Sharp Rise in Local Covid-19 Cases Concerns Residents
Looking around in Greenbelt, it is clear that there are fewer people wearing masks and that the comfort level with meeting others has increased since a good fraction of the community has been vaccinated. Unfortunately, however, the number of new cases in the 20770 zip code is noticeably on the rise. The trend began a […]
New Deal Café – Take Four? A Cooperative Point of View
There’s more to the New Deal’s new deal than meets the eye. One can, perhaps, take for granted that two cooperatives cooperating confers the square of the benefit from just one cooperative operating alone. In fact, however, the realities are, if that’s possible, even more intriguing. The new Café venture is not just a feel-good […]
Council FOP Contract Vote Delayed by Process Shortfalls
The Greenbelt City Council meeting of July 12 resounded with complaints about administrative failures relating to the meeting and its content and interfering with the ability to complete crucial agenda items. Resident Lore Rosenthal pointed out errors in meeting links that might be preventing citizens from attending the Zoom meeting and councilmembers griped about late […]
Treasury’s BEP Print Facility Looms Ever Larger at BARC
As the government continues to print more money, the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for building the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) facility has now been published, containing a summary of the comments received during the Draft Environmental Impact Statement public review period and the agency’s proposed changes/responses (see front page article in the […]
El Concejo reflexiona sobre los altos depósitos de seguridad y la reconfiguración de los distritos escolares
El alcalde Colin Byrd había sugerido exigir a los propietarios que permitan a los inquilinos entrantes tener la opción de pagar su depósito de seguridad dentro de los tres primeros meses si el depósito es más del 60 por ciento del alquiler mensual. En la reunión del Concejo Municipal de Greenbelt del 14 de junio, […]
Trails, Environment, Covid Recovery Engage Council
In a cordial and constructive council meeting on Monday, June 14, city recreational facilities arose in a number of contexts. One focal point was the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) trail where the city has now received two invoices from WMATA charging $50K and $107K, respectively, for “required review fees.” A Greek chorus of […]
Smoothly Run Council Meeting Navigates Polarizing Agenda
The Greenbelt City Council meeting of May 10 was more to the point, more polite, less divisive and far shorter than has recently been the case, presumably as a result of discussions the week before on demeanor and process. Though still frosty, the interactions in council remained professional and relatively unmarred by discord on an […]
Greenbelt Metro Vaccine Site Changes to J & J on May 12
On Tuesday, May 11, the FEMA-operated Community Vaccination Center in Greenbelt stopped giving new first shots of the Pfizer vaccine. Beginning Wednesday, May 12, the Greenbelt center will provide Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccinations and continue to provide Pfizer second doses for the remaining weeks the center is open. The center is currently open seven […]
Council Reviews Law Firm’s Analysis on Maglev DEIS
At the Greenbelt City Council meeting on May 10, Councilmember Leta Mach moved and council adopted a motion to authorize City Manager Nicole Ard to draft a letter that presents comments on the maglev Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) from the environmental law firm of Jill Grant and Associates. The letter will be presented for […]
Byrd Attacks State, County Officials on Vaccine Rollout
On Wednesday, April 7, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) held a press conference to open its new mass vaccination site at the Greenbelt Metro Station. After mutually congratulatory remarks from Governor Larry Hogan, County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and senior representatives from FEMA and the National Guard, Mayor Colin Byrd soured the celebratory tone by […]