Candidate Question One: Issue That You Would Lead

Greenbelt Patch posed five questions to the . We will publish their answers in separate posts. Candidates were asked to answer in 200 words or less.

Candidates are welcome to elaborate in the comments — or to ask other candidates questions regarding their answers.

Question 1: If you were to pick one issue to lead the charge on, what would it be and why?

It would be seeing that the city has the use of the historic parts of Greenbelt Middle School after it is renovated by the school system. It was the Greenbelt High School and an integral part of our city and its history.  With the construction of a new Greenbelt Middle School, the city may have the opportunity to use the historic facility to provide needed services. We also have the responsibility to see that our legacy, particularly evident with the upcoming 75th anniversary, is protected.  This includes advocating for the appropriate use and preservation of the historic high school building with the owners, the Prince George’s County Public Schools.

The Greenbelt Middle School Task Force has identified many uses to meet community needs.  Our present community and recreational facilities are bursting at the seams with programs, and organizations are asking for more space.  We could use the gymnasium, one of the best in the city, to provide more locations for formal or informal sports.  The kitchens that were once used to teach home economics could be used to offer intergenerational programming and socializing.  Such creative programs would draw people from all areas of the city, meeting needs and forging community.

Over many years on the council, I have led more on police and public safety issues than on any other area of concern, and citizens have come to associate me with that. I was the most outspoken advocate over the years for increasing the size of the police department, initiated several traffic safety improvements, and proposed the stronger Public Safety Committee that we have today.

Recent developments have validated much of my effort. Greenbelt’s crime rate is down in all parts of the city, by 24 percent in Franklin Park, 17 percent in the Center, and 41 percent in Greenbelt East, based on recent statistics. Our police department is now nationally accredited and continues to have a reputation for excellence. We should not be too self-satisfied, however, as any crime is one too many, especially if it happens in your family or neighborhood.

I would choose sustainability, as it encompasses more than environmental stewardship. It includes efficiency, productivity and foresight in all areas of our government services in order to ensure there is a Greenbelt in years to come that lives up to its name, as well as the hopes and dreams of its residents.

Our valuable infrastructure and facilities must be maintained with a regular schedule for inspection, repair and replacement. Social, cultural and recreational programs need to be continually reviewed to meet current and future needs of our diverse citizenry in all our neighborhoods. A community that socializes together and understands Greenbelt’s vision and philosophy will unite to ensure the viability of our city. Additional quality, well-designed, mixed-income housing that our workforce and retirees can afford is key to invigorating our local economy. Economic development must be nurtured; Greenbelt’s assets must be promoted. An organizational study of all our departments will determine where redundancies exist and allow the city to work smarter with less. Our parks, forests, lake and streams must be protected and revitalized. Alternative forms of energy need to be explored.

All of this, and much more, define sustainability. Greenbelt is Great—and must remain so for future generations. 

Economic Development.  We don't have a strategy to collaborate with the business community, so current businesses will want to stay and new businesses will want to operate here.

Our office vacancy rate is nearly 25 percent, the old post office space remains vacant after five years.  This translates to lost revenue. We owe it to our tax paying residents to broaden our tax base, so we can maintain and enhance our services without constantly having to increase our citizens’ personal property tax.  We are the only major city in our county that does not have an economic development strategy, essential if we truly desire to maintain the high level of recreational and cultural offerings, revitalize the Roosevelt Center and address the high office vacancy rate.

In short, in tandem with securing smarter transportation services and infrastructure needs, we can build a sustainable community which can be honored at our 100th anniversary.

I would like to see the issue of the Greenbelt Middle School go to a referendum. The citizens of Greenbelt should have the opportunity to have their say on this important issue. I have concerns about the city taking on a large capital expenditure when we already have a long list of unfunded projects, such as expansion of the Springhill Lake Recreation Center and the renovation of the Greenbelt Theatre. We still have nearly  $1 million in debt as a result of the Public Works expansion. Citizens should be able to decide if they want their tax dollars used to fund such a large project as the proposed community center at the Greenbelt Middle School.

Public safety and quality of life issues always have been and always will be my special interest.  Safety and quality of life issues affect everyone, in all parts of our community.  These issues do not include only crime related problems; they encompass many other concerns, such as speed calming devices, emergency call boxes, window guards for children, pedestrian safety, and bicycle safety.  I want to be a part of making the life for our citizens here in Greenbelt as safe and comfortable as possible. I want to see families with children coming into our community and making us their choice for their home. So, in short, if I were to pick one issue, to lead the charge on, it would be improving public safety and quality of life issues. 

During my first term on council, I have often I have emphasized the importance of community development, transportation, and long- term planning.

Long-term planning must become an ongoing process that moves towards implementation of the best ideas.  The visioning efforts that took place four years ago (through the city’s visioning sessions, the Greener Greenbelt Initiative, and with the property owners in Greenbelt West around the Metro station) were important and productive.  Many good ideas came out of these sessions.

On all sides of Greenbelt, our neighbors are finding ways of moving ahead with their long-range plans. Riverdale, New Carrollton and College Park will likely be transformed by the residential, commercial and transit-oriented decisions that have been made in the past five years and are being implemented. On the eve of our 75th anniversary, as we look backwards, we must make the decision to look forward and imagine the best possibilities for what our future holds.

I am interested in working for a stronger Greenbelt — one where we can retain and attract desirable business activities that will support the amenities that we want to keep — one where the stewardship of our natural resources and open space is a priority.

(Answered question one and question two together)

Greenbelters, politically engaged over a broad range of issues, as we believe ourselves to be, nonetheless seem unwilling to use our local council to advance these issues. We the residents of Greenbelt should own our council, not just those who sit on it at any given time (currently, in the case of three of them, a collective 60 years). The only thing that should distinguish council from the rest of us is the fact that they have a vote to represent the city’s perspective beyond its corporate city limits as well as to decide exclusively city issues.

Too often, at least since ’04, when I began closely observing council, petitions or requests to council (or even reports to council from statutory committees) which challenge the status quo are defused or mollified or simply shelved by a council too self important, too thoroughly part of the establishment, too much a body of supplicants to higher authorities to adequately represent the Greenbelters engaged as some of us are.

Public policy is too important to be left just to those elected.  If we exercised our ownership of council, time wasted now on self-promotion could be used for discussion of issues relevant to residents… (To be continued when question 2 is posted.)