Make A Good Nuisance of Yourself

It’s easy to despair when looking at events in Prince George’s County, particularly in Beltsville.

We now have a reported $151 million deficit at the county level, a still-unresolved $39 million transfer between the county at large and the Parks Department, and an $8.6 million payment to a friend of County Council Member Oriadha. As of this writing, $7.6 million of that payment has been ordered returned.

Then there are lackluster (putting it kindly) trash, recycling and compost services; money for an entertainment space that seems unnecessary; a 311 system that is down more often than not; a lack of communication regarding the Station 31 BVFD assessments and the related “temporary” Fire Station 851 next to the library; and the abysmal busing system for students this year. That’s to say nothing of BARC, although I’m grateful for the judge’s recent stay on its closure.

Taken one by one, such events may seem innocuous, but collectively, they point to a picture of a community deeply unhealthy—not because the people don’t care, but because the vast majority of leadership doesn’t.

Taking a leaf out of John Oliver’s book, what can we do now?

·        Keep the pressure on. Immense pressure at the beginning of the firehouse debacle helped keep Station 31 open. National pressure helped secure the stay at BARC. And endless pressure is forcing the county to investigate and return money.

·        VOTE. I know that by the time this issue comes out, Election Day will be very nearly here, but make sure you vote. Vote for the folks who could actually make a difference!

·        Follow the stories. Things disappear from headlines at the speed of light these days, so look to local and national news sources. These include The Banner, The Washington Sun, NBC4, WJLA, Maryland Matters and Greenbelt News Review, in addition to the more commonly read The New York Times and The Washington Post.

·        Know who your local, state and federal representatives are—and BUG THEM. I have their numbers saved in my phone and their email addresses saved in my inbox.

·        Connect with community groups. For more information at the County Council level, follow Citizens for Accountability in Governance. They have a Facebook group you can join. Here in Beltsville, we also have Beltsville United.

Will these problems be fixed overnight? Of course not. But we each have a voice and a part to play. Many want to complain about the state of things, but we each have a chance to speak up, make a good nuisance of ourselves and help effect change.