The News Review, as it does for every city council election, asked the candidates to respond to questions. Answers are limited to 150 words. If an answer exceeds the limit, the answer is cut off at that point. Responses will be published in various orders to avoid favoring candidates. Here are the answers we received to our first question.
Question 1: What is the most important thing the city council needs to accomplish in the upcoming term? How would you accomplish it and how would you pay for it?
Rodney M. Roberts
I want to focus on a project that can be done with state Program Open Space funds because Greenbelt is facing a five million dollar structural deficit. As a child growing up in Greenbelt, the most beneficial aspects of Greenbelt were the ability to play in the woods and explore nature, an easy walk to participate in active sports that taught me how to socialize and work with others to achieve a common goal, and an easy walk to arts programs where for five cents I could get a huge hunk of clay so I could make anything I wanted and let my imagination grow. For far too long the children of Franklin Park/Greenbelt West have been denied these opportunities. It’s time to right this wrong while the land is still available. Let’s build a real park for the children of Greenbelt West; it will benefit us all!
Jenni Pompi
In its next term, council needs to solidify a plan for the Armory property. Acquiring such a property is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and it must be developed thoughtfully and sustainably. This property would be ideal for substantial, affordable, intergenerational housing on the current paved footprint. It would be essential to keep the forested area on the property intact, but also to include pedestrian and bicycle trails to connect the new housing to the city center, and to work with the county to strengthen connections across Greenbelt Road to make Greenway Center more accessible. To accomplish and afford this project, the city should partner with the UMD School of Architecture for a green, sustainable design and a nonprofit housing development corporation to help fund, plan and manage construction, and possibly assist with property management once the building is completed. Adding solar to the project could increase sustainability and affordability.
Danielle P. McKinney
In the upcoming term, city council must ensure that Greenbelt residents – especially those facing job loss, food insecurity or housing challenges ‒ have access to resources they need to thrive. Preserving land and local jobs connected to BARC, Goddard and the career firefighters is vital to Greenbelt’s stability and identity. I will continue advocating for safe, affordable housing and supporting rent stabilization to help residents stay rooted in our community. Advancing Greenbelt’s Economic Development Strategy is also essential to attracting innovative, future-focused employers and strengthening workforce development for the jobs of tomorrow.
To fund these efforts, I support phasing select capital improvements and purchases, tightening operational costs and pursuing grants to grow initiatives like Greenbelt Grows, which tackles food insecurity through local growing, sustainability and community connection. Investing strategically and using our spaces creatively, we can keep Greenbelt strong, connected and ready for the future.
Silke I. Pope
The current state of public safety must be addressed by the Greenbelt City Council. The recent removal of two dozen career firefighters from the Greenbelt Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad has raised serious concerns regarding this agency’s emergency response times and overall quality of service.
Officials from the City of Greenbelt must take a proactive role in negotiations with Prince George’s County government agencies to ensure the appropriate and necessary staffing of career firefighters in Greenbelt. Greenbelt residents must feel secure that the fastest possible response times coupled with the highest professional standards will be met during emergency situations.
To address this concern, the City of Greenbelt must continue to examine its existing budget and consider implementing a range of sound funding strategies that will introduce alternative models of emergency assistance including advanced partnerships with area fire departments, collaborations with local municipal governments and continued community input and involvement.
Kevin “Coach K” Lockhart
The most important thing council can accomplish in the upcoming term is building true unity across all parts of Greenbelt. For too long, our city has felt divided – Old Greenbelt, Greenbelt East and Greenbelt West – but we are one Greenbelt.
What happens in one area affects everyone. Strengthening that unity must be our top priority, because when communication, trust and collaboration improve, everything else falls into place.
Council and community must take a more hands-on approach to community engagements. That means regular face-to-face meetings in every neighborhood. Residents need to see their leaders present, listening and actively involved.
We must rebuild the bridge between residents and law enforcement. I would work to expand foot and bike patrols so officers can engage with residents.
Creating a Police Athletic League would bring positive partnerships between officers and youth through sports like basketball or baseball. This will cost nothing but time and effort.
Frankie Santos Fritz
We must broaden civic participation in our decision-making processes. Nearly 10,000 residents cast a ballot in the Presidential election in 2024, but only about 2,500 voted for city council in 2023. In the face of attacks by the Trump administration, we will need every resident at the table to help shape the future of our city to become a more affordable and inclusive community.
My campaign is prioritizing increasing turnout in all five precincts of our city including with events like our voter registration cookout in Franklin Park and Federal Furlough Fridays picnics to support and build community space for our federal workers and contractors during the shutdown.
We will face significant fiscal challenges in the next few years and our limited resources moving forward should help enhance the reach and visibility of community-driven volunteer and mutual aid efforts organized by our neighbors across the region.
Kristen L.K. Weaver
Our primary task is optimizing our resources amid competing priorities heard from listening to Greenbelters. It’s difficult to choose one most important.
We need to support our residents through the unsettled economy and social upheaval due to rapid and haphazard changes by the federal government. This includes efforts connecting people to existing resources funded by the county and state, and readjusting city activities to better meet our needs. Related opportunities like annexing BARC or other areas give us a greater voice in future changes.
We should explore micromobility options to fill gaps in public transit, funded by a combination of the city and stakeholder businesses.
A major opportunity (and simultaneous challenge) is the Armory. Excellent ideas came from the community engagement process so far, but the city can’t afford them on our own. We need county, state or private partners for funding, and to ensure any development fits Greenbelt’s character.
Amy Knesel
Last weekend, two people in our city lost their lives to violence. It has shaken all of us. In response, city council should focus on rebuilding Greenbelt’s sense of connection and belonging – especially for 16- to 25-year-olds, who too often lack third spaces. Greenbelt has strong roots in community centers and partner organizations; we can expand engagement opportunities so every young person has somewhere to go, something to do, someone who cares.
I would invest in a coordinated volunteer engagement hub, additional youth mentorship programs and stronger partnerships between the city, schools and nonprofits so residents can easily plug in. These aren’t high-cost initiatives – most can be done through partnerships, modest budget reallocations and grants.
We will only become safer, stronger and more resilient together.
Bill Orleans
In a (once upon) time of megalomania raging elsewhere, we should resist its rise, or that of “minilomania,” here; like a little acorn, either could grow to overwhelm those of us still interested in “keeping the republic.”
Where the big boss thinks he “can do anything I want,” or that, “only I can” resolve, whatever the problem; or the lesser bosses believe, only they can know the secret sauce of local self governance, the people are in a pickle.
Most importantly, council should acknowledge that the seats they individually hold belong, not to them, but to the people. As a result of this election, the more significant change in its composition, the more clear it will be to those elected, it is Greenbelters who own council.
It would not cost anything for council to talk less and listen more at meetings and worksessions. Write in your neighbor!
Emmett V. Jordan
Council’s top priority is to navigate fiscal challenges while safeguarding core city services – without raising taxes. Potential budget shortfalls, driven by our commitment to equitable pay and benefits for every employee, demand prudent action and strategic focus.
Federal workforce reductions and contractor cuts will shrink Greenbelt’s tax base, requiring us to defer nonessential projects (such as the Armory), lengthen vehicle replacement cycles and streamline some programs.
Maintaining robust social services is vital. By collaborating with county and state agencies, and partnering with resident groups like Greenbelt CORES, we will build a strong safety net for residents affected by these changes.
Council must empower staff to aggressively assist with business retention, proactively spur economic development and compete for grants to bring in additional resources.
Through disciplined budgeting, open communication and unwavering commitment to resident services, we will ensure Greenbelt’s future remains secure.
