Purple Line discussion with state officials Monday
The Montgomery County Council is scheduled to meet with state transit officials Monday afternoon to discuss changes to the Purple Line project now that the state has chosen a private partner to finance, build and operate the line. The discussion will center on changes in the project that have resulted in an approximately $14 million increase in estimated costs to the county—led by the cost of the Bethesda Metro’s south entrance elevator project nearly doubling from $58 million to $113 million. County officials have been negotiating with the state over the cost estimates since the state selected the construction and development team Purple Line Transit Partners to build the line in early March. The discussion is scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. at the County Council Office Building in Rockville. The state Board of Public Works is scheduled to review the agreement with Purple Line Transit Partners Wednesday and possibly approve the deal.
First public hearing on fiscal 2017 operating budget Tuesday night
Members of the public will have their first opportunity to weigh in on County Executive Ike Leggett’s proposal to raise taxes this year at a public hearing Tuesday at 7 p.m. Leggett proposed an 8.6 percent property tax increase as a way to boost education spending and handle rising county costs in his fiscal 2017 operating budget proposal. The $5.27 billion proposal is now heading to the County Council for review and would likely require the approval of all nine council members in order for the tax increase to pass, due to a county charter amendment. The public hearing is in the third-floor hearing room at the County Council Office Building in Rockville. Other public hearings on the budget are scheduled at 1:30 and 7 p.m. Wednesday and 7 p.m. Thursday.
Republican District 8 Congressional debate Tuesday
Republican candidates vying for the open District 8 House of Represenatives seat will meet for a debate Tuesday from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in Kensington. The debate is sponsored by the Montgomery County Republican Central Committee and is at The Waterford, 3333 University Blvd. The cost is $5. Invited candidates include Dan Cox, Jeff Jones, Liz Matory, Aryeh Shudofsky and Shelly Skolnick.
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School to host panel discussion on the Supreme Court Wednesday
The high school’s student newspaper, The Tattler, is hosting a town hall discussion Wednesday about the U.S. Supreme Court that will feature a panel of journalists and a U.S. senator. Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso as well as Jess Bravin of The Wall Street Journal, Charles Lane of The Washington Post and Nina Totenberg of NPR are expected to attend. The discussion will take place as a political impasse in the Senate is preventing a vote on the confirmation of President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee—Merrick Garland, who is a Bethesda resident. The session starts at 7 p.m. in the high school’s auditorium.
Patti LaBelle plays two shows at Strathmore Thursday and Friday
Soul singer Patti LaBelle will stop in North Bethesda this week for two shows at The Music Center at Strathmore. The 71-year-old LaBelle, who is known for hits such as “Lady Marmalade” and “New Attitude,” will play shows Thursday and Friday and both start at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $65 to $150.
Freezing temps possible this week
The weather is expected to be cold at night this week. Monday starts off with a high reaching near 70 degrees, but will cool down significantly as showers pass through in the evening and the temperature drops to a low of 30 degrees. The National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning for Monday night. A sunny high of 46 is predicted Tuesday, but freezing temperatures are possible Tuesday night as well, with a low around 31 degrees expected. Mild temperatures are forecast for the rest of the week, according to the weather service, with highs in the upper 50s Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. There’s a chance of showers Wednesday night and Thursday when temperatures will drop to the low 40s.
