With demand for monkeypox vaccine exceeding supply, Montgomery County officials are appealing to Gov. Larry Hogan to provide more doses.

The county has received about 850 vaccine doses and asked the state to provide 2,000 more.

“Gov. Hogan, we need more Monkey Pox vaccinations. Residents are anxious and frustrated, and we need you to do the right thing and provide us more doses,” said Montgomery County Council Vice President Evan Glass.

The County Council unanimously passed legislation Tuesday that requires county buildings and some businesses to have gender-inclusive restrooms. Council Vice President Evan Glass and Council Member Sidney Katz were the lead sponsors.

Glass — who identifies as gay and is poised to become the council’s first openly gay council president later this year — said before Tuesday’s vote that the bill was meant to help everybody in the community. It’s a local example of “what has been a national conversation in making sure everyone feels welcome and safe in their communities,” he said.

It has been almost two years since the tragic death of George Floyd. In the aftermath, Montgomery County and local communities across the country have made significant efforts to reimagine public safety and support policies that improve racial equity and social justice.

One of the most important areas of this work has focused on police reform and ensuring that every resident — regardless of race, immigration status or Zip code — feels safe in the community.

The D.C. region is struggling with a Metro system that is experiencing reduced ridership as the result of pandemic-related workplace changes and a series of safety problems that have affected rider confidence. But often overlooked in our conversations about public transportation is the fact that our regional buses continue operating and performing better than Metrorail. Our robust bus network is proving to be more important than ever.