Dear Neighbors:
As we approach the end of the year, I’d like to express my hope that -- despite the many challenges posed by COVID-19 -- everyone has an enjoyable holiday season and a happy New Year. The next City Council meeting will be on January 12. Meanwhile, I’m passing along some important updates and announcements in this final blog post of the year. Let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing, talking to, and hearing from Ward One residents in 2022.
COVID UPDATE
The Takoma Park COVID-19 Data Dashboard has been updated as of Friday, December 10: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=42a594afc3ad4c59ba7b1ca9965b7837. For key data points and other information highlighted by City staff see the end of this blog.
Important COVID resources: Vaccines for children ages 5 - 11: https://takomaparkmd.gov/news-alert/covid-19-vaccines-are-now-available-for-children-aged-5-11/; vaccines for those who are 12 and older: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/vaccine/ or State Vaccine Website; Testing: Montgomery County Testing Sites; Food aid: Submit an online request for help with food resources or call 240-777-0311. And for information on County Rental Assistance: https://takomaparkmd.gov/public-notices/montgomery-county-residents-can-get-up-to-12000-for-rental-assistance/. Under the rental assistance program, residents may be eligible for up to $12,000. The link includes details on this program and other County resources for those facing challenges in paying their rent and/or facing eviction.
AFSCME Negotiations Update: https://takomaparkmd.gov/news-alert/afscme-local-3399-and-the-city-of-takoma-park-reach-agreement-on-compensation/. I’m pleased an agreement has been reached concerning compensation for City workers. All employees will be receiving a 3 percent raise retroactive to July 1, plus a $2,500 one-time bonus this month. In addition, those who are eligible for Federal ARPA funds as front-line workers will get a separate lump sum payment of $3,400. As noted previously, the findings of the City’s compensation study should become available in the first quarter of 2022, and those results may lead to further changes in compensation. I’m glad this agreement recognizes the many valuable contributions made by City employees over the past year and a half or so in the response to the pandemic, and in particular the very important work done by our front-line workers.
Ward Redistricting: As outlined previously, Takoma Park will be redrawing its Ward boundaries, based on population changes as determined by the 2020 Census. The City has contracted with FLO Dynamics, assisted by Bloom Planning, to help develop revisions to the existing Ward boundaries. The current plan is to finalize the new maps toward the end of January. FLO Dynamics has developed 5 map options, which aim at meeting the various redistricting criteria established by the City Council in this resolution: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/resolutions/2021/resolution-2021-32.pdf.
You can see the 5 maps and related demographic material here: https://takomaparkmd.gov/initiatives/project-directory/redistricting/. Note these are not the only possible options. Taking into account residents’ comments, the Council can revise these maps and/or produce our own. So I encourage residents to treat the maps as first drafts (I’m continuing to review them and considering various alternative options). You should also feel free to come up with your own revised Ward borders, using the modeling tool that's included with the maps.
The draft maps were prepared without splitting up Census blocks (the smallest Census Bureau geographical areas). That approach is considered to be a best practice in redistricting, because it ensures the most accurate demographic information is used.But for us it also means some streets — where both sides have been in a single Ward, such as parts of Philadelphia and Carroll Aves. — could be divided, with each side of such streets ending up in different Wards. Some other potential Ward One changes include splitting up the Old Town commercial area into two Wards, shifting some or all of the Hodges Heights area out of Ward One, and potentially adding some areas around Takoma Junction to Ward One.
My preference would be to keep Ward One’s boundaries as close to the current borders as possible, but some changes are inevitable. I would welcome feedback and recommendations on the above points, and other thoughts about how best to draw the new borders. If there are sections of Ward One or other parts of the City which you believe need to stay together, please let me know. That said, I’m not “assigning homework” which needs to be done before the end of the month -- it will be fine if I hear from residents about redistricting after the New Year.
Year-End Statement by Mayor Stewart: https://takomaparkmd.gov/public-notices/new-beginnings-a-message-from-takoma-park-mayor-kate-stewart/. I thought residents would be interested in this message from the Mayor summarizing some key developments and achievements from 2021.
Public Works Department scheduling information: The City announced recently that, due to staffing shortages, the schedule for trash pick-up and the like may be affected in the coming weeks. Based on what I’ve heard from the Department, it appears the most likely impact would be trash is picked up on the regularly scheduled days, but later in the day than usual. So for now residents should plan to continue putting out their trash on the normal days.
Cocoa Crawl, Saturday, December 18, 1:00 - 4:00 PM: https://mainstreettakoma.org/featured-events/takoma-cocoa-crawl/. Main Street Takoma is again organizing this popular annual Old Town event.
Toy Drive Through December 20: https://takomaparkmd.gov/public-notices/we-are-accepting-donations-for-the-2021-toy-drive/. The toy drive has been extended through Monday.
Small Things Matter Visit from Santa Claus: Sunday, December 19, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM: STM will be hosting a free meet and greet with Santa in the Laurel Avenue Streetery. You’ll be able to take your own socially distanced photos with Santa. Please wear a mask.
Police Vacant House Check Program: https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/police/services-and-programs/vacant-house-check-program/. If you’ll be out of town for at least 4 days, you can register with the Police Department to have your property checked daily while you’re away.
Tree Trimming/Removal Work: City contractors and Pepco will each be starting up another round of tree trimming and removals before the end of the year. Details on both efforts can be found in these links:
Continuation of COVID Update
As mentioned above, the following are additional COVID-related points noted by City staff.
Early studies on the Omicron variant have begun to come out this week. These data are preliminary, some from small studies, and have not yet undergone peer review, but they may still provide some information about what to expect from the variant. We will continue to provide information as it becomes available:
The World Health Organization has announced that preliminary data suggests the Omicron variant is more transmissible than previous variants. This variant causes not only reinfections, avoidance to vaccines but also milder cases of COVID-19 than the Delta variant. It is important to keep in mind that even milder cases can be extremely risky for the elderly, whose risk of death due to COVID-19 is many times higher than younger residents.
A study from South Africa and one from Germany suggest that the ability of the Pfizer vaccine to prevent infection by the Omicron variant is significantly lower than other vaccines; the vaccines remained effective at stopping hospitalization or death from the variant. Additionally, the study in Germany found that getting a booster shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine restored the effectiveness of the vaccines at preventing infection against the Omicron variant in the short-term. Residents eligible for the boosters are encouraged to get them, and unvaccinated residents are encouraged to get vaccinated.
The FDA has now authorized the use of Pfizer vaccine boosters for 16 and 17 year olds. All people over 18 continue to be eligible for the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine booster if they received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago, or their second Pfizer/Moderna shot at least 6 months ago.
Data on cases is only current through December 3, 2021 due to a cyberattack on the Maryland Department of Health. Data on vaccination rates is current through December 8, 2021:
Since the previous week, the City's rate of new cases of COVID-19 remained stable. Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 in Montgomery County are up 30% in the last 14 days, and the County's test positivity rate is up 3% in the same timeframe.
Since last week, the at least partially vaccinated rate for the 20912 zip code increased 0.62% to 70.9%, and the fully vaccinated rate increased 1.1% to 61.9%.
There were no new deaths due to COVID-19 in the 20912 zip code since last week, leaving the zip code's total at 42 since the start of the pandemic.
Please be in touch with questions/comments about anything in this blog. Happy Holidays to all!
Peter Kovar, Takoma Park City Council, Ward One
240-319-6281; www.councilmemberkovar.com
(He, Him, His)
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