Prince George's County

COVID-19 Vaccine Required for Prince George’s School Employees

William J. Ford WI Staff Writer

Ann Smith drove to Ritchie Station in Capitol Heights on Saturday, Aug. 14 so her grandson can receive a free backpack, school supplies and books before the Sept. 8 first day of school.

But a COVID-19 vaccine topped Smith’s school checklist this summer for her grandson, Jerry Newsome, who turns 14 later this month and will attend Suitland High School.

As for the nearly 22,000 Prince George’s County public school employees now required to receive a shot in the arm or face weekly testing, Smith called the decision “unfortunate, but necessary.”

“I hate to see people forced to get vaccinated, but if we’re going to get back to where we belong, then everybody needs to get vaccinated,” she said. “People are saying they don’t know what’s in the vaccine, but sometimes we have to take a chance. People are dying.”

Although the state of Maryland displays one of the highest vaccination rates in the country at 79 percent with adults receiving at least one dose, the highly contagious COVID-19 delta variant has caused confirmed cases to rise at their highest levels in two months.

State health officials said nearly all coronavirus patients hospitalized are those who are unvaccinated.

Between Aug. 1 and Aug. 7 in Prince George’s, the capacity of intensive care unit beds available stood at 52 percent. However, county COVID-19 data shows during that same timeframe the percentage of positive tests increased from 4.5 percent to 5.8 percent.

The majority Black jurisdiction continues to lead the state with the most confirmed cases at nearly 90,000.

Public schools CEO Monica Goldson said in a video message released Friday, Aug. 13 about 12,000 public school employees have been vaccinated.

Goldson said in the more than two-minute video all staff must either show proof of vaccination by Aug. 27. The vaccine information must include a person’s name, date of birth, phone number and date and location of the vaccination.

If proof hasn’t been shown by that date, then that person must “submit to weekly, onsite testing.”

“Thank you for your understanding and for adhering to this mandate. Your health and safety [are] my

5 Ann Smith, right, in a vehicle with her grandson, Jerry Newsome, 13, after the rising ninth-grader received a free backpack, school supplies and books Aug. 14 at a backpack giveaway hosted by Del. Darryl Barnes in Capitol Heights. (William J. Ford/The Washington Informer)

Sweat Partners with Church to Distribute Food, Offer Counseling William J. Ford WI Staff Writer

5 Prince George’s County Executive candidate Tonya Sweat chats with a driver Aug. 17 during a food distribution giveaway at St. Stephen Baptist Church in Temple Hills. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

Although the Maryland Democratic primary doesn’t take place for another 10 months, Prince George’s County Executive candidate Tonya Sweat helped distribute food Aug. 17 for 1,000 people at St. Stephen Baptist Church in Temple Hills.

In addition to partnering with the church’s weekly grocery giveaway, Sweat’s campaign offered residents information on counseling services and free backpacks and school supplies for students.

Targeting the immigrant community, a Sweat Spanish interpreter was available. A representative from Law Group International of Alexandria, Va., was on hand to offer legal services.

“When I saw the long line of cars around St. Stephen’s Baptist Church, this shows the need in the community is great,” said Sweat, a managing part-

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priority,” Goldson said in the video.

Prince George’s joins several other school districts in Maryland that will require employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, which remains unavailable for children younger than 12.

Howard County became the state’s first public school system last week to announce a similar vaccination procedure for its workers.

Montgomery County public schools announced Friday it would require employees to be vaccinated.

According to school documents, the district will conduct “pool testing for random samples of students in prekindergarten through sixth grade” because the vaccine remains unavailable for children younger than 12.

The district plans to implement a policy for all 24,000 employees in the state’s biggest school district, but doesn’t outline when proof of vaccination would be required or testing procedures.

“More details will be shared with employees prior to the start of the school year,” according to school documents at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/reopening2021/#guide.

SCHOOL, GOVERNMENT MANDATES

Officials in the county’s neighboring jurisdiction in D.C. will require city employees, contractors and interns to similar COVID-19 procedures and show proof by Sept. 19.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced last week all state employees must be vaccinated by Sept. 1 or submit to testing weekly.

A similar requirement and same deadline date are required for Maryland state employees who work in congregate settings such as nursing homes, correctional facilities and veteran centers.

Arlington County Aug. 12 became the first jurisdiction in Northern Virginia to announce all government and school employees must receive a COVID-19 vaccine by Aug. 30. If not, then those who remain unvaccinated face a requirement of weekly testing.

In terms of students and staff wearing masks inside school buildings, the majority of D.C. area public schools are making them a requirement. Masks and face coverings are optional in Fauquier County in Northern Virginia, where students returned to school Aug. 11.

Back in Prince George’s, Phyllis Wright of District Heights and other parents support a vaccine requirement for school employees. Wright’s 12-yearold daughter received her first vaccine shot this month, but her younger daughter isn’t able to receive a shot in the arm.

“If my kids have to show their shot records are up to date, then we need to have the people who take care of our kids show they are vaccinated, too,” she said. “Dr. Goldson made the right decision.”

School board member Belinda Queen had a message for adults, especially PGCPS parents who remain unvaccinated.

“We need to lead by example. We can’t request for our children to do things we haven’t even done first,” she said. “Make sure your child is protected.” WI

Twitter: @jabariwill

Maryland Sports Wagering Commission Holds First Session

William J. Ford WI Staff Writer

For those anxious to start placing sports bets in Maryland before the NFL regular season begins next month, they’ll have to wait a little while longer.

That’s because the state-mandated Sports Wagering Applications Review Commission, which held its first meeting Monday, Aug. 16 in Annapolis, will need to conclude its evaluations of applicants. And the next scheduled meeting for the seven-member commission may not take place until at least Sept. 20, which marks the second week of the NFL season.

Some of the duties for the commission include awarding sports wagering licenses, ensuring minority- and women-owned businesses are included in the process and that awarded licensees remain located a specific distance from casinos or other potential sports-betting facilities.

“These are all going to be discussion points for future meetings to lay the groundwork that this commission will have to establish,” said Matthew Bennett, who works for the state’s Department of Legislative Services and is part of the review commission’s staff.

The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission oversees the sports waging industry, the issuance of renewal of licenses and conducts criminal and financial background checks.

Voters approved sports betting last year and lawmakers passed various measures during this year’s 90-day legislative session to administer the rules and regulations.

Financial projections assessed sports betting revenue could generate between $15 million to $20 million annually in Maryland. A major part of the voter referendum ensures millions of dollars go toward the Blueprint for Maryland’s future education plan.

According to the lottery commission, the state’s six casinos generated a single-month record in July of $180.1 million in revenue. MGM Casino and Resort at National Harbor received $72.9 million, or about 40 percent of the state’s total.

The number of businesses that will apply for betting licenses remains unknown but application fees range between $50,000 to $2 million based on the class and number of employees.

A business that seeks a Class B-2 license, which requires a fee of $50,000, must have 25 or fewer employees or $3 million in gross receipts.

Those seeking a Class A-1 license, which requires a fee of $2 million, must have more than 1,000 video lottery terminals or slot machines. Venues meeting this requirement include MGM in Prince George’s County, Live! Casino in Anne Arundel County and Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore City.

Another 14 locations that have been slated to offer house sports wagering include FedEXField in Landover, M&T Bank Stadium in Balti-

5 MGM National Harbor. (Photo courtesy of Experience Prince George’s)

more and the Jockey Bar and Grille in Washington County.

Up to 60 mobile and online betting licenses may be granted for companies willing to pay the $500,000 application fee.

Near the end of the almost 40-minute sports wagering commission meeting, Thomas Brandt, Jr., board chairman, summarized one duty for which the group doesn’t need to worry.

“I got chills thinking, my god, we’ve got to audit and regulate bookies. I have no idea how to do that,” said Brandt, former chief financial officer for TeleCommunication Systems in Annapolis. “I’ve learned that the lottery commission of Maryland is very mature and equipped to do that and is not our job. I find that very gratifying.” WI @jabariwill

Prince George’s Commission Close to Completing Redistricting Map

5 A District Heights police officer plays basketball June 25 at a ‘Stop the Violence’ event hosted by State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

William J. Ford WI Staff Writer

With some updated 2020 Census data showing Prince George’s County’s population increasing by 12 percent in a decade, a proposed redistricting map shows an equitable populace.

To ensure that parity, a consultant for the county’s three-member Redistricting Commission presented three proposals for the nine council districts that include:

Realign the 6,040 residents in city of District Heights from District 6 to District 7.

Shift 4,075 people from Adelphi area from District 1 to District 2.

Move 2,205 from Glenn Dale from District 3 to District 4, which would combine all of Glenn Dale.

“It’s sort of remarkable that we can achieve population equality without little change,” said Nathan Perisly, a consultant with the commission and a law professor at Stanford University in California.

Based on Perisly’s analysis, the three-member commission voted to support the recommendations Monday, Aug. 16.

Among their goals: An over-under population percentage that doesn’t exceed 4.5 percent.

The current population of District 7 with nearly 94,000 accounts for the smallest in the county, but underpopulated by 9.4 percent. The district near the D.C. border includes Hillcrest Heights, Seat Pleasant and Temple Hill.

Realigning District Heights proposes to boost the district’s population to 103,471 to decrease the population deviation by 3.8 percent , according to commission data.

The county’s District 6 could decrease from 115,779 to 109,739, but still remain the highest population that houses the municipalities and communities such as Largo and portions of Upper Marlboro and Bowie.

Population shifts in the area residents call “South County” in Districts 8 and 9 wouldn’t change.

Charlene Dukes, one of the commission members, said one aspect must be taken into account when the redistricting process happens every 10 years.

“It’s also about people,” she said. “There is some change, even if its miniscule.”

The commission will meet again Monday, Aug. 23 and has until Sept. 1 to submit a plan to County Council.

County and Baltimore City officials throughout the state of Maryland are working on redistricting proposals.

In neighboring Montgomery County, officials are proposing to add two more districts to increase County Council from nine to 11 members – seven to represent districts and four at-large.

CENSUS DATA

Prince George’s County’s population increased the fourth high-

MD CENSUS Page 16