Reporting On Community Programs Is About Public Safety/ Community News/ Legislation
Reporting On Community Programs Is About Public Safety/ Community News/ Legislation
Community-oriented solutions matter.
If you haven’t seen The Intersection’s latest article about a local public safety program, you can view it below. Thanks for reading. And I welcome your thoughts.
(Link) See article: “There are not enough programs like this one [in the city],” said Cotey Wynn, program supervisor at Cure The Streets. “There are a lot of kids involved in sports, but we need events like this to bring our youth together, you know, to make sure they’re safe.”
Wynn said to me – near the end of the summer, when the weekly event was about to cease for fall – that he was trying to convince Bratton to keep the program going. “We need to support this [organization],” he told me over the phone. While the organization has temporarily ceased its activity at Anacostia Park, since Oct. 5 it has partnered with the D.C. Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services to hold the roller skating event for youth at that facility.
Legislation
Council Passes Legislation Banning Real Estate Appraisal Bias
Measure Prohibits Illegal Discrimination in Real Estate Appraisal Analysis
The Prince George’s County Council, during a session on Tuesday, November 7, unanimously enacted CB-075-2023, establishing a ban on real estate appraisal bias in Prince George’s County.
Proposed by Council Members Mel Franklin (At-Large), Calvin S. Hawkins, III (At-Large), and Sydney Harrison (District 9), the measure prohibits real estate appraisers from considering race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, disability, familial status, or national origin in their appraisal analysis.
CB-075-2023 also directs the Office of Human Rights to publicize its role in enforcing the ban, including instructing residents on how to file a claim. Violators could be fined up to $10,000.
Council Member Franklin says the goal of this legislation is fair and equitable real estate assessments for Prince George’s County residents.
"Racial and other discrimination in the appraisal of real estate has been documented numerous times across our country, including right here in Prince George's County. Appraisal bias costs working families millions each year in equity and generational wealth in the value of their homes, the largest asset for most families. When someone's home is devalued just because of the color of their skin, it is a violation of their civil rights and basic humanity.”
Council Member Franklin added, “Prince George's County has long been a standard-bearer for homeownership for black and brown communities. There must be zero tolerance here and anywhere in our nation for real estate appraisal bias. The Real Estate Appraisal Bias Ban will establish fines of up to $10,000 for appraisal bias and direct the Office of Human Rights to enforce the law and empower our residents to report real estate appraisal bias when it happens to them. We must end real estate appraisal bias everywhere."
CB-075-2023 will take effect 45 days after it becomes law.
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Prince George’s County cannabis reinvestment board aims to address inequities
Excerpt: The Prince George’s County Council voted unanimously Tuesday to create a cannabis reinvestment and restoration board in an effort to support people disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs.
The Cannabis Reinvestment and Restoration Board established in CB-088 will manage the allocation of funds for community reinvestment and repair related to cannabis in the county.
Community Events
District 6 Veteran's Day Observance Brunch
District 6 Veterans are invited to join Prince George's County Council Vice Chair Wala Blegay, Esq. for a heartfelt Veterans Day Observance Brunch, in honor of the brave men and women who have served our nation with unwavering dedication.
DATE:
Saturday, November 18, 2023
11:00 AM
LOCATION:
FOP Lodge #89
2905 Old Largo Road
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
*Registration is required for this event and is reserved for District 6 Veterans only. Proof of service is required.*
REGISTER HERE
For more information, please contact the Council District 6 office at CouncilDistrict6@co.pg.md.us.
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District 4 Community Partners Food Giveaway
Prince George's County Council Member Ingrid S. Watson, District 4, presents a District 4 Community Partners Food Giveaway between November 17th to November 20th.
Event partners include:
Bowie
Interfaith Coalition of Bowie
Greenbelt
City of Greenbelt - Greenbelt CARES
Glenn Dale/Lanham
Reid Temple A.M.E. Church - Queen Jefferson
Women's Missionary Society Ministry
Upper Marlboro
Fountain Community Enrichment, Inc.
For more information, please contact Bria Archie via email at BAArchie@co.pg.md.us or call (301) 952-3094.
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Thanksgiving Baskets Giveaway
Date: November 11,
Time: 7 am - 9 am
Address: 4610 Largo Road, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20772
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Important: *County government offices, except for public safety agencies, will be closed on Friday, November 10, in observance of the Veterans Day holiday.*
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Freedom Stories Genealogy Forum: Unapologetic Lineage
When: Saturday, November 11, 2023
Time: 3:00 PM 5:00 PM
Where: Creative Suitland Arts Center4719 Silver Hill Rd, Suitland, MD 20746 (map)
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Life After Release Monthly Volunteer Meeting
Time: Thursdays and Fridays, 6 – 7pm EST
Location: Virtual event/Join from anywhere/Hosted in Bowie, MD 20716
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The 90 Day Financial Challenge Workshop
Our goal is to help you move one step closer to building a better financial future.
Understanding your personal credit, learning to budget and investing in your financial future.
Here is what you will get: Free Credit Consulation Free Credit Report Free Resume Free Financial Assessment Free Budget Sheet Free Headshot
Dates and Times Saturday 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM 10/21 11/11 11/18 12/9
Wednesday 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM 10/25 11/1 11/29 12/13
Location: Virtual event/Join from anywhere
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The Prince George’s County Lynching Memorial
Next General Meeting: Saturday, November 18
(More Information Coming soon)
War
Veterans arrested for protest in Sen. Gillibrand’s office
Excerpt: A group of veterans were arrested for protesting in Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s (D-N.Y.) office in the Capitol.
Members of the About Face veterans group came to Gillibrand’s office “to demand to meet, call for an end to the siege on Gaza and for a #CeasefireNow.”
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Israel-Palestine war: Israel plays down US reports of four-hour 'pauses' in northern Gaza
Except: Israel appeared to play down US claims that it would begin implementing four-hour "humanitarian pauses" in northern Gaza, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office and Israeli military officials casting doubt over Washington's announcement.
Earlier on Thursday, White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that there would be two "humanitarian corridors" for Palestinians to flee northern Gaza to the south and that Israel would not carry out military operations in those areas for periods lasting four hours.
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While the focus is on Gaza, Jewish settler violence escalates in the occupied West Bank
Excerpt: The relatives of Ahmed Dawabsheh, a Palestinian boy whose mother, father and 18-month-old baby brother were burned to death by illegal Jewish settlers in 2015, describe the escalating Jewish settler violence in the occupied West Bank as like “living in a ring of fire” At a time when all eyes are on Gaza, Israeli army violations against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and violence by Jewish settlers are both escalating.
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Conflict in Sudan Growing in Scope, Brutality as World Remains Silent
Excerpt: GENEVA — A senior U.N. refugee official Tuesday warned that "an unimaginable humanitarian crisis" was unfolding in Sudan, with millions of people being forcibly displaced from their homes by an increasingly vicious conflict.
"What I saw was despair, was unimaginable humanitarian needs and fear in so many people's eyes," said Dominique Hyde, UNHCR Director of External Relations. "This is a war that erupted without warning and turned previously peaceful Sudanese homes into cemeteries."
Community News
Breaking News: Tracee Wilkins, NBC Washington investigative journalist, reported this: “Virginia lawmakers want a redo of the FBI headquarters process saying:“We are deeply disturbed to learn that a political appointee at the General Services Administration overruled the unanimous recommendation of a three-person panel comprised of career experts from the GSA and the Federal Bureau of Investigation concluding that Springfield, Virginia is the site best suited for the new FBI headquarters.”
Maryland confirmed as pick for new FBI headquarters
Excerpt: The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s new headquarters will be in Maryland, a significant victory for the state following years of jockeying against Virginia and debate throughout several presidencies about where best to locate the law enforcement agency.
The General Services Administration picked the Greenbelt site Wednesday over the Springfield, Virginia, and Landover options, according to a source with knowledge confirming the GSA’s decision to Maryland Matters and States Newsroom.
GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan said in a written statement to States Newsroom and Maryland Matters that “GSA looks forward to building the FBI a state-of-the-art headquarters campus in Greenbelt to advance their critical mission for years to come.”
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FBI director slams selection process for a new HQ in Maryland while lawmakers squabble
Excerpt: The director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Thursday rebuked the site selection process for its new headquarters, while members of Congress from Maryland and Virginia sparred over whether politics unfairly tipped the scales.
FBI Director Christopher Wray wrote in a message to employees that he and others have “concerns about the fairness and transparency in the process,” though he later added those “concerns are not with the decision itself but with the process.”
While working with the General Services Administration, the federal agency tasked with making the decision, Wray wrote the FBI “identified concerns about a potential conflict of interest involving the site selection authority and whether changes that individual made in the final stage of the process adhered to the site selection criteria.”
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Excerpt: When parents fall on hard times and find their salary is not enough to provide for their children, they may be able to get help from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program to keep kids fed and housed while they work to improve their economic situation.
But The Maryland Center for Economic Policy, a progressive nonprofit research and analysis organization, claims that the anti-poverty federal program does not currently sufficiently lift families out of their low-income economic status, and may even perpetuate negative stereotypes of people on welfare.
MDCEP says that the state of Maryland should put more money into the pockets of struggling families, among other measures, to improve outcomes for parents and children just trying to get by.
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What to Do About Infant Mortality
Excerpt: A new report reveals fewer American babies are living until their first birthday. The data, released on Nov. 1 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), revealed a 3% rise in infant death rates — the largest year-to-year increase in two decades, according to the agency.
A total of 20,538 infants were lost between 2021 and 2022, the CDC’s “Vital Statistics” provisional report notes.
Black infants remained at the highest risk of death of all races and ethnicities at 10.86 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022, compared to a rate of 10.55 in 2021. Despite the increase, the CDC said the change was “not statistically significant.”
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Science Says Teens Need More Sleep. So Why Is It So Hard to Start School Later?
Excerpt: High school classes start so early around this city that some kids get on buses at 5:30 in the morning.
Just 10% of public schools nationwide start before 7:30 a.m., according to federal statistics. But in Nashville, classes start at 7:05 — a fact the new mayor, Freddie O’Connell, has been criticizing for years.
“It’s not a badge of honor,” he said when he was still a city council member.