#ENewsYouCanUse | Update on COVID-19 Restrictions/Vaccine Update/Resources, Complete the Neighborhood Planning Academy Survey, Take Part in the Council's FY22 Budget Process

Greetings District 6 Residents,

I hope you are remain safe and sound while Prince George's County continues to tackle the COVID-19 crisis head on.

Due to a continued declined in the County’s COVID-19 metrics, and due to increasing vaccination rates in the County, public health officials have advised that it is safe to move forward with a cautious and measured approach to reopening.

Through Executive Order 8-2021, Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced that on Friday, March 12, 2021, 5 p.m., the County would expand capacity limits for businesses and other establishments. 

While some restrictions have been lifted, we can not relax our efforts in getting the pandemic under control.  We must stay vigilant by practicing social distancing and our daily hygiene regimens.  Please continue to do your part into keeping our communities safe; look for one another; family members, neighbors, friends, especially our seniors, and those with comprised immune systems and respiratory illnesses.  This pandemic is a rapidly evolving situation, so it’s even more important to keep yourselves and your communities informed about COVID-19 and the latest updates by visiting the Prince George's COVID-19 Dashboard, designed to providing the latest information on COVID-19 data trends to the public.  The Prince George's Health Department is working closely with state and federal partners and is committed to keeping all residents, employees, and visitors to Prince George’s County safe and healthy.  Additional guidance can be found on the County's official Coronavirus web portal as well as our District 6 COVID-19 Resource section towards the bottom of this newsletter.  Residents will find a number of helpful infographics on pre-registering/obtaining the vaccine, helpful information to distinguish the facts versus the myths behind the COVID-19 vaccine and what to expect once you become eligible to receive the vaccine.

ALWAYS REMEMBER TO....

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
• Wear masks and face coverings; to assist in preventing the spread of the virus, especially
  in areas where it is hard to maintain social distancing, such as grocery stores and pharmacies.
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water
  are not available.
  
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Please be assured that as further developments are made available, the District 6 team will continue to use this platform as well as our social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) to provide you with the most up to date information.   Stay safe.  Stay well.  Stay informed.

May God continue to Bless and Keep US ALL.

Council Chair Calvin Hawkins Responds to County Executive Chair Calvin Hawkins Responds to County Executive Angela Alsobrooks’ Proposed $4.5 Billion FY 2022 County Budget Transmitted to the County Council

Pursuant to the County Charter, County Executive Angela Alsobrooks transmitted her proposed $4.5 Billion spending plan for Prince George’s County to the County Council on Thursday, March 11^th.  Despite the constraints on the FY 2022 County Budget due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the County Executive is proposing critical and historic investments in several areas.  WATCH the County Executive’s press conference on YouTube. 

Thanking the County Executive and encouraging residents to participate in the Council’s Budget Review and Adoption Process over the next few months, Council Chair Hawkins responded to receipt of the proposed County Budget, “We look forward to working together with the County Executive, and our residents and all stakeholders, to produce a final FY22 County Budget that emphasizes our shared priorities, strengthens our communities, and that guides our recovery from the impacts of the coronavirus global pandemic on our County.”  READ the entire Chair’s Statement.   

VISIT the Council’s FY 22 Budget Portal for more information about how to participate in the Council’s Budget and Review Process.  Click on the graphic above to view additional details and to download the flyer.

The Office of Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks launched the COVID-19 Vaccine Bulletin, which provides transparent updates on our County’s vaccine distribution process and includes the latest numbers on vaccine supply and the pre-registration list.

Highlights:

• The County has reached an incredible milestone, with over 100,000 residents having received at least one dose of a vaccine, and over 50,000 residents are fully vaccinated.
• Our Health Department vaccination capacity is now more than 2,000 vaccines per day, or about 15,000 per week.
• The Health Department is currently operating five vaccination clinics across the County, and we also have three mobile vaccination units that can administer about 150 vaccines per day, total.
•  also met with Governor Hogan’s team to discuss expanding priority vaccine appointments for Prince Georgians. As a result, beginning next week, the State will set aside at least 300 appointments per day at Six Flags for residents on our County Health Department’s pre-registration list (a total of 2,100 priority appointments per week).
• Over the coming weeks, the State will begin directly facilitating nearly 10,000 priority appointments per week for County residents, through an upcoming vaccination clinic at the First Baptist Church of Glenarden and partnerships with several local pharmacies.
• The clinic at the First Baptist Church of Glenarden should open next Monday, and will ramp up to 980 shots per day by the end of the month, for a total of 6,860 shots per week.
• Walmart is conducting 500-dose closed clinics for County residents, each week, at the location in Clinton, and 200 dose-clinics at the Landover location.
• Wegmans has begun 200-dose closed clinics for County residents at its Lanham store. Giant is utilizing 2,200 doses for closed clinics to vaccinate disabled populations in our County.
• Greater Baden Medical Services will be among the next federal health centers to receive an allocation of vaccines directly from the federal government.
  
  

Vaccine Administration

• Last week, the County set a new weekly record with 11,425 vaccinations provided by our Health Department, an increase of 44% from the previous week. Over 8,200 were first doses.  When counting all vaccine providers, over 31,000 doses were provided to County residents.
• This week we have already provided nearly 4,000 first dose vaccinations and over 800 single-dose vaccinations from Johnson & Johnson.
• To date, the County has received 62,830 vaccines, and has administered 55,195 of those doses (approximately 87.8%). This metric (percentage of vaccine administered) changes day to day as new vaccine shipments come in and the number of second dose vaccines waiting to be given are administered in the days ahead.
• The State has announced that we will receive an increase, from at least 4,400 doses, to 5,700 first doses per week going forward.  We will also receive an additional allocation of 5,850 first doses next week.
• Of our vaccine on hand, we currently have 1,678 first doses remaining, 430 single doses remaining, and the rest are designated for second doses.

To view this week's COVID-19 Vaccine Bulletin, click on the graphic above or visit the following weblink: http://ow.ly/TCiN30rAu6m.

Food Resources

Stand Up & Deliver

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, 62% of our County’s public school children received free and reduced lunch. Since this pandemic began, more than 90,000 residents have been laid off from work.

This has further compounded challenges and increased the limitations for many families to provide meals daily.  Additionally, our first responders and medical professionals who are fighting on the front lines of this pandemic rarely have an opportunity to stop serving and purchase a meal.

With numerous goodwill inquiries, calls, and emails from the community-at-large to lend a helping hand and safely assist where needed, the “Stand Up & Deliver” program was been established.  It is an innovative and targeted solution to build capacity for community-based organizations and small businesses to address the food insecurity and basic needs of our fellow Prince Georgians.

Through the County’s Stand Up & Deliver program, Prince George’s County will distribute groceries and meals to go today, Saturday, March 13 at multiple locations throughout the county.

• New Home Baptist Church (8320 Landover Road, Landover, Maryland 20785), 10:00am
• Kingdom Fellowship at High Point High School (3601 Powder Mill Road, Beltsville, Maryland 20705), 10:00am
• United Baptist Church (7701 Riverdale Road, New Carrollton, Maryland 20784), 1!:30am

To view details for this week's event, please click on the event flyer above.  Be sure to follow Council District 6 on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) for weekly updates on distribution dates, times and locations. 

Financial Assistance For WSSC Customers

Attention Residents,

WSSC has enhanced its financial assistance programs to extend its reach to more customers and make arrangements for customers to significantly reduce their WSSC Water bills.

Need help right now? 
Need long term assistance with your WSSC bill?

Contact WSSC's Customer Service Line at 301-206-4001.  WSSC Customer Services Advisors are available to determine a payment option that will fit your situation.  Learn more about bill adjustments, flexible payment options, the Customer Assistance Program (CAP) and WSSC's Water Fund.

To learn more about WSSC Water’s customer financial assistance programs, please visit: www.wsscwater.com/assistance. For information in Spanish, please go to ww.wsscwater.com/asistencia.  Click on the graphic above to view additional details and to download the flyer.

Internet Essentials from COMCAST

An Internet connection at home is more important than ever. Bring affordable, high-speed Internet
home so you’re ready for anything.

For an affordable monthly price, Internet Essentials customers can enjoy the benefits of xFi Advanced Security, access to millions of X-finity WiFi hotspots
outside the home, and the option to purchase a laptop or desktop computer for just $149.99 + tax.

2 months of free Internet Essentials service for new customers.

To apply, visit www.InternetEssentials.com or call 1-855-846-8376.  Offer ends on June 30, 2021.

"Where Do We Go From Here"
County Business Update Webinar (3/19/2021)

Attention Business Owners,

On Friday, March 19, 2021, local & state officials will provide a County Business Update for Prince George’s businesses.

Local business owners are encouraged to join this FREE webinar to hear a federal government update & county strategy moving forward regarding the business community.

To register for the event, click the graphic above or visit the following weblink: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/5316153819576/WN_p_1QpgJ6R-CMhVgiRkv-yA.

County Restaurants are Encouraged to
Register for the Dine Prince George's Contest

ATTENTION COUNTY RESTAURANTS!

Enter your restaurant for a chance to win up to $3,000 in the Dine Prince George's Restaurant Contest! It takes less than 5 minutes to enter and you have multiple chances to win.

Entry Period: March 1st -13th
Voting Starts: Monday, March 15th

For more information and to enter, click the flyer to the left or visit www.PGCEDC.com/dineprincegeorges.

Learn More About the
Maryland Commuter Tax Credit

Did you know that Maryland businesses, 501c3, and 501c4 organizations are eligible for a Commuter Tax Credit?

Employers that subsidize or provide commuter benefits to their employees including public/private transit, vanpools, Guaranteed Ride Home, or cash in lieu of parking, may claim 50% of the cost, up to $100 per employee per month.

That can generate a huge savings and help you provide affordable transportation options to your employees. The 2021 limit for pre-tax and/or subsidized transportation benefits is $270 per employee per month.

Need some help setting up a commuter benefits program for your organization? Contact the RideSmart Solutions program manager at info.pgcridesmartsolutions@co.pg.md.us today. 

Small Businesses Invited
to Apply to COMCAST Rise

Recently, small businesses have been dealing with the ongoing impact of the pandemic, social unrest, and environmental events.

COMCAST has been working proactively to help its small business customers through its COMCAST Rise Program. Independent small businesses are the backbone of our communities, and today, more than ever, small businesses owned by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) are hurting. Through the Comcast RISE Program, there is a goal to create sustainable impact and give meaningful support to the small businesses that are shaping communities.

To review eligibility requirements, visit or click on the COMCAST Rise graphic to the left to download the flyer.

Selected businesses will receive one or more of the following business services:

Consulting
Advertising and marketing consultations with local
Effective marketing, research, and creative teams to gain insights on how to grow your business.

Media
A linear TV media schedule over a 90-day period.

Creative Production
Turnkey production of a 30-second TV commercial, plus a media strategy consultation and 90-day media schedule.

Technology Makeover
Computer equipment and Internet, voice and cybersecurity services for up to a 12 month period
to support business recovery (Taxes and other fees may still apply for tech makeover services).

Litter Blitz - DPW&T Partners with SHA

Prince George’s County’s Department of Public Works and Transportation Partners with the State Highway Administration for a County-wide Litter Blitz

LARGO, MD- As spring arrives, Prince George’s County’s Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T) is preparing to do some spring cleaning.  DPW&T will partner with the State Highway Administration (SHA) on Monday, March 15, 2021 for the kickoff of the County-wide Litter Blitz. The Litter Blitz will focus on removing litter and illegal signs from the County-maintained primary roadways as well as state-maintained roadways.

With winter hopefully behind us, DPW&T will concentrate resources to the primary and collector roads in the County in an effort to continue to eradicate litter. “DPW&T looks forward to working with SHA in this concentrated effort to remove litter from our roadways,” said DPW&T Director Terry L. Bellamy. “The Litter Blitz is just the beginning of what will be a concerted, sustained effort to ensure that roads throughout Prince George’s County are clean, attractive, and litter-free.”

Motorists are advised to stay alert and be aware of trucks and crews working on the roadways.  They are also reminded to drive safely and slow down as they approach a work zone. Residents can partner in the cleanup efforts by not contributing to litter and illegal dumping, and by picking up litter in and around their residential neighborhoods. 

To report litter or illegal signs, which is another form of litter, on County-maintained roadways, please call Prince George’s CountyClick 311 at 3-1-1 or 301-883-4748Call: 301-883-4748 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday - Friday; or you may submit your service request online at www.countyclick311.com.

Prince George’s County Beautification Committee

The Prince George’s County Beautification Committee is now accepting applications for the 2021 Prince George’s County Beautification Awards. 

Through the Beautification Awards Program, Prince George’s County honors those who have contributed to the community through excellence in gardening and landscape design. The Beautification Committee is dedicated to the protection of the environment and the preservation of Prince George’s County as a healthy and pleasant place to live and work.

The Council District 6 Team would love to see our District 6 communities be recognized for their work throughout the County.

Additional information can be found at pgcbeautification.com.  You can also access the site by clicking on the graphic to the left.  Questions can also be directed to Prince George's County Beautification Committee member, Brooke Westby, by dialing 301-627-7758 or emailing pgc.beautification@gmail.com.

Curbside Bulky Trash Collection
Accepting April Appointments

Remember Residents!  Items that are too big to fit in your trash bin won’t be hauled away in your regular curbside trash collection. Schedule your curbside bulky trash appointment today by calling 311 or visiting: bulkytrash.princegeorgescountymd.gov.  To view a larger version of this flier, click the graphic to the left.

Summer Jobs for
Prince George's County Youth (Ages 14-22)

The Prince George's County Youth@Work Summer Youth Enrichment Program (SYEP) provides an opportunity for young people across the County to receive career development, job readiness training and employment.

This year’s program will include virtual learning opportunities for youth, as well as limited in-person employment opportunities.  These opportunities differ based upon the applicant's age.  The application window for the 2021 installment is now open and will conclude on March 31, 2021. 

For more information and to apply, potential applicants are asked to visit syep.mypgc.us.

Click on the flyer to the left to review the flyer in further detail, to download and to scan the QR code for a direct link to the SYEP website.

Prince George's County Arts Study
2021 Virtual Teen Forum

Art is what you make it!

Join the Prince George's County Cultural Arts Study Team for its Teen Forum for teens 13-18 years old, Thursday, March 25, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.

TEENS WILL DISCUSS:

• How to make the County more creative and vibrant
• How to use arts and culture to energize neighborhoods
• How your involvement in arts and culture will impact the County's future

Register here: https://pgccasteenforum.eventbrite.com

#PGCCulturalArts

Which Vaccine Is For Me?

All FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.  When it is your turn to be vaccinated, know that the Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines all provide the fife-saving protection you need against COVID-19.

Remember....
Moderna and Pfizer vaccines both require a second does, so be sure to keep your second dose appointment.

• The Johnson & Johnson vaccine only requires one dose.
• You must pre-register to receive an appointment with the Prince George's County Health Department.
• When it is your turn, say “yes” to whichever vaccine is available at the time of your appointment.

Click on the graphic to the left to view additional details and to download the flyer.  Learn more and pre-register at mypgc.us/COVIDvaccine.

COVID-19: Myth vs. Fact

Please note that the County’s current focus remains on ensuring that those individuals that fall within Phase 1  are vaccinated. 

Once residents are eligible to receive the vaccine, residents will be contacted by the Prince George's County Health Department.

While many of us desire to receive the vaccine, there are also those who remain hesitant and skeptical to their effectiveness.

1. The vaccines – Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson – do not contain any live virus. 
2. You cannot catch COVID-19 from getting the vaccine.
3. Your best protection against the virus is getting vaccinated. 

Once residents are eligible to receive the vaccine, residents will be contacted by the Prince George's County Health Department.

The rollout has been difficult from top to bottom but PLEASE don't let that discourage you. Please note that your County officials continue to work through the leadership, managerial, and administrative faux paus that we've experienced so WE can get to OUR NEW NORMAL!  Know the truth about COVID-19 vaccines by visiting our COVID-19 Section towards the bottom of the page to review the full length Myth vs. Fact flyer and reviewing the latest edition of the COVID-19 Vaccine Bulletin.

COVID-19 2nd Dose Appointments:
What You Need To Know

What To Know

• As appointment become available based on vaccine supply, staff will follow up with individuals who have pre-registered to schedule appointments via phone.
• Due to limited supplies of vaccines, it may take several weeks or longer for eligible individuals to received appointments.

Current COVID-19 vaccines require two doses given several weeks apart.  You should not receive your second dose earlier than recommended.  The CDC advises second doses should be given as close as possible to the recommended timeframe since the first dose was administered. 

For more information on the 2nd dose timing between the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines as well as details surrounding the 2nd dose appointment, click on the graphic to the left.  Information and common questions about the newly released Johnson & Johnson can be found by viewing the following video narrated by Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.  Click on the graphic to the left to view additional details and to download the flyer.

COVID-19 Vaccine Reminder

Residents,

If you receive a COVID-19 vaccine appointment link from our County Health Department, please do not share that link with family, friends and colleagues.

The Health Department uses the pre-registration list to send appointment links to eligible individuals as appointments become available based on vaccine supply.

What happens when you share your appointment link with your friends, family and colleagues?  The Health Department must manually delete those individuals that are not currently eligible to receive the vaccine.  When individuals who are not currently eligible to receive the vaccine schedule an appointment, this creates delays in scheduling individuals who are eligible, and also creates longer lines at our clinics.  Click on the graphic to the left to view additional details and to download the flyer.