FROM THE EDITOR: Sometimes the PGCPS PR Department doesn’t try to do their job

Earlier today subscribers to updates from the PGCPS Board of Education received the following email from Henry Armwood:

On Monday, August 20, we will kick off the 2012-13 school year. I am excited about what this year has in store for students and families.Our county schools are moving in the right direction, both inside and outside of the classroom.  Elementary and middle school performance on the Maryland School Assessment have greatly improved since 2008 in math and reading. Our Secondary School Reforminitiative will expand to more schools this year to fulfill our goal of preparing students for college and careers.

Enjoy these last few days of summer vacation. I hope to see you at the Back to School Fair on Saturday, August 18. If you have any questions, feel free to reach me at henry.armwood@pgcps.org.

Best,

Henry Armwood, Board Member, District 7

P.S. Be sure to take advantage of Maryland Tax Free Week, which starts this week.

Then we received the following email from Vice Chair Peggy Higgins:

On Monday, August 20, we will kick off the 2012-13 school year. I am excited about what this year has in store for students and families. Our county schools are moving in the right direction, both inside and outside of the classroom. Elementary and middle school performance on the Maryland School Assessment have greatly improved since 2008 in math and reading. Our Secondary School Reforminitiative will expand to more schools this year to fulfill our goal of preparing students for college and careers.

Enjoy these last few days of summer vacation. I hope to see you at the Back to School Fair on Saturday, August 18. If you have any questions, feel free to reach me at peggy.higgins@pgcps.org.

Best,

Peggy Higgins, LCSW-C, BOE Vice Chair, District 2

P.S. Be sure to take advantage of Maryland Tax Free Week, which starts this week.

Notice anything? Yep they are exactly the same!

Subscribers also received identical emails from Carolyn Boston, Amber Waller, and Rosalind Johnson.

Someone would have to explain to us how a 13 person department, four of whom directly are responsible for communications or outreach, couldn’t write specific updates for these board members tailored directly to the communities they represent. In fact maybe someone can inform us why the board members themselves, who should have insight about changes coming to schools in their area. Peggy Higgins for instance represents Greenbelt. Middle school students at Greenbelt Middle School are going into a new $32 million dollar building this fall. No mention of that in her letter. Rosalind Johnson is stepping down from the Board of Education in December. This fall will be the last school opening for her. No mention of that in her letter.

We know there are some who would say give the Board credit. Patricia Eubanks, Verjeana Jacobs, and Edward Burroughs didn’t even send welcome back letters. However this is not even trying.

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From the Editor-in-Chief: Peggy Higgins comes out against Burroughs, plays age card against Murray and Ahmed

They did it two years ago and with Ms. Higgins they are planning to do it again.

In today’s Gazette Peggy Higgins, who owes her Vice-Chairmanship to the vote of Edward Burroughs, today endorsed the anyone but Edward proposition. Why? Well it is not because he has not represented the voices of the 8th district well, it is not that he hasn’t been an advocate for teachers and students, it is also not that he has not been able to understand the information presented to the board, her sole reason for being against Board Member Burroughs is he is too young.

Remember when Steve Morris played this card in 2010 against Edward Burroughs? The voters in the 8th district showed their contempt for that type of dismissal of a young man who has been on the board twice as long as Higgins by electing him with over 58% of the vote or 3,710 votes more than the older, more mature, Morris. Actually if you look at the numbers the only candidates who won their seats with more votes were Higgins, Jacobs, Boston, and Beck. Burroughs did better than Johnson, Waller, Armwood, and Eubanks. We say this to say, the people in his district have examined his age and ruled it doesn’t matter. He has the experience and judgement they wanted.

The craziest thing the Vice-Chair says in this attack on Burroughs as well as candidates David Murray (District 1) and Ahmed (District 2) is that;

Board members who have not had self-supporting jobs and have not paid taxes and mortgages are not able to bring knowledgeable perspective when taking action on taxpayer dollars.

Want to know why this is crazy? The board has nine elected members, only three of them have jobs and only four own homes. Is she saying that the other members who are retired or on unemployment should be booted from the board? How about the one that rents a home or rents a trailer?

Last December when Ms. Higgins took her seat as Vice-Chair some in the county said for a community overwhelmingly black, it was wrong to have a white person in the vice-chair seat. When she was elected in 2010 some said in a deeply social conservative county like Prince George’s her being gay should deprive her the right to serve on the board. The people who said both of those things were wrong. Had they decided to vote against her because she would become a rubber stamp for the superintendent, they might have a point. Had they said she would lack the backbone to stand up for teachers and students who weren’t being served well in schools in her own district, that might be a valid point. Since they only opposed her election to these offices because of her race and sexual orientation they were wrong. She is wrong for opposing these fine upstanding citizens, not because of their positions on the issues, but solely on their age.

Peggy Higgins should be a more thoughtful leader for the county, that she is not makes one question her readiness to lead. You really have to question how she will be able to “form consensus” with Burroughs and Murray should they both be elected in November. God bless her should Ahmed be successful at knocking off Jacobs and joining them.

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GUEST OP-ED From Chesapeake Climate Action Network MD Field Director, Prince George’s Businesses Support Offshore Wind

The Maryland General Assembly is considering a bill that could increase taxpayers monthly electricity bills anywhere from $2.00 (as the governor says) to as high as $9.00 a month (critics say) in order to require power companies to rely more on wind power for their customers. Keith Harrington is the Field Director of the grassroots organization Chesapeake Climate Action Network is leading an organizing effort to build community support for the bill here in Prince George’s County. One of their key targets is State Senator C. Anthony Muse (D-26).

A similar bill proposed by the governor was killed last year in the legislative session.

Prince George’s Businesses Support Offshore Wind

In the debate whirling around Governor O’Malley’s offshore wind energy legislation, one of the top questions in the mix concerns whether the plan to build a 310 MW wind farm off Maryland’s coast would be good for the state’s small businesses. The good news is that several studies contend that the answer is “yes.” A report recently released by the Maryland Energy Administration found that the state could become a manufacturing hub for offshore wind development and the Department of Business and Economic Development has found that this one offshore wind project could bring over two billion dollars in net economic benefits to the state during construction.

Of course, it’s all well and good for the government to make projections. But what do the people on the ground, the small business owners who really know the pulse of the local economy think about offshore wind?

To get a good read on the situation, advocates for Marylanders for Offshore Wind have hit the streets to talk to small business owners and managers, and after a few weeks of door-to-door outreach the answer is in: small businesses from Seat Pleasant, to District Heights, to Fort Washington strongly support the wind initiative. Indeed, no less than 60 local small businesses have recently signed on to a letter endorsing offshore wind as a good investment for economic development, longer term energy-price stability, and healthier air, among other benefits. (Click here to read the letter and see a list of signatories)
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Among the signatories is Greg Hall owner of Go Enterprises in Seat Pleasant. Like the other signatories on the letter, Hall dismissed concerns that offshore wind power will result in a small bump in energy costs when the wind turbines come on line in 2017. “I think common sense just tells you that our energy prices are going to keep rising if we stay hooked on oil and gas and other fuels like that,” Hall said. “If we’re going to keep our bills down we’ve got to start investing in green energy like offshore wind. Clean energy is our future.”

Hall’s sentiment was echoed by Vicki Roy, manager of Top Line Pools in Fort Washington. “Anyone who works in small business can tell you that to keep your doors open you’ve got to make smart decisions that focus not just on the here and now but on the longer term. That’s why we support this wind energy bill, because it does that.”

Support isn’t limited to local businesses. Over 200 additional small businesses statewide have signed on to letters of support for offshore wind since 2011, and a recent hearing for the wind bill saw local chambers of commerce, business consortia, and entrepreneurs all testifying in favor of the bill.

The Prince George’s business community has voted yes for offshore wind. Now it’s time for our local lawmakers to do the same and pass the Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2012.

Keith Harrington is the Maryland Field Director for the the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and a regular contributor to the Huffington Post and other online publications.

Follow Keith Harrington on Twitter: @kharring
Follow Marylanders for Offshore Wind on Twitter: @MDoffshoreWind

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Our Endorsements

For the Prince George’s County Board of Education

District 1

David Murray is clearly the most experienced and connected candidate for the vacant seat being left by Rosalind Johnson. Two years ago Murray came close to defeating Johnson in her reelection bid and since that time has remained connected and in touch with the community he wants to represent. His drive and vision for a system that aggressively pursues innovation as a way to improve student achievement is what the Board of Education needs. Additionally he will join a board that has failed to hold senior administrators accountable and deliver on a real reform package everyone says they want. Prince George’s needs new energy as well as new ideas and David Murray is the best chance we have to do that in the 1^st District.

District 4

None of the candidates in the race for this seat currently held by Patricia Eubanks brings the experience or vision we believe is necessary to improve Prince George’s County Public Schools. However, one of them is at least more prepared than the others, Micah Watson. As the former Vice Mayor of Cheverly and member of the Democratic Central Committee, Watson does come with a wealth of budget experience unmatched by the other contenders. While Dennis Smith also served as a member of the Glenarden City Council in the past, during his time as a leader in the city he never distinguished himself in fiscal or program matters. Watson played instrumental roles in developing and passing the Cheverly budget as Vice Mayor and a councilman. What concerns us is a disturbingly detached community outreach strategy and real educational experience.

District 5

For the last five years Verjeana Jacobs has been the chair of the Board of Education and should be reelected. None of the candidates running against her have been able to layout a clear vision of why she should be replaced or what they would do better. Jacobs has made a lot of mistakes in her two terms on the school board, but as chair she has been able to bring a diverse group of people together that has done a lot of good. Jacobs has not been as tough on Dr. Hite as she could have been but she has been effective.

District 7

No Endorsement

District 8

Edward Burroughs has been the most outspoken and passionate member of the school board on issues of community involvement, transparency, and most importantly accountability. He has been criticized for not voting the party line and often being the lone voice of dissent but we recommend is reelection. The problem has not been that Burroughs votes no on things like changes to the popular Reading Recovery Program, a budget that grows class sizes, or retaining a lawyer making millions of dollars who donated to the reelection of another board member, the problem is that not enough of his colleagues are joining him. That will change when he is joined by people like his best friend David Murray.

United States House of Representatives

District 4

We support Rep. Donna Edwards for re-nomination to the United States Congress as a Democrat.

No Endorsement in the Republican nomination race.

District 5

We support Rep. Steny Hoyer for re-nomination to the United States Congress as a Democrat.

We believe Delegate Tony O’Donnell has the best chance to give Rep. Hoyer a run for his money. We therefore support his nomination in the Republican Primary.

United States Senate

State Senator C. Anthony Muse (Democrat)

Ben Cardin has been in Washington for over two decades. In that time the support this county has received from the federal government, including the six years he’s been in the Senate has been poor. His casework for the county has been almost as equal to his presence in the county, non-existent. About six years ago Cardin was handed his hat by fmr. Representative Kwesi Mfume by voters in Prince George’s County, but after beating Mfume statewide the best any county resident has seen of their junior senator was likely in their church this year now that he is up for reelection. Senator Muse is not an excellent candidate but he is a better candidate more in touch with the needs of county residents. A strong vote for Muse, even if he does lose to Cardin, will send the message that we as a county are dissatisfied with our representation and we demand more.

Republican Primary (No Endorsement)

For President of the United States of America

Democratic Primary

We support the re-nomination of President Barack Obama

Republican Primary

We support fmr. Governor Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination

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Online petition launched against PGCPS suppression, nationwide web fallout

Remember earlier when we blogged about a recent student planned uprising that was crushed by Dr. Hite and other Prince George’s County Public School Officials? Well that suppression has been making a lot of headlines lately all across the country.

After it was first featured on The Black Star Project and then here on our blog, the news just took off. Today the AFL-CIO Metro DC Council featured the story to their email list of thousands of union members and supporters. They also featured it on their website. The Midwest Peace and Justice Caucus of the National Education Association (America’s largest teacher’s union) also featured the story on their blog. Here in Maryland, the progressive blog Maryland Juice (arguably one of the states most popular progressive blogs) also ran the story.

Now student leaders are turning up the pressure with a newly launched Change.org petition (sign it today at http://tinyurl.com/pgcpsstudents) demanding the suspensions of their leaders be lifted and wiped from their records.

Fighting for your rights is a key American principal. The right to petition your government through peaceful assembly is a value that this nation was founded on. So we plan to ask, how do the candidates running for the Board of Education feel about this issue? Do they think students should be given the right to petition their government, the Board of Education and school officials, or should they just shut up and learn about the rights nobody expects them to exercise? We’re sending an email to them all and will let you know what we hear back.

By the way where are the Prince George’s County Young Democrats? The Student Board Member what does she think? We will be asking them too.

What do you think? Tell us your opinion and if you support the students go to http://tinyurl.com/pgcpsstudents and add your voice to their voice.

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Power Player: Andrea Harrison – The difference a chair makes

County Council Chairwoman Andrea Harrison (D-Springdale)

In 2010 right after news broke that Jake and Leslie Johnson had been arrested and charged with corruption, attention turned to who would lead the Prince George’s Council. With Leslie Johnson refusing to step down, everyone knew the body would spend the year public eye. The battle was between the incumbent Vice-Chair Andrea Harrison, who had called for Leslie Johnson to step aside and not be sworn-in, and Ingrid Turner, who is a member of the same sorority as Johnson, and needed her vote to topple Harrison. In fact Turner, according to Jack Johnson, had promised to name Leslie Johnson to the powerful Economic Development Committee, a post she would be able to use supporting her husband’s corrupt deals. In the end Turner refused to comment on the Johnson situation and won enough votes to take the gavel from Harrison. It wasn’t until after the public pressure became too much that she supported efforts to strip Johnson of any committee assignments.

Fast forward to this year and we see a whole different picture. In 2010 the AKA sorority had to be proud of the three of their members who had been elected to serve on the council. Now Johnson is gone and another one, Karen Toles, is under investigation. Toles if you remember was stopped earlier this week for going over 100mph on a county highway and refusing to stop. After being stopped, police report she identified herself as councilwoman and in the end was given a warning. The traffic incident created a firestorm which led to news that this was not the first time the councilwoman had been in trouble. The difference this time is who is running the council.

Yesterday Councilwoman Toles announced she would voluntarily give up her county issued car until she completed a police course on safe driving. Today Andrea Harrison, who has since been elected chairwoman, announced the council would strip the councilwoman of her car until the investigation into the matter was resolved, not just the safety course Toles promised to take. Her quick leadership compared with Ingrid Turner who proceeded her marked a change in style. It isn’t the first act of bold resolve.

Harrison recently balked at a proposal by County Executive Rushern Baker to build a casino at National Harbor or bring gambling into the county. In November, one month before Harrison took over from Turner, the council voted 5-4 against a resolution to ban slots in the county. Harrison voted in the minority. Compare that to the recent 9-0 vote the council took in February to oppose a bill backed by Rushern Baker to build a casino at National Harbor. Harrison also led the council in amending a state bill that just passed this week by the Prince George’s County Delegation that provides tax breaks to companies who develop in the county. Harrison wanted to ensure none of the breaks went to any potential gambling companies. In the coming year her role in government will only grow. She will also play a key role in deciding if the Executive will get his choice for County Counsel, the county’s attorney, whose nomination he withdrew and resubmitted after some council members said she lacked the independence they desired. She will also wield a lot of influence in the final budget the council approves.

Harrison was elected to the Prince George’s County Council in 2008 during the special election to replace David Harrington who resigned when he was appointed to the Maryland Senate. She was reelected in 2010. Before being elected to chair the council, Harrison served as Vice-Chair and Chair of the Council of Governments (COG).

—FULL STATEMENT FROM THE COUNCIL CHAIR

The Prince George’s County Council is committed to public safety.  On February 22, 2012, Council Member Toles received a citation for an unsafe lane change and a warning for speeding.    Council Member Toles has stated that she will voluntarily enroll in a driver improvement class and discontinue use of her County assigned vehicle during that time.  The County Council supports her decision, however, until this matter is resolved, we have agreed that Council Member Toles will have no use of or access to a County assigned vehicle for her safety and the safety of others. 

Power Player- Power Player is a new feature for our blog that will highlight individuals whose influence has the potential to make changes in the operation of the Prince George’s County community.

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GUEST OP-ED From Rev. Joseph Kitchen, Advancing marriage equality in Maryland will take lots of personal evolution

Last week the Maryland House of Delegates voted to approve a same-sex marriage bill and sent it to the State Senate for final passage. On Sunday we wrote an editorial calling for the legislature to move quickly to send the measure to voters this November and bypass the requirement for petitioners to force it on the ballot. After his appearance on WBAL to discuss the legislation, we invited Rev. Joseph Lynn Kitchen Jr., Executive Vice-President of the Young Democrats of Maryland, to submit a guest Op-ed.

Advancing marriage equality in Maryland will take lots of personal evolution

By: Rev. Joseph Lynn Kitchen Jr. – Executive Vice President, Young Democrats of Maryland (Twitter:@josephlkitchen)

Rev. Joseph Lynn Kitchen, Executive Vice - President of the Young Democrats of Maryland

I know I am dealing in dangerous space by accepting the offer to write a guest op-ed here on this blog. For months now many people have accused me of being the author and publisher of this site, but on this issue I am honored to accept the invite.

In 2008 I voted for Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment that banned same-sex marriage in my native state of California. In 2012, should it come before voters, I will vote against repealing the marriage equality legislation that just passed the House of Delegates. What led to my evolution on this issue? My own personal experience with my family.

As a kid my brother who is just eleven months younger than I am became suicidal. For months he would go through long bouts of depression that resulted in attempts on his life with cutting and one night trying to hang himself in a closet. My family believed it was a phase he was going through and something to be kept internal, on the inside…family business. We were wrong. He was gay and the traditions of shame and dishonor had taken their toll on him. It wasn’t until we realized that he was a member of our family and we loved him unconditionally that he got better and the strength of our family improved.

In 2008 I forgot that experience. I became distracted by the disagreements I had with the marriage equality advocates to overshadow my better judgment. As a voter I resented their failure to engage me on the issue. As an African-American I rejected their charges of bigotry. As a Christian I refused to accept their characterizing of my faith as hate. Once we get beyond all those names and look at this issue for what it is, love and strong relationships, everything else just seems so small.

Last week in Maryland marriage equality advocates made that argument in Annapolis and they won. Gay marriage is not about an attack on religion or even our personal religion; it is about love, strong families and strong communities. When advocates make that argument they win every time.

As a young man who grew up in a very conservative, black, Baptist church, my personal feeling on the issue has not changed. My faith teaches that homosexuality is a sin. That is why I support this legislation and the built in religious protections it provides for churches like mine. To that end my faith is my personal walk with God not my right to by force put on the people of the Maryland. Over the next few months, should this issue make it to the ballot, it will be conversations like this, in communities like mine in Prince George’s County that must happen if we truly want to move our people forward.

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GUEST OP-ED From Fmr. Delegate Gerron Levi: Addictive Entertainment…Mother, Father & The Child

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Former Prince George’s County Delegate Gerron Levi (D-23A) has taken it upon herself to lead the charge against a proposal to bring slots to the county. Delegate Levi and other community leaders hope to defeat the proposal in the General Assembly before it is passed and sent to a statewide ballot, or if it does defeat it in Prince George’s County at the polls. Levi and other organizers have been promoting a petition, asking residents to let their legislators know they oppose the bill at www.change.org/petitions/stop-slots-prince-georges.

Below is a guest op-ed we invited Delegate Levi to submit in preparation for a hearing on the bill before the Senate Budget & Taxation Committee tomorrow.

Addictive Entertainment…Mother, Father & The Child

By: Former Delegate Gerron Levi, D-23A (Twitter: @GerronLevi)

Fmr. Delegate Gerron Levi

We hear often that the county’s school system suffers because of a lack of  “parental involvement”. Young men in the county under perform academically, and are too often suspended or truant.  But, we fail to make the connection between these type of outcomes and bad laws and public policy that exacerbate the problem, not lessen it — policies that weaken families and not strengthens them. 

It is no accident that Temple Hills and Capitol Heights lead most negative statistic in the county (e.g. crime and foreclosures), and also spend more millions of household disposable income on lottery tickets than almost anywhere else in Maryland.  That is an investment that yields virtually no gain for the family or the community at-large.

Yes, these are all personal choices, but I simply disagree that it is the role of our policymakers to reinforce bad personal choices, to the detriment of the common good.

Gerron Levi is a former Prince George’s County Delegate who represented district 23A. Levi vacated her seat in 2010 after she decided to forgo reelection and run for County Executive against Rushern Baker.

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FROM THE EDITORIAL BOARD–Gay Marriage, a matter to be settled at the ballot box

When the gays attack, it might just be over for you in Democratic politics, or maybe not. It might be worth noticing that the platform of the Democratic National Convention does not call for gay marriage. In fact the 2008 platform doesn’t mention gay or lesbian couples at all. That might be in stark contrast to some liberals who profess that gay marriage is a key party principal.

This week the Maryland House of Delegates voted to advance gay marriage in a bill that after a brief stop in the Senate, and on the Governor’s desk, is destined for a public vote, possibly as soon as this November. With knowledge of these facts a few delegates, Aisha Braveboy and Tiffany Alston of Prince George’s, Sam Arora of Montgomery County and others, pushed to end the debate, pass the bill, but send it directly to a public ballot. NO, was the answer they got from the uncompromising liberal wing of the party that on far too much legislation, dominates Annapolis. That maybe the mistake they can’t overcome in just a few weeks.

“I just cannot understand why, if you know a matter is going to the ballot, we don’t just send it ourselves,” said a senior Democrat in the House of Delegates who voted no on final passage. “We knew that if we passed a slots package, it would likely go to the ballot, but we know that this bill will be sent to the voters and what we could do is stop the guessing game and do it ourselves.” That idea was outright rejected by house leaders and gay marriage supporters saying that just like civil rights of blacks, these rights should not be put up for a public vote. Problem is they will, we know they will, and adding that amendment to this bill would have likely boosted the number of Yea votes among representatives from the communities that will determine if the historic legislation stands the test of time, or is just a temporary celebration doomed for defeat.

Gay Marriage advocates play dangerous game of blacklisting

Delegate Sam Arora

Last year after the gay marriage legislation unsuspectingly went down on the floor of the House of Delegates, leaders in the movement reacted in the way that everyone expected. Equality Maryland, the leading gay rights group in the state at the time, was overruled on strategy by the national outside group the Human Rights Campaign. The decision to pull the bill from the floor before it went down in defeat caused so much drama at Equality Maryland that half of the Board of Directors resigned, the Executive Director was fired, and before the end of the year the entire organization was being reorganized. Leaders of the movement in the house such as Delegate Heather Mizeur and First Lady Katie O’Malley lashed out at black church leaders and delegates from Prince George’s County, and this year has been no different.

Once the vote count was clear supporters of gay marriage didn’t turn their attention to how they would defend the legislation from a public that appears split on the issue, they instead focused like a laser on defeating Delegate Sam Arora of Montgomery County as punishment for his nay vote. Arora, who is not up for reelection until 2014, two full years after the measure might meet defeat this November, is the only delegate from the county to vote against gay marriage. Arora’s sudden opposition to gay marriage does have to come as a shock to the more liberal (not necessarily progressive) Montgomery County but the backlash has many throughout the state thinking it only plays into the storyline about the out-of-control liberals who are much less interested in building consensus around social change than they are at forcing it on a population not ready or willing to accept it.

Clearly gay marriage is coming to America, the timing on when it and how it comes is the debate the people are having today. This generation, much unlike the generation of the civil rights movement, has many very democratic tools to stall this social change and like it or not, government officials should stop trying to prevent the usage of those tools. This sense of direct democracy is promoted by the Democratic Party on when they desire, like the recall of GOP governor Scott Walker in Wisconsin, but rejected on issues they hold close. It is time we all stop trying to have our cake and eat it too. This is a time for advocates on both sides, for gay marriage and against it, to reach out to voters throughout Maryland and make their case. Legislators cannot continue to ask for public input and involvement but reject it on the issues where the public might disagree with them. This is a matter for the ballot box.

That is our opinion, let us know what you think! Take our poll, add your comment below, facebook or tweet us.

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We’re expanding, Join our team

Over the last few years this site has worked hard to bring you news about Prince George’s County, from residents of Prince George’s County, and now we are expanding.

We want to make sure that we are covering as much of what is going on in our county as possible. If you have an interest in all things Prince George’s and want to bring your perspective to our blog, apply to be one of our contributors today!

Contributors

Must be a resident of Prince George’s County

Should have past writing/blogging experience (encouraged but not required)

Should be able to commit to writing at least one blog post a month

If you’re interested apply today here.

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