County, State Leaders Share 2020 Goals
First 2020 Meeting of the Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable Hosts Hoyer, Alsobrooks And Braveboy In Sharing Achievements And Next Steps
Story and Photography By Raoul Dennis
In an eye-opening first 2020 public session of The Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable, local and state leaders offered highlights of their accomplishments in 2019 and their goals for the New Year.
Speaker of the House Steny H. Hoyer (D-Dist. 5), County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and Prince George’s States Attorney Aisha Braveboy were keynote speakers at the Jan. 6 meeting held at Colony South Hotel & Conference Center in Clinton, MD.
The Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable “is a non-profit, nonpartisan business alliance of Chief Executives, formed to improve our political, economic and community environments for a better Prince George’s County.”
Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable is founded by President/CEO M.H. Jim Estepp, a former county councilmember.
House Majority Leader Hoyer flanked by M.H. Jim Estepp (at left), Roundtable Chair Geoff Pohanka and Michael Chiaramonte, ProFlex President/CEO and owner of Colony South Hotel & Conference Center (far right). PHOTO: RAOUL DENNIS // PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE & MEDIA
Hoyer cited the current challenges on Capitol Hill just a day ahead of the start of the 116th Congress. He addressed the U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani is of high priority and that Congress’ role in balancing the president’s war powers are to be discussed. “This is a challenging time for America, This is a challenging time for the global community,” Hoyer said. “[Soleimani] was a terrorist. Make no mistake. His loss no one should grieve. What’s of concern are the consequences of that action on what retaliation – as surely there will be – that will come. I want to thank those of you who serve.”
The House Majority Leader noted that health care and global warming are key topics for discussion this year. With veteran form, Hoyer presented both matters in humanitarian terms.
“The pharmaceuticals are saying, correctly, you need money for research. But here’s the problem: Someone says ‘I’m paying $100 per pill for medication that my cousin in Canada is paying $20 per pill for. What’s the deal?’ The deal is everybody else has cost controls -- in the world -- except us. So, we are paying for the research for all the world. Well, that may be nice for all the world but it’s not so nice for your grandmother who’s trying to pay $100 per pill for this medication,” Hoyer explained.
He continued with attention on climate change: “Bow your heads tonight and pray for the people in Australia. The consequences of climate change. Climate change will be one of the critical issues that we deal with.”
County Executive Angela Alsobrooks checked off accomplishments and developments with stunning alacrity. The county’s top executive addressed gains in economic development, real estate and education.
“I have been saying that we are the crown jewel of Maryland and it’s no exaggeration. We have so much to be proud of. We are the county that has led the state over the last five years as the top job creator. We have created over 21,000 jobs in the state of Maryland – we truly are the economic engine of the state of Maryland.”
Alsobrooks touted the county’s buying power. “The median income here is over $83,000 per year.”
“I don’t have enough time here to tell you about all the amazing things that are happening now,” Alsobrooks said regarding the numerous economic development projects that will be coming online – including full-service movie theaters, high-end restaurants, entertainment centers and more in the upcoming downtown Prince George’s and across the county.
The first woman to serve as county executive also outlined the fast-paced development happening in New Carrollton. “Look around the county and the boom that we’re seeing in terms of economic growth and development,” she said. “It’s absolutely unmatched anyplace else not only in the state but I dare you to look around the country and try to find the kind of growth that we’re seeing in Prince George’s County.”
She continued in speaking about home sales. “We sold 60 homes in 40 days. The housing market is on fire.”
County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. PHOTO: RAOUL DENNIS // PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE & MEDIA
Alsobrooks also noted that the gains in Annapolis will allow the county to build 18 new schools in seven years.
The Alsobrooks Administration remains committed to providing options for senior living and commended Prince George’s County Public Schools who, this September have taken in 4,000 more students in enrollment than expected. It’s a sign that suggests families are coming back to public education in Prince George’s.
But this year’s priority will be education and fighting for the county’s share of support.
“Watch for our efforts to push for more gains with regard to the Kirwan Report,” Alsobrooks said noting that the county, Montgomery County and Baltimore contribute the largest in taxes to the state and deserve fair returns – especially where education is concerned.
“We are prosperous and growing but none of it matters if our kids are not taking in all of the prosperity that is taking place in Prince George’s,” Alsobrooks said.
Prince George’s States Attorney Aisha Braveboy reported on several high profile cases including the Sean Urbanski Case wherein Bowie State University student Richard Collins III was slain in what all considered a hate crime until the judge’s ruling threw it out
“Statutes in Maryland law allowed that to happen,” Braveboy said. “We will be addressing that in Annapolis this year to get that changed.”
Prince George’s States Attorney Aisha Braveboy. PHOTO: RAOUL DENNIS // PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE & MEDIA
She continued discussing the traffic fatalities that made headlines in 2019: “We have been able to bring justice to the families of victims of negligent or impaired driving from years to days in some cases.”
Each member of the states attorney’s office handles some 40 cases at a time. While they work closely with the police department in targeting local crime (such as gang violence, break-ins and homicides), the office does a great deal of advocacy work. A new area of advocacy includes addressing casino crime and theft.
“Maryland is the only jurisdiction that doesn't have laws to address this unique problem. We are working in Annapolis to address that,” said a member of the office.
But the overall news with regard to crime-fighting was good.
“Video surveillance has been one of the most significant pieces of evidence we use and the growth there has been great,” reported a member of Braveboy’s office. “The conviction rate has been 90%.”
The Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable will publish the Quality Of Life Index in late Spring. The QOL is an analytical survey of the quality of life indicators in the county. The next meeting of the Roundtable will be held in March.
The State Of Readiness
Military Leaders And County First Responders Discuss The Best Of 2019 Efforts, Immediate Challenges And Issues In 2020
By Raoul Dennis
In reports from Prince George’s County Police and Fire Departments, leaders reported the county continues to move the needle in the right direction with regard to crime and public safety but they urge caution.
Prince George’s County Police representative Deputy Chief Jacqueline Rafferty highlighted the continuing 10-year decrease in violent crime and added that property crime is also down in the county. Rafferty illustrated the decrease saying that in 2018 there were roughly 44 crimes per day and in 2019 crime incidents dropped to 36 per day.
Prince George’s County Fire Chief Tiffany D. Green, who has only been in position for two months, shared data based on an internal review of the department.
Although there was a 1% increase in calls for service (bringing the number to over 152,500), response times to the calls decreased, depicting a more efficient use of dispatch.
“Most importantly when you look at our fatalities, in 2018 we had 14 deaths [as a direct result of fire] in 2019, we brought that number down to four. That’s phenomenal for our agency and for our department. That’s a 70% decrease,” Green said. “That’s directly related to our community relations office and our risk reduction and preventive education.”
Green says prevention ties into her primary goal.
“When everyone asks me ‘what’s your goal for the department? What’s the number one priority for you?’ I tell them our number one goal is to prevent the call,” Green says.
A New Military Branch And Preparing For Life In Harm’s Way
Col. Andrew Purath, Commander 11th Wing, The Chiefs Own, Joint Base Andrews shared news of the base playing host to President Donald Trump’s signing of the National Defense Authorization Act (authorizes FY2020 appropriations and sets forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths) wherein a new branch of the military – The United States Space Force – was signed into law.
“We do not do that very often,” Purath said of the new branch of the military – giving the nation six branches. “The last time was [the Air Force] in 1947. We are averaging a new branch of service once about every 120 years. So, that was a historically significant event and the county can take a lot of pride in that. The president chose to sign that bill on our base in our county and that’s a big deal. We were really proud to be able to host that.”
The colonel discussed the partnerships the base has with local high schools and plans to increase opportunities for young people to come onto the base and take advantage of learning opportunities.
Colonel Rebecca Sonkiss, Commander, 89th Airlift Wing, The Presidential Wing, announced the acquisition of new transports and expressed importance of the 89th Airlift Wing’s role in military diplomacy as recent events unravel around the world.
“We are getting a new gulf stream aircraft,” she says of the first such development in 10 years at Joint Base Andrews. It’s also significant because the fleet at Andrews serve the nation’s top five leaders. “We are getting another in March so it’s a bit of a refresh to our Gulf Stream fleet.”
Colonel Sonkiss said a new DC25-B is coming on line and a new Air Force One as well.
“What we do in our wing is deliver diplomacy,” Sonkiss said changing topics from hardware to the developing matters in Iran and around the world facing the military. “We deliver diplomacy and that is a part of the power of our nation: we move congressmembers, we move the president of the United States, we move Joint Chiefs of Staff. But we are part of a bigger command and that’s air mobility command. As I’ve watched over the past few days the massive traffic that’s ongoing, my peers at all of the installations are very, very busy.”
The colonel carefully reminded the VIP audience of some 70 people that the near future is uncertain.
“Twenty-nine years I have been in uniform, 25 in active duty,” she explained. “I don’t know how many times I have been to the Middle East. [Col Purath] and I have served over there together. Your friends, your neighbors, your sons and daughters, husbands, active guard and reserve partners, wherever things flare up, there’s tension. They are the people that your communities take care of and support all the time. I think it’s important as commanders that we maintain that connection with our communities so that we don’t forget in that space that our friends are probably struggling with it, with unknown right now. And none of us knows what it’s going to look like. I don’t want to get too worked up over things but it’s tense over there. So look out for your friends and neighbors and thank you for being the community that I’m most proud to live in.”
