Livingston Rd. Bridge over Piscataway Creek Replacement

(Click on the image above for the briefing)

Briefing provided curtesy of Sally Hoffman, Forest Knolls.

Stormwater Safety Hazard and Next Steps

Good afternoon County Executive Alsobrooks, Board of Education Members, and Agency Directors,

 On behalf of Council Member Anderson-Walker, I would like to share the situation of two District 8 residents impacted by stormwater flooding. Our office received the photos and videos below from homeowners, one of whom lives on Swan Creek Road, not far from the proposed Southern Area K-8 site. Their video shows stormwater being propelled out of the storm drain. We continue to feel helpless and disheartened with every instance of flooding devastation that comes in front of our team...no family should have to endure this.

 In addition to the video we've seen of the flooding at 106 Swan Creek Road, we also have Zaneta's video at 12707 Norwood Lane on August 13, 2020, and there's video taken by Virginia Boldon on the same day at 105 Swan Creek Road. **Videos are hyperlinked**

 Ms. Walthour, who lives with her mother on Norwood is not only faced with caring for her aging parent but is now worried about what they will be facing with the pending school construction and the likelihood of increased flooding that can further impact the home their family has lived in since 1984. Flooding also totaled the mobility conversion van Ms. Walthour used to transport her brother who was wheelchair-bound.

 Zaneta Walthour: "Like so many in our community, I attended the meeting with the County Executive who has indicated that the County intends to proceed with the proposed K-8 school project on Swan Creek Road.  However, the infrastructure cannot support this undertaking.  The recent maintenance performed by the County has not resolved the issues presented on August 13, 2020 and will not resolve the new issues presented by the proposed school site if they proceed without delay.  The clearing of the new school site will only speed up the timeline for the imminent catastrophe posed by this public safety hazard."

 There continues to be anxiety and concern about the Southern Area K-8 site, more so once the trees and existing vegetation are cleared. We recognize and appreciate the efforts being made to begin addressing stormwater management, but unfortunately, the frequent "rain bombs" won't hold up to fit that timeline. I was driving in a downpour earlier today and my thoughts were heavy for the homeowners who are battling the deluge.

 In a separate issue, last night, another of our community advocates shared an email from a Fort Washington resident about a new development project that is now creating flooding in their basement and impacting other homes on Pitt Drive. Can anyone share a bit more on this project and whether anything is being done to address the flooding that Mr. Dixon described (below)? For location context, Pitt Drive is near to the Asbury/Halwood area where the failed retaining wall has led to condemned two homes.

 Freddie Dixon: "My name is Freddie Dixon and my home is on Pitt Dr., directly behind construction. Since they started digging holes for the basements my backyard has flooded when it rains. I contacted the county, but was informed it could take up to 30 days for someone to contact me. I am afraid my basement will flood before then."

 Thank you for taking the time to review this lengthy email, but we wanted to keep everyone abreast of the ongoing concerns for homeowners, especially those who are on Swan Creek Road.

 Thanks and best,

 Marise Gibbs

Legislative Aide & Scheduler to

Council Member Monique Anderson-Walker, District 8

Click here for the Council Member's 2019 Year End Review

County Administration Building

14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive

Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

District 8 Website

Lobbying Tips from Meredith McGehee

Lobbying Tips

from Meredith McGehee

 

 

Before the meeting

-- know your subject

            -- have a one-pager ready that tracks the argument you are going to make

            -- source your facts

 

-- do your homework

            -- know what public official has done or said on the topic

 

-- decide on your topic for the meeting, no more than 3 issues and know ahead of time your "ask"

            -- the "ask" should be something within the official's power

            -- if it's important, include in the "ask" how you expect the politician to accomplish it

 

-- if possible, partner with strange bedfellows e.g., business and labor; Rs and Ds

 

-- be clear about who you are speaking for; don't represent yourself as speaking for a group unless you are authorized to do so

 

-- figure out the questions you want to ask to engage the official in a discussion

            -- questions should elicit information, not just yes or no e.g., so how do you think this through?

 

-- try not to impugn the motives of opponents but counter their arguments

 

-- dress appropriately, don't wear something that distracts from the topic you are going to discuss

 

At the meeting

-- make request for a meeting succinctly and be clear about topic you want to discuss

 

-- if possible, go with a buddy

            --have more than 2, decide ahead of time who will be lead spokesperson and divide up other topics

            -- introduce everyone at beginning and make sure you get names of all Staffers who are at meeting

 

-- have no more than 3 topics; don't throw in a subject or say "while I'm here let me tell you how I feel about a totally unrelated topic

 

-- don't speak for longer than 10 minutes, hopefully less. If someone in your group starts going on too long, have a signal to stop them

            --be aware of the official "filibustering" you i.e., talking and not letting you talk

            -- if that happens, find a moment to jump in and get on topic

 

-- ask the questions you've prepared if it fits the flow of the meeting

 

-- be sure before the meeting is ended you have made your ask; designate someone to do so;

 

-- don’t argue, berate, or become hostile

 

-- follow up with a thank you and send any information you discussed

Meredith McGehee is Executive Director of Issue One. She is one of the nation’s foremost experts on Congress and ethics in politics and has been described as one of the most in-the-know persons about lobbying, money-in-politics, media policy and the Washington, D.C. political scene. She has been recognized 14 times by The Hill newspaper, including the current year, as one of the top nonprofit grassroots advocates in Washington. McGehee is frequently sought out in the national print and television news media as an honest broker and veteran policy expert who holds both parties accountable to the same standards. She is a regular speaker at universities and organizations around the country. Prior to serving as executive director of Issue One, she spent decades working across the ethics and political reform landscape both in Washington and in states around the country. She also worked on Capitol Hill for six years and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger, West Africa and is a Phi Beta Kappa, cum laude graduate of Pomona College in California.

Storm Drain Maps for the Swan Creek Area

(Click on the image above for the map)

(Click on the image above for the southern area map)

• Recommendation: First, click on a image for the map, then download it to your device, and then zoom down to see street names.
• Thanks to Charlie Griffith, DPW&T Project Manager, for providing this map

 

Flood Insurance Forum - April 20, 2021

(Click on the image above to register)

Drainage and Flooding in Prince George's County

(Click on the image above for the briefing)

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our spring clean-up day on Saturday, April 10, 2021!

We picked up trash, trimmed some of the trees we’ve planted previously, and removed vines from the fences along Fort Washington Road north of the school.   Volunteers included Patti Holcomb, Henrieta Dzurikaninova, Angela Malone, Eric Williams, Bil Nelson, Dede Perkins, Sarita Burns, Ed & Jacque Akselrad, Troy Ford, Kim Vu, and JoAnn Davis.

We have more to do, so we will join others across the county on Saturday, May 1, 2021 for the Growing Green with Pride Day community clean-up.  Again, we’ll meet at 9 AM at Potomac Landing Elementary School.  

The county will provide mulch if anyone is willing to pick it up for us.  Pick up days are Wed. April 28 through Saturday May 1 in Forestville.   We can place it around our previously planted trees.

Please contact Jamie Crist if you have questions or are interested in volunteering to pick up mulch.  You can reach him by cell (text or call) at 703-966-8757 (text or call) or by email at jamiedoc@aol.com.  

Community Partners' Meeting - April 7, 2021

 Click the links below to view and download a copy of the presentations given:

• Opening remarks, Office of the County Executive and the Beautification Initiative, Department of the Environment (DoE)
• Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE)
• Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T), Q & A, Closing remarks
• DPW&T Questions Sent in Advance With Response

As rainstorms grow more severe and frequent, communities fail to prepare for risks

(Click on the image above for Jim Morrison's Washington Post report)

“The challenge is the rain in many of these places is getting heavier. And the amount of pavement that rain is falling on, it’s getting bigger,” Samaras said. “So it’s kind of a double whammy. You have less places for the rain to go into the ground, you have more rain, and you have the same old sewer pipes from 30 years ago.”

Proposed DPW&T Storm Drain To Be Built by PGCPS

(From the Meeting between County Executive Alsobrooks and the Alliance for Greater County Transparency on April 8, 2021)

Southern Area K-8 School Mandatory Referral Review Notice

Anyone wishing to speak must sign up by 12 noon on June 1, 2021

Royal Farms Withdraws Application for Accokeek Site

From Kelly Canavan

2 Prince George's Homes to Be Leveled Because of Failing Retaining Wall

(Click on the image above for Tracee Wilkins' News4 report)

• Two homeowners in Fort Washington, Maryland, have just months to find somewhere else to live before their homes are demolished.
• A failed retaining wall is putting several houses in jeopardy, and two must be leveled, according to Prince George's County. 
• “Over the past two years, that landscape has changed dramatically, and it’s now at a point where the county believes it’s a true life safety issue,” Deputy Chief of Government Operations Jared McCarthy said.
• By June, the county will demolish Briggs’ home and the home next door and begin work to rebuild the retaining wall.
• They are looking at a loss and mortgages that have to be paid after the homes are demolished.

Rescheduled to Thursday Apr 8, 7:30 PM - Meeting between County Executive Alsobrooks and the Alliance for Greater County Transparency

 

Topic: CEX Meeting with The Alliance for Greater County Transparency

Time: Apr 8, 2021 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

 

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Canceled: Meeting between County Executive Alsobrooks and the Alliance for Greater County Transparency

Received at 3:13 PM on April 1, 2021: 

Greetings Members of The Alliance for Greater County Transparency, We regret to inform you that our meeting scheduled for this evening has been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience this cancellation may cause. Our team will reach out to the members of The Alliance for Greater County Transparency in the very near future regarding the action items provided in your correspondence dated Thursday, March 25, 2021 and Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Again, please accept our sincere apology for the inconvenience and we look forward to the opportunity to address your concerns. Be well, Nicole Nicole Jackson-Young | Section Chief, Special Projects Division Office of Community Relations