The Pri nce Ge orge’s Pos t A C OMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FOR PRINCE GEORGE ’S COUNTY Since 1932 Vol. 84, No. 50 December 15 — December 21, 2016 Prince George’s County, Maryland Newspaper of Record Phone: 301-627-0900 25 cents Council Approves Legislation Addressing Public Safety, Economic Development and Minimum Wage By PRESS OFFICER A trio of bills were passed PG County Council as a part of Council Member Deni Taveras’ Quality of Life UPPER MARLBORO , Legislative Package. Council MD—The Prince George’s Bill 59-2016 expands and clar - County Council, during the fi - ifies laws governing the use of nal session for Legislative Year an apartment for drug activity 2016 on Tuesday, November or prostitution. Under the leg - 15, held 31 public hearings, islation, landlords, owners, and enacted several zoning management staff, or tenants bills and legislation addressing could be held liable if their a wide range of issues includ - property is used for drug ac - ing, but not limited to, public tivity or prostitution, including safety and health; economic de - velopment and opportunity; and minimum wage. See FINAL SESSION Page A 3 PHOTO COURTESY R. JOSHUA REYNOLDS Circulator Bus Program Pete Goodson (far left) and Skylar Wyche (center) facilitate discussion about re-entry assistance. Launches at National Harbor Shuttle Buses Circulate Between National Harbor, Gaylord National, Tanger Outlets and MGM Economic Development Corporation’s By PRESS OFFICER available online or from the Bendure Communications, Inc. Mariner Garage Circulator Shut - tle Management Office or at ap - ‘Angels’ Change Lives for Returning Citizens NATIONAL HARBOR, proved National Harbor retailers One-Stop Career Center Agents of Hope Provide Resources to Help Residents Remove Obstacles in Their Lives MD—Dec. 6, 2016, An internal (visit www.NationalHarbor.com circulator bus program at Na - to find retailers.) By R. JOSHUA REYNOLDS help that are available for re - “The re-entry program has home who need help and we tional Harbor has launched and The circulator is operated by PGCEDC turning citizens. The workshop impacted a lot of individuals are agents of hope. I have the is available for use by the public. Reston Limousine at a cost of facilitated by Development Co - and families,” said Goodson. opportunity to sit down with Three shuttles will run on a cir - $1 million annually. In addition BLADENSBURG , MD— ordinator Pete Goodson and “A lot of people come to the someone and provide some cuit between National Harbor, to the cost of the circulator, Na - On December 2, Prince Career Consultant Skylar program with a desire to hope along with great re - Gaylord National, Tanger Out - tional Harbor and its partners George’s County Economic Wyche took place at the change and have the right at - sources. This work is more lets and MGM with service have invested more than $10 Development Corporation Bladensburg Town Hall and in - titude and want a better life. than just a job. It’s a calling seven days a week, 365 days a million in road improvements to (EDC) Workforce Services Di - troduced County residents who I have been able to be an in - and I’m grateful that I am year. Hours of operation are 11 improve traffic flow in advance vision team kicked off their have served their time and are strument, along with other able to help men and women a.m. to 4 a.m. and the cost is $5 of the MGM National Harbor workshop tour of Prince ready to move on to tools that folks at the One-Stop, to help for an all-day pass. Passes may George’s County spreading the help them embark on a success - facilitate that process. There be purchased via cash, credit news about the resources and ful job search. are so many people returning See WORKSHOP Page A 5 card or pre-purchased vouchers See SHUTTLE BUS Page A 3 Free Holiday Cab Rides PG County Building Dynasty With China Offered Throughout “We’re Serious About Doing Business,” Says Coleman By LORI C. VALENTINE PGCEDC PG County to Prevent WASHINGTON , D.C.—On November 22nd, EDC Presi - dent and CEO Jim Coleman Drunk Drivinuargy 1st, Washington-metropol - gave the keynote address to By PRESS OFFICER itan area residents celebrating WRAP more than 30 high level Chi - with alcohol may call the toll- ® nese business leaders during a UPPER MARLBORO , free SoberRide phone number seminar hosted by the Greater MD—Combating that holiday 1–800–200–TAXI and be af - Washington China Investment period which the National High - forded a no-cost (up to $ 30 Center in Washington, D.C. way Traffic Safety Administra - fare), safe way home. (AT&T This invitation only event, re - tion says is a “dangerous time wireless users can dial #WRAP quested by the China General to be on the road due to a high for the same service.) Chamber of Commerce in con - number of drunk drivers behind “Last December, nearly junction with the U.S. China the wheel,” a local nonprofit or - 1,500 (1,456) Greater Washing - Joint Commission on Com - ganization announced today that ton residents did the right thing merce and Trade, centered on free cab rides will be offered to and availed themselves of this the risks and opportunities of would-be drunk drivers lifesaving service rather than investing in the United States. PHOTO COURTESY LORI C. VALENTINE throughout Prince George’s possibly driving home im - As Prince George’s County is County, Maryland. paired,” said Kurt Gregory Er - EDC President and CEO Jim Coleman (center) with members Greater Washington China known throughout the Wash - Offered by the nonprofit ickson, WRAP’s President. Investment Center and visiting Chinese Delegation. ington Metropolitan Area for Washington Regional Alcohol “For SoberRide’s hours of op - its booming investment cli - Program (WRAP), the annual eration during just last New ecutive, Rushern L. Baker, III, help transform investment and geted countries through mutual ® mate, Mr. Coleman high - Holiday SoberRide program Year’s Eve, alone, such rider - is completely committed to trade in Prince George’s briefings with foreign em - lighted the plethora of devel - will operate between 10:00 pm ship (580) translated into the building strong relationships County; making it the true Gate - bassies. Coleman also an - opment projects that are and 6:00 am each evening be - removal of a would-be drunk with China as well as several way to the U.S. Market.” nounced that County Executive sprouting up all over the tween Friday, December 16, driver from our shared road - other targeted, high growth Mr. Coleman shared County Baker will be leading a business County and how each member 2016 and Sunday, January 1, ways every 49-seconds.” countries. With our rapidly Executive Baker’s International mission to Korea and China in ® of the delegation can become 2017 as a way to keep local SoberRide is offered in the: growing economy and more Business plan, which the EDC April 2017. Several of the del - a part of this exciting time in roads safe from impaired drivers District of Columbia; through - than $10 billion in the pipeline is executing through targeted egation members expressed in - Maryland’s history. during this traditionally high- out the Maryland counties of for new construction over the business mission trips, adver - terest in meeting with the mis - risk, holiday period. “Prince George’s County is next 18 months, it is important tising its County-wide foreign During the evening hours, be - serious about doing business,” for us to build bridges with our trade zone designation, and cul - said Coleman. “Our County Ex - tween December 16th and Jan - See FREE CAB Page A 5 international neighbors that can tivating relationships with tar - See CHINA Page A 5 INSIDE Maryland DHCD Celebrates Stay Strong: Fight Back USDA Grants $20.2 Million for Movie Review: Hacksaw Ridge Earth Talk Designation of Over 100 The last few weeks have been a Food and Forestry Research and Hacksaw Ridge is the extraordinary Dear EarthTalk: very difficult time for so many of us true story of Desmond Doss who, in Sustainable Communities Development Projects Driving around and around city As part of the program, local offi - and we may want to give up the strug - Since 2009, USDA has invested Okinawa during the bloodiest battle blocks looking for parking seems like cials evaluate their own community’s gle to ensure every child an equal $19 billion in research and devel - of WWII, saved 75 men without firing a colossal waste of fuel (and time). Is strengths and weaknesses, identify chance to live and learn and grow up opment touching the lives of all or carrying a gun. He was the only anyone working on ways to reduce this implementation partners, and strive safely in our boastfully rich and mil - Americans from farms to the American soldier in WWII to fight on extra traffic and emissions burden? for tangible goals for the long-term itarily powerful but spiritually anemic kitchen table and from the air we the front lines without a weapon, as vitality of the places many Marylan - nation that lets children be our poorest breathe to the energy that powers he believed that while the war was jus - — Bernice Mickelson, ders live and work. group of Americans. our country. tified, killing was nevertheless wrong. New York, NY Community , Page A3 Commentary , Page A4 Business , Page A5 Out on the Town , Page A6 Features , Page A7 A2 — December 15 — December 21, 2016 — The Prince George’s Post Towns and N EIGHBORS In and Around Morningside-Skyline by Mary McHale 301 735 3451 Neighborhoods Darnall’s Chance invites The Washington Monument raised their family in Vancouver you to a Hansel & Gretel is closed again and will probably where he worked with the Insur - ESFCU Awards $500 to its “Tips and Tools” Grand Tea Party remain so for the next 2 1/2 ance Corporation of BC.