January 2020

QUICK LINKS

Prince George's County Government

Chair Turner's Web Page

District 4 Web Page

Prince George's County Public Schools

Connect to the City of Bowie

Connect to the City of Greenbelt

Bowie BIC

CouncilConnection

Prince George's County Memorial Library System

Bowie Branch

South Bowie Branch

Greenbelt Branch

M-NCPPC Parks & Recreation

Fair Housing Survey

Estate Planning Clinic

Census 2020

The decennial census (census) is a complete count of everyone residing in the United States. This includes people of all ages, races, ethnic groups, citizens and non-citizens. It is mandated by Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution and takes place every 10 years.

The next census will take place April 1, 2020. The goal of Census 2020 is to count everyone once, only once, and in the right place.  For more information, please visit the Prince George's County Planning Department's webpage.

PAST EVENTS

Office Intern - Lindie Gibbs

I was pleased to host Lindie Gibbs, a sophomore majoring in Government Law and English,  as part of the Lafayette College Externship shadow program.  She attended the County Council’s retreat, committee work sessions and interviewed employees on the role and responsibilities of the Legislative Branch in County government.  We wish her well the rest of this school year and future in government.

Annual 22nd District Team Legislative Night

On Jan. 20^th I attended the annual 22^nd Legislative District Night in Annapolis hosted by State Senator Paul Pinsky and Delegates Anne Healey, Alonzo Washington and Nicole Williams in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. 

Top Ladies of Distinction Annual Prayer Breakast

Delegate Ron Watson, Council Vice-Chair Calvin Hawkins, Juanita Miller, Council Member Sydney Harrison and Bowie City Council Member Ingrid Harrison

I was pleased to join with my colleagues in support of the Prince George’s County Chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction for their 8th Annual Martin Luther King Annual Prayer Breakfast at Camelot on January 18^th.

Prince George's Poet Laureate "Literacy Through Poetry" Kick-Off

Sistah Joy, Visual Artist Jacki Pope, Youth Poet Laureates Marissa Michel (2020) and Mi'Jan Credle (2019)

On January 18^th I joined with Prince George’s Poet Laureate J. Joy "Sistah Joy" Matthews Alford for the kick-off of the "Literacy Through Poetry" series at the Bowie Library. This year's Poet Laureate monthly series will again be free to the community and the events will be interactive and inter-generational and include writing workshops, poetry presentations, art displays, and music with a goal is to engage Prince Georgians in literary and cultural experiences to enrich their quality of life.  For more information on event, please the Prince George's Arts and Humanities Council's website by clicking here.  

County's Fire/Emergency Medical Services Graduation Ceremony

I was pleased to join with County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and Acting Fire Chief Tiffany Green for the County’s Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department’s Career Recruit School #60 Graduation Ceremony on December 3^rd, where we welcomed 30 new firefighters and EMTs to County careers and service.

Message from Chair Turner

Happy New Year!  Welcome to the first 2020 edition of the 4^th District Legislative Email Newsletter.  I hope you and yours enjoyed a great holiday season and start to the New Year and decade. 

The County Council has returned for Legislative Year 2020.  As Chair of the Council I will work with Vice Chair Calvin Hawkins and my Council colleagues on the important issues facing our County.  I appreciate the responsibility that Council leadership and my colleagues have placed in me  once again.  Since my election to the Council I have been guided by the maxim that “only through Service to the Community can we achieve Progress in Prince George’s County.”  I look forward to serving the entire Council this year.

State of the General Assembly

Council Vice Chair Calvin Hawkins and I joined the Prince George’s County House Delegation during their meeting on the 2020 General Assembly.

We fully understand and acknowledge the historic and transformative time that this 441st General Assembly session brings – with a diverse and new leadership teams in both the House of Delegates and the State Senate.  We will work with our Prince George’s County delegations to the State Senate and House of Delegates, in advancing funding and policy issues in the areas of education, social services, economic development, transportation and healthcare during the 90-day session that ends in April. 

The County Council, working with County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, adopted our 2020 General Assembly Priorities this month – to review a copy of the joint letter, please click on this link.  For information on the General Assembly session – you may visit this website.

County Council Annual Retreat The Prince George’s County Council held our 2020 Annual Retreat on January 21st and January 22nd, at The Hotel at the University of Maryland.  During the two-day retreat, Council Members, County leaders, invited guests and staff received updates on the County Budget and fiscal outlook; Council grants; the Comprehensive Housing Opportunities for All Strategy Workgroup, and Census 2020.  For a copy of the Agenda and presentations, click on this link.

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Prince George’s County Council honored the exemplary life and legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as part of the 25th annual MLK Day of Service, a federal holiday observed on the third Monday in January. This year, 2020, marks the 25th celebration of the annual service event since Congress designed the MLK holiday the first ever National Day of Service. I was pleased to give remarks at the Bowie Interfaith Memorial event at Temple Solel.

SCMaglev Update

 In 2018 the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) released the SCMAGLEV Final Alternatives Report (FAR) on the two alternatives plus a No-Build option. The two alternatives (J & J-1) along the MD 295/Baltimore Washington Parkway still have substantial impacts on Greenbelt District 4 and the County as a whole.  Over 2019 the MDOT team study, along with Northeast Maglev (the proposer), have been working on refining the FAR for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The DEIS was expected to be complete in Fall 2019 but according to published reports, the FRA has paused the process – for more information please click on following link.

Last year, the County Council adopted another resolution (CR-32-2019) which reiterated the Prince George’s County Council’s opposition to any proposal to transfer the Baltimore-Washington Parkway from the National Park Service to the State of Maryland.    For background information, please visit this website.

We are still encouraging residents to contact Governor Hogan, MDOT Acting Secretary Gregory Slater, the SCMAGLEV study team and our Federal Senate and House of Representative delegation to support the No-Build option.  I will continue to monitor this process and work with our Federal and State representatives so our voices are heard on this project.

To view the FAR final alternatives, register for updates and to comment, please visit the Project website.

Upcoming Events

Public Forms

As part of the public outreach for the Consolidated Plan 2021-2025, Prince George's County Housing and Community Development will be hosting a series of public meetings around the County to encourage community participation and feedback.  Please see flyer below for location dates and times.  If you have any questions, please contact LeShann Murphy at DHCD on (301) 883-5457 or LBMurphy@co.pg.md.us

City of Bowie Listening Sessions

The City of Bowie Council is hosting a series of four Listening Sessions throughout the City during January and February.  The next scheduled session is January 29, 2020 at 7:00 pm at Bowie City Hall, 15901 Excalibur Road, Bowie, MD  20716.  For a full listing of other sessions, please visit the City of Bowie website.

I wish you and your families a great 2020!  As always, please reach out to my office for any assistance you may need during the year.

Hon. Todd M. Turner
Council Chair
4^th Council District