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COUNCIL MEMBERS CONNECT WITH CONSTITUENTS, FACILITATE SNOW REMOVAL FOLLOWING WINTER STORM
      Council Members were out in their districts last week and through the weekend connecting with constituents following Winter Storm Fern. Council Chair Krystal Oriadha (District 7) joined County Executive Aisha Braveboy and Del. Tiffany Alston to assess conditions and check on senior citizens Saturday, and she was back out in District 7 on Sunday, escalating outstanding areas to the Department of Public Works and Transportation and staying in neighborhoods until the work was finished. Council Member Edward Burroughs (District 8) joined CEX Braveboy in South County where they spoke to residents, deployed additional trucks, and put boots on the ground to support the community. Council Member Burroughs also connected with those utilizing his District 8 Snow Removal Program, which is closing in on the goal of helping 500 residents. Crews have been working early in the morning and continuing late into the night to make sure no one is left behind. Council Member Tom Dernoga (District 1) partnered with the County Executive’s office to bring attention to areas still needing help in the Laurel area.
COUNCIL BRIEFED ON DATA CENTER TASK FORCE FINAL REPORT
  As data centers remain a highly-contested topic in Prince George’s County, the Council was briefed by members of the county’s Qualified Data Centers Task Force on its final report on Tuesday, January 27, during a virtual Council meeting. The task force was formed in April 2025 and worked diligently to explore benefits and potential impacts of data center development, understand community concerns, and gather community members’ opinions to inform future planning and policy recommendations. The task force received thousands of written comments from the public and spoke to more than 600 residents in person at its four community meetings in July and October. According to task force members, residents raised six key concerns: environmental impact, governance and planning, economic value, design and aesthetic, zoning clarity and protections, and community reinvestment. The task force met with officials in Frederick, MD and Loudon County, VA to discuss the impact of data centers on their communities. The group also conducted case studies on those communities, as well as Fairfax County, VA; Fulton County, GA; and Franklin County, OH. The final report includes a list of more than a dozen recommended steps the Council can take to optimize the use of data centers, if it decides to proceed with their approval. The Council, through the adoption of CR-98-2025, enacted a six month pause on the approval of data center projects in September 2025 to allow for the task force to complete this comprehensive report. On January 23, County Executive Aisha Braveboy extended the moratorium, through an executive order, through April 30.
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COUNCIL CONFIRMS PAIR OF ETHICS BOARD APPOINTEES
  The county’s Board of Ethics has two new members: Dr. Gerald Folsom and Ms. Lori Matthews. The County Council confirmed the pair of appointees at its virtual meeting on Tuesday, January 27. Dr. Folsom has more than 23 years of federal government experience in oversight, compliance, program management, and regulatory integrity. He has also served as a senior pastor for multiple congregations in Prince George's County and across the region. Ms. Matthews brings more than 30 years of professional experience across education, government, administration, and community engagement. She served as an educator in Prince George's and Charles Counties and has extensive administrative experience with the Department of Homeland Security, where she managed sensitive White House and Congressional documents, coordinated high-level briefings, and served as a point of contact between ICE and the Office of Legislative Affairs. Congratulations to both on their appointments!
GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE SUPPORTS THREE STATE BILLS
 With the Maryland General Assembly session now underway, the Council’s General Assembly Committee is working to review state bills that could directly impact Prince Georgians. At its meeting on Tuesday, January 27, held virtually due to weather, the Committee voted to support three bills currently in discussion in Annapolis. The first, PG 309-26, seeks to add point-to-point speed monitoring systems on Maryland Route 210/Indian Head Highway to discourage speeding and issue fines to drivers traveling 12 miles per hour or more over the speed limit. The Committee also supported a bill, SB245/HB444, which aims to bar the state and any county or municipality from entering into federal immigration enforcement agreements, while also forcing the cancellation of any existing agreements by July 1. Prince George’s County does not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Lastly, the Committee voted to support a bill, PG/MC 105-26, seeking to clarify responsibility for the handling of financial disclosure statements submitted by residents seeking an appointment to a bi-county commission like the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission or WSSC Board.
EWD COMMITTEE BRIEFED ON PGCPS FY27 BUDGET REQUEST
 The Education and Workforce Development Committee is getting its first look at the Prince George’s County Public Schools fiscal year 2027 budget proposal. Representatives from the school system, including Interim Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph, briefed the Committee on PGCPS’ budget request on Monday, January 26. According to Dr. Joseph, the school system was expecting a more than $200 million increase in expenses for fiscal year 2027 due to mandatory costs associated with employee contracts, health benefits, and state Blueprint obligations. He told the Committee that he was able to slash nearly $150 million from the budget in other areas but is still requesting an additional $50 million from the county to close the budget gap. The Board of Education is scheduled to submit the final PGCPS budget request to the Council before the end of February.
COUNCIL CHAIR KRYSTAL ORIADHA LAUNCHES COUNTYWIDE LISTENING TOUR
 Registration is NOW OPEN for Council Chair Krystal Oriadha's countywide Listening Tour! Join the Chair and her Council colleagues for three sessions where you are invited to share your thoughts, ideas, and what matters most to you. We look forward to hearing from you!
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 February 2 - Task Forces-Workgroups - 6:00 PM - DETAILS
February 3 - County Council - 9:00 AM - Swearing In Ceremony
February 3 - General Assembly Committee - 11:00 AM - DETAILS
February 3 - County Council - 12:30 PM - DETAILS
February 3 - County Council - 6:00 PM - Town Hall Meeting - DETAILS
February 4 - Zoning Hearing Examiner - 9:30 AM - DETAILS
February 4 - Task Forces-Workgroups - 4:00 PM - DETAILS
February 4 - Task Forces-Workgroups - 11:30 AM - DETAILS
February 5 - County Council - 6:00 PM - Town Hall Meeting - DETAILS
February 6 - County Council - 6:00 PM - Town Hall Meeting - DETAILS
Archived Meetings can be viewed on Council Livestream page.
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COUNCIL CHAIR KRYSTAL ORIADHA HOSTS MOTHER’S FIRST VISION BRUNCH
   Council Chair Krystal Oriadha (District 7) kicked off her Mother’s First Initiative, in partnership with Nu You Inc. and Community on the Frontline, with a Vision Brunch in Mitchellville. Mother’s First provides in-home and virtual support to more than 1,000 new mothers in District 7, including help with meals, laundry, cleaning, and household tasks, giving moms time to rest, recover, and connect with their babies. Moms also receive care packages and are invited to monthly ‘Mommy Meetups.’ Chair Oriadha’s Vision Brunch featured informational tables, giveaways, vision boards, and speakers.
VICE CHAIR OLSON JOINS MARTINS WOODS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MEETING
 Vice Chair Eric Olson (District 3) enjoyed stopping by the Martins Woods Community Association meeting. He’s always grateful for the chance to connect with neighbors and share county updates and thanks the association for the great conversation!
COUNCIL MEMBERS BLEGAY AND FISHER JOIN OPENING OF OUR CARE INC
 Council Member Wala Blegay (At-Large) and Council Member Wanika Fisher (District 2) attended the ribbon cutting and opening of Our Care Inc.’s new headquarters and administrative offices, an important investment in services for children and families that expands access to quality, community-centered care in Prince George’s County. They congratulate the Our Care team on this exciting milestone!
COUNCIL MEMBERS BLEGAY AND HUNTER ATTEND BI-COUNTY ROUNDTABLE
  Council Member Wala Blegay (At-Large) and Council Member Danielle Hunter (District 6) joined the Bi-County Roundtable, seeing many familiar faces of those who have been actively engaged in building a strong business community. Council Member Blegay presented proclamations to M-NCPPC Chairman Darryl Barnes and Acting Secretary of Social & Economic Mobility Walter Simmons, both of whom have been instrumental in strengthening the bi-county business support ecosystem.
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