Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

As we celebrate this holiday season, let us reflect on the goodness of God’s love and grace.  Our families and communities in Prince George’s County are stronger today because of our progress in 2016 and next year will be an even greater year for our County.  Let us also keep our men and women in the military around the world who are away from their families this season in our thoughts and prayers.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays,

-The Franklin Family

 

Please Support the Salvation Army in Prince George’s County!

 

Website (Click ‘Donate Now’): http://salvationarmynca.org/locations/prince-georges-county-md/

From the Salvation Army:

Each year, thousands of people stream through doors of The Salvation Army Prince George’s County Corps in need of help. Last year, nearly 7,900 people received support. Committed to the task of “Doing the Most Good,” officers, staff, and volunteers work to catch people as they fall and help them back on their feet again.

Supporting veterans is another top priority. A bequest from a generous supporter means there are extra funds available to meet the emergency needs of local veterans that live throughout the county.

For more info: http://salvationarmynca.org/locations/prince-georges-county-md/

#princegeorgesrising

 

Mel Franklin, Councilman

CANDIDATE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE 2016 MARYLAND GENERAL ELECTION

I am pleased to share with you my Democratic recommendations for the Maryland Presidential Election. Early Voting begins on Thursday, October 27 (tomorrow) and ends on Thursday, November 3.  Early Voting Sites will be open from 8am to 8pm each day.  See below for the Early Voting sites in the County. Don’t forget to vote Democrat and Yes on all of our County ballot questions.

**Also see the bottom of this e-mail for information about volunteering to help defeat Donald Trump in the 2016 election.**

Hillary Clinton (and Tim Kaine) for President

Chris Van Hollen for United States Senator

Steny Hoyer for U.S. Congress – District 5

Anthony Brown for U.S. Congress – District 4

 

County Ballot Questions A, B, C, D, E, F, and G:

For better public infrastructure and resources, more responsible government, and stronger economic development

**Please Vote YES on ALL of the COUNTY BALLOT QUESTIONS A, B, C, D, E, F, and G**

 

Judge of the Circuit Court (Vote for 4):

Herman C. Dawson, Circuit Court Judge

Dorothy Engel, Circuit Court Judge

Karen Mason, Circuit Court Judge

Ingrid Turner, Circuit Court Judge

 

PGCPS Board of Education:

Edward Burroughs, School Board, District 8

Patricia Eubanks, School Board, District 4

Cheryl Landis, School Board, District 5

David Murray, School Board, District 1

K. Alexander Wallace, School Board, District 7

 

Here is the full ballot of Democratic candidate recommendations: http://tinyurl.com/2016-Election-Ballot

 

**Volunteer to Help Defeat Donald Trump in Election 2016**

Would you like to volunteer to help us beat Donald Trump and bring America together? Willing to help at election polling places or making phone calls to your neighbors? If so, please sign-up here: http://tinyurl.com/md-volunteer-to-beat-trump. 

 

Early Voting Locations:  Early Voting Sites will be open from 8am to 8pm each day, Oct. 27-Nov. 3.

 

Accokeek VFD Training & Activity Center

16111 Livingston Road

Accokeek, MD 20607

 

Baden Community Center

13601 Baden-Westwood Road

Brandywine, MD 20613

 

Bowie Gymnasium

4100 Northview Drive

Bowie, MD 20716

 

College Park Community Center

5051 Pierce Avenue

College Park, MD 20740

 

Laurel – Beltsville Senior Center

7120 Contee Road

Laurel, MD 20707

 

Suitland Community Park School Center

5600 Regency Lane

Forestville, MD 20747

 

Southern Regional Technology and Recreation Complex

7007 Bock Road

Fort Washington, MD 20744

 

Upper Marlboro Community Center

5400 Marlboro Race Track Road

Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

 

Wayne K. Curry Sports and Learning Center

8001 Sheriff Road

Landover, MD 20785

 

Prince George’s is Rising!

-Mel Franklin, County Councilman

For immediate release:

September 22, 2016

For more information, contact:

Friends of Mel Franklin

mel@melfranklin.net

Statement of Prince George’s County Council Member Mel Franklin on New Legislation to Increase Economic Opportunities for Local, Small and Minority Businesses and Banks

Jobs and Opportunity Act of 2016 and Local Small and Minority Bank Investment Act of 2016 Presented on Tuesday

Several Council Members co-proposed Council Bill 74 2016 (CB-74-2016), the Jobs and Opportunity Act of 2016, at this Tuesday’s Council session, which would require at least 40% of any county contract opportunities above $500,000 in value to be spent with small and minority firms based in Prince George’s County, “local only” bidding of contracts in industries with significant numbers of county-based firms, “best value” instead of low-bid contracting, and stronger enforcement of existing procurement and local hiring policies.  The County buys over $300 million in services and products each year.  Councilman Mel Franklin, a co-proposer of the bill, released the following statement:

“The Jobs and Opportunity Act of 2016 will be a tremendous boost for small and minority businesses in Prince George’s County and create wealth and job opportunities for county residents. This legislation will also build on the landmark Jobs First Act of 2011 by mandating stronger enforcement of existing county-based business and local hiring policies by county agencies. Far too often and for far too long, our County has allowed our dollars to walk away to other jurisdictions. Instead, we must make sure our tax dollars are circulating locally and building shared prosperity here at home.”

Members also proposed Council Bill 75 2016 (CB-75-2016), the Local Small and Minority Bank Investment Act of 2016, which would require at least 50% of the County’s more than $3 billion in public funds to be annually deposited in local, small or minority banks with branch locations in the County.  Councilman Franklin believes this legislation promotes broader economic opportunity for community banks in the County:

“Our community banks often serve as the backbone for small business lending and local job creation.  Instead of simply investing the County’s general fund in Wall Street banks, we should invest at least 50% of it in ‘Main Street’ banks. Small and minority banks are often left out of the growing prosperity of the evolving economy. The Local Small and Minority Bank Investment Act will ensure that we are doing our part to support community and minority-owned banks and small business lending.”

Both CB-74-2016 and CB-75-2016 are expected to be heard by the Council’s Public Safety & Fiscal Management Committee in the next 2-3 weeks.

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Public version of CB-74-2016 (The Jobs & Opportunity Act of 2016): https://princegeorgescountymd.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=4682548&GUID=05C8F5D0-86E9-4F8C-B2A5-86150931D4EB

Public version of CB-75-2016 (The Local Small and Minority Bank Investment Act of 2016): https://princegeorgescountymd.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=4682549&GUID=E718B6A4-62B8-4280-8164-FCC56C6308A3

Press Release

For immediate release:

September 11, 2016

For more information, contact:

Friends of Mel Franklin

mel@melfranklin.net

 

Statement of Prince George’s County Council Member Mel Franklin on the 15^th Anniversary of the September 11th Terrorist Attacks

Today, we commemorate the 15^th anniversary of the worst terrorist attacks in American history.  The Prince George’s County 9/11 memorial in Bladensburg is a solemn reminder of how far reaching this tragedy was, with 24 County residents among the nearly 3000 people killed on that fateful day that changed our lives forever.  We will never forget the evil that perpetrated this horrific assault on our values or the goodness and unity that triumphed in response, like the heroic first responders who leaped forward to save lives even as they sacrificed their own.  Let us remain vigilant and honor those who were lost by the manner in which we serve each other now.  We are all in this together.  As Dr. King said, “we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.  Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

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