Jimmy's Ward Report - Thursday, May 14, 2009

Safety Improvements Coming to Trail Near West Hyattsville Metro – County Councilman Will Campos hosted a community with police from different jurisdictions (Park and Planning, Hyattsville, Mt. Rainier, and Metro) to discuss safety problems near the West Hyattsville Metro. Here are some developments: 1) There will soon be lighting near the footbridge on the path near Queens Chapel Road. Five new light poles have been placed in the area and Park and Planning is waiting for PEPCO to connect the lights; 2) An emergency call box and camera will be set up at the intersection of Queens Chapel and Jamestown Roads; 3) There are also increased police patrols and they reported that so far crime this year in the area has gone down. I also heard that there are a lot of car break-ins at Prince Georges’ Plaza because of exposed GPS equipment. Also there has been an increase of thefts of iphones and ipods at Metro Stations. Robbers grab the iphone right when the train is leaving and run off in the other direction. FYI – there are 110 parking spaces at West Hyattsville Metro and 300 parking space at Prince Georges metro.



Get Involved! Join one of the City’s Committees: The newly elected Council reviewed the standing committees and each of the Council members took an assignment to work with one of the existing committees. One of my priorities this year will be for us to make these committees functional and to involve more residents in the town’s activities. Here are some of the committees that need help at this time. Please e-mail me if you are interested or want to know more about one of the committees:



Centennial Celebration Committee

Town Center Parking Task Force

Tree Commission

Environmental Protection Board

Liquor Store Committee

Emergency Preparedness Committee

Tool Shed

Cable Commission



Election Recap: Our municipal election is over and I want to congratulate Mayor Malinda Miles, Councilwoman Alta Morton and Councilwoman Ivy Thompson on their election. During an election campaign people get passionate about their views and that is understandable. Hopefully now we can all work together while respecting our differences of opinion on specific issues that come up.

There is a lot of work to done and I look forward to working with the rest of the Council as we prepare for out City's centennial (in 2010). Some of my priorities, which I am sure I share with the others on Council, are working with our public safety officers to do whatever is necessary to limit crime in our City, efficient trash and recycling pick-up, keeping our downtown area clean, reaching out to all segments of our community, and supporting our local businesses while looking to see how we can develop our downtown area.



Electronic Recycling a Great Success – On April 25th the City held its electronic recycling event. Residents from over sixty homes took part (up from 26). A dump truck and a pickup truck were filled up with all sorts of electronic equipment.



Bass Property: Going, going, almost gone. The City is waiting for final clearance from the State Health Department before proceeding with demolition. The health department has to inspect the property for asbestos and other hazardous materials prior to razing the property. The City Manager told the Council that they hope to have the building razed within thirty days.



Speed Cameras Will Be Coming to Mount Rainier: As a result of legislation passed in Annapolis this year, the City will be able to deploy speed cameras in school zones in the City (areas that are within ½ mile of a school). This in fact covers 90% of Mount Rainier. I know there there are plans to place one at Queens Chapel road near the senior citizen facility (Rainier Manor) where a pedestrian was killed earlier this year. The Chief is still reviewing the need and location of cameras in other parts of the city. I know speed cameras are controversial but I believe the safety of our children and other pedestrians in our residential community outweigh the needs of those drivers who want to get to their destinations as quickly as possible. The Council will be discussing an ordinance next Tuesday (May 19) which will allow speed cameras in Mount Rainier. If you have any comments on the use of speed cameras in our City, please come to the Council meeting and voice your opinion.



Crime statistics show a decrease in 2009 (except for robberies): The Chief reported that crime numbers show a 23% decrease from the first four months of 2008. Motor vehicle thefts are down 63% and burglaries are down 43%. Unfortunately there was an increase in robberies of close to 10%. This increase was primarily due to robberies in the Southern part of the City. On April 27th two individuals were arrested for robbing a citizen at 36th and Perry and since then there have not been any additional incidents in the neighborhood.



City Council Passes Budget – On May 5th the Council passed the budget for the next fiscal year. It keeps the tax rate the same as the past two years. The budget does dip a little into the reserves ($118,000) to pay for the debt payments for the purchase of the Bass property but the city still has a healthy reserve fund (over $1 million). There is some extra money for improved clean-up of the downtown area and to help some of the businesses improve their facades.



Mount Rainier Resident Chosen To Compete In Ms. Black Maryland Pagent: Miss Markita J. Bryant was selected to compete in the Ms. Black Maryland Pageant. Not if, but when she wins that title, she will go on to compete among other women from the other 50 states to become the next Ms. Black America.



Peace Park is Dedicated In Mt. Rainier – On Saturday May 2nd Mayor Miles and I dedicated a peace pole at the new ‘peace garden’ at 30th and Arundel Road in Mount Rainier. A Peace Pole is a wooden obelisk planted in the earth, from which and to which its planters wish peace to emanate. It is inscribed with the words 'May Peace Prevail in our Homes and Communities.' The Peace Garden is the dream of MJ & Jerry Park, co-directors of Little Friends for Peace. I love our community because people not only work on issues in Washington and Annapolis but try and use the same core values to change people’s lives here in our community. The peace park is a time to try and work out conflicts and to try and resolve issues. I should probably spend some time there myself.



Skateboard Park Is Scheduled to be Built by Summer: Park and Planning have told the Mayor and Council that they expect to complete the construction of the skateboard park at Otis and Wells by the end of June.



Join Us for Mount Rainier Day – This Saturday (May 16th) - Don’t forget to join the festivities this Saturday from 11 AM to 6 PM. There will be a parade, dozens of vendors, entertainment and a great tour of the artist studios in the area. It is a good day to come out and meet your neighbors and enjoy our great City.



Check Out The Native Plant Sale at Mount Rainier Day: Sponsored by the Mt. Rainier / Brentwood Native Plant Society. Cheap prices on hard to get shrubs and plugs!