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Politics & Government

Council Questions County Executive about Development and Transportation

County Executive Rushern L. Baker discusses issues facing Greenbelt and the region.

County Executive Rushern Baker visited the Greenbelt City Council Wednesday night, where he acknowledged concerns facing the city but reminded the council of the county's fiscal constraints.

Issues of economic development framed much of the 2 ½ hour discussion, with Baker first alluding to the county being under review for a possible downgrade to its AAA credit rating.

Baker said a downgrade could curtail spending on any number of items, including education, healthcare and economic development. “It is critical that the ratings agencies treat us individually,” said Baker, making the case that the county has been far more prudent than the federal government in its spending habits.

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Prince George’s County is one of 162 local governments nationwide that may be particularly reliant on “federal activity” and vulnerable to “capital market disruptions,” according to a July 28 announcement by Moody’s.

The prospect of a downgrade didn’t deter Mayor Pro Tem Emmett Jordan from asking Baker why Greenbelt seems less a part of economic development discussions than other cities in the county.

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“This is a diverse county,” said Baker, later adding that Greenbelt suffers from no shortage of interest from investors. “Greenbelt is attractive in its own right,” he said. He did acknowledge that economic development incentive (EDI) funds could help draw state and federal dollars to the development of the Greenbelt Metro Station area.

Council member Rodney Roberts, said he felt like Greenbelt was “being cheated” and called for more independent control over zoning and planning authority.

Baker said he would like to “give as much flexibility as possible” to cities, like Greenbelt, that can handle their own affairs. But he “can’t offer one (more authority) without offering it to everybody,” he said.

Talk of extending the metro line past Greenbelt also fizzled, as Baker explained there simply weren’t enough federal dollars available at this time.

Baker also touched on his signing of a controversial storm-water management bill that he said represents “compromise legislation."

“We would have liked to see stronger standards,” Mayor Pro Tem Jordan said.  

Jordan also said noted declining bus transportation within the city, despite efforts to coordinate new routes between the county’s TheBus and WMATA. “I think we ended up with a reduction of services,” said Jordan, adding that “we need Sunday service.”

Baker’s deputy chief of staff, Brad Frome, said expanding service to Sundays would require more money amid revenues that have stayed “flat” for the past three years. "It’s an awful time,” for budgets he said.

Still, that may not prevent a “first-class medical center” within the county.

Described as “one of the biggest things” that may materialize during his tenure, Baker said the “comprehensive” medical center would be a regional venture. “I think we should play a leading role in that."

Locations for the center remain uncertain, though Baker cited the Landover Mall as one possible location.

Mayor Judith "J" Davis was not present at the meeting. She notified Patch that she is out of state, making arrangements for an ill family member.

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