Everybody Loves A Victory Party! November 12th

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**LET’S CELEBRATE THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF COUNCIL MEMBER AT-LARGE MEL FRANKLIN’S ELECTION VICTORY ON NOVEMBER 12TH**

Please join Council Member At-Large Mel Franklin for a special one year anniversary celebration of our 2018 Team Franklin election victory and our big plans for the future! The fun happens on Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at 7PM at SoBe Restaurant and Lounge, 10621 Greenbelt Rd. #201, Glenn Dale, MD 20769 with a special VIP reception at 6PM. Council Member Franklin needs your help to advance the cause of creating opportunity and prosperity for the residents of Prince George’s County. **More special guests to be announced soon**

PLEASE RSVP HERE: http://tinyurl.com/MelFranklinRSVP

Here are the recommended donation levels: Ticket: $50  Silver sponsor: $250  Gold sponsor: $500  Host sponsor: $1000  Platinum sponsor: $3000

Event details: Tuesday, November 12th, 7PM-9:30PM, SoBe Restaurant and Lounge, 10621 Greenbelt Rd. #201, Glenn Dale, MD 20769 with a special VIP reception for host and platinum sponsors at 6PM. 

If you would rather donate in person, please RSVP for the One Year Anniversary Event by e-mailing Friends of Mel Franklin at mel@melfranklin.net. If you prefer to mail in your contribution, please make your check out to ‘Friends of Mel Franklin’ send it to the following address: Friends of Mel Franklin P.O. Box 2912 Upper Marlboro, MD 20773

Just as Mel always says, “Prince George’s IS Rising!” Join the movement on November 12th.

-Team Mel Franklin

Authority: Friends of Mel Franklin, Brendon Laster, Treasurer, P.O. Box 2912, Upper Marlboro, MD 20773

A PLEA FOR COMMON SENSE IN THE FACE OF ANOTHER TRAGEDY

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I join all of you and all people who love peace and humanity in sending our thoughts and prayers to the good people of El Paso and Dayton this morning. We woke up to hear the shocking news of yet another domestic terror mass shooting in Dayton in the space of only a few hours after the terror attack and act of white supremacy in El Paso, which follows the recent mass shooting in Gilroy, CA. Just as we pray, we also know that we must act. While hate and evil may never be completely eliminated from our world, how many mass murders will it take before we all understand that weapons of warfare like AK-47s, AR-15s, and other assault weapons and high capacity ammunition magazines have no place in civilian society? The Dayton shooter murdered 9 people and injured 27 others in LESS THAN 60 SECONDS because he used weapons that should not be legal anywhere in our nation. I’m preaching to the choir here in Maryland, but can we reach our neighbors and politicians across the nation who continue to believe that the availability of these weapons of mass destruction have nothing to do with the devastation that we are witnessing this morning? Can we convince our President and others like him to stop stoking and failing to condemn white supremacy and racism against communities of color? We must continue to search for answers to these questions. Consider joining the Brady Campaign Against Gun Violence at www.bradyunited.org or March for Our Lives at www.marchforourlives.com or similar efforts to make common sense federal gun safety laws a reality. Will new laws totally solve the problem of gun violence? Of course not. Individual gun violence unrelated to mass shootings continues to plague many of our communities across our nation. But that is no excuse for inaction in the face of more and more frequent mass terror attacks that are literally ripping families apart. I pray that God brings comfort to the families and communities who lost loved ones or were injured in this weekend’s tragic violence.

Business and Nonprofit Support for the Prince George’s County Summer Youth Jobs Program

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The Prince George’s County Government has publicized a couple of ways that businesses and nonprofits can assist with hiring summer youth in our County and improve the current and future job skills of our young people as a part of the County Summer Youth Jobs Program for 14-22 year-olds.

Click here if you are employing or interested in employing summer youth this summer – SYEP Employer of Summer Youth: https://tinyurl.com/syep-employer-flyer

Click here if you cannot employ a summer youth at your company or nonprofit but would be willing to financially sponsor the hiring of summer youth – SYEP Business Sponsorship: https://tinyurl.com/syep-business-sponsorship

Please help us prepare our young people to be career-ready and build generational wealth in our communities.

-Friends of Mel Franklin

 

Public source: Prince George’s County Department of Human Resources Management

THE PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY SUMMER YOUTH JOBS PROGRAM – Feb. 28th Deadline

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THE PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY SUMMER YOUTH JOBS PROGRAM (Apply Now) (Feb. 28th deadline – please share)

The Prince George’s County Government’s Youth@Work/Summer Youth Enrichment Program (SYEP) (aka Summer Youth Jobs Program) is a six-week, paid entry-level introduction to work in public and non-profit agencies for the youth of Prince George’s County. This countywide initiative offers youth enriching and constructive summer work experiences in various assignments throughout the County. Youth who successfully complete the Job Readiness Training will have priority placement, but must apply for employment.

Apply here for the Summer Youth Jobs Program: https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/…/Apply-for-a-Position
See a Summer Youth Jobs Program Promotional Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-14wC-7QsM

Requirements for Summer Youth Jobs Program Eligibility:

-Youth must be a resident of Prince George’s County
-Between the ages of 14 – 22 years old by July 1, 2019
-In order to provide employment opportunities to as many youth as possible, youth will only be able to work a maximum of 2 years in the Youth@Work/SYEP

Public source: Prince George’s County Department of Human Resources Management

-Friends of Mel Franklin

THE HUMANITY OF DR. KING

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On Monday, we had a tremendous day of service in honor of the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., feeding nearly 500 families with over 300 volunteers.  But, every MLK holiday, I can’t help but feel a bit of sadness.  Sadness that Dr. King’s life was cut so short.  Cut short before he could see his kids grow up.  Cut short before he could live a long life with his amazing wife, Coretta.  Cut short before he could finish the Dream that he started.  I was not yet born when Dr. King marched for jobs and freedom.  But, amidst all of the lionizing and rose-colored tributes, I am reminded that Dr. King was a human being.  A human being with a family, friends, and personal hopes and dreams of his own…family and friends who were left with a permanent hole in their hearts.

While being one of history’s most beloved figures today, Dr. King was not always loved in his day.  He was hated by many for his unwillingness to settle, even in the black community.  For his unwillingness to settle for half of equal rights, half of full human dignity, half of a more perfect union, half of a nonviolent movement.  He knew that America, despite its lofty ideals of freedom and the American Dream, was failing the descendants of slavery.  He also believed through nonviolent struggle, strategic agitation, and broad coalition building that America could change…and change America did.  Most of us today can’t imagine drinking at a water fountain that says ‘colored’ or giving up our seat on a public bus because of the color of our skin.  But, many of our elders living today experienced that reality for many, many years.  Some of them also struggled at Dr. King’s side and in the civil rights movement here in Prince George’s County.  We still have so much to learn from their stories.  It is because of their struggle and the movement for which Dr. King and so many others gave their lives, that people like me never had to use a segregated bathroom or be denied a home in a “whites only” community.

But Dr. King, a man, a husband, and a father, did not get the opportunity to see so many of the fruits of his labors.  He led a bus boycott at age 26, a march on Washington at age 34, and was assassinated at age 39.  Yet remembering Dr. King, the man, taken with so much of his life left to live, reminds us just how great his sacrifice really was.  Thank you, Dr. King.

-Mel Franklin

This e-mail contains nonpolitical community information already available to the general public through publicly available sources and is being redistributed as a courtesy.  These are not events or information sponsored by any political entity.

Prince George’s Rising – Snow Emergency Update and Federal Gov’t Shutdown Assistance for Prince George’s County

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An Update from Councilman Mel Franklin

January 12, 2019 | Special Edition                                                                                                                     

Prince George’s Rising is a newsletter designed to empower communities with key information and issues of concern.  It is my honor to serve you countywide on the Prince George’s County Council as a County Council Member At-Large.  Over the last several years, including two years as Chairman, I have worked with my colleagues to move our County forward.  With your help, we are ‘Bringing the World to Prince George’s County’ and building generational wealth and prosperity for our communities.  For more information, please go to https://www.melfranklin.net/news/ or e-mail me at mel@melfranklin.net.

Assistance for Workers Affected by the Trump Federal Government Shutdown

This week, we joined our outstanding County Executive Angela Alsobrooks to announce several joint measures to help those affected by the Trump federal government shutdown.  Team Prince George’s is unified in helping our residents through this crisis, as long as it takes.  Here is a growing list of resources for helping our residents affected by the shutdown (please share): https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/3053/Federal-Government-Shutdown-Assistance

WTOP coverage: https://wtop.com/prince-georges-county/2019/01/prince-georges-co-details-resources-for-needy-workers-during-shutdown/

Affected federal employees, federal contractors, and their families should also reserve a free turkey, ham, or chicken and food basket at our Jan. 21st MLK Day of Service here: https://tinyurl.com/ncbc-mlkday-2019

The Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB), in conjunction with Giant Food is hosting a series of “pop-up markets” every weekend (including today) designed to “fill the grocery gap” for government employees and contractors currently furloughed due to the Government Shutdown. Go here for times and locations: https://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/pop-up-markets/

Assistance Programs for Federal Employees Furlough During the Government Shutdown: https://myfedbenefitshelp.com/assistance-programs-for-federal-employees-furlough-during-the-government-shutdown/

Snow Emergency Information

Currently, up to a half-foot of snow is forecast for the Greater Washington Region this weekend.  Please be safe and review the important information below shared publicly by the Prince George’s County Government.

-Mel Franklin, Council Member At-Large

Snow & Ice Control

When a snow emergency is declared, the Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T) is responsible for providing “passable” conditions on a network of more than 1,900 miles of county-maintained roadways to ensure the safety of residents, citizens, and travelers.
Important links:
Prince George’s County’s 2018 Snow Summit Presentations
Snow Brochure
Helpful Hints for Snow Events
Snow Removal Tracking

Helpful Tips for Residents

-Make sure you have enough food and bottled water, as well as any necessary medications.

-Have a shovel and any other supplies ready to remove snow from your driveway and/or sidewalk.

-Have extra flashlights, batteries and blankets on hand.

-Check on your neighbors to see if they need anything.

-Do not drive on roadways until they’ve been cleared; in case of a medical emergency, call 911.

-Shovel your driveway only after roads have been plowed, and do not place the shoveled snow in the traveled portion of roads.

-Shovel any snow around fire hydrants and mail boxes.

Route Clearing Priorities

Routes are prioritized for service by the following categories: primary, secondary, and residential. Primary and secondary roads are serviced first to ensure that public safety and other emergency vehicles can travel. After completion of these roads, residential roads receive service. Crews work as long as necessary to clear roadways, which consists of salting, sanding, and/or plowing, as warranted by weather conditions.

To assist crews, citizens and residents are requested to:

-Move and keep vehicles off snow emergency routes

-Park in driveways or other off-road locations wherever possible

-Park only on the even-numbered sides of roads/streets

-It also is important for single-family homeowners/renters and business proprietors to remember that they are responsible for the removal of snow/ice from the sidewalks abutting their homes or businesses.

Reporting Road Concerns

During a snow and ice event, residents and citizens are asked to wait 24 hours, after the precipitation has stopped, to call 311 or 301-883-4748 to report emergencies or concerns about roadway conditions/snow removal.

FAQs (click the links below)

When will my street be plowed?

Where do I call to report my street has not been plowed or treated?

My driveway is blocked with plowed snow, what do I do?

 

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Prince George’s County Special Assistance for Local Entrepreneurship Fund 

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The Special Assistance for Local Entrepreneurship (SALE) Program is a component of the Economic Development Incentive Fund (EDIF) available to established businesses through Prince George’s County in an effort to broaden the region’s tax base.

Prince George’s County has dedicated $50 million to provide for the retention, expansion and attraction of businesses that will broaden the County’s commercial tax base, retain and attract jobs, support small and local enterprises, and promote the development and redevelopment opportunities, transit oriented development and the growth of key industry sectors.

Council Bill 78-2013 established the Special Assistance for Entrepreneurship Program, subject to funding availability, to insure financial assistance is available to expand entrepreneurship opportunities for County residents who own businesses based in the County.

The Economic Development Incentive Fund (EDIF) is administered by FSC First and the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation.

Eligibility:

  • The applicant business must be domicile and have its principal place of operation in Prince George’s County at the time of the Fund award and for the duration of any loan or conditional loan supported or funded (in whole or in part) by the Fund award.
  • The business is fifty-one percent (51%) or more owned by one or more County residents, for the most recent full calendar year, as verified by federal or State tax return, and must remain so for the duration of the SALE award.
  • The applicant business does not include one of the following uses: adult entertainment, gun shop, liquor store, laundromat, massage parlor, pawn shop, beauty supply store, nail salon (except as accessary or ancillary to a spa), car wash, dance hall, banquet hall (except as accessary or ancillary to a hotel or convention center), or tattoo parlor.

How to Apply:
The applicant business must supply the information necessary to evaluate the requested financial assistance, including:

1. Specific funding need
2. Financial ability of the applicant
3. Sources of repayment
4. Proposed project costs and expenditures for which assistance is sought
5. Fair market value of the completed project
6. Normal or useful life of equipment or buildings
7. Security (collateral) for the transaction
8. Contribution to the County economy
9. Proof of legal residency
10. Any other information that may be appropriate or useful in evaluating the application

Additional Instructions:
Initial contact should be made to the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation at (301) 883-4650 or click here.

Benefits:

  • To stimulate small business development and local business ownership by County residents
  • To provide county residents who own businesses based in the County with access to flexible financing for small business start-up and expansion, in a geographically equitable manner, throughout the County.
  • To maximize the award of SALE funds to local minority business enterprises (“LMBEs”) to the extent possible.

 

If you are ready to apply for the Economic Development Incentive Fund now, please call us or click here to begin the application process. 301.883.6900

 

Disclaimer: This web posting contains nonpolitical community information already available to the general public through publicly available sources and is being redistributed as a courtesy.  This is not information about programs sponsored by any political entity.

Prince George’s County Council Member At-Large Mel Franklin Urges the County to Restore Twice-A-Week Trash Service on First Day of Council Retreat

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January 8, 2019

For Immediate Release

On the First Day of the Prince George’s County Council Retreat, Council Member At-Large Mel Franklin Urges County Leaders to Restore Twice-A-Week Curbside Trash Pick-Up

Contact: mel@melfranklin.net  

Upper Marlboro, MD – On Monday January 7, 2019, the Prince George’s County Council held the first day of its two day annual retreat at The Hotel at the University of Maryland.  During the discussion about local priorities, Council Member At-Large Mel Franklin (D-Upper Marlboro) urged fellow leaders to restore twice-a-week curbside waste removal, which was reduced to once-a-week service two years ago:

“Curbside trash pick-up is one of the few ways that nearly everyone in the County interacts with their local government.  When we reduced service to once-a-week pick-up, it significantly inconvenienced our constituents and sent the message that, despite the sizable amount they pay in taxes, they would not receive the adequate services from their government that they feel they deserve.  I do not believe that we properly anticipated the hardship that the new policy would cause and should correct that mistake by restoring twice-a-week waste pick-up for the residents we are privileged to serve. 

“Let us also accelerate our progress on growing our local economy, especially investing in our small, minority, and woman-owned businesses, so that our tax base is large enough to prevent us from needing to balance our budget on reducing direct services to our constituents.”

County curbside solid waste removal policy only impacts residents who live outside of municipalities that provide their own service.

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Prince George’s County, Let’s Serve Our Community on MLK Day 2019

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Community News You Can Use

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.’S HOLIDAY ISN’T A DAY OFF – IT’S A DAY ON IN PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY!

Please join me and your neighbors for a day of service on this year’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday (MLK Day), January 21, 2019, in Prince George’s County at one of these opportunities:

“A DAY ON” to Feed the Community, presented by the National Capital Baptist Convention (NCBC), sponsored in part by Beltway Plaza Mall, WPGC 95.5, and Council Member At-Large Mel Franklin, 11AM-2PM

When and where: MLK Day, Monday, January 21st 11AM-2PM, at Beltway Plaza Mall (inside the mall, near the TJ Maxx), 6000 Greenbelt Rd., Greenbelt, MD 20770.

Event details: At this event, volunteers will give out free turkeys, chickens, and hams and food baskets to our neighbors in need (including federal employees and contractors, and their families, affected by the Trump federal government shutdown) (note: frozen turkeys, chickens, and hams and related vegetables will be packaged for residents to prepare them on their own later; no onsite cooking will occur). Children under 13 should be accompanied by an adult. High school students can receive credit for volunteer hours.

To register as a family in need and pre-register to receive a ham, chicken, or turkey and food basket between 11AM-2PM on MLK Day, go here: https://tinyurl.com/ncbc-feed-the-hungry-recipient

To register to volunteer for A DAY ON to help assemble and distribute meals between 11AM-2PM on MLK Day, please go here: https://tinyurl.com/ncbc-feed-the-hungry-volunteer

View the NCBC MLK Day event flyer here: https://tinyurl.com/ncbc-mlkday-2019

 

 

“A DAY ON” MLK Day Litter Clean-up at North, Central, and South County Schools, sponsored by Council Member At-Large Mel Franklin, 9AM-12PM **POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER. A RESCHEDULED DATE IS COMING SOON**

 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. (IGO, UTO, PEO chapters) and Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc. (KEL Chapter), 9:30AM-12:30PM

When and where: Monday, January 21, 2019, 9:30AM – 12:30PM, City of Praise Family Ministries, 8501 Jericho City Drive, Landover, MD 20785.

Event details: For this service event, please bring gently used shoes, eyeglasses and pillowcases.  The event will comprise of a short program of youth performances and Healthy Hearts Zumba exercise, followed by service projects.  The service projects will consist of a Soles 4 Souls shoe donation drive, Lions Club International eyeglasses donation drive, and Pillowcase Project (everyone will be asked to donate pillowcases to have people make dresses and shirts).

Please register to volunteer for this MLK DAY ON service event here: https://mlkdayofservice19.eventbrite.com/

View the event flyer here: https://tinyurl.com/aka-alpha-mlkday-2019

 

The City of Laurel’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service “Serving One Another”

When and where: Monday, January 21, 2019, 9AM-12PM, Laurel Municipal Center, 8103 Sandy Spring Rd., Laurel, MD 20707.

Event details: Join the City of Laurel, MD for a day of history, arts & crafts, technology, games & activities, and learning and sharing.  For more info and to register, contact Christine Johnson, cmjohnson@laurelmd.us, 301-725-5300, ext. 2110.

View the event flyer here: https://www.cityoflaurel.org/comm/press-releases/13220-city-laurel-hosts-martin-luther-king-jr-day-service-event-january-21-2019

Prince George’s African-American Museum and Cultural Center (PGAAMCC) “Crafting Our Legacy” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration and Book Drive

 

When and where: Saturday, January 19, 11AM-3PM, Prince George’s African American Museum and Cultural Center (PGAAMCC), 4519 Rhode Island Avenue, North Brentwood, MD 20722

Event details: This event is a book drive. The PGAAMCC is specifically looking for books in the following categories; children, creative, art, black history, social justice.  This is a family friendly event catered to kids ages +3 to High School. We invite all to engage in the educational opportunities the PGAAMCC has to offer. The event will feature Book Arts Making Activity + Story Time + Community Conversation + More! Come join us and learn all about our upcoming education programs and opportunities!

Please register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/crafting-our-legacy-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-day-celebration-tickets-54554638392

Disclaimer: This web posting contains nonpolitical community information already available to the general public through publicly available sources and is being redistributed as a courtesy.  These are not events or information sponsored by any political entity.

Councilman Franklin Condemns President Trump’s Freeze on Federal Salaries for Middle Class Families

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December 31, 2018

For Immediate Release

Statement of Prince George’s County Council Member At-Large Mel Franklin Condemning President Trump’s Decision to Freeze the Pay of Federal Employees

Says President’s decision ‘adds insult to injury’ for thousands of Prince George’s County middle and working-class families already deprived of a salary during the holidays by his government shutdown

Contact: Mel@melfranklin.net

Upper Marlboro, MD – On Friday, President Donald J. Trump issued an Executive Order freezing the pay of non-military federal employees nationwide for 2019, denying them a 2.1% increase in salary.  Currently, approximately 800,000 federal employees are not receiving pay during the latest federal government shutdown.  Today, Prince George’s County Council Member At-Large Mel Franklin (D-Upper Marlboro) issued the following statement:

“President Trump’s decision to deny a 2.1% pay increase to hard working middle and working-class families in our region, including thousands of families of federal employees here in Prince George’s County, adds insult to injury for these Americans, many of whom are also being denied a salary during the President’s government shutdown.  The President’s explanation that his decision is based on fiscal responsibility rings hollow since he has shut the government down over his insistence on funding an irresponsible $5 billion-dollar border wall and signed into law a deficit-busting trillion-dollar tax scheme, largely for the benefit of multi-millionaires and billionaires.  The President’s decision hurts our local economy and adds further hardship for everyday residents working hard to make ends meet.  I strongly urge Congress to reverse the President’s decision.”

Prince George’s County is home to one of the largest populations of federal employees in the nation and the Greater Washington region has, by far, the nation’s largest federal workforce of any metropolitan region.

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