COUNCIL KICKS OFF SECOND HALF OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION
      We hope you had a safe, enjoyable, and relaxing summer! The Council recess has concluded and Council Members are excited to get back to work for the second half of the legislative session. Highlights of the Council Members’ recess included attending the Maryland Association of Counties Summer Conference in Ocean City, greeting students heading back to school, and working with summer interns. Here’s to a great fall!
COUNCIL ADOPTS RESOLUTION TARGETING OVERDOSE PREVENTION IN SCHOOLS
 With the adoption of resolution CR-76-2025 on Tuesday, September 9, the Council officially requested the Prince George’s County Board of Education conduct an audit of all Prince George’s County Public Schools to ensure lifesaving measures are on hand for any students suffering from an overdose. The resolution was introduced by Council Member Calvin Hawkins, II (At-Large) to ensure all public schools are in compliance with state and local overdose preparedness requirements, including the availability of the overdose reversal medication naloxone. The Maryland Department of Health estimates that in 2023 there were 2,513 overdoses statewide. The audit should be completed by the end of January, with a summary required to be submitted to the Council.
COUNCIL INTRODUCES 19 PIECES OF LEGISLATION FOLLOWING SUMMER RECESS
  In the first meeting following their summer recess, on Tuesday, September 9, Council Members introduced seven bills and 12 resolutions. Among them are the following:
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CB-70-2025: A bill proposed by Vice Chair Krystal Oriadha (District 7) that would require any non-county-based small or minority business awarded a contract with the county to subcontract with a county-based small or minority business for at least 15% of the contract value.
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CB-72-2025: A bill proposed by Vice Chair Krystal Oriadha (District 7) that would establish a fast-track application process for sit-down restaurant permitting in underserved areas of the county, with the goal of attracting high-quality dining establishments and food service jobs.
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CR-84-2025: A resolution introduced by Council Member Wala Blegay (District 6) encouraging the state to allow the sale of beer and wine in county grocery stores to help attract new, high-quality grocery stores to the county and encourage more residents to shop in the county instead of in neighboring jurisdictions in DC or Virginia.
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CR-88-2025: A resolution introduced by Vice Chair Krystal Oriadha (District 7) to establish the Prince George’s County Literacy Commission. The 14-member commission would identify literacy gaps among different age groups and communities in the county and design and implement programs tailored to the specific needs of both adults and students in need of assistance.
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CR-92-2025: A resolution introduced by Vice Chair Kystal Oriadha (District 7) that would launch a six-month feasibility study into establishing a county-owned grocery store at a cost-neutral basis to the county. The study would assess site selection, financial viability, operational models, and community impact. The goal is to eliminate food deserts in the county where commercial grocery stores do not exist.
COUNCIL HOLDS MEET & GREET WITH PGCPS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT
   Additionally, on Tuesday, September 9, Council Members, alongside County Executive Aisha Braveboy, held a meet and greet for the new interim superintendent for Prince George’s County Public Schools, Dr. Shawn Joseph, and his staff. It was a great opportunity for the leadership from the Prince George’s County legislative branch, executive branch, and school system to get to know one another even better and share ideas for success.
CHAIR BURROUGHS JOINS COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCEMENT
   As the County Council and County Executive Aisha Braveboy work to Elevate Prince George’s, Council Chair Edward Burroughs III (District 8) and Vice Chair Krystal Oriadha (District 7) joined the County Executive and M-NCPPC Planning Board Chair Darryl Barnes for a major announcement on Wednesday, September 10 about streamlining the regulation and permitting process for development and construction in the county. Chair Burroughs spoke about the need for more high-quality businesses, shops, and restaurants in our neighborhoods, and the repeated requests he hears from residents. The regulatory changes announced Wednesday will make it easier and more efficient for business owners to set up shop in Prince George’s County, making it among the most desirable locations for businesses in the nation.
GOFP COMMITTEE SUPPORTS FOUR LEADERSHIP APPOINTMENTS
 As County Executive Aisha Braveboy fills out her cabinet of directors, the Council oversees confirmation of their appointments. On Thursday, September 11, the Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee voted to support the confirmation of four appointees, prior to the full Council’s vote next month.
 Maxene Bardwell has been appointed to serve as the Chief Administrative Officer, the County Executive’s second-in-command. She has more than 25 years of internal audit leadership within the financial services, public utility, and government sectors, and is the Chairwoman-elect for the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants.
Linda Allen has been appointed as the Director of Finance. She has worked for the county government since 2005, most recently as the Deputy Director of Finance.
 Alice Williams has been appointed as the Director of Procurement. She is the founder and CEO of AMW Acquisition and Consulting Group and previously worked in procurement for the federal government.
Vennard Wright has been appointed as the Director of Information Technology. He previously held the same position before resigning in January 2017 to start private sector businesses.
TIEE COMMITTEE FAVORABLY RECOMMENDS TRAFFIC CALMING LEGISLATION
  Installation of traffic calming measures, like speed humps, could soon become a much smoother process. On Thursday, September 11, the Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy, and Environment Committee favorably recommended CB-19-2025, a bill proposed by Council Chair Edward Burroughs III (District 8) and Vice Chair Krystal Oriadha (District 7) to streamline the process for traffic studies and safety measure implementations. If a Council Member alerts the Department of Public Works and Transportation to a stretch of road they deem to be dangerous, the bill would require the department to study that road and respond to the Council Member within six months with a decision on whether to add traffic calming measures, like speed humps, or speed monitoring cameras. The department would also have to submit a plan and timeline for the installation of any necessary measures. Chair Burroughs says Allentown Road in District 8 is the inspiration for this bill. He says multiple people have died on that road due to speeding and previous complaints from residents to DPW&T have gone unaddressed.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE SUPPORTS SUBMISSION OF STATE BILLS
 The Council’s General Assembly Committee has turned its attention to working with the Prince George’s State Delegation to draft state bills that will impact Prince George’s County. On Tuesday, September 9, the Committee voted to recommend five pieces of legislation proposed by Council Members to the Prince George’s State Delegation for submission during the next General Assembly session. Among those bills is a proposal to allow the county to collect a portion of the 10-cent fee collected by retailers for the use of paper bags. Currently, the full cost goes to retailers. Another bill would require utility companies to notify municipalities and elected officials prior to issuing shut-off notices to multi-family apartment buildings, potentially allowing elected officials to step in and help.
PHED COMMITTEE MOVES FAVORABLY ON CANNABIS ZONING CHANGES
 After changes by the General Assembly to the state’s cannabis dispensary laws, the Council is now working to bring the county’s cannabis code into compliance with state law. On Thursday, September 4, the Council’s Planning, Housing, and Economic Development Committee voted to favorably recommend CB-65-2025, a bill proposed by Council Members Calvin Hawkins (At-Large) and Wanika Fisher (District 2), amending the county’s cannabis zoning ordinance. According to the new legislation, dispensaries would be barred from opening within 100 feet of a residential or planned development zone, within 500 feet of a school, library, playground, park, or recreation center, and within 1,000 feet of another dispensary.
“People have a social equity license right to open these establishments in our county and I think we’re all trying to do our best to be in compliance with state law,” said Council Member Fisher.
HHSPS COMMITTEE FAVORABLY RECOMMENDS ‘FOOD AS MEDICINE HEALTH PROGRAM’, TRAFFIC STOP HANDBOOK
  Council Member Wala Blegay (District 6) is leading the charge to improve community health in the county through the ‘Food as Medicine Health Program Act of 2025’. Her bill, CB-67-2025, moved favorably though the Health, Human Services, and Public Safety Committee on Thursday, September 4. It proposes a new countywide initiative that would use food-based interventions as part of a comprehensive healthcare approach to reduce chronic disease, address food insecurity, and improve long-term health outcomes for residents. The program would encourage the county’s Department of Health to collaborate with healthcare providers, food banks, grocery stores, local farmers, and community-based organizations. The Health Department would administer grants, coordinate delivery of medically supportive meals, and issue produce prescriptions for individuals with diet-related conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. The bill would also establish a work group, chaired by Council Member Blegay, to make recommendations and advise the Health Department, County Executive, and County Council on the program’s progress and objectives.
 Additionally, the HHSPS Committee moved favorably on CR-77-2025, a resolution aiming to improve interactions between drivers and police officers during traffic stops and eliminate racially-biased encounters. According to the state’s Race-Based Traffic Stop Data Dashboard, Prince George’s County residents were stopped by police 54,144 times between 2016 and 2023, with 66% of those drivers being Black and 20% Hispanic. The resolution, proposed by Council Member Calvin Hawkins (At-Large), calls on the county’s Office of Integrity, Compliance, and Police Accountability and the Police Accountability Board to create a driver handbook providing a description of law enforcement procedures during traffic stops, constitutional rights of drivers, positive and appropriate interactions with law enforcement officials, and a description of what drivers can do if they believe their rights were violated or feel racially targeted by law enforcement. The handbook would be available online, with printed copies available for distribution by Council Members and police departments.
EWD COMMITTEE BRIEFED BY LIBRARY SYSTEM, EMPLOY PRINCE GEORGE’S
 With the loss of hundreds of jobs for teens and young adults in Prince George’s County caused by the upcoming closure of Six Flags America, the topic of employment for young people is top of mind for members of the Education and Workforce Development Committee.
 On Monday, September 8, the Committee met with Walter Simmons, President and CEO of Employ Prince George’s, to discuss youth employment. He briefed Council Members on what his organization is doing to help young people find jobs and complete necessary training and career readiness preparation. Simmons told the Committee that factors like chronic absenteeism, low career technical education enrollment, low graduation rates among Hispanic students, and poor internet connection negatively impact employment for students, and low household income, lack of affordable or quality child care, low basic literacy and math skills, and lack of interest in traditional employment are among the factors impacting employment for young adults who are not in school. To combat some of these hurdles, Simmons spoke to Council Members about job search, career readiness, and career exploration opportunities provided by the Prince George’s County Youth Career Center, career navigators in PGCPS schools, and the new Mobile Career Exploration Lab, which will be going around the county, visiting two to three schools per week, beginning in March.
 Additionally, the Committee met with Dr. Mark Winston, CEO of the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System, and Megan Sutherland, PGCMLS’s Chief Operating Officer, about using county libraries as a place to host resident-facing county services. The goal is to bring county services, like Health Department vaccine drives, Office of Human Resource Management career fairs, and 9-1-1/3-1-1 educational sessions to the residents closer to where they live.
 COUNCIL HONORS HALF-DOZEN WITH AWARDS AND PROCLAMATIONS
Prior to the Council meeting on Tuesday, September 9, Chair Edward Burroughs III (District 8) and his colleagues on the Council presented six proclamations and awards recognizing distinguished service and contributions to the community. Following her recent retirement, former Council staff member Shirley Anglin was honored for her 15 years of service to the legislative branch.
 The Council also presented a proclamation in honor of African Heritage Month, which takes place throughout September. Prince George’s County has the second-highest population of African immigrants in the state.
 Dr. Miguel Chacón, the principal of High Point High School, was awarded a proclamation for his excellence as an educator and his positive community impact.
 Robert Hazel, the Vice President of Outreach and Partnership with the Black Voice Project, was honored for the outstanding work his group does assisting at-risk youth, returning citizens, and as violence interrupters in the community.
 Keith Gafford was awarded a proclamation in recognition of his retirement after 27 years of active-duty service in the US Army and 11 years with the Department of Defense.
 The Council recognized Commanders superfan The Washington Roadwarrior with a proclamation for his passion and impact in the world of youth and professional sports. The Washington Roadwarrior has attended games at all 32 NFL stadiums and regularly speaks to youth sports teams.
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