Prince George’s Rising – May 26 News Update from Councilman Mel Franklin
Prince George’s Rising – May 26, 2017
An Update from Councilman Mel Franklin
May 26, 2017 | Volume 3, Issue 4
Prince George’s Rising is a countywide newsletter designed to empower communities with key information and issues of concern. It is my honor to serve you on the Prince George’s County Council. Over the last several years, including two years as Chairman, I have worked with my colleagues on the Council to move our County forward. With your help, we are bringing the world to Prince George’s County and putting Jobs First. For more information, please go to https://www.melfranklin.net/news/ or e-mail me at mel@melfranklin.net.
Council Adopts $3.876b Budget that Makes Important Investments in Infrastructure and Services
Concerns Persist about Limited Opportunities for Small, Minority and Woman Owned Businesses in the County
Regarding the overall county budget: “Today’s budget makes key investments in public infrastructure, like roads and school repairs, adds critical staffing and resources for public safety, and significantly increases funding for pre-K through 14 education (incl. community college and libraries). The budget also provides essential emergency assistance to our non-profits who care for the developmentally disabled so that they can meet our higher, local minimum wage….”
Regarding minority and woman owned businesses in the county receiving only 11% of county contracting opportunities: “….Small businesses create jobs and when we leverage our public dollars to grow our local businesses, we will increase our ability to invest in the critical needs of our community and create generational wealth. A county as diverse as our own must do better by the small, minority and woman owned businesses that want to grow and thrive here.”
Full press release here: https://www.melfranklin.net/statement-of-councilman-mel-franklin-on-the-adoption-of-the-prince-georges-county-budget/
Related item: https://www.melfranklin.net/councilman-mel-franklin-endorses-wage-funding-for-developmentally-disabled-organizations/
Councilman Mel Franklin and NAACP’s Hilary Shelton on CBS WUSA 9 “Off Script” on Monday 5/22 to Discuss Homicide of Bowie State Student Army 2nd Lt. Richard Collins and Potential Hate Crime
Video from WUSA 9 here: http://www.wusa9.com/opinion/editorials/off-script/-offscripton9-tackling-hate-crimes-on-campus-after-deadly-stabbing/441967367
Federal and State Government Should Appeal Bad Purple Line Decision
“Judge Leon’s decision is a disappointment for jobs, economic development, and progress in our region. The Judge’s decision improperly substitutes his judgment for that of the appropriate fact-finding agency instead of properly deferring to the FTA’s expertise in evaluating the merits of the facts and arguments regarding the Purple Line….The continued delay caused by this litigation puts hundreds of millions in funding at risk and jeopardizes the entire project. I strongly urge the FTA and the State of Maryland to appeal Judge Leon’s decision.”
Full press release here: https://www.melfranklin.net/statement-councilman-mel-franklin-urges-appeal-of-purple-line-decision/
Once A Week Trash Survey Ending on May 28
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Please take the 45-Day Feedback Survey about the change from Twice-A-Week to Once-A-Week Trash Service in Pr. George’s County: https://www.melfranklin.net/councilman-mel-franklin-launches-once-a-week-trash-feedback-survey/
Last year, the County changed waste pick-up service from twice-a-week to once-a-week to save money, promote recycling, and match other nearby jurisdictions. This was a controversial change with many residents. Please take this survey above and give me your feedback about this change in service.
Prince George’s County Family & Friends Day is August 27, 2017: Please stay tuned for more details about our annual countywide festival.
COMMUNITY NEWS YOU CAN USE
Local Hiring and Local Business Public Forum – May 31
The Local Business Participation Advisory Committee (LBPAC) will hold a public forum on Wednesday, May 31, 6:30-8:30pm, Surratts-Clinton Library (9400 Piscataway Road, Clinton, MD 20735) with the topics to include the enforcement of the Jobs and Opportunity Act of 2016 (CB-74-2016) and information about County business certification programs. Participants will include Council Member Mel Franklin, Roland Jones (Director of Central Services), Mirinda Jackson (LBPAC Chair), Cydnee Phoenix (Exec. Dir., Supplier Diversity, OCS), LBPAC members, and the general public. The LBPAC is an oversight committee formed by the County Council to advise the county government and the general public about the county’s progress in implementing laws that ensure inclusion of local businesses, especially small, minority, and woman-owned firms, in county procurement opportunities. The County has recently struggled to fully implement and enforce local business and local hiring laws. Join the discussion!
Related items:
Public Committee Presentation of the Jobs and Opportunity Act of 2016 (CB-74-2016): https://princegeorgescountymd.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=4822851&GUID=6A156D4C-3A58-4344-9E39-DF32DCB73F34
“Councilman Franklin Criticizes Poor County Enforcement of Local Hiring and Small, Minority Business Opportunities”https://www.melfranklin.net/councilman-franklin-criticizes-poor-county-enforcement-of-local-hiring-and-small-minority-business-opportunities/
Business Opportunities for the Regional Medical Center, hosted by Clark Construction and Prince George’s County Supplier Diversity – June 1
Event flyer: https://tinyurl.com/clark-rmc-event
Community Discussion on Litter: “Are You Concerned About Litter in Prince George’s County” – June 6
From the Department of the Environment and PFC Coalition: The People for Change Coalition has partnered with the University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center and the Prince George’s County Dept. of the Environment to discuss the issue of litter in the County. “How do you feel about litter? Who do you think is responsible? How can the problem be fixed?” Join the discussions!
Tuesday, June 6, 2017 from 6:30pm – 8:30pm, Kentland Community Center, 2413 Pinebrook Ave, Hyattsville, MD 20785. Registration required here: http://www.pfccoalition.org/litterlandover.asp
Refreshments will be served.
County Support for Locally Owned and Operated Businesses – Special Assistance for Local Entrepreneurship (S.A.L.E.)
From FSC First: “The Special Assistance for Local Entrepreneurship (SALE) Program is a component of the Economic Development Incentive Fund (EDIF) available to established businesses through Prince George’s County in an effort to broaden the region’s tax base. Council Bill 78-2013 established the Special Assistance for Entrepreneurship Program … to insure financial assistance is available to expand entrepreneurship opportunities for County residents who own businesses based in the County. The purpose of the S.A.L.E. program is to (i) stimulate small business development and local business ownership by County residents, (ii) provide county residents who own businesses based in the County with access to flexible financing for small business start-up and expansion, in a geographically equitable manner, throughout the County and (iii) to maximize the award of S.A.L.E. funds to local minority (or woman-owned) business enterprises (“LMBEs”) to the extent possible.
For more info and to apply for funding from the S.A.L.E. program, go here: https://fscfirst.com/programs/special-assistance-for-local-entrepreneurship-fund/
Copy of Council Bill 78 2013, which established the S.A.L.E. program: https://princegeorgescountymd.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=4034583&GUID=4B352E7C-7391-4DEF-B15F-42B42CB1053C
#jobsfirst
#princegeorgesrising
#investlocal
Joint Base Andrews Reaches Milestone of Donating 30,000 Lbs. of Food to Prince George’s County Food Pantry
“The men and women of Joint Base Andrews have been incredible community partners in countless ways over the decades that the base has called Prince George’s County home. Joint Base Andrews’ partnership with St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and Community Support Systems represents another incredible way that our men and women in uniform are giving back to uplift our families who are most in need. Community Support Systems and St. Paul’s have literally fed thousands of needy South County families over the years and my constituents are truly thankful for their invaluable efforts. By not wasting good groceries from its commissary and using it as a lifeline to our community, Joint Base Andrews is leading by example in the food recovery movement to encourage grocery stores to feed needy families everywhere with excess food. I also thank former Councilman Jim Estepp and the Andrews Business Alliance for its work in facilitating the Base’s critical partnership with nearby communities.”
For full press release, go here: https://www.melfranklin.net/councilman-franklin-congratulates-joint-base-andrews-on-donating-20000-lbs-of-food/
Marlton Forum on Marlton Plaza Shopping Center – May 31
Community Associations of Marlton (CAM) will host a May 31st Community Forum on quality and conditions at the Marlton Plaza Shopping Center (anchored by Food Lion). Forum will take place at St. Paul’s Moravian Church, located at 8505 Heathermore Blvd. Upper Marlboro, MD at 7:00pm.
The Senior Assisted Living Group Home Subsidy Program
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The Senior Assisted Living Group Home Subsidy Program provides funding for low-income older adults who may need financial assistance in order to afford placement in an assisted living facility and enables individuals to continue to reside in the community. The assisted living facility combines housing with supportive services by offering congregate meals, housekeeping personal services and 24-hour supervision.
For more info: http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/1722/Long-Term-Care
From Crime Data to Government Spending, Explore “Data Prince George’s”
From Wash. Post: “Data from the Prince George’s County government became easier to access … after the county relaunched a website that gives the public the power to probe, download and search data sets about everything from building permits to crime.”
For DataPrinceGeorge’s, go here: https://data.princegeorgescountymd.gov/
For the Wash. Post story, go here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/open-data-portal-encourages-residents-to-analyze-their-government/2017/03/06/ff82b40a-0288-11e7-b1e9-a05d3c21f7cf_story.html?utm_term=.c8509549ae98
OTHER IMPORTANT COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Domestic Violence Crisis Intervention – Call 211
Still I Rise, Inc. Call (301) 868-4903 or go to http://www.stillirisemd.org
Prince George’s Co. Family Justice Center/The Next Step: http://www.princegeorgescourts.org/358/Prince-Georges-County-Family-Justice-Cen
Employment/Workforce Training
The Training Source: http://thetrainingsource.org/
No Opportunity Wasted: http://www.nooppwasted.org/
Training Grounds Inc.: http://traininggroundsdmv.org/
Prince George’s Community College Workforce Development: https://www.pgcc.edu/Programs_and_Courses/Workforce_Development_Institutes.aspx
Maryland Veterans Resource Guide: http://veterans.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/04/4-12-17-Resource-Guide.pdf
Apply for the Homeowners/Renters Tax Credit Program
Call 1(800) 944-7403 or go to
Homeowners: http://dat.maryland.gov/realproperty/Pages/Homeowners’-Property-Tax-Credit-Program.aspx
Renters: http://dat.maryland.gov/realproperty/Pages/Renters’-Tax-Credits.aspx
Apply for the Homestead Tax Credit Program
Call (866) 650-8783 or go to https://sdathtc.dat.maryland.gov/default.aspx
How to Appeal Your Property Tax Assessment
Call (301) 952-2500 or go to http://www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/appeal.html
Free Legal Assistance: District Court (Upper Marlboro) Self-Help Legal Resource Center
Call 410-260-1392 or go to http://www.courts.state.md.us/legalhelp/districtctselfhelpctr.html
County-Based and Minority Business Procurement Opportunities and Certifications
Call (301) 883-6480 or go to http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/1259/Business-Development
County Employment and Workforce Assistance
Call (301) 583-4650 or go to http://www.pgcedc.com/workforce-services
For constituent concerns, please use County Click 311: http://countyclick.princegeorgescountymd.gov or call 311
Request County Road Pothole Repair: http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/1025/Potholes
Request State Road Pothole Repair (Roads with numbers, like MD-5, MD-4, US-1, US-301): http://www.mdot.maryland.gov/knowyourroads.html
Find Your Other Elected Officials:
Contact the County Executive at http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/directory.aspx?eid=93
Find out and contact your state and federal elected officials at http://mdelect.net
View the Prince George’s County Code and Charter athttp://www.municode.com/library/md/prince_george’s_county/codes/code_of_ordinances
Is a resource you need not here?
Check https://www.melfranklin.net or contact me at: Mel@MelFranklin.net
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