THIS WEEK IN COUNTY COUNCIL

COUNCIL EMERGENCY OPERATIONS STATUS

The Prince George’s County Council continues to operate under the Governor’s “Proclamation and Declaration of State of Emergency and Existence of Catastrophic Health Emergency – COVID-19”, effective March 5, 2020, and amended May 13, 2020, and the Prince George’s County State of Emergency Declaration, effective March 16, 2020, and extended by the Governing Body of Prince George’s County with the adoption of CR-64-2020 on July 7, 2020.  The Council’s Emergency Operations Procedures became effective pursuant to CR-10-2020, adopted on March 17, 2020, and amended pursuant to CR-35-2020, adopted on May 18, 2020.

 COUNCIL IN AUGUST RECESS

The Council is now in August recess until September, unless an emergency meeting is required.   County Council sessions will reconvene on September 9, 2020. The District Council is scheduled to reconvene following the August recess, on September 14, 2020.  COUNCIL CONNECTION will resume regular publication when Council meetings reconvene.  Be safe and well. 

DISTRICT COUNCIL CONVENES TO REVIEW LAND-USE MATTERS The District Council, is granted authority to act on zoning matters by the State of Maryland Regional District Act, now known as Article 28 of the Maryland Annotated Code.  The County Council, sitting as the District Council on land-use matters, met virtually for the first time since March 9th, on Monday, July 27th to review projects located in in communities across Prince George’s County. The District Council reviewed all pending cases from the County Planning Board and conducted a Mandatory Review of DSP-20004, voting to approve the Detailed Site Plan for the construction of a new 44,362 square-foot Kaiser Permanente medical facility adjacent to the West Hyattsville Metro in Council District 2.  WATCH Monday’s District Council session.

COUNCIL APPROVES LETTER URGING GOVERNOR HOGAN TO EXTEND AND EXPAND STATE MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS DUE TO COVID-19

Prince George’s County Council, during a virtual session on Monday, July 27, 2020, voted to authorize Council Chair Todd M. Turner’s signature on a letter to Governor Larry Hogan urging an extension and expansion of State evictions protections beyond the expected expiration date of Friday, July 31st.  The Council, voting in support of the correspondence, joins the General Assembly, Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh, jurisdictions throughout the state, and several legal, community and nonprofit organizations seeking to extend evictions protections to Marylanders as a result of the COVID-19 health and economic crisis until January 2021.  Council Chair Turner says State eviction and other protections should continue as residents struggle to meet the ongoing financial challenges presented by COVID-19.

READ the Council press release. 

COUNCIL RECEIVES BRIEFING FROM SCHOOL OFFICIALS ON PGCPS REOPENING PLAN

The County Council convened virtually on Monday, July 27^th, to receive a briefing on the Prince George’s County Schools (PGCPS) Reopening Plan for the 2020-21 school year, presented by PGCPS CEO, Dr. Monica Goldson, and Board of Education Chair, Dr. Alvin Thornton.  On July 15^th, Dr. Goldson announced the plan to safely and responsibly reopen County schools, which will continue distance learning through January 2021.  During Monday’s briefing to the Council, Dr. Goldson and Dr. Thornton provided a comprehensive overview of the PGCPS Reopening Plan, discussed the process for reaching the decision to continue distance learning, and responded to questions from Council Members. The County Council is now in its August recess.  

WATCH Monday’s briefing.     

COUNTY EXECUTIVE ALSOBROOKS ANNOUNCES NEW RESTRICTION TO HELP ADDRESS RECENT UPTICK IN COVID-19 CASES 

County Executive Reminds Residents of Governor’s Mandate for
Facial Coverings 

Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced today that a new restriction will be put in place starting Saturday, August 1 at 5:00 p.m. in response to a slight uptick in new COVID-19 cases over the last several weeks. Gatherings for all activities not outlined in the County’s most recent Executive Order are now limited to a maximum of 50 persons.  This new restriction will take effect Saturday, August 1, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. through a Health Officer Order issued by the County’s Health Officer, Dr. Ernest Carter. 

Read the Executive Order

COUNTY EXECUTIVE ANGELA ALSOBROOKS ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL ACTIONS TO KEEP RESIDENTS SAFE AS COVID-19 NUMBERS SLIGHTLY INCREASE; COUNTY EXECUTIVE TAKES ACTIONS AGAINST RECENT LARGE HOUSE PARTIES; URGES GOVERNOR HOGAN TO MAKE THE 2020 GENERAL ELECTION VOTE BY MAIL

Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced during a press conference on Thursday, July 30^th, that she is taking several additional actions to keep residents safe as new cases of COVID-19 have slightly increased in Prince George’s County and the State of Maryland. The County will begin to use authority granted in the Governor’s Executive Order to impose fines and other penalties on those who hold large house parties, and the County Executive will send a letter to Governor Hogan urging him to conduct the 2020 General Election as a vote by mail election.   “While we are not yet at the point of having to roll back our reopening, we are concerned about some of the recent trends we have seen in our County and across the State of Maryland,” said Alsobrooks. “If we want to avoid a setback in our recovery, we must all continue doing our part to stop the spread of this virus, to include wearing face coverings and practicing physical distancing.”  

READ the entire press release. 

WATCH the YouTube video of Thursday’s press conference. 

HEALTH DEPARTMENT COVID-19 TESTING

The Prince George’s County Health Department offers FREE COVID-19 tests for individuals with or without symptoms that have been exposed to or suspected to have been exposed to a COVID-19-positive person.

Patients do not need an appointment or a doctor’s prescription to get tested. All County-run testing sites accommodate testing for those in a car or on foot.  Please visit the County’s COVID-19 testing web page for site locations and testing schedules.  If you have additional questions about the County’s testing program, call the County’s coronavirus hotline at 301-883-6627 between the hours of 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday through Friday.

COVID-19 BUSINESS COMPLIANCE

Residents who witness a COVID-19 safety protocol violation by a County business can report the violation via phone or email. The County’s COVID-19 Ambassador Compliance Team will then perform a site visit to follow-up on that concern.  Visit mypgc.us/reopen to see applicable rules.  To report a safety protocol violation, call 3-1-1 or email covidcompliance@co.pg.md.us .

All registered voters have the option to vote by Absentee Ballot, including those overseas or in the military. The deadline to register to vote for the 2020 Presidential General Election is 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13, 2020.

CLICK HERE for more information on Absentee Ballots, Voter Registration, and more.

COUNTY EXECUTIVE ALSOBROOKS URGES RESIDENTS TO SELF-RESPOND TO 2020 CENSUS AS DOOR-KNOCKING OPERATIONS RESUME; COUNCIL SUPPORTS CENSUS COMPLETION AND DISTRIBUTION EVENTS TO INCREASE CENSUS RESPONSE IN HARD TO COUNT AREAS.

Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks is urging residents to complete their Census by phone, mail, or online as the U.S. Census Bureau resumes door-knocking operations in the County and other nearby jurisdictions. To assist residents with self-responding to the 2020 Census, the Office of Community Relations (OCR) is hosting Census Completion and Drive-Up Distribution Events as a part of their 100 Events of Summer initiative, an annual effort created to engage and connect with the community during the summer. 

Council Members and community volunteers are joining with the County’s Office of Community Relations to increase response rates in hard-to-count communities, with Census Completion and Drive-Up events, featuring the distribution of free meals backpacks and school supplies; personal protective equipment (PPE); Census information, and access to County Government services and resources.  Residents can also get on-the-spot help with filling out their Census forms online without leaving their vehicles!

ELECTION 2020 – ATTENTION REGISTERED VOTERS IN PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY!

All registered voters have the option and are encouraged to vote by absentee ballot, including out-of-state students, those overseas or in the military, in the November 3rd elections. 

CENSUS COMPLETION AND DRIVE-UP EVENTS!

Join District 2 Council Member Deni Taveras on Saturday, August 1, 2020

Providing free meals in partnership with Brighter Bites

12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Langley Park Community Center 
1500 Merrimac Drive 
Adelphi, MD 20783

    ______________

Join District 3 Council Member Dannielle Glaros Saturday, August 8, 2020

Providing free meals in collaboration with Greater Riverdale Cares and College Park City-University Park Partnership

10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 

Ebenezer Church of God 
7550 Buchanan Street 
Hyattsville, MD 20784

While social distancing, there are still easy ways residents can fill out their Census form, by phone, email or online. 

Call 844-330-2020, or visit My2020Census.

COUNCIL MEMBER DERRICK LEON DAVIS OPINES IN THE WASHINGTON POST District 6 Council Member Derrick Leon Davis also serves as Chair of the Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments.  READ his local opinion, “How the D.C. region will be strengthened by focusing on a more equitable future,” published in The Washington Post on July 24, 2020.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE COUNTY’S NEXT POLICE CHIEF County residents have until August 17th to share your thoughts about the County’s next Police Chief.  As the County begins a national search for a new Chief of Police, residents can weigh in on the County’s next Police Chief by participating in this survey, available in English and Spanish HERE.

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY POLICE REFORM GROUP County residents can now follow the work of the 2020 Prince George’s County Police Reform Work Group, charged with developing recommendations on police reform in the County.   You can follow their progress online HERE.

COUNCIL CHAIR TODD M. TURNER DELIVERS COMMUNITY SERVICE IN DISTRICT 4

This has been a busy week of community service for Council Chair Todd M. Turner, and his District 4 Team prior to the Council’s recess.  They were supported in their efforts to serve 4^th District residents, by Council Vice-Chair and At-Large Council Member Calvin S. Hawkins, II and his team, County agencies and community volunteers.

VIEW photos.  All participants were encouraged to participate in Census 2020. 

SUPPORTING UNEMPLOYED WORKERS - THURSDAY On Thursday, Council Chair Turner successfully partnered with Employ PG to distribute more than $13,000 in EPG Cash Cards to District 4 residents who are unemployed as a result of COVID-19, at the Glenn Dale Community Center.   Learn more about the Employ Prince George’s County COVID-19 Hourly Employee Relief Fund, and you can help support these workers in our community.

SENIORS GRAB AND GO – WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY  On Wednesday, Council Chair Turner and the District 4 team, working with the City of Greenbelt City Council and staff, the County’s Department of Family Services, and community volunteers, along with Council colleague and Vice-Chair Calvin S. Hawkins, II, and Greenbelt Mayor Colin Byrd, his Council colleagues Mayor Pro Tem Emmett Jordan and Council Member Judith Davis, served seasoned citizens in Greenbelt with the distribution of more than 125 pre-packaged meals.   On Friday, Chair Turner and the District 4 Team, again joined by Council Member Hawkins, Delegate Marvin Holmes, Bowie City Council Member Ingrid Harrison, held a “Seniors Grab and Go” pre-packaged meal distribution event at the City of Bowie Senior Center, serving 375 seasoned citizens.  They were joined by the Bowie Director of Community Services, Sally Hein, and members of the Greater Mt. Nebo and Reid Temple AME churches.

LUNCH FOR HEROES – WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY  Continuing his “Lunch for Heroes” distribution on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, Chair Turner, with the support of In Reach and Panera Bread in Bowie, again thanked first-responders.   Joined on Wednesday by Greenbelt Police Chief Richard Bowers and City Council Member Judith Davis, a complimentary lunch was served to City of Greenbelt Police. On Thursday he was joined separately  by Prince George’s County Police District II Commanding Officer Major Hughes, City of Bowie Police Chief John Nesky, along with police officers serving District II and Bowie for a complimentary lunch.

PGCMLS Summer @ Your Library Prize Pickup
Begins August 4

The Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) starts curbside pickup for its Summer @ Your Library (S@YL) prizes on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. The prizes, awarded to S@YL participants of all ages earning 20 points or higher, include an “Imagine Your Story” tote bag, a T-shirt, a free smoothie coupon from Smoothie King, a free taco coupon (Taco Bell), S@YL bookmarks, “Fairy Tale Times” kids activity pages (with youth-sized T-shirts), and a Washington Nationals poster. The first 250 teens to pick up a prize pack will also be eligible to receive a free copy of “Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix,” the national bestselling book by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds. 

READ MORE.