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The Pri nce Ge orge’s Pos t A C OMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FOR PRINCE GEORGE ’S COUNTY Since 1932 Vol. 76, No. 52 December 25 — December 31, 2008 Prince George’s County, Maryland Newspaper of Record Phone: 301-627-0900 25 cents HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Commission Group Helps Recommends Get Housing Abolishing Vouchers for Death Penalty By CHRISTOPHER CAREY Capital News Service Foster Kids BY JESSICA GROOVER Capital News Service ANNAPOLIS - Maryland should abolish the death penalty because it is too ANNAPOLIS - When Temple Hills resident expensive and there is always the possi - Crystal Skinner turned 21 in 2006 and was too bility of executing an innocent person, old to stay in foster care, she was not sure the Maryland Commission on Capital where she would live. Punishment said in its final report After switching between living with her released Friday. biological mother and her aunt, Skinner The 23-member commission, which received a voucher from the Prince George's was created by the Maryland General County Housing Authority that paid rent and Assembly in the 2008 legislative session, allowed her to find a job nearby. recommended ending the death penalty "When I got the voucher, it gave me (a) by a vote of 13 to 9, with one abstention. foundation to build upon because I knew where I could work," Skinner said. "Death is different ... because it's irre - Christmas at the National Harbor Courtesy Gaylord Resort tion, a unique collection of entertainment, Last month, the U.S. Department of versible," said Commission Chairman Public Information Department attractions and activities will offer some - Housing and Urban Development announced Benjamin R. Civiletti, who served as thing for everyone. that it was allocating $20 million for vouchers U.S. Attorney General in the Carter Christmas on the Potomac™ activities to help people aging out of foster care and to Christmas on the Potomac™ — a 37- administration from 1979 to 1981. "It is and entertainment are available throughout reunite foster care children with parents who day celebration of holiday revelry. This sig - neither swift, nor fair, nor sure." the celebration to resort guests and day could not otherwise afford housing. nature annual event runs November 24 guests. Most activities and entertainment The money for the vouchers is being allo - Among its findings, the commission through December 30 and will showcase are complimentary, except where special cated thanks to the lobbying efforts of the said that the costs associated with the the holidays in true mid-Atlantic style. pricing or exclusions are indicated. Daily University Park-based group, the National death penalty are higher than the costs Just like the other Gaylord Resort prop - parking is available at the Gaylord National Center for Housing and Child Welfare, and its associated with a sentence of life without erties have become popular Christmas hol - Resort & Convention Center parking executive director, Ruth White. the possibility of parole, and that DNA iday attractions in their respective cities for garage, or in the nearby National Harbor "Our goal is to make sure HUD spends hundreds of thousands of visitors, the evidence does not necessarily stop an public parking garages. money," Ruth White said. "The next step is to Maryland resort promises to become a pop - For more information, or to make dining make sure housing authorities are aware." ular Christmas destination for the mid- or hotel reservations, call (301) 965-2800. The vouchers, being issued as part of HUD's Atlantic region. Throughout the celebra - See PENALTY, Page A 5 Family Unification Program, would not only help youth getting ready to leave foster care, they would also allow more than 9,000 chil - dren in foster care throughout the United States to reunite with their parents who otherwise Homeless Shelter's Clients, Staff Cross Fingers in Uncertain Times BY KARISSE CARMACK on Project PLASE's Web site, the total pro - Capital News Service gram expenses in the fiscal year ending June See VOUCHERS, Page A 5 30, 2007, were $3,132,806, and total support BALTIMORE - The death of a fiancee services were $376,603. began one Project PLASE client's descent "We're pretty lean," Slicher said. into homelessness. So far, there have been no layoffs, and Steven, whose last name was withheld to Slicher is in the process of applying for sev - Gov. O’Malley protect his privacy, could no longer afford to eral grants. The amount of funding she is live in the home he once shared with his com - awarded will determine next year's budget. panion of 14 years, an elementary school Project PLASE is also trying to purchase a Announces principal who died in July 2007, he said. At 33,000-square-foot former millworks located the same time, the Marine Corps Vietnam directly behind the organization's main build - veteran, a former heavy drinker, began using ing, according to the official Web site. State Employee cocaine in his grief. The organization is housed in a building It wasn't until his Veteran Affairs sub - purchased in 2001, and three older homes. stance abuse counselor referred him to The older facilities have become "over - Furlough Plan crowded" and "inadequate," Slicher said. By PRESS OFFICER Project PLASE in October 2007 that he Office of the Governor began to recover. The new facility will provide 22 more Since 1974, Project PLASE (People rooms than current buildings, said Slicher. ANNAPOLIS, MD (December 16, 2008) – Lacking Ample Shelter and Employment), Project PLASE's goal is to raise $2.46 Today, Governor O’Malley signed an Executive has provided substance abuse treatment, million by February. After the large building Order establishing a furlough and salary reduc - mental health services, job placement and is purchased, the three older homes will be tion plan for all State employees due to this deep - educational resources for the homeless. It's sold and the proceeds used to improve the ening national recession. The plan will save the provided transitional housing since 1978. new facility. state over $34 million in FY 2009 and is pro - Now, like all social service agencies, it's Slicher was a University of Maryland, gressively structured based on each employee’s strapped for cash in a slow economy and Baltimore County student when she and salary. This afternoon the Board of Revenue struggling to purchase larger quarters to other students founded Project PLASE over Estimates is expected to announce hundreds of accommodate the demand for its services. meetings in kitchens and dining rooms, she millions of dollars in further state revenue reduc - Project PLASE has 62 transitional beds said. tions for fiscal years 2009 and 2010. and 103 units of permanent housing. The They felt the conditions contributing to “In the midst of this deepening national reces - organization has 10 percent of its budget and poverty and homelessness were wrong and sion, there are some difficult decisions before us will need to raise the remaining 90 percent, did not think that the homeless shelters that that we wish we did not have to make. Executive Director Mary Slicher said. This is existed at the time dealt with the "complexi - After collaborating with labor leaders over the due to the fact that some of their sources have ties" of homelessness, said Slicher. last few weeks, this morning I have signed an PHOTO BY less funding to help Project PLASE, said Executive Order establishing a furlough and Mary Slicher, Executive Director of Project PLASE Slicher. salary reduction plan for all State employees due (People Lacking Ample Shelter and Employment According to a financial report available See PLASE, Page A 3 to this deepening national recession that has us all tightening our belts at work and at home.” Governor O’Malley wrote to State employees in INSIDE an email today. “Indeed, the best days in life aren’t always the easiest days. I continue to believe that we will come out of this national Neighbors Columns: Hoyer Makes Delivery to Prince George’s recession stronger than ever thanks to the choic - Morningside-Skyline, Brandywine-Aquasco, County Food Pantry. (Pictured on right) es we’ve made together to protect our priorities Clinton, Suitland and 24th Annual Christmas Rep. Hoyer, Rev. Jordan, Lisa Butler and quality of life.” Food Basket Campaign McDougal & children Over the past 22 months, the O’Malley- Neighbors , Page A2 Business , Page A5 Brown Administration has reduced spending by $2.2 billion, eliminated over 1,500 state posi - Paramedics Save Life and Victim Gives President-Elect and Vice President-Elect to tions, and kept budget growth at less than four Thanks. Also Professionals Receive Host Events in Philadelphia, Wilmington percent annually. The Executive Order signed Departmental Recognition and Awards and Baltimore Before Inauguration Community , Page A3 Out on the Town , Page A6 See FURLOUGH , Page A 3 A2 — December 25 — December 31, 2008 — The Prince George’s Post Towns and N EIGHBORS 24th Annual Christmas Food Basket Campaign In and Around Morningside-Skyline The Prince George's by Mary McHale 301 735 3451 County Public Safety Assistance Program kicked- Whipple-Marciano nuptials Councilman dies off their 24th Annual celebrated in Connecticut Harry Franklin Messer, a May they rest in peace Christmas Food Basket cam - Jennifer Colleen Whipple member of the Morningside I’ve received word that Tom paign. County Executive Jack and John Joseph Marciano were Town Council from 1974 to Farrell, who once lived on B. Johnson and married Nov. 22 at St. John the 1978, died Nov. 30 at his home Larkspur Road in Morningside Councilmember Ingrid M. Evangelist Church in Stamford, in Calvert County. He was 75 and later on Reamy Drive in Turner provided the spark and Conn.