From WAMU, “In Maryland, demolition crews in Prince George’s County have razed 46 abandoned homes this year, more than nine times the number torn down all of last year. Despite some upcoming bureaucratic changes, that pace won’t be slowing anytime soon.  The latest property to come down was a two-story aqua blue home along Hawthorne Street in Landover. Floreen Campbell lives next to what is now a pile of rubble, but for the prior five years that home was vacant—except for the occasional vagrant and a host of animals that did damage to her property.

photo courtesy WAMU

Later this year, the responsibility for razing abandoned properties will shift from the county’s department of environmental resources to the department of permitting, inspections, and enforcement. With that change comes new code enforcement policies that will make events like yesterday’s easier to achieve, a move that can’t come soon enough for a home in Columbia Park that Prince George’s County council chair Andrea Harrison says has been abandoned for more than 20 years.  “But I guarantee you if I have to steal one of these things right here and drive it myself and get to Columbia Park I’m going to knock that home down for you. I’m going to go to jail if I have to but it’s coming down,” she says.  Close to 40 other abandoned property razings are scheduled in the county this year.

The Prince George’s County Police Department arrested three suspects for a string of more than 50 burglaries in the county since December 2012. The suspects took weapons, computers, jewelry, televisions and other personal belongings.  In one case, the suspects stole a safe with valuables worth nearly $70,000. Captain Charles Hamby, Commander RID, Southern Division said that one of the victim’s homes had a security camera which enabled them to get a lead, but it was a concerned citizen who broke the case when he told the police about a suspicious vehicle he observed selling televisions out of the trunk of a silver Toyota SJ Cruiser; the concerned citizen also gave police the tag number.  YAAAY CONCERNED CITIZEN!!!

They went into neighborhoods off the main roads, knocked on doors under the guise of looking for someone and burglarized homes where no one answered the door.  The suspects were targeting homes in Oxon Hill and Fort Washington; they have been linked to 54 home burglaries in Prince George’s County’s southern district.  They stole everything from safes and jewelry to cash and televisions.  Detective Dave Gross noted that the criminals all are addicted to narcotics and had inside tracks to other criminals to aid in disposing of the goods for cash and drugs.

From left to right: Anthony Nyrekie Edwards, David Benjamin Neal, and Jamal Cooke, all of Oxon Hill, MD.

From the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinal, “When Thornton was asked Thursday at a school event whether he was in negotiations with anyone regarding the position to lead Prince George’s County schools, he said, “It’s too soon to talk about it.”  He said there was no official application in the works.  But when pressed on whether he was an official finalist for the position, Thornton just grinned.

 ”You’re good,” he said, before walking away.

Gregory Thornton, Superintendent MPS

 In an interview Thursday morning, Miller said the amendment has nothing to do with anything Thornton might be considering. He said he wanted to make sure funds were set aside for a future search, perhaps in 2014, if Thornton or the board decided not to extend his contract past 2015.

Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Gregory Thornton was here for less than a year before the rumors started in early 2011: Was he thinking about leaving?

 Two years later, this same rumor is once again in circulation, only now there’s a name of a district behind it: Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland, the state’s second-largest school system. The challenged Prince George’s County system enrolls about 124,000 students and is going through a dramatic governance shift: The Maryland Legislature recently passed a law to allow the Prince George’s County executive the power to select the next local schools chief, now called the chief executive.

Please sign up as seats are limited. The class fee is $40.00. Unfortunately seats can not be reserved with out payment. The class is from 7pm to 9pm. At our wonderful little candy shop.  Call to make a reservation 301-366-9395 | Please visit:www.mamacocoasdelights.com

Mama Cocoa’s Delights 13015 9th Street, Bowie, MD 20720

There is no getting over the sheer spectacle that defines the 2013 edition of UniverSoul Circus entitled the Turn’t Up Tour. It’s a sensory overload of indescribable proportions featuring dazzling lights, pulsating sounds and an incredible cast of A-list performers handpicked for excellence from around the world. The new red and yellow UniverSoul Circus big top, with intimate theatre-in-the-round seating, sets up at Capital Plaza Mall (May 9-19), Security Square Mall in Baltimore (May 23-June 2RFK Stadium (June 5-9) and National Harbour (June 13-16).  Tickets, starting at $16, go on sale to the general public via Ticketmaster.com and 1-800-745-3000.

 UniverSoul’s Turn’t Up Tour features new acts, including a neck-breaking head balancing act from Vietnam, Beat Box and a Capella vocalists from Atlanta, and a hip hop inspired Magic Cat Illusion featuring live Tigers. From start to finish, UniverSoul has assembled its most sensational and provocative line up of performers to date. They include artists from the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia, France, Vietnam, South Africa, Russia, Brazil and West Africa.

The Endless Dreams Foundation, Inc. is sponsoring the ”What is Beauty” campaign from May to August.  The What Is Beauty campaign’s purpose is to bring awareness to issues women face daily; self-esteem, empowerment, oppression, etc. In order to bring awareness to these issues this campaign will be nationwide. Throughout the course of the campaign we will have events, seminars, workshops, Twitter chats, contest, giveaways, a teleconference, and much more! For more, email the foundation at info@endlessdreamsfoundation.org or check their website HERE.

Join Endless Dreams Foundation on May 18th at the Pienza restaurant in the atrium area of the Gaylord National Harbor for our Women’s Empowerment Brunch.  “Becoming A Better You” Women’s Empowerment Brunch is geared toward women of all ages and their passion to become better individuals. 

D. Kelley (l), D. Fry (r)

Donald Fry of the Video Lottery Facility Location Commission has some explaining to do and some meetings to hold.

From NBC4, “A Pennsylvania company submitted an $800 million proposal to place a gambling resort in the heart of a community in Fort Washington, Md., and although a decision is months away, some people are already being moved.  The owner of the land on which the residents of a secluded community live is selling the property to Parx Casino, and about a dozen renters were told to vacate the property at Old Fort Road and Indian Head Highway by the end of the month.”

Check the story.  It’ll make you sad.

23-year-old Michael Nolan Brown of the 600 block of Cabin Branch Drive in Seat Pleasant was murdered inside his home on May 14, 2013, while trying to fight off two persons who forced their way into his home to rob him.  Mr. Brown was trying to protect his girlfriend and child when he was murdered.  At approximately 10:30 pm, Prince George’s County Police responded to the 600 block of Cabin Branch Drive for a shooting. Officers arrived on scene and found Mr.  Brown unresponsive inside his home. He was pronounced dead on scene.

Brown served a year in the military in Afghanistan and was going to school to be a medical technician. In the meantime, he was making a little money doing tattoos out of his home. Police are investigating if that side job had anything to do with the attack. His grandmother, Crystal Adams, who lives next door, told Bensen Nolan’s death following the death of his 6-week-old daughter about two months ago is almost too much for one family to bear.

The preliminary investigation suggests multiple suspects entered the home at gunpoint and demanded money. A confrontation ensued, during which Brown was fatally shot.  Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit at 301-772-4925. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), text, “PGPD plus your message” to CRIMES (274637) on your cell phone or go to www.pgpolice.org and submit a tip online.

Wednesday night on the 7700 block of Pinewood Drive in Clinton, MD. Police found a man and a woman suffering from gunshot wounds outside. They were pronounced dead on the scene.  Investigators believe that it was a domestic situation and was an isolated incident.  Police haven’t released any information on this tragedy.

From NBC4, “Drug Enforcement Administration agents broke up a meth lab at a home on Bayou Avenue in Capitol Heights, Md., Wednesday. The house is divided in to apartments, but federal agents said it’s really a meth lab. They used 55-gallon drums and large plastic containers to take away toxic and volatile materials.  Agents called it a sophisticated operation. They found beakers, Bunsen burners and other laboratory equipment inside. They also removed a safe. The DEA will also will run chemical tests on trash to help determine what was going on at the house. The investigation began weeks ago.”

I strongly encourage everyone to be on the look out in your neighborhood.  You live there, you deserve to be safe.  It’s the police department’s job to make sure the law is upheld but they can’t be everywhere.  If you see something, say something.  This Capitol Heights home could have exploded and taken the innocent lives of others in the neighborhood.  Come on now y’all.

Both Councils and some residents of the surrounding area are calling the approval process rushed.

From the Patch, College Park Councilwoman Stephanie Stullich (Dist. 3), who introduced Tuesday’s motion calling for disapproval, cited a range of reasons for her opposition, including:

•  That several aspects of the proposal had not undergone adequate review by the Historic Preservation Commission, due in part to late-hour revisions by the developer.
• That the University of Maryland’s support for the proposed bridge placement—which will impact UMD property—is not yet final, as it has yet to come before the Board of Regents or Maryland Public Works Board.
• That the developer had submitted and revised materials too late in the process, making it difficult or impossible for public officials to review them before making decisions.

University Park Town Coucil cited the following as conditions not met by the developer:

• Demonstrating which CSX crossing option was specified in a Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning report
• Establishing a funding mechanism for the CSX crossing
• Securing right-of-way to construct the crossing, as the council feels the UMD letter is not sufficient to comply with the bridge crossing, and there is no reliable cost estimate for land acquisition.

Although a letter was sent to the Prince George’s County Planning Board from the University of Maryland’s Robert M. Spector, vice president for administration and finance, approving the CSX reconfiguration, FINAL APPROVAL must come from the University of Maryland’s Board of Regents and the Maryland Board of Public Works.  So I’m starting to get this; the process is being sped along with documents that look official but the real real has not been finalized yet. Ok, ok.

I’ll keep you updated on what the County Council has to say.

Bob Ross, Prince George's County NAACP

 The decision marks a significant break with the education watchdog organization Citizens for an Elected Board. The two organizations worked together in 2002 when the elected school board was replaced by an appointed board, and fought successfully to restore an elected board in 2006. 'I’m clearly disappointed in the decision of the [NAACP] executive committee to join with the political forces of the county to shut out the voice of the people in the governance of the schools. It’s clearly counter-historic,' said Janis Hagey, co-chair of Citizens for an Elected Board.

 Hagey said there are benefits to waiting until 2015, saying it would give time for all sides to get together and decide how to move forward. The coalition still plans to collect signatures for a referendum vote. It needs 8,000 signatures from registered voters by May 31 to prevent the bill from going into effect June 1, and 24,000 signatures by June 30 to force the legislation to a vote of Prince George’s County residents.

***PGC Blog strongly disagrees with that statement.  There is a dire need for an excellent superintendent NOW and waiting until 2015 would be like chopping a chicken's head off and not expecting it to run around in circles and die. ***

Deborah Sell, president of Prince Georgians for an Informed Citizenry, a community advocacy group that has taken a leadership role in the coalition, said an informational meeting is planned 6:30 p.m. May 24 at the Sasscer Administration Building in Upper Marlboro.

Christian Rhodes, education adviser to Baker, said the county executive supports people’s right to exercise their rights, but said that waiting two years to install a permanent superintendent could have a detrimental impact on education. 'We’ve had emails from hundreds of county residents saying they support the bill,” Rhodes said. “They’re ready to move forward and so are we.'”

Washington Post, “For the entire metro area, the growth in median sale price was strong. It rose 7.7 percent to $400,000 last month from $371,000 in April 2012. Prince William, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties showed the biggest gains year over year. In Prince William County, the median sale price climbed 22.1 percent year over year, rising to $317,450 last month from $260,000 in April 2012. In Montgomery County, the median sale price grew 10.3 percent year over year, rising to $402,550 last month from $365,000 in April 2012. In Prince George’s County, the median sale price rose 10.1 percent year over year, rising to $185,000 last month from $168,000 in April 2012.  Only Falls Church City showed a year over year decline in median sale price, falling 5 percent year over year to $589,000 last month from $620,000 in April 2012.”

Say what you want about County Executive Rushern Baker, but the man is set on the emergence and development of Prince George’s County.  Even if you don’t support his school takeover, you have to admit that his motivation for the move in question is not questionable; he wants the county school system to excel.  Baker is on the move again with plans to develop the area near Joint Base Andrews and the county is getting closer and closer to having its own Wholefoods.  

The Washington Examiner reported, “Prince George’s County officials are turning to the area around Joint Base Andrews in their next step in redeveloping the county.  The Andrews Working Group, established two years ago by County Executive Rushern Baker, announced a preliminary action plan aimed at bringing more county residents to the area and giving those who live and work on the base more places to eat and shop.  Facets of the plan range from relatively short-term improvements — like widening the Capital Beltway ramp at Forestville Road, a project that is already being funded by the state — to more long-term projects like extending the Metro Green Line past the Branch Avenue station to add a stop at the base’s main gate.

 ”This is the first time I can recall the county government putting a major focus on Joint Base Andrews,” said Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable President M.H. Jim Estepp, a member of the working group. “This is the initial effort to recognize Andrews not only for what it does for national defense but also for the economic development opportunities that exist in and around the base.  Council members pushed the group to focus on two major areas near the base — Andrews Manor, a community with a 20-store shopping center, and Westphalia, where the county is planning 6,000 acres of new development.

The soap opera saga that is the Cafritz development of a Wholefoods continues.  The Planning Committee has approved the preliminary plan but  University Park Ward 3 Council Member Arlene Christiansen said she is NOT convinced the letter from UMD came from the appropriate university official.  The Patch is the only way I’ve been able to keep up with this saga and they are saying that “a report dated May 9—the Prince George’s County planning staff recommended approval with conditions of the preliminary plan of the Cafritz property. The approval comes after a recent agreement between UMD and Calvert Tract LLC, in which the University of Maryland granted developers right-of-way to build a CSX bridge, now referred to as the J-crossing, across its property.  Developers reached an agreement with UMD early last week and released drawings of the proposed J-crossing.

The proposed “T” intersection at Layfette and Rivertech Court is concerning to some residents, according to Ward 2 Council Member Alan Thompson. Thompson said that people, who had previously supported the development have become lukewarm at the prospect of the intersection as planned, and he was hoping that an alternative plan could be put into place.  Not everyone is convinced that the letter from UMD brings developers into compliance with the CSX crossing condition. University Park Ward 3 Council Member Arlene Christiansen told Patch on Saturday that she was not convinced the letter from UMD came from the appropriate university official.  Christiansen also said the University Park Town Council will likely vote to disapprove the Cafritz property preliminary plan during a special session on Monday.

There are two upcoming Cafritz meetings this week. University Park is meeting in special session at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the University Park Elementary School library, and Riverdale Park is holding a public meeting specifically on the J-crossing at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the Town Hall.  The planning board will vote on the Cafritz property preliminary plan during its May 16 meeting. The meeting will be live-streamed on Riverdale Park-University Park Patch.

According to Prince George’s County officials, almost 130 people have applied for the 4 appointed Board of Education positions.  Christian Rhodes, Baker’s education liaison, told the Washington Post that the applicants have a wide variety of experience.  “It’s a mixed bag,” Rhodes said. “There are activist parents, CEOs, vice presidents of large organizations, university professors.”  There is no firm date on when the appointments will be made, though Rhodes said Baker would like to make them “as close to June 1 as possible.” “The volume [of applicants] is pretty large,” he said. “He’s going to go through and make sure it’s the right people.”  Also from The Washington Post, Charlene Dukes, the president of Prince George’s Community College; Ken Johnson, a lawyer, and Orlan Johnson, an attorney and business consultant, were selected by the governor and the state school superintendent last week to serve on the search committee that will offer recommendations to Baker for the chief executive officer’s position. Dukes, who is also the president of the state Board of Education, will chair the committee.   All three served on Baker’s transition team in 2010.

I knew once D.C. started passed legislation allowing the sale of alcohol on Sundays, Prince George’s would follow.  The Bowie Patch did an informative post on how it’s playing out.

“The Prince George’s County delegation announced it will be launching a work group to discuss and reach a concensus on how the sale of liquor would be regulated in the county. Currently, alcohol sales on Sundays are restricted to beer and wine stores that have licenses to be opened seven days of the week. Liquor, however, is not allowed to be sold.  Del. Melony G. Griffith will chair the group, which will have its first meeting Tuesday, May 14 at 6 p.m. in the Media Room of the County Administration Building on Governor Oden Bowie Drive in Upper Marlboro.  Del. Kriselda Valderrama will serve as vice chair of the 11-member group. Ivey also will serve as a regular member, along with: Del. Dereck E. Davis, Del. Anne Healey, Del. James Hubbard, Del. Marvin E. Holmes, Del. Joseph Vallario, Del. Michael Vaughn, State Sen. Victor Ramirez, County Councilman Will Campos

This has been an issue that the delegation has been dealing with for years,” Ivey said. “By involving everyone, we hope to hear everyone’s concerns and create a consensus we can all agree upon before the next session. The group was announced in March after the delegate was split on a proposal that would have allowed stores to apply for permits to be open on Sundays. In the past decade, there have been 13 different proposals, a press release from the delegation stated. Members will seek public input on the issue throughout the summer.Residents and other interested members of the public who wish to participate with the Alcohol Work Group are encouraged to email the delegation at pg2@mlis.state.md.us. Group meetings will be announced through the delegation e-mail notification list and on the delegation website.

Verjeana Jacobs, courtesy PGC Blog

That same Verjeana Jacobs that wants to own your children’s intellectual property has been appointed to the Council of Urban Boards of Education. Maybe it will be for her good.  Jacobs has voiced her opposition to County Executive Baker’s new School Board additions.  Jacobs has stated “To change the governance structure without a specific plan would make us go in the wrong direction,” but it’s a done deal now so hopefully this new experience will aid her in the transition.

Prince George’s County Public School released the following, “The National School Boards Association’s (NSBA) Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE) announced today the appointment of Prince George’s County Board of Education Chair Verjeana M. Jacobs, Esq., to its 16-member Steering Committee. The appointment was made during the organization’s 73rd Annual Conference in San Diego, CA. “CUBE’s new Steering Committee members bring years of experience in urban education and are strongly committed to aiding the work of urban school boards to advance student achievement,” said Thomas J. Gentzel, NSBA Executive Director. I am deeply honored to be selected to serve on this committee,” said Jacobs. “As a result of this opportunity, I will be able to get a broad perspective on what other Boards are doing nationwide, as well as share the success of our district. Instruction, policy and rigor are improved by sharing strategies of best practices; this platform will allow us to do this on a national scale.”

Delanta Clark

On May 8, 2013, shortly after 3:00 pm, patrol officers responded to the 11900 block of Brandywine Road for a single car crash. Upon arrival, patrol officers found 17-year-old 17-year-old Delanta Clark Jr, of the 10800 block of Slippery Elm Court in Clinton unresponsive inside the car.  Clark was pronounced dead on the scene. A preliminary investigation reveals the Delanta Clark was driving on Brandywine Road and wearing his seatbelt when he lost control of his car, left the roadway and struck a tree. PGCo Police's Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit is investigating the cause of the accident.  Our hearts go out to the family.  Delanta Clark had just purchased this car a week ago; he was a junior at Surrattsville High School and from the interview below, sounds like he was a good kid.  PGC Blog's heartfelt condolences to the family.

MGM Officials deliver proposal, Baltimore Biz Journal photo

Penn National Gaming would save themselves some money by not even bothering to apply for the PGCo gaming license because MGM International delivered a big honking 800 page proposal that reportedly has community input (I don't know anyone who was consulted but ok), a diversity plan, opportunities for local businesses, promises of gold and silver, and a cure for the common cold in it.   Submittal of the proposal is the first step in Maryland's application and licensing process. Based on the schedule outlined by the Location Commission, the next step will be for MGM to be called to make an oral presentation about the company's proposed facility to the Commission sometime later this summer.

At an event prior to filing the proposal, Lorenzo Creighton, President and Chief Operating Officer of MGM National Harbor, emphasized MGM's commitment and desire to partner with Prince George's County and the State of Maryland. "We have said all along, our company will work tirelessly to earn the privilege to operate this license. We will earn it based on our company's experience and expertise. We are confident our proposal demonstrates we are the clear choice to bring a world-class destination resort to National Harbor.

 "Our proposal incorporates feedback we received from the community of which we hope to soon become a part. We will also make good on promises we've made to create thousands of new local jobs, provide enormous economic benefits to the region, and maintain our proven commitment to corporate social responsibility," Mr. Creighton said.  MGM executives project that the proposed MGM Destination Resort at National Harbor would create thousands of construction and permanent jobs. Many of these jobs will be filled by Maryland residents, creating career opportunities, especially for those living in Prince George's County.

Mr. Creighton added, "Supplier diversity is an integral part of the MGM Resorts corporate culture and a vital element of our success. As a Maryland license operator, we would embrace inclusive business practices in all areas, including contracting, procurement, employment and ownership. Our company realizes that both Prince George's County and Maryland are rich with capable minority business enterprises already possessing the capacity to significantly contribute to our project. We commit to working not only with these established businesses, but also to encourage the development of others seeking to increase their capacity or earn MBE certification."