Alonzo WashingtonNewsletter Archives - Page 2 of 2

January 16, 2019 0 Comment Alonzo Washington

Share:

January 2019 Newsletter

Dear Resident,

Over the past several weeks, I know many residents in our District have been directly impacted by the federal government shutdown. With no end in sight, I know that many of those not able to work right now are faced with tough financial decisions. To provide some stability in this time of uncertainty, I have been proud to work with County Executive Angela Alsobrooks to ensure that federal employees in Prince George’s County can rely on their local government for assistance.

Some of the programs that County Executive Alsobrooks has announced include extended payment plans for residents who cannot pay their utility bills and additional financial aid to community college students who are affected by the shutdown. The County also announced a partnership with the United Way of the National Capital Area to create a $100,000 Emergency Assistance Fund, which will assist local nonprofits with providing food, rent, and other necessities. For a full list of shutdown services, click HERE.

To put the government shutdown into real dollars, the Comptroller’s Office released a report earlier this week to document its bi-weekly impacts on the State of Maryland. Every missed paycheck results in $778 million in lost wages, which translates to $57.5 million less in income taxes and a $2.1 million decrease in sales tax revenue. These losses are simply unsustainable and unnecessary. I join my colleagues in urging our federal officials to end this shutdown and reopen the federal government immediately.

PGCPS Launches 10,000 Meals Challenge Fund

Last Friday, PGCPS announced a partnership with the Excellence in Education to launch the 10,000 Meals Challenge Fund.

What began as an effort to ensure that any student impacted by the federal government shutdown got a hot meal grew into numerous offers of assistance. Through the generosity of local businesses, PGCPS has raised $15,000 to cover over 5,000 meals so far.

For those who would like to support this effort, click HERE. Donations will be distributed to schools with the greatest demonstrated need.

Purple Line Delays Uncovered

Reports uncovered last week indicated that the Purple Line is at least a year behind schedule and the delays could cost up to $215 million.

These reports obtained by the Washington Post said that the Purple Line Transit Partners (PLTP) told the state that residents would need to wait until February 2023 to ride the line, a year after the planned March 2022 opening date.

These conversations between PLTP and the state have been ongoing for several years without public involvement and despite promises that the project was on schedule. Reports state that PLTP and the state are both blaming each other for the project delays. PLTP claims the state has taken too long to review plans for environmental protection measures and has disregarded deadlines for purchasing rights of way. The state has said that PLTP took too much time to finish designs and other work that should have been completed long before construction began.

What is most concerning is that none of this information was shared with me or any of the other elected officials representing Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties. Additionally, the public was never informed of the potential delays, particularly those communities that are directly affected by the ongoing construction. I can assure you that I am completely committed to the immediate completion of the Purple Line project and will do everything possible to prevent any future delays.

Sign Up for a New Community Solar Project!

I am excited to share news about a new community solar project in our County – Panorama Solar Project. Click HERE to subscribe to this project through Neighborhood Sun, a local community-based solar company!

December 13, 2018 0 Comment Alonzo Washington

Share:

December 2018 Newsletter

Dear Resident,

As you will read in more detail below, over the past couple of weeks, two important education announcements were reported that directly impact Prince George’s County Public Schools. First, County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced last week the appointments of Dr. Alvin Thornton to Chair the Prince George’s County School Board and Mr. Paul Monteiro to serve as one of the appointed members on the School Board. Both Dr. Thornton and Mr. Monteiro will join the Board with decades of education policy and governance experience. I am completely confident in their ability to lead our School Board and take on school construction, student achievement, and ethics and accountability issues.

Earlier this month, Maryland also released its first-ever five-star rankings for every public school in the State. This ranking system is required under the federal government’s Every Student Succeeds Act and takes into account a variety of factors within a school, not just test scores. Prince George’s County had over 80% of its public schools receive a three-to five-star ranking.

In addition to these announcements, the Kirwan Commission plans to release its final report later this month. The Commission will meet for the last time on December 18th and 19th to finalize its recommendations. I encourage you to attend these meetings in Annapolis or follow them online HERE.

Finally, as we approach the end of 2018, I want to wish you and your families a sincere Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

We have accomplished a lot over the past year – from winning our re-election campaign to passing landmark legislation to secure our elections and implement free community college statewide. To celebrate these victories and look ahead to a New Year and a new Legislative Session, I want to personally invite you to my New Year’s Happy Hour Reception on Friday, January 5th at 5:30pm at Burtons Bar & Grill in Riverdale Park. Your endless support over the past year has meant so much to me, so please join me to celebrate the New Year!

Dr. Alvin Thornton & Paul Monteiro Appointed to the PGCPS School Board

I am proud to strongly support Dr. Thornton’s and Paul Monteiro’s recent appointments to our School Board. I look forward to working with them both to improve our public school system.

As Chair, Dr. Thornton will be tasked with leading our schools at a critical time as the Kirwan Commission plans to release its final report. As the previous chair of a similar commission, I trust that he will understand how best to integrate the Kirwan Commission’s recommendations once they are passed by the legislature. Dr. Thornton served on the School Board in the 1990s and was chairman for three one-year terms during a long career in public life and at Howard, where he was a political scientist for 37 years and held a number of senior administrative posts.

Mr. Monteiro was most recently a candidate for County Executive earlier this year. A lifelong Prince George’s County resident and a graduate of High Point High School, he was an adviser to President Obama’s White House Office of Public Engagement, leading outreach to faith-based organizations and antipoverty groups; director of AmeriCorps VISTA, the domestic Peace Corps; and director of the community relations service in the Justice Department, where he led efforts to address conflicts rooted in race, gender identity and sexual orientation. As the first in his family to graduate from high school, Mr. Monteiro shows a demonstrable passion for education. He has been a strong advocate for universal pre-K, raising teacher salaries, and ensuring that high school students find post-graduation opportunities.

Five-Star Rankings Released for Every MD Public School

The State recently released a new rating system to evaluate every Maryland public school in a more holistic way.

Designed to prepare all students for post-secondary success, the new accountability system gave over 80% of Prince George’s County Public Schools a ranking between three-and five-stars. Click HERE to check the ranking your public school received.

The school ranking system was developed based on a wide range of factors, not just test scores as had been done in the past – in fact, the General Assembly passed legislation in 2017 that said academic achievement accounts for more than 65% of a school’s rating. Schools received points for chronic absenteeism (students missing more than 10 days of school) and how well do in teaching English language learners. To measure student achievement, schools earned points for student learning growth, which recognizes schools that bring students up to grade level in reading and math.

November 16, 2018 0 Comment Alonzo Washington

Share:

November 2018 Newsletter

Dear Resident,

Over the past six years, I have been truly humbled by your willingness to place your trust in me to serve as your State Delegate. Last week, you gave me another opportunity to represent you as we won our second election by an overwhelming margin.

I want to personally thank every one of our volunteers and supporters who helped write thousands of postcards, knock on thousands of doors, and call thousands of residents as we spread our progressive vision for our District. I want to assure you that I will continue to listen to you and be your voice in Annapolis.

While we won our race, there is a lot at stake for Prince George’s County due to Governor Hogan’s re-election. Right now, we need bold and effective leadership to protect and represent the diverse needs of our County, which is why I am proud to announce that, this week, I was elected to serve as the First Vice Chair of the Prince George’s County House Delegation.

Through this role, I will work closely with the Chair of the Prince George’s County Delegation and our new County Executive to set the legislative agenda for the Delegation. Moving forward, I am committed to protecting our County from any funding cuts to public education proposed by the Hogan Administration, investing in economic development projects that serve the needs of the whole County, and resisting the MAGLEV train.

I encourage you to attend the Prince George’s County Delegation’s Public Local Bill Hearing on Wednesday, December 12th at 6:00pm in Riverdale Park. At this hearing, the Delegation will hear testimony on proposed local legislation for the 2019 Legislative Session. This is your opportunity provide your feedback on our bills before we head back to Annapolis in January. For a list of the local bills, click HERE. For more information on the Bill Hearing, read below.

New Hyattsville Libary Groundbreaking

After many years of waiting, ground will finally be broken on the new Hyattsville library on Monday, November 19th!

Located on the same lot as the old library, the new building will include an underground parking garage, a green roof, a tech lab, and the iconic flying-saucer canopy. Construction is anticipated to last 24 months with the opening of the new library scheduled for late 2020.

In terms of accessibility, the building will have centralized desk services and fewer segmented areas in order to create easier access for the disabled and make it feel more welcoming in general. If you are interested in attending the groundbreaking ceremony, it will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 19, at 6530 Adelphi Road in Hyattsville.

For those of you who might not be aware, I also encourage you to visit the recently renovated New Carrollton Library, which opened in September. The 58,500-square-foot library features an enlarged entrance with glass walls for more natural light, enhanced technology and additional meeting and study rooms. All public library services are on the main level for customer convenience. Through the Art in Public Places program, the central atrium showcases a colorful resin and aluminium mobile: Convergence of Knowledge by Alan Binstock.

The Discovery Reef children’s area features a 270-gallon saltwater aquarium, colorful overhead lighting that simulates the underwater experience, a reef wall seating area complete with life-like exotic fish, a storytime room that replicates a deep sea habitat and a glowing tube of moving bubbles. The library has 66 computers for public use & 15 laptops in the training room for public instruction. Other technology enhancements include 3D printing, virtual reality and gaming in the Teen Zone. Finally, the library’s current collection has more than 50,000 items (including books, DVDs, audiobooks and magazines) with a future capacity of 80,000 items. It also has a conference room, two meeting rooms, seven study rooms, a Whisper Room, a vending café, Friends bookstore, water bottle filling station and a dual-head charging station for electric vehicles in the parking lot.

MAGLEV Alternatives Report Now Available

Yesterday, the Alternatives Report for the proposed MAGLEV train was published on the project website.

The Alternatives Report follows the Preliminary Screening Report issued in January and considers written input and feedback received from the public, agency representatives, and local officials on what alternatives (or routes) should be studied in more detail.

The NEPA team will ultimately study information provided in this report in even greater detail and incorporate those findings into the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, anticipated to be complete in 2019.

Here are a few highlights featured in the Alternatives Report:

Further refinements to route alternatives J and J1 (the two routes that run along the Baltimore-Washington Parkway) to minimize effects on human and natural resources;
Identification and initial assessment of ancillary facilities such as a train maintenance yard (rolling stock depot) and ventilation facilities;
Initial assessment of station locations in Baltimore, BWI Airport and Washington DC, which includes the identification of Baltimore station options at Camden Yards (underground) and Cherry Hill Light Rail (aboveground) and the identification of Washington DC station options at Mt. Vernon Square East (underground) and Mt. Vernon Square West (underground); and
Summary of on-going agency coordination and comments.

To read the full Alternatives Report, click HERE.

October 18, 2018 0 Comment Alonzo Washington

Share:

October 2018 Newsletter

Dear Resident,

With under a month left until the 2018 General Election, I wanted to ensure that you were aware of some important upcoming dates regarding our election.

Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot
The deadline to request an absentee ballot with a paper application is Tuesday, October 30th. You can also request an Electronic Absentee Ballot online by Friday, November 2nd. Click HERE for instructions on how to request and complete an absentee ballot.

Early Voting
Early Voting for the 2018 General Election begins on Thursday, October 25th and ends on Thursday, November 1st. You can vote early from 10:00am-8:00pm at any of the 11 Early Vote Centers in Prince George’s County. If you want to avoid long lines on Election Day, I encourage you to vote early!

2018 General Election Day
The 2018 Democratic Primary will take place on Tuesday, November 6th. Please confirm your polling place HERE as they occasionally change. The polls will be open on Election Day from 7:00am-8:00pm.

2018 Ballot Questions
This year, there will be several questions at the end of your ballot. The first two questions relate to statewide issues – establishing a “lockbox” for casino revenue and implementing same-day voter registration. I provide a detailed explanation of these questions below, and you can review the language of these questions HERE. I encourage you to vote “For the Constitutional Amendment” on both of these questions.

The remaining questions various local County bond and personnel issues. I also provide a link for you to review these questions below.

For more information on the upcoming General Election, please contact me directly, and don’t forget to vote on Tuesday, November 6th or vote early from Thursday, October 25th-Thursday, November 1st.

Establishing a Casino Revenue “Lockbox”

Politicians lied to you about how lottery and casino revenue would be used when casinos were approved several years ago.

Due to legislation passed by the General Assembly, you will be able to vote to create a “lockbox” for education funding, which will ensure that over $500 million in gaming revenue will be used to fund public education.

Since 2010, when Maryland’s first casino opened, nearly $2 billion in casino revenue has gone to the Education Trust Fund – the special fund that voters were promised would add additional dollars to our public schools. Unfortunately, this money has simply supplanted other general funds that would normally be spent in the public education budget allocation. This means that no additional revenue has been added to the State’s education budget from the recent construction of several casinos.

As our public schools face overcrowding, deteriorating buildings, and wide student achievement gaps, this lack of funding is unacceptable. We can reverse this trend and ensure that gambling money is used to enhance education funding – not supplant it – by voting “For the Constitutional Amendment” on Statewide Ballot Question 1.

To review the language of this Ballot Question, click HERE and scroll down to “Question 1”. For additional information regarding this ballot question, click HERE.

Implementing Same-Day Voter Registration

As the Chair of the Election Law Subcommittee, I led the effort to implement same-day voter registration in our State.

On this year’s ballot, you will have the opportunity to vote to approve this initiative to expand voter access so that the 500,000 unregistered Maryland voters will have even more opportunities to register to vote in our elections.

Currently, Maryland allows eligible residents to appear at an early voting center and apply to register to vote. Since this initiative began in 2016, 9,800 unregistered voters have registered to vote during early voting. Same-day voter registration will simply expand this program to provide unregistered voters with the opportunity to register to vote at their precinct polling place on election day.

To register to vote on election day, an individual will be required to go through the same process required to register to vote at all other times – demonstrate proof of residency and sign an oath under penalty of perjury that they are a United States citizen.

Right now, 16 states and the District of Columbia allow same-day registration, and none of those states has reported an increase in voter fraud due to election day registration. In fact, same-day registration is actually more secure than registering by mail or online because the person is physically present at the polling place.

To remove a significant barrier to voting, I encourage you to vote “For the Constitutional Amendment” on Statewide Ballot Question 2.

To review the language of this Ballot Question, click HERE and scroll down to “Question 2”. For additional information regarding this ballot question, click HERE.

Local Ballot Questions

Following these statewide ballot questions, you will see a series of local County ballot questions regarding issuing bonds and County personnel. To see a full list of these questions, click HERE and scroll down to “Prince George’s County”.

August 31, 2018 0 Comment Alonzo Washington

Share:

August 2018 Newsletter

Dear Resident,

As many of you know, for the past two years, I have been serving on the Commission on Innovation & Excellence in Education (Kirwan Commission), which has been tasked with reviewing & revising Maryland’s school funding formulas to ensure that the $6.3 billion in statewide education funding is distributed equitably to our local school systems.

Over the summer months, the Kirwan Commission has met numerous times as we prepare to make our final recommendations at the end of 2018. At our most recent meeting last week, we began finalizing recommendations specifically relating to early childhood education, teacher pay, and career and college readiness pathways.

The critical details of these recommendations include expanding full-day Pre-K at no cost for low-income families; raising teacher pay to make it equitable with other highly trained professionals with the same amount of education; and creating a Career & Technical Education Subcabinet to build a world-class career & technical education system for Maryland.

At the Commission’s next meeting on September 5th, we will discuss recommendations regarding proving more resources to at-risk students, which I have played a significant role in shaping. We will also be presented with cost estimates for the recommendations the Commission has previously submitted.

I encourage you to follow the Commission’s work as we prepare our final report in the coming months. Commission meetings can be streamed on the Maryland General Assembly’s website and summary’s of prior Commission meetings – as well as various other resources – can be accessed HERE. Please let me know your thoughts, concerns, and ideas as we prepare our final report!

Home Buyer Purchase Assistance Program

The Prince George’s County Department of Housing & Community Development has launched a home buyer assistance program to provide first-time home buyers with a loan of up to $15,000 to use for down payment & closing costs when purchasing a new home.

The loan is a 0% interest deferred payment loan that the purchaser must pay back in full when the home is sold, transferred or ceases to be the primary residence of the buyer(s), regardless of the length of residency. The program is managed by the Redevelopment Authority of Prince George’s County.

If a buyer is a police officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff, classroom teacher, nurse, firefighter or emergency medical technician (EMT), they could be eligible for an additional $5,000 based on their need and income. This would bring the total loan amount up to $20,000. Eligible properties include: resales, foreclosures, short sales and new construction. The purchase price limit is $462,000 for both resale and new construction.

Among other qualifications, potential home buyers must work with a certified participating lender, have an executed sales contract and attend an “in-classroom” 8 hour counseling course by a HUD certified Housing Counseling Agency. For additional information, please visit the Prince George’s County Purchase Assistance Program website: https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/2965/Purchase-Assistance-Program.

There is still $500,000 available for the existing home buyer assistance program, Pathway to Purchase. For details and qualifications for the Pathway to Purchase Program, visit: https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/2598/Pathway-to-Purchase.

Housing Rehabilitation Assistance Program

The Prince George’s County Department of Housing & Community Development has also partnered with the Housing Initiative Partnership to provide home improvement loans of up to $60,000 to eligible homeowners who need to make repairs on their homes.

Eligible Applicants:
 Must own and occupy a home in Prince George’s County
 Must be current on mortgage payments, property taxes and property insurance
 Cannot have an “underwater” mortgage
 Total household income may not exceeds the program limits

Eligible Repairs:
 Health Hazards: Lead, mold and asbestos abatement
 Safety and Code Compliance repairs: Roof, electrical systems,plumbing, flooring
 Energy Efficiency: Windows, insulation, air sealing, siding
 ADA related improvements: Ramps, grab bars, railings
 Other improvements considered

Loan Terms:
 0% interest, no monthly payments
 Maximum Loan Amount of $60,000
 Loans are repaid in full when the house is sold or transferred
 Maximum LTV 110%

How To Apply:
 Call Housing Initiative Partnership, Inc. (HIP) at 301-699-3835 to request an application

June 5, 2018 0 Comment Alonzo Washington

Share:

June 2018 Newsletter

With under a month left until the 2018 Democratic Primary Election, I wanted to ensure that you were aware of some upcoming important dates regarding our election.

Deadline to Register to Vote
The deadline to register to vote is tomorrow Tuesday, June 5th. Please visit the Prince George’s County Board of Elections website to learn how to register to vote, which can be done in person at the MVA locations in Prince George’s County or at the Board of Elections Office in Largo. You can also register to vote online by clicking HERE.

Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot
The deadline to request an absentee ballot with a paper application is Tuesday, June 19th and Friday, June 22nd if you request an Electronic Absentee Ballot. Please click HERE for instructions on how to request an absentee ballot and how to complete your absentee ballot.

Early Voting
Early Voting for the 2018 Democratic Primary begins on Thursday, June 14th and ends on Thursday, June 21st. You can vote early from 8:00am-8:00pm at any of the 11 Early Vote Centers in Prince George’s County. If you want to avoid long lines on Election Day, I encourage you to vote early!

2018 Democratic Primary Election Day
The 2018 Democratic Primary will take place on Tuesday, June 26th. Please confirm your polling place by clicking HERE as they occasionally change. The polls will be open on Election Day from 7:00am-8:00pm.

Over the past two years, I have been proud to lead the effort to reform the electoral process and system in Maryland as the Chair of the Election Law Subcommittee in the House of Delegates. Under my leadership, I have helped pass numerous bills that will protect our elections from foreign intereference and expand voter access.

Click below to read more about these initiatives! For more information on the upcoming Democratic Primary Election, please contact me directly.

Expanding Voter Access in Maryland

As other states continue to restrict voting access, this year, I helped pass two initiatives that will provide new opportunities to encourage the 500,000 unregistered voters in Maryland to participate in our elections.

First, Maryland became the 18th state in the country to implement same-day voter registration to allow unregistered voters to register on Election Day at the polls. This legislation will appear as a ballot initiative on the November 2018 ballot, so if you support this idea, I encourage you vote for it!

This year, I also strongly advocated for legislation to implement automatic voter registration. Now, instead of “opting-in” to register to vote when you are at the MVA, the Health Care Exchanges, or social services offices, you will automatically be registered with the option to “opt-out”. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, automatic voter registration saves money, increases the accuracy of voter rolls, and boosts voter participation. With the passage of this legislation, Maryland joined a diverse and bipartisan group of 10 other states and Washington, D.C. that are leading the national movement for automatic voter registration.

Protecting Our Democracy from Foreign Interference

In the 2016 election, Russians attempted to hack Maryland’s voter registration system. While the federal government refused to protect our elections, I led the effort to address the cybersecurity vulnerabilities in Maryland’s election systems.

Just two weeks ago, legislation I passed became law without the Governor’s signature to require online platforms – such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google – to retain and disclose information on online political ads. In 2016, Maryland was specifically targeted by 262 online political ads funded by the Russians. Due to my bill, Maryland became the first state in the country to impose such regulations on these online platforms, so we can track and prevent these attempts by Russia and other foreign entities from manipulating our democracy and interfering in our elections.

Unfortunately, State lawmakers and the public were not informed of above referenced interference in our elections until seven months after it occurred. Because of legislation I proposed, lawmakers and the public will immediately be informed of any “security incident” involving the State’s election systems. My legislation also protects the privacy of online ballots and ensures that hard records are maintained if hackers attempt to alter the online voter registration records.

Re-Enfranchising Ex-Felons

In 2016, I worked hard to ensure we had the votes to override the Governor’s veto of legislation that expanded the right to vote to 40,000 tax-paying Marylanders who had previously been disenfranchised.

For more information on this legislation, click HERE to read an op-ed I wrote with my colleague, Del. Cory McCray, on how restoring voting rights to those returning from prison has been directly linked to reducing recidivism and provides an incentive to positively contribute to society.

April 11, 2018 0 Comment Alonzo Washington

Share:

April 2018 Newsletter – End of Session Update

Dear Resident,

Unfortunately, we have reached a point of extreme polarization in our country! On issues of race, gun control, income inequality, criminal justice, and school safety, the federal government and the Republican Congress is incapable of making any actual change. Despite the stagnation at the federal level, this year, I was proud to lead the fight in Maryland to impact several critical national issues that Congress and the federal government have refused to address.

The federal government has not acted on student debt and college access for years. I started an initiative two years ago to make Prince George’s Community College tuition-free. Last year, we received $1.7 million for a Promise Scholarship Program at PGCC, and now, 500 students will attend community college for free. Additionally, this year, I sponsored legislation to initiate a $15 million statewide “Maryland Promise Scholarship Program” that will make community college free for all low-and-middle income students & families in Maryland.

Having safe schools is a RIGHT that all of our students & teachers deserve. However, Congress again has failed to hear the pleas for stronger gun control laws. Throughout my tenure, I have voted for numerous common-sense gun control laws to keep students & communities safe, including a ban on bump stocks – the device used in the Las Vegas mass shooting, and allowing law enforcement to confiscate guns from domestic abusers and any person considered a danger to themselves or others.

Finally, over the past seven years, federal funding for affordable housing and community development has dropped by 8.4%. Again, when Congress does not act, I have. Last year, I established the National Capital Economic Development Fund to revitalize commercial and residential properties within the Capital Beltway. I am excited to report that this year’s budget includes a $1 million allocation to this program. This investment will have a direct impact on several communities in our District that deserve quality, affordable economic development.

I encourage you to read further as you will find updates on the budget, education reforms & investments, the MAGLEV train, tax relief and more. For more information, please contact me directly.

ON THE NOVEMBER 2018 GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT

Expanding Voter Access – Same-Day Voter Registration
I want to ensure that you are aware of two issues that will appear on the ballot this year. As Chair of the Election Law Subcommittee, I led efforts to make Maryland the 18th state in the country to implement same-day voter registration to expand access to voting so that 500,000 unregistered voters will vote in our elections.

Protecting Public Education Funds
Unfortunately, politicians lied to you about how lottery & casino revenue would be used when casinos were approved several years ago. This year, I voted to create a “lockbox” for education funding. This legislation will ensure that by 2022 over $500 million in gaming revenue will be used to fund public education.

YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK!

The Maryland State Budget – Prioritizing Education Investments
As your legislator, my top priority is to fully fund Prince George’s County public schools. This year, I secured $1.1 billion in investments for our school system – the most of any county in the State. I also fought for $400 million in new school construction funding and $22.5 million to fund school safety & security initiatives.

As a member of the Kirwan Commission, I have also been working to revise Maryland’s school funding formulas, which are currently underfunding our schools by $2.9 billion. To reverse this trend, I sponsored legislation to allocate over $30 million to fund the Kirwan Commission’s initial recommendations, which include implementing universal Pre-K, providing more resources to at-risk students, increasing teacher salaries, and providing more college & career readiness services in our schools.

My Commitment to Prince George’s County
In addition to these critical investments, our budget allocated funds to continue economic development projects for Prince George’s County and District 22, including:

Restored $29 Million to fund the Prince George’s County Regional Medical Center;
$31 Million to fund Prince George’s Community College;
Restored $38 Million in Highway User Revenues to fund road maintenance in our municipalities;
$1 Million to incentivize inside the beltway economic development projects;
$250,000 for college access programs at Parkdale & Duval High School;
$75,000 to renovate the Lanham Boys & Girls Club Sports Park;
$75,000 to construct the Greenbelt Station Hiker & Biker Trail; and
$300,000 to develop a signature public gathering space at the Armory Plaza in Hyattsville.

RESISTING THE MAGLEV TRAIN

Supporting the “No Build” Option
This year, I sent a letter to Congressman Hoyer to ask for his official position on the proposed MAGLEV train after he declined to take a position at a public meeting in Annapolis. I requested his position because the MAGLEV will likely rely on federal grants or loans should it be approved for construction. Again, when our federal officials refuse to act on an important issue to our District, I have. This year, I supported a series of bills to ensure that no State funds or State land go to the MAGLEV project. My position on this issue is simple – I stand with the hundreds of residents in our District who oppose the MAGLEV project and support the “No Build” Option!

TAX BREAKS FOR YOU & YOUR FAMILY

Restoring Personal Exemptions & Increasing Standard Deductions
In December 2017, the Republican led Congress passed a massive tax overhaul that cut taxes for the wealthiest individuals and corporations at the expense of 700,00 low-and-middle class families in Maryland. Specifically, the federal tax bill eliminates the personal exemptions Maryland taxpayers can claim for dependent family members. Because of legislation I voted for to allow families to continue to claim personal exemptions on their State taxes, we will save Maryland taxpayers over $800 million a year.

I also voted for legislation to provide low and middle class taxpayers with a $90 million tax break by increasing Maryland’s standard deductions for single filers to $2,250 and for joint filers to $4,500. This increase will provide tax relief for over 1 million taxpayers who take the State standard deduction and make tax filing simpler.

Tax Relief for Low-Wage Workers & Military Retirees
This year, I was proud to vote for a series of initiatives that will provide tax relief for low-and-middle income Marylanders who are working to escape the cycle of poverty. First, I voted to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to childless adults, which will provide $7.5 million in tax relief to Marylander’s struggling to get by on low wages.

Finally, I strongly supported legislation to expand the retirement income subtraction modification from $10,000 to $15,000 for and provide an additional $6 million per year of tax relief to Maryland military veterans and retirees. The legislation also expands the existing State subtraction modification for retired law enforcement, fire, rescue, and emergency services personnel to retired correctional officers.

DELEGATE WASHINGTON’S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

Improving Transparency & Accountability in Our Public School System

Establishing an Independent Inspector General for PGCPS
Over the past three years, I have proposed legislation to improve transparency & accountability in our school system by establishing an independent Inspector General to investigate allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse. Following decades of systemic mismanagement of funds, numerous unaddressed audit findings, and the recent findings of grade changes and inflated graduation rates, this legislation is necessary to restore a sense of public trust in our schools. An independent Inspector General will ensure education funding – which totaled $1.9 billion in Prince George’s County last year – is spent efficiently and performance standards are measured accurately.

Reforming School Discipline

Ending the School-to-Prison Pipeline
According to a report from the State Department of Education, 588 students were arrested at Prince George’s County Schools in the 2015-2016 and African Americans make up 65% of the total arrests in Maryland public schools. Unfortunately, this data was presented as a “data dump” with no ability for analysis. To reform how data is reported on student discipline data, I sponsored legislation to require this data is disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, FARM eligibility, disability status, and English language proficiency. These data requirements will encourage accountability of the school disciplinary actions as we work to eliminate the school-to-prison pipeline.

This year, I also voted to provide $22.5 million to fund and improve new school safety standards. Most importantly, this bill incorporates legislation that I proposed to ensure that all school resource officers and school security personnel are adequately trained to protect our students, de-escalate violent situations, and promote a positive school climate.

Increasing Access to Affordable Housing

Incentivizing Affordable Housing – Glenn Dale Hospital Site
Right now, Maryland needs 119,000 new units of affordable housing just to meet existing demand while Prince George’s County only has 34.3 adequate and affordable rental housing units available for every 100 low-income renters. This year, I passed legislation to address the affordable housing gap in both the State and Prince George’s County by expanding the historic tax credit to fund the reuse of historic structures to create new affordable housing opportunities. This legislation will also help revitalize the Glenn Dale Hospital site.

FIXING OUR METRO SYSTEM

Dedicating $167 Million in Funding to Metro
Our Metro system is broken – from delayed maintenance repairs and upgrades to constantly late trains, we all know of the problems that have plagued Metro for decades. This year, I was proud to vote for critical legislation to provide desperately needed, long-term capital funding to the Metro system. By providing $167 million annually in funding to Metro, Maryland joins Virginia and D.C. to ensure that Metro can make the essential system improvements it needs to provide sustainable and reliable service.

PRESERVING MARYLAND’S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

Stabilizing Health Insurance Costs
Due to sharply rising costs and shrinking enrollment, Maryland’s Health Care Exchange was on the verge of collapse. To stabilize our Health Care market and insurance rates, I voted for legislation this year that will create a reinsurance program to help insurers cover high-risk patients. I also supported legislation to direct $380 million that health insurance companies no longer have to pay in federal taxes to keep health care rates lower next year.

PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT

Ensuring Maryland’s Membership in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and the U.S. Climate Alliance
This year, I voted for a series of bills to ensure that the Governor to cannot withdraw the State from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative or the U.S. Climate Alliance. Following the Federal Administration’s announcement that the U.S. would withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, these bills are essential to demonstrate Maryland’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in our State and worldwide.

PROTECTING OUR DEMOCRACY FROM FOREIGN INTERFERENCE

Regulating Online Political Ads on Facebook & Online Platforms
In the 2016 election, Russians attempted to hack Maryland’s voter registration system. While the federal government refused to protect our elections, I led the effort to address the cybersecurity vulnerabilities in Maryland’s election systems. I sponsored and passed legislation to make Maryland one of the first state’s in the country to require online platforms – such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google – to retain and disclose information on online political ads. In 2016, Maryland was specifically targeted by 262 online political ads funded by the Russians. My legislation will send a clear message that we will not tolerate attempts by foreign governments to manipulate our democracy and interfere in our elections.

Election Cybersecurity Protections
Unfortunately, State lawmakers and the public were not informed of above referenced interference in our elections until seven months after it occurred. Because of legislation I proposed, lawmakers and the public will immediately be informed of any “security incident” involving the State’s election systems. My legislation also protects the privacy of online ballots and ensures that hard records are maintained if hackers attempt to alter the online voter registration records.

Wrapping It Up
Thank you for reading my 2018 Legislative Update! To read more about my legislative accomplishments, other initiatives, and community events in District 22, as well as sign up for my newsletter, visit my website at www.AlonzoWashington.com You can also follow me on Twitter @DelegateATW and friend request me at facebook.com/DelegateWashington.

Please do not hesitate to contact my office directly with any questions or concerns you may have this year. Don’t forget that you are always invited to join me at my monthly “Table Talk Tour” events around District 22! Subscribe to my newsletter for the next event. I am excited to get back out into your neighborhood to hear from you about how we can improve our Municipalities, County and State.

I look forward to seeing you around the community, and I thank you for the opportunity to serve you!

Sincerely,

-Alonzo

Alonzo T. Washington
Maryland State Delegate

March 12, 2018 0 Comment Alonzo Washington

Share:

March 2018 Newsletter

Dear Resident,

As the Chair of the Ways & Means Election Law Subcommittee, I have recently been featured in both the Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post to highlight the efforts I have led this year to protect our elections from foreign influence.

In 2016, $1.4 billion was spent on online political ads. Facebook found ad buys totaling $150,000 linked to fake Russian accounts while Twitter found accounts controlled by Russians that spent $274,100 on ads in 2016. Maryland was specifically targeted by 262 Russian ads.

This year, I have proposed HB981 to make Maryland one of the first state’s in the country to require online platforms – such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google – to retain and disclose online political ads, particularly those purchased by foreign entities.

In addition to their online political ads, Russian hackers attempted to disrupt Maryland’s computerized voter registration system during the 2016 election cycle. State lawmakers and the public were not informed of this attempted interference until seven months later.

To address the cybersecurity vulnerabilities within our election systems, I have proposed HB1331 and HB1658 to ensure that lawmakers are immediately informed of any “security incidents” involving the State’s election systems. These bills also protect the privacy of online absentee ballots and ensure that hard records are maintained if hackers attempt to alter the online voter registration records.

In addition to these bills, I have also proposed 19 other pieces of legislation to improve public school facilities, increase transparency in our schools, expand access to affordable housing, and reform our criminal justice system. Please read below for more details about my 2018 Legislative Agenda or click HERE!

Sincerely,

-Alonzo

Alonzo T. Washington
Maryland State Delegate

Expanding Access to Affordable Housing

Right now, Prince George’s County only has 34.3 adequate and affordable rental housing units available for every 100 low-income renters.

I have introduced two bills to address the affordable housing gap in both the State and Prince George’s County. As new economic development continues, these initiatives will ensure that residents who are cost-burdened or living in areas experiencing market pressure continue to have access to long-term affordable housing options.

The first – HB1454 – will expand Maryland’s historic tax credit to fund the reuse of historic structures to create new affordable housing opportunities. The second piece of legislation – HB235 – will require that 20% of new development in mass transit and revitalization zones in Prince George’s County be designated as affordable housing. This requirement will ensure that low-income families in these areas are not priced-out by new development.

According a report issued earlier this year by the Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding and the National Low Income Housing Coalition, access to affordable housing improves economic mobility, reduces poverty and homelessness, positively impacts health outcomes and strengthens the economy. Put into real numbers, building 100 affordable rental homes generates $11.7 million in local income, $2.2 million in taxes and other revenue for local governments, and 161 local jobs in the first year alone.

The report also highlights the recent decline in federal housing and community development funding, which has dropped by 8.4% over the past 7 years.

We cannot let this national trend trickle down to Maryland.

As new economic development continues around our State, my bills will ensure that residents who are cost-burdened or living in areas experiencing market pressure continue to have access to long-term affordable housing options.

Establishing a PGCPS Inspector General

Last week, another allegation surfaced of mismanagement of funds within the Prince George’s County Public School System (PGCPS). A report from some members of the Board of Education claims that numerous PGCPS administration employees recently received unauthorized raises of 10-12% while teachers were denied a 4% raise last month.

At this point, I’m sure you are tired of reading negative news reports on PGCPS leadership – I know I am. To me, this issue is simple. You – as parents of PGCPS students and as County taxpayers – deserve more transparency and accountability in our schools. As lawmakers, who allocate $1.9 billion to our County school system, we deserve to know that this funding is spent efficiently and effectively.

Last week, the Prince George’s County House Delegation voted to approve my legislation to create an Inspector General to provide a layer of independent oversight within our schools. It’s time to put a stop to the waste, fraud, and abuse that has plagued our school system for decades.

As this legislation continues to move through the legislation process, I encourage you to contact your State Senator and the Governor to ask them to support transparency and accountability in PGCPS.

Reforming Public School Facility Evaluations

In 2017, 181 school facilities were inspected by the Prince George’s County Health Department for sanitation, maintenance, and food handling. 116 schools had “Critical Violations Observed” in their inspection results while 36 schools were “Out of Compliance” for rodent and insect inspections.

To reform how our school facilities are assessed and ensure that all students and teachers are working in a 21st Century learning environment, I have proposed HB1495 to require the State to complete a statewide assessment of all school facilities by 2020 and establish new criteria to evaluate and rank school facilities in the State.

Maryland’s Constitution affords all students in our State with the right to a quality education. Unfortunately, for too many Maryland students, this right is being infringed due to the condition of their schools. As we live in the richest state in the nation that spends over $6 billion on public education, there is no excuse for why thousands of students in Maryland are attending schools that are literally falling apart.

My legislation will address the current condition of all public schools in the State and take the first steps to create an objective method to evaluate and rank Maryland school facilities.

April 20, 2017 0 Comment Alonzo Washington

Share:

April 2017 Newsletter

Dear Resident,

The end of the 2017 Legislative Session marks the 5th year I have served as your representative in Annapolis. Since my appointment five years ago, I am constantly humbled by how you continue to place your trust in me. This year, my leadership representing you and the issues that matter most to our District began to receive meaningful recognition.

Characterized by my colleagues as “Too Big and Aspirational,” my 2017 Legislative Agenda was developed based on the concerns and ideas I received from you and your neighbors. This Session was very successful, as I introduced and passed 10 pieces of legislation in the House of Delegates that will help end the school-to-prison pipeline, relieve the burden of student debt, create economic revitalization for communities inside the beltway, protect students with disabilities, and keep “BIG MONEY” from influencing elections in Maryland.

In addition to these successful initiatives, we have come one step closer to having FREE TUITION for Community College in Prince George’s County. Last year, I established the Prince George’s Promise Scholarship Task Force to study how we can begin to enact free tuition at Prince George’s Community College (PGCC). In our final report, the Task Force recommended that it is actually feasible to implement a “last-dollar” Promise Scholarship Program to cover the costs of tuition and fees at PGCC for graduates of our County’s public high schools, regardless of income. This year, $1.7 million was allocated in the County’s budget to initiate the program and send 500 new students to college for free in the Fall of 2017.

Finally, the Speaker of the House appointed me to serve as Chair of the Election Law Subcommittee in the Ways & Means Committee. Through this new role, I led efforts to improve transparency in our elections and implement same-day voter registration to provide residents with the opportunity to register and vote on Election Day. While this legislation ultimately did not pass in the final hours of the Legislative Session, I was proud to continue our State’s endeavors to expand voting access because we should be making it easier for people to vote – not harder.

In this newsletter, I have provided a comprehensive update of the 2017 Legislation Session that concluded earlier this month. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. Don’t forget to sign-up at the top of the page to receive my monthly newsletter!

Sincerely,

-Alonzo

Alonzo T. Washington
Maryland State Delegate

Reforming the Prince George’s County Liquor Board

As the Chair of the Prince George’s County Liquor Licensing & Law Enforcement Subcommittee, I was proud to lead the effort to implement the first comprehensive reforms to the Prince George’s County Liquor Board in 50 years.

The Prince George’s County Alcoholic Beverages Regulation Reform Act will enable routine performance audits, professionalize our Board Member positions, and create strict ethics laws for the Board and its employees. It is my hope that these ethics and oversight reforms will recapture and restore the public trust that has been broken within our communities and bring greater transparency and accountability to our government.