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June 9 - Washington Post
After a toddler fatally fell from a third-floor window, his community did more than mourn
Excerpt: This week, Montgomery County lawmakers gathered with community activists and Ezechiel's family to sign a bill that ensured a long legacy for a child whose life was too short. The bill's name: "Ezechiel's Law." The law, which was sponsored by Montgomery County Council President Tom Hucker (D-District 5), promises to help low-income and immigrant families in the area, many of whom live in aging apartment buildings.
June 8 - Bethesda Beat
Council president wants county to settle, not fight, suit alleging police harassment of 5-year-old boy
Excerpt: "I think we should settle the lawsuit. These people were harmed, and they were harmed by our officers," Hucker said. "... We can't change the past, but we should try what we can to make them whole."
June 5 - WAMU
The Politics Hour: June 4, 2021
Excerpt: It's been a year since racial justice protests erupted across the nation, including our region. Montgomery County Council President Tom Hucker (D-District 5) talks about where police reform stands in the county. We'll get his thoughts on Maryland's decision to end its participation in federal unemployment benefits. And as more candidates enter the races for county executive and county council, we'll see if Hucker has made any decision on whether he'll seek reelection.
May 28 - WUSA9
Mask mandate, capacity limits, social distancing requirements lifted in Montgomery County
"We are grateful to all our residents who have stepped up to get vaccinate to protect themselves, their loved ones, and our community," said Council President Tom Hucker.
May 27 - WTOP News
Montgomery Co. Council gives final approval to budget with eye toward pandemic recovery
Excerpt: "It's always difficult to put together a budget of this scale and complexity," said Council President Tom Hucker. Referencing the pandemic, he added that the typical challenges were exacerbated by impacts of the coronavirus outbreak. "We've lived through the worst public health and economic crisis in a century."
May 18 - Washington Post
Montgomery County Council introduces bills on police transparency, training
Excerpt: Hucker said he has been frustrated and embarassed by how long it took for ocunty officials to understand what had happened during the incident. His bill, he said, strives to "close the loopholes" in the county's body-worn camera policy by requiring internal investigators to do random checks of recordings and to review footage whenever certain types of officer conduct are being investigated, including when officers use force against civilians.
April 16 - Washington Post
The pandemic changed the workday, but will transit riders return?
Excerpt: A metro survey found that 18 percent of its rail customers continued to ride during stay-at-home orders, while nearly half of Metrobus customers kept riding, often for work. We also, within that universe of bus ridership, found that our bus routes that serve our lowest-income neighborhoods experienced even less of a drop," said Montomery County Council President Tom Hucker (D-District 5).
April 13 - Bethesda Beat
Brown, Hucker say more transit needed for Beltway expansion
Excerpt: "We need a balanced approach, as the congressman said. We need, not only targeted road improvments, but we need a bi investment in transit that is widely popular with the public and consistent with our climate and racial equity goals," Huckre said. "We need transportation and management."
April 9 - ABC7 News
Montgomery Co. Council approves 'Window Safety Act', aims to protect kids & prevent falls
Excerpt: "It's high time we put a protection like this in place," Hucker said, referring to Montgomery County's just-approved legislation. The 'Window Safety Act' requires landlords to install and maintain window guards in any apartment that's home to children under the age of 10, at no cost to the tenant.
March 23 - DCist
Montgomery County Is Reimagining How Police Officers Respond To Mental Health Crises
"Often, police officers get the mental health training, but they're not trained social workers. Very often that can lead to tragedy," Hucker told DCist/WAMU. "In a county like Montgomery County, the only trained professional we have to send to our residents when they're in a behavioral health crisis shouldn't be an armed police officer; it ought to be a trained mental health professional."
March 9 - NPR
Residents Allege Racial Discrimination At Some Maryland Vaccination Sites
Excerpt: "The Council president called for a unified vaccine preregistration system for all facilities across the state, instead of the current patchwork that requires vaccine seekers to preregister with multiple locations. He also reiterated his calls for a mass vaccination facility in Montgomery County, saying the current system has failed to distribute shots equitably across the state's most populous jurisdiction."
Feb. 9 - Washington Post
Montgomery questions state process for vaccine distribution; registration problem brings confusion in Virginia
Excerpt: County lawmakers asked why Maryland had allocated 1,000 fewer doses of vaccine to the county health department this week compared with last week. Council President Tom Hucker (D-District 5) said it was "unconscionable" for the state to provide more doses of vaccine per capita to small, rural counties than to large, metropolitan jurisdictions.
Feb. 2 - My MC Media
Hucker Calls for Increased Relief Payments to Marylanders
Excerpt: "Montgomery County Council President Tom Hucker spoke at a media briefing on Monday urging the Maryland House of Delegates to increase the state's coronavirus relief funding."
Jan. 27 - Baltimore Sun
Maryland senators want to add $520M to Gov. Hogan's $1B pandemic financial aid proposal
Excerpt: Montgomery County Council President Tom Hucker, who organized a "Maryland United COVID Relief Now" coalition that's been calling for more aid, said the Senate's proposal is "a vast improvement on the governor's package."
Jan. 11 - WMAR
Maryland leaders call on Gov. Hogan to release rainy day funds during COVID-19 emergency
Excerpt: "The State has ample resources and a well-funded Rainy Day Fund, saved specifically for an economic crisis just like this one. And the State doesn't just have funds. It has a responsibility to use our tax dollars properly to relieve suffering for our residents and our small businesses," said Tom Hucker, Montgomery County Council President.
Dec. 23 - WTOP
Appeals made for Md. governor to release rainy day funds for COVID-19 relief
Excerpt: "It's not just the humane thing to do, it's the fiscally conservative, fiscally responsible thing to do to keep a business afloat and to keep workers employed," Hucker said. "Nobody is going to replace that business and rehire those workers in this kind of environment. It makes much more sense and it's more economically sound to just keep them going."
Dec. 1 - Washington Post
Tom Hucker elected president of Montgomery County Council
Excerpt: Hucker said the coronavirus, while devastating, has pushed officials to solve long-standing problems in new ways. "We've changed more in one year than we ever thought possible," he said in his acceptance speech. "If we continue to challenge our old assumptions, we can build a county that's healthier, more equitable and more sustainable in just one year."
Nov. 24 - Washington Post
Maryland, Purple Line firms reach $250 million deal to keep project moving
Excerpt: "I think, overall, it's going to be a relief to people," Hucker said of the settlement. "Both residents and businesses have just wanted some assurances that this enormously important project would continue." Best of all, Hucker said, the additional $250 million is a fraction of the $800 million that PLTP had sought.
Nov. 19 - Bethesda Beat
Bill would make county police report more data on 'stop and frisks,' searches
Excerpt: "We ought to be making policy based on data and not based on anecdotes," he said. "This will lead the public to have more confidence in our policymaking in this area — which is important in every area, but it's particularly important in law enforcement and policing matters where there's life or death and issues of individual freedom."
Oct. 14 - WTOP
New FLASH bus line aims to help speed commutes on eastern side of Montgomery Co.
Excerpt: "We owe this to east county," said Tom Hucker, the county council's vice president. "[These] residents deserve first-class transit, just like those who live within walking distance of a Metro station."
Oct. 9 - Maryland Matters
MDOT Takes Over Rail Contracts From Purple Line Contractors
Excerpt: Montgomery County Councilmember Tom Hucker (D) called MDOT's assumption of contracts "welcome news" and "further evidence of momentum."
Sept. 4 - Washington Post
Opinion: Montgomery County is committed to rethinking responses to mental health crises
Excerpt: "We're proud of the leadership Montgomery County is showing, and we hope others will follow our lead. Especially in this uncertain time, we must prioritize valuable public dollars to identify, treat and support mental health services. A robust crisis response system is a major way to rebuild public confidence and reimagine public safety."
Aug. 29 - WTOP
Comment period for I-495/I-270 study extended until November
Excerpt: "It makes no sense to go forward with a project that was always sort of a 1970s, 1980s approach to transportation congestion," Hucker said, who added that congestion is significantly down on the interstate thanks to the pandemic.
July 31 - Baltimore Sun
Maryland needs to close 'Charleston' gun loophole | COMMENTARY
Excerpt: "We must protect the safety of all Marylanders and ensure that our background check process works as intended so that prohibited purchasers can't have access to firearms in the event that background checks are delayed. The state legislature must take action to close this loophole."
June 25– WJLA
Should social workers respond to mental health 911 calls? Montgomery councilman says yes.
Excerpt: "The community is demanding changes. And there has never been a better time to establish a robust system of care in which well-trained, trauma-informed, compassionate, unarmed professionals are the first point of contact for residents in psychological and emotional distress," Hucker wrote.
June 24– The Washington Post
Purple Line consortium says it will dissolve public-private partnership with state if it can't reach a deal on cost overruns
Excerpt: "It's kind of shocking that [the state] has allowed it to get to this point," Hucker said. "And it's unconscionable for PLTP to walk away at this advanced stage. . . . If there's still room to negotiate, that would be good news, but this sounds pretty final."
June 23– NBC4
Montgomery County May Have Social Workers Respond to Some 911 Calls
Excerpt: "The fact is, here in Silver Spring, we've had three black men killed by police officers in my district in the last several years, all of whom were probably experiencing a psychological crisis," Hucker said.
June 23– Montgomery Community Media
Council Considers Hiring Behavioral Health Professionals to Serve with Police
Excerpt: "This is a start," Hucker said, adding that more research needs to be done in this area.
June 23– DCist
Montgomery County Wants To Boost Its Mental Health Crisis Unit By Nearly $600,000
Excerpt: "I don't believe at all that one special appropriation or one policy is going to single-handedly resolve community policing problems or dismantle institutional racism," Hucker told the council Tuesday. "It's very much a start on how we reimagine public safety moving forward."
June 22– Bethesda Beat
County puts new focus on Vision Zero with 10-year strategy to end traffic deaths
Excerpt: "The COVID-19 pandemic and the renewed calls for racial justice make a very strong case for Vision Zero and the principle that our roads need to be safe for everyone, particularly for those who can't afford a car or choose not to drive," Hucker said.
County executive looks to launch task force to audit police department
Excerpt: Council Vice President Tom Hucker said Monday that he believes 250 people applied to serve on the commission.
Montgomery exec asks for suggestions on budget cuts to help with pandemic shortfalls
Excerpt: Several other lawmakers, including … council Vice President Tom Hucker (D-District 5), said they also support rolling back the program.
June 18– Fox5
Montgomery County wants to turn pedestrian shortcuts into actual sidewalks
Excerpt: "You want to build public infrastructure based on what people need," Hucker explained, "and a lot of it in Montgomery County of course was created decades ago, and there's communities that grow and there's communities that shrink over time, and the infrastructure doesn't always keep up."
June 16– WTOP
Local leaders working to 'fix policing in Maryland'
Excerpt: "I will say I'm a little nervous just about the exception that allows the use of chokeholds if the officer believes it is necessary because my colleagues on the public safety committee know that it's hard to disprove what a police officer believes in the middle of a crisis," Hucker said.
Protesters advocate defunding the police at rally in Silver Spring
Excerpt: During separate virtual forums last week, County Council Member Tom Hucker and County Executive Marc Elrich said they think there needs to be a greater emphasis on funding for social services, although neither said they think the police should be defunded.
Silver Spring, Rockville, Takoma Park close streets to allow for expanded outdoor seating
Excerpt: Council Member Tom Hucker's office worked with the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation, the Silver Spring Regional Services Office and the Silver Spring Urban District to set up Streetdine.
Part of Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring to Close for Outdoor Dining
Excerpt: "I'm grateful for this unique opportunity to create a more dynamic space for diners to go out with their families and enjoy downtown Silver Spring's excellent selection of food and drink options in a safe, socially distanced way," Hucker wrote in a news release.
June 11– Source of the Spring
Part of Georgia Avenue Will Close Temporarily to Allow Outdoor Dining
Excerpt: "I encourage residents to come out, patronize these local businesses and enjoy the opportunity to eat outside in a shared space," Hucker said.
June 9– Bethesda Beat
County weighs calls for police 'defunding' against need for social services
Excerpt: "We need to, as a priority, invest in the mental health services that we need, the public education that we need and affordable housing that we need. … If we adequately invested in the needs in those other areas, I think we would need a lot less investment in public safety," Hucker said.
May 22– Bethesda Beat
State still negotiating with Purple Line contractors to keep them on the job
Excerpt: "I'm a little surprised that we hadn't heard about that from you and been briefed before we got to that point," Hucker said to Slater. "You know how important this project is to our whole region. You and we have all spent a huge amount of time on it. It would be appalling to see this get stalled this summer after three years of construction. … Abandonment of a project like this would be unprecedented in our county's history."
May 21– WTOP
Daily talks underway in hopes of preventing Purple Line builders from quitting
Excerpt: "It was distressing and felt unprofessional to find out about it from reporters, rather than from you all," Council Vice President Tom Hucker told Slater and Maryland Transit Administrator Kevin Quinn.
'Unacceptable': Montgomery Co. critical of Md.'s failure to deliver timely absentee ballots
Excerpt: Council Vice President Tom Hucker wrote the issues are "increasing public anxiety and eroding confidence in our elections."
May 15– WJLA
Local 1994 to protest outside Montgomery County Councilman Hans Riemer's Takoma Park home
Excerpt: "Our workforce is the best asset that we have during a crisis," Hucker told his council colleagues. "They're on the frontlines performing the essential services and that can't just be a slogan. Many of them are terrified of getting this virus. Many of them do not want to go to work. Many of them would love to be sitting on a Zoom call rather than driving a bus or out being a social worker treating sick patients, but in fact, they have to go to work because we said they're essential workers."
Council supports $5.9B budget after about $69 million in cuts
Excerpt: Hucker said the capital projects should be revisited in the fall.
Council votes no on employee raises next year due to budget shortfalls
Excerpt: "Our employees are the best asset we have during a crisis. … They have to go to work because we said they're essential workers. That can't just be a slogan. That's a responsibility we put on them. It's also a responsibility on us to treat them like they're essential and to value them and to pay them like they're essential," Hucker said.
May 8 – Bethesda Beat
County reopens some of its outdoor amenities
Excerpt: Council Vice President Tom Hucker asked Dr. Earl Stoddard, executive director of the county's Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, if there was dangerous mixed messaging in the state's decision to close schools for the rest of the academic year but open recreational activities.
May 4 – Fox5
Builders set to leave Purple Line Rail project
Excerpt: "They want to be compensated for their delays, I've got to believe that is going to be worked out. I hope it gets worked out without any additional cost to state taxpayers," Hucker said.
Purple Line contractors say they will leave the job because of delays, no cost relief
Excerpt: "Certainly, our hope is that [Hogan] will do what it takes to keep the project moving forward," Hucker said. "There has been far too much drama in this project. There has been too many delays and cost overruns."
County Council supports 6% water, sewer rate increase for WSSC
Excerpt: "I'm very concerned about what we're going to see during a looming, historical economic recession that we're entering," Hucker said.
April 29 – The Washington Post
Maryland orders coronavirus tests for all patients, staff at nursing homes, where 516 have died
Excerpt: Montgomery County Council Vice President Tom Hucker (D-District 5) said he has found it difficult to get information on what the state strike teams have found during site visits and what they are doing to assist facilities.
April 28 – WJLA
Data shows 51 percent of COVID-19 deaths in Maryland are linked to elderly care facilities
Excerpt: "Good move by @GovLarryHogan & @MDHealthDept to share info on COVID cases/deaths at nursing homes," Councilmember Hucker wrote, also on Twitter. "We need the same info for group homes. Marylanders have a right to know raw data w/o violating privacy. And we can't make good policy in the dark."
April 27 – The Tide
MCPS Virtual Student Town Hall features eight student activism groups
Excerpt: "Even during the current social distancing period, youth groups have continued to move ahead," said Hucker.
April 24 – Bethesda Beat
County officials cap residential rent increases at 2.6% during pandemic
Excerpt: "The longer the recession continues, the more money this bill will cost without amending," Hucker said. "Making policy when we're blind to the cost of what we're doing is not a recipe for good policy, especially when we're taking action without a fiscal analysis."
April 21 – WUSA
Montgomery County Council approves extra $5 million for restaurants and retail. Here's who will be getting it
Excerpt: "Not only are they the creators of so many jobs… but they have their whole life savings at risk," Councilman Tom Hucker said. "They're trying to pay their mortgage. They're trying to keep their family afloat… and they don't have any income coming in at all, and it's not their fault."
April 20 – Montgomery Community Media
Council Asks State to Review Gun Sales Precautions
Excerpt: Council Vice President Tom Hucker explained the impetus for the letter, which was sent to Gov. Larry Hogan, arose after he saw a photo circulating on social media of "long lines out the door and around the block" at Atlantic Guns on Bonifant Street in Silver Spring soon after restrictions about social distancing were put in place.
April 18 – WTOP
In midst of pandemic, opposition group considers whether Beltway Expansion is necessary
Excerpt: "This group should be thinking about as part of its public messaging making the case that why are we moving forward with this not only when we have a climate crisis, and they'll say carbon emissions are down post COVID or during this," Hucker said. "But we're having a huge increase in telecommuting and the world of the future, in the very immediate future, is going to probably see much more telecommuting among white collar workers who have that option."
April 17 – Patch
$600M Tax Revenue Shortfall Possible, Tax Hike Criticized
Excerpt: "We weren't wild about the budget that was sent over — being fair — and knowing that it was put together built on assumptions that are no longer the case," Hucker said. "I think that we largely agree on this. But having our staff work with the executive branch staff is one thing, asking the executive to work with us to find savings in this unprecedented time and to direct his staff to find savings and give them a target to find savings, I think is the right thing to ask for as well."
Montgomery County Council asks Gov. Hogan for additional safeguards for gun stores
Excerpt: In the letter organized by Montgomery County Vice President Tom Hucker, county leaders raise important safety issues and urge the extension of the process for conducting background checks during the state of emergency.
April 15 – The Forward
Virus outbreak in black-Jewish Baltimore neighborhood leads to anti-Semitic blame game
Excerpt: In the Montgomery County suburbs of Washington, D.C., for example, the vice president of the county council, Tom Hucker, told radio station WAMU that the most affected ZIP Codes in his area were home to large Jewish populations. He specifically mentioned elderly Jews, who are at greater risk of infection, and Orthodox Jews, who are likelier to live more densely due to the religious requirement of being within walking distance of a synagogue.
County Council members promise no tax hike
Excerpt: "No one should be under the illusion that there should be increased taxes in the county," Hucker said. "There's a lot of people who are hurting and a property tax increase would be exactly the wrong message right now."
April 13 – Fox5
Health officials caution reactions as Maryland now include coronavirus by zip code
Excerpt: "They also shouldn't draw a conclusion, 'Oh I live in 20904 and I'm at greater risk.' You're not. It's just a big place. And remember, these are only the cases we know about. We don't know if I have it or my neighbor has it or my neighbor's neighbor has it because we all can have this virus without having the symptoms," said Hucker.
April 12 – WAMU
New Coronavirus Data In Maryland Tracks Cases By ZIP Code — And Underscores Racial Disparities
Excerpt: "It's troubling that the ZIP codes with the highest number of cases are largely black and brown ZIP codes in Silver Spring," said Tom Hucker, Montgomery County Council vice president. "And obviously the apex is still coming."
April 9 – Bethesda Beat
State hopes to get more funding for grants, loans
Excerpt: "We're all doing the best we can under very difficult circumstances and trying to stand up government relief programs at the county and state and federal levels that are responsive to your needs," Hucker said. "We develop much better policy when we hear directly from you and know what you need."
Montgomery County COVID-19 cases could peak in late April, health official says
Excerpt: County Council Member Tom Hucker said during the town hall meeting, which he hosted, that he and other council members plan to send a letter to state officials on Tuesday requesting that patients' demographic information — such as race and ethnicity — be released publicly.
April 6 – WJLA
Montgomery County hosts virtual town hall focused on COVID-19 concerns
Excerpt: "We have both a public health crisis and an economic meltdown, and we're living at a time that requires really unusual communication and an emphasis on new methods of communication," said Hucker. "Everyone is anxious, everyone is dealing with a new reality."
March 31 – Bethesda Beat
Council approves $20 million relief fund to give small businesses, nonprofits grants
Excerpt: "They're terrified right now. They're giving up on dreams they've had for their whole life," Hucker said. "They don't know how they're going to keep their business open or ever reopen."
March 31 – Washington Business Journal
Montgomery County to send cash to businesses, hospitals coping with coronavirus
Excerpt: A quarter of the funding pool will be reserved for restaurants and retailers, a change advanced by Councilman Tom Hucker, D-Silver Spring, to reach businesses that have been forced to shut down after Gov. Larry Hogan's stay-at-home order.
County Council likely to approve $20M relief fund for small businesses
Excerpt: "I think we should consider $50,000, so more people could apply and receive a grant even if we allow in there the ability for people to reapply for a grant, if any deserving recipients need more than $50,000," Hucker said.
March 24 – WUSA
Here are a few small businesses considered 'essential' during coronavirus
Excerpt: "This is the perfect time for the federal government to ride to the rescue and keep all our businesses open, but they haven't done that yet," Montgomery County Councilmember Tom Hucker said.
March 24 – WAMU
As Pandemic Drags On, Local Businesses Say They Need Government Help — And Soon
Excerpt: "They're going to get help paying their rent, keeping their employees around, and paying for their ongoing operating expenses like utilities that don't go away, even when you're closed," says Council member Tom Hucker.
County expediting bill with $20M in emergency grants for small businesses, nonprofits
Excerpt: Hucker said Hogan's action on making small business grants available was good, but he hopes it will be expanded since $10,000 "doesn't go very far. … This may go to their rent and utility payment, but not much farther. The county has stepped forward with timely and necessary support for our small businesses at such a difficult time."
March 24 – The Washington Post
Metro to close 19 stations indefinitely to limit employees' exposure to coronavirus
Excerpt: "I don't fault Metro," said Hucker, chair of the council's transportation committee. "I think Metro is doing the best it can under unprecedented circumstances."
March 17 – Patch
Montgomery Tax Hike During Coronavirus Outbreak Faces Opposition
Excerpt: The only council member who didn't publicly push back on Elrich's proposed tax hike is Tom Hucker (D). Hucker, the council's vice president, said he wanted to take more time to read the FY 2021 operating budget recommendation before commenting on it.
Elrich calls for property tax hike in budget proposal
Excerpt: "The proposed budget is 831 pages long, so the first thing is I like to read the whole thing and hear from the public before reacting to it," Hucker said.
Montgomery residents push back on proposed changes to bus routes
Excerpt: "We'll have to have vigorous debate about this," Hucker said, "and they'll have to make the case for the changes."
March 13 – Montgomery Community Media
Ride On Will Offer Temporary Free Bus Services
Excerpt: Montgomery County Councilmember Tom Hucker shared the news on Twitter, explaining that passengers will board via the rear door in order to limit interactions between passengers and bus operators. The front doors will only be used for the disabled who need a lift to get inside the bus.
March 13 – WDVM
Highway widening projects could mean rate increases for water customers
Excerpt: "Any given day, they have thousands of people in our area that are facing disconnection, or their accounts are in arrears or whatever, those people can't afford two thousand dollars more on their water bill," Hucker said.
Moving pipes to add toll lanes to Beltway, I-270 will cost up to $2 billion, WSSC Water says
Excerpt: "It's highly disappointing that we're finding out about this at the 11th hour, when the [first contract] solicitation is about to go out," Hucker said.
'We are struggling' | Local governments say they are already outpaced by the coronavirus
Excerpt: "We are struggling to get our arms around the problem — it's a real challenge," Hucker said. "It's a challenge for all of our regional partners and governments around the Washington region."
New Legislation Would Ease Burden of Child Care Costs for Employees
Excerpt: Council President Sidney Katz and councilmembers Andrew Friedson, Hans Reimer, and Tom Hucker are cosponsors.
March 9 – Voice of America
Coronavirus Treatment Urged for Immigrants Regardless of Legal Status
Excerpt: County Council Vice President Tom Hucker recently said he was especially worried about transmission of the virus within the county's large immigrant population. Hucker stressed that it is "very important that these folks know in Montgomery County they're safe, and they should seek medical attention right away if they have symptoms."
March 6 – The Washington Post
Coronavirus in Maryland: Three Montgomery County residents contracted the virus
Excerpt: "We have a very diverse population of undocumented residents who have understandable fears now of interacting with government agencies," said Hucker, whose district includes densely populated Silver Spring.
March 4 – WTOP
How prepared is Montgomery Co. for coronavirus?
Excerpt: Councilmember Tom Hucker noted that some county operations have not changed. One example is "social distancing," where in-person meetings are replaced with teleconferencing.
March 3 – Source of the Spring
Proposed Montgomery County Metrobus Cuts Draw Major Pushback
Excerpt: "The Montgomery County Council has set ambitious goals to reduce our carbon pollution, to reduce our traffic congestion, to drive our economic development and to address racial inequities. And these proposed cuts directly undercut our ability to reach each of those four goals," Hucker said.
March 3 – Bethesda Beat
Transit supporters speak up to save bus service
Excerpt: Montgomery County Council Members Evan Glass, Tom Hucker and Hans Riemer led Monday's community meeting.
Montgomery Co. battles to preserve Metrobus service
Excerpt: Transportation and environment committee chair Tom Hucker warned the route changes would have "a severe negative impact" on riders.
March 2 – WJLA
Young people oppose Metro's proposal to cut bus services in Montgomery County
Excerpt: "They should address redundancies, they should also cut their high priced consultants that they hire all the time and contractors, they should look at management," Hucker said. "They should really put all their resources into providing high-quality bus service."
March 2 – NBC4
Montgomery County Residents Invited to Weigh in on Metrobus Cuts
Excerpt: "The WMATA General Manager's proposed bus cuts would have a severe negative impact on riders, and we want to make sure residents have their voice heard before the board makes their decision on the proposal," Hucker said.
Feb. 26 – WDVM
New bill requires AC units for all rental properties in Montgomery County
Excerpt: "We require landlords to provide heat, but no requirement for air conditioning because our house code was written before climate change became a life-threatening issue," Hucker said.
Feb. 26 – Bethesda Beat
Bill requiring air conditioning at Montgomery rental units approved
Excerpt: Hucker introduced the bill last year to protect residents without air conditioning from the heat during summer months.
Bill calls for $500 fine for intentionally releasing a balloon into the air
Excerpt: "The main problem is that they [balloons] really endanger our precious wildlife. They can drift hundreds of miles in Maryland, we've found," Hucker said.
Feb. 25 – Fox5
Balloon ban bill to be introduced Tuesday
Excerpt: "We want to get the word out that it's really bad for wildlife, it's advertised littering and people should just come up with another way to celebrate," Hucker said.
Feb. 25 – Montgomery Community Media
Council Vice President Hucker Introduces Balloon Ban Bill
Excerpt: "I'm grateful for the support of our wonderful community partners who have worked with us on this important legislation. Together, we can make a real impact on protecting our precious natural resources," Hucker said.
Feb. 24 – Patch
Balloon Ban In MoCo Pushes For Higher Fines Than State Bill
Excerpt: "Set aside the idea that it's sort of advertised, organized littering — since these (balloons) all come down. The reason for this bill is simply the hazard balloons and ribbons and the other things that are attached to them pose to wildlife, particularly sea birds, turtles, and fish," Hucker said.
Feb. 20 – Washington Business Journal
Safeway workers set strike vote as Giant employees reach tentative contract agreement
Excerpt: Local officials in attendance at the rally included … Montgomery County Councilman Tom Hucker.
Feb. 13 – WUSA
Lead found in tap water at MD schools. Here's how to see if your kid's school is affected
Excerpt: "It only makes sense for the state to lower its outdated threshold to protect our children," Hucker said.
Public airs road safety concerns as county tries to eliminate fatalities
Excerpt: In response to another comment, Council Member Tom Hucker said the county needs to increase enforcement of existing laws. He said speed cameras save many lives; now it's time for similar automatic enforcement of distracted driving.
Feb. 9 – NBC4
Montgomery County Residents Give Input in Effort to Prevent Pedestrian Deaths
Excerpt: Councilmember Tom Hucker is supporting statewide legislation that would allow cameras to capture and ticket distracted drivers. He says distracted driving is a major factor in many of these crashes.
Lawmakers Call for Metro to Crack Down on Sexual Harassment in the Ranks
Excerpt: "They need to crack down on any employees that are guilty of sexual harassment quickly," Hucker said.
Feb. 4 – WJLA
Residents call for sidewalk on Dale Drive (between Georgia Ave. and Colesville Road)
Excerpt: "We installed some bump-outs to slow down drivers to help people cross the street," said Councilman Tom Hucker. "The goal is that everybody will be able to walk in their neighborhood and be safe and feel safe."
Feb. 4 – Source of the Spring
County, District Officials Kick Off 16th Street Upgrade Project
Excerpt: "This project is going to make our whole community a lot safer," said Hucker during the event. "Both D.C. and Montgomery County made ambitious commitments to Vision Zero, to getting to zero pedestrian traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2030. We're a long way from that."
Feb. 2 – Fox5
Fox 5 News On The Hill: Human Trafficking Prevention Month
Excerpt: "We need a cultural shift where we're cracking down on the traffickers and those who profit from that industry and not on the victims," Hucker said.
Jan. 30 – Catholic Standard
St. Francis International School celebrates 10th Catholic Schools Week
Excerpt: "We have many challenges in front of us, but I know with the great work being done at St. Francis, your commitment to raising the next generation of leaders in this commitment of your commitment to raising adults who live for others… we'll be able to address those challenges together," Hucker said.
Jan. 29 – Bethesda Beat
State panel questions 'consent' bill tied to 270/495 toll proposal
Excerpt: "Why in the world shouldn't the two biggest counties in the state have a say over a toll road that would affect two million residents?" Hucker, a former state delegate, said, referring to Montgomery and Prince George's. "This bill would require [the state] to negotiate and seek approval from us, and that's something I think common sense says we should all agree on."
Jan. 29 – WAMU
Montgomery County Wants To Spend Nearly $300 Million To Eliminate Traffic Deaths. Will It Work?
Excerpt: Council member Tom Hucker characterized the state's installation of HAWK pedestrian crossing signals as "painfully slow."
Thirteen state lawmakers from Montgomery seek Democratic convention delegate slots
Excerpt: "I think we have multiple strong candidates. There are characteristics each one has that I like and admire," Hucker said, adding: "I think the most important thing — given this existential threat to our democracy posed by the current occupant of the White House — is that the Democrats all need to get behind the winner strongly, and to avoid a lot of division that haunted us four years ago."
Jan. 24 – WJLA
Despite perception, Montgomery Co. did not have the most 2019 pedestrian deaths in the DMV
Excerpt: Councilmembers like Evan Glass (D-At Large), Tom Hucker (D-District 5) and Hans Riemer (D-At Large) are very outspoken on pedestrian safety, as is County Executive Marc Elrich (D).
Jan. 24 – WDVM
Montgomery Co. lawmakers work to decrease human trafficking
Excerpt: "It's a fast-growing and very complicated problem. A lot of the public is still not very aware of it," Hucker said.
Some in Montgomery interested in succeeding Franchot as comptroller
Excerpt: "I haven't had any time to consider it," [Hucker] said, adding: "It's always flattering when people encourage you to look into some other role. But I'm very happy with my current job, and it keeps me very busy." Hucker also characterized discussion of the 2022 comptroller's race as "pretty premature — we have a presidential race in front of us."
Jan. 23 – Montgomery County Sentinel
Bike registration, stipends and zoning dominate CC meeting
Excerpt: "Human trafficking is a major problem all around the world, and sadly our county is no exception to this global scourge," said Hucker. "With help from our community partners, we have made great progress raising awareness and fighting this disgrace in our county."
Amendment would allow larger solar farms on ag land
Excerpt: But Riemer's zoning amendment — co-sponsored by Council Members Tom Hucker and Craig Rice — would let community solar companies use agricultural land for whole fields of panels.
Jan. 22 – Montgomery Community Media
Raskin Endorses Warren for President
Excerpt: Councilmember Tom Hucker was also listed as a host for a Warren endorsement rally in College Park in November.
'It makes no sense.' Montgomery Co. politicians want to end mandatory bicycle registration
Excerpt: "We want people to have bikes, to ride bikes, to keep cars off the road and get their exercise and we don't want to be ticketing them for not registering them," Hucker said.
Jan. 21 – WTOP
Montgomery Co. executive reconsiders opt-out clause in air-conditioning bill
Excerpt: Elrich said that Hucker raised the issue and had very valid points.
New bill would repeal Montgomery's mandatory bike registration
Excerpt: It also created a motivation for police to confiscate unregistered bicycles, said Council Vice President Tom Hucker, who — with Jawando — announced in December plans to amend the law.
Late objection delays vote on mandatory air conditioning
Excerpt: "DHCA is allowed to change their minds just like council members are allowed to change their minds," Hucker said in a phone interview after the meeting. "I think the amendments would invite a lot of mischief from unscrupulous landlords."
Jan. 20 – The Frederick News-Post
Bill requiring county consent on toll projects back in Annapolis
Excerpt: The state should have to bargain with counties in good faith before imposing its will on them over local objections, Hucker said.
Bill targets businesses that disguise human trafficking
Excerpt: Council Member Tom Hucker, a lead co-sponsor with Rice, said the legislation was still preliminary and would likely be adapted as it moved through the legislative process.
Montgomery County officials host a community forum to combat voter suppression
Excerpt: "Even though every member of the county council, state delegation, and the county executive are all for it the board of elections has said no. So now I've asked Senator Smith to put in state legislation to compel them to set up an early voting center in White Oak under state law. We shouldn't have to go through that trouble, it's happening because of the blatant voter suppression by the Montgomery board of elections," Hucker said.
Jan. 17 – Maryland Matters
Montgomery Asks to Opt Out of Election Day Wireless Networks
Excerpt: In a joint letter to the board, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D), County Council President Sidney Katz (D) and Council Vice President Tom Hucker (D) said they believe the network is unnecessary and could be vulnerable to cybersecurity attacks.
Political Notes: Montgomery County delegation backs early voting site bill
Excerpt: County officials, including Council Member Tom Hucker, appealed the decision to the state's Board of Elections, which upheld the local board's decision in October.
Jan. 10 – The Washington Post
Counties, cities, states step up on climate as Trump administration steps back
Excerpt: "Nobody should be under any illusions," said County Council Vice President Tom Hucker (D-District 5), who chairs the environment committee. "County leadership is completely committed to this."
Jan. 9 – Montgomery County Sentinel
Hogan: 'The most historic vote we've taken in the Board of Public Works in years'
Excerpt: "It's truly remarkable that our unfunded grassroots organizing effort has forced Gov. Hogan to dramatically shrink his signature highway-widening proposal and adopt the balanced ICC Diversion Alternative we put on the table six months ago – one that 1) avoids Beltway widening and the taking of homes and dozens of acres of Rock Creek, Sligo Creek, and Northwest Branch Parks, improves 270 and the Legion Bridge and 2) for the first time, dedicates tens of millions of dollars to transit improvements," Hucker said.
Jan. 7 – Maryland Matters
Analysis: A Bumpy Road to a Highway Compromise
Excerpt: "Everybody — tells me we exceeded expectations for the resistance to this project and the terrible process that advanced it," said Hucker, who chairs the council's transportation and environment committee. "The comptroller wisely changed his position and stood up for the county and our right to be at the table."
Jan. 4 – WAMU
Hogan, Franchot Agree To Revised Plan For Beltway Expansion
Excerpt: "This represents a lot of progress than where we were a month ago. The counter-proposal abandons most of Hogan's proposals and many of the elements of it were in the alternative plan we put in six months ago," Hucker said.
Jan. 3 – Montgomery Community Media
Franchot, Hogan Agree on Highway-widening Plan
Excerpt: "It is personally gratifying due to all organizing we've done and all people who've come to the rally in Silver Spring, to see governor abandon his plan and embrace the alternative we put forward," Hucker said.
Mandatory bicycle registration may become voluntary
Excerpt: Hucker is concerned that this law could lead to "police hassling people if they do not" have a registered bike. "I don't think that was ever the intention," he said.
Dec. 26 – Bethesda Beat
New Crosswalk Signal Installed at Site of Fatal Pedestrian Crash
Excerpt: 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.
Dec. 23 – Fox5
You may be breaking the law if your bicycle isn't registered in Montgomery County
Excerpt: Hucker said he plans to introduce legislation that would make registering bicycles voluntary. Reason being, cyclists may want to have their bikes registered to make them easier to identify if stolen.
Is Your Bike Registered? In Montgomery County, It's Required
Excerpt: "I still consider this a pretty low-stakes bill. I don't think police are pulling people over on Colesville Road and ticketing them for not having their bike registered," Hucker said.
Dec. 19 – The Washington Post
Purple Line will open first between College Park and New Carrollton, state says
Excerpt: But if they know the sequencing was driven by the Purple Line rail yard's location in Prince George's, Hucker said, "I think they'll understand. . . . Everyone is eager to experience the benefits of it."
Dec. 19 – Montgomery County Sentinel
Hundreds rally to stop controversial highway road widening projects
Excerpt: "Your hard work is paying off. We have some serious momentum. You changed the narrative" that the project was "all but inevitable," Hucker said.
Dec. 17 – Montgomery Community Media
Montgomery County Green Bank to Help Local Energy Efficiency Investment
Excerpt: "We set an ambitious goal of getting to zero carbon emissions by 2035 and we're very, very focused on meeting that goal," Hucker said.
Dec. 17 – The Baltimore Sun
Cell phone enforcement cameras: a potentially life-saving idea worth trying
Excerpt: Recently, Tom Hucker, vice-president of the Montgomery County Council and chair of its transportation subcommittee, urged state lawmakers to take action. He wants the Maryland General Assembly to approve legislation in the upcoming 2020 session authorizing the county to operate stationary, automated video cameras capable of detecting when drivers are using cell phones in a moving vehicle.
Dec. 17 – WAMU
Capital Beltway Expansion Vote Put On Hold Indefinitely
Excerpt: "It's a petulant move on the governor's part to cancel it (the meeting) so soon and on such short notice. Maryland's Department of Transportation has treated the public with complete contempt," Hucker said.
Dec. 17 – WJLA
'Emergency rally' held about proposal to widen and toll I-270 and I-495 in Maryland
Excerpt: "Thanks to you, instead of the Board of Public Works moving recklessly ahead on Wednesday and voting on this, that proposal is on hold for now!" Hucker said.
300 Rally against Possible 270/495 Widening, Toll Lanes
Excerpt: "This is something that's being negotiated in real time. And we want to get our point across before the board's next meeting in January," Hucker said.
Dec. 17 – Maryland Matters
Lawmakers Eye Bills to Constrain Hogan Highway Plan as Hundreds Rally
Excerpt: "No one expected us to be here still fighting today. But Gov. Hogan and MDOT underestimated your expertise. They underestimated your commitment. They underestimated your ability to organize and to successfully oppose this irresponsible proposal," Hucker said.
County OKs Policy To Limit Increases in Employee Pay, Benefits
Excerpt: "What would be useful for me is if we had all the agencies side by side, so we could really have a holistic picture of the budget," Hucker said.
Dec. 16 – WDVM
Emergency Rally held in Silver Spring to protest Governor Hogan's highway expansion plan
Excerpt: "They are ignoring the advice of our best transportation planners and engineers, they are working with out of state firms that really don't know our area at all, they have proposed a widening of the beltway that takes dozens of homes away, damages our parkway and has a big environmental impact," Hucker said.
Maryland Gov. Hogan cancels expected vote on proposed toll lane plan
Excerpt: "People don't know what kind of tolls we're looking at. People don't know when construction is going to begin, finish or anything because they've just been hiding the ball since the very beginning of this process," Hucker said.
Dec. 13 – ABC News Radio
Maryland councilmember proposes video cameras to thwart texting and driving
Excerpt: "If we're serious about traffic safety, we need to look at using the best available technology to keep people safe and use the best tools at our disposal," Hucker said.
Katz, Hucker elected as new Montgomery County Council leadership
Excerpt: "I think what Tom brings is a real pragmatic way of finding solutions to our most vexing problems while reminding all of us that we have to be inclusive to make sure that every single voice is always taken into consideration," Navarro said.
Dec. 12 – The Washington Times
Montgomery County Council mulls camera technology to catch distracted drivers
Excerpt: "We have 38,000 crashes around the state each year, and they are associated with far too many fatalities and serious injuries, and no one has proposed a workable solution to addressing that," Hucker said.
Maryland politicians strive for increased security as hate crimes continue to rise
Excerpt: "Since (President Donald) Trump's election, hate crimes and hate speech have increased. Montgomery County is not immune," Hucker said.
Emergency Bill Would Require 12th Early Voting Site in White Oak
Excerpt: Residents there are disproportionately affected by long waits and limited public transportation to nearby early voting centers in Silver Spring and Burtonsville, District 5 Council Member Tom Hucker has said.
'I Didn't Run for the County Council To Take a Stand on Foreign Policy'
Excerpt: "I'm almost never a fan of symbolic politics, but this is a little bit different," Hucker said.
Dec. 9 – WJZ
AAA 'Concerned' About Maryland Lawmaker's Proposal For Distracted Driving Cameras
Excerpt: "Unfortunately we have a whole epidemic of distracted driving," Hucker said.
Dec. 8 – WJLA
Maryland official pushes for cameras to catch distracted drivers
Excerpt: "This is a life and death issue. There is no reason that lawmakers shouldn't be using every tool in the toolbox to keep people safe," Hucker said.
Dec. 6 – WIAD
Montgomery County Contemplating Cameras To Catch You Texting And Driving
Excerpt: "The bottom line is we have far too many serious crashes," Hucker said.
Dec. 6 – WTOP
Look out texters: Official wants distracted driving cameras
Excerpt: "We know there are far too many fatalities and serious crashes on our roads and we need to look at every possible tool to address them," Hucker said.
Dec. 6 – Bethesda Beat
Bill Would Allow Cameras To Give Tickets for Distracted Driving
Excerpt: "We already know we have an epidemic of distracted driving," Hucker said.
Dec. 6 – The Washington Post
Innovative or 'creepy'? Maryland suburb considers cameras to catch drivers on their phones
Excerpt: "There's no expectation of privacy when you're in a public place. The bottom line is we have far too many serious crashes," Hucker said.
Dec. 4 – WAMU
Texters Beware: Montgomery County Might Install Cameras To Catch Distracted Drivers
Excerpt: "I think it's a healthy debate to have and the more authority we have to enforce the laws that are on the books, the better we're going to be at reaching our Vision Zero goals and keeping everybody safe," Hucker said.
Montgomery County Passes 'Landmark' Police Advisory Bill
Excerpt: "There are plenty of supporters of the police out there who feel like this was moved forward by a council that is somehow hostile to the police and driven by some kind of special interest agenda. On the other hand, there are community advocates whose first reaction to the bill as it was written was, 'Oh, it shouldn't have a representative from the police department or the police union.' That is absolutely misguided, as well, because this bill is all about dialogue," Hucker said.
Dec. 3 – Montgomery Community Media
Advocates Call for Limiting Vape Products to Teenagers
Excerpt: "It's a terrible public health crisis we face in the state and the country, and Maryland should be in the lead of addressing that. I'm not sure that we are, and our kids are really suffering," Hucker said.
Katz, Hucker Will Lead County Council as President, Vice President
Excerpt: As for Hucker, being elected vice president gave him "massive authority," he joked of the largely ceremonial position. Hucker said he's already met with Katz to express his support.
Nov. 29 – WJLA
'There's an awful lot of need.' Silver Spring non-profit hands out 600+ turkeys, fixings
Excerpt: "There's at least two Montgomery Counties ... There are plenty of people that are doing very, very well, and have done very well in this economy ... And there's an awful lot of people falling behind, falling through the cracks," Hucker said.
Nov. 27 – Montgomery County Sentinel
Food hall coming to Silver Spring
Excerpt: Councilman Tom Hucker likened the food hall to Union Market DC, where people eat, shop, buy produce and meet friends.
Nov. 27 – WUSA
Holiday season impacts overall poverty rate in Montgomery County
Excerpt: "The wages people are making even when they are working two or three jobs don't keep up with costs. The cost of living in this particular area is very high," Hucker said.
Nov. 26 – Montgomery Community Media
Franchot to Convene Task Force on Electronic Smoking Devices
Excerpt: Two Montgomery County officials are among the task force membership: Councilmember Tom Hucker and Dr. Travis Gayles, the county's health officer.
Nov. 26 – WTOP
Montgomery County Council member wants to use cameras to crack down on distracted drivers
Excerpt: "This doesn't expand or change what is currently legal or illegal. This just adds a different way to enforce the law," Hucker said.
Nov. 20 – WAMU
Sweeping Racial Equity Bill Passed Unanimously By Montgomery County
Excerpt: "Looking at our future policies through a racial equity lens, I think, is only going to be helpful at addressing many of the disparities that have vexed us for years," Hucker said.
Nov. 19 – Maryland Matters
Hogan Keeps the Lid on Big Announcements, Infuriating Some Pols But Controlling the Narrative
Excerpt: "(They promised) a more collaborative approach, working with local governments. But here we are, five months later, and there hasn't been any glimmer of that," Hucker said.
Nov. 15 – The Washington Post
Residents of a mostly minority neighborhood say they need an early voting site. Republican officials disagree.
Excerpt: In August, County Council member Tom Hucker (D-District 5) launched a campaign for a 12th early voting site in White Oak. The county Board of Elections voted along party lines to reject the request, a verdict that Hucker slammed as the "very definition of voter suppression."
Nov. 13 – Bethesda Beat
Improvements to American Legion Bridge Threaten Showdown Over Parkland
Excerpt: County Council Member Tom Hucker, chairman of the council's Transportation & Environment Committee, said local officials received an email with the news less than 10 minutes before Hogan's appearance at a regional transportation forum.
Nov. 12 – Frederick News-Post
Maryland, Virginia will collaborate on bridge project as part of traffic congestion plan
Excerpt: "Expanding the Beltway all the way through Montgomery County will mean taking homes and businesses and destroying environmentally fragile parkland. That approach is inconsistent with federal law," Hucker says
Tolls remain a concern in Md., Va. agreement to widen American Legion Bridge
Excerpt: Montgomery County council member Tom Hucker also applauded the regional cooperation that resulted in the agreement, and said dealing with congestion at the American Legion Bridge is "long overdue."
Nov. 4 – Bethesda Beat
Delegate Drafts Bill To Mandate 12th Early Voting Site in Montgomery County
Excerpt: White Oak residents rely heavily on public transportation, Hucker has said, and often face a round-trip bus ride of more than an hour and a half to get to other early voting centers.
Nov. 4 – WAMU
State Lawmakers Prepare Bill To Mandate 12th Voting Site In Montgomery County
Excerpt: "There is data to show where the greatest demand is. There is no question that the underserved population is in the east part of the county," Hucker says
Nov. 1 – Maryland Matters
In Battle Over Montgomery Voting Sites, State Board Denies Additional Location
Excerpt: "All the elected officials in Montgomery County all are behind the same position. It's only three intransigent members of the local board that have been digging in their heels," Hucker told the state board.
Oct. 29 – Bethesda Beat
County Council Approves New Montgomery Transportation Director
Excerpt: "Transportation touches every life in the county. And while people are not always happy with the pace of construction on [U.S.] 29 or the amount of money we have for neighborhood resurfacing, they're always happy with your performance," Hucker said
Oct. 21 – The Washington Post
Elrich formally nominates Marcus Jones to serve as Montgomery's police chief
Excerpt: "We have questions for the chief on how he would want to do things differently, but I'm quite confident we're going to move forward together," Hucker says
'Heartbroken' and 'Mourning': Community Reacts to Officer's Shooting Death
Excerpt: "My phone's been very busy all day with people calling and texting and checking in. It affected private employers in Silver Spring. It affected schools that were on lockdown. It's something the community is gonna feel deeply for a long time," Hucker says
Oct. 14 – Montgomery Community Media
Update: County Officer in Silver Spring Shooting Dies
Excerpt: "It's certainly a reminder of the sacrifices that our police put in every single day," Hucker says
Oct. 14 – WUSA
Montgomery County police investigating death of officer after Silver Spring shooting
Excerpt: "It's just certainly a reminder of the sacrifices that our police are put in every single day keeping our community safe. This is one of the safest communities in the country and everybody should be thinking of the officer and their family and being grateful to our police in such a difficult time," Hucker says
Oct. 10 – Montgomery County Sentinel
State Board of Elections orders county board to propose 12th early voting site
Excerpt: "To cite budgetary reasons (is) to go far outside their authority," Hucker says
Oct. 9 – WAMU
Maryland Elections Board Says Montgomery County Must Recommend 12th Early Voting Site
Excerpt: "That is not their responsibility to worry about the budget. The state assembly in Annapolis and the county council passes a balanced budget and the elected officials decide what the budget priorities are. It's not right for them to put a price on people's voting rights," Hucker says
Oct. 8 – WTOP
Md. elections board directs Montgomery Co. to present options for 12th early voting site
Excerpt: "White Oak is home to many low-income voters, many African-American and immigrant voters, and many seniors, many of whom don't have cars," Hucker says
Oct. 7 – Bethesda Beat
County Debuts First 'Protected Intersection' for Cyclists in Silver Spring
Excerpt: "People will say this is just one intersection. But if you look at the plan, you get a sense of the vision we have for Montgomery County so it is safe for everybody and all modes of transportation at all times," Hucker says
More intersections designed to boost safety planned in Montgomery County
Excerpt: "We deal with a lot of people who think that the environment we live in now was sort of handed down on stone tablets," Hucker says
Sept. 30 – Bethesda Beat
State Delegate Wades into Early Voting Debate, Plans Emergency Bill
Excerpt: "It's just surprising and disappointing we're at this stage. It's the job of the board to ensure voting access, and I think the majority is now guilty of malpractice," Hucker says
Sept. 28 – WTOP
Montgomery Co. Democrats urge additional early voting site in White Oak
Excerpt: "Unfortunately, in my district in particular, in Burtonsville and in Silver Spring … some people wait in line for up to two hours to vote. It's not their job to put a price on people's voting rights, and it's not their role to approve the county or state budget," Hucker says
Sept. 27 – Montgomery Community Media
Montgomery elections board accused of voter suppression
Excerpt: "It's a pattern of Republican-led voter suppression," Hucker says
Council Members Pressure Board of Elections To Reverse Early Voting Decision
Excerpt: "If we have to, we'll organize a bigger campaign to appeal to the state board. There's nothing more fundamental than allowing someone to vote, and this is a clear case of disenfranchisement," Hucker says
Sept. 24 – The Washington Post
Maryland cuts funding for Corridor Cities Transitway
Excerpt: "There are thousands of people in Gaithersburg, Germantown and Clarksburg who bought homes and invested in businesses with the promise that the state was going to build a high-quality transitway," Hucker says
Sept. 23 – Maryland Matters
Montgomery Pols Fume as State Ends Funding for Transit Project
Excerpt: "It's a shocking abandonment of the tens of thousands of people who have been counting on it since the 1990's," Hucker says
Elrich turns to Marcus Jones for Montgomery police chief after two prior choices drop out
Excerpt: "Without question, everyone agrees it could have gone much more smoothly," Hucker says
Purple Line Likely Won't Open in Montgomery County Until 2023
Excerpt: The company has also committed to adding 55 new trees along Wayne Avenue in Silver Spring. Residents in the area have been concerned about tree removal since the start of construction, when it became clear that more trees would be removed in the area than originally anticipated. "That's exciting to hear," Hucker says
Council Members Clash with Board of Elections over Early Voting Site
Excerpt: "There's an unprecedented amount of interest in who the Democratic nominee will be. And we're talking about adding a site in an area where some residents stood in line for two hours just to vote," Hucker says
Sept. 20 – Washington Business Journal
Purple Line now expected to open in segments. What comes first? Likely New Carrollton to someplace.
Excerpt: "We want to work with you as we always have to minimize the disruption and minimize any future delays and deliver it as close to on time as possible," Hucker says
Sept. 19 – Montgomery County Sentinel
Pro-ICE rally draws hundreds of attendees and counterprotesters
Excerpt: "The policy we have on immigration is not only because we're a welcoming community or because we celebrate diversity; it is because it enhances our public safety and it keeps us safe," Hucker says
Bill Seeks To End Racial Inequality in Montgomery County
Excerpt: Unemployment is three times higher in District 5, a diverse region with a majority black population, than in the rest of Montgomery County, Hucker said
Sept. 17 – WDVM
Officials introduce county-wide program to target racial equity issues
Excerpt: "We have been moving in this direction for many years, this council has raised the minimum wage, we've strengthened tenants' rights, we make our transportation system more equitable," Hucker says
Montgomery Officials Struggle With Ambitious Climate Goals
Excerpt: "This is the number one issue for Democratic primary voters," Hucker says
Air conditioning bill makes its way toward becoming a law
Excerpt: "Air conditioning is more than a matter of comfort for many people. Especially for the elderly and those with chronic health conditions, it's a matter of life or death. And climate change is only exacerbating the problem, as just six weeks ago we lived through the hottest month ever recorded on the planet," Hucker says
A new bill would require landlords to have working AC in every unit
Excerpt: "We require landlords to provide heat, but no requirement for air conditioning because our housing code was written before climate change became a life-threatening issue," Hucker says
Climate Change, Rising Rental Rates Fuel Need for Air Conditioning Bill, Hucker Says
Excerpt: "Look at the deaths we saw in Japan and France this summer. This is what happened in other areas, and this is what will happen in Montgomery County if we don't take steps to protect people from climate change," Hucker says
Sept. 10 – WJLA
How this new bill would require air conditioning in all Montgomery County rental units
Excerpt: "This June was the hottest June in recorded history and this July was not only the hottest July in recorded history, but it was the hottest month in all of recorded human history," Hucker says
Sept. 6 – NBC Washington
Montgomery Co. Council Members Say They're Being Threatened Over Immigration Policy
Excerpt: "There's no correlation between the number of undocumented immigrants in a locality and the number of crimes there. If anything, in areas that have more undocumented immigrants typically have less crime," Hucker says
Aug. 30 – Bethesda Beat
Montgomery County Council Members Give Positive Review of New Police Chief Candidate
Excerpt: "I've found his ability to relate to community members and groups to be strong," Hucker says
Aug. 21 – Maryland Matters
Opinion: Finding Collaborative Solutions to Local and Global Challenges
Excerpt: "We need to unleash the power of expertise of our residents. We are lucky to have a smart talented pool to advise us as to how we will tackle this emergency together," Hucker says
Aug. 15 – Montgomery County Sentinel
National Philharmonic is back in action for upcoming season
Excerpt: "We all believe the National Philharmonic is a treasure that needs to survive and succeed," Hucker wrote
County corrects thousands of housing code violations in apartment inspection initiative
Excerpt: "As the county exec said, this bill really languished for a whole year and it had to be renewed. It's really, unfortunate, after the Flower Branch (apartment) explosion that there was a new spotlight put on rental housing conditions," Hucker says
Aug. 12 – Montgomery Community Media
Councilmember Hucker calls for safety improvements on Old Georgetown Road
Excerpt: "That highway needs to be redesigned," Hucker says
National Philharmonic Leaders Vote To Accept Businessman's $500K Funding Proposal
Excerpt: "I am so relieved that the Board made the right decision to begin a new chapter under Jim Kelly's leadership," Hucker says
Aug. 9 – Patch
31K Housing Violations Found During Montgomery's Inspection Surge
Excerpt: "This is a landmark achievement that we're announcing. When you see these numbers, they're really thrilling," Hucker says
Aug. 8 – The Washington Post
Montgomery completes inspection surge of rental properties
Excerpt: The tenant rights bill that called for the inspection surge was introduced by Elrich before the [Flower Branch] explosion but had been "languishing" in the council for over a year, Hucker said
Aug. 8 – Bethesda Beat
Two-Year Inspection of Montgomery Apartments Yields 31,000 Violations
Excerpt: "People are cynical about politicians and say we just are always driven by the polls. Well, nobody fights for tenants' rights because they think this is really going to help them politically. We do it because it's the right thing to do and … this is a landmark achievement," Hucker says
Aug. 8 – NBC Washington
Local Inspectors Crack Down on Apartment Code Violations
Excerpt: "There was a spotlight put on long-standing problems in our Montgomery County rental housing that necessitated the council — the majority of the council — feeling they needed to step up and do something," Hucker says
Aug. 7 – WDVM
Officials call for improvements on Old Georgetown Road
Excerpt: "What there needs to be, if not a separated bike lane which is what we've envisioned in our master plan, at least a buffer of 5 feet wide of grass so that any cyclist or pedestrians are not right next to the cars," Hucker says
Aug. 6 – WTOP
Concerns raised about deal that put cameras in Montgomery Co. school buses
Excerpt: "Clearly, when you read it, I think any one of us would have concerns about the decision-making and the content of the contract as it's described in the IG report," Hucker says
Virginia Officials Give Positive Review of Chapman
Excerpt: "She talked about the need for police to be in schools and be visible in elementary schools and have events that engaged high school students," Hucker says
Aug. 2 – Maryland Matters
MDOT Chief: Montgomery Road Plan Will Receive 'Same Level' of State Analysis
Excerpt: Montgomery County's alternative was spearheaded by Councilmember Tom Hucker (D), chairman of the panel's Transportation & Environment Committee.
July 26 – Bethesda Beat
Officials in Montgomery County Welcome State's Plan To Study Beltway-Widening Alternative
Excerpt: "I'm eager to hear more details on their plans for that and I really hope that's a genuinely collaborative process. But yeah, I'm certainly grateful. We know that our plan grows economic development and protects the environment and reduces congestion," Hucker says
July 22 – The Washington Post
Officials call it a common-sense zoning change. These homeowners say it's a 'betrayal.'
Excerpt: "We have a housing crisis" and this amendment "is part of our response," Hucker says
July 22 – WDVM
Montgomery County executive order to prevent authorities from asking residents' about immigration status
Excerpt: "It's really appropriate we are sending a signal from the county government that this is a welcoming county government. We have everybody's back. We're not cooperating with ICE," Hucker says
Montgomery Officials Say Fear of Deportation Affects Immigrant Community
Excerpt: "When Trump came out and said we would have this big surge, people have been making decisions. Do they go to the post office? Do they go to the dry cleaner? People are afraid to leave their homes. They're ordering stuff online. And that's whether they're here legally or not," Hucker says
County Officials Scold Takoma Park Over Screening of Anti-Israel Film
Excerpt: "This came up suddenly. I usually don't put my name on things I don't know anything about," Hucker said.
July 19 – WHYY
Should landlords be required to provide air conditioning?
Excerpt: Montgomery County Councilmember Tom Hucker, who introduced the bill earlier this week, said policies need to "catch up with climate change," which is driving up temperatures globally.
July 17 – The Washington Times
Heat wave to engulf D.C., Maryland and Virginia
Excerpt: "As climate change worsens, we are going to see hotter days for longer periods of time, so it will be more important than ever that tenants have access to a safe and cool environment," Hucker says
July 17 – Montgomery Community Media
DeVaul Pulls Name from Contention for County Chief Position
Excerpt: "He's doing great work in Takoma Park," Hucker says
July 17 – NBC Washington
Montgomery County Bill Would Require Working Air Conditioning in All Rental Units
Excerpt: "On days like today, this is really a life or death issue, it's not a comfort issue," Hucker says
July 17 – WJLA
Not all rental units have air conditioning. This proposed bill could change that.
Excerpt: Councilmember Tom Hucker wants to change the law, saying landlords should face fines.
County Council Bill Would Require Landlords to Put Air Conditioning in Units
Excerpt: Hucker said during Tuesday's meeting he has heard stories of residents whose air conditioning is either broken or non-existent, and that one 80-year-old woman he had spoken with freezes water bottles and places them in her lap to stay cool during the summer months. "That shouldn't be happening in 2019 in Montgomery County," he said.
As temperatures rise, Montgomery asks: Should landlords have to provide AC to tenants?
Excerpt: "Access to AC is not really a comfort issue. It's a life-or-death issue in weather like this," Hucker says
July 11 – Montgomery County Sentinel
MCP officer charged with using excessive force in Aspen Hill
Excerpt: "Obviously, it's a very troubling incident. I think there are real serious questions concerning training, discipline and accountability," Hucker says
July 9 – Montgomery County Sentinel
Officials push for expansion of pesticide ban during film screening
Excerpt: The exemptions "should never have been there in the first place," Hucker says
July 8 – WDVM
Montgomery County looking into ways to be pesticide free
Excerpt: "All the different strategies parks is employing to get rid of weeds short of using pesticides including integrated pest management which is a strategy to basically remove weeds and use more natural methods and use pesticides only as a last resort," Hucker says
Silver Spring turnbacks have officially ended, commute times to decrease
Excerpt: "For too long, as long as (Forest Glen, Wheaton and Glenmont Metro stations) have been in operation, our riders north of Silver Spring have paid full fare and received half the service," Hucker says
July 2 – Bethesda Beat
Pedestrian Crashes Up 14% in First Half of 2019
Excerpt: "I'm hopeful (the pedestrian master plan) will be a tool in our toolbox, but I don't want to wait for that. I want to continue to push the police to do more enforcement and for the Department of Transportation to do more assessments and redesigns of dangerous intersections and corridors," Hucker says
July 1 – Montgomery Community Media
The Ever Annoying Silver Spring Metro Turnback Ends
Excerpt: "We really want to make sure everybody in this area knows, they just got a big amenity they didn't have yesterday and they really should try Metro again," Hucker says
July 1 – WAMU
Metro Includes Bus Trips In Monthly Metrorail Pass And Adds More Red Line Service
Excerpt: "Ending the Silver Spring turnback was only fair and just for the 11,000 Metro riders on the eastern end of the Red Line, who for decades have been paying the same fares as everyone else, but received only half the service. It's gratifying to see the years-long advocacy efforts of our community groups, Metro board representatives and the Council finally pay off," Hucker says
June 28 – The Washington Post
Ratings agency cautions Montgomery County leaders about budget diversion
Excerpt: Meeting the 10 percent reserve fund goal in this fiscal year is likely to create more flexibility in the budget for years to come. "I think county voters should sleep easy tonight," Hucker says
June 24 – Montgomery County Sentinel
Council unanimously passes bill to allow tenants to break lease
Excerpt: "This bill just allows tenants in the future to break leases like this, terminate leases like this, if the landlord hasn't addressed health and safety violations — which are defined in the codes," Hucker says
County Council finalizes legislation
Excerpt: "This bill was really inspired by the long-suffering tenants of the Enclave apartment building (in Silver Spring), which is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, residential property in Montgomery County," Hucker says
June 25 – Source of the Spring
Council Passes Bill Allowing Tenants to Break Lease under Certain Conditions
Excerpt: "No one should have to live with roaches, mice or mold, or without access to electricity, water or heat," Hucker says
June 25 – Bethesda Beat
Tenants Gain New Rights To Break Leases Early
Excerpt: "This bill extends needed protections to renters who, through no fault of their own, face unsafe conditions that have been ignored by their landlords," Hucker says
Anderson Reappointed Planning Board Chairman
Excerpt: "We had a particularly impressive and talented group of candidates this year," Hucker says
June 21 – Montgomery Community Media
FBI searches Jack Evans' home day after he resigns from Metro board
Excerpt: "WMATA must demonstrate transparency and uphold public confidence. ... Taxpayers deserve to know the conclusions of this investigation and deserve the opportunity to review all accompanying documentation," Hucker says
June 19 – WDVM
Montgomery County could pass new bill to protect tenants
Excerpt: "It allows tenants to break their lease if they're facing health or safety violations that the landlord refuses to address," Hucker says
June 18 – WTOP
Montgomery Co. renters may soon have power to end leases over rodents and mold
Excerpt: "It's going to make landlords step up and remediate a lot of these violations in the future. Nobody in Montgomery County should have to raise their kids in an unsafe environment," Hucker says
June 14 – Washington Business Journal
Report: I-270 closest to the Beltway will get toll lanes first
Excerpt: "You'd get more relief adding capacity north of I-370 than south of there but they're drawing the scope to maximize revenue for the concessionaire rather than solving traffic congestion problems in the most efficient way," Hucker says
Where 1st toll lanes will be built in I-270, Capital Beltway expansion
Excerpt: "It's particularly disappointing that it's going forward on that portion of 270," Hucker says
Maryland will pursue toll lanes on lower part of Interstate 270 first, official says
Excerpt: "You'd get more relief adding capacity north of I-370 than south of there, but they're drawing the scope to maximize revenue for the concessionaire rather than solving traffic congestion problems in the most efficient way," Hucker says
Elrich, Once Opposed to ICC, Now Embraces It as Option to Beltway Widening
Excerpt: "It was widely promised that the ICC would take cars off the Beltway, but it hasn't fulfilled that promise," Hucker says
June 6 – Maryland Matters
Hogan's Road Compromise Praised, But Many Critics Remain Skeptical
Excerpt: "For the first time, the governor is indicating he wants us at the table, and he's trying to accommodate our input. I don't think he got all the details exactly matched up with our position, but that's fine. I'm hopeful we're going to be able to sit down with them and work some of this out in a way that makes both of us happy," Hucker says
June 6 – Montgomery County Sentinel
County leaders object to rising hate in schools
Excerpt: "We've seen swastikas increased in schools in Montgomery County and shootings in mosques as far away as New Zealand, and bigotry and hatred are on the march. And dictators and authoritarian regimes are growing around the world, incredibly because of the climate that has been created by the temporary occupant of the White House and others," Hucker says
June 5 – A Miner Detail
5 takeaways from Wednesday's Board of Public Works meeting
Excerpt: Hucker was polite, courteous and practical, pointing out where he disagreed with the governor's plan but emphasizing relief policies where they can find consensus.
June 5 – NBC Washington
Maryland Moves Closer to Adding Toll Lanes to I-270, Beltway
Excerpt: "For the first time, the governor has indicated a willingness to accommodate local concerns, the concerns of local residents and local elected officials," Hucker says
Local Officials Propose Alternatives to Widening of Interstate Highways
Excerpt: "No one has more expertise in relieving congestion and its causes and solutions (than we do)," Hucker says
Last-Minute Maneuvers Attempt to Derail Hogan Road-Widening Plan
Excerpt: "We are 100 percent for congestion relief, but MDOT's process has shut us out. They have not accepted our recommendations to make their proposal workable," Hucker says
June 4 – The Washington Post
Who are the sick Marylanders Gov. Hogan accused of craving traffic congestion?
Excerpt: "We are 100 percent committed to congestion relief," Hucker says
June 3 – WTOP
Critics of Beltway, I-270 expansion plan call for a slowdown
Excerpt: "We are 100% for congestion relief, but MDOT's process has shut us out," Hucker says
June 3 – The Baltimore Sun
Maryland Gov. Hogan's toll lane project in D.C. suburbs causes dissent
Excerpt: "[Gov. Hogan] decided to spend his Sunday, instead of attending and engaging people, insulting residents and saying that — calling people 'pro-traffic activists' and they are plotting to keep people stuck in traffic. It's so demeaning and insulting to Montgomery County and Prince George's County residents who were there," Hucker says
May 30 – Montgomery County Sentinel
Town hall meeting draws opposition to highway expansion
Excerpt: "Neglecting public input and the input of our local government is the wrong thing to do on any project, but it's especially wrong on this project. This isn't just any project; this is the largest P3 project in North American History," Hucker says
May 29 – WAMU
Here's Everything You Need To Know About The Capital Beltway Expansion
Excerpt: "It's just so unusual and sad that the administration is just plunging forward with this unpopular program without working with our local officials and without using the expertise of our local transportation experts," Hucker says
May 23 – WTOP
Opponents to Beltway, 270 toll lanes speak out at town hall
Excerpt: "People are concerned about the same things, they're concerned about the impact on neighborhoods, the impact on our environment, the lack of progress on real congestion because of the imbalance, because of the fact it doesn't include transit," Hucker says
May 23 – WJLA-TV
Hear why there is a growing concern over Maryland's I-495 toll lane proposal
Excerpt: "We're concerned about the impact on our neighborhoods, the impact on our environment, and the lack of progress on real congestion because of the imbalance, because of the fact that it doesn't include transit," Hucker says
May 17 – WDVM
Meeting held for proposed I-270 and I-495 expansion plan
Excerpt: "We hope they will sit down with us and manage it like any other big transportation project," Hucker says
Montgomery County County Executive Marc Elrich signs lead bill into law
Excerpt: Bill sponsor Hucker says he is relieved that his own son and other children will be able to drink out of school fountains that are safer than before
May 17 – The Washington Post
As it pushes toll lane project, Hogan administration courts transit leaders
Excerpt: If the group's creation is "merely window dressing to create the appearance of partnership … this will be a waste of time," Hucker says
Residents say gas leaks continue at Flower Branch Apartments
Excerpt: Residents have the right to go to sleep "knowing that their kids will be safe," Hucker says
Montgomery Co. to improve school drinking water standards
Excerpt: "Younger children are particularly susceptible to the health effects associated with lead," Hucker says
Montgomery Co. council to vote Thursday on parking rate hike
Excerpt: "We can see the light at the tunnel in Wheaton from where we are now. When we get to the end of the tunnel — that to me is the right time to raise parking fees" and not when businesses are currently suffering," Hucker says
May 7 – WTOP
Montgomery Co. passes stricter limits on lead in public school water
Excerpt: "Nothing's really more fundamental to the long-term success of this county than our kids' brains, and their ability to perform well. We frankly had elevated lead levels in our drinking water inside our schools for many years," Hucker says
May 6 – Patch
Lead Drinking Water Bill Vote Scheduled May 7
Excerpt: "We can't take any chances with the health of our children. We need to set an updated standard that's more health protective and contemporary for Montgomery County based on the best contemporary science," Hucker says
Environmental Groups Say County Isn't Doing Enough on Climate Change
Excerpt: "I don't think we know how much it costs to address adaptation versus transportation versus emissions," Hucker says
County Technology Services Cabinet Nominee Withdraws Name
Excerpt: "I'm worried you won't be present to get it across the finish line," Hucker says
May 6 – WUSA
Demand for apologies after Hogan accused of 'Trump Tactics' on Twitter
Excerpt: "I don't think that's a good look for the governor. I like Governor Hogan. That doesn't sound like the governor I know," Hucker says
May 5 – The Washington Post
Hundreds attend town hall to protest Hogan plan to add toll lanes to Beltway, I-270
Excerpt: "We are the experts on congestion in Montgomery County, not the people in Hanover, Maryland, with the Maryland Department of Transportation," Hucker says
Hogan agrees to delay vote on Beltway, I-270 expansion plan
Excerpt: "It's a shocking letter, honestly. Highly unusual. I've never seen one like it with such a damning criticism of a compromised state agency by a highly-respected, non-partisan expert government entity," Hucker says
Md.'s 2nd highest court upholds Montgomery Co. ban on lawn pesticides
Excerpt: "This is a big win for our environment and the public health. It also affirms our county's authority to protect our residents, especially our kids, from the harmful threats that pesticide and other environmental toxins can pose," Hucker says
May 3 – WAMU
Montgomery County Pesticide Ban May Go Into Effect, Following Court Ruling
Excerpt: "The great majority of objective scientific studies tell us that pesticides cause cancer, nervous system disorders, reproductive dysfunction, immune system disorders, and many other conditions," Hucker says
Bethesda On-Street Parking Rate Hike Proposal Scaled Back
Excerpt: "Local businesses need the availability of spaces, and giving the department the ability to raise the model to raise prices and encourage short-term parking use in the garages is an effective strategy," Hucker says
Appeals court finds Montgomery County pesticide ban doesn't clash with state law
Excerpt: "It's unfortunate that the original law was delayed like this, but we had a very vigorous review of this, and I'm ecstatic that the law will be back in effect," Hucker says
Hogan pushes for Md. toll lanes vote while state treasurer with 'serious questions' is away
Excerpt: Voting without Kopp, Hucker said, "is just the latest step that's going to erode public confidence in this project."
Montgomery council rejects part of Elrich's proposal for generous union raises
Excerpt: "I absolutely think county employees are reasonable to ask for the makeup step," Hucker says
Council Rebuffs County Union's Contract, Calls for Parity in Raises
Excerpt: "It's only fair for them [MCGEO] to be asking for it and us to be funding it," Hucker says
Additional Security Sought for Silver Spring Day Shelter
Excerpt: "I think everyone understands we need 24/7 security at Progress Place, and around the building as well," Hucker says
Council Debates Higher Street Parking Rates in Bethesda, Silver Spring
Excerpt: "To me, given all the national challenges that retailers are facing and the specific local challenges in Silver Spring, I don't think it's time to add more misery," Hucker says
Critics Scorch State's Plan for I-270, Beltway Toll Lanes
Excerpt: "If this were put up for a vote, it would sink like a rock," Hucker says
Fresh Calls for Washington Gas To Add New Safety Measures Following Fatal Explosion
Excerpt: "It's a long time coming and it was a very sad day for the victims to go through what happened again. At the same time, it means some resolution for some folks who have been waiting a long time for it," Hucker says
Montgomery council debates generous worker contracts, school funding
Excerpt: "Paying people fair wages is a prerequisite for having high-quality services. We don't have budget challenges, I believe, because we overpay librarians and nurses," Hucker says
April 7 – NBC Washington
Longest-Serving Maryland House Speaker Dies at 72
Excerpt: "The state is so much better off because of Speaker Mike Busch," Hucker says
Maryland residents say they need answers about the impact of Beltway, I-270 toll lanes proposal
Excerpt: State officials "basically said they're going to plunge forward," Hucker says
Metro board passes budget to end Silver Spring turnbacks
Excerpt: "They pay full fare - they don't get a discount but they only get half the service and they have to wait twice as long on a platform no matter how cold it is that day," Hucker says
March 29 – WJLA-TV
After Beltway tanker crash, questions rise again about building new Potomac crossing
Excerpt: Instead of adding more bridges, Hucker would rather rebuild the American Legion Bridge with additional lanes, perhaps some exclusively for buses
Describing Rodent, Mold and Roach Infestations, Renters Support Early Lease Termination Proposal
Excerpt: The legislation, drafted by Councilmember Tom Hucker, … was introduced following recent inspections of the Enclave apartments that uncovered more than 2,600 housing code violations
New Limits On Parking Spaces Being Debated
Excerpt: "Built into this is the assumption that everyone has good transit options … there's nothing wrong with this but it doesn't put any more buses on the street, it doesn't make Metro go where it doesn't go," Hucker says
Montgomery County councilmembers ask for alternatives to I-270 and I-495 project
Excerpt: "I think the whole process is somewhat troubling," Hucker says
Council Wants Clarity from State Over Demolishing Homes for Toll Lanes
Excerpt: "There's a number of council members that have raised concerns about the way they've conducted these outreach sessions. To date they've essentially been dog-and-pony shows," Hucker says
March 24 – Montgomery County Sentinel
'Kids Ride Free' program being considered for expansion
Excerpt: "Let young people see transportation is more than something to use when your car doesn't work," Hucker says
Purple Line is 10 Percent Complete, Project Managers Report
Excerpt: "Why not give neighbors some relief?" Hucker asks
Stricter Water Lead Standard Suggested for County Libraries, Rec Centers
Excerpt: "Since introducing this legislation, I've also asked Montgomery Parks, our libraries and our rec department to get back to me with a budget proposal for testing their fountains as well," Hucker says
March 18 – NBC Washington
Montgomery County Could Tighten Restrictions on Lead in School Drinking Water
Excerpt: "We send kids to school to develop their brains and not to damage them. Lead does permanent, irreversible damage to kids' brains," Hucker says
Possible toll lane impact leads conversation in transportation forum
Excerpt: "Transit is the most-efficient way to move people dollar for dollar," Hucker says
Efforts begin to reduce lead levels in school water fountains
Excerpt: "Scientists agree: There is no safe level of lead, a neurotoxin that permanently damages our children's developing brains and bodies," Hucker says
March 13 – WTOP
Montgomery County to hold community conversations on racial equity
Excerpt: "This approach is really going to help us serve all the residents of my community in particular," Hucker says
March 8 – Montgomery County Sentinel
County Council meeting addresses a wide array of issues
Excerpt: "I believe any county residents should not be living in any unsafe and unhealthful conditions," Hucker says
Elevated lead levels at thousands of Md. schools prompts bill for better water quality
Excerpt: "We can't allow two counties, the two biggest in the state, to protect their children from lead in their drinking water and allow a less protective standard in the other 22 counties," Hucker says
County Clamping Down on 'Troubled' Rental Properties
Excerpt: "County residents shouldn't have to live in unsafe conditions," Hucker says
February 22 – WJLA-TV
Montgomery County weighs in on debate over Metro hours
Excerpt: "Metro has rightly been very focused on safety and preventative maintenance," Hucker says
February 21 – The Washington Post
Compromise would close Metro at midnight weekdays, 2 a.m. weekends, but push weekday openings back to 5:30 a.m.
Excerpt: "Frankly, I doubt D.C. residents want ... more Maryland drivers to be on D.C. streets during the morning rush hour," Hucker says
February 21 – Greater Greater Washington
Some Red Line riders only get half the service. When will Metro end the Silver Spring turnback?
Excerpt: "I hope the Metro board listens to these riders and ends the turnback as soon as possible," Hucker says
February 15 – Bethesda Beat
Council Panel Pushes To Keep Money for Metrorail Station Improvements
Excerpt: "It surprised me that transportation was singled out for the greatest amount of cuts and other areas didn't get cuts at all," Hucker says
February 8 – WJLA-TV
Dinner and resource fair eases federal workers as potential for another shutdown looms
Excerpt: "We have folks in the county who ... do landscaping on the Mall" and are lucky to be making $30,000 to $40,000 in a good year, Hucker says
February 4 – Bethesda Beat
County Looks To Tighten Limits for Lead in School Drinking Water
Excerpt: Hucker introduces legislation to lower threshold from 20 ppb to 5 ppb
January 15 – Bethesda Beat
Developer of Discovery Headquarters Envisions Multiple Office Tenants, Shops and Restaurants
Excerpt: "The building is a great asset and I'm glad there are ongoing efforts to maintain its use," Hucker says
January 12 – NPR
Furloughed Workers In Hard-Hit Community Gather For Potluck During Shutdown
Excerpt: "They're eating fish sticks in the bottom of the freezer," Hucker says
January 11 – NBC Washington
Hundreds Turn Out for Shutdown Dinner in Montgomery County
Excerpt: Furloughed and other unpaid federal workers are "trying their best not to spend," Hucker says
January 10 – The Washington Post
Purple Line will open a year late and delays will cost at least $215 million, contractor says
Excerpt: "I'd expect [state officials] would notify us if there are going to be delays," Hucker said, "rather than just put it in a report."
January 3 – WDVM
Montgomery County makes progress in opioid battle
Excerpt: Our efforts in public education, training for first-responders and more treatment options appear to be paying off, Hucker says
January 3 – Bethesda Beat
Silver Spring Apartments Investigated for Mold, Rodent Issues
Excerpt: "These are serious health and safety issues, and tenants say management makes superficial repairs but the issues keep coming back," Hucker says
January 1 – NBC Washington
Plan to Expand Beltway, I-270 in Maryland Sparks Opposition
Excerpt: State must listen to county's valid concerns about taking private property to add lanes, Hucker says
December 28 – Bethesda Beat
County Grew By 55,000 In Six Years, New Analysis Finds
Excerpt: Hucker says Bus Rapid Transit and new bike plan will help get cars off roads
December 6 – WAMU
Roundup In Montgomery Parks: Lawmaker Questions Safety Of Popular Weed Killer
Excerpt: "We're talking about whether you'd rather have weeds or you'd rather have cancer," says Hucker.
December 4 – The Washington Post
Nancy Navarro elected president of Montgomery County Council
Excerpt: "She's never satisfied with voices that say, 'That's how things are here,'" Hucker said in nominating her.
November 30 – The Washington Post
Montgomery still waiting for inspectors to create list of 'problem' apartments
Excerpt: "They find mice, rats, roaches, mold and mildew, and they continue to make excuses," Hucker said.
November 6 – The Washington Post
'Totally unacceptable': Polling problems in Maryland leave voters waiting for hours
Excerpt: "It's an attempt at voter suppression," Hucker said.
October 23 – WTOP
Montgomery County Council delays vote on neighborhood cell towers
Excerpt: Hucker introduces amendment that would require hearings for cell towers and antennas in residential neighborhoods.
October 17 – The Washington Post
Purple Line's overnight tunneling leaves some residents desperate for sleep
Excerpt: "... if it means a minor delay to give my constituents some relief in the middle of the night, I'm fine with that."
October 12 – Bethesda Beat
MDSHA Posting Flaggers at Silver Spring Temporary Crossing Where Child Nearly Hit by Car
Excerpt: "Pedestrian safety hasn't been their priority at all, no matter how many times I've brought it up to them over the years."
October 9 – WJLA-TV
Child's close call in crosswalk highlights dangerous intersection in Montgomery County
Excerpt: "It's terrifying to watch, very unsettling and the fact is that I've seen it over and over," Hucker says
October 8 – The Washington Post
Montgomery council weighs whether to guarantee raises for trash crews
Excerpt: "This is going to be a big relief to people" who didn't have their trash picked up three years ago, Hucker says
September 28 – WDVM
Economic team releases fiscal report
Excerpt: Many of the 900 new jobs are in high-wage industries, Hucker says
September 12 – Bethesda Beat
Could the Parks System Use Its Land as Leverage in I-270, Beltway Project?
Excerpt: "I can't figure out where four, at-grade lanes go in the current right-of-way," Hucker says
September 6 – WDVM
Silver Spring-Takoma Park Restaurant Week features discounts
Excerpt: Wide diversity of cuisine lets people "try all kinds of new samplings."
August 22 – WTOP
Cheap eats: Silver Spring-Takoma Park Restaurant Week starts Sept. 4
Excerpt: Fourth annual promotion features dozens of restaurants and wide diversity of cuisine.
June 1 – The Sentinel
Stormwater Runoff Causes New Council Rift
Excerpt: Not right time to adopt "drastic policy change," Hucker says.
May 14 – Bethesda Beat
County Council Votes Against Leggett's Plan to Change Stormwater Project Contracting
Excerpt: Council opts to maintain current method, move forward with most beneficial projects.
Montgomery Teachers Union Endorses 4 Incumbents for Council
Excerpt: Hucker picks up endorsement in District 5.
March 24 – The Sentinel
Council Decides to Delay Montrose Parkway East
Excerpt: "This isn't sausage-making. This is organic veggie burger-making," Hucker says.
Hucker Picks Up Endorsement From Workers Union
Excerpt: Montgomery County Councilmember Tom Hucker has been endorsed by 32BJ SEIU during his reelection campaign in District 5.
Superintendent Weighs in on Wednesday's Student Protests in D.C., Threats Against Schools
Excerpt: MCPS can't protect students if they leave campus, Smith writes.
February 18 – Montgomery Community Media
Council Takes Up New Rules for Solar Panels
Excerpt: "We need to drastically reduce our carbon emissions," Hucker says.
June 30 – The Sentinel
Metro GM Addresses Council Concerns
Excerpt: Metrorail system is in the process of fixing a number of safety issues including leakage and defective rail ties.
June 29 – Montgomery County Council
County Lawmakers praise new 'Enterprise Zone" for Burtonsville/Briggs Chaney
Excerpt: Councilmember Hucker joined with the District 14 State Delegation this year to call on the Department of Commerce to create Enterprise Zone. The Enterprise Zone program provides real property and state income tax credits to businesses that create jobs and make capital investments. This program will support small businesses in Burtonsville and Briggs Chaney.
June 27 – Bethesda Magazine
County Council Dives Into Battle Over Legal Definition for a "Country Inn"
Excerpt: A coalition of community groups is lauding a County Council proposal that could derail plans to build a banquet hall with guest rooms near the historic Old Angler's Inn in Potomac." Tom Hucker and Marc Elrich propose new zoning restrictions to help keep the unwanted establishment out of the community.
June 22 – WJLA
Neighborhood smelling gas gets action after calling 7 ON YOUR SIDE
Montgomery Co. commute fix could put county on hook for WMATA
Excerpt: "An effort to bring some limited short-term relief to commuters in the congested Route 29 corridor could leave Montgomery County on the hook for millions of dollars to Metro, the county's transportation department warned a council committee Thursday."
New Montgomery law aims to crack down on vacant, poorly maintained homes
Excrept: Tom Hucker sponsors a bill that will impose a large fee on owners with vacant, unmaintained properties. This bill is aimed to enusre that neighborhoods can stay clean and well maintained.
Montgomery Co. bill may help foreclosed homes get on the market
Excerpt: "A coalition of community groups is lauding a County Council proposal that could derail plans to build a banquet hall with guest rooms near the historic Old Angler's Inn in Potomac." Tom Hucker and Marc Elrich propose new zoning restrictions to help keep the unwanted establishment out of the community.
Urban farm bill passes in Montgomery County
Excerpt: "The more we can grow healthy food close by, and reduce the food miles, the greenhouse gas footprint of bringing food from all over and the more we can create an opportunity for local students in an urban environment like Silver Spring to come right here and see where their food comes from," said Councilman Hucker.
February 14 – WTOP
Where Montgomery Co. needs to improve after apartment explosion
Excerpt: The Montgomery County Council received an after-action report Tuesday afternoon on the county's response and recovery efforts and the lessons learned. The review found room for improvement mostly in the area of communications.
February 13 – WHAG
Stand-off spills into streets of Silver Spring over unionizing
Excerpt: "They're trying to organize a union. They've never had one," said Tom Hucker, Montgomery County Council member. "We support their efforts to do that. If nurses vote to have a union, they should have one, and management shouldn't fight that." Nurses told WHAG they've been pulled from patients' rooms by management to discuss the ills of unionizing."
November 1 – WTOP
Montgomery Co. passes parental leave bill
Excerpt: "Bill 32-16 was passed unanimously by the county council and will give parents time off to care for newborns, and the arrival of adopted and foster children."
September 20 – Washington Post
Montgomery proposal aims to crack down on 'zombie foreclosures'
Excrept: Council Member Hucker introduces a bill that will impose fees on property owners of vacant, unkept properties.
August 4 – Bethesda Magazine
Hucker Looks To Expand Sick Leave Law to Parental Uses
Excrept: "County Council member's bill would allow employees to use sick leave to care for a newborn."
May 26 – Bethesda Magazine
Montgomery Council Member Calls on DLC to Reverse Price Increase
Excerpt: "Montgomery County Council member Tom Hucker is pushing back against a Department of Liquor Control (DLC) proposal to increase the department's price markup by 10 percent on certain special-order fine wines."
March 1 – Bethesda Magazine
County Council Member Proposes Law to Ban Most Teens from Using Tanning Beds
Excerpt: Tom Hucker introduced a bill that would ban minors from using tanning beds and require salons in Montgomery County with tanning beds to post warning signs about the risk of skin cancer associated with the devices.
November 13 – Bethesda Magazine
Hucker Urges School Systen Against Buying Artificial Turf Fields Until Other Maintenance Needs are Met
Excerpt: "Hucker told BOE members that money shouldn't be spent on artificial turf fields until Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) addresses a backlog of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) upgrades at schools around the county."
September 2 – Bethesda Magazine
Silver Spring residents Reject Idea of Moving Confederate Statue to Local Park
Excerpt: Tom Hucker echoes Silver Spring residents' rejection of a confederate statue on the grounds that it is insulting on historical level and contradicts Silver Spring's values and character.
February 24 – Bethesda Magazine
Hucker Pursues Resolution to Oppose Oil and Gas Development off of East Coast
Excerpt: "President Barack Obama outlined a proposal in January 2015 to allow offshore oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic Ocean off the coastline stretching from Virginia to Georgia ... the proposal to start drilling could damage the Atlantic coastline and make the Chesapeake Bay susceptible to oil spills."
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