Baker and PG political elite to take to media to push Question 7

The leadership of Prince George’s County today will take to their bully pulpit in the hopes of swaying weary county residents about the need to support Question 7 that has struggled in recent polls.

Prince George’s County Executive, County Council Members, Senators, Delegates and Municipal Leaders to Hold Press Conference on Question 7

Upper Marlboro, MD – Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker. III, will be joined by over 20 elected officials from Prince George’s County including  County Council Members, County Members of the Maryland House of Delegates and State Senate, along with municipal leaders from around the County to discuss Question 7, the expansion of gaming in Maryland ballot referendum today Thursday, October 11, at 6:00 p.m. at the Prince George’s County Administration Building (CAB) in the County Executive’s Office.

WHAT:                 Press conference on Question 7

WHO:                   Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III, Members of the Prince George’s County Council, Members of the House of Delegates from Prince George’s County, Members of the State Senate from Prince George’s County, Prince George’s County Municipal Leaders

WHEN:                 Thursday, October 11, 6:00 p.m.

WHERE:               Prince George’s County Administration Building

County Executive Office, 5^th Floor 14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive Upper Marlboro, MD

 

Follow The Real Prince George’s on Facebook and Twitter. Also get the latest in your inbox by subscribing on the right side of the page.

 

 

 

Major questions raised about Baker’s personal finances and possible campaign violations

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker

The conservative blog Red Maryland has done a very detailed and stunning investigation on the finances of Prince George’s Executive Rushern Baker. If their report is proven to be true, Mr. Baker may have a lot of questions to answer.

Public documents show Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker did not answer county financial disclosure forms accurately.

And Mr. Baker, a lawyer in a very public state political fight to bring an $800 million casino to National Harbor, won’t explain why. He did not respond to multiple requests to answer questions about the 2010 and 2011 forms as well as inquiries about his campaign finance disclosures and prior work experience.

That Mr. Baker, whose predecessor Jack Johnson is serving time in federal prison for bribery, would not do everything in his power to clean up the image of county politics sullied by the continuing corruption scandals tied to Mr. Johnson is surprising. Most recently, news broke in May that the county spent hundreds of thousands to settle a lawsuit from a developer alleging a large bribery scheme involving county officials.

To read more about the article yourself and view their supporting documents go to their site at http://redmaryland.blogspot.com/

Follow The Real Prince George’s on Facebook and Twitter. Also get the latest in your inbox by subscribing on the right side of the page.

 

Setting the record straight

Last week we published a story that was actually written much earlier about the focus the Prince George’s County Council would have this week on health. Issues around improving the access to quality health care has been a top concern of many in the county, so we were naturally very impressed to see our elected officials discussing it. unfortunately our story contained a number of significant errors. When we noticed them we wanted to fix them as soon as possible, but it was only Saturday that I received power back to my home. That is no excuse and on behalf of this blog, I apologize.

Tonight the members of the Prince George’s County Council, sitting as the Board of Health will convene a town hall on health at Harmony Hall in southern county. Dr. Joseph Wright, a consultant to the Board of Health will moderate the panel that includes Acting Health Officer Ms. Creekmur, Deputy Health Officer Dr. Ernest Carter and Deputy Health Officer Elana Belon-Butler. Some have pointed out that Ms. Creekmur is not a MD but a nurse and that is correct, but was not reported as such in our original post. They will also be joined by Dimensions Healthcare President/CEO Neil Moore and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Carnell Cooper.

Tomorrow the County Council will meet to review the nomination of Ms. Creekmur as Health Officer, the post she has acted in since Executive Rushern Baker named her last year. This was also mistakenly reported to occur today. That hearing will be tomorrow, Tuesday, July 10th at 10AM. This is a public hearing so anyone interested in testifying should contact the Clerk of the Council.

For about two years we have attempted to share with our community news about the events and issues impacting Prince George’s County. We normally get it right. On this issue we got it wrong. We apologize and will work to be better. Finally some who saw the previous inaccurate report blamed council staff and members of the county administration for “purposefully spreading false information”, that was not the case. The error in our blog is ours alone and should not be placed on the Executive, County Council, our the Department of Health.

Editor-in-Chief

Follow The Real Prince George’s on Facebook and Twitter. Also get the latest in your inbox by subscribing on the right side of the page.

Rushern Baker walks both fences in possible Brown v Gansler race

Remember when Rushern Baker was being touted by the Anthony Brown campaign team in their earlier fundraisers for the gubernatorial campaign? Well it looks like he still hasn’t made up his mind. This weekend the county Executive will join Attorney General and who some people will call the frontrunner to replace Governor Martin O’Malley, Doug Gansler this weekend for his first official-unofficial community event of the unannounced campaign for governor.

Tomorrow, June 30th at the Prince George’s Community College, Gansler will host an “Old Fashion” BBQ in preparation for Independence Day. The event, which lasts from 1PM until 3PM, will cost $20.00 and feature special guest speaker Rushern Baker.

Setback to Baker, state panel rejects new casino in PG

Prince George’s Executive Rushern Baker

Today the special commission that was charged by Governor Martin O’Malley, Speaker Michael Busch, and Senate President Mike Miller to explore finding a consensus on the hotly debated proposal of expanding casino gambling into Prince George’s County had planned to announce a deal on a plan that would be considered in a special session the week of July 9th, but those plans have been scrapped. Panel leaders announced they have not been able to reach consensus and there would be no extension in their work. That is fancy talk for saying they failed.

The proposal, which was pushed by County Executive Rushern Baker, took over the final days of the regular session of the General Assembly. Many blamed Senate President Miller for holding up budget negotiations in an attempt to push the hand of the House of Delegates but by midnight both proposals had failed to be approved. Legislators returned to Annapolis last month to resolve budget work and planned to return next month to deal with the casino proposal. News today that the commission named to draft the plan both chambers would debate failed to reach a deal seems to end those plans. Governor O’Malley had indicated he would not call another special session unless the panel was successful.

Last week officials with MGM Grand announced plans to develop a casino at Prince George’s National Harbor in what some elected officials said was another attempt to push the hand of legislators. MGM promised the deal would create more than 1,000 construction jobs and more than 4,000 jobs after the casino opened. For Prince George’s County, which struggles with job creation, that was big news. Additionally a state report released said the casino would generate more than $200 million annually in education funding for the state. Opponents to the casino point to the promises made by the lottery and said they never came to fruition. Community groups and church leaders in the county also opposed the plan saying the amount of crime and social issues the casino would create was not worth the risk.

Sources in the Prince George’s County government say the executive and his team will continue to explore ways to move forward with their plans. Any expansion in the county would first have to be approved by both the legislature and voters in a constitutional amendment.

Follow The Real Prince George’s on Facebook and Twitter. Also get the latest in your inbox by subscribing on the right side of the page.

Del. Gerron Levi leads charge against Baker & slots

Follow The Real Prince George’s on Facebook and Twitter. Also get the latest in your inbox by subscribing on the right side of the page.

Earlier today former Prince George’s County Delegate Gerron Levi blasted Executive Rushern Baker and Senate President Mike Miller’s plans over the stalled state budget, the plan for a new casino, and the need for expensive special sessions at a cost of about $25,000 per day.

From Delegate Levi:

Former Delegate Gerron Levi (D-23A)

Thomas V. Mike Miller, Maryland’s President of the State Senate, demonstrated just how far gambling supporters will go to force a slots parlor in Fort Washington.  In a gross abuse of power, he blocked a compromise on Maryland’s budget in order to get what he wants — Maryland’s 6th casino in Prince George’s County. As a result, Prince George’s County now faces over $60 million in cuts, and counties, cities, schools, police departments, colleges and popular programs across the state are staring down the prospect of over $500 million in cuts.

You see, Mike Miller is the Master of the Senate, and one of the three most powerful men in the State of Maryland.  Having served in Annapolis for over 40 years, he is also a master of political brinksmanship.  A Special Session of the Maryland General Assembly will now have to be called at taxpayers expense to raise taxes and solve the state budget.  And, if all goes according to Mike Miller’s calculation, a Prince George’s slots parlor will be on the agenda.

Mike Miller’s Plan:  With enough time, the “hue and the cry” of teachers and college students and others across the state facing “doomsday” cuts will be so loud and the pressure on the Governor and the Speaker of the House so great, that one of them will have to blink and bend to His will and give him “something” on the Prince George’s slots deal.  All he needs is for one them to get behind his casino and round up the votes in the House of Delegates to pass it so that it goes to statewide referendum in November.  He knows that no Prince George’s politician wants this on the ballot when they have to run for reelection in 2014.  So, this is the year!  He has been waiting for this day for a long time — slots in Prince George’s within his grasp — and he has no intentions of retiring from the State Senate before he gets it; he has been planning it for over a decade.

Follow the Leader thinking and cold political calculation led a number of Prince George’s lawmakers to shudder their campaign opposition to slots in the county and follow Mike Miller’s model on abuse of power.

These are just a few examples:

• Cuts to the Education Trust Fund:  Two Prince George’s lawmakers introduced, the County Executive urged support, and  for bills (SB 892) that would cut 15% of slot revenues going education to go instead to profits for casino operators. Recall in 2007/2008 gambling was sold to statewide voters as a way to fund education.   5 Prince George’s Senators voted for that bill.

• Promised a “Local Vote” for Prince George’s and then took it back:  A County Council resolution sought to condition a county slots parlor on the will of Prince George’s voters.  When casino supporters realized they did not have the votes for a county slots parlor in the House of Delegates they dropped that “local vote” provision, leaving it to voters statewide to decide for Prince George’s County.  5 Prince George’s Senators voted for that bill.

• Baker’s Exaggerated Revenue Numbers:  While Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker claims the county will win $69 million in revenue from his slots parlor, he fails to mention that the state has yet to reap the revenue promised in 2008 from the existing slots program.  In fact, The Maryland State Lottery Agency reported that the state is spending $71.5 million per year to provide slot machines to three casinos — that is $10 million more than the  leasing cost projected for all 5 casinos in the coming year.

• End-Run Around Prince George’s Leaders:  The customary rule is this: the will of the Prince George’s Delegation is communicated to the Speaker of House or other House leaders after a discussion among delegates and either a vote of the delegation or a decision to send a delegation letter from the Chairwoman.  At the request of County Executive Rushern Baker, several delegates decided instead to send their own “group letter” to House leadership to express “the will” of the delegation.  12 state delegates signed that letter.

• The customary rule is this:  the will of the Prince George’s County Council on legislation is communicated to leaders in Annapolis after a discussion of the Council and a vote or a Council letter from the Council Chairwoman.   At the request of the County Executive and Senate President, several County Council Members decided instead to send their own “group letter” to Annapolis to express “the will” of the County County.  6 County Council Members signed that letter.

Organizations Opposing A Casino in  Prince George’s County:     1.   Coalition of Central Prince George’s County Community Organizations 2.    Indian Head Highway Area Action Coalition (IHHAAC) 3.    National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) 4.    Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) 5.    Collective Empowerment Group (CEG) 6.    Prince George’s County PTA Council 7.    Progressive Cheverly 8.    Mission of Love 9.    Men Aiming Higher 10.   Kettering Civic Federation 11.   Executive Committee, Hillcrest-Marlow Heights Civic Association 12.   Suitland Action Team 13.   Mission Baptist Ministers Conference 14.   Original Free Will Baptist Conference 15.   Fairfield Knolls Civic Association 16.   Helping Hand Club 17.   Concerned Citizens of Seabrook Park Estates 18.   Forestville Park Homeowners Association 19.   District III Coffee Club 20.   Page After Page 21.   Integrated Processing Labs 22.   Family, Faith, and Future 23.   Veteran’s Advocacy Group 24.   Former Prince George’s County Councilman Thomas Dernoga 25.   Former Maryland State Delegate Gerron S. Levi 26.   Former Prince George’s County School Board Member Patricia Fletcher 27.   Lewisdale Citizens Association 28.   Community of Hope AME Church 29.   First Baptist Church of Highland Park 30.   Jerusalem AM.E. Church 31.   Greater Mt. Nebo AME Church 32.   Bride of Christ Church 33.   New Creation AME Church 34.   Cornerstone AME Church 35.   Mt. Victory Baptist Church 36.   Triumphant Church 37.   New Hope Baptist Church 38.   Christ Kingdom Church 39.   Wayman Memorial AME Church 40.   United By Faith Christian Church 41.   Solid Rock Missionary Baptist Church 42.   Marlboro Meadows Baptist Church 43.   Embry AME Church 44.   Antioch Baptist Church – Clinton 45.   Shalom Ministries Christian Center 46.   The Sanctuary at Kingdom Square 47.   Judah Temple AME Zion Church 48.   Higher Place of Praise Ministries 49.   New Community Church of God in Christ 50.   Bethel Deliverance Outreach Church 51.   Christ Missionary Baptist Church 52.   Disciples of Christ Christian Church 53.   Carolina Missionary Baptist Church 54.   Mt. Jezreel Baptist Church 55.   Union Bethel AME Church 56.   Mt. Enon Missionary Baptist Church 57.   Ebenezer AME Church 58.   New Vision Baptist Church 59.   Gethsemane AME Church 60.    New Liberation AME Church 61.    Millwood-Waterford Citizens Association 62.    Hunter Memorial Church 63.    South Potomac Citizens Association 64.    Wilburn Civic Association 65.    Central Civic Association (Wilburn Community) 66.    Maryland Family Alliance 67.    Greater Accokeek Civic Association 68.    Laurel Clergy Association 69.    Bethany Community Church 69.    New Chapel Baptist Church 70.    Jericho City of Priaise 71.    Community of Hope AME Church 72.    Reid Temple AME Church (North) 73.    From The Heart Church Ministries 74.    Glenn Dale Citizens’ Association 75.    New Revival Kingdom Church Follow The Real Prince George’s on Facebook and Twitter. Also get the latest in your inbox by subscribing on the right side of the page.

Plastic bag tax is killed for the final time

Follow The Real Prince George’s on Facebook and Twitter. Also get the latest in your inbox by subscribing on the right side of the page.

Prince George's County Councilwoman Mary Lehman

Remember the state law County Executive Rushern Baker was pushing that would give the county authority to implement a bag tax? Well it is now dead for the final time.

Yesterday the House of Delegates Environmental Matters Committee, killed the bill by failing to approve it with a majority vote.

The bill faced an uphill battle all session as members of the Prince George’s delegation faced intense lobbying from the plastic bag industry, the US Black Chamber of Commerce, and citizens who say they are tired of being nickel and dime to death. That however didn’t stop county leaders like Baker, Councilwoman Mary Lehman and leaders from the Anacostia Watershed from fighting hard for passage.

The legislation itself would not had put a plastic bag fee in place in the county, but instead allow the Prince George’s County Council to make the final decision. Under current law the council, unlike the Montgomery County Council, lacks the power to pass such a law. That argument however didn’t sway many citizens who all are still worried about other potential tax increases the legislature is considering.

When the idea for Prince George’s to join with Montgomery County and the District of Columbia with the bag tax was introduced the selling point was it would benefit environmental efforts for the Anacostia river. The tax would drive down the number of people using the bags that clutter the river and any money raised would be used only for environmental projects. That idea hit the fan when members of the DC Council raised the idea last year of raiding their fund to help balance the budget. Leaders in many poor communities said the law would disproportionately impact minority and poor communities the hardest.

After defeat of the bill was announced yesterday, advocates in support of a tax vowed to renew efforts again during next years session.

*- This story has been updated to correct a previous version that incorrectly stated Delegate Davis was chair of the Environmental Matters Committee.

Follow The Real Prince George’s on Facebook and Twitter. Also get the latest in your inbox by subscribing on the right side of the page.

Baker and team plan Economic Development Fund fourm

Follow The Real Prince George’s on Facebook and Twitter. Also get the latest in your inbox by subscribing on the right side of the page.

EDI Fund Flyer (Taken from the PGC Government Website)

Do you have questions about the Economic Development Fund the county council passed last year at the urging of Executive Rushern Baker? Do you want to know who should apply for funds, how will funds be dispersed and what will be the process used to determine spending?

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker and many of his top economic development officials are hosting a forum on Wednesday, February 29th at Roosevelt High School from 7PM-9PM.

The meeting is open to the public and free. For more information visit www.pgcedc.com/busDevelopment/EDIF.php.

The EDI Fund, which passed with council approval last fall after it was delayed, has been in the news again lately. The county council put $50 million dollars into the fund from the fund balance in 2011 but were shocked to see that the controversial slots legislation proposed by State Senator Douglas JJ Peters (D-23) would funnel more money to the program, money the council would never have control over. In a vote last week the members of the council voted 9-0 to oppose the legislation.

Follow The Real Prince George’s on Facebook and Twitter. Also get the latest in your inbox by subscribing on the right side of the page.

 

Baker Administration prepares to offer young people summer jobs

Prince George's Executive Rushern Baker

Follow The Real Prince George’s on Facebook and Twitter. Also get the latest in your inbox by subscribing on the right side of the page.

The Prince George’s County Office of Human Resources Management, Recruitment, Examination and Classification Division, has opened enrollment for county residents between the ages of 15 – 19 as of June 18, 2012 in their summer jobs program. The Summer Youth Enrichment Program (SYEP) is a six-week, entry-level introduction to public service for the youth of Prince George’s County. This countywide initiative offers the youth enriching and constructive summer work experiences in various assignments throughout our government.

Young people who are interested in applying must apply before the deadline, March 23rd. No applications will be accepted after the deadline. All applications must be done online and applicants must have a valid email address. To help with those who might not have access to a computer, the department is making computers in their office available.

Young people can begin applying on February 27th at www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/employment

SYEP Contact Information

The Office of Human Resources Management is committed to providing Human Resources expertise and services in the most efficient, professional and consistent manner. If you have any questions concerning the SYEP, please do not hesitate to contact our office at (301) 883-6330.

Attention: Nena L. McNeil, Program Coordinator
Office of Human Resources Management
Recruitment, Examination and Classification Division
1400 McCormick Drive, Suite 159
Largo, Maryland 20774

Follow The Real Prince George’s on Facebook and Twitter. Also get the latest in your inbox by subscribing on the right side of the page.

Baker endorses Cardin on eve of Muse announcement

Follow The Real Prince George’s on Facebook and Twitter. Also get the latest in your inbox by subscribing on the right side of the page.

Remember when State Senator C. Anthony Muse made headlines in 2012 and endorsed Rushern Baker for Executive? Many observers see it is pivotal to helping Baker win over a base that has never been his strongest, black evangelicals. Muse is also bishop a powerful mega-church in south county and has connections with other powerful church leaders. Well that was then and this is now. Today Senator Muse will officially declare his campaign to unseat Ben Cardin in the Democratic Primary. Hours before that announcement Executive Baker announced his is backing Cardin in a Youtube video posted on the Maryland Democratic Party’s page.

The video, which is about 3 minutes long, has Baker touting Cardin coming to his office for a meeting on how he could be helpful to the county. After showing the video to a leading county official they had one thing to say, “what has done? Not a damn thing!”. The official went on to say “Ben wasn’t there in our battle with Montgomery County to move HHS to the county. He hasn’t helped Edwards in her push to get GAO to look at redlining issues impacting federal government leasing contracts, and to tout his help on health care is to spit in the face of voters who know he hasn’t done anything.”

Senator Muse will kick off his campaign tonight with a rally at Camelot in Prince George’s County.

Follow The Real Prince George’s on Facebook and Twitter. Also get the latest in your inbox by subscribing on the right side of the page.