Development Budget/ Community News
Development Budget/ Community News
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The county has a huge plans to build and repair Prince George’s County. The Capitol Improvement Program consists of 406 projects totaling $4.14 billion.
Excerpt: These projects range from the construction of new facilities to the replacement and updating of existing structures. They include projects for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) and the Prince George's County Redevelopment Authority. The FY 2024-2029 Proposed Capital Program contains 10 fewer projects than the previous six-year program and is projected to cost approximately $315.5 million less than previously programmed for the comparative six-year period. The program is driven by the County’s efforts to meet federal mandated environmental regulations, improve roadway infrastructure and modernize school facilities.
A huge portion of the budget is dedicated to education and health services.
Excerpt: The education/health services portion of the capital program comprises the largest segment at $1.5 billion, or 35.9% of the total. Included here is funding for the Board of Education, the Prince George's Community College, the Prince George's Memorial Library and the Health Department. The amount of funds going to the public-school system comprises 83.1% of the total education/health spending. Funding for this program segment comes from the sale of general obligation bonds and State aid. The County and State share in the construction costs for Board of Education, Memorial Library and Community College facilities.
The document also tells us how county plans to fund these efforts.
You can read more here.
Big News
First LGBTQIA+ liaison for Prince George’s County hired
Excerpt: PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) — The founder of a nonprofit group that offers a safe space for members of the LGBTQ+ community to connect will serve as the first Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) liaison for Prince George’s County.
County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said Thursday that Antonio M. Driver would begin his tenure in the role on June 19.
Driver founded Speak Out in Washington, D.C. The group’s website says its Speak Out’s mission is “to educate, support and connect the LGBTQ+ community of color through social media engagement, mentorship, personal empowerment and health awareness.”
Excerpt: In conjunction with its first Code Purple air quality alert in decades, D.C. is advising residents to shelter indoors– a refrain all too familiar after the COVID pandemic. But not everyone has the luxury of having a place to shelter, with many homeless residents feeling the brunt of the hazardous air.
“This morning, I woke up with my tongue was like an ashtray,” says Lucifer Potter, an unhoused resident of D.C. for over 20 years. Potter is not alone; 4,922 individuals were found to be experiencing homelessness in D.C. during a count in January, the first time in years that homelessness has increased in the District.
Twenty years ago, it was common to have dozens of “Code Red” bad air days per summer
Excerpt: News in DC this week is all about the smoky “Code Red” air: how it’s harmful to breathe and how everyone should stay inside. These warnings are true. But did you know, as recently as twenty years ago, it was common for the DC area to have almost a full month’s worth of such days most summers?
They’re rare now because of anti-pollution regulations that work fabulously well. Through the latter 20th century and the first decade or so of the 21st, DC and most large American metro areas had a terrible air pollution problem. Car exhaust reacted with sunlight to produce ozone, better known in cities as smog. It was visible just about every day, making the air look heavy and orange.
Juvenile services agency teaches kids to find their way on a Western Maryland lake
Excerpt: Donning fitted life jackets, six youths in the custody of Maryland’s juvenile services department sat in green canoes in an Allegany County boat launch parking lot.
A guide — also a juvenile services employee — showed them how to hold a paddle. The paddler in the back steers; they had to work together, he said.
The youths were there as part of an outdoor education program called Reflections, a state-sponsored activity for incarcerated youths meant to show teens other ways to spend their time rather than the illicit behaviors that landed them in the system. For many of the teens placed in juvenile facilities, that was carrying an illegal gun.
Grants Available for Prince George’s Restaurants
Excerpt: One Fair Wage and RAISE High Road Restaurants announced on June 1 the “Keep Restaurant Workers in Prince George’s County” grant program.
The program is designed to support minority-owned restaurants in the county, encouraging higher wages and fostering fair labor practices. In response to the increasing wage competition and the ongoing exodus of workers from the local restaurant industry, the program will award 20-30 establishments with a grant of $5,000-$7,500 each. This crucial funding is aimed at facilitating the hiring and rehiring of staff and transitioning from Maryland’s current $3.63 to a fair wage of $15 plus tips.
Excerpt: Governor Wes Moore’s selection of Major General Janeen Birckhead as his top military advisor makes her the only Black woman in the United States currently in the role of a National Guard Adjutant General.
Birckhead’s new job has two missions that consist of both federal and state roles.
For state missions, Moore, through Maryland’s Adjutant General, commands the force. When needed, Moore can call the National Guard for duty during local or statewide emergencies, such as storms, fires, earthquakes or civil disturbances. For national missions, and when requested by the President, the National Guard provides trained units to defend the United States and the country’s interests around the world.
Celebrating LGBTQI+ Pride Month
Full text: The Prince George’s County Council joins in the LGBTQI+ Pride Month celebration, acknowledging the contributions of the LGBTQI+ community to our County and society, and to encourage active support through education and programs that advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. On Tuesday, May 30, 2023, the County Council unanimously adopted Council Resolution 62-2023, introduced by District 7 Council Member Krystal Oriadha. The measure recognizes LGBTQIA+ PRIDE Month, June 1 through June 30, designated for the promotion of self-affirmation, self-respect, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA) individuals as a social group. “For me, PRIDE Month is about equality, dignity and respect for lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual communities. As a bisexual individual, visibility is important to me and I am excited to bring this resolution to the County, which will reinforce acceptance and visibility of our LGBTQIA+ communities in Prince George's County.”, states Prince George’s County Council Member Krystal Oriadha, sponsor/proposer of Council Resolution 62-2023.
Millard House chosen as new public schools leader in Prince George’s
Excerpt: Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) announced Wednesday that Millard House II will lead the county’s school system, the second-largest in Maryland and one of the 20 largest in the nation.
House, 51, comes from the Houston Independent School District. With a student population of nearly 190,000, it is the biggest in the state of Texas and eighth-largest in the country.
“To walk into this position is something that I do not take lightly,” he said at a news conference at the Wayne K. Curry Administration building in Largo.
Too Many Older Black Men Are Dying After Surgery
Excerpt: The purpose of surgery is to solve an otherwise daunting medical issue — but that only works if the patient survives. While most people live well past their procedures, a recent study found that older Black men have a higher chance of dying within 30 days.
The study by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) reveals that older Black men are 50% more likely than white men to die after elective surgery — non-emergency operations scheduled in advance.
The researchers examined Medicare data from 2016 to 2018 for nearly 1.9 million Black and white beneficiaries ages 65 to 99. These people had undergone one of eight common surgeries: abdominal aortic repair, appendectomy, cholecystectomy, colectomy, coronary artery bypass, hip replacement, knee replacement, and lung resection.
Hunger relief organizations say expanded work requirements for SNAP are ‘unusually cruel’
Excerpt: After a lengthy negotiation process to settle on a bill that would raise the debt ceiling in order for the U.S. government to avoid default, the bill now expands the age range in which a person needs to be employed, or in a work training program, in order to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits.
The recently signed federal debt ceiling bill implements new employment requirements for those on food assistance programs due to low income, but Maryland focused hunger-relief organizations believe that the new requirements are “unnecessarily cruel” and politically motivated.
Attorney General indicts 15, including prison staff member, over alleged contraband conspiracy
Excerpt: Attorney General Anthony Brown announced the indictment of more than a dozen people in connection with contraband smuggling operations at the Roxbury Correctional Institution in Hagerstown, his office announced Thursday.
The Office of the Attorney General said that 15 people — four outside facilitators, 10 people who are incarcerated, and an RCI staff member — have been indicted for operations that smuggled in drugs, including fentanyl and methamphetamines, as well as other prohibited items, into the prison in Washington County.
Brown (D) said that crimes committed in prisons are “as much a threat to our communities as crimes committed in our neighborhoods and streets,” according to a written statement.
UMPD investigating multiple hate bias incidents in La Plata Hall
Excerpt: The University of Maryland Police Department is investigating a hate bias incident report at La Plata Hall where racial slurs against the Black community were found written in multiple locations.
Police responded to La Plata Hall at 9:18 a.m. on April 29 after a Department of Resident Life staff member found a racial slur against the Black community on the eighth floor, according to Lt. Rosanne Hoaas.
Outdoors could be key to improving post-pandemic learning
Excerpt: WASHINGTON – When Tom Ackerman first began his teaching career in Harford County, the end of the school day always brought about frustration.
During the final minutes of the class, he would attempt to wrangle his most challenging students’ attention and connect them with his lessons.
But one day, Ackerman’s principal – a former gym teacher – gave the science teacher a piece of advice that changed everything: take the students outside.
Cardin reintroduces bipartisan bill to authorize coastal watershed habitat conservation program
Excerpt: WASHINGTON – Marking American Wetlands Month, Sens. Ben Cardin, D-Maryland, and Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, have reintroduced legislation aimed at continuing conservation programs at two dozen coastal areas, including the Chesapeake Bay.
The Coastal Habitat Conservation Act is being sponsored in the House by Reps. Jared Huffman, D-California, and Jennifer González-Colón, R-Puerto Rico.
The Senate and House bills would give statutory authority to, as well as fund, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Coastal Program, which is voluntary and partnership-based.
Community News
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. Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, and nationally renowned morning show host, radio DJ, film director, writer, and actor Russ Parr will headline the 1000 Fathers Rally for Peace, providing 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.
District 6 Virtual Townhome Town Hall Discussion
Join Prince George's County Council Vice Chair Wala Blegay, Esq. for a virtual Townhome Town Hall Discussion on Monday, June 12, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM.
The community will have an opportunity to participate in a vritual discussion around Council Bill 52-2023 (CB-052-2023), and infrastructure concerns in Prince George's County.
Residents are invited to register for the Town Hall by visiting the following link here: bit.ly/45lxWqR.
For more information, please review the event flyer or contact the Council District 6 office via email (councildistrict6@co.pg.md.us) or telephone ((301) 952-3426).
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. The Maryland Municipal League (MML) is composed solely of municipal officials and devoted to the promotion of all branches of municipal administration. MML works to strengthen and support municipal government through advocacy, the development of effective leadership, and offers legislative representation in Washington, urban research programs, and a national municipal government information exchange.
For more information, please contact your respective Council member's office.
District 1 Virtual Community Conversation with Congressman Glenn Ivey
Residents are invited to join Prince George’s County Council Chair Tom Dernoga for the next installment of the District 1 Virtual Community Conversation Serieson Thursday, June 29, 2023, at 7:00pm.
This month’s featured speaker is Congressman Glenn Ivey, representing Maryland's 4th Congressional District, who will share updates from Capitol Hill and provide insights into federal matters, legislation, and initiatives directly impacting the Congressional district.
Advance registration is required and can be accessed by visiting https://bit.ly/d1cc629.
Questions may be submitted with your registration. Attendees are asked to request ASL or Spanish translation assistance by June 23, 2023
District 4 Bowie Senior Meet and Greet Events
Join Prince George's County Council Member Ingrid Watson for a series of District 4 Bowie Senior Meet and Greet events in July, 2023.
Senior residents are encouraged to register for one of the following events:
Friday, July 21, 2023
12:00pm - 2:00pm
Pin Oak Senior Buidling, 1st Floor
16010 Excalibur Road
Bowie, MD 20716
To RSVP, contact:
Chantise Davis
pinoak@hrehllc.com
(301) 464-6830
Friday, July 8 2023
12:00pm - 2:00pm
Evergreen, The Willows, and Bowie Commons
3800 & 3850 Enfield Chase Court, Outsdie Patio Area
Bowie, MD 20716
To RSVP, residents are asked to contact the respective community contact: