August 11, 2020

The Prince George's County Council is on recess during the month of August, but a great deal is happening across District 3, Prince George's County and the State. Thank you in advance for your engagement on matters of importance.

Please join me on Monday, August 24, at 7:00 p.m. for the second in my Thought Series of virtual conversations. This topic will be Affordable Housing.

Panelists David Bowers, Vice President and Mid-Atlantic Market Leader, Enterprise Community Partners; Maryann Dillon, Executive Director, Housing Initiative Partnership; George Leventhal, Director of Community Health for Kaiser Permanente; and Sheila Somashekhar, Director of the Purple Line Corridor Coalition will join me to discuss County efforts to address affordable housing before and during the pandemic, the need, and what's happening now. 

Register at https://bit.ly/ThoughtSeries2 to receive the virtual forum log-in information.

Prince George's County is seeing an uptick in cases of COVID-19. As of August 1, gatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited in the County. In addition, Governor Hogan has mandated that all individuals must wear a face covering in the public spaces of all businesses, including gyms and fitness centers, on public transportation, and in outdoor public areas whenever it is not possible to maintain social distancing of 6 feet or more.

Remember -- masks must cover your mouth AND nose. Wearing a mask below your nose is ineffective. 

The Maryland Health Benefit Exchange announced that Marylanders can enroll in health insurance through December 15. Learn more here.

The Draft Environmental Statement (DEIS) for Governor Hogan's plan to expand I-495/I-270 for private toll lanes has been released. It is more than 18,000 pages long. This is a crucial time to engage with this project which will directly impact residents in Prince George's County.

Virtual Public Hearings on August 18, 20, 25 and September 3 -- Register to participate here.

In Person Public Hearing in Largo on September 1 -- Register to participate in-person by calling 833-858-5960.

Citizens Against Beltway Expansion, the Maryland Sierra Club, National Parks Conservation Association, and Audubon Naturalist Society are hosting an online "comment clinic" to help individuals and community associations write focused and effective comments and testimony. Please join this free forum this Thursday, August 13 at 7:30 pm. Register here. 

I joined Delegate Julian Ivey for a virtual town hall on the environment and transportation. Watch that forum here.

As many of you know, I have been actively working on the Purple Line for more than a decade. I am disappointed that the negotiations between the State and their private partner seem to be breaking down. I am actively urging our State leadership to demonstrate leadership and commitment on this project to see it through to completion and operation. Our communities are suffering through the construction and deserve to reap the benefits of this innovative light rail project.

United Communities Against Poverty: https://www.ucappgc.org/