City Council Talks Policy at Spring Mingle

Members of the Hyattsville City Council gathered Sunday in Hyatt Park on Hamilton Street to hear the concerns of their constituents and to outline their policy goals as the new city council begins its second month in power. 

The crowd was small–elected officials aside, perhaps a dozen showed up–but over soda and juice boxes, the  city council members talked budgets, crime, and development, among other topics. The entire city council, save for Mayor Marc Tartaro, was present at the gathering, dubbed the Spring Mingle.

Repeating a refrain mentioned by many of the city council members during their introductory remarks, Council Member Shani Warner (Ward 2) said that the newly seated council, with six new members, already works "much better" together. 

"We have a much for functional council now," said Warner. 

Council Member Patrick Paschall (Ward 3) cautioned that this newfound harmony was likely not to be everlasting, but he held out hope that civility would rule if the event of disagreement.

"We're not going to agree on everything," said Paschall. "We're going to have substantive policy discussions, and we're going to occasionally disagree."

The budget was also a topic of discussion, with many council members lamenting the financial pressures which the city is under. 

According to Warner, budget shortfalls likely mean that there won't be progress this year on the redevelopment of the city-owned Arcade Building on Gallatin Steet. 

"The Arcade Building is a dream deferred at this point," said Warner. 

Council Member Clayton Williams (Ward 5) said he wanted to get his constituents more connected with the city government. 

"In Ward 5, it's not going to be a quick and easy fix," said Williams. "It's going to take a lot of time and a lot of shoe leather."

Council Member Joseph Solomon (Ward 5) told the crowd that his top issue remains public safety, and said he would work to add streetlights to areas of West Hyattsville where residents have complained of too-shady nighttime sidewalks in many areas. 

Council Member Edouard Haba (Ward 4), standing only a few yards from the Hyattsville Community Garden in Hyatt Park, said he wanted to see a community garden in Heurich Park in West Hyattsville.

Reacting to proposed budget cuts which would axe the Handmade on Hamilton  festival, Haba also said he wanted to see an international festival on Hamilton Street, so long as it is held in the warmer months of the year. 

"The festival needs to continue," said Haba.