Prince George's Proud:
An Update From County Executive Alsobrooks
Dear Prince Georgians:
We are off to an exciting start to the month of May. Yesterday, we launched our Beautification Initiative. Thanks to your collective feedback, there is one consistent message that I have heard loud and clear: there is too much litter and debris on our roadways, sidewalks, and properties.
Over the past few months, we have been closely monitoring trends in our county and were able to further assess, analyze and create a comprehensive, multi-tiered anti-litter strategy as a result of our findings.
I would like to update you on our efforts and fill you in on what we discovered. In March, we conducted a litter blitz and removed 139 tons of litter and illegally dumped material. And year to date we’ve collected over 1,000 tons of litter and illegally dumped material, as well as removed almost 3,500 illegally posted signs.
Without a doubt, trash on our roads and in our medians sends a message that we don’t care about our community and that it is okay for others to drive through our neighborhoods and litter. Well, we know this simply isn’t true.
In addition to the litter, I’m sure that many of you have experienced the frustration with bulky trash. We drive around and see it sitting outside because items like mattresses, furniture, televisions, and tires aren’t picked up as part of our regular trash days.
We need to request for those items to be collected and since that process has not always been smooth and easy to navigate, these items remain in front yards for days, weeks or even months.
The downstream impact affects all of us. Litter and trash pollute our waterways. Bulky trash degrades our properties and communities, and also provides a breeding ground for virus-carrying mosquitoes. And properties filled with litter and trash sell at reduced prices, which drive down property values of all homes in a community.
We are all keenly aware of our litter issues, and ultimately this begins to convey an image of our county that simply isn’t accurate. There is no easy way to combat the county’s trash woes, and there is no magical beautification solution that will make it go away. The truth of the matter is it begins with all of us. The litter reflects a lack of pride in ourselves and our community.
I refuse to let that be our story. We are a prideful and resilient county. The Beautification Initiative Launch is the beginning of a new chapter, and everyday hereafter we are committed to keeping our county clean, together.
I am looking forward to joining you this upcoming weekend during our inaugural Growing Green With Pride Day countywide clean-up on Saturday, May 4th, that already has 2,500 registered participants.
Together we will eradicate the litter and restore our county to a well-maintained and pristine community. We are Prince George’s Proud.
Yours in service,
Angela Alsobrooks
Prince George's County Executive
Beautification Initiatives At-A-Glance
FACT: Currently, the County spends more than $13 million dollars per year on litter clean-up, and the State spends additional funding in our County. If we can reduce those costs, that is money that may be spent on other programs and services to benefit our residents.
INFRASTRUCTURE: We are investing in enhanced infrastructure with 33 “Big Belly” solar-powered trash and recycling stations that will be located throughout the County. The big benefit is that they can hold more trash than a regular trash can and they send us a message when they are full so we can empty them in a timely manner.
SERVICES: We are improving bulky trash collection with new packer trucks to collect large items, such as washing machines, dryers, furniture, and hot water heaters, in five zones Monday through Friday. These are exactly the types of items we targeted in Annapolis with the passage of our illegal dumping legislation that was signed into law by the Governor a couple weeks ago.
PILOTING A RESIDENTIAL FOOD SCRAP PROGRAM: It is currently in 200 homes, and in the next year it will expand to 3,000 homes. This program allows residents to discard food scraps on Mondays with yard waste – providing a second day of service immediately after weekend cookouts and other events. Over the next three years, we will expand the program across the County.
LAW ENFORCEMENT: To enforce our litter laws, we are working with the police department to deploy surveillance cameras to catch illegal dumpers. During the 2019 General Assembly we received authorization for the County to pass a separate law to punish illegal dumping of bulky items.
COORDINATION WITH THE STATE: Our Department of Public Works and Transportation will work with the Maryland Department of Transportation to establish a coordinated cleanup schedule to ensure that when state trucks are cleaning up litter along state roads, county crews will work simultaneously on county roads that feed into those state roads.
EDUCATION: We have developed the County Cadet Clean Up Program - part of the Summer Youth Enrichment Program - for 15-20 interns who will be our “Litter Prevention Specialists.” They have been charged with educating youth at summer camps and working in partnership with schools, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations to complete County beautification projects.
COMMUNICATION: We are developing a comprehensive, sustained anti-litter campaign to change behavior, including some creative ways for our young people to get involved. Ways residents can immediately start contributing:
CLEAN UP YOUR OWN CORNER OF THE WORLD: Join your neighbors at a County Beautification Day. We have over 100 community clean-up days planned across the County.
TAKE THE TRASHTAG CHALLENGE: We are joining this national social media campaign that has gone viral around the world. The challenge is to clean up a nearby area and then post the before and after pictures, using the hashtag #TrashTagChallenge. You can feel good about doing your part and also get some recognition, as well as challenge your friends to do it.
BE PROUD: Remind yourselves and tell your friends and family why YOU are proud to be a part of Prince George’s County. It is the reminder we all need to make keeping our County clean a priority for all of us.
County Executive Alsobrooks, County Council Chair Turner, and NFL player Brandon Coleman pictured with some of the inaugural class of Clean County Cadets.
Many members of the community showed up to support the launch of the County Beautification Initiative.
Growing Green With Pride Day
 Our first countywide community clean-up event, Growing Green With Pride Day, is taking place this Saturday, May 4th. Registration has closed for groups, but you can still register online as an individual! We will place individuals who sign up between now and Saturday at the closest neighborhood clean-up to their address. To register and be part of the Beautification Initiative to make our County clean and green, visit our website here.
Public Hearing for PGCPS CEO Search
 We are hosting a public hearing to allow county residents to express their thoughts regarding the search for the CEO of Prince George's County Public Schools. The search firm that will conduct a nationwide search and members of the selection committee will be in attendance. This will be an opportunity to speak directly to those involved in the search and decision making process.
The hearing will be held Monday, May 13th, from 6:30-8:30 PM at Charles H. Flowers High School (10001 Ardwick Ardmore Rd., Springdale, MD). To RSVP for this event, please call 301-952-4547. We look forward to seeing you there!
42nd Annual Valor Awards Luncheon
Alison Starling and Brad Bell of ABC7 served as the Masters of Ceremony.
On Wednesday, April 24th, Prince George’s County hosted the 42nd Annual Valor Awards Luncheon. This annual ceremony is an opportunity to recognize public safety personnel who have gone above and beyond by performing acts of heroism and bravery. Mark Magaw, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Public Safety and Homeland Security, joined with the heads of each public safety agency to present awards to the recipients of this year’s Valor awards.
We also honored two heroes who lost their lives in the line of duty this past year: Police Sergeant Mujahid Ramzziddin and Firefighter Jesse McCullough. We are forever grateful for their service to our community. Prince George’s County is fortunate to have such a distinguished group of public servants who are dedicated to keeping all Prince Georgians safe.
Lieutenant Kathleen Martell was named Firefighter of the Year for courage and perseverance in completing her demanding workload while battling personal health issues.
County Litter Blitz
A DPW&T crew prepares to head out for the litter blitz on Tuesday, April 30th.
As part of our new Beautification Initiative, the County’s Department of Public Works & Transportation (DPW&T) launched a week-long litter blitz on April 30th, partnering with the Maryland State Highway Administration. Throughout the week, crews will cover County and State roads across Prince George’s to clean up litter and debris. In March, we conducted a similar litter blitz that removed 139 tons of litter and illegally dumped materials.
This litter blitz will lead up to our community event on Saturday, May 4th, Growing Green With Pride Day. When we work together, we all benefit. These partnerships of State, County, and most importantly, community, will be the way we can keep our County clean and green.
Christmas in April
The County Executive's Office was assigned a home for the annual Christmas in April Work Day.
Christmas in April is an annual event where volunteers from across Prince George's County provide repairs to the homes of senior citizens who are either low-income and/or physically challenged. Many County employees typically participate, and this year we had volunteers from the County Executive's Office, the Office of Community Relations, the Sheriff's Office, the Police Department, the Fire Department, and County Council offices, among others. Last Saturday, April 27th, volunteers provided repairs and landscaping to 82 homes across Prince George's County.
Since 1989, Christmas in April in Prince George’s County has repaired more than 2,500 homes with the help of over 87,000 local volunteers. Thank you to all the volunteers and sponsors who made this year a success!
Apply to be Part of the Commission on Fathers, Men & Boys
The newly created Commission on Fathers, Men and Boys is being established to advise the County Executive, the County Council, County agencies, and the public on issues and needs of fathers, men, and boys in Prince George’s County. Commissioners will work with Prince George’s County agencies, the private sector, and local communities to promote a healthier societal impact on fathers, men, and boys. The Commission shall recommend, adopt and implement policies, programs, and procedures that will effectively address social and economic concerns of fathers, men, and boys. The Commission will work in collaboration with the Commission for Women on issues and programs for strengthening the quality of life for women, men, and children in Prince George’s County.
Commission Composition
The makeup shall reflect the demographics of Prince George’s County and shall include prominent business and community leaders, also including individuals certified in fatherhood training or having documented experience working directly with issues of particular interest and concern to fathers, men, and boys. The Commission will consist of 13 non-compensated voting members.
Candidate Requirements
- Must live in Prince George’s County
- Have ability to meet monthly
To Apply
Those interested in serving shall send a short cover letter indicating their interest along with their resumes to pgboardsvacancy@co.pg.md.us no later than May 22nd.
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Nominations Open for the Inaugural Maryland Youth Service Awards
The Maryland Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism is now accepting nominations for the inaugural Youth Service Awards. The awards will recognize Maryland youth and youth groups, ages 11 to 18 years old, for their significant volunteer contributions to the state and its citizens, and for working to change Maryland for the better. This year, the awards will represent outstanding service occurring in 2018 and 2019.
Up to 10 youth and youth groups will be selected to receive an award at a special ceremony in late summer. The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, June 7th. More information and the nomination form can be found online here.
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IN THE NEWS: Prince George’s County Launches Beautification Initiative
On Wednesday, May 1st, County Executive Alsobrooks officially launched the County Beautification Initiative. She was joined by County Council Chair Todd Turner, Maryland Secretary of Transportation Pete Rahn, and several community activists within the County. Check out the story from ABC7 here.
VIDEO: County Executive Alsobrooks Attends Broccoli City Festival
 Prince George’s County hosted the Broccoli City Music Festival for the first time ever April 26-27 at FedExField. County Executive Alsobrooks took a tour of the festival and greeted attendees from the main stage. Check out a video recap of the day here.
Office of Community Relations Bringing Government Services to the Community
OCR team members with seniors at the Camp Springs Senior Center.
On Friday, April 26th, the Office of Community Relations’ (OCR) team members - Thomas Johnson, Jennifer Hawkins and David Smith - spent some quality time at the Camp Springs Senior Center. They participated in adult coloring, played cards, dominoes and enjoyed their fellowship time with the seniors. In between fun and games, the Community Relations team shared resourceful information about CountyClick311 services.
On Sunday, April 28th, the Keller Williams DAPO Group, in partnership with the Office of Community Relations, celebrated the people who serve this County during the First Responders Marvel Avengers movie event in Largo, Maryland. Melanie Fulford, school nurse at Arrowhead Elementary, was honored with a plaque and check for $1,000. Principal Lila Walker of Beacon Heights Elementary School received 350 dictionaries for her 3rd grade classes. Deputy Chief Administrative Officers Mark Magaw and Dr. George Askew provided uplifting remarks to mark the occasion. Fire Chief Barksdale and Office of Community Relations Director Euniesha Davis were also in attendance to support this event. Thank you to the DAPO group for honoring our heroes.
Prince George's County public safety and public school personnel attend a free screening of "Avengers: Endgame."
Every Day is Arbor Day at Laurel Elementary
 In honor of National Arbor Day on Friday, April 26th, Prince George’s County officials joined the students and faculty of Laurel Elementary School to plant 28 native trees to beautify the school campus. Arbor Day is an annual observance that celebrates the benefits of trees to the environment and promotes tree planting and care.
Speaking on behalf of Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Government Infrastructure & Technology, Floyd Holt, reminded students that they must be active participants in the nurturing of the trees. “These trees will need your care to grow healthy and strong,” said Holt. “By planting these trees, you are improving the environment and our quality of life for generations to come.”
Department of Environment Acting Director Joseph Gill addressed the students and emphasized how trees are valuable to our environment and help support our lives. “Trees give us oxygen and help make us smarter,” he said. “Everyone in this room can help improve our environment, air quality and beautify our surroundings by planting a tree.” Gill presented school principal Melinda J. Lee with a proclamation from County Executive Alsobrooks honoring the students’ environmental stewardship.
To view a video of the event, click here. For more information on the County’s reforestation programs and services, contact CountyClick311.
National Military Appreciation Month
May is National Military Appreciation Month, a time when America pauses to recognize the many active-duty members and veterans of the Armed Services who swore or affirmed to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies -- both foreign and domestic -- and to bear true faith and allegiance to the same."
In recognition of National Military Appreciation Month, the Office of Veterans Affairs will host a series of weekly events and discussions highlighting the role military men and women have played in American society.
To kick off the month, The Office of Veterans Affairs hosted a short Military in History and Society presentation.
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Older Americans Month
 Every May the Department of Family Services, Aging and Disabilities Services Division, leads our County’s observance of Older Americans Month. We are pleased to announce the 2019 theme - Connect, Create, Contribute - which encourages older adults and their communities to:
- Connect with friends, family, and services that support participation.
- Create by engaging in activities that promote learning, health, and personal enrichment.
- Contribute time, talent, and life experience to benefit others.
To join our efforts, we encourage residents to promote the observance of Older Americans Month on social media using #OAM19, #OAMPGC, #PrinceGeorgesProud and #ConnectCreateContribute. We encourage you to connect, create, and contribute for stronger and more diverse communities this May and throughout the year. Events for Older Americans Month, as well as links for more information about those events, are provided below.
May 1st – Senior Law Day
May 4th - 2019 Diabetes Prevention Walk
May 7th – Introduction to Medicare
May 9th - The 47th Annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon
May 14th, 15th and 21st - Area Agency on Aging Public Hearings
May 21st – Introduction to Medicare
May 22nd - Senior Health and Fitness Day
Human Relations Commission Participates in Fair Housing Films and Panel Discussion
Renée Battle-Brooks served as a panelist at the Fair Housing Films and Panel Discussion.
Renée Battle-Brooks, the Executive Director of the Prince George’s County Human Relations Commission, was a panelist at the Fair Housing Films and Panel Discussion on the evening of Saturday, April 27th, at Joe’s Movement Emporium in Hyattsville. This dynamic and well-attended event was co-hosted by Joe’s Movement Emporium and the Hyattsville Community Development Corporation. Other panelists included Jesse E. Buggs, Jr., Director of the Office of Grant Development and Administration for the City of Bowie, and Trent Day Hall, Community Outreach Specialist with Howard County Government. The conversation focused on barriers to fair housing with solution-oriented brainstorming during the question and answer wrap-up.
FY2020 Public Budget Hearings
 The Prince George’s County Council is continuing to hold public hearings on our FY2020 proposed budget. We believe our proposed budget makes strong investments in core areas that will allow our County to continue being a leader in the region and state. A copy of the proposed budget can be found online here.
There is still one public hearing left that will be held at the County Administration Building, 14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, Upper Marlboro, Maryland. More information about the public budget hearings and the budget process can be found on the County Council’s website.
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