The Pri nce Ge orge’s Pos t A C OMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FOR PRINCE GEORGE ’S COUNTY Since 1932 Vol. 78, No. 3 January 21, 2010 — January 27, 2010 Prince George’s County, Maryland Newspaper of Record Phone: 301-627-0900 25 cents Governor O’Malley Highlights Economic Agenda Opening Day Remarks Stress Creation of Jobs and Fuel Innovation By PRESS OFFICER nity and respect and a roof over Office of the Governor their heads. In these tough times, everything we accomplish ANNAPOLIS, MD – In together this session must be seen remarks before the 427th through the lens of whether or not Maryland General Assembly, it creates jobs, protects jobs, or Governor Martin O’Malley high - improves the environment for lighted his economic agenda to creating and protecting jobs.” create jobs, fuel innovation, and Governor O’Malley outlined drive economic progress during specific legislative proposals these tough economic times. The designed to create jobs and drive Governor promoted initiatives economic progress, including the that include a job creation tax Job Creation and Recovery Tax credit, expansion of credit access Credit, a $3,000 credit for busi - PHOTO BY STAFF for small business, and immedi - nesses for every unemployed Senate President, Sen. Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., (D-Calvert), being sworn in by Senate President Pro Tem Nathaniel ate tax relief for Maryland busi - Marylander that it hires. McFadden on the opening day of the legislative session. ness owners while stabilizing the This initiative, when fully uti - state’s Unemployment Trust lized, can account for 6,700 Fund. Marylanders coming off the “Our task as public servants, unemployment rolls and back as Marylanders, and as into the workforce. In addition, 427th General Assembly Opens Americans is to continue making Governor O’Malley asked the the choices and connections that members of the General will allow our families to get Assembly to support emergency through these tough times even legislation that will provide to Face a $2 Billion Deficit stronger,” said Governor immediate unemployment O’Malley. “As you’d all agree, insurance tax relief for small By DANIEL LEADERMAN election year. In the last year Senate President Thomas V. to make cuts that hurt the there is no government program businesses, and a series of Capital News Service the Board of Public Works has Mike Miller Jr., D-Calvert, and fewest number of people ... cut more than $1 billion from House Speaker Michael Busch, that's going to be very diffi - that is as important and empow - ering as a job which allows a ANNAPOLIS - The the operating budget. D-Anne Arundel, are opposed cult." family to raise their kids with dig - See AGENDA, Page A 7 Maryland General Assembly "We're facing our California to the idea. Delegate Roger Manno, D- kicked off its 427th legislative moment, as are many other Delegate Paul S. Stull, R- Montgomery, said he was session Wednesday, a term likely states," said Delegate Luiz R. S. Frederick, said new taxes this aware that tax increases would to be dominated by the state's Simmons, D-Montgomery. The year would be political suicide. not be a popular topic in the nearly $2 billion budget deficit, legislature will have to "make "There's too many people legislature this session, but did - as well as legislative efforts to some very painful choices ... we out of work, too many foreclo - n't see more budget cuts as a protect citizens from sex offend - should be very careful about sures have taken place ... I don't viable solution. ers. imposing any new taxes." think you can tax the working "We've cut all the fat off of Lawmakers just need to Some lawmakers and advo - man to work your way out of the bone. More than that, we're agree on how to balance the cates are calling for a dime-a- debt," Stull said. cutting into bone," he said. budget, especially with so many drink tax that would help fund The solution, Stull said, is to reluctant to increase taxes in an public health initiatives. But create jobs and to "take a hard legislative leaders including look at where we might be able See OPENING, Page A 7 President Barack Obama Honors PHOTO COURTESY PGPD Outstanding Early-Career Scientists County Executive Jack B. Johnson and Police Chief Roberto L. Hylton acknowledge and thanked the county’s law Focuses on Need to Maintain World Class Science, Engineering Workforce enforcement community, and local community leaders that helped bring about a reduction in crime not seen since 1975. By PRESS OFFICER The President’s meeting with the win - The Presidential Early Career Awards The White House ners builds on the events of last week embody the high priority the announcing an expansion of the “Educate Administration places on producing out - At the White House, President Obama to Innovate” campaign standing scientists and engineers to will honor more than 100 outstanding (http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press- advance the nation’s goals and contribute County Police early career scientists – the latest winners office/president-obama-expands-edu - to all sectors of the economy. Nine of the Presidential Early Career Award cate-innovate-campaign-excellence-sci - Federal departments and agencies join for Scientists and Engineers. The Award ence-technology-eng) and showcases his together annually to nominate the most Celebrate Significant is the highest honor bestowed by the sustained focus on America’s need for a meritorious young scientists and engi - United States government on scientists world-class science, technology, engi - neers—researchers whose early accom - Reduction in Crime and engineers in the early stages of their neering, and mathematics (STEM) work - By BIANCA P. FLOYD port of our community.” independent research careers. force. Staff Writer Hylton attributed the depart - See SCIENTISTS, Page A 5 ment’s success to a team of offi - In a press conference held on cers and residents who under - Wednesday, January 6th, stand that “accountability” is a INSIDE County Executive Jack B. key component in making a Johnson and Police Chief community safe. Obama Awards Billions Neighbors Columns: Sen. Benjamin Cardin Roberto L. Hylton took the Both Hylton and Johnson Morningside-Skyline, “The birthday of the Rev. opportunity to acknowledge credits the launch of several Brandywine-Aquasco, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to Create New Tech Jobs and thank the county’s law controversial but ultimately Clinton and Suitland became a national holiday By PRESS OFFICER enforcement community, and successful initiatives that Neighbors, Page A2 more than 25 years ago so The White House local community leaders that helped reduce crime rates, that our nation -- and future helped bring about a reduction focusing on problems associat - Community College generations -- would under - President Obama Awards in crime not seen since 1975. ed with night clubs, pawn Celebrate the Arts In A stand and appreciate the $2.3 Billion for New Clean-Tech From 2005 to 2009, depart - shops, auto theft, gangs, and the Series of Events at Prince legacy of Dr. King’s many Manufacturing Jobs ment statistics detailed signifi - length of time liquor stores George's Community accomplishments. He was Recovery Act Tax Credits to cant drops in areas such as a 25 were open late at night. College; Spring 2010 one of our nation’s most Enable More Than $7 Billion in percent reduction in theft, a 29 Crime statistics from 2005 to Highlights Fine Arts, Music admired leaders.” New Manufacturing Projects percent reduction in assaults, 2009 saw a 73 percent drop in and Theatre Commentary, Page A4 and Create Tens of Thousands and a 40 percent reduction in carjacking, a 43 percent drop in Community, Page A3 of Jobs Movie Review robberies. The homicide divi - criminal homicides, and a 60 WASHINGTON – Today at sion, staffed with 33 investiga - percent drop in auto theft. Minority Business "The Imaginarium of Doctor the White House, President Parnassus" tors, had a 79 percent closure Burglaries have increased 2 Senators Mikulski and Obama announced the award of rate in homicide cases and a percent, but the department is Cardin secure funding for the “It's bizarre and whimsical $2.3 billion in Recovery Act reduction in the number of working to reduce that number, construction of a science lab - and often beautiful to look at, Advanced Energy homicides from 161 in 2005 to said Hylton. oratory at the University of and it makes no sense what - Manufacturing Tax Credits for only 92 in 2009. Looking forward, issues Maryland, College Park soever. It's something Terry FILE PHOTO “These are historical lows,” Business, Page A5 Gilliam would dig!” President Barack Obama Movies, Page A6 said Hylton. “This is remark - See TECH JOBS, Page A 3 awards billions for jobs. able work by this agency in sup - See CRIME, Page A 7 A2 — January 21 — January 27, 2010 — The Prince George’s Post Towns and N EIGHBORS In and Around Morningside-Skyline Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards’ Legislative Update by Mary McHale 301 735 3451 Congresswoman Donna F. families I met there. They Edwards’ Statement on the will need that resiliency now Remembering our neighbors Richard. Services were at empty, is still in limbo. So far Tragic more than ever. who passed away in 2009 Kalas in Oxon Hill with burial rumors of its becoming an Earthquake in Haiti “In this time of great Each January I like to at Cedar Hill where he is once Imagination charter school Washington, D.C. – tragedy, it is important that remember those who died the again with Betty his wife. have not materialized. We keep Congresswoman Donna F. the people of Haiti know Baby Waby year before, who lived, worked, hoping.