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 It is a New Day. We are charting in a new course, a new direction, toward a Council evermore committed to service to the People - The People's Council. We pledge to a new day where transparency and accountability are the watchwords that guide our Council and our commitment to the People’s Agenda.
The PEOPLE’S AGENDA is bringing the Council to the people and committed to the following focus areas:
- Ensuring Transparency in Our Government
- Increasing Services for Our Residents
- Preserving our Green Space and Protect Our Environment
- Supporting Smart and Quality Development for Our Community
- Supporting Our Working Families
- Increasing Opportunities for Our Local Minority Businesses and Nonprofits
- Bringing Access to Quality Healthcare to Our Communities
In the words of one of the greatest authors of our time, Dr. Maya Angelou, "Nothing will work unless you do." And nothing will work unless we do.
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 The County Council is proud to announce its return to in-person meetings. However, given the current state of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and to maintain the safety of the Council, staff, and members of the public, the Council is operating under modified hybrid operational procedures for other Legislative Branch services.
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DISTRICT COUNCIL ADDRESSES ZONING AND LAND USE MATTERS
Pursuant to the Maryland Regional District Act, the County Council, sitting as the District Council, has the authority to review and decide zoning and land use matters for most of Prince George’s County. On Monday, March 13th, the District Council convened for Oral Arguments, Items for Discussion, and Items Pending Finality.
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COUNCIL RECEIVES COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S FY 2024 PROPOSED SPENDING PLAN; BEGINS BUDGET REVIEW PROCESS
 The County Council received County Executive Angela Alsobrooks’ Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2024 on Wednesday, March 15th. Pursuant to the County Charter, the County Council, in its role as the fiscal steward over taxpayer dollars, must adopt a new and balanced spending plan for Prince George’s County on or before June 1. The new fiscal year begins on July 1, 2023.
Council Chair Tom Dernoga (District 1) commented upon receiving the proposed spending plan. “We are pleased with the County Executive’s focus on investing in education and public safety, and to see strong investments in the Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement and in storm water management as well. We will spend the next two months digging in and ensuring that Council priorities are considered.”
The People’s Council is committed to an open, inclusive and participatory budget process, and looks forward to working collaboratively with County Executive Alsobrooks and her budget team, County residents and all stakeholders to produce a final spending plan that reflects its commitment to the People’s Agenda priorities.
 Over the next three months, the Council will engage in a careful and deliberative Budget Review Process, which will be guided by the core tenets of the People’s Agenda, and conducted through the Council’s standing committees, staff reviews and important public engagement.
Budget meeting schedules are subject to change. All Council meetings, including budget sessions, are live streamed and available via the Council’s website for on-demand viewing. For updated information on the Council budget process, committee work sessions and public hearings, visit the Council’s FY 24 Budget Portal.
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS BEGINS FOR SEVERAL NEW MEASURES ADDRESSING ‘THE PEOPLE’S COUNCIL’ PRIORITIES
 In keeping with its commitment to effectively address the issues of greatest concern to residents, the County Council convened this week to take up several measures directly addressing the ‘People’s Agenda’ and its core tenets. Among the measures presented and introduced during session on Tuesday, March 14th include CB-031-2023, legislation sponsored by Council Vice Chair Wala Blegay, Esq., (District 6), Council Members Jolene Ivey (District 5) and Krystal Oriadha (District 7), limiting the floor area dedicated to the display and sales of tobacco products in convenience stores, gas stations, and tobacco shops. Vice Chair Blegay says the health and well-being of Prince Georgians is a priority for this Council. “We must send a strong message to tobacco shops and those masking as ‘convenience stores’ that primarily sell tobacco products. We want quality, healthy retail in our County, and residents are tired of the marketing tactics being used to sell highly addictive and deadly tobacco products in our community.” Council Member Blegay also sponsored CB-038-2023, legislation addressing pay transparency in County Government. Under the measure, Prince George’s County Government would be required to develop, publish, and make easily accessible on a web portal or digital system the salary information for all public employees.
Council Member Krystal Oriadha introduced CR-018-2023, legislation creating a Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot Program modeled after the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED) program in Stockton, California. Under the measure, low-income families would be given direct cash benefits to support their basic needs, such as food and utilities. Council Member Oriadha also presented CB-042-2023 legislation establishing a program that provides temporary financial assistance to low-income senior residents of Prince George’s County who are 62 years or older for one-time rent, mortgage or property tax payment relief. Council Member Oriadha, a member of the Council’s Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) committee, says the measure, which also seeks to establish a Prince George’s County Senior Housing Assistance Fund, will relieve a financial burden, and enable seniors to age in place.
Executive Appointments to the Historic Preservation Commission and the Washington Suburban Transit Commission (WSTC) were also approved, along with CR-019-2023, legislation extending the temporary appointment of Oluwasanmi Areola as the Acting Health Officer for Prince George’s County.
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GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE CONVENES FOR REVIEW OF LOCAL AND STATEWIDE BILLS IMPACTING PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY
The General Assembly Committee convened this week to review and take position on several local and statewide bills impacting Prince George’s County under consideration by the County’s House and Senate Delegation. Measures receiving committee support include HB 444: (PG 403) Payment in Lieu of Taxes Agreements - Low-Income Housing; HB 229 /SB 172 Employment for Minors - Opportunities for Work; HB 680: Income Tax - Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit – Alterations; HB 788/SB 414 Commission to Advance and Strengthen Fire Fighting Within Maryland; HB 646 State Procurement - Minority Business Enterprises and Small Business Enterprises - Procurement Forecast, Employee Performance, and Outreach (Small Business Protection Act of Maryland) For a complete list of measures reviewed during General Assembly, Click HERE.
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EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE RECEIVES MCAP BRIEFING FROM PGCPS LEADERSHIP
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The Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) provides educators, parents, and all interested stakeholders with information related to student progress towards proficiency on the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards. The Council’s Education and Workforce and Development Committee (EWD), on Monday, March 13th, convened for a Spring 2022 MCAP Results Briefing provided by Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) CEO Dr. Monica Goldson, members of her leadership team, and Board of Education Chair Judy Mickens-Murray.
RENTAL ASSISTANCE MEASURES ADDRESSED DURING PLANNING, HOUSING, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
As the Council begins its budget review process, the Planning, Housing, and Economic Development (PHED) committee, chaired by Council Member Jolene Ivey, received an FY24 Budget Overview briefing for the Prince George’s County portion of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), presented by the Chairman of the Prince George's County Planning Board Peter Shapiro, and his team during Thursday’s meeting. PHED committee members also engaged in robust discussion around proposed legislation on Thursday’s agenda. CB-23-2023, establishing the Prince George’s County Rental Assistance Program and Rental Assistance Fund was favorably supported as amended.
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 CB-24-2023, enacting the Prince George’s County Rental Assistance Act of 2023, prohibiting sudden increases in rent, known as rent gouging, establishing the Prince George’s County Rental Assistance Program and Prince George’s County Rental Assistance Fund, and CB-25-2023, amending the Nonresidential and Mixed Use Form and Design Standards of the Zoning Ordinance to prohibit placement of donation boxes for collection of household and personal items on the exterior property areas and associated parking areas were held. CB-26-2023, at the request of the sponsor, was also held.
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 TONIGHT @ 6:00 P.M.! COUNCIL TOWN HALL ON PROPERTY STANDARDS, ENFORCEMENT, PERMITTING, AND INSPECTIONS!
 Residents and business owners are encouraged to join the County Council at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 21st for a Property Standards, Enforcement, Permitting, and Inspections Town Hall Event in the Council Hearing Room at the Wayne K. Curry Administration Building, 1301 McCormick Drive, in Largo. Share your ideas on how to make the property standards, enforcement, permitting, and inspection functions of the County Government more responsive to community needs. Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement (DPIE) leadership will participate in the meeting.
“The Council continues its focus on neighborhood quality of life. We are seeking improvements in permitting, inspections, and property standards enforcement, and this town hall event is an opportunity to hear from residents and businesses regarding their experiences, and address concerns. We want to hear from the community as we work to identify areas for improvement. I look forward to the evening’s event and hearing from participants.”
-- Council Member Eric C. Olson, Chair of the Council’s Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment (TIEE) committee
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 COUNCIL VICE-CHAIR WALA BLEGAY CO-HOSTS TRAFFIC SAFETY EMERGENCY TOWN HALL
County Council Vice-Chair Wala Blegay, Esq. (District 6) co-hosted a Traffic Safety Emergency Town Hall meeting on Friday evening at Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School to address serious concerns along Ritchie Marlboro Road in Upper Marlboro. In the past week, there have been three traffic incidents, one of them fatal, claiming the life of Wise High School student, 18-year-old Cayliy Haygood, of Upper Marlboro. Community members gathered at the school, where they shared their concerns and discussed solutions with Council Vice Chair Blegay, and representatives from the County’s Department of Public Works and Transportation and the Police Department, Division 2, also event co-hosts.
DISTRICT 2 COUNCIL MEMBER WANIKA FISHER JOINS WARD 5 D.C. COUNCIL MEMBER ZACHARY PARKER FOR EASTERN AVENUE COMMUNITY WALK
 District 2 County Council Member Wanika Fisher and Ward 5 District of Columbia Council Member Zachary Parker, responding to a shared commitment for area improvements along Eastern Avenue, led the “Working for All of Us” Community Walk on Friday morning, beginning at 1 Municipal Place in Mount Rainier. Council Member Fisher welcomed the opportunity to work with Council Member Parker to collaboratively address the shared interests and concerns of residents along Eastern Avenue. “DC Council Member Parker and I share portions of Eastern Avenue, and each of us has heard from our constituents regarding improvements for this area. This community walk with residents, and interested stakeholders helps us to identify where these improvements might be made.” Eastern Avenue forms a portion of the boundary between Prince George’s County and the District of Columbia.
DISTRICT 5 COUNCIL MEMBER JOLENE IVEY PARTICIPATES IN GROUNDBREAKING CELEBRATION FOR GLENARDEN HILLS PHASE III
District 5 Council Member Jolene Ivey joined a host of County officials and community leaders, including Pennrose, the Redevelopment Authority of Prince George’s County, B&W Solutions, and SHABACH! Ministries to celebrate Wednesday’s groundbreaking for Glenarden Hills Phase III. The final rental phase of the $110 million, six-phase Glenarden Hills master-planned community, a public-private partnership, will add 158 new, high-quality, and affordable apartments to the site. As with prior phases, Glenarden III was developed with significant community engagement and local input to ensure plans respect the existing neighborhoods while offering a compact, walkable, and innovative community design.
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COUNCIL MEMBER AT-LARGE MEL FRANKLIN AND DISTRICT 2 COUNCIL MEMBER WANIKA FISHER CELEBRATE LAUNCH OF HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY
 The Latino business community has a new home for advocacy in Prince George’s County! Council Member At-Large Mel Franklin, an event sponsor, joined County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and his colleague, District 2 Council Member Wanika Fisher, as well as members of the Hispanic Business Community, for the Grand Opening of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Prince George’s County (HCCPGC) on Thursday evening.
DISTRICT 4 COUNCIL MEMBER INGRID WATSON “CELEBRATES OUR DIFFERENCES” WITH THE INTERFAITH COALITION OF BOWIE
 On Sunday, March 12th, District 4 Council Member Ingrid Watson visited the Bowie Playhouse for the Pathway to Peace “Celebrating Our Differences” event hosted by the Interfaith Coalition of Bowie. Council Member Watson was honored to present awards to youth essay winners and hear from poets and author and journalist Susan Katz Miller, considered one of the top experts on interfaith families and whose work has been featured on NBC, CBS, PBS and dozens of other media outlets. Pictured (l to r) Tisha Hillman, Rabbi Steve Weisman, 1st Place Winner Alivia Bowers, and Bowie City Council Member Michael Esteve.
DISTRICT 9 COUNCIL MEMBER SYDNEY HARRISON JOINS LEADERSHIP GREATER WASHINGTON’S EDUCATION DAY
District 9 Council Member Sydney Harrison, as a member of the Signature Program Class of 2023, recently participated in the Leadership Greater Washington ‘Education Day’ meeting in Washington, D.C. The cohort discussed the future of education. The lively and informative conversation was led by special guest speakers, Dr. Monica Goldson, CEO of Prince George's County Public Schools and Dr. Michelle Reid, Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools.
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