CHAIR BURROUGHS JOINS COUNTY EXECUTIVE-ELECT BRAVEBOY, OTHER LEADERS FOR ANNOUNCEMENT OF INTERIM PGCPS SUPERINTENDENT
   On Friday, June 13, County Executive-elect Aisha Braveboy was joined by Council Chair Edward Burroughs (District 8) and other county and school leaders to announce that Dr. Shawn Joseph has been selected to serve as Interim Superintendent of Prince George’s County Public Schools. The announcement came after Superintendent Millard House and the PGCPS Board of Education agreed to mutually part ways on June 12. Dr. Joseph is the co-director of the AASA/Howard University Urban Superintendents Academy and a faculty member at Howard University. He previously served as the deputy superintendent for teaching and learning at PGCPS from 2014-2016. County and school leaders present for the announcement included Council Member Calvin Hawkins (At-Large) and Dr. Donna Christy, President of the Prince George’s County Educators’ Association.
“I’m excited. I’m so proud to be here today because I know Dr. Joseph is going to produce real results, and our students need real results,” said Chair Burroughs.
 “Leadership matters, and in this moment, all the stars are aligned for Prince George’s County to do extraordinary things. We just need to focus, and we need to execute. We need to be relentless about results, and over the course of this year, you have my commitment to do just that,” said Dr. Joseph. “I promise you that we’re going to get it right for the children of Prince George’s County Public Schools.” Read the full press release HERE.
CHAIR BURROUGHS TAKES LEADERSHIP ACADEMY STUDENTS TO NYC
   Chair Edward Burroughs (District 8) took high school students from his District 8 Youth Leadership Academy to New York City for a weekend of unforgettable experiences, including a scenic boat tour and powerful Broadway show. The Youth Leadership Academy, funded by the MGM National Harbor Local Impact Grant, has previously taken students to the White House, Annapolis, and the County Council Building, in addition to offering mock job interviews and presentations from professionals across various industries. Vice Chair Krystal Oriadha (District 7) was grateful to bring along several students from her fellowship program. These events are so much fun, but they’re also about exposure, opportunity, and shaping how our youth see the world and their place in it. Investing in them now is investing in the future we all want to see!
BILL TO INCLUDE YOUNG PEOPLE ON COUNTY BOARDS AMONG LEGISLATION FAVORABLY RECOMMENDED BY COMMITTEE
  A bill aiming to bring more young people into the local government conversation took a step forward on Tuesday, June 10, gaining a favorable recommendation from the Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee. CB-49-2025, proposed by Chair Edward Burroughs III (District 8) and Vice Chair Krystal Oriadha (District 7), aims to create a Youth Advisory Program, adding two teen or young adult members to many of the county’s 50+ boards and commissions. The proposal calls for the creation of two positions, on eligible bodies, for county residents between the ages of 16 and 24, with the intent of gathering new input and perspective while further strengthening youth involvement in county decision making.
“This bill is to create more opportunities for young people to serve in the county. I would not be where I am if we did not have a student on the school board. We have so many boards and commissions where young people can serve and give their expertise and learn and also provide critical insight,” said Chair Burroughs.
Multiple boards and commissions would not be part of the Youth Advisory Program, including the Administrative Charging Committee, Police Accountability Board, and Board of Ethics. Boards and commissions with paid members would be required to offer compensation to Youth Advisory Program members older than 21 and scholarship funding to those under 21. The Youth Advisory Program members would not count toward each board or commission’s meeting quorum.
 Additionally, on Tuesday, the GOFP Committee favorably recommended CR-3-2025, a resolution that would formally request the Prince George’s State House and Senate Delegations support legislation allowing the sale of beer and wine in Maryland grocery stores. The intent of the resolution, introduced by Council Members Wanika Fisher (District 2) and Wala Blegay (District 6) is to attract additional grocery stores to the county, citing data showing 40% of the county’s neighborhoods are considered food deserts. According to the resolution, allowing beer and wine sales in grocery stores would increase overall sales in Maryland by $192.8 million, create 760 new jobs, and bring $24.1 million in additional tax revenue.
“To get some of the higher-end grocers, such as Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods, the importance of having the opportunity to sell beer and wine is an incentive and will help bring the quality retail that my district has been very adamant about,” said Council Member Blegay.
The GOFP Committee also moved favorably on CB-16-2025, a bill proposed by Vice Chair Oriadha barring the Prince George’s County Police and Fire Departments from disqualifying applicants solely for a positive cannabis or marijuana screening.
COMMITTEE MOVES FAVORABLY ON THREE BILLS NOW SET FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS
The Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy, and Environment Committee is favorably recommending three pieces of legislation promoting better transparency and inclusion in the road paving process, streamlined approval for certain developments, and cleaner commercial properties. On Monday, June 9, the Committee moved favorably on CB-30-2025, a bill proposed by Vice Chair Krystal Oriadha (District 7) and Council Member Tom Dernoga (District 1) requiring the Department of Public Works and Transportation to annually submit, to the County Council, a list of roads set for repaving. The list would have to be presented to the Council for feedback each year in December. The Committee also moved favorably on CB-31-2025 and CB-46-2025, both proposed by Vice Chair Oriadha. All three pieces of legislation moved forward at Tuesday’s Council meeting and now head to a public hearing.
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Under CB-31-2025, commercial property owners would be subject to escalating fines, ranging from $2,000 to $5,000, for code violations involving excessive weeds or litter on their property. After a fourth consecutive offense for failure to remove the unsightly objects or overgrown vegetation, the county would handle removal, and the property owner would be billed for the cost. “For habitual bad actors in our community that are leaving trash and litter and not maintaining their commercial property, at some point we’re going to step in and say, ‘Okay, well if you won’t do it, we will do it,’ but we also know that we can’t afford to take the burden of cost, so creating a system that ensures the commercial property pays for this service, but it gets done on a regular basis, I think, is a real solution to a lot of the issues that we constantly see in our community,” said Vice Chair Oriadha.
CB-46-2025 would provide exceptions to the county’s Woodland and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Ordinance (CB-87-2013) for certain development projects, including those that disturb less than 20,000 square feet of woodlands on a single lot, construction by a public utility, county or municipal government, or projects required by the state.
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WMATA BUS ROUTES WILL CHANGE THIS MONTH
 WMATA is preparing to roll out widespread changes to its bus network on June 29, impacting nearly every stop in one way or another. Ahead of that rollout, Peter Cafiero, WMATA’s managing director of intermodal planning, and Reem Rayef, WMATA’s program manager of government relations, briefed the Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy, and Environment Committee on Thursday, June 12, sharing insight into the route changes.
 According to the WMATA representatives, the transit company spent two years planning the new routes, including 23 weeks of regionwide engagement and 13,000 comments from riders. Many of the routes will look different, with new stops, updated hours of operation, and new names and signs. You can learn more about the changes at WMATA.com/BetterBus.
PGPCS OUTLINES POLICY PRIORITIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICT NEEDS
 On Monday, June 9, members of the Prince George’s County Board of Education’s Policy and Governance Committee briefed the Council’s Education and Workforce Development Committee on the school board’s advocacy efforts in Annapolis during the Maryland General Assembly’s 2025 Legislative Session.
 School board Chair Branndon Jackson, Vice Chair Jonathan Briggs, and Board Member Aimee Olivo also shared an “Aligned for Impact” presentation, detailing several school board policy priorities. They stated the importance of collaboration in building an educational framework, the need for modernization and infrastructure improvement across PGCPS’ school buildings, and their desire to improve accountability, transparency, and independence of the Office of Integrity and Compliance. They also discussed enhancing the school board’s autonomy and need for additional funding to address safety and security concerns throughout the school system.
COUNTY COUNCIL PRESENTS FIVE PROCLAMATIONS
On Tuesday, June 10, the Prince George’s County Council awarded five proclamations honoring tremendous service and accomplishments in the community. The proclamations were presented to:
Linda and Eric Carpenter-Grantham for their work inspiring the passage of Eric’s ID Law in Maryland, allowing for voluntary self-identification of a nonapparent disorder, like autism,on ID cards. This will be signified by a butterfly and is intended to facilitate smoother interactions with law enforcement.
 Erek Barron, Esq. recognizing his service as the first Black US Attorney for the District of Maryland.
 The 3v3 Traditional Prince George’s County Special Olympics Basketball Team for winning a gold medal at the Maryland Special Olympics State Championship.
 Captain Calvin Tyson recognizing his retirement from the Prince George’s County Police Department after 21 years of service.
 Lori Morrow, of the Maryland Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, in recognition of Gun Violence Awareness Month.
 Congratulations to all!
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