Prince George's Proud:
An Update From County Executive Alsobrooks
Dear Prince Georgians:
Yesterday, I was Prince George’s Proud to announce the launch of Vision Zero Prince George’s, a comprehensive safety initiative to eliminate roadway fatalities and serious injuries in our County. I was joined by County agencies, our County Council, our Police Department, the Governor’s Office and community leaders as we committed to our goal of achieving zero roadway fatalities and serious injuries in Prince George’s County by 2040.
Shortly after I took office in December 2018, we saw the tragic deaths of Alexander, Rosalie, and Isaac Mejia after the car they were riding in was struck by a drunk driver. Yesterday, I stood with 99 pairs of empty shoes before me. Each of those pairs of shoes represented the 99 lives that were lost on our roadways in 2018, including the lives of the 3 Mejia children. Those empty pairs of shoes each tell a story. Unfortunately, we know those tragic stories all too well.
Following that tragedy in December and several others in 2019, I joined with Police Chief Hank Stawinski and others to work to bring awareness to driving under the influence and distracted driving. The Chief and I even went out together to conduct traffic enforcement on our roadways to bring attention to unsafe driving practices. While these efforts began to help, we realized we needed an even more comprehensive effort to make our streets and roadways safe.
That’s why we have become one of several jurisdictions in the United States to join the international Vision Zero movement. The central premise of Vision Zero Prince George’s is that the loss of even one life on our roadways is both unacceptable and preventable. We will put resources in place and utilize an interdisciplinary and interagency approach to work towards zero traffic and pedestrian fatalities by 2040.
In the coming days, work will begin on implementing an action plan that will serve as the foundation of Vision Zero Prince George’s. The action items are focused on six key areas that we refer to as the “6 E’s”: education, emergency response, engineering, enforcement, evaluation and equity. The County Council has already passed a resolution in support of this effort, and our Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T) will serve as the lead on implementing Vision Zero Prince George’s.
However, DPW&T cannot do this work alone. We must all play a part in this initiative. We have to create a culture change where we view distracted driving and speeding with the same level of disdain that we view drunk or drugged driving. As we travel our roads, we have to see walkers and bikers as friends and fellow Prince Georgians, not as inconveniences.
Prince Georgians, we need each and every one of you to join us in this effort. I encourage you to watch the video of yesterday’s launch of Vision Zero Prince George’s. I ask that you view our website for more information about Vision Zero Prince George’s and the action plan that we will be implementing. Finally, I challenge each of you to take the Vision Zero Pledge below and share that pledge with family and friends.
Our roadways can and will be safe for everyone who uses them. Together, we will achieve the goal of Vision Zero Prince George’s - zero fatalities and zero serious injuries - because the loss of even one life on our roads is simply unacceptable.
Yours in service,
Angela Alsobrooks
Prince George's County Executive
Join Us for the Homeowners Conference of the Year!
 Our Commission on Common Ownership Communities is proud to present “Back to Basics!” If you are a homeowner in Prince George’s County and want information on residing in a common ownership community, this is the conference to attend. We look forward to seeing you there!
If you would like to attend, please register online. If you would like more information, please call 301-952-4729.
Beautification Survey
 If you live in Prince George's County, we want to hear from you! You're invited to take a short online survey about efforts to make the County cleaner and greener. This feedback will help us further strengthen beautification efforts in our County.
Visit environment.mypgc.us to get started today!
Public Hearing on the Proposed Washington Gas Rate Increase
The Maryland Public Service Commission is holding two public hearings on the proposed rate increase by Washington Gas, one of which will be held in Prince George’s County. The hearing in our County will be held on Tuesday, August 6, at 6:15 PM at Prince George’s Community College in Largo.
All residents who wish to submit public comments on the proposed rate increase are encouraged to attend. Residents can also submit written comments instead of attending the public hearing. More information about the hearing and how to submit written comments can be found online here.
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Back to School Block Party
 Join Dr. Monica Goldson and her team with PGCPS for the Back to School Block Party! They are partnering with our community to help send 10,000 PGCPS students back to school with a backpack and supplies for the start of the school year. For more information about the event, visit their website here.
SYEP Highlight: County Executive Visits SYEP Interns
County Executive Alsobrooks pictured with SYEP interns from her office and the Office of Human Resources Management.
On Wednesday, July 24, 2019, County Executive Alsobrooks stopped by the County’s Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM) to meet with the Summer Youth Enrichment Program interns working in that office. The County Executive talked with the interns about her role as County Executive and how the County Government functions, as well as gave them advice that they can use for their future careers.
The SYEP interns at OHRM asked very thoughtful and engaging questions, proving that Prince George’s County youth are some of the best and brightest. They are also working on several important projects for the County Government, including a website redesign for OHRM, a project on a millennial recruitment strategy for our government, and a new pilot program for an employee wellness initiative. We are Prince George’s Proud of the work that all our SYEP participants are completing this summer!
SYEP Highlight: Summer Interns Visit WKYS Radio & Participate in Public Health Focus Group
Prince George’s County summer youth interns attend a group discussion and focus group about communications careers and drug prevention activities with WKYS disc jockey “Little Bacon Bear” (front row center) on July 11th.
The Prince George’s County Health Department’s Drug and Alcohol Program and the Communications Office provided its Summer Youth Enrichment Program (SYEP) interns a chance to give back to their communities on July 11th by participating in a focus group and meeting with a local celebrity - WKYS 93.9 disc jockey “Little Bacon Bear” - to discuss communications careers.
The goal of the day was for the youth in the community to get career advice and to better assist the Health Department in planning future social media campaigns, as well as drug- and alcohol-use prevention activities and events tailored to their peer group.
SYEP Highlight: Bowie State Holds Q&A with SYEP Students
 On Tuesday, July 23, 2019, The Department of Family Services hosted a panel discussion for the Summer Youth Enrichment Program (SYEP) participants. Students from Frostburg State University and Bowie State University spoke to the SYEP youth about the transition from high school to college, time management and the importance of keeping good relationships with your professors. Greek life students also performed a line stroll for the SYEP interns to end the program.
IN THE NEWS: Prince George's County Native Nominated for an Emmy
 We are proud that a Prince George’s County native, Asante Blackk, received a nomination for an Emmy. Asante is nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his role in the Netflix series “When They See Us.” He is a born and raised Prince Georgian, and both of his parents are Prince Georgians as well. We will be cheering for him when the 2019 Emmy awards air on September 23, 2019. You can read more about Asante and his role here.
VIDEO: SYEP Capstone Programs
 This summer we introduced "Capstone Programs" to our Summer Youth Enrichment Program, which provide an opportunity for younger participants (ages 14-15) to receive workforce skills and exposure to different career areas.
Check out some of the highlights from our NEED/Energy Project Capstone, which is teaching nearly 200 SYEP participants about energy conservation and the latest clean energy technologies. You can view the video by clicking on the image above or by clicking here.
Prince George’s County Earns National Achievement Awards for AFFIRM Program and Child Protection Education
Pictured left to right: Stephen Liggett-Creel, Chief of Staff and Gloria Brown Burnett, Director.
The National Association of Counties (NACo) has presented two 2019 Achievement Awards to the Prince George’s County Department of Social Services (PGCDSS). NACo recognized Prince George’s County’s AFFIRM program and Child Protection Education Unit in the children and youth category.
PGCDSS developed and implemented the AFFIRM program for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Two-Spirit (LGBTQ2S) youth in foster care and their caregivers. AFFIRM focuses on helping youth improve coping skills and provides peer support. It helps parents and caregivers celebrate, honor and validate a range of LGBTQ2S identities and experiences and recognize the impact of discrimination and phobia on the well-being of youth. The PGCDSS is the only child welfare department in the state with a unit dedicated to providing services and support for LGBTQ2S youth in foster care.
The PGCDSS Child Protection Education Unit engages the community by educating the adults responsible for protecting children and provides concrete actions to take to combat child maltreatment. The intervention utilizes Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children curriculum, an evidenced-informed training program that influences community behavioral change around the area of child sexual abuse prevention. The goal of the Unit is to train 100% of child serving agencies in the County and 5% of the general population to assist in eradicating child sexual abuse. This countywide, community-based approach is what makes the CPED Unit unique to other child welfare training programs.
Prince George’s County Receives $2.2 Million Grant for Electric Buses
 On Tuesday, July 23, 2019, we joined with Congressman Steny Hoyer (MD-05) and Congressman Anthony Brown (MD-04) to announce that Prince George’s County has received $2.2 million in grant funding to purchase electric buses for the County. This funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Low or No Emission Bus Program.
The new vehicles we will purchase will replace some of our older and less efficient models in our “The Bus” fleet. By replacing some of our older buses with these new models, we will increase the reliability of our transit system for commuters in our County. The electric buses will also reduce energy consumption and cut emissions, improving air quality in our County.
To view the full release announcing the grant award, click here.
Coral Hills Façade Renovation Program Spends Almost $250,000 on Improvements that Allow County Residents to Age in Place
A new walkway completed as part of the renovation project.
In April 2018, the Redevelopment Authority of Prince George’s County (RDA) began construction on a $249,485 grant award to implement the Coral Hills Façade Renovation and Energy Retrofit Program. The grant was a combination of the Prince George’s County Department of Housing and Community Development’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding and the County’s Department of Permits, Inspection and Enforcement (DPIE) Transforming Neighborhood Initiative funding.
This program was designed to improve residential facades and increase the number of certified energy-efficient homes in the Coral Hills community. Using this grant, the RDA recently completed the renovation and energy efficiency of 18 houses in this inner-beltway community. Eighty percent of the homeowners are senior citizens. Each homeowner could qualify for up to $10,000 in grant money if they met the Area Median Income (AMI) guidelines. The program was targeted to low to moderate income homeowners in the Coral Hills/Suitland area.
The program’s goal was to improve property values by beautifying deteriorating homes through installing multiple energy efficiency features. The façade improvements included exterior and some interior renovations, such as lead and mold remediation, porch columns, roof replacement, replacing entry doors, replacing HVAC systems, new appliances and replacing old windows with energy efficient windows. Energy efficiency upgrades included repairs such as insulation, sealing and weather-proofing drafty doors and replacing hot water heaters.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Officially Opens in Largo
County Executive Alsobrooks pictured with hotel owner Evens Charles and several Prince George’s County elected officials.
On Tuesday, July 23, 2019, County Executive Alsobrooks attended the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony of The Homewood Suites by Hilton in Largo, Maryland. We are proud to have another high-quality hotel option to welcome visitors to Prince George’s County, the Crown Jewel of Maryland.
This hotel would not have been possible without the vision of hotel owner Evens Charles, who made the important decision to invest in Prince George’s County. Our Economic Development Corporation also assisted this venture through their EDI fund. This hotel is another indicator that Prince George’s County is the economic engine for our region, and we will continue seeing further growth and development over the next several years.
Trash and Recycling Collection Carts
The County has issued a new policy for households receiving County-contracted waste collection services. Effective immediately, household residences receiving curbside waste collection services will only be issued ONE recycling wheeled cart and ONE trash wheeled cart. Residents moving into a new home should contact 3-1-1 to request delivery of each type of cart. The Resource Recovery Division (RRD) will require for verification purposes, through the tax assessor’s file, that the resident purchased the property/house within the past 12 months. This policy will be strictly enforced.
New residents that move into an existing house where the previous owner may have taken the carts should call 3-1-1 to request a recycling and or trash cart. All wheeled recycling and trash carts are the property of Prince George’s County and should remain at the address which they were delivered.
In addition, the County does not replace stolen trash and recycling carts. New or replacement wheeled carts are available for purchase from hardware, big box and other retail stores. Residents who replace a County-issued cart or purchase additional carts should mark those trash carts with the word Trash, recycling carts with the word Recycle or a large X, and yard trim carts/cans should be marked Yard/Organic. It is recommended that residents write their home address on each cart.
For more information on the trash and recycling collection cart policy, contact 3-1-1.
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DPIE Reminds Do-It-Yourselfers to “PYP” - Permit Your Project
DPIE’s Liliana Escobar (middle) discusses options with visitors to the Permits Center in Largo.
Planning to finish your basement, add a deck, install a retaining wall or extend your driveway? DPIE wants you to remember to “PYP” – permit your project before you begin construction.
Many home improvement projects, including electrical, mechanical, plumbing and structural work, require permits. Popular do-it-yourself projects, such as kitchen and bathroom remodeling, must be permitted. Making cosmetic changes to existing structures, such as renovating faces of fireplaces and removing walls to increase open space, also requires a permit.
The permitting process helps guarantee that such projects will be constructed according to standards established to ascertain they will be appropriate for the overall structure, durable and safe.
The PYP Program was established by Director Bolling as part of an education initiative to improve code compliance and help residents and business partners resolve safety issues related to construction. PYP was launched in May during Building Safety Month. DPIE’s Building Safety Month events included pop-ups at Home Depot stores in Lanham and District Heights and at agency headquarters in Largo.
For more information on permits, visit DPIE’s website or call Public Information at 301-636-2053.
Health Department Practices Emergency Mass Medication Procedures
Prince George’s County Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Health, Human Services & Education Dr. George L. Askew receives mock medication during a full-scale point of dispensing exercise at Largo High School on July 19th.
Man-made or natural disasters can happen at any moment. Preparing to protect the health and well-being of the more than 900,000 residents of Prince George’s County is our top priority.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of last week, the Health Department’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness program and its partners led a simulated, regionwide bio attack exercise. The department played a lead role in the three-day tabletop and full-scale drill that tested the National Capital Region’s response to and investigation of an anthrax release into the air.
The exercise culminated in a point of dispensing, or POD, exercise where hundreds of county employees and residents came out to Largo High School on Friday, July 19th to assist our preparedness effort and learn more about how the county would dispense medication to a large population in a short amount of time.
The Health Department would like to thank all the volunteer mock victims – among them Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Health, Human Services and Education Dr. George L. Askew – who carved out part of their day to help keep the county ready for the unexpected.
Veterans Alert from the Office of Veterans Affairs
Attention military retirees with a 70% or higher VA service-connected disability rating, you may be entitled to a tax reimbursement.
According to the recently passed Strickland Act, "you are entitled to file for reimbursement of federal taxes paid on retired military pay between the tax years of 2014 and 2018."
Eligible veterans must take immediate action, as the entitlement must be submitted to the IRS by August 1, 2019.
"I enourage veterans to obtain additional information by searching the Strickland Act or contact the IRS directly," stated Dr. James Dula, Veterans Affairs Officer for Prince George's County.
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