Community Meeting On Crime/ Community News
Community Meeting On Crime/ Community News
Last night, April 13, Prince George’s County State Attorney Aisha Braveboy held a 2023 State of Justice Symposium at Bowie State University. The event was not only about crime in Prince George’s County. It was multiple things. It was part award ceremony, Braveboy amplifying her agency's work in the county, a panel discussion about Maryland’s new laws around marijuana legalization, and analyzing factors that lead to criminal behavior.
Braveboy talked glowing about the work the agency is doing to connect with the community. She praised her office’s work with returning citizens, and juveniles. She talked about a program aimed at parents that would provide them with the support they need to care for their children.
After the award ceremony, there was a panel discussion on crime. That panel included: Prince George’s County State Attorney Aisha Braveboy, Maryland State Sen. Ron Watson, Maryland State Del. Nick Charles, Prince George’s County Sheriff John D.B. Carr, and Deputy Chief James McCreary. Tracee Wilkins, News4 investigative reporter, moderated the panel.
One of the key topics during the meeting was the new laws governing police stops and the legalization of marijuana. (They did discuss ghost guns, car thefts, and juvenile crimes). Recently, the Maryland legislature passed a law prohibiting police officers from using the smell of marijuana as a pretext to stop a vehicle.
(Michele D. Hall, an assistant Maryland public defender, wrote an op-ed about it. She also advocated for the bill in Annapolis. Watch here).
Tracee Wilkins asked the panel about how the legislation impacts policing. Watson wanted to answer that question. Watson highlighted the racial equity report that summarizes the inequity around police stops to preface his answer with context.
“Here is the challenge. Our law enforcement has been able to pick up many, many unlicensed firearms from the smell of cannabis,” he said. “We got 500 hundred guns off the street. It was a valuable tool [stopping people for the smell of marijuana] that our law enforcement used for quite some time. Now, recreational cannabis is legal. Now, we have to put a structure in place where the police can’t just pull someone over for the smell of [cannabis]. We’re challenging a valuable tool that law enforcement had — and we’re still struggling to try to get guns off the street. These are the very hard issues that we (legislature, and police officers) have to deal with each and every day. It was very hard getting this bill passed. We can’t have Black folk riding down the street being profiled. We’ve been down that road. We know what that means. But it puts an extraordinary amount of pressure on our law enforcement to continue to do their job. This marijuana thing we are not going to get it right the first time around. It’s going to take us several iterations to fine-tune this thing so that we can get the economic benefit, and rectify historic wrongs that have happened to our communities with the war on drugs.”
In saying all of this, Watson said he wanted to talk to the criminal justice majors in the room. He wanted them to understand how complicated the law now is. He ended this short speech by saying that the police now have a difficult job applying this new law. “My hat goes off to them,” Watson said.
*Braveboy’s office has not published a recording of the event yet. When they do — I will report it via this newsletter.
Community Meetings
District 3 Spring Nonprofit Networking Event
Prince George's County Council Member Eric Olson will host the District 3 Spring Nonprofit Networking Event on Monday, April 17, 2023 in College Park, Maryland.
WHERE:
College Park Airport Operations Building
1985 Corporal Frank Scott Drive
College Park, Maryland 20740
TIME:
9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
County nonprofits are encouraged to attend to expand their networks, while learning strategies and valuable tips to grow their organizations. For more information, please contact Jaqueline Menjivar at 301-952-7473 or via email: jgmenjivar@co.pg.md.us.
RSVP for the District 3 Spring Nonprofit Networking Event today!
Looking For A New CEO of Prince George’s County Public School System
County Administration is holding a public meeting to listen to residents on ideas for a new PGCPS CEO. It will take place at Charles H. Flowers High School on April 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. Residents interested in testifying at the forum must register online here by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, April 25. Written testimony is also being accepted and can be submitted via email to CountyExecutive@co.pg.md.us by 5:00 PM on Friday, April 28.
Apply to Become a Member of the Fair Election Fund Commission
Interested in making a difference concerning public financing and fair elections in Prince Georges’s County?
The Prince George’s County Council seeking qualified candidates, who reflect political and geographical diversity, to fill five vacant seats on the seven (7) member Fair Election Fund Commission. Each nominee will be confirmed by the county council. Commissioners will serve the remaining two (2) years of the term ending April 30, 2025.
Residents are encouraged to refer to the following Fair Election Fund Commission flyer to access additional information regarding qualifications, responsibilities, and next steps to apply. Click HERE.
Interested residents who wish to be considered should email a resume to Council Administrator Jennifer Jenkins, at JAJenkins@co.pg.md.us by 5:00 p.m. Monday, April 17, 2023. Nominees will also be notified via email.
District 9 Community Clean Up, Shred and Bulk Trash Day
On Saturday, April 15, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Prince George's County Council Member Sydney Harrison will partner with Clinton Baptist Church, Department of Environment, Department of Public Works and Transportation, Alpha Alpha Sigma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., and Priority 1 Shredding to host the Council District 9 Community Clean Up, Shred and Bulk Trash Day. The event will be held at Clinton Baptist Church, 8701 Woodyard Rd. Clinton, MD.
Residents are encouraged to review the below flyer for a list of acceptable and unacceptable bulky trash items.
Please note that no electronic items, including televisions, will be accepted as bulk trash! Electronics disposal, including televisions and monitors, are accepted at the County's Electronic Recycling Acceptance Site in Upper Marlboro, from Thursday-Saturday ONLY. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/pgcwastefacilities.
For more information, please contact Kimberly Lyles at (301)952-3820 or via email at councildistrict9@co.pg.md.us.