8 minute read
Prince George's County
William J. Ford WI Staff Writer
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 caused Prince George’s County to lose 48,000 jobs in four months.
County officials proclaimed Tuesday at least 90% of those jobs have recovered as several hundred business owners, executives and other officials applauded that figure at the annual State of the Economy address, held in person for the first time since 2019.
“We will recover 100% of the jobs by the end of this calendar year,” County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said at MGM National Harbor casino and resort. “Our county is healthy and growing.”
Alsobrooks summarized how the county’s economic future will blossom with a new cancer center opening in 2024 on the campus of the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center that opened last year in Largo.
Hospital and elected officials participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony last month to open a $7.6 million behavioral health unit at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center in Clinton.
Alsobrooks announced a major grocer will move into the county: Trader Joe's. The company posted on its website it will be coming soon to College Park.
One of the county’s biggest economic projects will be along Metro’s Blue Line Metrorail corridor.
Thanks to legislation approved this year by state lawmakers, the Maryland Stadium Authority will authorize $400 million to issue bonds to refurbish, construct and open sports and entertainment facilities in the county.
More specifically, within communities inside the Beltway along Metro’s four Blue Line stations that include Largo, Morgan Boulevard, Addison Road-Seat Pleasant and Capitol Heights.
The plans include a sports fieldhouse, a plaza, market hall and residences.
“Those projects don’t depend on the Washington Commanders,” Alsobrooks said about the NFL football team located near the Morgan Boulevard Metro station. “Let me be very clear – we believe that they belong here but we’re working on planning a new cultural center, a library” and other amenities for the community.”
Alsobrooks highlighted businesses such as IonQ of College Park which develops quantum computing devices and reported a 300% spike in revenue in one year.
ARETHA Prince George’s Council Approves $5 Billion Budget Half of the Allocated Funds Earmarked for Education
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William J. Ford WI Staff Writer
5 Prince George's County Council chair Calvin Hawkins II, (left) leads a press briefing after council approved a $5 billion fiscal year 2023 budget on June 1. (Robert R. Roberts/ The Washington Informer)
The Prince George’s County Council unanimously approved a $5 billion fiscal year 2023 budget June 1 that increases spending on education and the police department.
The county’s public schools account for more than half of the spending plan at $2.6 billion toward various programs that include a public private partnership (P3) program to build several new schools, increase resources in English language learners and COVID-19 relief grants for summer school and technology services.
The school system will also receive millions of dollars from the state’s Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education including $54 million for schools in high concentration areas of poverty. In addition to the Blueprint program, state aid for the county has been estimated to be $1.3 billion.
“What we have done is historic,” said Council member Deni Taveras (D-District 2) of Adelphi, who approved her last budget June 1 due to term limits. “We have fully funded our schools in the highest amount that it has ever been. This is a transformational budget.”
The police department budget will increase to nearly $367 million, a 7% increase from the current spending plan.
Some of the increased expenditures include general administrative contracts at $2.9 million mostly due to legal fees; vehicle maintenance at $504,500; and five new positions for a deputy director for forensics, two chemists to assist in DNA analysis and two crime scene investigators at $390,600.
The county has about 56 traffic
5 Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said the county “is healthy and growing” at the county’s annual State of the Economy address at MGM National Harbor casino and resort June 7. It marked the event’s first time in person since 2019. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)
The company announced in September its plans to partner with the University of Maryland to create the nation’s first quantum lab.
Before the pandemic, Donald Thompson managed 12 employees at his café inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture building in Riverdale Park. While he now runs it by himself he said he could not have remained in business without county support.
“With more people coming back into the federal building,
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we’re excited to bring at least two [employees] back in the next two weeks,” said Thompson, who’s owned “Don’s Café” since 2015. “Hopefully things will pick up and I can bring my entire staff back.”
One of Thompson’s proudest achievements deals with him hiring blind and visually impaired workers through the state’s Business Enterprise Programs for the Blind.
“I love that program. It’s the best thing going,” he said. “I love hiring people with disabilities because you are giving back. I don’t mind hiring anybody if that person is willing to come to work and perform great customer service.”
Another small business owner, Tiffany Kelly, opened “House of Ketubah Bridal” in Mount Rainier in October.
Kelly manages the business by herself “as a one-woman show” but that will soon change with the help of an intern from Employ Prince George’s who will work about 12 weeks and assist with marketing the business that will include social media content.
“What I love about Prince George’s County is [our officials] are really resourceful and really helping businesses,” said Kelly, who owned a similar store in her native St. Louis before moving to Prince George’s about three years ago. “I chose Mount Rainier because it gave me an old-time and artsy feel. We feel right at home in Mount Rainier.” WI @WJFjabariwill
William J. Ford WI Staff Writer
remaining five people. However, all 11 members must receive the council’s approval.
Prince George’s County Council Some residents and activists have moved another step closer to ap- said they do not want County Execproving several amendments Mon- utive Angela Alsobrooks to appoint day, June 6 with most of the focus any members. on establishing a police accountabil- “It doesn’t make any sense. She ity board. still has control of the selection of
The council, which met as a the [police accountability board] Committee of the Whole, voted members,” said Dawn Dalton of 10-1 on the amendments with Upper Marlboro. “It’s very disapCouncil member Edward Bur- pointing.” roughs III (D-District 8) of Camp One example Dalton and other Springs as the lone dissenter. community activists referred to deals
One amendment council and with Alsobrooks appointing county the county executive’s office agreed school board chair Juanita Miller. upon would allow the executive to The Maryland Board of Education choose five members and the board chair and council to nominate the AMENDMENTS Page 17
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cameras which helped decrease redlight traffic violations from 8,576 in fiscal year 2020 to 8,200 this current year.
For the county’s Department of Family Services, the agency will receive funding to implement at least three programs next year: $125,000 for an online system called Start Early Beta Program to allow organizations involved in early childhood systems to collaborate and share knowledge supporting children and families. $110,000 to improve workforce development and employment for youth and young adults ages 16 to 24 not in school or unemployed. The money will come from the Governor’s Office for Children. $100,000 to develop a five-year plan to strengthen the county's early childhood system that includes education, mental health, transportation and other resources.
In terms of revenues, the county anticipates about $48 million from MGM casino and resort at National Harbor.
With thousands of people receiving COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots, the hotel tax allocated at $525,000 before the current year is estimated at $850,000. During the next fiscal year that could increase to $900,000.
Other revenues include property taxes at $1 billion, income taxes at $802 million and $450 million in other local taxes.
Besides Taveras, Council members Todd Turner and Dannielle Glaros also worked on the budget for a final time with their terms both expiring in December.
While thanking colleagues and various county staff, Glaros (D-District 3) of Riverdale Park became emotional.
“I get sentimental,” she said wiping away tears.
Turner (D-District 4) of Bowie admitted there have been disputes among the council but “at the end of the day, we are here to serve the residents of Prince George’s County. Hopefully, I’ve been able to do that in my capacity.”
Council member Edward Burroughs III (D-District 8) of Camp Springs entered the budget process after he won a special election in February. Burroughs served on the school board for more than 10 years.
Former council member Monique Anderson-Walker resigned in November to run as lieutenant governor candidate alongside Democratic gubernatorial candidate and state Comptroller Peter Franchot.
Because Anderson-Walker’s term doesn’t expire until December 2022, Burroughs must run again in the July 19 primary election to secure a fouryear term.
“I learned that [Council chair Calvin Hawkins II] is a skillful negotiator and really went out of his way to make sure that all of us got something and that’s why there
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was a united vote – that’s the kind of leadership that unifies the council,” Burroughs said during a press briefing. “This is a much more inclusive process than what I’m used to from across the street. Happy to be here and hope to be back for next year’s budget.”
The budget goes into effect July 1.
WI @WJFjabariwill
