PG Politics/ Community Safety Event/Gov. Wes Moore is Moving Fast
PG Politics/ Community Safety Event/Gov. Wes Moore is Moving Fast
Maryland is moving fast
Over the weekend, I attended am event about community safety at Bishop McNamara High School. Residents from North and South County attended. They talked about a range of topics. You can read about it here.
The room was packed with concerned citizens, and conversation centered around the increased carjackings, and homicides in certain areas of the county. It should be noted here that crime in Prince George’s County, up until the pandemic, had been on a decline.
However, elected officials and residents had conversations about other topics as well. One resident wanted to know how she could get address to show up on Google. Other residents talked about environmental issues. The county has lacked the funding to clean up litter along Route 4, a major road that leads to the Southside of Washington, D.C.
But police criminal activity didn’t come up at all. Police brutality is often talked about as if it is not a crime committed by officers. Police brutality is a crime and public health crisis. There was talk about offering police officers better training — but, again, not direct talk about police brutality. The Prince George’s County Police Department has a history of police brutality. About three years ago, Prince George’s County Police Cpl. Michael Owen shot William Green while handcuffed. He died. The county paid the family $20 million. There is also Demonte Ward-Blake, who was paralyzed by officer Bryant Strong.
The police department also engaged in discrimination practices against Black police officers. Recently, according to WUSA, Braveboy attempted to offer officer Owen, who shot William Green, a plea deal. Green’s family and activists disagreed and protested. Now, it seems the case is going to trial.
Additionally, several branches of local government talked about staff shortages. The Prince George’s County States Attorney, The Sheriff’s Office and Police Department said they had staff shortages, which, they said, affects their ability to do their job. Deputy Chief James McCreary encouraged community members to fill positions in the department. District 6 Council- Vice Chair Wala Blegay, who organize the event, blamed the negative national police brand (my words) of the police for the staffing shortage.
Here is how other local news organization covered the event:
Prince George’s Co. council holds safety forum to hear public crime concerns
Residents Voice Concerns at Public Safety Forum in Prince George's County
The Intersection tweeted about the event.
Prince George’s County Gettin’ Money
County Executive Angela Alsobrooks scored another win for the county. The United States Department of Transportation awarded the county a little over $21 million to complete various road projects in North and South County. The money is apart of The Biden-Harris administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure bill, which set aside $800 million to improve roads throughout the U.S. The county applied for a grant through the Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant program. From the Transportation.gov:
“This project includes implementing safety countermeasures and connectivity improvements along high-injury network and similar corridors in Prince George’s County. The project will improve visibility, slow vehicle speeds, and promote pedestrian and bicyclist safety in underserved communities by reducing lane widths; installing ADA-compliant curbs, high- visibility crosswalks, and lighting; and implementing a road diet.”
Below is a map of the projects.
Combatting Crime
Prince George’s County Council Kyrstal Oriadha seeks to get a law passed that incentivizes residents who buy home cameras. Read about it here. An excerpt:
“The Prince George’s County Council will consider a measure that would offer rebates to county residents who that buy and maintain security cameras outside their homes. The measure would also subsidize businesses’ costs to purchase cameras.”
Community News
Redevelopment Authority Board Meeting
February 7, 2023
Time: 9:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Location: Please contact Lakeisha Smith via email: ldsmith@co.pg.md.us for Zoom Link details. Contact: 301-883-7329 Email: ldsmith@co.pg.md.us
Prince George's County Business Certification Overview
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Location: The Prince George's County Business Certification Overview will be held via ZOOM. Contact: 301-883-6480. Email: SDDD@co.pg.md.us. Link: Register in advance
Board of Registration for Building Contractors Meeting
Wednesday, February 8, 2023 Time: 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM Contact: 301-636-2038
Address: 9400 Peppercorn Place Room 124 Largo, MD 20774
Board of Ethics Meeting (Virtual)
Wednesday, February 8, 2023 Date: February 8, 2023 Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Please use the link below to join the Board of Ethics Meeting on Wednesday, February 8, 2023. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Office of Ethics and Accountability at 301-883-3445. Thank you.
Click here to join the meeting
Maryland
At the start of Black History Month — Gov. Wes Moore gave the State Of The State speech in Annapolis. Moore reiterated his goals to lift up all Marylanders via through his new budget. Here is the budget, and you can read his speech here. You can view it here. Also a Republican Del. Jason Buckel responded to Moore’s speech and budget proposal.
The Intersection tweeted about it.
MD Legislature
Bust of former chief justice, proslavery Marylander removed from U.S. Capitol
Maryland House majority leader sets sights, again, on new plan for rail management in the state
A plan for legal recreational cannabis sales in Maryland is coming soon. Here’s what to know.
Moore’s first bills focus on reducing poverty, improving access to banking and broadband