January 15, 2021 

Dear friends,

There's so much going on these days: changes to vaccine phasing & need for volunteers; comments needed on pedestrian and bike facilities plan for the county; development projects; school funding and countywide boundary changes;  Maglev DEIS being released and so much more. 

Please continue to remain engaged and catchup on these items and more below.

Prince George's Forward
During Tuesday's County Council Session, Dr. Charlene Dukes and David Velazquez, co-chairs of the Prince George's County Forward Taskforce briefed the Council on their ongoing work to ensure we emerge from the pandemic stronger than before. 

Watch briefing here.
Learn more about Prince George's County Forward here.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service 
I'm grateful to the Latin American Youth Center for recognizing the work my District 3 staff and I have accomplished by naming me as a Community Champion at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service event on Monday at 10:00 am. Council Chair Calvin Hawkins will provide the key note address for this event whose mission is to inspire high school and middle school-aged youth to work towards community service, equity, equality, and the celebration of diversity in their own communities.

The event is free and open to everyone virtually! Students that attend the community service workshops will receive Community Service Hours.
COVID-19 Updates

Prince George's County follows the vaccine phasing set by Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, which is related to the supply of vaccines provided by the state and federal government. The Governor announced changes to the timing of Phase 1B late yesterday. 

Learn more: health.mypgc.us/COVIDVaccine

The state has created a text alert system for updates. Please text MDReady to 898-211 to receive updates directly.

County Executive Angela Alsobrooks has extended the ban on indoor dining in Prince George's County. Learn more here.

As our State moves into Phase 1B of COVID-19 vaccine distribution, we are asking all volunteers, especially doctors and nurses, working or retired, to step up for Prince George's County to volunteer for the Medical Reserve Corps. Despite the name, medical and non-medical volunteers are needed to assist. Make sure to specify Prince George's County during the sign-up process.

Please sign up online: http://bit.ly/PGCMedicalReserve 

Development Projects in District 3
Several development projects are being proposed and moving forward in District 3 and across Prince George's County. It is very important to me that residents are aware of and engaged in the development review process. Did you know you can receive a weekly email of newly filed projects in your zip code? Here's how:

Log in or register to create an account
Select the zip codes you are interested in and click "save"

You will begin to receive a weekly email listing each newly filed project in your zip code, if any.

If you find a project you would like to keep informed about and/or submit comments on, be sure to sign up as a "Person of Record" using the application number for that project here. As a person of record in a zoning case, you are provided with notice of upcoming meetings, actions and decisions rendered at certain stages of the zoning application process, as well as relevant appeals procedures.

If you have any questions about this process or about possible projects in your neighborhood, please feel free to reach out to my Chief of Staff, Aimee Olivo at aeolivo@co.pg.md.us. 

Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
Please submit your comments on the Department of Public Works and Transportation Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities plan here.

PGCPS School Boundary Virtual Community Conversations
Nearly every school in District 3 is likely to be impacted by the PGCPS Comprehensive School Boundary Initiative. Please engage with these ongoing conversations which will develop scenarios for boundary adjustments in order to populate new and expanded school facilities and balance facility utilization.

Learn more: https://www.pgcps.org/boundary

PGCPS Budget Hearings
More than 60% of County funds go to the Prince George's County Board of Education for our public schools, that's more than $2 billion. Make your voice heard in the Prince George's County Public Schools Fiscal Year 2021-22 budget process by participating in the work sessions and public hearings on January 19 and February 2. Learn more.

Is the MAGLEV Good for Prince George's County? Virtual Town Hall

Thank you to the several hundred people who joined Council Member Jolene Ivey, Maryland Coalition for Responsible Transit, and me yesterday evening for a discussion about SC MAGLEV (aka BW MAGLEV) project and why we oppose the project. If you missed the event or would like to watch it again, you may do so here.

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was released today. The 90-day public comment period closes on April 22. It is imperative that residents formally submit comments. Learn more here.

Save the Date: Virtual Connections on Domestic Violence Resources
Denise McCain, director of the Prince George's County Family Justice Center will join me for my next Virtual Connections forum on Wednesday, January 27, from 12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. to share information and resources around domestic violence. Registration details coming soon.

January Meals for D3 Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities
I am thrilled to be able to partner with the Department of Family Services to distribute meals to District 3 seniors age 60 or better and individuals with disabilities age 18+ on Friday, January 29.

We have an updated meal reservation process for 2021. ALL individuals requesting meals will need to register via an online form. In addition, we will only be able to provide an extremely limited number of deliveries to those absolutely unable to pick up or have a friend/neighbor pick up for them. Please watch your email for a message dedicated to the details and registration information for January 29. Thank you!

Greater Riverdale Cares
Our work to support residents during the pandemic had continued and increased over the past 9 months. I launched Greater Riverdale Cares in April and now we've distributed more than 2 million pounds of groceries and produce, 130,000 prepared meals and so much more. Thank you to all those who have made this work possible, especially our nonprofit partners and individual donors and volunteers.

I continue to share regular updates about food distributions and other resources on social media, especially my Facebook page.  #onlytogether

Together Strengthening Our Community,
Like me on Facebook
 Follow me on Twitter
#onlytogether
Ways to Help
 
Route One Communities Care has partnered with Greater Riverdale Cares to support local restaurants and feed neighbors in need. Learn more at feedrouteone.org or
donate to Greater Riverdale Cares/Route One Community Cares.

Donate diapers and new or gently used winter coats to students at Riverdale Elementary and William Wirt Middle. Drop items at either school on Mondays and Wednesdays.



Starbucks at Capital Plaza is collecting coats for students at Woodridge ES and Glenridge ES. Please drop coats directly at the Capital Plaza location. 
 -----
 Contact Your 
D3 Team
301-952-3060

CouncilDistrict3
@co.pg.md.us
 
Wanda Brooks 
Citizen Services Specialist
-- 
geneather Lloyd
Office Manager & Scheduler
glloyd@co.pg.md.us 
--
Aimee Olivo 
Chief of Staff
-- 
Alina Smith
Latino Liaison
--
Alesha Wilson
Community Outreach & Special Projects Coordinator
aewilson@co.pg.md.us

If you have received this e-news from someone other than my office, and are interested in receiving this update directly, please email CouncilDistrict3@co.pg.md.us or call (301) 952-3060.