Spring is finally just around the corner, and things are definitely heating up at both the MD and VA General Assemblies and in our local communities. Let’s tackle the action items ahead together!
Author: Elena Sorokina
What’s the latest at the VA General Assembly?
Life moves pretty fast at the General Assembly – if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it!
Support these three key Maryland housing bills!
Maryland has a housing shortage, and is losing residents to other states where housing is more affordable. The following bills can help change this trajectory by ensuring our communities can build homes that truly reflect the diversity of needs of Maryland residents.
All Things Montgomery: February 2026
The weather is cold, but the MoCo housing social + advocacy calendar is heating up! 🔥
Our region is finally digging out from under all that snowcrete just in time for you to attend our Montgomery for All + CSG February happy hour tomorrow night!
And for those of you who have been hiding secret singing talents, we have just the event for you—our inaugural urbanist karaoke in Silver Spring on March 17.
Below, you can also read more about Governor Moore’s 2026 housing package, and sign up for GGWash’s Annapolis lobby day on March 4.
Stay warm out there—and I hope to see you soon!
Carrie Kisicki
Maryland Housing Advocacy Manager, Coalition for Smarter Growth
Coordinator, Montgomery for All
✨ TOMORROW: Attend our Silver Spring happy hour! ✨
Come out to Commas Food Hall in Silver Spring tomorrow, Feb. 25 @ 5:30PM for a happy hour with CSG and Montgomery for All! We’ll share updates on Montgomery for All’s new working groups and our planned work this year on local master plans. Snacks provided!
Sing your heart out at urbanist karaoke on March 17! 🎤👩🎤
Do you have what it takes to become the next Montgomery for All Idol? Montgomery for All and CSG are co-hosting karaoke night at the American Legion post in Silver Spring on March 17. Bring your friends and sing your favorite place-based and urbanism-related songs (creativity encouraged)!
Gov. Moore’s 2026 Housing Growth and Affordability Agenda
The Maryland Assembly is back in session through April for the 2026 legislative session. Among other issues, legislators will address what some are calling “Moore Housing 3: Abundance Drift” as the Moore-Miller administration makes housing a central part of its legislative priorities for the third year in a row.
Greater Greater Washington is organizing a March 4th trek to the state house to advocate for these bills. Learn more about the event here, and sign up to join fellow housing activists to lobby for these bills and meet with your state legislators.
>> Read more about the Governor’s housing package
Brandi Panbach
Newsletter Chair, Montgomery for All
Make a difference! Upcoming meetings, hearings, and events
- February 25: February Montgomery for All Happy Hour @ 5:30PM (RSVP)
- Now through February 27 @ 5:00PM: MacArthur Boulevard Bikeway & Pedestrian Safety Improvements (learn more, take the survey)
- March 4: GGWash Lobby Day 2026 (RSVP)
- March 17: City-Themed Karaoke @ 7:00PM (RSVP)
- ⭐ March 26: The Wheaton Plan: A Georgia Avenue Community Plan Open-House hosted by Montgomery Planning, 5:00 – 8:00 PM (RSVP)
- April 14 – 28 (multiple dates): Purple Line Community Advisory Team virtual update meetings (dates here); see website for registration links closer to meeting dates
⭐ Planning is launching a new Wheaton Master Plan — learn more on March 26
In last month’s newsletter, we mentioned the Wheaton area Georgia Ave. Corridor Plan as a forthcoming plan in 2026. Well… it’s here!
Stop by Montgomery Planning’s Wheaton Plan open house on March 26 from 5:00 – 8:00PM. According to Planning, the plan’s goals (which will be further refined through the community visioning planning phase) will include:
- Advancing Wheaton’s potential by identifying actionable strategies and recommendations for multimodal transportation, environmental resilience, housing affordability, and economic competitiveness
- Responding to community calls for improved walkability, safety, and connectivity
- Supporting and enhancing Wheaton’s unique identity and sense of place
Become a member of Montgomery for All!
Join our community of local advocates when you become a member of Montgomery for All! Membership is just $5 a year and supports our advocacy for affordable, inclusive housing options and great, walkable communities across the county.
This newsletter is brought to you by ❤️:
Montgomery for All Newsletter Chair: Brandi Panbach
Montgomery for All Coordinator: Carrie Kisicki
Additional Editorial Contributions: Tony Byrne
Letter: COG’s Mid-Course Review of climate plan needs to include performance targets, housing
CSG and several officials on the CEEPC have expressed concerns that COG’s mid-course review of the region’s 2030 Climate and Energy Action Plan to date is not showing progress relative to performance targets and is missing key data.
Two community events in Alexandria: Duke Street & Housing 2040
Alexandria is holding two community open houses next week where you can offer your input on two major ongoing projects: the Duke Street Land Use Plan and Housing 2040.
Testimony: Starter and Silver Homes Act (MD)
Maryland is experiencing a housing shortage, and losing residents to other states where housing is more affordable. SB 36 can help change that trend by ensuring our communities can build homes that reflect the diversity of needs of Maryland residents.
Support 3 key reforms for better Maryland transportation
A transportation trifecta is moving through the MD General Assembly: more climate-friendly projects, more options than driving, and more homes and businesses near transit. Send an email to make sure these three bills get passed!
Speak up for a more walkable, bikeable Braddock Road!
Alexandria wants to make Braddock Road safer for people walking and biking, including children walking and biking to school, and people connecting to Metro, area trails, retail and services. Please consider speaking up in support of these needed improvements.
CSG in the News: Fairfax County residents face challenges in housing affordability
Stewart Schwartz, executive director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, offered a statement to the Fairfax County Times on the tools needed to ensure affordable housing.