Food Redlining: Objections to Popeyes at Osborne Shopping Center

/0 Comments/in /by
October 10, 2018
Dear Marlton Neighbors:

Two months ago, I expressed strong objections to representatives of TRC Retail, the west coast owners of the Osborne Shopping Center located near our Marlton community, about their decision to bring a Popeyes Restaurant to the Osborne Shopping Center.  Those objections, which went unheeded, were memorialized in a follow-up letter sent to TRC Retail today, linked here: https://tinyurl.com/franklin-popeyes-objection.

As I shared with TRC in early August, I believe bringing Popeyes Restaurant to this shopping center, already home to a Bojangles Restaurant on an adjacent pad site, is an excessive amount of lower end, fast-food dining at what should be a prime location for better quality restaurants in a community with a substantial amount of disposable income.  It smacks of “food redlining.”  Most of our neighbors have expressed tremendous discontent upon learning about Popeyes being constructed in the most visible location of this vital neighborhood shopping center.

Unfortunately, the Prince George’s County Government does not have legal authority to control the brands of the tenants that a shopping center brings to our communities, but you have the ability to use your dollars (by withholding them) to send the message that bringing Popeyes to Osborne Shopping Center is inconsistent with the desires and standards of nearby communities.

A number of residents have organized a petition drive around this issue.  I encourage you to join this effort here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/osborne-shopping-plaza-development?source=direct_link.

 

Yours in Service,

Mel Franklin, Councilman

Prince George’s County, District 9

TODAY: Dave Chappelle and Ben Jealous in Prince George’s County!

/0 Comments/in /by
JOIN DAVE CHAPPELLE AND OUR NEXT GOVERNOR, BEN JEALOUS, FOR A “COURAGE TO LEAD” RALLY IN PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY ON OCTOBER 6TH

 

**Please RSVP here if you plan to join us**

 

Prince George’s County can deliver Donald Trump a mighty defeat by electing Ben Jealous as the next Governor of Maryland!  Remember, a vote for Hogan is a vote for Trump.  Join us at tomorrow’s rally!

Courage to Lead Rally in Prince George’s County:
Date: Saturday, October 6
Time: 7:00 -8:00 pm
Doors Open: 6:30 pm
Where: Hoff Theater in Stamp Student Union (UMD Campus)
Address: 0126 Stamp Student Union, College Park, MD 20742

**Prince George’s County: Prepare for Hurricane Florence**

/0 Comments/in /by

Public information released by the Prince George’s County Government:

Prepare as Hurricane Florence May Impact Region in Days Ahead

Residents are encouraged to take precautionary measures

Landover, MD – Prince George’s County Office of Homeland Security/Office of Emergency Management (OHS/OEM) encourages residents to prepare for possible effects Hurricane Florence may have on the Metropolitan region. According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Florence has a strong potential to cause coastal flooding and inland flooding from heavy rainfall. Hurricane Florence is expected to hit the Carolinas or South Eastern Virginia late Thursday and early Friday. It will then track inland and effect the Washington Metropolitan Area. Though uncertainty remains, all forecasts mention the potential for damaging to catastrophic rainfall in Prince George’s County. The OHS/OEM encourages everyone to make plans now to keep your family, neighbors and pets safe.

Residents who reside in flood prone areas are especially encouraged to take precautions and monitor information regarding the storm, however, all County residents should prepare.

Be Informed:

Develop a plan:

  •     Visit the OEM Preparedness Centerfor more information.
  •     Ensure that all family members are aware of the plan and what to do in an emergency.

Create a kit:

  •     Know what essential items are needed in your kit.
  •      Ensure it is unique to fit the needs of your family and pets.

In the event of an emergency, residents are reminded to always call 9-1-1. For non-emergency incidents or public services, residents should call 3-1-1. Additional information is available on the County website at http://mypgc.us. Should you need to contact the Office of Emergency Management dial 301-324-4400.

Councilman Mel Franklin’s Statement on the 17th Anniversary of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks

/0 Comments/in /by

September 11, 2018

For Immediate Release

Statement of Prince George’s County Council Member Mel Franklin on the 17th Anniversary of the September 11th Terrorist Attacks

Contact: Mel@melfranklin.net

Upper Marlboro, MD – Today, on the 17th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States of America, Councilman Mel Franklin (D-District 9) released the following statement:

“We each remember where we were when terror struck on September 11, 2001.  It changed all of our lives and nothing was ever the same after that fateful morning.  We will never forget the thousands of loved ones we lost or the selfless acts of courage, especially those of our first responders who rushed towards the World Trade Center to save tens of thousands of lives while losing their own.  Those incredible acts of valor united our country and our world like never before in my lifetime.  Reminded of the resolve that imbued from our collective response to that tragedy, we pause today in remembrance of September the 11th.  May we call upon that spirit of national unity now, to transcend the smallness of today’s petty politics and recover our sense of bipartisanship to meet the most significant challenges facing our country and our world.  As national hero and late-United States Senator John McCain wrote, ‘Nothing in life is more liberating than to fight for a cause larger than yourself, something that encompasses you, but is not defined by your existence alone.’  God bless our county, state, and Nation.”

###

Calling All Prince George’s County Fathers and Father-figures — Join NBC4 on the First Day of School

/0 Comments/in /by

NBC4 Invites Residents and Students to Highlight Fatherhood in Prince George’s County at Marlton Golf Club on the First Day of School During Live Broadcast

NBC4 Reporter Molette Green to Broadcast “Live in the Community” from 6AM-7AM on Tuesday, September 4

Join NBC4 (NBC Washington) in Prince George’s County on Tuesday, September 4, between 6AM-7AM on your way to the first day of school at the Marlton Golf Club, 9413 Midland Turn, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772. (If you arrive by 5:30AM, you will be interviewed for the first 6AM segment.) NBC4 Reporter Molette Green will be reporting a “Live in the Community” segment highlighting parents, especially fathers, walking their children to school on the first day of the 2018-19 public school year and pledging to support their kids academically during the school year.  NBC4 will be providing light refreshments (donuts, coffee, etc.).  Marlton Golf Club is one of the nation’s few African-American owned golf courses.

Please drop by with your kids for a few minutes for this live television segment and help us highlight fatherhood in Prince George’s County on Tuesday, September 4 at Marlton Golf Club before school.  Please share this message.  If you can’t drop by, please watch the broadcast from 6AM-7AM on NBC4.
RSVP here for NBC4’s Live Segment on Tuesday, Sept. 4th: https://tinyurl.com/nbc4-live-in-the-community.
Please take the Fatherhood Academic Pledge here (Our goal is to have at least 1000 Prince George’s County fathers and father-figures sign this pledge during the 2018-19 school year): https://tinyurl.com/2018-19-fatherhoodpledge.
Thanks!
–Mel Franklin, Councilman
What: NBC4 “Live in the Community” Television Broadcast Highlighting Fatherhood on the First Day of School
Where: Marlton Golf Club, 9413 Midland Turn, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
When: 6AM-7AM on Tuesday, September 4
Who: NBC Washington and YOU!
P.S. – I know it’s early, but please join us for this positive news story about Prince George’s County Dads.

Prince George’s Rising – July 11, 2018 Update from Councilman Mel Franklin

/in /by

Prince George’s Rising – July 11, 2018

 An Update from Councilman Mel Franklin

July 11, 2018 | Volume 4, Issue 1                                                                                                                     

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 and now as a Democratic nominee for County Council At-Large. 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.

 

THANK YOU PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY!

Now that all of the votes have been counted, I want to sincerely thank the residents of our great County for our victory in the June 26th Democratic Primary!  Over 43,000 voters chose the positive message of the Jobs First movement and our campaign for one of the two Council At-Large seats.  I am humbled and honored by your support.  I would like to especially thank my campaign and volunteer supporters who poured the last eighteen months of their lives into this campaign.

Read the full ‘Thank You’ post here: https://www.melfranklin.net/thank-you-prince-georges-county/.

 

Remembering John McNamara

Talented longtime Bowie Capital Gazette Reporter John McNamara was memorialized yesterday morning at the Chapel at the University of Maryland.  John was one of the five victims in the Capital Gazette shooting in Annapolis on June 28th and was a consistent presence at the Prince George’s County Council.  We extend our deepest condolences and prayers to John’s family and to all of those affected by this tragic crime.

John McNamara’s story about the Prince George’s County FY19 budget: http://www.capitalgazette.com/bowie_bladenews/ac-bb-pg-budget-0524-story.html

Yesterday’s reflections on John’s life: https://wtop.com/prince-georges-county/2018/07/memorial-planned-for-slain-capital-gazette-sports-writer/

Congressman Anthony Brown’s Remarks About the Capital Gazette victims: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Pal6Ut2e9A

 

COMMUNITY NEWS YOU CAN USE

Prince George’s County is Groundbreaking

Did you know a new state of the art hospital is under construction at the Largo Town Centre Metro Station?  Did you hear that a new federal agency is coming to Camp Springs near Branch Avenue Metro Station?  Or that major redevelopments are happening in Suitland, Clinton, and New Carrolton?  Read the news updates available here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/councildistrict9office/43156781922/in/dateposted-public/

And here: https://shashoconsulting.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-landing-at-woodyard.html

 

Riverdale Park Station Bridge is Now Open

From Hyattsville Wire: ‘The new connection will allow bicyclists better access the trail system and give pedestrians the ability to more easily access a MARC Station and the College Park Metro Station.’ Full story: https://www.hyattsvillewire.com/2018/06/15/riverdale-park-station-bridge/

 

County Students Accepted Into Prestigious Internship

From the Prince George’s Sentinel: ‘Andrew Hylton from Springdale and Isaiah Lewis from Fort Washington were awarded the SECU University System of Maryland Scholarship from the newly founded SECU Maryland Foundation. They were given the scholarship at an awards ceremony at Towson University’s SECU Arena on June 13.’ Full story: http://www.thesentinel.com/pgs/news/local/item/4911-local-students-accepted-into-prestigious-internship

 

New Southern Area Recreation Center Progresses Towards 2019 Completion

The 75,000 square foot Southern Area Aquatic and Recreation Complex (SAARC) under construction in Brandywine recently celebrated its “topping off” at a ceremony traditionally held when the last beam (or its equivalent) is placed atop a structure during its construction. This facility is the county’s first new multi-generational recreation complex and is scheduled for completion in early 2019. For more info about SAARC, go here: http://www.mncppc.org/268/Southern-Area-Aquatic-Recreation-Complex

 

Topgolf Breaks Ground at National Harbor

From WTOP: ‘Dallas-based high-tech driving range, bar and restaurant chain Topgolf broke ground Friday morning on its newest Washington area location at National Harbor.  The Topgolf location, at 6400 Oxon Hill Road, is expected to open next year.  It will create about 500 new jobs in Prince George’s County, the company said.’ Full story: https://wtop.com/business-finance/2018/06/topgolf-breaks-ground-on-national-harbor-location/

 

Wise HS Graduate accepted to West Point, follows family tradition of academic excellence

From the Andrews Gazette: ‘Ehizele Akojie, affectionately known as ‘Izzy’ by his family and friends, is accomplishing major goals in his life…his most coveted accomplishment is his recent acceptance to the United States Military Academy West Point scheduled in July…the acceptance rate at West Point is 9 percent — 9 out of every 100 applicants.’ Full story: http://www.dcmilitary.com/andrews_gazette/news/mcdonald-s-employee-accepted-to-west-point-follows-family-tradition/article_4fb4dd1e-7556-5195-925f-c6fcadd0cf76.html

 

PGCPS Honors Scholarship Recipients

Last month, the Prince George’s County Board of Education honored more than 70 students receiving more than $300,000 in college scholarships from the Excellence in Education Foundation for Prince George’s County Public Schools. Full story: http://www.pgcps.org/page-3-zone.aspx?pageid=235709&id=267919

 

Longtime Local Minority IT Firm NGEN LLC Honored for Achievements

CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named accomplished technology firm NGEN, LLC, owned by Terry Speigner, to its 2018 Tech Elite top 250 list of North American companies. This annual list honors an exclusive group of North American IT solution providers that have earned the highest number of advanced technical certifications from leading technology suppliers, scaled to their company size. More info about this designation: https://www.crn.com/news/channel-programs/300101141/the-2018-crn-tech-elite-250.htm

 

Local Minority and Women-Owned Business JD Clark Professional Services LLC Receives 2018 WBJ Minority Business Award

JD Clark Professional Services, owned by Tisa JD Clark, has been honored by the Washington Business Journal as one of the Greater Washington region’s top minority business owners and leaders at its 11th Annual Minority Business Leader Awards program.  For more info, go here: https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2018/03/22/tisa-j-dclark.html

 

Local Minority and Women-Owned Business CMT Services Named One of America’s Fastest Growing Companies

CMT Services was welcomed into one of the Most Exclusive Clubs in business and was Recognized for earning a position on INC. 5000 2017 list of the Fastest Growing Companies in 2017. For the past 36 (Thirty-Six) years INC. Magazine has recognized the fastest-growing private companies in the United States. In CMT’s case, their growth over the past 3 years period has been 550%. For more info, go here: https://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2017/08/inc-5000-names-marylands-fastest-growing-companies-2017/

 

Cybersecurity Firm, BlueVoyant, is Opening a New Office at College Park’s Discovery District

From Technical.ly DC: ‘The company, [BlueVoyant] which was founded as blueteamglobal by former Morgan Stanley COO Jim Rosenthal and ex-Thomson Reuters CEO Tom Glocer….It expects to move soon to StartupUMD@Diamondback Garage, which is part of an area designed to co-locate companies and startups and the university’s entrepreneurial resources known as the “Discovery District.”’

Full story: https://technical.ly/dc/2018/02/02/cybersecurity-firm-opening-new-office-college-parks-discovery-district/

 

The County is Modernizing its Development Laws: The Zoning Rewrite

‘In 2014, the Prince George’s County Council adopted the Plan 2035 General Plan, which prioritized an update to the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations as a critical step for our County. The goals of the Rewrite are to: (1) Streamline and simplify the regulations and development approval process; (2) Modernize and consolidate our zones and development standards; (3) Incentivize economic and transit-oriented mixed-use development; and (4) Protect and enhance stable residential neighborhoods.’ For more info, go here: https://pgccouncil.us/589/Zoning-Ordinance-Rewrite-Portal

 

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 at http://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

 

By Authority, Friends of Mel Franklin, Brendon Laster, Treasurer

THANK YOU PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY!

/in /by

 THANK YOU PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY!
Now that all of the votes have been counted, I want to sincerely thank the residents of our great County for our victory in the June 26th Democratic Primary!  Over 43,000 voters chose the positive message of the Jobs First movement and our campaign for one of the two Council At-Large seats.  I am humbled and honored by your support.  I would like to especially thank my campaign and volunteer supporters who poured the last eighteen months of their lives into this campaign.  I also want to congratulate Calvin Hawkins who ran an outstanding campaign and won the nomination for the other Council At-Large position.  Our other competitors also did a tremendous job raising important ideas that will influence county policy for years to come and I salute their efforts.  I also congratulate all of the new and returning Council Members and our outstanding next County Executive, Angela Alsobrooks, who also won the June 26 election.  We are going to work as a team to vigorously represent the nearly 1 million residents who call Prince George’s County home.
We are one County and we rise together!

-Mel Franklin, Councilman

Democratic Nominee for County Council At-Large

**Please stay tuned for our supporter appreciation reception later this month where we discuss the next steps for the Jobs First Movement.

This is it

/in /by

Dear neighbor,

Please cast your vote today for the future of our great county.  Cast your vote for accelerating our progress, valuing experience, and advancing fresh ideas for building a stronger, more prosperous community.  Please cast your vote for the Jobs First Movement and Franklin for Council At-Large.  We are one County and we rise together.  If you haven’t seen our campaign video, please click the video below.  Voting ends today at 8pm, so please see the voting information link below this video and written message.

 

Do you believe in Prince George’s County’s future?  If you do, please join me and click the video above to support my Jobs First Plan for Prince George’s County.

Together, we will:

1. Make Prince George’s County an economic destination for the world, by cultivating signature industries like health care-life sciences, information technology-communications, business services, tourism-hospitality, and the federal sector, and attracting better retail and restaurant amenities.

2. Keep our public dollars local to grow our small, minority, and women-owned businesses in the County, creating generational wealth and good paying jobs with good benefits for county residents.

3. And most of all — invest in our people, by growing our commercial tax base to invest more in PreK-14 education, school construction, and workforce development; public safety staffing and resources; better roads and transit; higher property standards quality and enforcement; and more services for our seniors and youth.

Let’s write the next great chapter in Prince George’s County’s story!

-Mel Franklin, Councilman

 

 

My Background:

• An Experienced, Two-term County Council Member and past Council Chairman. Chaired committees on planning, zoning, public safety, budget, and fiscal management.

• Author of over one hundred successful pieces of legislation, which increased education and public safety funding, expanded the summer youth jobs program, invested in new recreation centers, strengthened the environment and transportation, attracted high-quality economic development and a major federal agency, and increased minority/women-owned business opportunities and local hiring.

• Former Maryland Assistant Attorney General who worked to improve access to quality, affordable health care.

• Former Federal Trade Commission Attorney who fought to protect consumers.

• Former Member, Board of Trustees, Prince George’s Community College.

• A public school Dad, Duke Law School graduate, and the son of lifelong educators.

 

For information on your voting location and voting times, please click here.

Our Fatherhood Moments – Happy Father’s Day 2018

/in /by

 HAPPY FATHER’S DAY 2018: OUR FATHERHOOD MOMENTS

Showing your son how to tie a tie for the first time.  Attending your daughter’s piano recital in spite of a busy schedule.  Cheering on your son in the school spelling bee for which you spent hours helping him practice.  Helping your daughter put the finishing touches on her award-winning science project.  Reading a book to help your little girl fall asleep.  Turning the cell phone off for a couple of hours to help your son with his jump shot.  That first family trip to the beach.  Taking the time to learn what this game “Fortnite” is all about.  These are some of the “fatherhood moments” that happen each and every day.  They might seem small, but they mean a great deal to our kids.  This Father’s Day, Dads, let’s remember to take more time away from our busy careers, personal commitments, or hectic campaigns and create some new fatherhood memories with our children.  These special moments of affection will help shape their character and teach our sons to be better fathers to their future sons and daughters.

Every child deserves a great father (or father-figure) in their lives.  I believe fatherhood is still an essential element of our family.  To all of the fathers and father-figures, including my outstanding father, Dr. James A. Franklin Sr., a retired school superintendent, I wish you a Happy Father’s Day.  We have a lot of work to do.  Our families and communities are counting on us.

 

Mel Franklin, Councilman
Candidate for Council At-Large
“We are one County and we rise together!”