So there I was, crawling along the Beltway at the speed of a DMV permit test line, wondering if maybe—just maybe—this traffic jam was caused by something mildly justifiable: an overturned tractor trailer? A rogue deer crossing the median? A flaming metro bus being used as a set for the next DC Universe reboot?
Nope.
It was Councilman Evan Glass and his merry band of anti-monarchists clogging up the bridge above, shouting “NO KING FOR SILVER SPRING!” like the Redcoats were marching down Georgia Avenue and someone had just declared martial law at Ellsworth Place.
Let me break this down for you: Montgomery County’s very own traffic czar—excuse me, progressive visionary—thought the best way to make a political statement was to shut down one of the most congested commuter corridors in the region. Because when the going gets tough, Evan Glass gets theatrical.
While thousands of hardworking Marylanders were just trying to get home, get to work, or get their kids to summer camp before the juice boxes ran out, Evan’s overpass rally turned the Beltway into a parking lot. A slow, honking, infuriated parking lot of boiling tempers and rapidly draining gas tanks.
But hey—he’s not fixing traffic. He’s making it performative.
Let’s be clear: Evan Glass doesn’t want to solve traffic. That would require things like, I don’t know, building infrastructure, repairing roads, increasing law enforcement presence, or maybe approving a third Potomac River crossing like every sane person west of 270 has been begging for since AOL CDs were still a thing.
Instead, Glass wants to paint “Equity Zone” bike lanes on every road, ban right turns on red, and eliminate actual lanes so that every street looks like a Waze nightmare. Because if we can’t fix traffic, we can at least make it more inclusive while you sit through three light cycles to go 0.3 miles.
But what’s truly royal about this Beltway Bedlam is that while Evan Glass was out there waving signs and high-fiving people in red-white-and-blue onesies, his own constituents in Silver Spring were dealing with actual problems—like crime.
You remember crime, right? That pesky thing where people get mugged, cars get stolen, and residents are afraid to walk home after dark?
Apparently, Councilman Glass doesn’t.
In fact, Evan Glass has avoided addressing the crime in downtown Silver Spring like it’s a hot mic in a live interview. You’d think he was allergic to police presence. You’d think his job description was “professional banner enthusiast” instead of “elected official responsible for public safety.”
News flash: Silver Spring has seen a surge in carjackings, assaults, armed robberies, and gang activity. Businesses are struggling, families are worried, and residents are whispering the unthinkable—“Should we move to Rockville?” And what’s Evan doing? Holding rallies against fictional kings and snarling up traffic.
Let me be generous and assume he’s protesting the idea of political overreach or unaccountable leadership. Fine. But here’s the plot twist: Evan Glass has basically become the local lord of inaction. He talks like a revolutionary but governs like a theater major with a megaphone and zero practical ideas.
You want a good laugh? This is the same guy who couldn’t be bothered to support increased funding for the Montgomery County Police Department—but he’ll put on a tri-cornered hat to yell about a “king” that no one elected and no one sees. Meanwhile, residents are seeing real criminals right outside their doors.
Here’s an idea, Evan: Instead of treating the Beltway like a stage and your constituents like extras in your indie political drama, how about focusing on the very real, very solvable issues in your district?
Start with crime. Or traffic. Or economic development. Or potholes. Or homelessness. Or literally anything other than a hashtag protest with colonial cosplay.
But no. Because in 2025 Montgomery County, logic is colonial, public safety is problematic, and traffic jams are a form of performance art.
And of course, in Glass’s kingdom, the peasantry (that’s you and me) must accept that sitting in traffic for an hour behind a Toyota Sienna with four screaming toddlers is a symbol of resistance. It’s like, “Hamilton” but with brake lights and no soundtrack.
Even better? Evan’s proud of this. He’s on social media celebrating the rally like he just led a march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. He’s out here retweeting himself, smiling with signs like, “NO KINGS,” while the rest of us are stuck behind some poor guy trying to merge who hasn’t blinked in 45 minutes.
But you know what’s worse than causing a traffic jam?
Causing one while refusing to do anything about the actual emergencies in your district.
If downtown Silver Spring feels like Gotham with fewer capes and more boarded-up coffee shops, it’s not because of Batman villains—it’s because local leadership keeps defunding reality and funding fantasy. And Evan Glass is the poster child of that trend.
He wants to be known as the activist councilman. The first openly gay member of the council. The visionary who fights against authoritarianism. But what he’ll be remembered for?
Being the guy who blocked traffic while crime blocked livelihoods.
So here’s a proposal: Evan, next time you want to yell “NO KINGS,” how about doing it somewhere other than the Beltway? Maybe do it in front of your office, or better yet—try doing it at a town hall where someone might actually ask you why you’ve ignored rising assault rates and allowed downtown Silver Spring to feel like a third-world open-air flea market at midnight.
Because if you’re going to dress up like George Washington, maybe try leading like him too. You know, take responsibility. Lead the troops. Defend the village. Not wave flags while dodging potholes and public safety.
But hey—if traffic jams and Twitter clout are the new metrics of leadership in Montgomery County, then congratulations, Councilman Glass.
You’re already wearing the crown.
– Ian Schwartz, Stuck in Traffic, Reporting Live from the Exit Ramp
Endnotes
- Maryland Traffic Data – According to the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), the I-495 Beltway remains one of the most congested corridors in the Washington, D.C. metro region, with peak delays averaging over 35 minutes during weekday rush hours.
Source: Maryland State Highway Administration Annual Mobility Report, 2024 - Silver Spring Crime Statistics – Crime in Silver Spring, particularly auto theft, robbery, and assault, has risen significantly over the past three years. In 2024, downtown Silver Spring saw a 21% increase in reported violent crimes compared to 2021.
Source: Montgomery County Police Department Crime Data Dashboard, 2024 - Catalytic Converter Thefts – Catalytic converter thefts in Montgomery County jumped by 300% between 2020 and 2024, with Silver Spring being one of the hardest-hit areas. The valuable metals inside make them a prime target.
Source: MCPD Public Safety Briefing, Q4 2024 - Councilman Evan Glass’s Statements on Traffic – Councilman Glass has historically opposed highway expansions and new river crossings, advocating instead for transit equity, bike lanes, and “smart growth” urban design strategies.
Source: Montgomery County Council Legislative Session Minutes, 2023–2025 - “No Kings” Rally Details – The “No King for Silver Spring” protest occurred in July 2025, organized by progressive activist groups and attended by local elected officials, including Councilman Glass. The event caused significant Beltway backups during peak commuter hours.
Source: WTOP Traffic Reports & Local News Coverage, July 8–9, 2025 - Evan Glass on Public Safety – While Councilman Glass has supported initiatives focused on mental health and community engagement, he has voted against several proposals to increase traditional police funding or expand patrol presence in downtown Silver Spring.
Source: MoCo Council Budget Hearings, FY2024 and FY2025 - Montgomery County Voter Sentiment – A June 2025 poll conducted by the University of Maryland found that 64% of MoCo residents believed “crime and public safety” were the top issues in Silver Spring, while only 12% prioritized symbolic political protests.
Source: UMD Policy Research Poll, June 2025 - Social Media Reactions – Councilman Glass’s Twitter/X posts promoting the rally received mixed reactions, with many residents criticizing the disruption caused and questioning the relevance of the protest to local governance.
Source: Twitter/X public comments, @EvanMGlass, July 8, 2025 - Comparative Policy Example – While Evan Glass promoted protest activity, nearby jurisdictions such as Fairfax County have doubled down on anti-theft enforcement and infrastructure upgrades, leading to improved crime stats and traffic flow.
Source: Northern Virginia Regional Transportation Report, May 2025 - Historical Irony – The chant “No Kings” echoes colonial-era resistance, but critics argue Glass’s top-down approach to local governance mirrors the very symbolism the rally claimed to oppose.
Source: Maryland Historical Society Commentary, July 2025
Ian Schwartz is a contributor to Direct Line News. Contact Ian at Ian.Schwartz@mcgopclub.com
Direct Line News is a Maryland-based free-access publication committed to the Republican reform tradition.
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