All posts by Donna Wright

News Alert, Public Notices

Note from City Manager on Pending Winter Storm

 

Dear Residents,

As the region prepares for a winter storm to arrive overnight tonight, the City of Takoma Park staff are getting things ready to clear snow and share information.

As of right now, here’s the plan.

We are watching the forecasts to determine when crews will be called in overnight. A road clearing shift includes five trucks and drivers, a mechanic, and two other staff to handle other equipment. We generally schedule 12 hours shifts but we will keep a watch on what is needed and adjust as necessary.

The same people who collect trash, recycling and yard waste, and do road repair and park maintenance are the staff who drive the snowplows and clear sidewalks at City facilities. For that reason, there may be changes in collection schedules.

Snow looks to continue through Sunday and perhaps into Monday. For that reason, there will be no yard waste collection on Monday.

With Sunday being a snowy, difficult day to travel, check today to make sure you have what you need to stay at home, and please check on any elderly neighbors or others who may need extra help.

As the winter weather comes in, call our Police Department at 301-270-1100 if you see dangerous conditions, such as a slippery street, so that our Public Works crews can address it. If you see an emergency situation, though, call 9-1-1.

As soon as it is safe to do so, please begin shoveling sidewalks so that people can get to stores, the doctor’s office or pick up food from a neighborhood restaurant. Our City regulations call for clearing snow by noon if the snow has stopped falling overnight, or by 9 pm if it stops falling during the day.

Please help neighbors with clearing sidewalks and driveways. Some will be helped through the Snow Angel program, but some young people may be in a remote school on Monday and not be as able to help.

Some of the friendliest times in a community are when lots of folks are out shoveling, clearing off cars and playing in the snow. Make a party of it!

How should you stay connected for information during the next few days?

Keeping up to date on the information will help keep you safe.

One of my greatest pleasures is to work with City staff when responding to weather emergencies. Our Public Works staff know how to prepare, which streets become slippery first, where the speed humps and bump outs are, and how to fix the equipment on the spot when repairs are needed. Our communications and emergency management staff have messages prepared,  as well as safety tips and background information. Our police staff knows how to coordinate on calls for service. And, our Public Works Director, Daryl Braithwaite, knows her stuff. We’ve got this.

Stay safe!

 

City Manager & Staff Blog, News Alert

City Manager Note: Vaccinations and Sharing Good Information

 

Dear Residents,

The topic on so many of our minds is vaccinations. So many of us want to get a vaccination and the information that is out there on vaccinations is so very confusing.

It’s confusing for us, too!

Although the State of Maryland is putting out information on all who are eligible to receive vaccinations at this time, there is not enough vaccine availability for those who are eligible and the various vaccination sites each have their own criteria or process for registration.

We keep trying to get good information to share and then the information changes right away!

Please be careful about where you register for vaccines. Don’t use links forwarded to you from others. There are scams out there to steal your personal information. And, if you go to a vaccine site that someone else forwarded you information about, you will likely be turned away and not get the vaccine – sometimes after a long wait. Although some folks have registered at county sites outside of Montgomery County, some of those sites are now barring non-residents. Go to the Maryland Vaccine Website or the Montgomery County Vaccine Website for information and links.

Obviously, this confusion is terrible for everyone and disproportionately hurts members of our community who are more vulnerable to COVID-19. I know the State and County governments want to be doing the right thing and are working hard to straighten things out.

In the meantime, please know we are trying to learn and help, and we are strenuously advocating for the residents of Takoma Park. We will share good information as we obtain and verify it.

Suzanne Ludlow

City Manager & Staff Blog, News Alert

Update from Chief DeVaul on the Peaceful Transfer of Power

 

Takoma Park residents, visitors and business owners, we made it through another peaceful transition of power. This did not come without planning and sacrifices by all of us. I wanted to share an email I sent to police department staff yesterday.

 

Message sent to TPPD staff on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2021:

“I wanted to extend my thanks to all of you, sworn and civilian, who have stepped up over the last few weeks to keep our community safe and secure. We have asked you all to come in on your days off, conduct additional patrols/duties, and perform many additional tasks. Every one of you did this professionally and without complaint. Your efforts are greatly appreciated and have not gone unnoticed.

Due to your efforts, Takoma Park residents, visitors and businesses were safe and secure and our nation was able to have a peaceful transfer of power. No matter what your political affiliation, watching the peaceful transfer of power is something you will never forget. I will never forget as a young officer standing out in the cold for hours on end while working the Inauguration Detail for President Bill Clinton. I remember how proud I was to be part of the peaceful transfer of power. Four Presidents later, I feel the same way.

Don’t underestimate your contributions today and every day. They make a difference! Keep up the great work!”

 

Please take the opportunity to thank our great team. They are well trained, professional, dedicated, caring, and service-oriented. I am proud to lead such a professional team and to be a Takoma Park native and your chief. Our community’s diversity, inclusiveness, caring for others and community service is what holds us together!

City Council & Mayor Blog, News Alert

Reflections on Inauguration Day by Mayor Stewart

 

 

Today we exhale a bit. The knots of tension that have formed in the base of our necks and shoulders soften, a bit. The last four years, and in particular the last year and the last two weeks, have been ones of stress, anxiety, pain, loss, and fear for our country.

 

We still face a great deal of work. But, the words of Amanda Gorman today show us that we can continue the unfinished work and begin the healing:

 

We’ve braved the belly of the beast
We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace
And the norms and notions
of what just is
Isn’t always just-ice
And yet the dawn is ours
before we knew it
Somehow we do it
Somehow we’ve weathered and witnessed
a nation that isn’t broken
but simply unfinished

 

I want to take a moment, on this day, to thank the residents of Takoma Park for their continued persistence, compassion, and dedication to justice.

To my colleagues on the Council, I am glad we have these next two years together under a new federal Administration to serve this great City. Together, we will respond to the ongoing pandemic, work to ensure residents are housed and fed and, as we recover, work to build a better and more equitable City.

To our City staff, we are grateful for the countless hours you have put in, and in just the last couple of weeks, your dedication to making sure we safely got to see this wonderful day.

And, today is a wonderful day.

With the swearing-in today of the Biden-Harris Administration, we now have the nation’s first female, African American, Asian American Vice-President.

 

And as President Biden said today:

 

“Folks, this is a time of testing. We face an attack on our democracy and on truth, a raging virus, growing inequity, the sting of systemic racism, a climate in crisis, America’s role in the world. Any one of these will be enough to challenge us in profound ways. But the fact is, we face them all at once, presenting this nation with one of the gravest responsibilities we’ve had. Now we’re going to be tested. Are we going to step up? All of us?

It’s time for boldness, for there is so much to do. And this is certain, I promise you, we will be judged, you and I, by how we resolve these cascading crises of our era.

Will we rise to the occasion, is the question. Will we master this rare and difficult hour? Will we meet our obligations and pass along a new and better world to our children? I believe we must. I’m sure you do as well. I believe we will. And when we do, we’ll write the next great chapter in the history of the United States of America.”

 

As we continue the work ahead, let us find inspiration and strength in the words of Amanda Gorman:

 

We will rebuild, reconcile and recover
and every known nook of our nation and
every corner called our country,
our people diverse and beautiful will emerge,
battered and beautiful
When day comes we step out of the shade,
aflame and unafraid
The new dawn blooms as we free it
For there is always light,
if only we’re brave enough to see it
If only we’re brave enough to be it

 

Mayor Kate Stewart
City Council & Mayor Blog, News Alert

Safety Reminders from Councilmember Searcy for Inauguration Day

 

Dear Takoma Park Residents,

Following the Capitol insurrection on January 6 and on the eve of the Presidential Inauguration, I want to thank our Takoma Park Police Department, communications staff, emergency manager, and other City staff for working tirelessly to ensure the safety of our residents during this unprecedented time.  In preparation for the Presidential Inauguration, we have a few reminders for everyone:

  • Please avoid downtown Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, January 20.  
  • The Takoma Park Police are in an all hands on deck schedule. Therefore, you might see more police in the City than normal. 
  • Due to COVID-19 and increased security in the area, try enjoying Inauguration events from home. 

As always, if you see something of concern, please call our Takoma Park Police Department at 301-270-1100 or call 911 if it’s an emergency. 

Stay calm and stay safe! 

News Alert, Public Notices

Police Chief’s Update on Security Preparedness

 

Over the last week, members of the city’s leadership and I have sent several messages regarding response to the unrest at the Capitol and security planning for the upcoming Presidential Inauguration. As I stated previously, there continue to be no direct threats to Takoma Park. Today we are in an all hands on deck posture, so you are going to see a high visibility presence in the city. The patrols will be in marked vehicles, unmarked vehicles, on foot, and other means. Special patrols are being conducted in our business districts and high profile sites in the city. Through this time and on Inauguration Day, an all hands on deck posture will be in place.

Our staff are on daily intelligence conference calls with our local, regional, and national law enforcement partners. Intelligence is being monitored in real-time.

We ask that all of our residents respect the orders put in place by officials in the District of Columbia and avoid all travel into the city. We also continue to ask that you all serve as our eyes and ears. If you see something suspicious, contact our dispatch center at 301.270.1100, or 911. Rest assured, we are doing all we can to provide security in Takoma Park and keep our city safe and secure.

We will continue to provide updates to the community throughout the week.

News Alert

What is the Role of the Emergency Preparedness Manager?

 

Since the beginning of the declared pandemic in Maryland, I have been coordinating with the Council of Governments and Montgomery County. In the first few months, there were daily conference calls sharing best practices, and efforts to obtain Personal Protective Equipment for staff. With the aid of the City’s Finance Department, I was able to track our pandemic-related expenses eligible for reimbursement through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  The City has been reimbursed for three projects thus far, and I have a fourth nearly ready for submission. Under the Coronavirus Relief Act, I have requested other eligible monies from the allotment given to Montgomery County.

An important part of my job is communication and information sharing with the City’s senior leadership staff and City Council. Through weekly conference calls and emails, I keep them informed of what is happening nationally, with our state, Montgomery County, and the City regarding changes in health regulations and availability of resources related to coronavirus relief.

With the recent violence at the Capital, and in anticipation of the upcoming Presidential inauguration, I have been working with the Police Chief and staff on information sharing, coordination, and City security. As we get closer to Wednesday, January 20, security has tightened and will continue to get tighter to protect our President-Elect and the City of Takoma Park against civil disturbances. Working with the City Police Department, I will assist in coordinating resources within the City and requests to Montgomery County as needed. Chief DeVaul and his staff have a plan in place for the City’s security and are prepared should anything happen.

When the pandemic passes, I hope to get back to community outreach and provide more emergency preparedness services.

Ron Hardy
Emergency Preparedness Manager
ronh@takomaparkmd.gov

News, News Alert, Uncategorized

Join Us for Martin Luther King, Jr. Week of Service and Kindness January 16-24

 

 

News from the MLK Committee.

Due to the pandemic, we regret to report that we aren’t holding our annual celebration with food and music this year nor are we organizing formal service activities.  But we hope you still honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s holiday on Monday, January 18th.

You can help:

  • Local groups that are distributing food (see list below)
  • You can venture to Sligo Creek or any public area and do your own cleanup (use gloves and take trash and recyclables home)
  • You can offer assistance to the elderly or infirm neighbors.
  • You can perform any act of kindness.
  • And you can shine a light into the darkness, symbolically and literally.
  • Please go outdoors onto your front stoop or balcony 7:00-7:15 pm on MLK Jr. Day and lift a flashlight or a candle or your phone into the evening sky.

To quote Dr. King, “Even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow I still have a dream.”

MLK Committee members Jackie Frazier, Cherwanda Oliver, Cindy Dyballa, Jay Keller, Annie Mozer, Howard Kohn

Acts of Kindness or Service
  • Adventist Community Services distributes food and addresses other basic needs. On MLK Jr. Day (Jan. 18th) they will be sorting food and clothing outdoors at 501 Sligo Ave, Silver Spring. (In case of rain or snow, they will cancel.) Contact Terry or Joyce Seamens at 240-793-5108 to schedule a time to volunteer — 3 one-hour shifts each with 15 volunteers (at least 3 must be adults). Shifts will start at 10 am, 11 am and Noon.
  • Small Things Matter distributes fresh food and staples, with assistance from the TPSS Coop, Takoma Park Presbyterian church and the 9:30 Club. Currently they are looking for teens to earn SSL hours by making casseroles, baking, and bagging bulk items, and they ask that donations of canned foods and other nonperishable items be deposited in a grocery cart near the Coop service desk.  Volunteers can sign up at  https://montgomerycountymd.galaxydigital.com/need/?agency_id=81036
  • We Belong Here: Takoma Park Equity Walk is designed to challenge family and friends to explore equity by examining who we are and what makes us feel valued and included. Each station engages you in a fun, physical activity, then prompts discussion. Additional resources enhance understanding about ourselves and others.
City Manager & Staff Blog, News Alert

Keeping Takoma Park residents safe and secure is a team effort

 

It’s been a week since the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol Building occurred. As you have seen from the messages of Takoma Park Police Chief Tony DeVaul, our police department is conferring with other public safety agencies, monitoring locations in Takoma Park, and scheduling staff to be prepared for the impacts of potential violent disruptions as we near the Presidential Inauguration on January 20.

Besides the work of the Police Department, all City departments are on call to serve the needs of public safety in Takoma Park. From communicating to the public, to reporting suspicious activity, to making sure we have barricades or equipment ready, to providing support to residents and staff, staff throughout the City government are working to ensure that we are prepared even as we keep calm.

As Chief DeVaul has said, there is no indication at this time that Takoma Park is a target. Please rest assured that we are working jointly to take care of our community.

What can you do?

First, avoid going to downtown Washington, D.C. on days of higher risk, particularly January 17-20. Inauguration activities are scheduled to take place mostly virtually, so you can watch safely from home.

Second, if you see or hear something that is especially concerning, contact Takoma Park Police at 301-270-1100 or – if an emergency – call 9-1-1.

Third, help bring down the anxiety level. The mental health pressures of these last months have been heavy, and comments or listserv postings that sound scary can add to the unease. Yes, be vigilant. But also help reassure others that we are in this together and the City of Takoma Park has your back.

Keeping Takoma Park residents safe and secure is a team effort. It involves all departments of the City government, our business owners, elected officials, and residents. In these unprecedented times, this team effort and collaborative strength will serve us well.

 

Thanks to you and the wonderful City staff for being this caring team!

Suzanne Ludlow

News Alert, Public Notices

Police Chief’s Message on Security in Takoma Park in the upcoming weeks

 

As I mentioned in my message last week, we all were shocked and horrified to see the images of rioters violently breaching the Capitol building on January 6th. The Takoma Park Police immediately implemented security protocols, secured high profile sites in the city, and coordinated with our law enforcement partners across the region to provide mutual aid. At this time, I wish to reiterate that there are no active threats against the City of Takoma Park.

As we move forward during the next few weeks, we are implementing several security protocols. This involves a heightened level of alertness, communicating with our regional law enforcement partners, and monitoring intelligence related to the region and Takoma Park.

On specific days in and around the Presidential Inauguration, we will be on an “all hands on deck” patrol posture. This means all Takoma Park Officers will be actively conducting high-level uniform patrols in all areas of the city. The police presence will be noticeable and that is purposeful. There are other security protocols being put in place that we will not share publicly for obvious reasons.

I know there are a few groups who may want to conduct active patrols of the city. I would discourage this. We are amply prepared to keep our city safe. What we ask of our residents is that they continue to be our eyes and ears and report any suspicious activity to the police department. I assure you we will actively investigate all reports. Please note, however, that the display of symbols or signs is not on its own an indication of unlawful action. I want to reiterate that there are no active threats against the City of Takoma Park. That being said, we will continue to be fully prepared should any incident occur in the city.

During the next few weeks, the police department and the city government will be sending out frequent communications to update residents. This is important, as we want all residents to be fully informed.

Please feel free to reach out to me directly if you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns. We will get through these challenging times together and with the strength of our wonderful, welcoming, and inclusive community.

Chief DeVaul email:  tonyd@takomaparkmd.gov