More Development/Wealth/ Community Meetings
More Development/Wealth/ Community Meetings
More Development inside the Prince George's County beltway
Welcome to all the newcomers. Please share this newsletter with your neighbors. Thank you for being here.
Reminder: This past week, The Intersection published two stories.
“According to Marshall, a medical professional inside the jail told Davis to make a warm compress out of one of her socks. This, the nurse allegedly said, could reduce the size of the lump in her breast.
When Davis was told this, the jail did not have hot water. “When Leara told the doctor that there was no hot water available, the doctor simply shrugged her shoulders and said, ‘Wow, I forgot about that,’” Marshall said.
Dula said it is no longer standard procedure to reduce swelling using hot water. In fact, she said, heat can cause swelling. She said The Academy of Breastfeeding of Medicine recommends using ice packs or cool washing clothes along with continued pumping and gentle massages. But it’s not clear if Davis will get this medical advice in jail.
Under these conditions, Davis continues to pump when allowed.”
Before Gov. Wes Moore went and testified before the Maryland House of Economic Matters Committee at 1 p.m. on Feb. 27, he met with business leaders and an employee, Antonia Brown, to hear about the importance of passing the Fair Wage Act (HB549).
The Fair Wage Act (HB549) would help to speed up the state of reaching the $15 minimum wage point by Oct. 1, 2023. Currently, the state has a yearly increase of the minimum, which would ultimately reach a $15 minimum wage in 2025. It is now $13.25.
Ricarra Jones – political director of the SEIU1199, an organization that represents healthcare workers in Maryland – said the bill “would put a couple more dollars in an employee’s paycheck at the end of the week.”
“They can purchase more food for their kids, pay for transportation, or not have to worry if they can pay their rent,” she explained.
“I am glad this governor has made it a priority,” Jones said.
Community
Angela Alsobrooks announced that five Black firms will head development projects that will occur inside the beltway. This is a part of the plan to develop along the Blue Line Corridor (Metro line). The firms will build locations such as Capital Heights, Addison Road/Seat Pleasant, Morgan Boulevard, and Largo Town Center. You can read the full report about the plan to develop the Blue Line Corridor. Note: Amazon has loaned a development company $20 million to build affordable housing in Capital Heights. This seems to be a part of Amazon’s $150 million investment in the region, according to the DCist.
PG Suite, a news organization, covered the event.
“It’s being recognized as a rare and unique opportunity for any jurisdiction where local minority developers are leading this kind of investment along a five-mile stretch, with projects totaling $769 million in investments.”
A list of the projects:
Pavilion at Lottsford: led by Omar Karim of Banneker Ventures, this mixed-use development will feature 800 residential units and 72,000 square feet of retail.
Park Place at Addison: also led by Omar Karim of Banneker Ventures, this mixed-use development will feature 193 residential units, 11,000 square feet of retail, and 10,000 square feet of community space. This project received funding from Amazon.
Hampton Park: led by Brandon Bellamy of The Velocity Companies, this mixed-use development will feature 400 residential units, a hotel, 100,000 square feet of retail, and over 100,000 square feet of office space.
210 on the Park: led by Anthony Wash of A Wash and Associates, this development will feature 173 total residential units. This project received funding from Amazon.
The Epiphany at 6500 Central: led by Jacqueline Alexander of The Community Builders and Lloyd Blackwell of Harambee Development Group, this mixed-use development will feature 112 residential units and 4,300 square feet of retail.
Some of the most impoverished neighborhoods exist inside the beltway. It would be interesting to see how these developments would benefit those neighborhoods. With the ongoing development and the concern for gentrification in the county, residents being put out of their apartments due to a sudden spike in rent, activists started pushing for rent stabilization. This week, the council voted for a bill that would do so.
Black Wealth
Prince George’s County Change Makers, a grassroots organization, held an online meeting on Black Wealth in the county. The meeting was moderated by Executive Director of PGC Change-Makers Jana Parker. Panelists included: Krystal Oriadha, District 7, Maryland State Delegate Nick Charles, and MD House Majority Whip Jazz Lewis. Here are some of what they shared:
Despite the fact that Prince George’s County is wealthy, there are pockets of poverty. This must be addressed.
A Universal Basic Income is a tool that helps to address the economic needs of those in poverty. However, it does not solve the problem. This tool must operate in concert with other tools. For example, rent stabilization.
Only talking about the wealth of Prince George’s County obscures the needs of the county.
Nick Charles highlighted: Under the Hogan Administration, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) had underfunded Prince George’s County $2 million, which would have been used to clean up state roads. However, under Moore’s administration, MDOT added $30 million to PGC’s government.
You can view the online discussion here.
County Council Meetings
March 7 Public Meetings:
APPT-5-23 Appointment of the following individuals to the Prince George's County Police Accountability Board: Daniel Armando Jones Appointment Term Expiration: June 30, 2024. Request to Speak / Comments
APPT-6-23 Appointment of the following individuals as members of the Human Rights Commission for Prince George's County: Ms. Turkessa L. Brown Appointment Replacing: Wade Woolfolk Term Expiration: 6/30/2025 Ms. Regina C. Gilmore Appointment Replacing: MaKelia D. Mitchell Term Expiration: 6/30/2023 Full Term: 6/30/2026. Request to Speak / Comments
CB-002-2023 AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING ADMINISTRATION - PROCEDURES - LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS to amend the procedures for public notice, review, consideration, and approval of legislative amendments to the text of the Zoning Ordinance of Prince George's County. Request to Speak / Comments
CB-003-2023 AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING APPLICATION-SPECIFIC REVIEW PROCEDURES AND STANDARDS-DETAILED SITE PLANS AND SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS to amend the decision standards for approval of detailed site plan and special exception applications to include master plan consistency as a required standard for site plan approval. Request to Speak / Comments
CB-005-2023 AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING GENERAL PROVISIONS - DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY PURSUANT TO THE PRIOR ORDINANCE-GAS STATION USES for the purpose of amending the period in the Zoning Ordinance for development of Gas Station uses under the prior Ordinance. Request to Speak / Comments
CB-009-2023 AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING TOBACCO SHOPS, ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE SHOPS, OR RETAIL TOBACCO BUSINESSES to amend the Zoning Ordinance to include reasonable parameters as to hours of operation, sign displays as criteria for approval of Special Exceptions; amending the Zoning use tables concerning such use in Non-Residential Base Zones, Transit Oriented/Activity Center Base Zones, and Planned Development Zones, for Tobacco Shops, Electronic Cigarette Shops, or Retail Tobacco Business uses; and providing for an amortization period by December 31, 2025, in furtherance of the public safety, health, and welfare of citizens and residents of Prince George's County. Request to Speak / Comments
COUNTY COUNCIL TOWN HALL MEETING - Strengthening Procurement in Prince George's County at 6:00 PM (In-Person). Request to Speak / Comments
Big News Links
Prince George’s County Council requests investigation into ballooning school construction costs
Prince George’s Co. stopped enforcing its pit bull ban, court filings show
Lawmakers push transit agenda with an equity lens
House, Senate Republicans urge Democratic colleagues to ‘take action’ to combat violent crime
Ben Jealous Is No Climate Justice Newbie
Faith leaders urge Biden to sign executive order for reparations study by Juneteenth
Existing service year programs may provide model for Moore proposal
Bowie State University awarded $1.5 million to increase the pipeline of Black male educators