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The Pri nce Ge orge’s Pos t A C OMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FOR PRINCE GEORGE ’S COUNTY Since 1932 Vol. 83, No. 26 June 25 — July 1, 2015 Prince George’s County, Maryland Newspaper of Record Phone: 301-627-0900 25 cents Rushern L. Baker, III Vetoes PG County Council’s Approval of a Property Tax Increase By Press Officer Text of Veto Letter Sent to PG County Government Prince George’s Council Upper Marlboro, MD – To - Chaie Mel Franklin day, Prince George’s County Ex - June 8, 2015 ecutive Rushern L. Baker, III The Honorable Mel R. Franklin conducted a press conference at Chairman the Maryland-National Capital Prince George’s County Council Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) Southern Regional County Administration Building Technology and Recreation Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 Complex in Fort Washington, MD to announce his vetoed CB- Dear Chairman Franklin: 31-2015 - the Prince George’s Pursuant to Section 18-107 County Council’s recent ap - of the Land Use Article, Anno - proval and passage of a 1.5 cents tated Code of Maryland, as increase on the property tax for amended (“Land Use Article”), parks, recreation and planning I am exercising my authority as part of their FY 2016 Budget. to veto certain items in CB-31- “I just don’t believe that we 2015, a bill approved on May need to invest our tax dollars 28, 2015, by the Prince where we won’t get the greatest George’s County Council that, return. It is not fiscally prudent. among other things, approved CAPITAL NEWS SERVICE PHOTO BY JAMES LEVIN It is not necessary. It is not a tax rate increase for Fiscal Ruppersberger Ponders Senate Race, Stresses Bipartisan Approach practical, strategic or vision - Year 2016 for the Prince ary,” stated County Executive George’s County portion of the Baker. “So today, I am vetoing The Maryland-National Capital this tax increase of 1.5 cents to - Park and Planning Commis - wards the Maryland-National sion, (“M-NCPPC”) pursuant Ruppersberger Ponders Senate Race, Capital Park and Planning to the provisions of Section 18- Commission tax because if we 106 of the Land Use Article. are going to increase taxes, we For reasons discussed in more Stresses Bipartisan Approach should increase them to invest detail below, I am vetoing cer - By ANIKA REED from the Senate when her term more area–Ruppersberger, Eli - a decision by the summer. His in education. I am vetoing this tain items in CB-31-2015 and Capital News Service ends in 2017, sending shock jah Cummings and John Sar - House seat is considered rela - tax increase because it was returning it with the attached waves through the political arena. banes–mulling their prospects tively secure. never discussed as an option for Executive Order because: 1) it WASHINGTON–There may Two of Ruppersberger’s col - in the race. Ruppersberger discussed a the taxpayers to scrutinize. This is my firm belief that given be a U.S. Senate campaign in leagues in the Maryland House “My popular polling is very possible Senate campaign plus is an important time for this scarce County resources, it Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger’s fu - delegation, Reps. Chris Van high in the Baltimore area,” said a wide range of issues–including County and I am still reviewing would be inappropriate for the ture. Then again, there may not. Hollen, D-Kensington, and Ruppersberger, characterizing cybersecurity threats, the death the rest of the budget. I want governing body of the County “Too soon,” the Cockeysville Donna Edwards, D-Fort Wash - himself as a moderate Democ - of Freddie Gray and infrastruc - the citizens of Prince George’s to approve a tax increase for Democrat told Capital News ington, quickly jumped into the rat. “If I’m the only one from ture investments–in an exclusive County to know that whatever the nationally-recognized Com - Service. “We’re all surprised Democratic primary field. Both Baltimore, I’ll consider it.” interview with Capital News I decide, the people of this great mission at a time when the un - with [Sen. Barbara] Mikulski. are from the Washington suburbs. “I’m not afraid to take a Service late last month. County and their welfare today, We didn’t know it was coming.” Their candidacies have left risk, believe me,” added the and into the future will drive Mikulski, D-Md., announced the three Democratic congress - seven-term congressman, 69, men from the vote-rich Balti - who said he is likely to make my decision.” See BAKER Page A 5 in March that she would retire See SENATE RACE Page A 3 WSSC Strikes Gold in California County Council Overrides Executive Veto Production Team Takes Home Top Prize in National Competition of County Portion of M-NCPPC Budget By PRESS OFFICER Override Avoids Higher Taxes for Residents in Fiscal Year 2017 WSSC By Press Officer is facing a structural deficit of businesses just starting to get PG County Council recreation and planning ex - their footing in the new eco - Laurel – Eight impressive penses exceeding revenues on nomic opportunities beginning regional wins, but never a na - The nine-member Prince an annual basis. to emerge in our County. In - tional title, until NOW! It was George’s County Council voted Council Chairman Franklin stead, with our adoption of this stressful, down to the wire at unanimously during session to - delivered this statement follow - budget, the Council committed the American Water Works day to override the County Ex - ing the Council’s vote: to put the County’s fiscal house Association’s (AWWA) An - ecutive’s veto of the County’s “On May 28, the County in order by finally addressing nual Conference in California, portion of the FY 2016 budget Council in its adopted budget re - our structural deficits, promoting but Team WSSC, representing for the Maryland-National Cap - duced the County Executive’s a government that lives within the Chesapeake Section of the ital Park and Planning (M- proposed 15.6% property and its means, and creating a path of AWWA pulled it out yester - NCPPC) (“Park and Planning”), other tax increases by over 70%. fiscal sustainability for Prince day, clinching the Top Ops which delivers vital programs We concluded that a 15.6% in - George’s County. National Championship. for tens of thousands of County crease in taxes is unaffordable Tops Ops is the “college youth, seniors, and residents of for residents still recovering bowl” of the water industry. all ages each year. The agency from the housing crisis, and for Teams from around the coun - See BUDGET Page A 5 try, comprised of water distri - bution operators go head to head, answering jeopardy- PHOTO COURTESY WSSC 71 Student-Athletes, Cheerleaders and Staff style questions, often technical in nature – such as, “If air is in Ocean City last summer, said Richard Tripp, Patuxent Graduate During the 2014-15 Academic Year used to generate ozone, what earning WSSC a spot at the na - Plant Chief Water Operator. By Press Officer 2015 Spring Commencement avoid becoming satisfied with percentage of air is converted tional level. “They were determined and Bowie State University on Saturday, May 23rd at the earning a degree and getting a to ozone?” Team WSSC is no stranger they did it!” This is the first University of Maryland’s Xfin - good job, but to also consider Months of prep, peppering to winning the regional com - year a team representing the COLLEGE PARK, Md. – ity Center, while the other 30 the “plight of our people” as they one another with questions, petition. They went to nationals Chesapeake Section of AWWA Seventy-one current and for - earned degrees during the 2014 pursue their career paths. “I was flash cards and white boards in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008, has claimed victory at the na - mer student-athletes and cheer - Winter Commencement. the one who was put in special full of facts and it all paid off – 2009, 2010 and 2011, but al - tional level. leaders were among Bowie Congressman Elijah E. Cum - ed as a child, to be there for six finally! Dinesh Bahadursingh, ways left empty handed. The The trophy hasn’t even made State University graduates who mings delivered the commence - years, to be thrown away. I’m Mark Proctor, Ronnell High team finished second in 2010 its way back to Maryland from received degrees during the ment address to the graduates. the one. I’m the one who they and John Luu, all members of and fourth in 2011. 2014-15 academic year. Forty- Cummings (D-Md.) challenged WSSC’s Production Team “They weren’t coming one of those mentioned were nearly 700 Bowie State Univer - awarded degrees during the nailed the regional competition home without gold this year,” See GOLD Page A 3 sity graduates urging them to See GRADUATES Page A 3 INSIDE Plastic Bags Are No Longer End All Youth Detention and June is National Dairy Month Movie Review: “San Andreas” Earth Talk Accepted with Bowie’s Residential Torture at Riker's Island Now National Dairy Month celebrates In “San Andreas,” the Golden Gate Dear EarthTalk: Recycling Program The suicide of 22-year-old the value of milk and dairy products Bridge collapses in the background By reducing the number of dis - Kalief Browder on June 6, barely as part of a well-balanced diet for every of another scene. Tall metropolitan Where will be the best places to posable products used, we can help two years after his release and American, as well as the importance buildings, full of thousands of work - live if global warming gets the best reduce litter and keep these items return home, was the final horror of milk production to the agricultural ers, crumble left and right, and the of us? out of Bowie's waste and water in his tragic and brutal journey industry.