INSIDE FLOOD: Residents recover, wait for the next one. P. 9 WHERE DID THE TREES GO? 30% of city tree canopy lost. P. 6
VOL. 17 NO. 11
HYATTSVILLE’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
NOVEMBER 2020
Process for participatory budgeting for Hyattsville begins
NO TRICKS, ONLY TREATS
Home pest invasions rise during pandemic By Heather Wright
By Emily Williams On Nov. 2, the Hyattsville City Council discussed Mayor Candace Hollingsworth’s proposal to create an ad hoc advisory committee to work toward participatory budgeting. The committee would recommend a process for Hyattsville residents to have a direct say in the allocation of the city’s budget, beginning with the 2023 budget. One member from each of the city’s existing committees and up to two residents not currently on a city task force would constitute the committee. Recommendations could include how the city will solicit residents’ input and the degree to which residents will influence budget decisions. Councilmember Danny Schaible (Ward 2) voiced his support for the committee, saying, “I think getting participation on the outset as to what shape it would take is a smart way to go.” Councilmember Edouard Haba (Ward 4) also supported the idea but recommended having a representative from each ward on the committee. Hollingsworth responded that the city has had some difficulty filling committees in the past. She said that including SEE BUDGET ON 6
HAPPY VETERANS DAY FROM THE HL&T!
velopment of vacant land” and “multimodal access to the West Hyattsville and Prince George’s Plaza Metro Stations,” according to a document posted on the Maryland-National Park
Deer wandering onto residential streets and college campuses. Raccoons roaming during the daytime. Mice scurrying about our homes. As humans change their behavior during the pandemic, are wild critters doing so, too? How is the pandemic impacting wildlife behavior? Mice do seem to be invading more homes, according to Stuart Harper, owner of Atek Pest Management Inc., which serves Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. Harper is a second-generation pest controller and has been in the business for 30 years. He’s noticed two trends: His residential (vs. commercial) work is up, and residential rodents abound. Harper said in a phone interview that he’s purchased five times as much rodenticide this past summer than he would in a normal summer. “This year, I’ve done more mouse work in the spring and summer than I’ve done in all my 30 years.” Harper says as we spend more time at our homes, so do rodents. Restaurants, in doing less business and producing less trash, leave hungry mice looking for new habitats. “Where we are eating is where they’re going to come,” he said. Lesley Riddle, director of the city’s Department of Public
SEE WEST HYATTSVILLE ON 12
SEE PESTS ON 6
Nola, the police department’s new facility dog, attended the City of Hyattsville’s Grab n’ Go Treat-O-Rama at Heurich Park on Oct. 31. See more Halloween photos on pgs. 8 and 9, and learn more about Nola on p. 4. JULIA NIKHINSON
Developing West Hyattsville By Kelly Livingston
On Oct. 17, the Prince George’s County Planning Department held a kickoff bilingual virtual community meeting for a new sector plan which will guide
future development near the West Hyattsville Metro station. Prince George’s County Council approved the initiation of planning Oct. 13. The plan “is anticipated to focus on ... redevelopment,” as well as “infill de-
CENTER SECTION: The November 10, 2020 Issue of The Hyattsvile Reporter — in Español too! HYATTSVILLE MD PERMIT NO. 1383
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