Prince George's County Council Listening Tour - District 7 Meeting - September 9, 2026

Council Chair Crystal Orieta hosted the third fall listening tour in her home district, presenting accomplishments and soliciting public input on policy and community concerns. The meeting featured a recap of legislative packages passed in 2026 and a two-hour public comment period covering issues from maintenance to data centers.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Gail Powell and Leslie Dwight (Holloway Estates): Raised concerns about inconsistent grass cutting by the county, stating that a lack of staffing has led to overtime-only maintenance. Leslie Dwight argued that initiatives like Clean Corridors become unfunded mandates, and noted that some properties have not paid taxes since 1954, calling for accountability.
• Richard Hensley: Complained about unmaintained roads (Woodyard Road, Allentown Road) and long response times from 311, with one request scheduled for April 2027. He also reported a drainage issue caused by a neighbor's unpermitted construction.
• Joe Horkel (Upper Marlboro town council, Friends of the Library): Urged funding for the library system, noting that staff did not receive a 2% raise last year and face a second year without a raise, hurting retention. Also thanked for data center moratorium but urged noise ordinance attention. Raised concerns about county-owned vacant properties like the Elm Street school.
• Floyd Simpson Jr. (Crownsville): Criticized community policing members for following and targeting residents without cause.
• James McRae (Cavita Heights): Asked about the legality of a family operating a store in their front yard, causing traffic.
• Stacey Hartwell: Questioned the council's policy on electric bills subsidizing infrastructure for large loads like data centers and the sphere. Chair Orieta agreed and discussed regional efforts and rate moratorium.
• Dan Smith (Chevlin): Thanked for focus on ICE and democracy, urged public financing of elections. Questioned vacant property law applicability to Landover Mall. Criticized streamlining development at the expense of environmental standards. Suggested community housing retrofits.
• Charlie Porter (District 7): Disappointed in lack of council presence on his street. Criticized 311 system and snow removal on Tucker Road.
• Karina Addison (Largo): Asked about litigation over new fees on liquor stores and storage facilities, and whether the county consulted businesses. Chair Orieta defended the fees, arguing these businesses do not contribute positively and that she is pro-business for restaurants and small businesses.
• Keen Aspive (Suitland): Complained about overgrown grass at Allentown Road and commercial vehicles parked in residential streets. Called for better customer service from 311.
• Gerald Weston (North Hillmark Circle): Described an open-air drug market at Hillmar Drive and Walters Lane, with police present but not intervening.
• James Yasinowski (River Bend): Represented National Harbor Noise Disturbances Group, opposed the proposed entertainment sphere due to lack of public involvement, traffic, visual pollution, and energy demands. Asked for public hearings.
• Adam Wall (Library staff): Spoke about library funding cuts, loss of resources, and staff not receiving raises for two years.
• Sayla Bell (No Landover Data Center Coalition): Criticized the two-year moratorium on data centers as insufficient, noting a loophole that allows early termination. Questioned the council's commitment to a permanent ban. Chair Orieta said she supports a full ban but lacked six votes; she is working on a permanent solution for Landover.
• Kevin Huang: Asked about planning board members who advanced data center zoning (LDR 155) despite public opposition. Chair Orieta explained the planning board only makes recommendations, and she is a no vote on that bill.
• Paul Howe (Palmar Manor): Asked about tax subsidies for the sphere. Chair Orieta explained her criteria: labor, MBE, workforce development, community benefits.
• Wanda Carter (Suitland): Opposed the Silver Hill apartments project, citing traffic, lack of entry points, and impact on her street. Expressed frustration that Chair Orieta did not publicly oppose it. Chair Orieta explained she cannot speak on quasi-judicial matters until it comes before the council.
• Unnamed speaker: Asked about affordable housing package. Chair Orieta described upcoming bills on small landlord incentives, surplus land for affordable housing, fast-tracking, and homeownership.
• Resident from Kentland Columbia Park: Complained about vacant houses, trash, narrow streets, tree limbs, and streetlights out for months. Asked for help.
• Candace Jones Young (Town Square at Suitland): Raised an issue with early entry kindergarten: her son passed the test but cannot use sibling privilege for a specialty school because early entry students must attend boundary school. Chair Orieta promised to raise with the superintendent.
• Jade Campbell (Library employee): Spoke about lack of raises, building disrepair, and need for funding.
• Brittany Adams: Reported a failing asphalt section on Pennsylvania Avenue SE and asked for help contacting Maryland DOT.
• Reverend Richardson (District 25): Raised public safety enforcement on Hillmar Drive, Pepco right-of-way, and workforce development with Hope Project. Chair Orieta committed to follow up.
• Malika Matthews: Asked about debris cleanup after accidents, burning debris regulations, and a single-family home that became a three-story apartment without proper permit.
• Robert Pettis (Federation of Park Recreation Council): Opposed budget cuts and transfers from Park and Planning, arguing they harm parks and recreation. Chair Orieta defended the cuts as equitable, noting historic underinvestment in southern districts and that cuts were from building funds, not services.

Discussion Items

• Chair Orieta presented a detailed recap of legislative packages passed in 2026:
  • Immigration package: Restrictions on ICE collaboration, safe spaces, resident kidnapping protection, facial mask ban, and nonprofit data collection.
  • Community beautification: Clean corridors with rapid response, transparency dashboard, vacant property maintenance and tax increases (5x), illegal sign enforcement, "see it, snap it, get paid" program, and a moratorium on convenience stores in District 7.
  • Universal child care: Workgroup, expansion act, building block grant ($500K), and quality of life fund funded by an annual $5,000 fee on liquor stores, tobacco stores, self-storage, and gun shops.
  • Economic development: Fine dining fast track, EDI carve-out for sit-down restaurants, small business grants, and minority subcontractor to prime contractor program.
  • Data center moratorium: Two-year moratorium on all data center development.
• Upcoming packages: Affordable housing, workforce development, and transparency/access to information.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken; the meeting was a listening tour.
• Chair Orieta and her staff (Amir, Trey) committed to follow up on numerous constituent service issues, including:
  • Grass cutting in Holloway Estates and other areas.
  • Long 311 response times and resetting service level agreements.
  • Library funding and raises.
  • Vacant property enforcement (Landover Mall, county-owned buildings).
  • Sphere development: public hearings to be scheduled; TIFF legislation expected.
  • Data center moratorium: Chair Orieta working on a permanent ban for Landover.
  • Police presence at Hillmar Drive and Walters Lane.
  • Early entry kindergarten policy: referral to school board.
  • Park and Planning budget: Chair defended cuts, promised continued oversight.
• Residents were encouraged to take the quality of life survey.
• The meeting concluded at approximately [time not given].