Council Considers Non-Citizen Voting in Greenbelt Elections
On August 7, Greenbelt City Council convened a worksession with the city’s Board of Elections (BOE) on the possibility of introducing amendments to the City Charter and City Code that would allow non-citizens to vote in municipal elections. In 2023, around two-thirds of the city’s registered voters supported the idea in a non-binding question. At […]
Greenbelt Park: A History
Greenbelt Park provides an urban oasis, a 1,100-acre green space that local residents, along with visitors and guests from the nation’s 50 states and many foreign countries have enjoyed. Situated 13 miles from Washington, D.C., and bisected by the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, the park offers a campground and nine miles of trails, where guests can enjoy […]
Recovering from the Pandemic, Beltway Plaza Looks to the Future
Beltway Plaza continues to make a recovery from the pandemic, while facing its ongoing challenges. At the Greenbelt City Council worksession on September 7, Mayor Emmett Jordan said that Beltway Plaza, which began phased construction 57 years ago, is the city’s “strongest corporate partner.” Marc “Kap” Kapistan, from Quantum Companies, the entity that handles managing […]
Major Repairs to City Pool May Require ARPA Readjustments
At the September 14 worksession, the Greenbelt City Council continued in its efforts to prioritize how the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds will finally be spent. An urgent new addition to the list was the needed infrastructure repairs to the city’s outdoor pool, built in 1937. A recent inspection at the mechanics area, separate […]
New Police Crisis Intervention Team Off to Successful Start
The Greenbelt Police Department (GPD) has begun implementing its new Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) with counselor Rachel Tobin. According to Tobin, “CIT will assist with welfare checks, domestic abuse, geriatric and juvenile issues with behavioral health concerns, victim support, critical incidents, emergency petitions and repeat callers to 911 who are identified with behavioral health concerns.” […]
Council Prepares for New Small Cell Infrastructure
The growing demand for increasing the coverage, data capacity and durability of wireless infrastructure is of high interest to the city, considering that cellphones are now many residents’ main, if not sole, avenue for communication. This fact was brought to the fore by the recent storm that debilitated city wireless accessibility for days in some […]
Council Ponders Its Work Plan, Tends to Administrative Issues
The Greenbelt City Council addressed administrative issues at its August 10 meeting. Mayor Emmett Jordan initiated a debate on the possibility of moving the scheduling of future worksessions from the end of regular (often long) meetings to a worksession, feeling that council would have a fresher perspective. Council and staff were amenable (with one exception) […]
City Council Sorts Priorities For ARPA Fund Allocations
On July 18, Greenbelt City Council continued its deliberations on the eventual uses of the $22.88M of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds in an effort to disburse them in the most equitable and impactful way for the city and its residents. In defense of the city’s lengthy and painstaking approach, Council member Ric Gordon […]
Council Debates Reparations Committee Interview Process
Greenbelt is currently accepting applications for the 21-member Reparations Commission, with a deadline of Sunday, July 31. On July 20, the Greenbelt City Council met to work out an interview process. While a clear and final approach was not reached, the solid beginnings of a plan were achieved by meeting’s end. Two of the main […]
City’s Advisory Board Chairs Report Activities to Council
Greenbelt’s advisory boards and committees fill the dual purpose of serving the needs of the Greenbelt City Council and of the city’s residents, responding to referrals from both, as well as having the ability to act independently on issues they deem vital. Twelve chairs from these volunteer groups, all appointed by council, met with council […]