Big News/ Community Meetings/
This past week, County Executive Angela Alsobrook announced she is running for former Ben Cardin’s senate seat. According to numerous reports — Cardin had phoned people he thought would be interested in running for the seat. Allegedly, Alsobrooks was one of those people. She announced her candidacy at the New Carrollton metro station. According to the Washington Post, Executive Director of Progressive Maryland Larry Stafford was present advocating for impoverished and elderly Prince George’s County residents. Stafford along with others held the rally yards away from Alsobrooks's public announcement.
Larry Stafford, executive director of the organization, and others pushed for funding for a 2018 program that matches small donations for political candidates, the county’s universal basic income pilot program, and a senior financial assistance program for elderly Prince Georgians. Organizers also demanded rental assistance money and financial backing for nonprofits that service those in need.
Last week, Alsobrooks announced that the county is facing a projected $60 million revenue shortfall — the type of challenge that will be demanding her attention as she runs for Senate.
Alsobrooks attributed the recently discovered decline to a wind-down of federal pandemic aid, with agencies across the county expected to be impacted. To make up for the shortfall, Alsobrooks said she would dip into the county’s reserve to avoid raising property taxes, which would be deeply unpopular for many homeowners in the county.
I do think Alsobrook’s run deserves more analysis, and reporting. At her announcement, Alsobrooks was celebrated for being tough on crime, which has become a talking point for mainstream, politically-center Democrats. The latter is a legacy of Democratic politics, even when residents are asking for a more nuanced approach to neighborhood crime (which includes police brutality).
Community Meetings
Public Work’s Week
Date: May 21, 2023 - May 27, 2023
Time: All Day
Location: Prince George's Department of Public Works and Transportation is hosting activities throughout the week to celebrate the incredible staff in the department.
Address: Upper Marlboro, MD 2077
Human Rights Commission Meeting
Monday, May 22, 2023
Please contact the Clerk to the Commission at OHRStaff (at) co.pg.md.us with any accommodation requests at least three business days in advance of any meeting.
Date: May 22, 2023
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: The Human Rights Commission is currently meeting virtually. The Zoom link can be found on the agenda.
Address: Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
District Five Town Hall Meeting: Mental Health Awareness
Join Prince George's County Council Member Jolene Ivey for an informative and engaging District 5 Town Hall Meeting on Mental Health Awareness.
DATE:
Monday, May 15, 2023
6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.
LOCATION:
Kentland Community Center
2413 Pinebrook Avenue
Hyattsville, Maryland 20785
The District 5 Town Hall Meeting serves as an opportunity to discuss mental health challenges occurring in the community, some of the barriers presented in addressing those challenges, and solutions and community resources that are available to support those in need. Special guest speakers include Chief of Police Malik Aziz, Prince George's County Police Departement, Sheriff John Carr, Prince George's County Sheriff's Department, and Jean (JB) Moore, Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Health, Prince George's County.
Advance registration is encouraged. Register HERE.
For more information, please contact the Council District 5 team at (301) 952-3864 or by email at councildistrict5@co.pg.md.us.
Prince George's County Council Member Fisher Presents AAPI Leadership & Breaking Barriers
Join Prince George's County Council Member Wanika Fisher, Esq. on May 18th during Asian American Pacific Islander Month to celebrate AAPI Leadership and Breaking Barriers in Prince George’s County!
DATE: Thursday, May 18, 2023
6:00pm - 8:00pm
LOCATION: Rollingcrest-Chillum Community Center
6120 Sargent Road
Chillum, Maryland 20782
The event will welcome Maryland Lieutenant Governor, Aruna Miller as the keynote speaker and honor the 1st AAPI elected to the State Legislature in Prince George’s County, David Valderrama.
There is limited space at this event. Please RSVP to reserve your spot.
Register HERE: http://bit.ly/AAPI-District2
Council Member At-Large Franklin to host 1000 Fathers Rally for Peace in Prince George's County
Prince George's County Council Member At-Large Mel Franklin invites 1000 Fathers to stand up to be a part of the solution to end violence in our neighborhoods.
The 1000 Fathers Rally For Peace on Sunday, June 11, 2023, 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., at the Show Place Arena. The 1000 Fathers Rally for Peace in Prince George's County will provide resources like job placement, expungement and legal assistance, physical and mental health services, small business support, social services, and much more.
Registration is strongly encouraged. To register, please visit https://tinyurl.com/1000-fathers-rally-2023.
Register HERE.
News
What goes away when the Covid health emergency ends this week
Excerpt: The Covid-19 public health emergency ends Thursday and with it a host of pandemic-era rules and waivers that many Americans have come to take for granted.
While Covid-19 no longer dominates the headlines, ending the state of emergency will affect everything from free vaccines and tests to food assistance programs, and could come as a shock to Americans as subsidized programs they’ve grown accustomed to expire.
Progressive groups put pressure on Prince George’s Co. over budget
Excerpt: A coalition of progressive groups gathered at the New Carrollton Metro Station Wednesday to put pressure on Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and the Maryland county’s council over the budget that’s currently being discussed.
The news conference was meant to send a message to Alsobrooks, and it was moved from Largo to New Carrollton after her campaign rally was announced. However, it was held on the other side of the station and not visible to supporters of the county executive’s bid for higher office.
“For many people here in Prince George’s County, this day is like any other day, where they still have to wake up and make sure that the rent is paid on time, where people are still struggling to pay other bills,” said Larry Stafford, of Progressive Maryland.
Prince George’s Co. school board weighs suing social media giants
Excerpt: The Prince George’s County’s public school system is considering joining a lawsuit filed in Northern California targeting the social media companies behind popular apps and websites including Snapchat, Youtube, Instagram and TikTok.
At a school board meeting on Thursday, a lawyer vying to represent the district was asked what student data would potentially have to be shared with the court.
“You’re probably talking about more statistical information. I don’t think there’s a significant chance of any student identifications, names or anything like that taking place,” Attorney Gregory K. Wells told the board.
Excerpt: Efforts to bring a large-scale opportunity for equity and economic advancement to Prince George’s County have begun again under the new administration of Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.
“Gov. Moore has made this his number one federal issue,” Matthew Verghese, the governor’s senior advisor and director of federal relations, told the AFRO.
Maryland has been in a nearly decade-long struggle to become the site of FBI headquarters since the General Services Administration (GSA) decided to move the location, according to several reports.
The GSA handles public building construction, according to FBI.gov.
Ultimately, one Virginia location and two Maryland sites were selected as finalists.
Passionate DMV Native Langston Hughes on Path to Jazz Success
Excerpt: Langston Hughes II is a DMV native with a passion for music, with the ability to both produce his own composition and reimagine classic songs with his own twist. Not far from his childhood stomping grounds of Capitol Heights and Bowie, Hughes performed a tribute to Duke Ellington late last month at the Kennedy Center. This tribute is available for viewing on YouTube.
He recently graduated from Howard University, where he studied under the tutelage of Charlie Young III. During one of his undergraduate classes, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) 2023 Jazz Masters Fellow Kenny Garrett even gave him feedback on one of his performances during class. His next plans are to study at the famed Juilliard University in New York and achieve a graduate degree in Jazz Studies.
How Recent Banking Collapses Might Affect Black Financial Institutions
Excerpt: Many are concerned about the future of banking for African Americans and where they keep their money considering the impending debt limit crisis that threatens America’s fiscal status globally and the failure of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), Signature, and First Republic banks.
In March, SVB was the first to fail as rising interest rates lowered the value of the bank’s holdings.
After a tumultuous weekend after SVB’s demise, Signature Bank ultimately shut down due to an overwhelming demand for withdrawals.
Blegay Advances Legislation To Address Nurse-Patient Ratios
Excerpt: Last Tuesday, Prince George’s County Council Vice Chair Wala Blegay (D) hosted a press conference inside Largo’s Wayne K. Curry Administration Building to build support for her legislation to reduce nurse-to-patient ratios, which was advanced later that same day.
Blegay, who has served as legal counsel to the DC Nurses Association, originally introduced this legislation in March.
Over a dozen advocates were present to support Blegay at her press conference. Several were members of SEIU 1199, a union primarily composed of healthcare workers. Councilmembers Krystal Oriadha (D) and Edward Burroughs (D) also attended. Signs to “Support Safe Staffing” and “Save Lives” sat behind the podium as she discussed the legislation.
In major new report, scientists outline path to a better Chesapeake Bay – but it’s a slow one
Excerpt: For decades, efforts to restore a healthy Chesapeake Bay have operated under a relatively simple assumption: Ongoing actions to reduce nutrient pollution on the landscape would improve water quality which, in turn, would bring back the bountiful populations of fish, crabs and oysters once seen in the Bay.
But a new report from some of the Bay’s top scientists says those results are both more difficult and uncertain than originally thought. It suggests that major adjustments are needed in existing programs — and perhaps public expectations — to improve the Chesapeake’s health.
The 114-page report casts doubt that the decades-old goal of eliminating low oxygen “dead zones” in the deepest part of the Bay is achievable, at least without new technologies.
An Open Letter from Prince George’s County Department of the Environment Director Andrea Crooms
Excerpt: Dear Prince Georgians,
Did you know that approximately 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted each year globally? Discarded food is dumped into landfills, releasing greenhouse gas as it slowly rots away. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, food is the largest category of material placed in municipal landfills in the United States. Food waste emits methane, a powerful greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. Instead of nourishing us, our landfilled food contributes to air and water pollution.
In Prince George’s County, almost 34% of what is being disposed of at the County’s landfill is compostable, with food and food-soiled products making up the largest portion of the materials. That’s one-third of our landfill filled with valuable materials left to pollute our environment.
Laurel Mayoral Vacancy Brings Eager Candidates
Excerpt: Last month, longtime Laurel Mayor Craig Moe announced his retirement, following over 20 years of service to the town. It is very likely that this election will give the 153-year-old town its first Black Mayor. The first two candidates to announce thus far have been Councilman At-Large Martin Mitchell and Ward 2 Councilman Keith Sydnor.
Mitchell announced his campaign shortly after Moe’s retirement in late April, and Sydnor announced his campaign on May 1.
Bowie residents speak out against zoning master plan involving old airport site
Excerpt: BOWIE, Md. (DC News Now) — Dozens of Bowie residents filled the Prince George’s County Council hearing room as several people weighed in on what they want at the site of the old Freeway Airport during a zoning hearing for the city’s master plan.
Many residents are concerned about a recent text amendment that would reclassify Freeway Airport to a residential, single-family-attached zone, which would bring hundreds of new townhomes to the area.
“I was really upset about that because of the zoning doesn’t fit with that community,” said longtime Bowie resident Monica Roebuck.
The problems with the criminal legal system in PG County are significant including pretrial detention for long periods even when judge has ruled for release, food and medical care in the jail, identified lying police officers etc. Destroying a progressive school board which favored removing SROs (armed) from schools. Alsobrooks is accountable for these problems and all candidates need to respond to these racist practices.