Council Member Wanika B. Fisher Frankly Discusses Her Accomplishments And Priorities At Roundtable Meeting

By N’tuma Kamara

PHOTOS BY RAOUL DENNIS // PRINCE GEORGE’S SUTOIE MAGAZINE & MEDIA

Prince George’s County Council Member Wanika B. Fisher (District 2) discussed her ongoing work on the council at a meeting of the Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable July 10. The councilwoman spoke briefly about the key issues she has prioritized over the past legislative session and as the new chair of Health and Human Services and Public Safety. A previous prosecutor in the county, Fisher brings a unique leadership insight from her time in courtrooms and prisons.

Public Safety

Fisher is tackling several key issues under the public safety umbrella, such as homelessness which is also a health and human services concern.

“Health and Human Services and Public Safety took a really big turn this year. Last year, under different leadership, it really had a focus on social services and human services, which is awesome, which we need,” said Fisher. “As you know, our crime numbers in the county are not looking so good. I was just laser focused on our public safety agencies, what their needs are, and to basically react in this time, as well as keeping up with our social services.”

Regarding the unhoused population in the county, Fisher said, “Myself and Chair Hawkins actually just had a meeting in Laurel, about our unhoused population. We have a homeless shelter at a Comfort Inn, and we're working on that.”

Pedestrian Safety

Fisher is also actively involved in improving pedestrian safety – a serious concern in many portions of the county. Prince George’s has the highest pedestrian deaths in the state. In collaboration with her colleagues, Fisher passed a bill for a school pedestrian workgroup. The purpose is to improve children's safety in schools and receive recommendations on addressing current challenges. The workgroup is comprised of members of the county executive agency, law enforcement, and police department.

“Over our term in this position running the committee, we did a public safety listening tour with over 350 Prince Georgians participating from south to north county, and actually, pedestrian safety was number 2 on their priority list, believe it or not. That information and the feedback from the residents will be published [within the next few weeks].”

Judicial Safety

Fisher represents counties on a task force to ensure the safety of judicial facilities.

“As you know, we lost a judge to a shooting and our judges are also facing a lot.” She continued, “The more and more our politics change and the more and more they have to campaign, the more and more they're exposed, and so it is a huge concern of mine.”

Supporting Businesses

Fisher discussed her desire to make Prince George’s County a worthwhile investment for businesses. She urged the council to devote significant attention to supporting businesses.

“It's not that I believe businesses can do whatever they want. It's just about making sure there's a climate of consistency, and that they can [be confident in] investing their money, and that government is going to work with them and not against them.”

Still, the councilmember extended a call to action to the business members present to take a proactive approach in advocating for their needs, namely by putting forward business friendly or business-specific ideas for bills.

“The reality is a lot of the bills that proceed from council members are coming from either an advocacy group or a bunch of residents that have every right to be upset about something. In the year and a half I've been on the council, there's one bill I was [advanced] by the business community that I'm looking at. I haven't gotten any bill ideas, other than one in a year and six months.”

Highlighting the importance of involvement from businesses in the legislative process, Fisher referenced the plastic bag bill which implemented a 10-cent tax on retail establishments for paper carryout or reusable bags provided to customers. She explained the process that occurred between herself, Council member Ingrid Watson (D-Dist. 4) and then council chair Tom Dernoga (D-Dist. 1).

“Council Member Watson and I had a different bill for the plastic bag bill ban last year. Mr. Dernoga had his bill and it was written by the Sierra Club, so that's why it had the tax. A lot of us didn't want the tax, but you need six votes [on the council] to get something done, so it got passed with the tax. The entire council wanted to ban plastic bags. We just didn't agree on this 10-cent fee.”

Council Dynamics

Fisher has had to overcome the status quo of operation in the council as she strives to address the issues of concern to her constituents.

“There's always been a sixth vote, sort of a dynamic because you have to pass a bill with six votes, and that's been there before I was born. I am the youngest woman elected in the county, so a lot of things are before I was born.”

Fisher also spoke to the dynamics between her and colleagues while legislating. Her commitment to fiscal responsibility does not always give her favor with colleagues seeking to pass more pricey bills.

“I worked with Councilwoman Oriadha. She wanted to do a Late Night Safety Bill plan, worked with her and the bill is now ready to go. You have to do the work and engage stakeholders and actually make legislation that we can actually enforce and do and stand behind, bills that make sense.”

“With that being said, I do think that there is a lot of collaboration this year, more than years before. When it comes to the budget process, the council took every single council member's feedback.” She continued, “Even though we had a $171 million deficit, we worked very hard with County Executive Alsobrooks to make that budget work. Every council member got a win in their district.”

Getting It Done

Fisher invites further participation of businesses and others in determining the legislative focus of the council.

“I think if you all could help us in that and help us on what we should focus on, I think that would be great. I think meetings like this, like meetings at the chamber and the state of economy stuff, it's all really great but it's like fluffy. I would love to have a similar meeting to this to dive in to either a subject area or business aspect that you want us to roll up our sleeves about and bring our agency heads too and just get it done."

Fisher closed her remarks calling on business leaders to apply their interests and influence toward bringing other leaders to the county.

“I think everyone in the county has great assets to bring to service. I don't know exactly what the futures holds in leadership, but a lot of you have great connections around the country and around the world. So, I would also suggest, as the county is changing, that you think about who you want to see in some of these DCAO positions. Who do you want to see leading some of these agencies?”