of single-tracking part of the line 12 years ago, when Elrich first raised it as a possibility. “If we do it wrong with the notion of saving a few bucks, we will have funded a broken trail and Purple Line, and we won’t be able to repair them,” Friedson said....Friedson said the council’s transportation committee recently voted to retain the $54.9 million in the budget to keep a separate trail tunnel on schedule, but the full council won’t act on it until this spring.

County Council members challenge Elrich's request to single-track Purple Line in Bethesda
March 5, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
Friedson, whose district includes Bethesda, opposes single-tracking idea. He wrote to the council’s Transportation & Environment Committee on Feb. 17 that the proposal is “highly problematic and would represent a dramatic departure from the county’s longstanding commitments to the community.” “To my knowledge, the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) has never expressed that such an arrangement is feasible. Project plans were approved long ago and construction has already started,” he wrote....Friedson said in an interview with Bethesda Beat on Friday that he understands the budgetary constraints during the pandemic, but people need to examine the historical record of the Purple Line. He noted that Elrich, as a council member 12 years ago, also proposed the idea of single-tracking the Purple Line. He also pointed out that Elrich had not included funding for the Capital Crescent Trail tunnel last year in the CIP. “So, the facts don’t necessarily support the timeline of the argument. It’s a question of whether or not we support a Purple Line that meets Montgomery County’s standards for quality and reliability of public transit, and that means headways,” he said. Friedson said he worries that single-tracking the project could “threaten the quality, reliability or headways” to a “critical east-west transportation connection.” “We won’t be able to fix a mistake that we make, if we make it here,” he said

Friedson Asks Elrich for Clear Target Metrics Required for Next Stage of Reopenings
March 4, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
“While we must continue to do all we can to follow public health guidance to protect the safety of our residents, the County has a public obligation to provide clear, transparent metrics that will be used specifically as the basis for reopening decisions,” Friedson said.... “What can be perceived as subjective can and should be shown to be objective. This will help to alleviate understandable frustration among many families and businesses,” and will allow them to plan for changes in advance and encourage residents to comply with guidance in order to reach specific metrics, he said. Friedson said better and clearer communication is likely to produce greater compliance.

Elrich Asks State to Single Track Purple Line, Some on Council are Opposed
March 4, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
Councilmembers Andrew Friedson and Hans Riemer are strongly opposed to Elrich’s suggestion. In committee meeting reports, Friedson wrote that the tunnel work is “a long time council commitment.” The $55 million trail project “would provide for a conflict-free crossing of Wisconsin Avenue for the thousands of bikers and hikers using the trail daily when the rest of the trail reopens.”

Evictions Imperil Thousands of Families in Montgomery County
February 24, 2021 - Potomac Almanac
“People need money, yesterday,” said Andrew Friedson, Potomac’s councilmember. “The challenge we all have is this question of how do we get the money out as quickly as possible and make sure we’re getting it to the people who need it the most. It’s not an easy dynamic,” said Friedson.

Council split on state bill letting grocery stores sell alcohol
February 23, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
“I think residents are understandably confused and perplexed as to a lot of our alcohol laws in the state of Maryland,” Council Member Andrew Friedson said. “Probably the biggest one they’re confused about is why they can’t purchase beer and wine in grocery stores.”...Council Members Andrew Friedson, Hans Riemer, Evan Glass, Nancy Navarro and Sidney Katz were in favor of backing the bill. Council Members Craig Rice, Tom Hucker, Gabe Albornoz and Will Jawando were opposed.

Montgomery County to decide whether to allow solar in agricultural reserve
February 23, 2021 - The Washington Post
In a statement Monday evening, Friedson said he was wary of moving too quickly when it comes to zoning amendments that could have a lasting impact. “If we do too little . . . we can always return to it at a later date and slightly, methodically and thoughtfully expand the amount of coverage as appropriate,” he said....Rice, Friedson and other lawmakers who voted for the amended zoning change said it will allow the county to simultaneously generate more solar energy and preserve its agricultural community.

Council might create panel to forecast county revenues
February 5, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson, who spearheaded the legislation, said the group would be similar to the Consensus Revenue Monitoring and Forecasting Group that provides revenue projections for the state. “This is part of our moving towards a more sophisticated, more consensus-based and collaborative model reflecting the $6 billion budget we’re now responsible for,” he said, calling it an opportunity to improve processes. It would be a modest but important change to provide more consensus, collaboration and a better budget forecasting process, Friedson said. 

Final Tweaks Protect the Reserve in Montgomery County
February 4, 2021 - Potomac Almanac
“We made a decision in 1980 as a council,” said Friedson. “I feel very strongly about our job to protect and preserve that decision that has been viewed by many as one of the most important land conservation decisions in the country.”...“If we do too much we will never be able to undo the impact we make. If we do too little and don’t do enough, we can come back and address that,” Friedson said, when arguing to protect the soil.

White's Ferry owner offers $400000 to end dispute amid negotiations to restore service, he says
February 3, 2021 - The Washington Post
Montgomery County Council member Andrew Friedson (D-District 1) said he had been in touch with “all the stakeholders,” including the ferry owners, Rockland, and state and local officials. He spent part of New Year’s Eve discussing a possible solution with town commissioners in Poolesville, he said. However, Friedson said Montgomery County ultimately has little authority in a dispute between two private parties about land not in its jurisdiction. “Everybody is working on this and committed to finding a solution,” he said. “We are doing everything that we can.”

Council supports state proposal to ban plastic bags for retail stores
February 1, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson said the time adjustment would hinder the county’s ability to generate revenue. “Rather than one-third of the county being reassessed every year, 20% of the county would be reassessed every year,” he said, calling it a step back for the county.

'Frustrated, angry, scared': Montgomery Co. residents press council on vaccines
January 26, 2021 - WTOP
Council member Andrew Friedson suggested including more specifics on the vaccination process. Noting that the county doesn’t control how many vaccine doses it receives, Friedson said providing more clarity on where and how to get a vaccine is critical.  “We need to over-communicate what we can’t control,” Friedson said.

Council Approves Relief Grants for Hotels, Restaurants
January 26, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
The Montgomery County Council unanimously agreed Tuesday to give $6.2 million to hotels and $5 million for restaurants in the county to help them recover from the impact of the coronavirus.... This is the second round of funding for restaurants, and the $4,938,298 also is coming from state grants.  Councilman Andrew Friedson said he hoped the money could be distributed quickly, adding, “We know how desperately they need it.”  Under the program, restaurants, food trucks, caterers, wineries and breweries in the county can apply for up to $10,000 in grant money.

Montgomery delegation backs bill to reimburse, waive alcohol license fee
January 22, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
During a discussion of the bill on Jan. 15, County Council Member Andrew Friedson spoke to in favor of it to the delegation. “One of the challenges the county has had is a lot of these relief packages are very difficult to administer and the county is really not set up to move as quickly as we’ve been asked to move in this crisis in so many different ways, including these grant programs,” he said. “The beauty of this proposal — and I’ve been pushing for these types of efforts — is it doesn’t require significant administration. It actually eliminates the bureaucracy for businesses. It provides relief without the paperwork.” To provide even modest relief is critical, Friedson said.

County Unlikely to Move to Vaccination Phase 1C Next Week
January 19, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
Councilmember Andrew Friedson asked if the county can send healthcare workers who still need to be vaccinated, like dentists and pharmacists, to hospitals that have doses. He suggested the county could then move on to vaccinating 75+ residents. Gayles said some healthcare workers have been sent to hospital facilities for vaccination; at least two hospitals have been working with Montgomery County Medical Society to vaccinate healthcare practitioners who are non-primary care specialists. The county is working with hospitals on similar strategies to scale that up, and Gayles expects more details later this week.

Frustration grows as Washington region struggles to meet growing demand for coronavirus vaccine
January 19, 2021 - Washington Post
Council member Andrew Friedson (D-District 1) agreed, adding, “The uncertainty is what is killing [residents] mentally.”

'Any help is good help': Md. state lawmakers look to bring relief to Montgomery Co. restaurants
January 16, 2021 - WTOP
Montgomery County Council Member Andrew Friedson, who joined lawmakers and Martins for Friday morning’s online meeting, said, “The beauty of this proposal is that it doesn’t require significant administration — it actually eliminates the bureaucracy.”  “It provides relief without paperwork … and it will provide a lifeline to businesses that are the lifeblood of local communities,” Friedson said.

Council Expected to Introduce Bill Restricting Ghost Guns
January 15, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
Added Councilmember Andrew Friedson, ghost guns “have become the gun of choice for gangs” and White Supremacist.

Plan underway to rename three roads with Confederate ties
January 13, 2021 - Bethesda Beat
The renaming initiative began when Council Member Andrew Friedson spearheaded a June letter from the council to County Executive Marc Elrich and Planning Department Chairman Casey Anderson. The letter asked for all streets and facility names in the county to be reviewed to determine which are named after Confederates, sympathizers or slaveholders. The names of the streets in the county are important symbols, Friedson said during the discussion. “The symbols matter. That is not just what perpetuates institutional racism, but what normalizes it and legitimizes it by making it just almost a regular thing,” he said. “If ever there was a reminder of that, it was this week, when we had people with Confederate flags running into the United States Capitol. That symbol mattered.”

County Moves to Eliminate Street Names Honoring Confederates, Slaveowners
January 12, 2021- Montgomery Community Media
“Symbols matter,” said Councilmember Andrew Friedson, pointing to the events last week when the U.S. Capitol was breached by rioters. The image of a rioter carrying the Confederate flag inside the government building is a perfect example, he said.

Montgomery County, State Police Deployed to US Capitol Amid Chaos
January 7, 2021 - Montgomery Community Media
"Law enforcement from Montgomery County, Prince George's County and the State of Maryland have been sent to DC to protect the US Capitol against this violent assault and insurrection. Praying for them, our leaders in Washington, and for our country in this incredibly dark moment."

UPDATED: White's Ferry closes following Loudoun County court decision
December 28, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Montgomery County Council Member Andrew Friedson, whose district includes White’s Ferry, wrote on Facebook Monday that the closure of the ferry is a “devastating blow to Western Montgomery County specifically and our region more broadly.” “Deeply disappointed by this ruling and its impact on the ferry which has stood for centuries providing critical transportation access between Virginia and Maryland,” he wrote. “I have been in discussions with the Town of Poolesville and county and state officials to determine what options we have available moving forward.” Friedson, in an interview Monday afternoon, said he learned about the impending closure of White’s Ferry Sunday night. “It caught me by surprise and it was really concerning given the importance it has on Western Montgomery County and the entire region,” he said....“We are looking at what options may exist moving forward,” he said. “Ultimately, this is beyond the borders of Montgomery County and of Maryland, although it has a significant impact on our residents.”

Delegate seeks to extend waiver of alcohol license fees in Montgomery County
December 17, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
One supporter is County Council Member Andrew Friedson, according to Tuesday’s press release. “I’m pleased to work with Delegate Luedtke and our state partners to provide additional relief so these key small businesses can survive the public health emergency and continue to employ our neighbors and grow our economy,” he said in the press release.

Bill would pick up the tab for alcohol license fees in Montgomery County
December 17, 2020 - WTOP
Among those supporting the bill is Montgomery County Council member Andrew Friedson, the co-sponsor of a similar measure that is now passed into law that exempts county businesses from having to pay fees for something called a trader’s license, which is effectively part of the cost of doing business as a vendor in Montgomery County.

County Suspends Indoor Dining, Reimposes COVID-19 Restrictions
December 15, 2020 - The Patch
Councilmembers emphasized that they do not take joy in reimposing COVID-19 restrictions, but said they are necessary to stem the spread of the virus. "This is an agonizing decision for us," Councilmember Andrew Friedson said. "It is not even remotely close to the agonizing decisions that are being faced by families, businesses, employers, and employees. So I just wanted to note that we are not in an easy position."

County cutting back on severance pay for employees who violate ethics law
December 9, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson, who spearheaded the two bills, said at the council meeting on Tuesday that the bill on severance pay would end a practice of completely unreported and undisclosed packages paid out exclusively to county appointees. “We should be paying our political appointees what they deserve,” he said. “What their compensation that is paid for in taxpayer funding should be publicly, transparently reported. The idea that there would be payouts that are unknown to the council and completely unknown to the public is totally inappropriate and will no longer take place.”...“This bill is really about building public trust, increasing accountability and transparency, and strengthening the county’s ethics laws, so they meet Montgomery County standards,” Friedson said. “Our only currency in public life is public trust. Montgomery County residents expect and deserve that the highest-ranking officials in county government — elected and appointed — hold themselves to the highest possible standards. This really is just about good government.”

Council Overrides Elrich's Veto on Lowering Impact Taxes
December 9, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
Councilmember Andrew Friedson said the legislation is aimed at bringing new housing to the county, especially near transit stations. “Unfortunately, the county executive ignored the numbers and his own experts.”... Several county officials tweeted about the override, including Friedson who wrote “Disappointed the CE has again rejected tangible progress on transit-oriented housing. The Growth and Infrastructure Policy is data-driven and will make our County more welcoming to new residents, more attractive to new businesses, and more competitive.”

Montgomery County approves $1.25M to winterize streeteries
December 8, 2020 - Fox 5 DC
We’re told the intent is to “provide broader assistance for a larger number of nearby local businesses, instead of smaller grants for each business,” which Councilmember Andrew Friedson said the county has already done. He listed some of those efforts in an interview with FOX 5 DC, including the Reopen Montgomery Program and the Restaurant Relief Grant, which offered $10,000 to restaurants. With at least two more grant programs named, those with the county tell FOX 5 Montgomery County has already appropriated $76.2 million in direct support to restaurants and small businesses. “Is this going to solve the problems? Absolutely not,” said Councilmember Friedson, “Has this been a lifesaver for a number of businesses to provide them a sense of relief, to provide residents with some sense of normalcy and placemaking and an opportunity to safely support those businesses? Absolutely.”

Outdoor 'steeteries' might get $1.25M for winter operations
December 2, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
County Council Member Andrew Friedson said at a meeting on Tuesday that the ability for each community to direct funds towards each streetery’s needs will provide flexibility. “The outdoor dining that we’ve provided has really helped residents to be safe during this unique time and have some small semblance of normalcy and has helped the restaurants and retailers to survive and keep their lights on in a really difficult time,” he said.

Hucker Appointed Council President; Councilmembers Fondly Reflect on Katz's Stint
December 1, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
“At a time when so much of our governance and our politics is defined by mean spiritedness and division and divisiveness, you really brought a kindness and a decency and a genuine nature to politics which has really been refreshing,” Councilmember Andrew Friedson said of Katz.

Tom Hucker elected president of Montgomery County Council
December 1, 2020 - The Washington Post
Council member Andrew Friedson (D-District 1) said Hucker’s long-standing relationships with state lawmakers and activists will be helpful. “We need to have the ability to bring people together,” he told Hucker during the Zoom session, “and I’m confident you’ll have the ability to do that.”

Two Years After Amazon Rejection, Leaders Discuss White Flint Metro Station Development
November 30, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
Friedson said these stations are the gateway into their communities.  “And what do you see when you enter a gateway? Here you see a bunch of cars. How much better to see a lot of people? How much better to see activity? How much better to see the places where people live, where they recreate, where they socialize…?” Friedson said.

In Wake of Kleine's Ethics Violations, Council Works to Change Rules for CAO
November 24, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
Committee member Andrew Friedson, who spearheaded the bill, said Chief Administrative Officer is a unique role.  “I don’t think that you can be the CAO and go to a conference and be something other than the CAO for Montgomery County government,” he said. 

New Agreement Means Purple Line is Back on Track
November 24, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
In a tweet, Councilmember Andrew Friedson called the agreement “positive news” and noted, “Our community has sacrificed so that this project critical to our transportation, environmental and cconomin development goals gets done, and must ensure construct gets back on track.”

Montgomery County Councilmember Friedson holds Community Conversation
November 19, 2020 - Potomac Almanac
“Cases are heading in the wrong direction. We need to make a significant step into cutting into that,” Friedson said. “The general thought process of the public health officers and what they’ve proposed is a broad suppression strategy … every activity is inherently more dangerous. As we head to Thanksgiving and the holidays, we all need to accept our own responsibility and accountability, because one of the main areas of concern is informal family and friend gatherings. At these … gatherings the opportunity for super-spreader type events is significantly higher. We all have the responsibility to wear a mask, wash our hands repeatedly, to get tested, get our flu shot. We need to keep ourselves healthy.”

'A Clearly Deteriorated Relationship': Councilmembers Exasperated by Communication from State
November 18, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
Councilmembers were very concerned about the waiver rejection. Councilmember Andrew Friedson said this situation proves that relationships do matter.  “This is one of the challenging circumstances that we have found a clearly deteriorated relationship between the county executive and the governor and the serious consequences that that has on families and on our residents,” Friedson said.

Montgomery County Council votes to tighten COVID restrictions amid uptick in cases
November 18, 2020 - Fox 5 Baltimore
Councilmember Andrew Friedson (D-District 1) said that the vote had "eaten him up" because of the undeniable economic effect. "The businesses here are going to close. People are going to lose their jobs. There are going to be long-lasting impacts of that," Friedson shared. "None of this is going to work in the absence of a regional strategy."

Montgomery County lifts residential building ban near overcrowded schools
November 17, 2020
"It deprives the county necessarily of the resources it needs to address the school overcrowding it's intending to resolve," said Friedson. Friedson also calls the moratorium a bad policy because it's "based on an outdated philosophy."

County Council ends residential building moratorium
November 17, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson said in a phone interview with Bethesda Beat Tuesday evening that reviewing the growth policy every four years is one of the council’s most important tasks. “This sends a really loud signal to the region that we’re putting up a welcome sign where we used to have a wall,” he said. “That is a powerful statement for who we are and who we want to be. It’s a significant step forward to being a more welcoming place for new residents and a more affordable place for new housing and for private sector investment.” Friedson said after the vote, a county-based housing developer told him that he was looking forward to doing projects in the county again under the changes to the policy. “We weren’t able to make deals happen,” he said. “After the passage of this policy , that’s going to change things...”

Friedson said the new growth policy is the first the county has adopted with a focus on the principles of Vision Zero, a goal to eliminate traffic, bicycle and pedestrian deaths. “It phases out the outdated approach to infrastructure that prioritizes cars over people, that puts the speed of vehicles through an intersection ahead of the safety of people crossing the street,” he said. “[It] really emphasizes pedestrian and bike safety that we want — to create visible, walking, accessible communities that we want.”

Council Demands Reimbursement, Outside Inspection of Dept. of Permitting Services
November 12, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
Councilmember Andrew Friedson called on County Administrative Officer Richard Madaleno to “fix this mess right now – no excuses and no delays.” He called it “not negotiable” that the county is reimbursed for all the overpayments and said the DPS “took advantage of the pandemic.”

Hazard pay to work from home? Montgomery County seeks repayment of $100000
November 11, 2020 - WTOP
During a council session Tuesday, Council member Andrew Friedson called the overpayments an “egregious breach of trust” and said that if the public is expected to trust local government, then action — including an outside investigation and repayment of the funds — must be taken immediately, “no excuses, no delays.”  “Every single taxpayer dollar that was wrongfully paid out must be returned immediately. That is not negotiable” Friedson said.

Council Passes CE Elrich's Order to Reinstate Capacity Restrictions as COVID-19 Cases Rise
November 10, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
Councilmember Andrew Friedson said he understood the need to bring back some restrictions but regretted that it would probably result in the closings of additional businesses.

'That's Called Failure': 311 Call Abandonment Skyrockets During Pandemic
November 9, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
Committee Member Andrew Friedson said county employees who are being underutilized due to the pandemic should help with 311 calls. He said better coordination is needed to move available personnel around.  “Somehow nobody is connecting those two things to figure out well, how do we move the folks who are underutilized into a place of significant need and to me, it screams what it has always screamed: that this is an operational job and it needs better coordination and collaboration from the second floor,” Friedson said... Friedson said mistakes are understandable during an unprecedented pandemic, however the lack of effort to address staffing issues is a problem. The influx of calls was previously discussed during a  June 17 committee worksession.  At that time, Hudson said the county was in the process of bringing on temporary contractors to take calls.  “It’s not that we trained folks wrong, it’s that we weren’t adding folks and training them at all up until this point, which is troubling,” Friedson said.  “We have to be able to respond much faster than we have been able to respond in this moment,” he said.

Restaurants brace for possible impact of new limit to business
November 9, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson said in an interview last week that he also thought a few more days were necessary for the public to weigh in on the order. Friedson said he’s talked with business owners and understands their concerns about the potential loss of business stemming from the increased restrictions. “Obviously it’s a concern. And balancing public health with the livelihoods of local businesses and Montgomery County families is a really challenging situation, and something that I take extremely seriously,” he said.

Montgomery permitting workers wrongly claimed hazard pay, report says
November 6, 2020 - The Washington Post
“This is an egregious breach of trust,” said county council member Andrew Friedson (D-District 1), who also sits on the government oversight committee. Both lawmakers said they believe the pay that was mistakenly distributed to employees should be returned to the government. “This not a negotiable decision,” Friedson said. “Every dime must be paid back.”... Friedson said he believes the government needs “an outside review from an independent entity.”

Both Ballot Questions Supported by Council Appear to Have Passed
November 4, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
Councilmember Andrew Friedson, who wrote Question A, said if the final count supports this measure, it will be “a vote for fiscal responsibility vs fiscal insanity.”... Question A establishes a cap on the property tax rate instead of the total tax revenue the county will receive, which Friedson said has not allowed the council to adequately fund schools, libraries and parks. “It fixes a broken system” that has been the rule for 30 years, he said.  “It’s not easy to have tax policy on the ballot,” he said. However, he added, Montgomery County “has the most educated, the most sophisticated voters.”  The current tax system “has held back the county for decades,” he said, calling it “confusing and arbitrary.” If approved following the final vote count, “this will give us a consistent tax rate.”

Voters okay Question A's plan to remove tax revenue cap
November 3, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Question A, proposed by the County Council, called for removing a cap that limits how much the county’s property tax revenue can increase in a single year. Council Member Andrew Friedson spearheaded Question A. According to Montgomery County Board of Elections figures as of 12:49 a.m., 178,696 (62.4%) were in favor and 107,582 (37.6%) were opposed.

Farms could accept more food waste for compost, mulch under proposed zoning change
November 2, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
“This is about proving how we can benefit our environment and sustainability goals,” he said, “and also support the local small-business owners who are the foundation of our county’s economy, helping our family-owned agricultural operations financially and making sure that we keep compost materials out of the waystream.”

Council Overrides Veto of High-Rise Housing at Metrorail Stations Act
October 28, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
“I’m pleased that the Council today stood strong in our continued commitment to meet ambitious housing and transit-oriented development goals so more people will have the chance to live in and contribute to our County,” Councilmember Andrew Friedson said.  “While some who oppose new people moving into our community remain satisfied with the status quo of empty lots and parking spaces on top of Metro stations, we made it clear that we won’t wait to address our housing and climate crisis or to invigorate our local economy.”

Montgomery County Council introduces FY2021 appropriations, includes $5+ million for tourism sector 
October 28, 2020 - WDVM
“This is a key, targeted approach to be able to ensure that these critical anchor organizations that are so central to our economy, to our tourism industry are able to keep going.” Friedson quoted the reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics/Center Employment Statistics, saying Montgomery and Frederick Counties experienced a 44% decline in leisure and hospitality jobs from April 2019 to April 2020, compared to an 11% employment decline in all job losses during the same period.

Elrich wants to lower fees for third-party food delivery apps
October 23, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
“If you can, pick up the phone and order directly from the restaurants. We want to make sure the money stays in our community and supports our local businesses, particularly at this tough time,” he said...“This topic has been discussed significantly over the last several weeks. So, I am fully committed to doing whatever we can to support our local businesses,” he said. “If [lowering the fees] is something that our local restaurants and business community think would be helpful, then I think we should do it.”

The Buck Stops Here? Or Never Got Going in Montgomery County?
October 21, 2020 - Potomac Almanac
“I’m afraid the game is going to be over before you even come up with your game plan,” said Councilmember Andrew Friedson (D-1), who represents Potomac... “The idea that our residents and businesses are struggling more than they ever have and are more vulnerable than they’ve ever been, when the needs are as challenging as they currently are, with an economic crisis and a public health emergency, that our issue is not that we are going to run out of money too quickly but the clock will run out before these programs will be able to help these residents and businesses … I can’t tell you how frustrating that is,” said Friedson.

Additional Plastic Products Added to Banned List in Montgomery County
October 20, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
Councilmember Andrew Friedson expressed concern that restaurant and storeowners, already financially ailing due to the global pandemic, would take another hit when they purchased new containers. Ortiz replied that his office would be educating them and allowing them to finish using their current supplies of banned products.

STEM Company Moves Headquarters to Rockville
October 16, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
"Top talent and our prime location are helping us lead the response to COVID-19. Excited that rapidly growing Autonomous Therapeutics has chosen Rockville for its new HQ, developing therapeutics to prevent infections from coronavirus or the next pandemic."

Friendship Heights' high-end retail scene continues to evaporate. Can it be stopped?
October 15, 2020 - WJLA
Friedson, who grew up in Bethesda, believes experience now outranks high-cost merchandise. "What Friendship Heights needs isn't a store selling $1,500 pairs of shoes or a $5,000 piece of expensive jewelry. It needs local places for folks to grab a cup of coffee, to have a nice meal, to go out on a date night." 

This wealthy suburb gives out millions in pandemic hazard pay. Some officials aren't sure the county can afford to.
October 14, 2020 - The Washington Post
At the hearing Tuesday, council member Andrew Friedson (D-District 1) grilled Madaleno on Elrich’s plans to afford the government’s generous program, especially given the revenue shortfalls that the county stands to face because of pandemic shutdowns.

'The Buck Stops With Him': Council Blasts Elrich for Undistributed Federal COVID-19 Funds
October 13, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
“This is a really frustrating conversation,” noted Councilmember Andrew Friedson. “So many things are out of our control,” including what course COVID-19 will take in the future and whether the federal government will continue to allocate funds. “Our businesses are struggling,” he said.

Montgomery County Council criticizes county executive over coronavirus aid
October 13, 2020 - WTOP
Looking over figures provided by Elrich’s office that showed a fraction of the millions appropriated for aid to residents had been spent, council member Andrew Friedson, said “I can’t imagine how frustrating that is for the 1.1 million residents who are desperately trying to get through the most challenging time in our lifetimes.”

4 Montgomery County ballot questions: What you need to know
October 8, 2020 - WTOP
“Folks are understandably focused at the national level, but we have a critical election here in Montgomery County that will determine what the next 30 years are going to look like,” said Montgomery County Council member Andrew Friedson, who has spearheaded one of the ballot measures that would change the method the county uses to collect property taxes.... “Question A is the answer to our county’s broken property tax system,” said Friedson, who represents District 1 on the Montgomery County Council and also sits on the council’s economic development and fiscal policy committees. “It sets a consistent rate each year that allows us to fund schools, libraries and parks. It’s really simple: Your property tax rate will remain the same unless nine members of the council unanimously vote to change it.”... Friedson said the current system, where rates are set each year to comply with the revenue cap, is too complicated, likening it to a game of “Jeopardy.”  “Having a tax system that requires a Ph.D. in economic theory, that has a complicated formula that nobody really understands … isn’t a rational or reasonable way to do tax policy. We should be better than that in Montgomery County.”

Councilmembers Blast Trump After Stay at Walter Reed
October 6, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
Councilmember Andrew Friedson said he lives down the street from Walter Reed and often passes it while walking. He made a point to contradict the president and say that he is scared of the virus.  “I am scared of COVID-19, I just want to be very clear,” he said. “I think we all should be and anybody who isn’t concerned about a deadly disease and global pandemic, I question their judgement.” Friedson also said residents should be proud to live in a jurisdiction with world-class treatment. He doesn’t want Montgomery County to lose sight of why Walter Reed exists and why the president would even come.  “When the president gets sick, regardless of who is the president, they come to Montgomery County for care. And they come to Montgomery County to get the best treatment with the best doctors and the best medical professionals in the world,” Friedson said.

Top fee for trader's license will drop from $800 to $15 next year
October 6, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson has said that most businesses in the county pay between $150 and $350 for the fee. “I hope this is just one of many examples as we continue our work to look at ways that we can eliminate bureaucratic red tape, unnecessary regulations that were put in place in the mid-1800s for merchants that are no longer relevant to our modern economy,” he said on Sept. 29. “And also to save costs, however large and however modest, for businesses, so that they can compete locally.”

Food Insecurity Remains Growing Problem in Montgomery County
October 2, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
Councilmember Andrew Friedson told MyMCMedia that the coronavirus has only “magnified” Montgomery County’s food insecurity issues.  “These aren’t new issues but the issues are more challenging than they’ve ever been because of the public health emergency and the resulting economic crisis because of it,” Friedson said... “It started when St. John’s Norwood Church and I had a meeting on Zoom and they said, ‘How can we help?'” Friedson recalled. “‘We know there’s such need and we want to make sure that we aren’t forgetting about our own backyard.'”

Bill would ban severance pay for county employees who violate ethics law
October 1, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson, who spearheaded both bills, said the legislation would ensure that government officials can’t use their position in public service for private gain. “Recent events both in county government and around the state have made clear that we have areas that we must strengthen to boost accountability and transparency, and to safeguard the public’s trust,” he said at a council meeting on Tuesday. The “controversial” practice of using taxpayer money to provide discretionary severance is “completely unregulated and frequently underreported,” Friedson said. “[It] is rife with ethical concerns, as we’ve seen at several levels of government,” he said. “The standards are unclear and there is basically no transparency or accountability and this practice simply should not be allowed in Montgomery County.”

Councilmember Friedson: 'Votes Are Starting to Be Counted Beginning October 1'
September 28, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
Friedson said this upcoming election is one of the most important elections both at the federal and local level because there are ballot questions that will impact the future of Montgomery County.  “I am trying to work with every resident I can, reach out to every resident I can, make sure that folks understand where they can vote, how they can vote and when they can vote,” Friedson said.

In Affluent Maryland County, Pandemic Exacerbates Food Insecurity
September 27, 2020 - NPR
Until last month, there was no food distribution in the Bethesda-Chevy Chase area, located just outside of Washington, D.C. That's when Andrew Friedson, the Montgomery County council member for the area, pulled together a coalition of nonprofit, commercial and faith-based groups to help distribute food. He said the pandemic has only increased an existing need for food assistance in the area."It has always been needed," Friedson said. "I think there is more poverty in Montgomery County — and even places like Bethesda — than people realize in normal time," he said. "And during COVID, it has just gone through the roof, the challenges that we face." Since the start of the pandemic, Friedson said, rental assistance and food security are the two biggest issues his office hears about from constituents. Even with local grant programs, he said, the county can't keep up. "We desperately need federal government support." In late April, Montgomery County received about $183 million in federal funds after Congress passed the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act that Congress passed a month earlier. A portion of that money has gone toward small businesses, rent relief, child care, public transportation and food assistance programs, including Nourish Now. Still, Friedson said, "it's nowhere near enough."

Friendship Heights, once known as a hub for high-end shopping, is struggling as the pandemic accelerates an exodus of retailers
September 26, 2020 - The Washington Post
Montgomery County Council member Andrew Friedson, a Democrat who represents the area, said this latest crisis brings a greater sense of urgency for the private and public sectors in both jurisdictions to work more collaboratively to address long-known problems in Friendship Heights. “It’s increasingly clear that Friendship Heights needs a real sense of place,” Friedson said. “What Friendship Heights needs is not more stores selling $1,500-pairs of shoes or a $5,000-piece of expensive jewelry,” he said. “It needs nice local places to grab a cup of coffee, to have a nice meal, to pick up some groceries and enjoy an evening out.”

In Montgomery, council structure and property taxes are on the ballot this fall
September 25, 2020 - The Washington Post
Question A is the council-backed alternative, which proposes capping the property tax rate, rather than tax revenue, and retaining the council’s right to override the cap. This would help simplify the process of calculating property taxes, said council member Andrew Friedson (D-District 1). “Your property tax rate next year will remain the same as your tax rate this year, unless all nine County Council members vote to increase it,” he said. “No complicated formulas. No need for a PhD in economic theory to calculate it.”

County loosens COVID-19 restrictions on religious gatherings
September 23, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson asked if there were any particular rationale about only applying the exception for wearing a mask while playing sports to children and not adults in the same or similar activities.

Playing and praying: Montgomery County tweaks COVID-19 restrictions
September 22, 2020 - WTOP
“The new guidance we’re getting today on religious institutions — I obviously would have preferred it to happen before Rosh Hashanah, but glad that it’s happening now,” Council Member Andrew Friedson said at a meeting Tuesday.  Friedson told his colleagues on the council that he’d recently attended services online, “and it was bizarre to me to look at a virtual, empty sanctuary.”

Josh Kurtz: Can't Tell the Players (or the Year) Without a Scorecard
September 18, 2020 - Maryland Matters
Question A, an initiative sponsored by Councilmember Andrew Friedson (D), also limits the county’s ability to raise property taxes by capping the weighted average tax rate on property and allowing collections to rise with assessments — but allows more flexibility.

County might reduce trader's license fee for retailers to $15
September 17, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson said most businesses in the county pay between $150 and $350. “[It] would relieve them of the administrative burden, which is just as important, of having to figure out the value of the inventory and going through the unnecessary exercise of reporting it to the county and the state,” he said.

Montgomery County Councilmembers Friedson and Glass Seek Financial Relief for Retail Businesses
September 16, 2020 - Virginia Connection Newspapers
“This bill will provide modest but important financial relief to hundreds of local retailers and restaurant owners at a critical time,” Friedson said. “I’m proud to join Councilmember Glass on this effort that will save scores of local businesses hundreds of dollars a year. It’s a continuation of the entire Council’s commitment since the beginning of this crisis to support local employers and their employees, starting with the Public Health Emergency Grant program, continuing with the Telework Assistance Program, Reopen Montgomery, and a number of other initiatives aimed at helping our economy recover.”

Council Approves Youth Sports Funding, Introduces Bill to Change Business Fees
September 16, 2020 - Source of the Spring
In addition, two council members introduced a bill to lower annual license fees for county retailers and restaurant operators.  Expedited Bill 40-20, Licensing and Regulations – Uniform Trader’s License Fee , introduced by co-lead sponsors Councilmembers Andrew Friedson (D-District 1) and Evan Glass (D-At Large) would have the county select a uniform $15 trader’s license fee for affected businesses. “Trader’s license fees currently range between $15 to $800 annually for any business that has retail inventory and are established based on the value of that inventory,” according to  a press release .

Maryland transit officials make pledge to finish Purple Line to Montgomery Co. Council
September 15, 2020 - WTOP
Council member Andrew Friedson, whose district includes Bethesda, told Quinn, “I am hoping that the future bids are not kind to the concessionaire.” He added, “Commitments made should be commitments kept.”  Friedson also voiced concern over the current state of the project, saying that short-term pain is expected to provide long-term gain, but in the meantime, “This construction has taken away pedestrian access, has taken away trail access” in areas where construction has begun.  Friedson also urged transit officials to make information on cost and completion public. “This is too important a project, and we have too much invested in this project, for the public not to know exactly what the options are,” he said.

Local Leaders Honor Lives Lost in 9/11
September 11, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
"This 19th anniversary of one of our nation's darkest days, # weremember the 2977 lives lost and # neverforget the sacrifices made to save thousands more. Let us summon that same sense of national unity as communities and one country to respond to our current crisis. # Remembering911 "

Bethesda Food Distribution Scheduled for Fridays Through October
August 31, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
A group of nonprofits, businesses and churches are distributing food every Friday from now through October in Bethesda.  Anyone in need may participate at the Bethesda Chevy-Chase Rescue Squad which is located at 5020 Battery Lane. Participants in cars should enter the fire station from the Battery Lane entrance and remain in their car. The hours are Fridays from 1 to 3 p.m.  Walkups are welcome. Contact Nourish Now at 301-330-0222 with any questions.
County 'flying blind' without state guidance on nonpublic schools' reopening
August 24, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Asked by Council Member Andrew Friedson how the local health department will determine whether local schools are “following the rules if they’re not established,” and what guidelines they should follow now, Dr. Earl Stoddard, director of the Montgomery County Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, said, “That’s an excellent question.” “We don’t know what we’re even going to be permitted to enforce at this point,” Stoddard said. “There are some issues that existed before COVID that we know we can enforce, but we’re hopeful the guidelines will explain a fair bit about the expectations of local enforcement.”

'It allows restaurants to keep their lights on': 'Streetery' keeps businesses afloat, gives customers a sense of normalcy
August 21, 2020 - WTOP
Friedson said the program “allows restaurants to keep their lights on, and it allows residents to have that small sense of normalcy,” as the pandemic continues to change the way people live.  He said there’s also an ongoing look at how retailers could be helped the same way that the dining industry has been helped.  “This is part of a broader effort to try to think about how do we respond to the new normal in the now, in the immediate future and then moving forward. Because there’s a question of what are restaurants and retail going to look like?” Friedson said.

Transportation secretary denies appeals for Purple Line contractor claims
August 21, 2020 - Bethesda Beat 
At the Purple Line NOW virtual forum on Thursday, Montgomery County Council Member Andrew Friedson said there have been some “hiccups” along the way for the project, but “bumpy rides lead to beautiful places.” “I’m more convinced than ever that this project is desperately needed for the environmental, the economic, the east-west transportation connection that it’s going to create. … I can tell you that people don’t care who builds it,” he said. “I’ve never heard a resident tell me that they have strong opinions which engineering firm or which contractor is building a project and how it’s built. They want it built and they want it built without further delays.”

Opinion: In times of profound unease, crisis intervention services save lives
August 8, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Montgomery County just added significant resources to the Hotline. Council Member Andrew Friedson said, “When it comes to our crisis intervention hotline, missing a call or text is a matter of life and death. Montgomery County is simply too good a place to allow a cry for help in our community to go unanswered.” As society grapples with reimagining the role of the police and locating more resources for social services, now would be a good time to bolster a tried-and-true crisis management approach. Our public safety and well-being depend upon it.   

Help for Black residents is goal of new $3.4M COVID-19 health program
August 5, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson said the health crisis has shown the “cracks” in the county’s social safety net, health systems and other services. “It has put a light [on] things that have typically been in the shadows — the discrepancies in health, the discrepancies in outcomes, the discrepancies in access and opportunity with health care and, frankly, everything,” he said.

Montgomery councilman asks health officer for 'fact-based' answers to private school edict
August 5, 2020 - WJLA
Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson (D-District 1) sent a pointed letter to Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles, requesting "thorough, fact-based, and timely" answers behind Gayles' decision to cancel in-person learning at private schools through at least October 1. Friedson — whose district includes Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Darnestown, Poolesville, and Potomac — wrote that Gayles' Friday evening edict, caused "a great deal of anger, frustration, and confusion" among residents. "The order caught many independent school leaders and families by surprise, including many who have spent the last several months preparing to open based on CDC and state guidelines," Friedson wrote in his two-page letter, dated August 3. "Understandably, it has generated countless questions conveyed to me and my office over the weekend."

Voters could get competing plans for County Council structure
August 4, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson (District 1) said he had doubts about the suggested change in structure to the council. He said residents aren’t asking for more seats to be added to the council during a time of economic crisis. Geographic representation is what they’re seeking, he said. “I’m not sure that this particular proposal really does speak to the heart of the concerns and issues that have been raised,” he said. “As a voter, I have real concern about my personal vote being diluted in terms of my ability to control with my vote and have a say with my vote — a majority of five of nine of the council.” Friedson said Glass’s proposal maintains representation, but dilutes it. “It takes away the ability for every voter to be able to vote on a majority of the council — five of nine,” he said. “That is a big difference. Five of 11 is not the same level of influence as five of nine.” The council voted 8-1 to put Glass’s measure on the ballot. Friedson was opposed.

County Council will vote on updates to executive order Tuesday
August 3, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson told Bethesda Beat on Monday that Tuesday’s vote is mainly a formality. He said although Dr. Travis Gayles has issued previous health orders, the council has voted on them as a pro forma exercise. Friedson said the council can’t make changes to the health order, but can ask questions of county officials during the discussion. “Because there’s so much at stake for public safety … it’s critical that these decisions get made transparently and proactively,” he said. Friedson said a number of business owners in an economic recovery work group in the county have raised concerns that their businesses aren’t allowed to reopen under the existing order.

'It's a massive failure of judgement.' Montgomery Co. Council slams Elrich's top appointee
August 3, 2020 - WJLA
Councilmember Andrew Friedson (D-District 1) stated that public trust is the "only currency" public officials have, and argued that Kleine effectively deflated it. "This is not a training issue. Let's not obscure what happened here. This is specifically a clear violation of ethics and public trust," Friedson pointedly stated. "It is a massive, massive failure of judgment in the highest position of County government." Friedson — a Montgomery County native who graduated from Winston Churchill High School in Potomac — recalled how former Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose found himself embroiled in a book scandal of his own. The book,  Three Weeks In October, chronicled Chief Moose's experience during the 2002 snipper attacks. "It is not in the best interest of the County to allow its employees to trade on their government activities for private gain in such a direct and immediate fashion," Friedson read from the Ethics Commission's ruling in the Chief Moose matter. Friedson stated Kleine's so-called "proposal to cure" might not solve the ailment that prompted him to so publicly promote his book at taxpayer-funded conferences, among other settings. "Essentially we've requested payment back of the funds that were inappropriately spent out of taxpayer dollars and made a commitment not to commit further ethics violations, and that's a pretty low bar... When we talk about this as being a 'cure,' it's kind of a euphemism. I mean, what this really is, effectively, is a plea agreement."

Gayles, Elrich React to Hogan Overturning Directive to Keep Private Schools Closed
August 3, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
Prior to Hogan’s action, Councilmember Andrew Friedson, who represents Montgomery County’s 1st district, tweeted a letter directed at Gayles, asking for more information about the decision to direct private schools to stay closed. " The rapidly evolving nature of what we know about COVID-19 makes it critical that public health orders are clear, consistent, and transparent. We're seeking data and transparency on the public health order issued Friday regarding in-person instruction at independent schools

Voters will consider two county tax policy changes on November ballot
July 30, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson said the county’s current tax policy and the fiscal environment do not allow investing in priorities and maintaining a AAA bond rating. “We are universally in agreement that we currently have a bad policy that is being proposed to be doubled down on [by Ficker], which would be a disastrous policy,” he said. “We have the opportunity to replace it with a simple, straightforward and much better policy. … It would also allow us to grow our priorities and revenues with our economy, with our businesses, so we better ourselves.” The proposed change is also more easily understood, he said.

Council Calls For Additional Punishment Against County Chief Administrative Officer Kleine
July 30, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
Council members also said they hoped to work out a plan in which all employees when first starting work for the county would attend mandatory ethics training.  However, said Councilmember Andrew Friedson, “This is not a training issue. It is a clear violation of ethics and public trust.” What Kleine did “is a massive failure of judgement.”

County Council blasts chief administrative officer for ethics violations
July 29, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson said Kleine’s ethics violations are “a clear violation of ethics and of public trust.” “It’s not a member of the county government. It’s not some county employee. It is the top county employee. The person who is in charge of running the government,” he said. Friedson said the $5,000 cure is “effectively a plea agreement,” but further penalties would be a matter for the executive branch to take up, and not the Ethics Commission.

Council approves plans to procure lines of credit for up to $300 million
July 29, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson said at the council’s meeting Tuesday that the lines of credit are an unprecedented action for the county. “We’re trying to balance the fiscal and economic realities within the regular budget and invest the federal dollars that we’re getting for the immediate emergency [COVID-19] response. … This line of credit is a sobering reminder of the fiscal economic realities that we face,” he said. “It’s effectively an insurance policy against a major economic downturn.”

Mental health hotline, crisis team in line for county funding
July 27, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson, who spearheaded the expansion of the hotline, said EveryMind has been facing a 25% increase in calls, texts and messages, with no additional funding to pay for them. “That is sustained and is likely to continue to grow,” he said. “The stress, the pressures, the challenges, the triggers that are happening right now with all of the uncertainty and anxiety in our community is only getting worse. We need to step up to be able to address it.” The appropriation will also help expand the hours of text services to include the period between 8 a.m. to noon through the current fiscal year. Friedson said the funds were a “modest down payment” and would guarantee that every call or text would be answered. “When we’re talking about a crisis hotline, we’re talking about things as serious and as life-threatening as suicide ideation. Missing a call or missing a text means life and death,” he said. “This is a very small price to pay, and frankly, I think just the beginning of what we’re going to need to do as we ramp up these efforts in our mental health challenges to meet the needs.”

Some speak in favor of Elrich's proposal to remove tax revenue cap
July 24, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Council President Sidney Katz and Council Members Gabe Albornoz, Andrew Friedson, Nancy Navarro, Craig Rice, and Hans Riemer are lead sponsors and cosponsors of the council’s proposal, which focuses on the weighted average of the real property tax rate. When council members introduced the measure on July 14, Friedson said it would replace a “complex and confusing calculation each year based on arbitrary exceptions.”

Coronavirus concerns dominate virtual town hall in Montgomery County
July 24, 2020 - WTOP
The virtual town hall, according to Council member Andrew Friedson, was part of the county’s efforts to give residents access to their council during the pandemic.

County Council criticizes Hogan for Election Day plan, calls for mail-in ballots
July 23, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson credited Hogan with handling management of the pandemic well, but criticized his election plan. “We should be following the guidance of our public health experts and our local elections officials. Elections should be as accessible and convenient as possible, so that our residents can cast ballots,” he said. “That’s what elections are all about. But they have to be as safe as possible so that nobody has to risk their life to exercise their right to cast a ballot.”

County Council might spend $20M more on rental assistance
July 22, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
The appropriation was a joint effort with the executive branch, the council and outside organizations, Council Member Andrew Friedson said. “This was an area where we put aside our individual need to get credit to just get something done,” he said, calling it a robust response to a massive challenge. “It’s nowhere near enough to what the need really is in our community and the challenge facing our residents who don’t know what they’re going to do about their next rent payment,” he said.

Council approves enhanced strategy for COVID-19 testing
July 21, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Another amendment included clarifying that the county has spent $4 million of the $20 million designated for testing, not $1 million as the original regulation listed when it was drafted. Riemer said the council was not informed about the additional $3 million in spending until Tuesday. Council Member Andrew Friedson said he’d like a detailed analysis of the spending for testing.

Montgomery Co. resolutions: Vote-by-mail, eviction protections, Indigenous Peoples Day
July 21, 2020 - WTOP
The council also introduced a measure to approve a special appropriation of $20 million for COVID-19 response, including money for rental assistance and the prevention of evictions. A public hearing for that plan is scheduled for July 28.  Council member Andrew Friedson said of the plan, “This was an area where we all decided to put aside our individual need to get credit.” He credited his colleagues and County Executive Marc Elrich’s office for moving ahead with a plan to help those who most need it.

Council, Elrich want change to property-tax process, but support different methods
July 20, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Council President Sidney Katz and Council Members Andrew Friedson, Nancy Navarro, Gabe Albornoz, Craig Rice and Hans Riemer are lead sponsors and cosponsors of the council’s proposal. At the council’s meeting on Tuesday, Friedson said the council’s proposal would replace a “complex and confusing calculation each year based on arbitrary exceptions.” “It establishes a tax policy that reflects how tax rates are actually understood in reality based on the existing rate from the previous year,” he said. “It would align county revenues with economic growth so we could actually sufficiently grow the tax base without growing tax rates. Make no mistake, the charter limit isn’t designed to limit tax increases. It is specifically designed to discourage growth.”

Montgomery Council considers tax break to bring housing to Metro stations
July 9, 2020 - WUSA9
"We don't have enough housing in Montgomery County, the housing shortage is a crisis," said Friedson. "We don't want deals to continue to fall by the wayside and housing to be left in pretty pictures and rendering, we need housing to actually be built," said Friedson. "Right now the WMATA sites leave a hole in communities, we want these to be a hub for communities," said Friedson. 

Local Leaders Slam Hogan for Rejecting Universal Mail-In-Ballots in November
July 8, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson tweeted that voting should be “as easy as possible.”  “And we need to follow the consensus of local elections experts and public health officials” Friedson tweeted.

County Council approves $14M for reopening grants, but split on details
July 8, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Council Members Andrew Friedson, Hans Riemer and Will Jawando said they thought the grant process would be slowed by requiring county employees to determine whether previously awarded grants received by a business or nonprofit were used for reopening costs. It would require an audit of certain applicants. Friedson said the change was a solution for figuring out how to administer the programs as “efficiently and fairly as possible.” No businesses are being excluded, he said, but would instead not be allowed to simultaneously apply for the reopening grants and an industry-specific grant program. “Some of that funding in those different programs could be used for reopening,” he said. “So there is an overlap there. This funding is maxed out at $5,000 [per qualified awardee]. The funding for those programs is significantly more.”...Friedson said he “strongly” disagreed with the perspective and suggestion that the requirement was proposed to prevent “double dipping.” The proposed change was a technical suggestion from the county’s administrative staff members and was a reasonable request, he said. “The issues of double-spending of taxpayer dollars and the auditing challenges and the administration challenges were the impetus for the request from the executive branch,” Friedson said.

Councilmembers Want Property Tax Exemptions for High-Rise Developers at Metro Stations
July 6, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
“Do we want these sites to be places for parking or we want these sites to be places for people?” said Councilmember Andrew Friedson, who is co-leading the bill with Riemer.  “Every Metro site is a gateway into the communities in which they’re located. And what do you see when you enter a gateway? Here you see a bunch of cars. How much better to see a lot of people? How much better to see activity? How much better to see the places where people live, where they recreate, where they socialize…?” he said. 

A Confederate statue is toppled in rural Maryland, then quietly stored away
July 4, 2020 - The Washington Post
In liberal Montgomery, people defaced and took down the White’s Ferry statue, as well as a grave marker for 17 Confederate soldiers in Silver Spring. County Council member Andrew Friedson (D-District 1), whose district includes White’s Ferry, called on County Executive Marc Elrich (D) to review all the streets in the county and rename those that bear the names of Confederate soldiers.  “The last thing — the absolute last thing — that I want visitors to see when they cross the river into Montgomery County is a Confederate statue,” said Friedson, 33.

County announces private donations to help with food insecurity
June 27, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson said in an interview that the council hopes that $5 million will be raised in private donations. He encouraged residents to donate individually on the community foundation’s  website. “They are accepting large contributions that you heard today… but it’s also setting up an opportunity for every resident who has the opportunity to give a little. Everybody can give $25, $50, whatever they’re capable of doing,” he said.

Montgomery County Residents Can Request 'Slow Streets' In Their Neighborhood During Pandemic
June 25, 2020 - WAMU
Councilmember Andrew Friedson, who represents the western edge of the county, said the government often finds reasons why things are impossible. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way…here we just got it done,” Friedson said during the meeting, citing the work of MCDOT and community input. Friedson says he’s been to the Bethesda streatery nearly every day; he believes they’re operating safely and creating a new sense of community and placemaking, while also promoting safe economic activity.

Montgomery County Council Funds Food, Youth Programs
June 24, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
Also at its Tuesday council meeting, members adopted a bill designed to increase the number of local businesses that receive county contracts.  The local business preference program would give a 10 percent price preference for a local business bidding on a contract or an evaluation factor worth 10 percent of the total points for a local business that submits a proposal. “Supporting local businesses that employ our friends and neighbors is always important, especially now,” said Councilmember Andrew Friedson. “This is a chance to direct our county tax dollars to the local employers who pay county taxes, sustain our county economy, and fund our county services,” according to Friedson.

Council might spend $14M on grants to help businesses, nonprofits reopen
June 22, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson said the grants will help businesses adhere to the county’s and state’s guidelines for reopening. “This is focused on safely reopening and the fact that our employers and their employees have to adjust to a new normal in order to get their businesses up and running, and keep their workers and their customers safe,” he said. “This will help them do that. It’s not going to solve every problem, but it’s going to solve many problems.”

Council members say changes coming on police funding
June 22, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson agreed with the need to focus on the right cuts. “I believe that there should be prioritization in the cuts that are proposed and we should make sure we’re not harming our most vulnerable and putting [them] at risk — needs that are critical, especially at this moment,” he said. The council has received more than 3,000 emails from residents commenting on the idea of “defunding the police,” Friedson said. “The conversations are not just about moving money out of the police department and into other parts of the budget, but also within the police department,” he said.

Mayors urge county to share federal aid for pandemic response
June 19, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson said Tuesday that the county needs to improve communication with municipal officials. It’s not right for the county to provide no funding, he said. “Clearly, the municipal partners don’t feel like they’ve been communicated with and don’t feel comfortable with the process we’ve set forth,” he said. “I think we do need to make a change in how we do that.” In a report, county staff members suggested a strategy for future spending that would have allowed the executive branch to decide how to use the funds. Council members rejected the idea of allowing the executive branch to determine allocations, and said the council should make all appropriations. “The council is the appropriator of the funds,” Friedson said. “I’d have concerns that we would be ceding our appropriation authority to the county executive, which I found to be inappropriate.”

Council Pushes to Change Streets Named After Confederates
June 19, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
“When we name a street or a building, we are not merely reflecting history. We are using our public funding and assets to bestow a high honor. These public tributes should appropriately reflect the entirety of our community and our values,” says a June 15 letter spearheaded by Councilmember Andrew Friedson... In an email to MyMCMedia, Friedson said  at least four streets in Potomac are named after  Confederates and landmarks. The streets are  Jubal Early Court, Jeb Stuart Road, Jeb Stuart Court and White’s Ford Road...Friedson said these streets were not named around the Civil War period. They were named in the mid-twentieth century, during the Civil Rights Movement... Friedson said as Montgomery County works to dismantle structural and institutional racism, it needs to also target symbols that normalize racism.  “ The Confederacy fought to protect the institution of slavery and committed treason against the United States. Public streets and facilities honoring Confederate figures simply have no place in Montgomery County.”

Montgomery County considers removal of landmarks named after Confederate figures
June 18, 2020 - WDVM
Council member Andrew Friedson said, “These are not named by accident. This wasn’t some coincidence in history. This was done deliberately. This was done by choice. The names of several streets; the purpose of this effort is to do it in a much more comprehensive way, to have it be a public process. To have this conversation and to move forward from it.”

Montgomery County council looks to rename streets, facilities named after Confederates
June 18, 2020 - Fox 5 DC
“Facilities that are open to the public, that are paid for by the public, and that are owned by the public should reflect that public,” Councilmember Andrew Friedson said.

County Council says clearer guidance needed for reopening second phase
June 17, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson suggested that the county publish a chart that shows the guidance from the state and the county regarding activities, so people can clearly see the differences. Many people could be getting mixed information of what’s allowed because the county is behind most of the rest of the state, he said. “I do think it is helpful to make sure that we’re as clear and consistent as possible and that it’s guidance that’s easy to understand and for residents and businesses to comply with,” he said. “Ultimately, we could come up with perfect guidance but unless we can explain it to folks in an easy-to-absorb and [understandable] way, it doesn’t really do what it needs to do, which is keep people safe.”

Montgomery County Council wants to find, eliminate all Confederate names from signs
June 16, 2020 - WJLA ABC7
“This isn’t about relics of history,” said council member Andrew Friedson (D – District 1). “These are high honors that are being provided. They don’t just reflect what happened before.” “Facilities that are open to the public, that are paid for by the public, and that are owned by the public, should reflect that public.” In Friedson’s district, there are at least three streets in neighborhoods off Montrose Road in Potomac named for Confederate generals – two for J.E.B. Stuart, and one for Jubal Early. Although Maryland was technically neutral during the Civil War, it was a state where slavery was legal and where there were many residents who sympathized with the Confederacy. But the street names in Friedson’s district don’t go back to the Civil War – residents say their neighborhood was built in the 1960s during the Civil Rights movement.

Local leaders working to 'fix policing in Maryland'
June 16, 2020 - WTOP
Friedson, meanwhile, told his colleagues, “This has been a really good example of challenging anger into action.”

Council wants to rename streets, buildings that honor Confederate soldiers
June 16, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
The Montgomery County Council has asked Executive Marc Elrich and Planning Department Chairman Casey Anderson to review the names of all county-owned streets and public facilities to determine which are named after Confederate soldiers “or those who otherwise do not reflect Montgomery County values.” In a letter, all nine council members ask for all streets and facilities that Elrich and Anderson identify to be renamed through a public process, in a “manner that more appropriately reflects the community to which they belong.” The letter does not identify any possible facilities that need to be renamed. But in an email on Tuesday morning, Aaron Kraut, a staff member for Council Member Andrew Friedson, wrote that three streets in Potomac — Jeb Stuart Road, Jubal Early Court and Jeb Stuart Court — are possible targets. Stuart and Early were Confederate Army generals.

Racist Graffiti Painted At Bethesda's Walt Whitman High School
June 13, 2020 - DCist
Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson called this weekend's incident “completely unacceptable and yet another reminder of how far we have to go to be a truly accepting and inclusive community.”

Racist graffiti discovered at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda: n-word, image of noose
June 13, 2020 - WJLA ABC 7
Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson (D-District 1) represents Bethesda, among several other towns. In a tweet issued Saturday afternoon, Friedson called the graffiti a "hateful and disgusting racist act." "Completely unacceptable and yet another reminder of how far we have to go to be a truly accepting and inclusive community," Friedson tweeted.

Bethesda 'Streetery' draws weekend crowd as Montgomery County waits to announce phase 2 reopening
June 12, 2020 - Fox 5 DC
The county is taking some time getting into phase 2 of its reopening. It’s something that council member Andrew Friedson said he’s aware, some people have criticized the county for.  “We are trying to reopen just as fast as the public health experts think is safe to do so,” Friedson said.  “We are not going to start loosening restrictions when we get to zero but what we want to see is the key metrics that we have published.”  It wasn’t immediately clear how long the streetery concept will last until Elrich makes another announcement expected next week, regarding phase 2.  In the meantime, Friedson said Norfolk Avenue is being envisioned as a pedestrian street which the county plans to move forward with very soon.

County will consider $10M to help child care businesses reopen
June 12, 2020 - Bethesda Beat
Council Member Andrew Friedson said at the meeting that child care programs and centers always operate with financially challenging circumstances — even in the “best of times.” “We literally cannot reopen our economy and cannot get back anywhere close to the economic standards that support our quality of life and fund our county government and public services, unless we can get child care right,” he said.

$10 Million Appropriation Introduced to Help Child Care Programs Financially Recover
June 10, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
While child care businesses in Montgomery County continue to suffer financially from COVID-19, a newly introduced special appropriation could provide the industry with funds to reopen.  Montgomery County councilmembers Nancy Navarro, Hans Riemer and Andrew Friedson introduced a special appropriation of $10 million in an effort to assist child care businesses suffering financial losses due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Northern Virginia to ease coronavirus restrictions Friday; Northam says students will return to school this fall
June 9, 2020 - The Washington Post
Among the most positive indicators is the decrease in the county’s test positivity rate, which is about 9 percent as of Tuesday, down from a high of 30 percent at the peak of the crisis. Acute care bed utilization rate is the indicator that has been “holding us back,” said County Council member Andrew Friedson (D-District 1), with the number of beds in use falling below 70 percent only four times in the past two weeks.

Blake Freshman Sings His Way Through First Round of America's Got Talent
June 4, 2020 - Montgomery Community Media
The second day of auditions for the 15th season of America’s Got Talent aired Wednesday night, during which Blake High School freshman Kelvin Dukes wowed with his singing voice.  The 14-year-old Burtonsville native was met with a standing ovation for his rendition of Aretha Franklin’s “Ain’t No Way.” He received four “yes”es which moved him on to the next round.  Many sent support for Dukes on social media, including Montgomery County Councilmembers Andrew Friedson and Evan Glass. " So thrilled to see local singing sensation Kelvin Dukes lighting up the @AGT stage and sharing his remarkable talent with the world. Thinking back when he gave me chills as I listened to him perform at our Countywide MLK Day Celebration “Children of the Dream.” He’s a super star!"

 

Bethesda reopening might include street closures for restaurant seating
Bethesda Beat - May 26, 2020
County Council Member Andrew Friedson, whose district includes Bethesda, wrote in an email to Bethesda Beat on Tuesday that he has been discussing the idea of closing down streets with BUP and the Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce. People must “adjust to the new normal” once the immediate public health emergency is over, he wrote. “Customers and employees must be kept safe as local businesses are allowed to reopen. There will also be lingering reluctance from customers to patronize restaurants due to ongoing health concerns,” he wrote. “This is one way we can demonstrate to businesses that we recognize the new normal, help residents and employees stay safe, and help businesses keep the lights on.”

Comptroller Offers Council Support to Extend COVID-19 Alcohol Provisions
Source of the Spring - May 26, 2020
Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot has lent his support to a County Council request that the state extend the alcohol delivery and carryout provisions allowed during the COVID-19 emergency, according to a post on the comptroller's Facebook page .  The council, in a letter spearheaded  by Councilmember Andrew Friedson (D-District 1), requested the governor to extend the order to allow the state legislature to consider how to make it permanent. “Even after the State of Emergency is lifted, the service industry will continue to suffer the lingering effects on consumer confidence, along with a likely continued reluctance for residents to patronize restaurants due to ongoing public health concerns,” the council wrote.

County Council urges governor, comptroller to keep allowing alcohol delivery, takeout
Bethesda Beat - May 22, 2020
“Thousands across the state would have had to shut their doors in the early part of this health crisis,” Friedson said. “They have consistently said — and raised consistent issues with — what happens when the state of emergency ends?”...“It is critical that we do not attempt to return to the old normal at a time that requires all of us in the public and private sectors to adapt to the reality of a new normal,” the council wrote in the letter. Friedson told Bethesda Beat that people might not immediately return to restaurants once a reopening phase begins. With high levels of unemployment, people also might not spend as much as they used to at businesses, he said. “This is an industry that has been hit among the hardest … and will continue to feel the lasting and lingering impacts of the public health emergency,” he said, adding that extending the provision would add relief.

Montgomery set to approve $5.9 billion budget that maintains 'continuity of operations'
The Washington Post - May 20, 2020
Lawmakers in Maryland’s most populous jurisdiction approved a $5.9 billion budget for fiscal 2021 on Thursday that maintains existing spending levels and tax rates. In the face of projected revenue shortfalls linked to the coronavirus crisis, the Montgomery County Council trimmed about $70 million from the budget proposed by Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D) in March, rejecting large spending increases...The proposed budget “wasn’t fiscally responsible and it wasn’t legally balanced,” said County Council member Andrew Friedson (D-District 1). “It forced [the council] effectively to start from scratch.”

UPDATED: County will post reopening benchmarks updates in 'next day or so,' county official says
Bethesda Beat - May 20, 2020
Friedson wrote in the memo that some of the benchmarks are “amorphous.” He said certain aspects of the targets need to be defined and tracked, such as the coronavirus-like and influenza-like illnesses in the health care system. Friedson also wrote that the last benchmark is not well-defined and the determination of whether the item has been met “seems quite subjective.” “When lifting stay-at-home orders and reopening a business is at stake, the county’s metrics must be objective and easily explainable to the public,” he wrote.

Council divided on whether to reject position to improve communication with executive
Bethesda Beat - May 20, 2020
Friedson said Tuesday that he didn’t support creating the new liaison position under a “continuity of services” framework that the county has followed in forming the budget for the next fiscal year. “Continuity of services” refers to preserving current programs and not including new ones... Friedson said the communication problem stems from a leadership issue, not a resource issue. “Clearly, there is a problem but this is not the appropriate solution,” he said.

Council members support restoring staff positions to their offices
Bethesda Beat - May 18, 2020
In a text message on Friday, Friedson told Bethesda Beat that he didn’t feel it was the right time to add staff members. “I agree with my colleagues that there are increasing demands on council staff who are taking on ever increasing responsibility to meet the complex needs of our growing county before and especially during this crisis, but I just didn’t feel it was the right time in this environment to add new positions to the Council budget,” he wrote. “I’m deeply grateful to our amazing staff who are working tirelessly every day, and very much respect my colleagues and appreciate their reasons for feeling differently.”

Local 1994 to protest outside Montgomery County Councilman Hans Riemer's Takoma Park home
WJLA - May 15, 2020
Councilmember Andrew Friedson (D-District 1) and Councilmember Craig Rice (D-District 2) also spoke in sharp terms about what they believed was an irrational and tone-deaf budget. “I think the county executive proposed, what I consider to be, the most flagrantly irresponsible budget... one that was not balanced, and one that we legally could not pass with negative appropriations, questionable recalculations without transparency and accountability, and without a recognition... of the moment that we were in," Friedson noted.

Council adds $1.25M to telework grants for small businesses, nonprofits
Bethesda Beat - May 14, 2020
Council Member Andrew Friedson said the lottery adds fairness to the program. “[These funds] will allow them to continue the lotteries that are done at random,” he said. “Anybody who has applied over the course of the week has access to be randomly selected if they are preapproved.”

Council votes no on employee raises next year due to budget shortfalls
Bethesda Beat - May 13, 2020
Friedson said the council has had to address the most “flagrantly irresponsible budget that has been proposed in the county.” “Unfortunately, the county executive has put us in a deeply difficult and uncomfortable position and I think he’s done this council no favors. I think he’s done our public sector employees no favors,” he said. He criticized the fact that Elrich shared his savings plan the morning before the council was to discuss major budget items. Friedson said the council requested such a plan for the last 10 weeks. The county is pursuing a line of credit because it’s projecting revenue shortfalls of up to $600 million — an action to prepare for an unprecedented fiscal climate, Friedson said. The council has not received a plan for savings “until just a moment ago,” he said.

County Council supports keeping tax rate roughly the same
Bethesda Beat - May 12, 2020
Council Member Andrew Friedson said he was also troubled that the recalculation of the charter limit was proposed without a public debate. Public policy means public input, he said. “To recalculate 30 years of precedent without a significant public debate and a transparent and thoughtful conversation with public input is deeply disturbing and very troubling to me as a lifelong Montgomery County resident,” he said. “It is simply not the way that we do business here.”

Thank a Nurse During National Nurses Day
Montgomery Community Media - May 6, 2020
In a tweet, Friedson described nurses as “fearless, dedicated, compassionate.”  Councilmember Andrew Friedson honored LeighAnn Sidone, Chief Nursing Officer at Suburban Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine in Bethesda, as a Local COVID Hero who stepped up during this pandemic.

SBN's First at Home Episode Features Councilmember Friedson
Montgomery Community Media - May 5, 2020

Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson joined Kelly Leonard for Montgomery Community Media’s first Small Business Network At Home edition.  The series of monthly morning sessions facilitated by Kelly Leonard addresses topics of interest to small business owners in Montgomery County.  Watch a video of their discussion recorded via Zoom here.

$250K Approved For Teleworking Relief In Montgomery County
Patch.com - May 1, 2020 
Montgomery County lawmakers have unanimously approved $250,000 in emergency grants for businesses and nonprofits that have implemented teleworking programs during the coronavirus pandemic. Councilmember Andrew Friedson — who sits on the county's economic development committee — spearheaded this special appropriation, which was sponsored by the entire council.

Montgomery County Council funds $54.9 million trail tunnel in downtown Bethesda
Washington Post - May 1, 2020
Council member Andrew Friedson (D-District 1), whose district includes downtown Bethesda, said the less expensive option would result in a trail too steep for children and seniors. “This is going to be the infrastructure we have in our community to connect east and west for decades and decades to come,” Friedson said.

County considers $6M more to support struggling residents, businesses, nonprofits

Bethesda Beat - April 28, 2020
Council Member Andrew Friedson said there was a discrepancy between the council’s intent and the draft of the grant program versus the ways the county’s administration interpreted it in requiring applicants to demonstrate a 50% revenue loss for the telework grants. “We didn’t want this competing with the funding we’ve already appropriated,” Friedson said at the meeting. “We didn’t want this to be caught up in the challenges the administration has had with figuring out how to calculate the losses.”

Montgomery County adds $5M to grant fund to help restaurants, retail
Bethesda Beat - April 21, 2020
Council Member Andrew Friedson said all the financial assistance for small businesses and nonprofits from local, state and federal funds is not sufficient. “I think at every level of government, we recognize that what we put forward to begin this process is not sufficient to meet the dramatic, unprecedented challenges that we face,” he said at the meeting. “This is going to be part of a broader holistic view, as Council Member Navarro mentioned, of our first step, but not the only step, to help us get through this at the county level, the state level and the federal level.”...a “fatal flaw” of the program is that businesses were required to demonstrate a 50% loss in March. By the time businesses can demonstrate losses for April and May, the program funds will be depleted, she said. Friedson said he and County Executive Marc Elrich, who has concerns about the 50% loss requirement, would discuss it. “I understand that the $25 million grant fund is a lot of money, especially during this time of uncertain tax revenue. But it will not go far enough,” Balcombe said. “The current funds will be given to a very small sliver of businesses, leaving the majority of businesses struggling to survive. We will need a second wave of financial support for businesses, not only to keep people employed, but to get our local economy back on track.”

Montgomery County could lose up to $600 million in tax revenue from pandemic
Bethesda Beat - April 16, 2020
Council Member Andrew Friedson said it was “staggering” that Elrich had not sent revised budget requests or a savings plan yet. He said he wasn’t sure a “same service” budget would be likely. “We have yet to get significant information or even broad signaling of where the executive is on these issues,” he said....Several council members noted the inclusion of the proposed budget’s assumption of $10 million in savings without a detailed explanation of where those savings would come from...Friedson referred to the figure as a “phantom negative appropriation.” “Hoping for cuts is not a strategy. Asking for cuts to be made at a later date or for efficiencies to be found at a future time is not an appropriate way to pass a budget,” he said. “It is not an appropriate or legal way to move forward as we have to make these tough decisions.”

MoCo weighs $5M more for coronavirus relief. But the county has yet to deliver its first $20M.
Washington Business Jornal - April 14, 2020
The county has yet to distribute any of the funds it’s earmarked to help local businesses, despite establishing the grant program two weeks ago. A county webpage lays out requirements for businesses, in order to help them prepare for when applications become available, but the delays have left some council members puzzled. “I want to express my deep disappointment about the delay in getting the full $20 million out as quickly as possible,” said Councilman Andrew Friedson, D-District 1. “I’m a little uncomfortable that we’re appropriating additional funding for a program that the executive branch still has not been able to get up and running."

Five Things to Know for April 10 in Montgomery County
Montgomery Community Media - April 10, 2020
Today is Friday, April 10 and here are five things to know in Montgomery County.
Pollard, Friedson Discuss COVID-19’s Impact on Students: Montgomery College President DeRionne Pollard and Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson are discussing how the county and college are meeting the needs of students and residents during the coronavirus pandemic. The discussion will be streamed on  Montgomery College’s Facebook  at 10 a.m.
Virtual Friday with Friedson:   Councilmember Andrew Friedson hosts a discussion with health and wellness professionals today at 11:30 a.m. Speakers include Kaiser Permanente Workforce Health Consultant Priya Saha, EveryMind Chief Executive Officer Ann Mazur and Montgomery Parks Director Michael Riley. The discussion will be streamed on Friedson’s  Facebook Live . Or individuals may join the discussion by phone at 443-692-5768, input 946 260 872# when prompted.

County Council Asking Residents for Testimony About FY21 Operating Budget
Montgomery Community Media - April 9, 2020
The Montgomery County Council is asking residents to give testimony about County Executive Marc Elrich’s recommended  Fiscal Year 2021 Operating Budget.  The council will hold two remote  public hearings on Thursday, April  16 at 1:30 and 7 p.m. Residents can give live testimony during the hearing through phone call, and can call 240-777-7803 to sign up by 3 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14. People can also give pre-recorded testimony  online, whether it be written, audio or video. Pre-recorded testimony submitted online won’t be shown during the hearing, but it will be reviewed by councilmembers and put on the council’s web page for public viewing. 

County Council Approves $20 Million Fund for Grants to Businesses Hurt by COVID-19
Montgomery Community Media - April 1, 2020
The Montgomery County Council approved $20 million for the Public Health Emergency Grant program, which grants businesses and non-profits up to $75,000 each to cover COVID-19-related financial burdens... “The urgent need for our local employers to be able to receive this funding as quickly as possible to keep the lights on is absolutely paramount,” Councilmember Andrew Friedson said about the bill during the council session. 

With the number of collisions between pedestrians and motor vehicles on the rise, can Montgomery County make streets safer for everyone?
March 30, 2020 -  “We have a ‘blame the victim’ culture, and even today we quickly get into the discussion [when] there’s a collision: Was it the pedestrian’s fault or was it the driver’s fault? Was it the bicyclist’s fault or the driver’s fault?” Friedson says. Vision Zero is “the idea it’s not about the people, it’s about the policies. It’s about the engineering of the road.”... county lawmakers also are pushing for legislative solutions. Friedson has asked the county’s Department of Environmental Protection to evaluate policies concerning trash and recycling collections and amend collection contracts with private vendors to prohibit the placement of trash and recycling bins in any part of a public right-of-way. The request followed the death of 17-year-old Winston Churchill High School student Jake Cassell, who was hit and fatally injured on July 31 after falling off his bike while riding on the sidewalk along Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda... Friedson has also introduced a bill co-sponsored by Glass and At-Large Councilmember Will Jawando concerning rules governing the issuance of county permits to temporarily close a public sidewalk or walkway in connection with repair work or construction.

Council Approves Bill Limiting Sidewalk Closures
March 25, 2020 -  On Tuesday the Montgomery County Council unanimously passed legislation aimed at limiting the closure of sidewalks in the county. The legislation limits the conditions under which sidewalks can be closed due to proximity to a construction site, according to a press release from the council.  The goal of the bill is to “increase pedestrian safety, and to assure that public sidewalks and walkways may be closed only for the minimum time periods necessary, with minimum disruption and inconvenience to the public,” text from the bill’s supplementary documents says.  “This legislation makes clear that we view safe pedestrian and bicyclist access not as a luxury, but as an essential part of our transportation infrastructure,” Councilmember Andrew Friedson, the bill’s sponsor, said in the press release. 

Licensed Restaurants Now Allowed to Sell and Deliver Alcohol To-Go
March 24, 2020 -  Councilmember Andrew Friedson released a statement on the guidelines for restaurants in regards to the new policy. https://twitter.com/Andrew_Friedson/status/1242470982717255681

County Council likely to approve $20M relief fund for small businesses
March 24, 2020 - Council Member Andrew Friedson started drafting the bill early last week. County Executive Marc Elrich announced similar plans on Friday to propose emergency allocations. Elrich told Bethesda Beat on Monday that his staff and the council’s staff worked together on the bill over the weekend. Friedson said he was glad the county leaders and staff were on the same page in trying to relieve the financial hardships of businesses in the county. “I think we got to a really good place [with the bill],” he said. “It’s changed dramatically and significantly in better ways since it started. This has been an evolving process.” Friedson noted that leaders from the Washington, D.C., government recently put similar legislation in place in seven days. He supported acting with the same haste. “We realize that we are in a crisis and we need to respond in a way that reflects that crisis,” he said.

County expediting bill with $20M in emergency grants for small businesses, nonprofits
March 23, 2020 - Council Member Andrew Friedson said he took the lead of drafting the bill early last week. The legislation was finalized on Monday. “We recognize we still need more. We need more in terms of regulatory relief and significant actions,” he said. As far as whether additional money would be added to the grant funds, Friedson said, “Just like anything else, we’ll have to determine where things are as we move forward.”

Despite coronavirus fears, Elrich pitches a new MoCo budget with a hefty property tax increase
March 17, 2020 - “We’re in a different world now than the one where much of the budget was drafted,” said Councilman Andrew Friedson, D-District 1. “This is not the time to add additional uncertainty, but a time for stability and cautious decision-making. … We have to be prepared for the worst while we hope for the best.” Friedson suggested a “triage” approach for the coming budget process, first focusing on what resources county agencies need for the public health response, then figuring out what the county can do to help businesses and workers feeling the pain from the coronavirus disruptions. The D.C. Council recently passed a series of measures to offer tax payment delays and grants for businesses, and Friedson said his county could look to do something similar as soon next week.

Montgomery lawmakers push back on Elrich's proposed tax hike, call for calm amid covid-19 crisis
March 16, 2020 - “Now is not the time to be adding additional uncertainty when we don’t even know what the depth and magnitude of this crisis is going to be,” said county council member Andrew Friedson (D-District 1). Friedson said he has spoken to company leaders worried about going bankrupt or having to let go of employees to stay afloat. He said the council should consider tapping into its $500 million reserves in line with Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), who last week approved an emergency measure allowing him to take out $50 million from the state’s rainy day fund.“This is a real, serious challenge,” Friedson said. “We need to make fiscal decisions that reflect that.”

County leaders close council office building to public to lessen coronavirus risk
March 13, 2020 - Council Member Andrew Friedson agreed that the meetings and hearings should continue to be live-streamed and recorded, but closed to public attendance. The council agreed that discussions and public hearings of the county’s capital and operating budgets, which the council is supposed to get on Monday, should continue. All nonessential meetings scheduled before March 27 will be postponed. Friedson said a drop-off box should be provided for written public comment testimony. “We’re limiting presence, not participation,” he said. “That’s the key message that we need to send.”

Community policing bill approved; sets guidelines for reporting, transparency
March 11, 2020 - A bill to establish community policing guidelines and new data requirements was unanimously passed Tuesday after the County Council delayed a vote last week.The new law passed after Council Member Will Jawando offered an amendment. The amendment, recommended by the Public Safety Committee, requires the county police department to provide data reports to the policing advisory commission...The bill was originally brought forward for a vote on March 3, but council members were evenly split in whether to proceed. Jawando, Council Vice President Tom Hucker and Council Members Hans Riemer and Evan Glass favored tabling the measure for more work. Rice, Council President Sidney Katz, and Council Members Gabe Albornoz and Andrew Friedson voted to proceed. Navarro was absent.

New Legislation Would Ease Burden of Child Care Costs For Employees
March 10, 2020 - Newly introduced legislation is expected to help employers attract and retain talent by easing the burden of child care costs on employees. Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz and Nancy Navarro recently introduced  Bill 9-20 , Economic Development Fund-Local Business Child Care Grant Program. Officials say this will provide an incentive to help small businesses throughout the county attract talent while allowing access to quality childcare... Council President Sidney Katz and councilmembers Andrew Friedson, Hans Reimer, and Tom Hucker are cosponsors.

Child care grant proposal for small businesses would add to employee subsidies
March 6, 2020 - The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce originally brought the idea forward. Albornoz, and co-sponsor Andrew Friedson presented the bill before the County Council on Tuesday. “We’ve heard one of the challenges that businesses are having in the county and in our region is recruiting talent and that is a big driver of business development,” Albornoz said.

Bill proposes stricter requirements for 'green' building tax credits, but more money available
March 4, 2020 - Council Member Hans Riemer said the existing tax credit is “not the most effective way to fund green buildings.” He is a lead sponsor of the bill with Council Member Andrew Friedson.

In tense council meeting, Montgomery lawmakers hit 'pause' on police bill

March 3, 2020 - Lawmakers sharply questioned the timing of the request at a hearing Tuesday, especially after Dale Tibbits, a special assistant to Elrich, said the county executive had changed his position and wanted council members to postpone voting on the grant. “This is not the way to do public policy,” said council member Andrew Friedson (District 1), one of several lawmakers who appeared visibly exasperated. “It’s not transparent, it’s not accountable, and it’s not the way the process is supposed to work.”

Updated: After split vote, Montgomery County Council delays community policing bill
March 3, 2020 -  The Montgomery County Council was evenly split on Tuesday on whether to delay a landmark bill on guidelines and reporting requirements for community policing. The bill was put on hold and will come back before the council later.  The legislation, introduced in October, requires county police officers to increase their outreach to the community, ensure “cultural competency” within the department and provide training in “de-escalation tactics.” It also requires the police department to provide an annual report with statistics such as the number of times officers used force and how many times the use of force led to an injury.  The amended version of the bill leaves out a provision that would have expanded the county’s school resource officer program, in which sworn law enforcement officers work in Montgomery County Public Schools. The council’s Public Safety Committee voted 2-0 on Feb. 24 to proceed without that expansion.  Council Vice President Tom Hucker and Council Members Hans Riemer, Will Jawando and Evan Glass voted Tuesday to table the bill on the first motion and to do more work on it.  Council President Sidney Katz and Council Members Craig Rice, Gabe Albornoz and Andrew Friedson voted to oppose the delay and wanted to proceed. Council Member Nancy Navarro was not at the meeting.

Montgomery County councilmembers religious safety town hall

February 27, 2020 - Montgomery County councilmembers hosted a town hall Thursday evening at the council building to bring religious leaders and members of the community together to discuss the security within places of worship. “We have always treated Montgomery county as a place of compassionate care and looking out for one another. We have always felt that an attack against one faith is an attack against all faith,” said councilmember Andrew Friedson.

Montgomery Co. faith leaders call for more funding for security around places of worship
February 27, 2020 -  Council members listened to their concerns, which ranged from a call for more patrols around places of worship to a call for additional funding for additional security measures.  “We don’t want to be the next Pittsburgh, because these attacks are not happening in the centers of the world, they are happening in regular places, with regular congregations,” Pokras said.  “There have been a number of bias incidents,” said Councilman Andrew Friedson.  In 2018, there were 93 bias incidents in Montgomery County , with religion being the motivator in nearly forty percent of those incidents.

Should Montgomery County's wealthy pay more taxes? A councilmember is proposing two bills that ...
February 24, 2020 - “We have to remember we are not Congress,” said Councilmember Andrew Friedson, who added, “…that inability to be competitive or ability to be competitive has a direct impact on the revenue that we need to attract business, attract families grow our tax base, which should be our focus - and not sending the message to our residents that we’re only focused on raising our tax rates.”

Split County Council votes to oppose property, income tax hike bills in Annapolis
February 24, 2020 -  Many of the bill’s opponents on the council cited concerns about the possibility of stifling economic development. “I think this will really undermine our efforts on the council to work on our economic competitiveness as we talk about raising our property taxes on our properties,” Friedson said. “We have to remember that we’re not Congress. That we’re not doing national policy here, that these are local policies with regional consequences and we are competing with our counterparts in D.C. and across the river [in Virginia].”

Councilmembers Will Host Town Hall on Security for Faith-Based Communities
February 20, 2020 -  Montgomery County Councilmembers Andrew Friedson, Sidney Katz and Gabe Albornoz are hosting a town hall called “A Discussion of Security for Our Faith Communities.”  The event will be held on Thursday, Feb. 27 from 7 -9 p.m. in the third-floor hearing room of the Montgomery County Council Office Building.

Historic Black Church in Montgomery Co. Remains Damaged by Summer Flood
February 20, 2020 -  The church was built in 1915 and was one of the first places African Americans could own land after slavery was abolished. The church is on the historic registry in Montgomery County, which is why Councilman Andrew Friedson (D) promises to do something to help.  “This is a historical treasure that we gave in our community. We have to make sure that as a community we support it,” Friedson said.

Protecting pedestrians: Md. lawmaker wants to stop sidewalk closures during construction
February 17, 2020 - In a letter to state lawmakers, Friedson wrote that "the legislation would address the pressing issue of the State Highway Administration (SHA) allowing sidewalks adjacent to construction projects in pedestrian-heavy areas to be closed for months and years at a time." Friedson has proposed similar legislation on the county level. "So the county bill is for county roads, the state bill is for state roads," said Friedson. "Marc Korman at the state level, me at the county level, we have been working together on making sure pedestrian access, particularly through construction sites, is the expectation and not the exception to our public policy." Friedson said the long-lasting sidewalk closures around construction sites in downtown Bethesda are something he hears about often from his Montgomery County constituents. "It's a very frequent concern that a lot of people have in this community," he said. "You know, we should be treating our sidewalks like the critical transportation infrastructure that they are. Historically, we have not done that. But the reality is that in a community like ours that is urbanizing, we need to treat it like the urban community that it is. And that means making sure pedestrian access is maintained."

Montgomery council sponsors resolution favoring DC statehood
February 12, 2020 - Council Member Andrew Friedson, a co-sponsor, said in an interview Monday that D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office asked the council last month to support the statehood effort with a resolution. “We have a tremendous number of regional priorities that we share and work on together and they asked us to support them and we did so,” he said....Friedson on Monday noted that many Montgomery County residents work in D.C., and there are many federal agencies in Montgomery County that depend on funding from Congress. Having more representation on Capitol Hill, he said, would benefit everyone in the region, including Montgomery County. “Representation matters and votes in Congress matter,” he said...He added that, morally, statehood is also the right thing to do. “I think it’s critical that everyone in our region have their voices heard. Currently, D.C. doesn’t have that ability,” he said

Council Interviews Appointee for Chief Equity Officer
February 11, 2020 -  Councilmember Andrew Friedson thanked Ward for her commitment to racial equity as well as her realistic approach to it. He said this is going to be a long and ongoing process.  “Hundreds of years of challenges aren’t addressed and undone in 100 days,” Friedson said. 

'This hits very close to home.' Vision Zero Town Hall draws 200+ people, including victims
February 10, 2020 -  "A sidewalk should be viewed like a lane of traffic. We should only shut it down in extreme circumstances," Councilmember Andrew Friedson (D-District 1) said in response to the woman's concern. "Currently that hasn't been the case, previously that certainly wasn't the case. So, we need to move in that direction." Disability rights advocate Juliette Rizzo, who has lived in Montgomery County for 21 years, asked the council to include the disability community in conversations pertaining to Vision Zero.  "Yesterday, as Councilmember Friedson and I were on our way to the memorial where my neighbor Brett Badin was killed. As we were walking, and I was rolling in my wheelchair, a car pulled out straight in front of us, when [Councilmember Friedson] put his hands up to stop the truck from hitting me in the wheelchair," Rizzo stated. "So, this hits very close to home."

Public airs road safety concerns as county tries to eliminate fatalities
February 10, 2020 - Council Member Andrew Friedson said the problem is: How can the county remake roads that were designed for motor vehicles but that now must be safe for bicyclists and pedestrians, too?...Friedson said he has proposed a bill that mandates sidewalk access in construction zones when work lasts more than a few weeks. “A sidewalk has to be viewed like a lane of traffic,” he said....Friedson noted that state Del. Jared Solomon, a Democrat from Chevy Chase, has drafted a bill in Annapolis that would require a pedestrian safety plan when there is school construction or renovation project.

Proposal to allow 5G antennas deferred until June
February 1, 2020 - Council Members Andrew Friedson and Will Jawando said they were hesitant to move forward with an amendment given the county’s ongoing litigation against the Federal Communications Commission. With a lack of political support, Riemer reluctantly decided to table the amendment until June, when a federal appellate court is likely to issue a ruling on the case....Friedson and Jawando argued it would be premature for the county to pass a zoning amendment while challenging the FCC on its authority to preempt local governments...The ongoing concerns cast a shadow over the future of the amendment. In a phone interview on Friday, Friedson said his primary concern was with the future of the county’s litigation. But after the cases are settled, he’s still undecided on whether to support the zoning change. “I believe the legal process should run its course before we make a decision on it,” he said. “But after that, I still need to dive into the details so I can make an informed decision.”

Montgomery Co. plan to eliminate traffic deaths has a rough start to 2020
January 29, 2020 -  But Council member Andrew Friedson was frustrated with the way things are being done, calling the briefing “reactive.”  “We really just can’t wait for deaths to respond to this on a case-by-case intersection-by-intersection basis,” said Friedson. ”If we’re going to be serious about Vision Zero, then our county government must stop blaming the people who use the roads and take the responsibility for the roads we’re designing.”

Montgomery County seeks to make roads safer for pedestrians
January 28, 2020 - “We have an entire road network that is completely outdated, it was built mostly between the 1930s and the 1960s at a time when our communities looked much different, [the roads] were being used much differently and the goals of the infrastructure was for a far different purpose, not for the liveable, walkable communities we talk about, that we want to live in, that we say we are living in and that we are trying to create,” said Andrew Friedson, District 1 Democrat.

Council works on sector plan, fair representation bills in committee meeting
January 23, 2020 -   However, committee member, Coucilmember Andrew Friedson, is concerned about the balance and flexibility of the Commercial Resident Zones (CRZ).  According to the Montgomery County website, CRZ’s are a family of mixed-use zones that allow a range of densities and heights. These zones are designed to encourage a mix of commercial and residential uses, create interactive streets, provide meaningful public spacesfoster jobs and services where people can live, work, shop and play within a given neighborhood.  Three CRZ classifications define the types of uses and the method of development allowed: CR Neighborhood (CRN), CR Town (CRT) and Commercial Residential (CR).  “There is a lot of neighborhood-serving retail (stores) in these shopping centers that are in need, and I’m worried about giving them the same classification as commercial businesses,” Friedson said.

MCPS reviewing bus stops after serious crashes involving students
January 23, 2020 - Council Member Andrew Friedson said Thursday’s meeting is indicative of a larger-scale problem that will take all county and state agencies working together to fix. “The bottom line is if we have to have to have students wear flashing lights and prevent them from crossing the roads, the roads aren’t safe enough for them to live,” Friedson said. “We’ve got huge, major issues we have to resolve. Just addressing bus stops and just addressing buses is not going to address the broader issue. We need to do all of it to make sure our students are safe.”

Late objection delays vote on mandatory air conditioning
January 21, 2020 - In an interview after Tuesday’s council meeting, Council Member Andrew Friedson added that the committee continued to support the amendments in large part because of continued feedback from DHCA. The department reviewed the particularly controversial amendment that would have allowed tenants to opt out of air conditioning if landlords stipulated they would charge more in rent for providing it. Council Member Will Jawando opposed the change, but ultimately voted with Friedson and PHED Chair Hans Riemer to send the amended bill back to the full council for a vote. “Until this eleventh-hour memo, we were under the assumption that the executive branch approved this bill,” Friedson said. The late communication “completely upended” the council’s legislative process, which involves an unusual level of involvement from the executive branch, he added.

Prince George's County now outpaces Montgomery in job creation
January 21, 2020 - “It highlights the fact that we’re in an increasingly competitive regional economy,” said Council Member Andrew Friedson, a first-term legislator who’s made fiscal policy a focus during his time in office. “The challenge before us is that we have to step up our game in a way that perhaps we’ve never had to before.”...But the council’s new economic development platform emphasizes investment in transit and affordable housing to attract new businesses and workers to the area. Individual council members have their own priority areas, from translating federal research into corporate development — in the case of Council Member Hans Riemer — to boosting economic development in North Bethesda. The latter is a particular interest of Friedson’s, who compared Amazon’s interest in the White Flint Mall site — which Montgomery County pitched to the company — to being nominated for an Academy Award. Montgomery County was one of 20 nationwide finalists for Amazon’s second headquarters, but was not chosen. “Even if you don’t win the Oscar, you can still sell a lot of movies,” he said. The county can attract new businesses to the area, he argued, especially with investments to existing infrastructure. One of Friedson’s biggest priorities is restoring funding to a northern entrance to the White Flint Metro Station, which County Executive Marc Elrich removed in the latest version of his capital improvements plan. But he also noted positive developments, including an investment in bus rapid transit on Md. 355 and the recent announcement of Ben Wu as the new CEO for the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation.

New bill would repeal Montgomery's mandatory bike registration
January 21, 2020 - “I think this falls under the category of, ‘Wait, we have a law that does that?’” said Council Member Andrew Friedson, who was added as a co-sponsor to the amendments along with Council Members Nancy Navarro, Gabe Albornoz and Craig Rice.

Prince George's overtakes Montgomery as top job creator in Maryland suburbs
January 20, 2020 - Friedson sponsored a bill, which passed in July, that requires all legislation to include an economic impact statement. “The first thing we need to do is make sure that economic development is a part of everything we do,” Friedson said. “If we’re not focused on relentlessly growing our economy, then we face a choice that nobody wants to make — either raise taxes to keep up with our services, or cut services for people who really need help.”

Funding to build trail tunnel at Bethesda Purple Line station dropped from county budget proposal
January 17, 2020 - County Council member Andrew Friedson (D-District 1) said he also will look for ways to restore the tunnel funding. “We made a commitment as a county to build the tunnel, and a commitment should be kept,” Friedson said. “It’s a key part of the Purple Line project and why many people supported it. … It’s not just a recreational trail. It’s a central part of our transportation infrastructure.”

Elrich unveils $4.23 billion capital plan despite 'fiscal constraints'
January 16, 2020 -  In a phone interview, Council Member Andrew Friedson said it would force the council to make hard choices as it amends the CIP in the coming months. “The county executive had his opportunity to weigh in with his priorities,” Friedson said Wednesday. “Some I agree with, some I don’t. Now it’s our job to take it up and make some tough decisions.”...Elrich also touted a recommended $40 million investment in Purple Line projects, including a south entrance for the Bethesda Metro station. But Riemer and Friedson criticized him for not funding a northern entrance at the White Flint Metro Station — a major priority for community advocates. “We’ve clearly indicated how important it is to realizing the vision for White Flint and the progress we want to make in urbanizing North Bethesda,” said Friedson, whose district includes the station.

Elrich says he is committed to schools and housing. Critics say his capital budget suggests otherwise.
January 15, 2020 - Montgomery County Council member Andrew Friedson (D-District 1), who has positioned himself as an ally of the business community, responded that while he agrees the county needs to invest in climate, he does not think “piling on requirements” is the right approach. “If we’re going to solve the climate crisis, it can’t just be about strong rhetoric,” said the freshman council member. “Anything we do that dramatically risks losing businesses and residents . . . it’s going to be one step forward and two steps back. Elrich also released his proposed capital budget on Wednesday, unleashing a new round of criticism from Friedson and other officials. The proposal covers funding for infrastructure projects and must be reviewed and amended by the council after public hearings. Friedson decried the lack of funding for a tunnel on the Capital Crescent Trail and a new Metro entrance at the White Flint metro station — both of which the council pushed to include in last year’s budget after they were “zeroed out,” he said.

Counties, cities, states step up on climate as Trump administration steps back
January 13, 2020 - Andrew Friedson (D-District 1), who has built a reputation as an ally to the business community on the all-Democratic council, said he prefers to wait until the new policies have been formally introduced before assessing them. In general, however, he said he does not think Montgomery can achieve its climate goals with “a heavy-handed, top-down approach.” “We shouldn’t be too quick to introduce new laws,” Friedson added. “We need to focus first and foremost on what we have that works.”

Hundreds gather in support of Jewish community
January 9, 2020 -  Several hundred people of varying religions, races and ages gathered in the cold on Jan. 5 for a community vigil to “Stand up to Anti-Semitism.”  While those gathered by the Takoma Park gazebo and all the way back onto the street had come to support victims of recent attacks against Jewish people in the New York City area and elsewhere, the evident theme of the evening was that an attack on one group of people is an attack against all.... Also speaking were councilmembers Nancy Navarro, Andrew Friedson, Evan Glass and President Sidney Katz, who urged audience members to “defeat darkness with light.”

New Crosswalk Signal Installed at Site of Fatal Pedestrian Crash
December 26, 2019 - Traffic safety has become a political issue over the past year as Montgomery County experiences  growing rate  of crashes in which pedestrians are struck. During a Nov. 19 briefing with county and state transportation officials, Council Members Tom Hucker and Andrew Friedson asked MCDOT and the Maryland State Highway Administration why more HAWK signals weren’t installed at busy pedestrian intersections.

State Roundup, December 18, 2019
Montgomery County Council members Andrew Friedson and Sidney Katz  wished their constituents happy holidays with an unconventional spoof on “Home Alone,”  writes Kate Masters for Bethesda Beat. Scroll down the story to view the video.

Political Notes: County Council Members Send Holiday Greetings with 'Home Alone' Parody
December 17, 2019 - Friedson said the video was filmed Friday with help from the council’s communications team. The “Home Alone” theme was a riff on his status as the youngest member of the council. But it also played into both lawmakers’ reputation for working long hours, he said. “There’s a running joke that on any given day, Sidney and I will be in the office working,” Friedson said. “I think we’ll both show up, even during recess.”

County OKs Policy To Limit Increases in Employee Pay, Benefits
December 16, 2019 - “This is a really important step in making sure that we’re being serious about the sustainability of our budget,” Friedson said of the new policy on Tuesday. “I appreciate the point that there are other agencies where a large portion of taxpayer dollars are spent. But I think we need to start with the ones we have the most control over.”

Selfies and activism: How a diverse crop of newcomers changed a county council
December 15, 2019 - Born and raised in the older, wealthier District 1, which includes Potomac and Chevy Chase, Friedson, 33, said his priorities are fiscal oversight and economic development. The  first bill  he spearheaded, which received strong support from the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, expanded what is required in the economic impact statements that accompany bills reviewed by the council and made the statements mandatory for all legislation. “When I was growing up, [Montgomery] was a shining city on a hill. . . . The idea of a young person moving to Arlington instead of Bethesda was unthinkable,” Friedson said. “Now, it’s the opposite. We’re struggling to compete.”

Population, wage stagnation blamed for Montgomery Co. budget shortfall
December 15, 2019 -  Councilmember Andrew Friedson was frustrated with the numbers, citing that just a few months ago they were given numbers that showed promise for next fiscal year only to be presented with lackluster figures weeks later.  “We need to redo the way we do projections. Clearly we have a problem. We’re not as good at this as we need to be,” he said. “The fact that a few months of data can turn our whole process into a tailspin. It’s not appropriate or reasonable.”

Montgomery Co. residents call for safer roads after 2 students hit, 1 killed
December 14, 2019 -  After a deadly week on Montgomery County roads, more than 100 people packed the "Vision Zero" Town Hall and the Montgomery County Council Office on Saturday morning. Some told officials they are afraid "all the time" whether driving, walking or biking in the county, and called for immediate safety changes.... People at the town hall came to advocate for more sidewalks, reduced speed limits, and activated crosswalk lights. Many of the roads in Montgomery County are 6 to 8 decades old, according to County Councilman Andrew Friedson. "This week has been a painful reminder that this has gone far too slowly, that we need to redouble our efforts," says Friedson. He has introduced a bill to limit sidewalk closures in construction areas.

County Council learns of new potential fiscal year 2020 budget concerns
December 12, 2019 -  “Clearly, we have a problem. We are not as good at this as we should be,” Councilman Andrew Friedson said, referring to the way the county estimates revenues and expenditures for future budgets.  “We have to do a lot better” in preparing estimates and “smoothing out the volatility” that comes with dealing with an ever-changing economic environment, Friedson said.  Apparently, he said, statements of how good the economy is don’t ring true.  “The economy is far more sluggish than we are willing to admit,” he said. “We are not attracting enough new workers to Montgomery County.”  Friedson added, “If we are not growing, we are falling seriously behind.”

Council Members Want Trash, Recycling Bins off Public Sidewalks
November 27, 2019 -  “We would never accept the idea that a contractor or resident would leave a recycling bin or trash can on a road,” Friedson said in a phone interview on Tuesday. “Similarly, we shouldn’t allow that on a sidewalk. They should be viewed as critical parts of our transportation infrastructure.”...“We have three pedestrian or bike-involved collisions every two days and that’s just not a sustainable situation,” Friedson said. “That’s why we sent this letter. When we talk about county government, I think it’s the little things that often make the biggest impact. You can say this is a little thing, but it’s a little thing that had tragic consequences.”

September 12, 2019 - County Executive Marc Elrich has suggested making the Montgomery County Council larger, but more focused on district representation. He suggested a change to the council structure Wednesday at a meeting of the Montgomery County Charter Review Commission...“I think I was surprised to learn that the county executive attended this meeting to suggest something that directly affects the council without going to the council first,” added council president Nancy Navarro. “I’m always interested in better serving the community, but this is something we’ve had the opportunity to consider.” It’s also something that contradicts the mission of the Charter Review Commission as a resident-led organization, said Councilman Andrew Friedson. In his view, the commission was established as a resource for residents to make recommendations to the council without overt political influence. “So, in that sense, I don’t think it’s in the best interest of that process for public officials to weight in as an attempt to dictate the outcome before the commission has the opportunity to form their own recommendations,” he said.

Montgomery County Council Members Give Positive Review of New Police Chief Candidate
August 30, 2019 -  Council member Andrew Friedson said Thursday on Montgomery Community Media said that he wasn’t aware of any further decisions Elrich had made, but he “has a lot of respect” for McSwain.

Montgomery Talks: Andrew Friedson
August 29, 2019 -  Councilmember Andrew Friedson, serving his first term on the County Council, has made a name for himself in trying to make government run more efficiently. He’s also been an advocate for pedestrian safety. In this episode of Montgomery Talks with Doug Tallman, Friedson also shares his thoughts on the latest developments in Tonya Chapman’s decision to remove her name from consideration to become the county’s next police chief.

Opinion: Commentary: Friedson Figures: Ensuring A Sustainable Fiscal Future
August 29, 2019 -  These first nine months as District 1’s County Councilmember have been a tremendous thrill. My primary focus continues to be providing responsive and effective constituent service, which is why I’ve focused on showing up wherever and whenever I can to hear directly from you.

Updated: Elrich To Nominate Darryl McSwain as Next Montgomery Police Chief
August 28, 2019 -  “This process was not one any of us should be proud of. For a decision as important as this, selecting a police chief that is responsible for the safety of 1.1 million residents, the way this process was handled was nowhere near satisfactory,” he said.  Friedson said he didn’t want to place the blame on anyone in particular, but it is important to “get the process right” for such an important decision...Asked about his thoughts on Elrich’s plans to nominate McSwain, Friedson declined to comment, saying he wasn’t aware of any decisions the county executive made on the chief search.

Montgomery interested in Amazon warehouse originally considered for Prince George's, officials say
August 28, 2019 -  Several Montgomery Council members contacted Wednesday said they support efforts to bring jobs into the suburb, but added that they would withhold approval until more details were available.  “We desperately need additional jobs and to diversify our economy that continues to be far too reliant on federal government,” Council member Andrew Friedson (D-District 1) said.

Montgomery County feeling aftermath of storm damage
August 27, 2019 - Councilmember Friedson says storms are getting more and more intense, in the past few months Montgomery County was hit with multiple storms causing structural damage, downed power lines, flooding, and sinkholes. Friedson wrote a letter to the Montgomery County Department of Transportation urging them to increased stormwater infrastructure and upgrades. “We don’t have infrastructure currently that is reflecting that and we need to make a serious investment and have a major focus on our drainage systems,” said Friedson.

Round House Theatre Reopens in Bethesda After Renovations
August 26, 2019 -  After undergoing renovations for more than a year, the Round House Theatre in Bethesda is back open in time for its fall season.  Here’s a look at the theatre’s ribbon-cutting Saturday...

Pedestrian Signals To Be Installed Next Year at Bethesda Intersection Where Crash Occurred
August 21, 2019 -  A pedestrian crossing signal is expected to be installed next winter at an intersection where two people were struck by a vehicle last week, according to the Maryland State Highway Administration....Before agreeing to install the crossing signal in October 2018,  state officials said the measures were not appropriate because not enough people use the intersection, according to correspondence from SHA officials to constituents. Montgomery County Council member Andrew Friedson, who represents Bethesda, said in an interview Tuesday he disagrees with the state’s original logic. “That standard that says there aren’t enough people willing to cross an intersection where they have to put their lives in their hands to do so is the equivalent of saying we shouldn’t have built the Bay Bridge because not enough people swam across the Chesapeake Bay to get to the other side,” Friedson said. “We can’t have these scenarios where, unless you have enough people willing to put themselves in dangerous situations, we’re not going to get a signalized crosswalk to let them cross a street safely.”

Montgomery Officials Organizing Meeting After Bicyclist Killed in Bethesda
August 8, 2019 - County leaders are organizing a meeting with state highway officials to discuss pedestrian safety on Old Georgetown Road after a  17-year-old was killed while riding his bicycle along the highway.

Montgomery Council Member Questions Purpose of Woodward High School
August 5, 2019 ​- "In addition to the significant delay of Woodward alleviating overcrowding at [Walter Johnson] ... this latest revelation appears to be yet another backtracking of commitments made to the community," Friedson write. "... This process raises broader concerns about communication, sufficient public input, and questionable planning."

A credit-rating agency warning should scare Montgomery County
August 2, 2019 - Last year, the County Council unanimously approved then-County Executive Isiah Leggett’s proposal to skim $62 million in contributions to the retiree health fund. This year, the council backed an even larger diversion, $90 million, pitched by Mr. Leggett’s successor, Marc Elrich (D), while making only slight trims to the fat union contracts Mr. Elrich negotiated. Just one member of the all-Democratic Council, first-termer Andrew Friedson (D-District 1), opposed skimming the contribution to the health fund to balance the budget.

Montgomery County to require analysis of every bill's impact on business
August 2, 2019  - "We're trying to make sure we view the business community as partners, not just as revenue generators," Friedson said at the council meeting Tuesday. "We need to understand the impact [of legislation] not only on our budget here at the county, but on the budgets of county residents and county businesses."

Newly Built Capital Crescent Trail Could Open Before Trains Run
July 26, 2019  - Council member Andrew Friedson, whose district includes Bethesda, where part of the trail runs, said the county's parks department counted 80,000 uses of the trail in May 2015. It is one of the most heavily used trails in the country, with more than one million people using it every year, he said. Key pieces of the project, he said, are the completion of a pedestrian tunnel on the Bethesda portion of the trail and the restoration of the tree canopy after Purple Line construction is complete.... ​"This is a critical component of the Purple Line, and for many, this is just as important as the light rail itself," he said.

County Greenlights Three Stormwater Runoff Projects
July 16, 2019 -  Council member Andrew Friedson, whose district includes the Grosvenor and Old Farm projects, wrote in a statement that he was pleased the two projects were moving ahead... "These projects are important to improve water quality, to protect habitats in and around the streams, and for the quality of life of residents who in some cases have faced damage to their own property from the severe degradation of stream banks. We expect to hear details soon about next steps," he wrote.

County Liquor Department Gets a New Name
​ July 8, 2019 -  Freshman County Council Member Andrew Friedson, who supports privatizing the sale and distribution of alcohol in the county, told Bethesda Beat Sunday that the name chance doesn't address his concerns about the department... "I'm less interested in taking control out of the name and more interested in introducing real competition to the process," Friedson said. "The issue isn't marketing. It's the monopoly itself. Changing the name doesn't change teh fundamental problem -- that county government's control over alcohol sales and distribution stifles competition, hurts consumers and limits our economic potential."

Wall Street Report on County Budget Decision Puts Council on Alert
June 28, 2019 - A  report  from a Wall Street credit rating agency that labeled Montgomery County’s decision to defer putting money into a health benefit trust fund for retirees as a “credit negative” is being seen as a warning by at least one County Council member. New York-based Moody’s Investors Service released a report May 22 that criticizes the county for not fully funding the health benefits, known as known as Other Post-Employment Benefits, or OPEB, in the budget year that starts Monday. The report was part of a Moody’s weekly newsletter that contains credit outlook news from local governments around the country, according to Moody’s spokesman Joe Mielenhausen...Andrew Friedson, the only council member to  vote against  deferring $89.5 million from OPEB last month, said he found out about the Moody’s report earlier this week. “Anything that would jeopardize that bond rating. Any warnings about that bond rating have to be dealt with the utmost significance and seriousness,” he said. Friedson, who formerly worked in the state comptroller’s office, said the county’s fiscal plan consists of three major objectives, which include bringing down the debt, achieving a 10% reserve level and fully funding OPEB.“You cannot just commit to two legs of a three-leg stool when it comes to the fiscal plan,” he said...County Executive Marc Elrich proposed diverting OPEB funds help make up for an $80 million state tax revenue shortfall and bolster the county’s reserves. “The county executive puts the council in a very difficult situation when he effectively balances the budget on this diversion of $89.5 million. Certainly my colleagues expressed concern. I preferred that we reject the diversion entirely,” Friedson said.

Potomac News Briefs
Friedson Introduces Legislation to Support Housing Options for People with Disabilities
June 27, 2019 - Potomac’s Councilmember Andrew Friedson (District 1) today introduced legislation to waive County licensing fees for disabled individuals in accessory dwelling units. The Council is currently discussing ZTA 19-01, which would liberalize the county’s accessory dwelling units requirements. This bill would enable residents with qualified disabilities to take advantage of the potential changes to create an ADU without the financial barrier of existing fees. Currently, the county collects an initial $571 with an ADU application and an annual license fee of $101. Bill 20-19 would waive these fees for ADUs with tenants who have a verified disability. “ADUs offer families another housing option, especially when it comes to loved ones with disabilities, including seniors and veterans,” said Friedson. “This is an opportunity to be inclusive. Working to help launch the Maryland ABLE program I became acutely aware of the significant challenges so many families in our community face.”Council President Nancy Navarro, Council Vice President Sidney Katz, and Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz, Hans Riemer, Will Jawando, Craig Rice, and Evan Glass are cosponsoring the legislation, which is scheduled for a public hearing on July 16 at 1:30 p.m.

County Executive Laments Office Space Vacancies
June 25, 2019 - Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, during a Tuesday discussion with the County Council on economic development, said to attract more entrepreneurs, officials will have to solve the county’s declining demand for commercial office space. “There’s been a real loss of entrepreneurism, and we’ve got to figure out how to reinvigorate that,” he said. According to a January report from the county planning department, Montgomery’s vacancy rate for commercial office space jumped from just above 8% in 2006 to more than 13% in 2017, based on data from CoStar Analytics...Council members said they were pleased with Elrich’s commitment to economic development, but council member Hans Riemer said it still “feels like we’re rowing upstream.” “How do we move from the idea level to the action level?  What will the next three to six months look like?” he said...Council member Andrew Friedson said Elrich’s ideas were positive, and that governments must “walk and chew gum at the same time,” but there also must be “triage and prioritization.” “By prioritizing everything you’re prioritizing nothing,” he said.

Friedson Bill Would Waive Housing Fee for Disabled Individuals
June 25, 2019 - Councilmember Andrew Friedson introduced legislation that would waive fees for individuals with disabilities living in accessory dwelling units, or ADUs.  The County Council is currently considering  Zoning Text Amendment 19-01 , which would loosen restrictions for ADUs. This would allow residents to create ADUs for their loved ones with disabilities so that the individuals can have independence while still being in close proximity to their family.  Friedson’s legislation would waive the initial application and annual license fee for residents with qualified disabilities... Council President Nancy Navarro, Council Vice President Sidney Katz, and Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz, Hans Riemer, Will Jawando, Craig Rice, and Evan Glass are cosponsoring the legislation.  “ADUs offer families another housing option, especially when it comes to loved ones with disabilities, including seniors and veterans,” said Friedson. “This is a modest cost to the County, for a significant benefit for our families and our neighborhoods.”  There will be a public hearing on the matter on July 16, at 1:30 p.m.

County Celebrates Pride with Haus of Stone Drag Show
June 20, 2019 -  Montgomery County continues celebrating Pride Month.  On Wednesday, the Haus of Stones drag group performed at Denizens Brewery Co. in Silver Spring.  Montgomery County Councilmember Evan Glass helped organize the event. When Glass addressed the people at Denizens, he spoke about serving as Montgomery County’s first openly gay councilmember.  Glass said he organized a series of Pride events in Montgomery County because he noticed that LGBTQ residents and allies would have to go to Baltimore and Washington D.C. to celebrate the month... Councilmember Andrew Friedson said that the event was a lot of fun.  “We want to send the message and make sure that everybody understands that Montgomery County is a place where you’re accepted for who you are, you’re loved for who you are, you’re valued for who you are,” said Friedson.

Car Dealership Reaches Child Safety Seat Inspection Milepost
June 20, 2019 - A Montgomery County car dealership celebrated its 50,000th child safety seat inspection on Thursday. The Fitzgerald Auto Mall in Rockville has done complimentary safety checks since 1999. The dealership has partnered with county law enforcement, fire and rescue services and the office of consumer protection, among others. Fitzgerald Auto also works with the nonprofit Safe Kids Worldwide and the National Transportation Safety Board. The dealership was founded by Jack Fitzgerald in North Bethesda in 1966, and it has since expanded to 12 locations in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Florida, including three in the county...Technicians at the inspections walk parents through the process of installing the seats into their cars, properly securing their children in them and safely adjusting the devices as their children grow.Inspections are available by appointment at the Fitzgerald Auto locations in Gaithersburg, Wheaton and Annapolis, as well as the Rockville dealership...“This is about life and death,” County Council member Andrew Friedson said. “We know it’s 71% less likely that there be a fatality if you’re in a safe car seat.” The statistic cited by Friedson refers to infant fatalities, derived from research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Safe car seats reduce fatality risks by 54% for toddlers, according to the NHTSA.

County Council gets firsthand look at problems facing transit
June 20, 2019 -  To help get a better appreciation of transit issues, five members of the county council took it upon themselves to spend a week getting around the county without their cars — at least that’s what they tried to do.  For one week, several members of the  council, along with other public officials, participated in something called the “transit challenge,” a week-long attempt to forgo the use of a car and take public transit.  While the county has centered development around transit, various transit options in the county still have issues, as public officials noticed as they got a better appreciation for last week’s “challenge.”  The exercise, organized by the Action Committee for Transit, was meant to educate lawmakers about issues with transit in Montgomery County.  While the public officials who participated in the transit challenge spoke about how it was a positive experience, saying the transit offers many benefits, they noticed many issues. Those who participated in the challenge, Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz (D-at large), Evan Glass (D-at large), Will Jawando (D-at large), Hans Riemer (D-at large) and Andrew Friedson (D-1),  documented their transit trips, noting delays and hazardous street crossings.

Another Ficker Amendment? He Seeks Cap on MoCo Property Tax Increases
June 19, 2019 - Unbowed by his latest political defeat — a distant third-place finish in the race for Montgomery County executive last fall — political provocateur Robin Ficker is gearing up for another campaign. Ficker, whose regular attempts to change county politics and policy through ballot initiatives have had a profound impact on the county, has begun collecting signatures for a ballot measure that would cap Montgomery’s property tax rate. His aim is to put the ballot question before voters in the 2020 general election...District 1 Councilmember Andrew Friedson (D), one of the business community’s strongest allies in Rockville, said that although he is not interested in a property tax increase he does not think Ficker’s ballot initiative is needed. “I think we have a pretty strong situation currently where we can’t exceed the charter limit without a nine-to-nothing vote of the county council,” Friedson said. “My emphasis and my focus would be on utilizing that energy to push for serious … fiscal sustainability practices that we can put into place.”  “Unless we grow our economy, this is a moot issue,” he added. “It’s not about taxes, it’s not about restricting the ability to raise taxes. It’s about growing the tax base so that we don’t have to raise the tax rates.”

MCM's July SBN Features Councilmembers Albornoz, Friedson, Glass and Jawando
June 18, 2019 -  Montgomery County Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz, Andrew Friedson, Evan Glass, and Will Jawando are the featured guests for Montgomery Community Media’s July Small Business Network (SBN) session. The event takes place Thursday, July 18 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at our studios in Rockville. Tickets are $20 and may be purchased online,  here .  July topic: “Montgomery County is Open for Business.”  The series of monthly morning sessions facilitated by Kelly Leonard address topics of interest to small business owners in Montgomery County. Councilmember Andrew Friedson (District 1) serves on the Planning, Housing, and Economic Development and Government Operations and Fiscal Policy committees, and as the Council’s Lead for Parks. He previously served as senior policy advisor and deputy chief of staff to Maryland’s Comptroller, ran and reorganized the State’s 529 College Savings program, and served on the Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authority.  The series of monthly morning sessions address topics of interest to small business owners in Montgomery County.  Moreover, the series offers the opportunity to invigorate and innovate businesses with insight and information from regional business leaders’ presentations and question and answer sessions. Indeed, seminars and networking can enhance the success of local businesses in Montgomery County.  Montgomery Community Media is located at 7548 Standish Place in Rockville, walking distance from the Shady Grove Metro station. Free parking is available.  You can view previous speakers and events,  here .

Emergency Radio System Disruptions Blasted As 'Absolutely Outrageous'
June 18, 2019 -  After several hours-long outages in Montgomery County’s emergency communication system, county leaders are creating back up plans for first responders to communicate in the event of a long-term failure. Concerns about the 11-tower communications system began surfacing over Mother’s Day weekend, when the system experienced a 12-hour “major disruption” that, at times, knocked out about 75% of the available radio channels used by police, firefighters and rescue crews. In an average month, there are one or two “system busies” — a channel request when a channel isn’t available — but there were more than 2,200 “busies” recorded during the outage. Dozens more busies have been documented in periodic disruptions since, according to county officials...Contingency plans for short-term outages are included in part of public safety agencies’ annual budgets. Projected costs for long-term outages will be developed and more information is expected in September, when training exercises are planned. “At the end of the day, we just need tools that work,” said Dinesh Patil, assistant chief with the Montgomery County Police Department. “Of all the tools we carry, this is probably the one we use the most every single day.”...County staff members said there are some places, like schools, that do not receive coverage with the current system, which could pose serious issues in the event of a school shooting or other public safety event. “I have a great appreciation for first responders and their ability to be able to figure things out on the fly, but I wouldn’t want to be the community member waiting for a first responder kind of trying to figure it out,” council member Andrew Friedson said. “There is no greater public interest than public safety, period. Full stop. It seems like what we have is a bubble gum and duct tape operation, and it’s completely inadequate for anywhere, let alone a place with a $6 billion budget and 1.1 million people.”

Md. lawmakers ditch their cars for mass transit. Could you survive 'the transit challenge?'
June 18, 2019 -Could you put your car in park and get by for a week? That’s the challenge in one of the wealthiest counties in the country. In Montgomery County, there’s an average of two cars for every household—and it has the congestion to prove it. “The car has not moved all week and will not all week,” said Montgomery County Councilman Andrew Friedson, who’s among the 10 local lawmakers who have traded the roads for rails and buses all week long—no driving. Friedson showed WUSA9 his latest commute from Bethesda to council chambers in Rockville. Usually a 20 minute drive took 51 minutes on two different buses. “If you live along that corridor, it’s terrific but if you live outside that corridor which I also represent, it’s not nearly as great.” Sponsored by the organization Action Committee for Transit, this is called the transit challenge. But Friedson says it highlights challenges those without cars face every day. “I mostly use Metro and I am one of those people who gets to use it as a luxury not as a necessity,” said Friedson. On Twitter, others are chiming in with packed buses, blocked crosswalks and unsafe bike lanes. Friedson says it’s brought local lawmakers closer together—in hopes of making the county closer, too. “You can’t have a place unless you can get to it and that’s what public transportation is all about,” said Friedson.

Executives Knock County's Economic Development Approach
June 12, 2019 - A group of about 20 business owners delivered a message to Montgomery County’s chief economic development agency during a meeting Wednesday morning: the county must rebrand itself as a destination for tech companies rather than government employees and contractors. The meeting was the first of several planned discussions between the Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee of the County Council and the Montgomery County Economic Development Corpo., which was formed in 2015 as a public-private partnership in place of the county’s Department of Economic Development. Committee chairman Hans Riemer said he plans to convene the meetings at least quarterly, or even once per month, to “hear what the business community has to say about the county’s progress.” Montgomery has long battled a perception that it has an anti-business climate, which has been exacerbated recently by a series of reports that show Montgomery is falling behind its counterparts in Northern Virginia, which recently landed one of Amazon’s highly-coveted headquarters locations. The online retailer is expected to bring in 25,000 jobs over the course of 10 years...Committee member Andrew Friedson said the county needs to change the perception that it is a place steeped in government jobs. “People don’t say, ‘I’m moving to Montgomery County or the D.C. area for anything but government,” he said.

Top Montgomery Co. Officials Going Car-Free This Week
June 11, 2019 - Buffeted by criticism that their transit-first transportation policy runs counter to the commuting preferences of a vast majority of their constituents, several members of the Montgomery County Council have accepted a challenge to leave their cars at home this week. In agreeing to the weeklong challenge, which was issued by the Action Committee for Transit, lawmakers must travel from home to work — and to whatever community events and meetings they might have — via bus, subway, bike, scooter or on foot. Five members of the nine-member Council accepted the challenge — Gabe Albornoz, Andrew Friedson, Evan Glass, Will Jawando and Hans Riemer. All but Jawando documented at least some of their travels on Twitter, using #TransitChallenge.

County Council Members Undertake Transit Challenge
June 11, 2019 - Five members of the County Council are participating in the Transit Challenge this week. They are tasked with either walking or using public transportation like the Ride On, Metro, or carpooling to get wherever they need to go. All four of the at-large members⁠—Gabe Albornoz, Evan Glass, Will Jawando, and Hans Riemer⁠—as well as District 1 Representative Andrew Friedson are the members participating.  The councilmembers are sharing their public transit experiences on Twitter using #TransitChallenge, and are inviting county residents to join them.

Nine Montgomery County officials agree to ditch their cars this week
June 10, 2019 - This week, from June 10 to June 16, several Montgomery County elected officials and planning board members have pledged to leave their personal vehicles parked at home. These officials will put their pro-transit public positions to the test as they attempt to use public transit or active transport (foot, bicycle, scooter) to attend all work business and personal activities. If you are a resident of Montgomery County, even if you aren’t a public official, you should join them! This #TransitChallege is organized by Action Committee for Transit (aka ACT for Transit), a transit and land use reform advocacy non-\profit based in Montgomery County. ACT board members were inspired by social media from the city of Ottawa, which held a similar event in February where city councilmembers pledged to give up their cars for a week of Canadian winter. Ottawa councilmembers learned and tweeted about their experiences, both the good and less enjoyable. So far, nine public officials in Montgomery County have committed to the #TransitChallenge. This number includes five members of the county council (at-large members Evan Glass, Hans Riemer, Will Jawando, and Gabe Albornoz, and district 1-Bethesda representative Andrew Friedson) and three members of the county planning board (chair Casey Anderson and members Natali Fani-Gonzalez and Tina Patterson). Kacy Kostiuk, a councilmember from the City of Takoma Park, who  tweeted her experiences trying a car-free commute earlier this year, will also be participating.

Quiet Skies Group Leveraging Political Resources to Fight Airport Flight Patterns
May 31, 2019 - The Montgomery Quiet Skies Coalition, a group that includes Potomac and Cabin John residents, is taking its fight against the Federal Aviation Administration to the political arena. The Federal Aviation Administration  announced  last week that it was considering new arrival landing procedures at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport that could mean more planes and noise along the flight path to the Arlington, Virginia airport. The procedure would differ from others, such as a “river visual approach” where pilots use the Potomac River as a guide for landing, and rely on satellite global positioning technology. The changes, which could potentially go into effect Aug. 15, came in response to concerns from the Secret Service that too many planes were entering restricted airspace that surrounds the White House, National Mall and other monuments in the District of Columbia. Thursday’s meeting of the citizens group, held at the Carderock Springs Swim and Tennis Club in Bethesda, was attended by a number of politicians or their representatives, including state Sen. Susan Lee, a Democrat who represents Bethesda, and staff members from the offices of state delegates Marc Korman and Sara Love, Democrats who represent Bethesda, U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin and County Council member Andrew Friedson, whose district represents Bethesda.The meeting came the same day that Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh wrote a  letter  to FAA Acting Administrator Daniel Elwell, saying that he was “troubled” by the agency’s new flight procedures proposal, particularly since it was done without taking its environmental impact into account.Frosh has sued the FAA about its flight path procedures for National Airport, as well as those at Baltimore-Washington International Airport. Funding Restored for

White Flint Metro Station Improvement Work
May 30, 2019 - Funds for planning and designing a second entrance to the White Flint Metro station have been restored to the county’s six-year capital improvements budget. In January, County Executive Marc Elrich proposed deferring $3.5 million for planning and design work to beyond 2024 with the expectation that the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority would contribute to the project.  The County Council, as it adopted a new county budget last week, restored $2.9 million of the funding which will allow planning and design work to take place while WMATA conducts a feasibility study to determine the total cost. Because the transit agency owns the White Flint station, it is responsible for determining the cost. The project involves constructing a northern entrance to the station with an underground walkway connecting the northern end of the platform to the Pike & Rose shopping area on the west side of Rockville Pike, near Old Georgetown Road...“I was really pleased that we ended up where we did and fulfilled this vision” said council member Andrew Friedson, whose district includes White Flint. “It keeps us moving forward in terms of where we’re at,” he said.Friedson said he wasn’t sure how likely it is that the transit agency would fund the project.“Historically they haven’t, and given its importance to the county I think that’s far too great a risk,” he said.

Montgomery County officials fuming over proposed FAA flight patterns for Reagan National Airport
May 28, 2019 - Montgomery County officials said they felt blindsided after the Federal Aviation Administration proposed plans for new aircraft  routes at Reagan National Airport amid complaints from residents in Bethesda and along the Potomac River that aircraft noise is making their neighborhoods unlivable.  County officials said the arrival routes  over Bethesda could change on August 15 and departures in January 2020. Montgomery Councilmember Andrew Freidson told FOX 5 he expected a plane noise solution  from the FAA, but, instead, he said the noise may get even worse. “Totally blindsided us in Montgomery County. It is outrageous. It doubles down on a disastrous policy and completely flies  in the face of the community working group that’s supposed to be there to provide community input,” Friedson exclaimed to FOX 5’s Tom Fitzgerald. During a recent meeting, the FAA proposed a new plan for landing airplanes at the airport that could mean increased noise for 200,000 residents who live in Bethesda, Potomac and Cabin John neighborhoods close to the Potomac River.Arlington County officials have teamed up with Montgomery County to press the noise issue with the FAA...Virginia Congressman Don Beyer’s office described the FAA’s response to his questions about noise complaints as “disappointing.”

Van Hollen, National Geographic Chairman Headline MCPS Graduation Speakers
May 23, 2019 -  This graduation season Montgomery County schools have tapped local news reporters, county government and business leaders and school staff as commencements speakers. Graduations begin on Friday , with five scheduled, and continue through June 13... Many of the ceremonies will be held at DAR Constitution Hall in the District, which will provide a free online live stream  of events, while others will occur at home sites or local college campuses.  Montgomery County Public Schools will graduate approximately 11,000 seniors this year from its 25 high schools, along with hundreds more from the school system’s special schools, which provide services to special education and adult learners.
May28: Winston Churchill High School: Andrew Friedson, Montgomery County Council member

Wayside Elementary Celebrates 50 years
May 22, 2019 - Wayside Elementary School celebrated its 50th Anniversary on Saturday, May 18, 2019, with a school carnival, open house and the unveiling of an anniversary work of art, and even a politician. Councilmember Andrew Friedson attended Wayside...Another thrill for the day was the unveiling of the student art installation on the grass in front of the school. During the last few months students and staff each painted a rock. These were embedded in a concrete “stream,” flowing with the rocks and ending in a circle containing the representation of a dolphin, Wayside’s mascot.The unusual thing about the artwork, besides the fact that all the students participated in its creation, is the dolphin is embedded with synthetic crystals that glow in the dark.“It really is amazing to see what we did in art turn into this great project,” Justin, a fifth grader, said.Principal Donna Michela said she was surprised by the large turnout and pleased by the people who came back to the school from years ago.She is a long-time Wayside staff member herself.“I was here for the 30th and now I’m here for the 50th,” she said.  Friedson said he began his advocacy work while an elementary student at the school...Another thrill for the day was the unveiling of the student art installation on the grass in front of the school. During the last few months students and staff each painted a rock. These were embedded in a concrete “stream,” flowing with the rocks and ending in a circle containing the representation of a dolphin, Wayside’s mascot. The unusual thing about the artwork, besides the fact that all the students participated in its creation, is the dolphin is embedded with synthetic crystals that glow in the dark. “It really is amazing to see what we did in art turn into this great project,” Justin, a fifth grader, said.

Elrich Wants Legislation To Preserve Affordable Housing
May 20, 2019 - Montgomery County’s executive is pledging to introduce legislation that would protect affordable housing when neighborhoods are redeveloped. Elrich said low-income residents are being squeezed out of areas such as Twinbrook when private housing replaces public affordable housing and some residents have difficulty passing background and credit checks, as well as meeting income requirements....The council has previously passed legislation giving developers more incentives to build MPDUs and recently has undertaken an effort to increase the number of accessory dwelling units at houses, also known as in-law apartments. Elrich has argued the ADU changes will not help low-income residents and create traffic problems in neighborhoods and near schools. “We talk about ADUs, but our biggest problem are these people who are facing the inability to find housing, and we don’t have the strategy to deal with it. We didn’t have a strategy when I was on the council,” he said. During a session at Friday’s conference addressing the housing crisis for millennials and seniors, panelists indicated that ADUs had to be part of the solution...Council member Andrew Friedson, who moderated the panel, noted that the county’s rental rate is increasing because little new housing is being built, with 14% of the county’s housing stock being built after 2000. The priority, he said, must be the construction of housing to grow the tax base. “To access our great education system, our extraordinary quality of life, we run the risk of not being able to provide that to new people,” Friedson said. “And if we don’t build more housing. If we don’t find creative ways to provide the existing housing in a thoughtful way to more people… not only will it prevent you from being able to have the opportunity that you have, it will harm the people currently.”

Montgomery County Council votes on $5.8B budget
May 16, 2019 - The Montgomery County Council voted on a $5.8 billion budget that includes an increase in parking fees in the Bethesda, Maryland, area and funding for education, libraries and public transit, among others...In a preliminary or “straw vote,” the nine-member county council voted on a $5.8 billion operating budget for fiscal year 2020 that “doubles down” on the county’s investment on education, according to Council member Andrew Friedson. The $2.6 billion for schools “fully funds” the Montgomery County school system’s budget request. The school system projects an enrollment of 164,477 students in the next fiscal year, Friedson said. That represents an increase of 1,877 students....The council also voted to approve contracts with the unions that represent county employees, which include firefighters, police and a broad swath of county workers represented by the Montgomery County Government Employees Organization. The agreements the council is approving are lower than those recommended by County Executive Marc Elrich, but council members expressed concerns over the “sustainability” of employee compensation costs. Council members Friedson and Hans Riemer referenced their own concerns over the county’s structural deficit. Riemer told his colleagues, “We really need to tackle that and make some changes.” “I continue to be concerned about balancing budgets by deferring funding of our obligations and by using one-time savings to fund ongoing costs,” Friedson said.

Economic impact statement required
May 16, 2019 - ...District 1 Councilman Andrew Friedson introduced legislation to make sure councilmembers understand the economic impact of every action they adopt – not just on the county’s budget, but also on business owners, nonprofit organizations, homeowners and taxpayers, he said... The legislation appears headed for adoption, as every council member signed on to co-sponsor it.  If the bill is adopted, an economist in the independent Office of Legislative Oversight would be in charge of the review rather than a county employee from the Department of Finance being asked to conduct the impact statement... “The bill is focusing on making sure we understand the impact” in many areas so there will not be “unintended consequences,” he explained.  Before councilmembers vote on any legislation, the Office of Legislative Oversight would issue a report of its findings without recommending whether the bill in question should be adopted.  It will be up to individual council members to weigh the information and decide how to vote, Friedson said... “Supporting our local businesses has been a primary focus from the moment I took office. Including private sector impacts more comprehensively in our legislative process is an important part of that commitment,” according to Friedson.

Montgomery Co. council to vote Thursday on parking rate hike
May 14, 2019 - The Montgomery County Council will hold the final vote Thursday on whether to increase parking rates in the county’s three parking districts. In a vote Tuesday, the nine members agreed to hold off on increasing parking rates in Silver Spring, and to delay expanding the hours for paid parking in Wheaton. They proposed any increase to on-street parking in Bethesda should be held to a maximum of $3.25 an hour, down from the $4 proposed in the plan from County Executive Marc Elrich. Council member Andrew Friedson, who represents Bethesda, expressed some concern with the timing of the increase, pointing out that it comes during the county’s budget process, when the focus is on big-ticket items lawmakers. Speaking during Tuesday’s council meeting, Friedson said of the parking fee plan, “This is kind of a side note until it’s not, and when it’s not, it blows up” and leaves residents with a feeling of sticker shock.

Montgomery council approves modified union contract, after rejecting earlier raises
May 13, 2019 -  The Montgomery County Council on Monday voted to approve a union contract for county workers that walked back some negotiated pay increases, saying the more modest hikes were better aligned with the county’s finances.  The 7-2 vote was an indication that the all-Democratic council is prepared to limit first-year County Executive Marc Elrich’s spending, including on items important to the labor unions that are a key part of his support base.  Last month, the council rejected the package the Elrich administration negotiated with the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1994 Municipal and County Government Employees Organization (MCGEO) and sent them back to the bargaining table ... While the county executive negotiates with the unions, ultimate approval of the contracts rests with the council, and the council’s move last month to call for the contract to be renegotiated led to promises of political retribution from angry union members.  On Monday, council members Hans Riemer (D-At Large) and Andrew Friedson (D-District 1) cast the two votes against the renegotiated contract.

Plan to Fully Fund MCPS Budget Passes Council
May 13, 2019 - Anticipating additional state funding, the Montgomery County Council on Monday added $16 million to the amount of money requested by the county’s school system for its 2020 budget...The unanimous council vote, made as members were putting finishing touches on a number of budget categories, sets aside $2.68 billion for the state’s largest school system and is millions more than requested by the Board of Education. The majority of additional funding is expected to come from the state and depends on the governor signing legislation spawned from the Kirwan Commission, a group that studied ways to improve Maryland schools. The legislation would provide $24.4 million for county schools in fiscal 2020. The legislation mandates how the additional funding must be used, including for special education services, to assist low-income students, provide mental health resources and increase teacher salaries. Money will also be put toward extended school year programs at two Silver Spring elementary schools, adding assistant principals at some schools and strengthening background checks for school staff.  County Executive Marc Elrich earlier this year attracted criticism when he recommended a $2.64 billion budget for the school system, about $14.5 million less than it sought — a cut that council member Andrew Friedson called “fatally flawed” because it didn’t fully fund the school board’s request.

County Committee Recommends Maintaining $692 Property Tax Credit
May 2, 2019 - A Montgomery County Council committee took a preliminary vote Thursday to maintain the county’s property tax credit at $692 for owner-occupied residences, saying it was important to keep County Executive Marc Elrich’s campaign pledge not to raise property taxes. Homeowners who are permanent residents in their homes are eligible for the property tax credit each year, as a measure of shifting the tax burden to commercial and rental properties. The credit has been set at $692 since fiscal 2011, and Elrich proposed maintaining that rate for fiscal 2020. Elrich has proposed a property tax rate of 98 cents per $100 of property, which is unchanged from last year’s. Council staff had recommended increasing the tax credit to $800, which would account for inflation that has occurred in the last eight years, as well as help property owners who have seen their assessments rise...Committee members Nancy Navarro, Sidney Katz and Andrew Friedson all expressed support for maintaining the current credit to keep Elrich’s promise of not raising taxes. Sesker also warned during a hearing Thursday that a tax credit increase would shift the burden more to rental properties which could lead to rent increases for tenants. “This effectively would be a tax increase, and we also need to be mindful that are renters are growing, and this would have some impact on our renter population,” Friedson said.

Council Agrees To Cut $90 Million From Retirement Health Benefit Fund
May 1, 2019 - A plan that shifts $89.5 million away from the county’s retiree health benefits trust fund was approved Tuesday in an 8-1 Montgomery County Council vote. The cut to the fund, known as the Other Post-Employment Benefits, or OPEB, was proposed by County Executive Marc Elrich to account for a projected $80 million shortfall in state tax revenue and preserve a reserve fund. Council member Andrew Friedson, the lone opponent, said he worries that the county has “fallen into a spiral” of making mid-fiscal year cuts and that the trust fund is often a target. “Unfortunately the OPEB trust fund has been used in recent years, not just by this administration, but by previous administrations as well as basically a reserve account to solve serious budget shortfalls, and that spiral has been a huge challenge, and isn’t something we’ll get out of unless we implement some serious structural changes,” he said. Friedson, a former employee in the comptroller’s office, warned that “the longer we wait to fund it [OPEB], the more expensive it gets.”

Council Rebuffs County Union's Contract, Calls for Parity in Raises
April 30, 2019 - Montgomery County will go back to the contract bargaining table with its largest employees union after the County Council Tuesday afternoon rejected a budget proposal that would grant some workers raises of more than 9%. Several hundred employees represented by the Local 1994 MCGEO union attended the council meeting after there were growing indications that the nine-member council was unsettled by the cost of the pay raises and whether they were sustainable in light of predictions of a slowing economy...The contract, as proposed, includes pay raises of up to 9.4% for some county employees. The increases were included as “make up steps” from previous years following the 2008 recession when the council voted not to fully fund MCGEO contracts. The council has rejected negotiated contracts in the past, said county spokesman Neil Greenberger, but it is rare. Greenberger said the years following the recession left the county without the revenue that would be needed to fund the contracts. “Similar things were happening around the nation with local governments. The Montgomery County unions interpreted these actions not as raises that would not be honored, but as raises that were going to be deferred,” he said....Council member Andrew Friedson wrote in a statement that the vote was “not one he took lightly” but that he couldn’t “support a compensation package that we know is unaffordable.” “Our residents rightfully expect that we live within our means and today’s action reflects that expectation,” he wrote.

Pay for New County Cabinet Positions 'A Bit of A Challenge'
April 29, 2019 - Salaries proposed for three cabinet positions being created by County Executive Marc Elrich received scrutiny Monday during a meeting of the County Council’s Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee. In  February , Elrich said he wanted to hire a chief digital officer, chief labor relations officer and chief equity officer as non-merit positions. At the same time, he eliminated four merit positions in the departments of finance, liquor control, human resources and procurement, along with a technology specialist. Elrich estimates the changes will save $750,000 per year. He has also said that because the three positions will be under his direct supervision, he will have greater control. Elrich pledged during his campaign to make county government more efficient. As his administration enters its sixth month, he has yet to appoint nine permanent officers, in addition to a permanent police chief and an inspector general to replace Edward Blansitt, who will retire this summer...Chief Administrative Officer Andrew Kleine said Monday that the county is recruiting for the equity and digital officers. An interview with a candidate for the labor relations officer is planned, he said, but he is not ready to release the name. Kleine said to this point, all salaries for new cabinet appointees have been lower than that of their predecessors. He said he doesn’t anticipate the need to increase any salary above $210,000 but it might be necessary “in some situations.” “It is competitive and gives us the ability to compete for talent,” Kleine said of the salary levels. Council member Andrew Friedson said he understood the need for the county to provide competitive salaries, but worried about salaries growing to unsustainable levels. “If that person stays for a decade, which we hope they will stay for a long time, then their salary gets way beyond that because of cost-of-living increases and other factors,” he said. “That to me is a bit of a challenge, and as we’re making decisions about how we make sustainable choices, salaries in county government is a real place to demonstrate leadership.”

Council Wants $5 Million More for Affordable Housing Projects
April 26, 2019 - A County Council committee is requesting an additional $5 million for the county’s Housing Initiative Fund construction budget. County Executive Marc Elrich’s proposed capital budget, which covers fiscal 2019 through 2024, includes $17 million for the fund,  established in 1988 as a dedicated source of money for building affordable housing. In addition, more than $41 million is included in Elrich’s proposed fiscal 2020 operating budget for the Housing Initiative Fund. The housing fund provides a mechanism for construction and preservation of affordable housing. During budget reviews this week, council member Andrew Friedson proposed increasing the funding, noting that increases in average rent have outpaced the rise in median income between 2010 and 2015. Former County Executive Isiah Leggett had appropriated $16 million for the housing fund for the current fiscal year, but the council approved a similar increase, bringing the total to $22 million. “The County Executive’s proposed funding below FY 19 levels takes us a step backwards in having the financial wherewithal to build additional units so desperately needed to keep up with the demand for affordable housing,” Friedson wrote in a memo to five of his council colleagues. Friedson also noted that more than 32,000 low-income residents have been on a waiting list for the Housing Opportunities Commission, which runs subsidized housing programs and projects, and that 14% of the county’s rental housing was built after 2000.

Council Debates Higher Street Parking Rates in Bethesda, Silver Spring
April 25, 2019 - Members of the Montgomery County Council’s Transportation and Environment Committee don’t agree on whether to increase the ceiling for on-street parking to $4 per hour. County Executive Marc Elrich has proposed a demand-pricing model for parking meters in downtown Bethesda under which users would be charged higher rates at busy times of the day. The goal is to reduce traffic congestion and shift the volume of parking from the streets to garages. Currently, on-street meters in Bethesda charge users $2 per hour, with most garages costing $1 per hour. Council member Andrew Friedson, whose district includes Bethesda, said businesses have reacted negatively to the proposal. Motorists who pay parking meters using a mobile app on their phone, instead of feeding coins into the meter, could be in for a rude awakening, he said. “The person charged that 78% increase is not gonna find out until they look at their app,” he said...The committee is scheduled to revisit the parking rate issue at its May 2 meeting. The full council will approve its marked up budget in late May.

Friedson Wants All County Legislation To Carry Fiscal Impact Estimate
April 22, 2019 - Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson wants to require a report estimating the fiscal impact of all legislation considered by the council. Friedson, one of four new members elected last fall, said the goal is to provide legislation “with more teeth” by requiring proposed bills to define and quantify the impact or costs the legislation could impose on businesses and residents. “I believe that every decision that we make shouldn’t just be about our county budget, but about the budgets of Montgomery County residents and small businesses,” he said....“It shouldn’t require a small business owner to take time out of their schedule to claim that this has an impact on their business,” he said. We shouldn’t be relying on them.” Friedson said the fiscal note legislation is being drafted and will likely be introduced next month.

Revised Accessory Apartment Plan Sets Limits on Size
April 19, 2019 - The Montgomery County Council’s proposal to allow more accessory dwelling units, sometimes called in-law apartments, has been amended to tighten restrictions on the size of some units and ease parking-space requirements for others. Since January, the council’s Planning, Housing and Economic Development committee has been reviewing a proposal by council member Hans Riemer to increase the number of ADUs in the county by allowing them in three additional residential zones. An amendment would limit the apartments to 10% of the size of the property, with a maximum of 1,200 square feet. Additionally, the requirement that the ADU provide an additional parking spot would be waived for units that are within a mile of Metrorail stations or future Purple Line light rail stops, and in Takoma Park...Council member Andrew Friedson, who is also a member of the planning committee, said he has brought up the issue of accessory apartments at his weekly community meetings. “We’ve spent a tremendous amount of effort reaching out to as many folks as possible,” he said. Friedson said most of the ADUs will be on lots that are smaller than 1 acre, with the three residential zones having minimum lot sizes of 6,000, 9,000 and 20,000 square feet. “What we’re typically talking about here are smaller than 1 acre lots. What this bill does is it extends the ability to have an detached ADU in a less-than-an-acre lot,” he said. Friedson said the one-mile rule for the parking waiver doesn’t assume that everyone who lives close to transit will have a car. In the case of the Takoma Park, he said that some ADUs are on properties slightly beyond one mile of a transit line, and city staff had asked for the accommodation. “Rather than try to overcomplicate it, they have a unique circumstance, and it was carved out accordingly,” he said.

Naturepedic Organic Mattresses is Montgomery County's 85th Green Business; MoCo is first US ...
April 19, 2019 - This Friday, Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson will celebrate his district’s own Naturepedic, the leading U.S. manufacturer of organic mattresses and bedding, for becoming the 85th company to be certified to the Montgomery County Green Business Certification Program. The Naturepedic Organic Mattress Gallery is located at 11802-A Rockville Pike, near the Old Georgetown Road entrance of the popular Pike & Rose development. The gallery also is the first company in the county to earn the certification for meeting the stringent Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), which prohibits the use of toxic ingredients in organic apparel and home textiles. Only in January did the county’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) formally incorporate GOTS into its set of qualifying standards. In doing so, Montgomery County became the first and only U.S. jurisdiction to formally recognize GOTS. “Montgomery County is a national leader when it comes to environmental sustainability, so it is fitting that Naturepedic has chosen a livable, walkable, and accessible community like the Pike District for its DC area gallery,” says Councilmember Friedson. “I congratulate them on joining a diverse array of Green Business Certified companies, thank them for their commitment to organic products and enthusiastically welcome them to our community.”

Bethesda Street Parking Could Increase to $4 An Hour at Peak Times
April 18, 2019 - The hourly parking rate at meters in downtown Bethesda could nearly double to $4 an hour at busy times under a proposal from the county executive. County Executive Marc Elrich’s budget includes a recommendation for a “demand pricing” model for parking meters in Bethesda. The model would resemble Metro’s fare structure, which charges higher rates during rush hour periods. The maximum rate would increase to $4 per hour, with the goal of shifting drivers to spaces in public garages and reducing traffic congestion...Council member Andrew Friedson, whose district includes Bethesda, said he thinks the increase to $4 is “too fast and too soon.” He added that although he is not opposed to parking rate increases in general, these types of “draconian” measures risk hurting small businesses at a time when the county’s economy is struggling. “The question is, how do we make sure that it’s done in a transparent way and a gradual way. Doing it virtually overnight is too much and too fast for the public to understand it, and for retailers to address it,” he said. Friedson said the council’s transportation and environment committee will be addressing the parking issue in hearings next week. If approved by the council, the new rates would take effect July 1.

County's Tax-Supported Business Incubators are 'Bleeding Money'
April 5, 2019 - Montgomery County’s three small-business incubators are losing more than $1 million a year and the county is considering hiring an outside consultant to help bolster them. “Now that we’re bleeding out these leases, I’m a little bit concerned that our goal isn’t to figure out how to create a program … it’s how do we get the money back for these assets that are bleeding money,” said County Council member Andrew Friedson at a Thursday meeting of the council’s Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee. The committee reviewed a report showing a center in Germantown was losing $575,000 a year, the Rockville incubator was losing $590,000 and the Silver Spring incubator was down by $107,000 a year, as of Dec. 31. The tax-subsidized incubator program started in 1995 to help foster startups in emerging fields, such as biotechnology and information technology, and there are 20 to 30 companies at each of the three incubators. A nonprofit economic development corporation that replaced the county government’s economic development office in 2016 took over the incubator program, which also works with Montgomery College in Germantown. “I think at the very least, we need to figure out how the goals of this incubator program align with the EDC’s [economic development corporation] strategic plan, because it seems we’re sending our ships in different directions but without intentionality,” Friedson said. “Recently the program was described as lame, and it’s gotten to be lame and stagnant. It needs focus, and these companies need to be encouraged to graduate,” said Ruth Semple, an economic development manager who met with the committee. Friedson said he is worried that the incubator program has gotten into the habit of “throwing things at a wall and seeing what sticks.”...Friedson, a former employee in the state comptroller’s office, said he wants to know what the county is paying for. “I would like to know not only what we are expecting to pay, but what we are expecting to get out of it and what the results have been in other jurisdictions,” he said. The Germantown incubator has a biotechnology focus, Rockville includes information technology and Silver Spring concentrates on cybersecurity.

Council, Retirees Decry Lack of Funding for Health Care Trust Fund
April 2, 2019 - The county executive’s  $5.7 billion proposed budget isn’t sitting well with County Council members who are worried that the county won’t be able to meet long-term obligations for funding a health-benefits trust fund started nearly a decade ago for retirees. “I gotta tell you, I could pass a lie detector test. This is the worst budget I’ve ever seen,” Council Vice President Sidney Katz said. Katz and his eight council colleagues met Tuesday with the board of the Montgomery County Retired Employees Association to discuss concerns over a  budget decision by County Executive Marc Elrich that shifted nearly $90 million in funding from the Other Post-Employment Benefits trust fund for the current fiscal year....But council member Andrew Friedson, a former employee in the state comptroller’s office, dismissed the prediction by Madaleno, a former state senator who represented Montgomery County before he ran for governor last year. “I have tremendous respect for Senator Madaleno, and we’ve worked together, and I think of him as highly as anybody who has served, but hope is not a strategy,” Friedson said. “If we are depending on the federal government to change policy in order to save us from our obligations, we are in for a really tough sled.” Friedson said the county needs to be prepared for the possibility of increasing health care costs, and that fully funding OPEB is an “obligation, not an option. “We’re not fully funding their benefits,” he said.

County Council yearns for transparency in MCP Chief search
March 28, 2019 - County Council member Will Jawando urged transparency and community involvement in the selection process for a new Montgomery County chief of police in a letter to County Executive Marc Elrich on March 18.  Jawando, joined by all eight of the other council members, wrote the letter to Elrich as a call for a more open selection process. The current police chief, J. Thomas Manger, announced earlier this year that he will be stepping down from his position in April. He served in Montgomery County for 42 years.... Councilmember Andrew Friedson is one of the other members who co-signed the letter to the county executive. He felt that urging for transparency in the selection process was important because the police chief position is a critical role within the county.  “The process to select a new chief should be defined by inclusivity, transparency, community input, and communication,” he said. “It should be approached with an open mind and with careful scrutiny.”

New Limits On Parking Spaces Being Debated
March 27, 2019 - A  proposal  that could require large commercial and residential properties in the county to have fewer parking spaces in an effort to force greater use of public transportation and get cars off the road is being questioned by business groups. County Executive Marc Elrich is pressing for updated regulations that would require building owners countywide to have a “traffic mitigation plan” designed to get more people onto public transit or carpools by cutting the number of parking spaces for commuters. At present, five areas in the county – Bethesda, North Bethesda, Friendship Heights, Silver Spring and Shady Grove – require businesses with 25 or more employees to have the plans, which also mandate designated parking spots for carpoolers and van services. Each of the areas also sets a goal for the number of employees not driving to work, which ranges between 18 percent in Shady Grove to 46 percent for Silver Spring. The County Council’s transportation and environment committee last week began reviewing the proposal, with council members agreeing more study and public input is needed. The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is among the groups opposing the change that it says puts additional restrictions on developers and owners....The plan the council is considering was formulated by former County Executive Isiah Leggett and has been amended by Elrich, whose changes mandate that each building with a transportation management plan “demonstrate progress” toward its commuting goal, or the county’s Department of Transportation would then have the authority to limit parking availability for use by employees commuting during peak periods....A separate component of the bill that would levy additional fees on all existing non-multi-family residential and commercial development was recommended by council staff. Council member Andrew Friedson, who is not on the committee but represents an area that includes Bethesda’s central business district, wrote in a memo that he was “alarmed” by the recommendation. “This is a dramatic policy change being proposed after the public hearing on this Bill and with extremely limited, if any, opportunity for the public to consider or comment. I am especially concerned that this would amount to a new tax on residents of multi-family buildings throughout the County,” he wrote. “Dramatic policy changes such as this one should be debated publicly, transparently, and openly. In this case, I do not believe those who will be impacted by this new tax have been provided sufficient opportunity.”

Proposed Accessory Apartment Rule Changes Challenged
March 26, 2019 - Members of the Montgomery County Council continued Tuesday to hash out details of a proposal that would open additional parts of the county for the addition of accessory dwelling units at private houses. At issue are several details such as whether the county’s current requirement of 1,200 square feet should be deleted, whether only to allow the units at existing homes and how much parking should be required....The committee also debated the county’s parking requirements for accessory units, requiring two spaces must be provided – one for the main house and another for the apartment. Council member Andrew Friedson, whose district includes Bethesda, suggested waiving the requirement for properties that are within a half-mile of Metrorail stations. “We too often assume that everyone is going to have a car, so I think it would be better if these were incentivized for these to be closer to where transit is,” he said. “Why force someone to pave an impervious surface driveway if that person isn’t going to use  a car?”...The council committee is schedule to take up theissue again at its April 4 meeting before the issue goes before the full council.

Pay Raise Plan Sparks Questions over 'Whether Our County Budget is Sustainable'
March 25, 2019 - Several pay and benefits recommendations in County Executive Marc Elrich’s budget proposal are being criticized by County Council members who worry that raises for county employees, combined with putting off a payment for a retirees health-benefit trust fund, aren’t the most fiscally responsible course. Under a $5.7 billion budget plan released earlier this month and being scrutinized by the council, some union workers could get raises of close to 10 percent in part because they agreed to forego increases several years ago in a limping economy and were promised the increases when conditions improved. In addition, the Elrich budget would not put money next year into the county’s retirement health benefits trust fund, established in 2011 to provide health care, prescription and life insurance coverage to employees, retirees and their dependents. Council member Andrew Friedson said while he understands the economic pressures Elrich faces, he is concerned that the county exercise fiscal discipline. “We all appreciate the hard work of our public employees. The challenge is whether our county budget is sustainable in the long term,” Friedson said...Friedson, who previously worked in the state comptroller’s office, said the county must heed warnings from the comptroller of a possible recession. This, he said, requires increasing the retirement fund, in addition to boosting the reserve fund and bringing down debt.

Montgomery County to hold community conversations on racial equity
March 13, 2019 - Montgomery County, Maryland, officials are hosting a series of conversations centered on racial disparities in housing, education and economic opportunities. Montgomery County Council President Nancy Navarro said there’s a very practical reason for taking on issues around racial equity. In announcing the series of community conversations, she said, “When all of our residents have access to opportunities, then everybody benefits here in Montgomery County.” A look at Census figures from 2011 to 2015 helps illustrate why officials say they want to talk about this now. Statistics compiled by the county show unemployment rates at 4 percent for white residents, 5 percent for Asian residents, 8 percent for Latino residents and 20 percent for African-Americans. As for statistics around children living in poverty, 2 percent of white children come from homes that struggle economically, while the figures were seven times higher for Latino children and eight times higher, at 16 percent, for African-American children...Council member Andrew Friedson said he’s looking forward to the work ahead, calling racial inequity a stain on society. “And like any stain, if you don’t acknowledge it, if you don’t address it, it sets. You might get comfortable with it. You might get even accept it,” he said.

Teachers, County Officials March For Education Funding in Annapolis
March 12, 2019 - Thousands of teachers took buses to Annapolis Tuesday to march in support of increased education funding in the state of Maryland. County leaders including councilmembers, leaders from the Board of Education, and the county executive joined teachers in solidarity for the march.  In a social media message to MCM, Councilmember Andrew Friedson said that his experiences as a former Montgomery County Public Schools student and son of an MCPS teacher made attending the march especially important.  “As the son of a former MCPS teacher and the proud product of our great Public Schools, I was honored to ride the bus with local educators and inspired to join more than 8000 teachers and advocates from around the state to march for our schools,” said Friedson.  According to  The Washington Post , Maryland teachers say that schools have been “underfunded by as much as $2.9 billion per year.”

'Our Kids Can't Wait:' 8500 Rally for Education Funding
March 12, 2019 - More than 8,500 educators, activists and students clad in red gathered Monday evening in the state capital, urging legislators to increase public school funding....Teachers and parents who participated said class sizes are too big, buildings are too old and teachers are underpaid, citing state Department of Education statistics that say Maryland schools are annually underfunded by $2.9 billion.  Montgomery County’s per pupil spending — about $16,500 – is the fifth highest in Maryland. The county’s school board operating budget proposal for the next budget year is $2.65 billion, a roughly 2 percent increase from this year. Montgomery County teachers, parents, elected officials and some students joined the rally and said with recommendations to improve schools outlined by a commission studying education priorities, “the time is now” to increase school funding. They wore red, rang cowbells to show support for speakers and carried signs that read “Our kids can’t wait,” “Fund our schools” and “The time is now.” They wore red, rang cowbells to show support for speakers and carried signs that read “Our kids can’t wait,” “Fund our schools” and “The time is now.” Organizers estimated the turnout to be the largest for a demonstration in Annapolis in nearly a decade. Montgomery County government has a four-year plan to expand access to pre-kindergarten teachers. Additionally, the Board of Education has added money to its budget to reduce elementary class sizes. But without help from the state, students’ education isn’t reaching its full potential, they say. “Our public schools are our most indispensable and social and economic resource. Tomorrow is already too late to make the necessary investments in our future,” District 1 County Council member Andrew Friedson said after the rally. “Our kids can’t wait. Our teachers can’t wait. Our communities and our economy can’t wait.”

County Council meeting addresses a wide array of issues
March 8, 2019 - The Montgomery County Council met for a regular session to work on legislation affecting communities in the area... Another issue addressed during the meeting was efforts toward improving renters’ rights in the county. Councilman Tom Hucker introduced the Tenant Health and Safety Act, which allows renters to terminate a lease agreement with 30 days’ notice if they are living in unsafe or unhealthy conditions.  The bill states that if the landlord does not address problems such as mold, insect or rodent infestations, or other unhealthy living conditions, the renter would be allowed to move without having to pay a hefty fine for violating the lease agreement.  The Tenant Health and Safety Act, according to the councilman, was born out out of efforts to increase renters’ protection in recent years. The county has required more frequent housing inspections and added nine new inspectors to check the livability of buildings in Montgomery County... Hucker received support for the bill by other council members as well. Councilman Andrew Friedson explained that he bill is designed to weed out only the bad landlords by enforcing healthy living conditions.  “I think it’s a good example of dealing with these issues with a scalpel as opposed to a hammer,” Friedson said. “It’s quite clear that there is a small number of bad landlords, and most landlords are good. They want to treat their folks well; they want their properties to increase in value.”  He went on to explain that by protecting the good landlords, the council can also protect the families that live under their management. The bill, he said, continues the council’s work towards healthy and safe living conditions for everyone in Montgomery County.

County Clamping Down on 'Troubled' Rental Properties
March 5, 2019 - Montgomery County leaders on Tuesday laid the groundwork to require expedited improvements at nearly 100 county apartment properties. A regulation enacted by the council establishes guidelines for multifamily housing complexes cited by county housing inspectors and requires landlords to implement an “action plan” to correct serious violations that adversely affect renters’ health or safety in a timely manner. Housing developments on a county “troubled property” list will be required to have at least an annual inspection to ensure safety of tenants, while other properties are to be inspected every three years...District 1 Councilman Andrew Friedson, who represents Bethesda, said the majority of landlords in Montgomery County are “good,” but the legislation creates a safety net for residents who find themselves renting from “bad” landlords. “For the small number of folks who don’t do things the right way … we ought to do everything we possibly can to protect tenants,” Friedson said.

Council Confirms Two Aides for County Executive's Office
March 1, 2019 - Two assistant chief administrative officers for Montgomery County government were unanimously approved by the County Council Thursday. Alfred Jerome Fletcher II and Caroline Sturgis will assist CAO Andrew Kleine in carrying out County Executive Marc Elrich’s priorities...Fletcher, 44, of Woodbridge, Virginia, has spent a career in government, working during the past year as the senior deputy director for the District of Columbia’s Department of Small and Local Business development and as an administrator in the District’s general services agency for several years. His areas of focus will be working with county departments and staff to grow the economy and make government more sustainable — two key pledges Elrich made during last year’s campaign. Sturgis, 44, of Baltimore, has experience that includes more than one year as deputy budget director for Baltimore City, as well as several other government positions in the city that included chief financial officer for the police department. She will work with the county police department and other agencies to carry out Elrich’s goals of improving neighborhood safety and helping youth and families thrive. Kleine, during a previous meeting, said his assistants differ from previous administrations, in that they are both managers within the county executive’s office, but also liaisons to other departments that are responsible for helping the county executive achieve his vision. This prompted some confusion among council members at Thursday’s hearing, particularly from council member Andrew Friedson.“Who is the ACAO we’re supposed to call when there’s a DHCA [housing] issue, so Andrew Kleine doesn’t get all of the calls? If we don’t have very specific areas, I don’t think any of us will know who we’re supposed to call,” he said. Friedson said he didn’t mean the question as a criticism, but as a request for clarity. “Sometimes it seems like there are specific departments where the ACAO is viewed as directly tied, and sometimes the answer is, ‘we’re looking for collaboration,’” said.

Bethesda Metro Center Project Changed To Include 489 Residences
March 1, 2019 - Developers of a 500,000-square-foot high rise in the heart of Bethesda have solidified plans that will include up to 489 new residences and some shops. Brookfield Property Partners last year proposed two options for the project at 4 Bethesda Metro Center, one devoting the entire building to retail and office, and the other a mixed-use project with up to 465,000 square feet of residential space...Speaking generally about Bethesda housing earlier this month, District 1 Montgomery County Council member Andrew Friedson, who represents Bethesda, said it’s important to provide adequate housing, but he hopes to make office and retail space more viable downtown. “While we do need to build housing and aren’t keeping up with housing needs we have … we also need to make sure we’re growing jobs and amenities as well so the private sector economy is growing to grow the tax base and maintain a high-level quality of life,” Friedson said.

Poolesville Makes A Case for New High School, Community and Health Service Center
February 27, 2019 - After a year of advocacy, Poolesville residents have rallied to draft a comprehensive list of requests to bring “equal access” to county services in upper Montgomery County. In a white paper released Wednesday, the town of Poolesville and its Fair Access for Western Montgomery County committee outlined a proposal that would locate a new high school, health clinic, police station and community gymnasium in one facility in an effort to provide regional services to the largely rural area that the report calls a “services desert.” The white paper is the community’s first formal, organized effort to urge county leaders to provide a multi-use facility in Poolesville, and provides a framework for what services residents feel they need...District 1 Montgomery County Council member Andrew Friedson, who represents Poolesville, said he believes the Poolesville Fair Access committee has gained the traction needed to grab government officials’ attention, and said he’s committed to finding a way to provide county services in the western half of the county without disrupting the ag reserve, which is protected from over development by county legislation. “There’s a need there and people are aware of it,” Friedson said. “Every part of the county has needs, and this area is not an exception.”

New County Procurement Director Vows To Foster Business-Friendly Atmosphere
February 28, 2019 - Montgomery County’s new procurement director, Ash Shetty, thinks it’s time for the county to streamline processes to make the department more friendly to businesses...Shetty, 39, was confirmed unanimously by the Montgomery County Council Tuesday as the next procurement director. He will oversee an office that is responsible for working with businesses to acquire goods and services and its dealings with contractors. The county bought more than $1 billion in goods in services during fiscal 2018, which included everything from recycling materials to drug screening services...Council members were enthusiastic about Shetty’s new outlook on the county’s approach to procurement.“I spent a lot of time at the state level doing procurement… and I think the amount of times you talked about the lack of competition having a cost is encouraging,” said Council member Andrew Friedson, who previously worked in Comptroller Peter Franchot’s office as a senior policy adviser.

Safety Concerns Rekindled After Window Pane Falls Off Bethesda Building
February 21, 2019 - Sidewalks around a Bethesda office building have been ordered closed until inspectors can determine why at least one glass window pane broke loose and shattered on the pavement Monday afternoon. County Director of Permitting Services Diane Schwartz Jones said she is aware of three instances of windowpanes falling from the building since 2017, and county officials have ordered the blocks adjacent to the property closed until they are able to determine the cause and a solution. “If it’s a one-time occurrence, that can happen for any number of reasons … but clearly there’s more that needs to be done at this point,” she said. “I know it will be an inconvenience (to close the sidewalks), but I’d rather inconvenience people to keep them safe for a short time to really understand what’s going on here.”...Montgomery County Council District 1 representative Andrew Friedson, who represents Bethesda, called the falling window panes a “serious situation” and is pleased with the county’s quick response to Monday’s occurrence. “Regardless of where it is, having glass panes dropping from high buildings is just not an acceptable or safe situation,” Friedson said. “I hope DPS, the property owners and building engineers can resolve the situation as quickly as possible to make sure the tenants and pedestrians can utilize the space freely and without concern of extremely dangerous projectiles falling.”

County Council Committee Pushes To Keep Money for Metrorail Station Improvements
February 15, 2019 - A Montgomery County Council committee wants funding for station improvements at the Forest Glen and White Flint Metrorail stations to remain a priority in the county’s construction-projects budget. County Executive Marc Elrich last month  recommended  deferring $14.7 million from the White Flint and Forest Glen stations projects and pursuing funding from the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority, which operates the regional subway system. Elrich recommended delaying funding for Forest Glen by two years and deferring funding for White Flint beyond the six-year period that the Capital Improvements Program budget covers. But council Transportation and Environment committee members Tom Hucker, Hans Riemer, Evan Glass and Andrew Friedson indicated that they would not accept the Elrich’s amendments to the CIP budget, which the council is reviewing...Friedson, whose council district includes White Flint, said a lack of county funding for the White Flint entrance sends the wrong message to private sector companies that the county hopes to attract. “Symbols do matter and actions do matter,” he said.

International School of Music Opens New Location In Potomac
February 12, 2019 -  The Potomac community welcomes the International School of Music to their neighborhood with open arms! The grand opening of ISM's new Potomac Location at Cabin John Mall was a huge hit and over 300 people attended the event, joining the support of the Rockville Chamber of Commerce and Montgomery County Council Member, Andrew M. Friedson, who gave a warm welcome speech...The International School of Music, voted best for music instruction by Washington Families, offers one of the finest music programs to the greater DC community.  Founded in 2004, ISM's mission is to create extraordinary musical experiences that enrich lives and empower youth to become more confident, creative and empathetic human beings.  ISM offers music lessons in all instruments and voice to over 1,500 students of all ages, levels and abilities, in addition to its Early Childhood Music classes, chamber ensembles and Adult music program. With locations in  Bethesda and  Potomac, ISM is renowned for its world-class faculty of professional musicians who facilitate a unique combination of high quality music education and performance opportunities that shape and inspire young, well-versed musicians.

Capital Budget Plan Delays Funding for Metro Station Improvements
January 17, 2019 - Funding has been delayed for improvements at two Metrorail stations at opposite ends of the Red Line in Montgomery County. District 1 council member Andrew Friedson, who represents Bethesda, said he was concerned about the delay for the White Flint project, which would involve creating a tunnel from the station to the shopping, restaurant and residential center Pike & Rose, near Rockville Pike and Old Georgetown Road.“The county executive’s proposal suggests WMATA could pay for that. Committing to fund this is a critical priority for the district and also for transit,” Friedson said.Friedson said he was unsure whether WMATA would be willing to foot the bill for the two Metro station projects.“They’re [the two projects] connected because it’s a joint item, and they’re equally important to promoting Metro as the backbone of our transportation network,” he said.Friedson said he appreciates the budget constraints the county is under, but a number of the cuts in the proposed CIP “disproportionately” impact his district, including a $793,000 reduction in funding for pedestrian and bike safety improvements along Seven Locks Road between Montrose Road and Bradley Boulevard.The improvements are projected to cost $24.9 million, but funding has been delayed one year “due to affordability” according to the county executive’s amendment.“Those communities [in my district] have waited a significant period of time for these projects,” Friedson said.

Montgomery Officials Call on Metro To Restore Late Night Service
December 13, 2018 - More than 40 elected officials from Montgomery County are asking the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority to restore Metrorail service between midnight and 3 a.m. on weekends. In a letter sent Wednesday to Paul Wiedefeld, the chairman of the authority, the leaders said “our residents and businesses have now made sacrifices for two years, in order to provide ample time for track maintenance. It is now time to try and win back riders with a restoration of service hours…” The letter was signed by leaders including Montgomery’s county executive and mayors of Rockville and Takoma Park, and about 25 officials from neighboring Prince George’s County. Newly elected Montgomery County Council member Andrew Friedson, who represents District 1, said late night Metro service is key to nightlife in the county. “Late night service is critical for the service industry, the late night economy [and] for public safety,” he said Thursday morning after a breakfast meeting in North Bethesda.

Crews Mark Beginning of Chevy Chase Lake's Newest Project
December 13, 2018 - A swath of land with a rich history of entertainment and retail uses will soon be home to a mixed-use neighborhood incorporating shopping, transit and residences...Recently, the Chevy Chase Lake shopping center at the intersection was torn down to make way for the new 790,000-square-foot project...“People have entrusted our company with … the history of this property, the history of this community and the opportunity to take it to its next act, if you will,” said Tom Bozzuto, chairman of the Bozzuto Group. “If you think about it as a play that’s been going on for a century, and we have the opportunity not to change it, but to take it into the next stage.” Council member Andrew Friedson spoke at the ceremony and said developers have incorporated amenities critical in creating a “modern, livable, walkable and accessible community while also preserving the character of the community.” Thursday’s groundbreaking marked the start of the first phase of the mixed-use, transit-oriented development and will include construction of two of the buildings oriented around a neighborhood square.

New Montgomery County Council members talk segregation, accessible communities
December 6, 2018 - The newly formed 19th Montgomery County Council invited dozens of local media members to their headquarters on Thursday.  Representatives from over a dozen media outlets met with the new wave of county leadership, including first-time council members Gabe Albornoz, Will Jawando, Evan Glass and Andrew Friedson...Friedson ran on a platform of building more walkable communities and is on the planning and economic development committee."We have to focus on growing an economy that provides better jobs and higher wages and also livable walkable accessible communities that young families increasingly want, that workers increasingly want and that businesses are increasingly looking for."

Friedson Takes Walking Tour of Downtown Bethesda
December 5, 2018 - New Montgomery County Council member Andrew Friedson was joined by 20 government officials, business leaders and other community stakeholders Wednesday morning for a listening tour, with the goal of determining the most immediate quality-of-life issues facing Bethesda’s central business district...It was the third day on the job for Friedson, a Bethesda resident. At various points throughout the morning, he stopped to take note of intersections with inadequate pedestrian crosswalks and chatted with group members about upcoming business plans for the area such as the opening of the new Marriott headquarters in 2022. Asked by Bethesda Beat about his short-term goals for the downtown area, Friedson said pedestrian safety was a priority. “There is a comprehensive list of broad changes we could make in this urban environment, particularly when it comes to making things safer for pedestrians and bikers and safe, convenient, high quality mobility access,” he said.