Wednesday, June 6, 2012
The legislation is set to take effect at the end of July.
The Prince George's County Council unanimously approved a bill Tuesday that will require residents convicted of gun crimes to be placed on a special registry and submit to random visits by police. County Executive Rushern Baker has said he plans to sign the legislation, which will take effect at the end of July. The bill is aimed at improving safety on county streets, where police say a high number of people are illegally carrying firearms. Last year, 64 people were fatally shot in the county and hundreds more wounded. “At the end of the day, what this county is going to see is a reduction in crime,” Barry L. Stanton, the county's deputy chief administrative officer for public safety, told the Washington Post. Opponents of the bill—…
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
The county council is considering a measure to track those convicted of gun crimes.
Prince George’s County could soon join jurisdictions around the country in requiring those convicted of gun crimes to be a part of a registry and regularly check in with police. The county council is considering a bill that would create such a registry, The Washington Post reports. Last year, 64 people were fatally shot in the county and hundreds more wounded. The legislation is an effort to increase safety on county streets where police say a high number of people are illegally carrying firearms. Similar laws have been passed in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and New York City in recent years. “These guys are not afraid to ride around with guns,” Prince George’s Deputy Police Chief Craig Howard told the Post. “They’re not afraid to get …
Thursday, May 24, 2012
The budget includes education funds for classroom upgrades and one-time bonuses for county employees.
The Prince George’s County Council adopted a $2.7 billion balanced budget for fiscal year 2013, including a $1.6 billion education budget that accounts for 62 percent of available county revenue for the year. The education budget will provide support for technology improvement and classroom upgrades, as well as $19.6 million to account for the teacher pension cost that shifted from the state to the county. The council also reduced the recordation tax increase for new home purchases by half of what was originally proposed; added 20 county firefighters and increased funding for training, allotted $5 million for pedestrian safety projects, and increased Summer Youth Program funding. Earlier this year, County Executive Rushern L. Baker warned…
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
The council seeks to boost businesses by saving consumers money at the register.
The Prince George’s County Council is looking to give a boost to local businesses by providing shoppers a tax break. The council this month introduced a resolution to establish a “Buy Local Week” in an effort to encourage shoppers to spend their money in the county during the second week of August. The week would coincide with Maryland’s Tax Free Week in which sales tax is not charged on items of clothing or footwear under $100. The resolution was proposed by Councilman Mel Franklin (D-Dist. 9) of Upper Marlboro who said there was a need to ensure the county residents spent their money locally to help businesses. The county has struggled for years to attract a stronger consumer base to shop locally, and as much as 60 percent of shoppers …
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Council confirms picks for office of management, community relations.
The Prince George’s County Council this week approved County Executive Rushern L. Baker’s picks to head two important posts in county government. Council members gave passing votes to fill the position for the director of the Office of Management and Budget and director of the Office of Community Relations. Terri Bacote-Charles will head the Office of Management and Budget while Musa Eubanks will lead the Office Community Relations. Bacote-Charles will be paid an annual salary of $150,000 and Eubanks will be paid $135,000, according to a county spokesperson. The two represent the latest confirmations of appointees from the Baker administration. “Terri Bacote-Charles and Musa Eubanks are incredible Prince Georgians that are perfectly suited…
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Funds would help move foreclosed properties off market.
The Prince George’s County Council is moving to establish a fund to help fight rampant foreclosures throughout the county. Council members Tuesday proposed a bill to establish the Foreclosure Recovery Fund, which would provide money to help circumvent foreclosures in the county. The resolution noted that Prince George’s County has the highest foreclosure rate in the state, accounting for 27 percent of Maryland’s foreclosure filings during the last three months of 2011. More than 56,000 homes were caught up in foreclosure between 2007-2010. Councilman Will Campos (D-Dist. 2) of Hyattsville sponsored the legislation. He said no funding had been described in the proposal but at least $10 million would be needed for the bill to be effective. “…
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Still lacking enough support in Annapolis, time is running out for casino bill.
The clock is ticking in Prince George’s County for state and local politicians to decide the outcome of legislation that could bring a billion dollar casino to the county by approving a sixth casino license for the state. Legislators in the Maryland General Assembly have until Monday, the end of the legislative session, to back the bill that would allow county voters to decide on allowing a casino in the county. Also at issue is a referendum on adding tables games to slots in casinos throughout the state. This week, the bill received a majority backing from the Prince George’s County Council, but is still struggling to gain the needed support of state delegates. The bill is facing an uphill battle from members of the House, including the …
Thursday, March 29, 2012
The event will run Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Parkdale High School.
District 3 County Councilmember Eric Olson is set to hold a town hall for constituents Thursday evening at Parkdale High School. The event will run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the school's auditorium (6001 Good Luck Road, Riverdale, MD). County Executive Rushern Baker is also scheduled to speak at the event at 7:00 p.m. The 3rd councilmanic district includes University Park, Riverdale Park, Riverdale Heights, and Riverdale Hills, among other areas.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
County Council members said they unanimously oppose the slots bill in the state General Assembly.
The Prince George’s County Council is looking to put an end to the slots bill currently working its way through the Maryland General Assembly. This week, council members said they unanimously oppose a bill to bring slots to in Fort Washington and the National Harbor, according to The Washington Post. The bill was introduced by Sen. Douglas J.J. Peters (D-Dist. 23) and in the House by Del. Barbara Frush (D-Dist. 22) and would allow for the slot machines and table games in the county, pending voter approval. While the bill would earmark revenues from the gambling to go to a new regional hospital and economic development fund, council members said the current legislation fails to specify what percentage of revenues. Obie Patterson (D-Dist.8) …
Thursday, January 19, 2012
In the wake of the first successful convictions for violations of new dance hall regulations, Prince George's County officials say vigilant enforcement is still needed.
Operators of a Capital Heights club with a violent history pleaded guilty yesterday to operating a dance hall without a license. In a press conference yesterday in Hyattsville following the final set of guilty pleas, State's Attorney for Prince George's County Angela Alsobrooks said the pleas mark a step forward in the county's efforts to crack down on unlicensed clubs. Darryl Robinson and Eric Pickens became the latest members of the management team for the now shuttered MSG club to plead guilty to the misdemeanor charges. Pickens was given a suspended six month sentence and will be on unsupervised probation for a year. Robinson, who has prior felony drug convictions, was given a suspended six month sentence and year of supervised …
Emil Farkwarp
1:21 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012
The police must not be given this sort of unchecked power over ANYONE, even ex-cons. more ›