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Health & Fitness

Too Few Participate in Our 'Change Community'

By Woody Brosnan

The recent vote by the Montgomery County Council to raise the minimum wage to the highest in the land proves once again that we live in a “change community.”

Rightly or wrongly, Montgomery County has been in the lead on many national issues, from banning the use of Trans fat in restaurants to protecting workers no matter what their gender identity.

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On more local matters, I have seen how small groups can save an historic building, impact zoning regulations or even keep a golf course (Sligo Creek) from closing.

But the sad fact is that we have far too few participants in the change community.

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Just over half of the county’s registered voters turned out for the general election 2010. About 18 per cent voted in the primary, which because of the dominance of the Democratic Party locally, really decides who is going to be elected county executive and who will sit on the Council. That was the lowest percentage of any county in the state.

Many of our neighborhood civic associations struggle to maintain leadership, membership and even existence. Attendance at monthly meetings of activist groups can usually be counted in the handfuls.

One factor may an overly-squeamish interpretation of the Hatch Act by our many federal employees. The Hatch Act bars federal employees from running as a Democrat or Republican in a partisan election or raising funds for a candidate for a partisan office but does not bar other types of campaign activity or participation in civic issues. Or it may just be that on the door step of D.C. that folks care more about the big federal issues than the local ones.

But aside from issues of war and peace most change begins at the local or state level. Even universal health care started in Massachusetts. And with the Congress gridlocked on so many issues we are seeing local and state governments take the lead on climate change, marriage equality, gun safety and many other issues.

It doesn’t take that much time to make a difference. Recently, in my North Woodside neighborhood, a few residents concerned about our dwindling tree canopy walked the neighborhood one afternoon marking houses eligible for free county street trees and leaving information with the residents about how to apply.  

So this is a plea to you to be part of the change.

Start by registering with the party of your choice and circling the June 24 primary date on your calendar.

Then join your local neighborhood list serve and community association. Or the PTA.

If the neighborhood is not your primary interest try one of the many local issue groups like Safe Silver Spring, Friends of Sligo Creek, Conservation Montgomery, One Montgomery, Action Committee for Transit, the Sligo Creek Golf Association, Neighborhood Montgomery, Impact Silver Spring, Silver Spring Trails, or Silver Spring Town Center. If you are a youth or interested in working with youths try Arts on the Block, the Gandhi Brigade or Community Bridges.

Many of those groups are registered charities and could use donations too.

And the county maintains a list of advisory boards and commissions to which you can apply for appointment at http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/apps/opi/bcc/list.

“Silver Spring Neighborhoods” is a publication of the Presidents' Council of Silver Spring Civic Associations (PREZCO), a group of neighborhood Silver Spring civic groups that meet regularly to discuss community issues.

Silver Spring Neighborhoods” welcomes articles of interest from all members of the Silver Spring community.

For more information about PREZCO or "Silver Spring Neighborhoods," email silverspringblog@gmail.com

Disclaimer: The purpose of this blog is to inform Silver Spring residents about important events and issues affecting them.  Any views expressed represent those of the author(s) and not necessarily all representatives of the Presidents’ Council of Silver Spring Civic Associations.

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