Prince George's County

MD Lawmakers Prepare for Upcoming Session

William J. Ford WI Staff Writer

When the 442nd Maryland General Assembly convenes Wednesday, Jan. 13, it will be the first time in history lawmakers convene remotely.

With the exception to vote on the budget and other piece of legislation, lawmakers will not interact in Annapolis with constituents, lobbyists, interns and even some staff. Committee meetings and public hearings will be held virtually.

“I think it will be a very different session,” said Del. Jazz Lewis (D-District 24) of Glenarden. “This is new for all of us. Just like in life, it will throw an audible. I’m urging everyone to be flexible and patient.”

The coronavirus pandemic has forced students to receive instruction at home, restricted indoor dining in some jurisdictions and caused some businesses to close.

On the last day of 2020, the state’s Health Department reported about 276,662 confirmed cases and 5,727 deaths. During that time, Maryland ranked 25th and 18th in the nation, respectively. according to the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 data tracker.

During the 90-day General Assembly session, a possible change may be scheduling hearings on Saturday “because we expect more people to participate in the process, which is good,” Lewis said.

One of the first bills members in the House of Delegates will present deals with police reform slated to come before the House Judiciary and Senate Judicial Proceedings committees.

A major recommendation would be to repeal the controversial Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights. Part of the state statute currently allows officers five days to receive counsel and be interrogated for an alleged offense. Other reforms include banning chokeholds and requiring officers to take mental health and behavioral assessments from a licensed mental health professional before being hired.

Another proposal may be to incorporate a use-of-force statute. An officer who violates it could face up to five years in prison for recklessness and up to 10 years in prison if committed “knowingly and willfully.”

5 Marion Gray-Hopkins, center, and mother of Gary Hopkins, Jr., speaks at a police reform rally Oct. 17 in Forestville. Gray-Hopkins stands alongside other mothers whose children died from police-involved shootings. (File: Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

Lawmakers also plan to override Gov. Larry Hogan’s veto issued in May on the $3.8 billion annual Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education plan. Hogan rejected it saying the state cannot afford additional spending on new programs while spending money to fight a pandemic.

However, Democrats and education advocates say the comprehensive plan provides money to hire guidance counselors, offer mental health and behavioral services for students and expand early childhood.

House Speaker Adrienne Jones will reintroduce the bill to provide nearly $577 million for the state’s historically Black colleges and universities, according to the legislation filed on the General Assembly website.

Lawmakers approved the bill this year to settle a 14-year-old lawsuit

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State Lawmakers to Focus on Alcohol Sales, School Board Representation

in Prince George’s County tivists during the 90-day session zip code with poverty rates above submitted last year by Del. Jay won’t happen this year because of the county average of 8.7 percent. Walker (D-District 26) of Fort William J. Ford spective jurisdictions and hope for the coronavirus pandemic. According to 2018 U.S. Cen- Washington to incorporate 150 WI Staff Writer approval from their colleagues in the According to proposed legislation sus data, those locales are Capitol minutes of physical activity, inHouse and Senate chambers. from the Prince George’s County Heights (10.7 percent), Fairmount cluding includes 90 minutes of

During the annual Maryland The usual in-person meetings, House Delegation, lawmakers from Heights (13.6 percent) and Seat physical education, into the daily General Assembly, state lawmak- public hearings, negotiations and the majority Black jurisdiction have Pleasant (17.8). These municipal- curriculum for elementary stuers review legislation for its re- handshakes with lobbyists and ac- begun online discussions on items ities are located inside the Beltway dents. such as vehicle height monitoring that border the District. The other measure would resystems, to require the livestreaming Del. Wanika Fisher (D-District configure school board members of Washington Suburban Sanitary 47B) of Hyattsville has a similar to convert all members to at-large Commission meetings and regula- bill grant class A licenses to grocery representatives in the county. tion of concrete batching plants. stores permitting the sale of beer Del. Ron Watson (D-District A few bills that may receive a and light wine, but prohibit con- 23B) of Upper Marlboro said he little more discussion include alco- sumption on the store premises. The contacted officials in neighboring hol-related bills such as one to entice county’s Board of License Commis- Montgomery County. According grocery stores to sell beer and “light sioners would grant approval for no to that county’s website, its board wine” with at least three liquor more than three supermarkets to has a hybrid structure with two stores within a square mile. occupy a license within a legislative members who serve at-large, five One of the strategies seeks to open district. who represent districts and one supermarkets within food deserts. Beer and wine are already sold at student member. “[The bill] can help address the two Food Lion stores, one in Upper “The intent of that piece of issue of food desserts that have been Marlboro and the other in Laurel. the legislation was to remove papervasive in the county,” said Del. Both grocery stores are located out- rochialism and ensure that each Jazz Lewis (D-District 24) of Gle- side the Beltway. member of the school board was narden, who plans to sponsor the Prince George’s lawmakers with properly bedded by the entirety bill. “Here’s what our community the delegation’s education commit- of Prince George’s County resneeds. Let’s work this out.” tee reviewed two proposed bills Dec. idents,” Watson said. “It is not The 24th legislative district hous- 30. 5 Various types of wine sold at Food Lion supermarkets. (Photo courtesy of Food Lion) es three municipalities in the 20743 One focused on a previous bill SCHOOL Page 13

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

Housing Advocates Contend Evictions Violate COVID-19 Protections

William J. Ford WI Staff Writer

Attorney Carisa Hatfield told a short story about a client named “Holly” from Baltimore City who got evicted from her apartment in August, one month before the eviction moratorium became lifted nationwide.

Holly, a human trafficking survivor, has lived in and out of homeless shelters since September and increased her exposure to COVID-19 due to housing instability.

“If Holly had been able to stay in her unit, she would not be facing housing instability and increased exposure to COVID-19,” said Hatfield, who works with the Homeless Persons Representation Project based in Baltimore. “We all are searching for [ways] to maintain stable housing…”

Hatfield and other housing advocates, financial representatives and a chief judge testified at a virtual hearing Monday, Jan. 4 of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on the effects of housing during the coronavirus pandemic.

Although confirmed cases continue to rise in the state, evictions continue to take place in the state’s District Court.

Between July 1 and Nov. 30, about 2,547 evictions have been looking at the county in a wholistic manner. Wherever you represent from a district perspective, it’s important you keep a countywide focus.”

Del. Julian Ivey (D-District 47A) of Cheverly has a similar bill to Watson’s, but it seeks to keep each member representing nine districts.

Both bills would eliminate the four appointed members whose terms expire by 2022 and 2023. In addition, refer to the chief executive officer of the school system to the better-known title as “superintendent.”

The school board has been an all-elected body before, but it became a mix of elected and appointed members after state lawmakers approved a bill in 2013 led by former County Executive Rushern L. Baker III. executed in Maryland, according to Chief Judge John Morrissey.

Morrissey said the majority of evictions before September are from cases filed before the pandemic affected the state in midMarch.

The figures decreased in October to 653 and in November to 511 because of restrictions in court operations, he said.

Morrissey said the courts biggest court filings deal with failure to pay rent cases that average about 55,000 per month.

A decrease in evictions may occur after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention extended an eviction moratorium through Jan. 31.

In addition, Gov. Larry Hogan issued a state of emergency as an added measure to restrict them during the pandemic.

However, housing advocates insist landlords use a major loophole from both the state and CDC orders to continue eviction proceedings.

Maryland District Court remains in phase two operations until March 14, but four tenant/ landlord cases may continue: rent escrow, emergency breach, wrongful detainer and tenant holding over.

The tenant holding over case allows a landlord to file paperwork

Baker said while in office the current structure allows for the county government to become more involved in the school system which includes the superintendent to appoint school board chair, the county executive appoint three members and County Council chose one person.

During the meeting, Lewis asked if there’s any data to show if the proposed at-large structure has any influence on outcomes in the classroom.

“There have been no significant gains in student achievement with the different configurations of the school board,” Watson said. “What it is in fact is bringing our school board in line and in the norms that other school boards operate effectively.”

WI @jabariwill in court when a tenant’s lease expired. In addition, a landlord isn’t required to provide an explanation as long as the tenant receives a notice first.

Erin Bradley, vice president of government affairs for the Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington, said the best way continues to be communication. About 20 percent of the organization’s members reside in Prince George’s County and 17 percent in neighboring Montgomery County.

“We recommend that residents come to property management staff as soon as possible to discuss payment options, the issues they’re facing and what options are available to them,” she said. “If they open the dialogue early…to not fall on last resort efforts.”

Another suggestion would be reforming the eviction process through a holistic approach such as mediation between a landlord and tenant before a civil suit gets filed in court.

Five state senators are working on legislation to allow renters to be represented by housing attorneys to assist in legal matters.

“We propose the District Court not just be a court of collections,

5 Members of the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and those testifying during a briefing on housing during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Screen grab: Courtesy of Maryland General Assembly)

but a hub for holistic problem solving [and] facilitating service triage,” said Zafar Shah, attorney with Public Justice Center in Baltimore. “That is a best practice we have seen.”

State Sen. Robert Cassilly (R-Harford County) said there’s nothing wrong in going to court.

“The system’s we’ve got where we encourage the landlord to go into court promptly is not a bad thing,” he said. “Because you’re in court, we hold landlords’ feet to the fire. They [judges] really do pay attention to the needs of both the tenants and the landlords who are in need as well.” WI

SCHOOL from Page 12

@jabariwill