Community News/Big News/ An Announcement
Community News/Big News/ An Announcement
Before we get started, I want to say thank you to our new members. Thank you for trusting me as a reporter, and for reading and sharing www.theintersectionmag.com’s work. Remember, if you have a tip, please email contxtnewsletter@gmail.com.
Change in the right direction is always good. I’ve been thinking about this newsletter and its direction. For a while now, I have been giving you updates on community meetings. No worries, I will continue to do so. But, I want to serve you better. So, I am going to include legislative bills that passed the county council in this newsletter. I hope this added element will help to further inform you.
Feel free to let me know your thoughts. Thank you for all the tips.
Big News
Hoyer endorses Angela Alsobrooks in Maryland Senate race
Excerpt: Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) endorsed Angela Alsobrooks (D) in Maryland’s Senate race Thursday, throwing his support behind the Prince George’s County executive over his House colleague Rep. David Trone (D-Md.).
Hoyer — who previously served as House majority leader — endorsed Alsobrooks during a campaign event in Suitland, Md.
“I proudly offer Angela Alsobrooks my endorsement for the United States Senate,” Hoyer said in a statement.
“It’s rare to find leaders who understand and respect history while putting forward a bold vision for the future. I have long known that Angela is one of those exceptional leaders. I ask all Marylanders to join me in sending her strong, experienced, and compelling voice to the United States Senate,” he added.
Prince George’s County bill will limit single-use utensils
Excerpt: [On June 1], restaurants in Prince George’s County may only provide single-use utensils upon request, thanks to a new county law aimed at keeping local waterways and streets clean.
Introduced last year by councilmembers Danielle Glaros, Jolene Ivey, and chair Thomas Dernoga, the bill instructs restaurants filling take-out and delivery orders to forgo disposable utensils unless a customer has given special instructions to include them. Restaurants may also stock them at a self-service station for customers grab (like what you’ll see at a Chipotle.) Starting on August 1, third-party food delivery apps like UberEats and DoorDash must give local businesses the ability to customize an in-app menu that allows users to select what utensils they need, although many have already taken pledges to avoid throw-away cutlery.
Moore Adds Funding for School Meals; North Brentwood Budget Adopted
Excerpt: The Maryland Meals for Achievement In-Classroom Breakfast Program secured $4.5 million in additional funding on May 16 as Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed SB559, bringing the annual program funding to $12 million. MMA provides breakfast to students after the bell in schools where 40% or more of students qualify for free and reduced price meals. Previous budget shortfalls left out over 120 eligible schools in Maryland, including several in Prince George’s County, from reaping the benefits of this program.
EXCLUSIVE: VP Kamala Harris Talks Debt Ceiling, Maternal Health and Small Businesses
Excerpt: In her two-plus years in office, the nation’s first Black and female vice president already has carved an indelible mark on many impactful policies that have seen significant increases in small and minority-owned businesses and record-low Black unemployment.
Vice President Kamala Harris, a force during her years in the U.S. Senate and as a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, has also spearheaded work to help women retain autonomy over their bodies despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s controversial ruling to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade legislation.
AROUND BALTIMORE: YOUTH CURFEW, RENTERS’ RIGHTS, AND CARMELO ANTHONY
Excerpt: Evidence suggests that juvenile curfews are ineffective at reducing crime and victimization. The average effect on juvenile crime during curfew hours was slightly positive — that is a slight increase in crime — and close to zero for crime during all hours,” wrote the authors of a 2016 study that examined the effect of curfews, as cited by the Marshall Project. “Similarly, juvenile victimization also appeared unaffected by the imposition of a curfew ordinance.”
Still, Mayor Brandon Scott forged ahead with one that went into effect on May 26 and lasts until Sept. 4. The curfew applies to “any young person under the age of 14 out after 9 p.m. and between the ages of 14-16 out after 11 p.m. on weekend or holiday nights, without a parent or guardian,” according to language from the city. There are exceptions for things like young people traveling to or from jobs, or young people taking part in city-sponsored activities.
The Moral and Transformative Power of Project Labor Agreements in Prince George's County
Excerpt: As a community advocate and a resident of Prince George's County since 1976, it has been my life's mission to better the lives of my community. This is why I urge Prince George's County offices to seize the opportunity to improve the lives of many of our residents by implementing a project labor agreement (PLA) across all construction projects throughout our county.
Project labor agreements are a partnership between the community, local businesses, and the men and women in the construction industry who build the roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, and other vital infrastructure projects we rely on daily. A countywide PLA will allow Prince George's County officials and our residents working in construction to partner together and ensure our brothers and sisters working on the many taxpayer-funded schools and projects are paid fairly for their labor. The time has come when we must morally choose to stand with our brothers and sisters and lift them out of poverty and into the middle class.
People Seeking Asylum Are Heroes; Politicians Who Demonize Them Are Cowards
Excerpt: WASHINGTON, DC – Following is a statement from CASA Executive Director Gustavo Torres, reacting to the Biden administration’s plan to replace Title 42 restrictions at the U.S./Mexico border with a new asylum ban.
This announcement is a new low for the Biden administration and, indeed, this country. People move. They move for safety; they move for opportunity. They move because they want to, and sometimes because they have to.
The people who are coming to our border to seek asylum are just that—people. They want the same thing we all want—a chance at safety, security, and a future without fear. Why can’t we have policies that reflect our shared humanity?
Excerpt: The Prince George's County council is hoping to move forward with a bill that rewards restaurants that include healthy meal options, but the bill is facing opposition from the county executive's office.
The healthy restaurant bill promotes eating healthier in an area where community leaders say there are too many fast food spots and not enough options for healthy meals, but it comes at a cost to the county.
NPS To Raise Tidal Basin Walkways 5 Feet To Account For Sea Level Rise
Excerpt: When D.C.’s Tidal Basin was built more than 100 years ago, the walkways around it were 6 feet above the Potomac River at low tide. Since then, a combination of rising sea level and sinking land has brought the water much closer — in fact portions of the walkway now flood twice a day at high tide.
The National Park Service has just approved a plan to rebuild several sections of the seawall around the Tidal Basin and nearby West Potomac Park, raising the walkway by roughly 5 feet. Even this height may not be enough to keep walkways dry in the coming decades, however. To deal with future sea level rise, and the potential for more frequent and more intense coastal storms, NPS plans to build the seawalls in a way that they can be built up higher later on.
Community Meetings
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.
Prince George's County Council Members to Co-Host the 2023 MML Summer Conference Breakfast
Prince George's County Council Members Eric Olson (Council District 3), Ingrid Watson (Council District 4), and Jolene Ivey (Council District 5) will co-host the 2023 MML Summer Conference Breakfast on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, beginning at 8:00 AM.
The Dough Roller
(Near Convention Center)
4103 Coastal Highway (41st Street & Coastal Highway)
Ocean City, MD 21942
Prince George's County Council members will join hundreds of Maryland city and town officials at the 2023 Maryland Municipal League Summer Conference to learn about and discuss municipal issues and network with fellow city and town officials.
For more information, please contact your respective Council member's office.
(Event Sold Out) Disability Blind Community Forum
Join Prince George's County Council Member At-Large Calvin S. Hawkins, II in shining a light on blindness at the Disability Blind Community Forum.
DATE:
Friday, June 23, 2023
LOCATION:
First Baptist Church of Highland Park
6801 Sheriff Road
Landover, Maryland 20785
The Disability Blind Community Forum is designed to create a dialogue between various organizations and our community of people with disabilities to address critical issues facing individuals who are blind and ways to enhance their overall quality of life.
Attendees will be eligible to win door prizes from exhibitors and will be provided with boxed lunches. This is a no-cost event.
Advance registration is required. Register HERE.
For more information, please email At-LargeMemberHawkins@co.pg.md.us or call (301) 952-2195.