All posts by Ryan Kelly

News, Takoma Park Newsletter

Behind the Badge- Sgt. Henok Atakilt : ”The biggest thing for us is communication.”

by Sean Gossard

For Sgt. Henok Atakilt, being a police officer was always his dream job.

“I’ve always wanted to be a police officer,” says Atakilt. “My biggest thing was coming from an Ethiopian background. There’s a lot of Ethiopians in the city and I thought that would be a great way to bridge the gap in the community.”

Atakilt, 29, is very much a product of the community he’s served for years. He went to Takoma Park Elementary School and Takoma Park Middle School before going to Montgomery Blair High School and later Montgomery County College. Before joining the force, Atakilt worked at the recreation desk in the community center, helping out with after-school activities.

Since joining the Takoma Park police department in 2017, Atakilt quickly rose through the ranks. He served as a patrol officer, responding to calls for service in the community; then detective, investigation crimes from homicides to robbery; and then was promoted to corporal.

Atakilt was named Takoma Park’s Offi cer of the Year for 2019 because of his dedication to duty and his significant accomplishments and contributions throughout the year.

In a message from then-City Manager Suzanne Ludlow, she wrote, “Pfc. Atakilt is quick with a smile and has an upbeat attitude with everyone he comes into contact with; he has been the subject of many compliments from residents for his assistance. On a personal note, I want to say how wonderful it is to see Henok win this honor. He is a hometown hero. He grew up in Takoma Park, worked for the Recreation Dept, then has succeeded in his dream to be a Takoma Park Police Officer.”

In March, he was promoted to sergeant and now leads a team of five officers who work in 12-hour shifts around the city. The test for being promoted to sergeant was a rigorous hundred-question exam covering state laws, criminal laws and general procedures among other inquiries. The second portion of the exam involved sergeants giving scenarios on how he would respond to several high-stress situations.

He says being in the police force gives him the opportunity to talk to many members of the community.

“As community as a whole we’re doing great,” he says. “The biggest thing for us is communication, not just between offi cers, but with the community. It’s nice having events like National Night Out and Coffee with a Cop.”

He says his team has a Spanish-speaking officer who helps bridge the gap with Takoma Park’s growing Hispanic population. “We have different beats we work in the city,” he says. “We want to have someone they can communicate with. It’s all about having the right officer in the right spot to help the community.”

Atakilt says one of the biggest challenges of policing in Takoma Park is the various jurisdictions that surround it.

“We’re surrounded by Prince George’s County; Washington, D.C.; and the greater Montgomery County area. We have a lot of different traffi c flow that goes through our city. It’s kind of important to stay active and be in those areas to keep the crime out. Even with our agency, we’re the only fullservice police department in Montgomery County. We all work together very well to
take care of the community.”

In the little personal time Atakilt has, he says he loves spending it with his wife and daughter.

If you have a frontline offi cer that you’dlike to nominate for a profile, please contact seang@takomaparkmd.com.

This article appeared in the October Edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. Check out this article and more on the City webpage.

News Alert, Takoma Park Newsletter

Takoma Park Is Open for Business

by Eric Bond

Over the summer, the City of Takoma Park began distributing funds to small businesses in the city through its Open for Business grant program. Funded through the City of Takoma Park’s Neighborhood Commercial Corridor fund, part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Grants are capped at $10,000 to a single business and are calculated as follows:

  • Ground-floor businesses outside of the Old Town commercial
    district may be funded at up to $6/square foot.
  • Old Town businesses, and upper- floor businesses elsewhere in Takoma Park may be funded at up to $4/square foot.

Red Hound Pizza, Well Paid Maids, San Alejo Restaurant, and Richardson School of Music are all current grantees. Red Hound Pizza is a new restaurant that opened on Carroll Avenue in July. Well Paid Maids is an existing Takoma Park business that recently expanded its office space. San Alejo is a popular Salvadoran restaurant in Hyattsville that is adding a new location in Takoma-Langley Crossroads. And Richardson School of Music is located on Carroll Avenue in Takoma Junction.

Charbel Abrache says that the $2,000 grant allowed him to establish outdoor seating for the pizza shop, which specializes in a whole grain crust. Abrache was previously a pastry chef at Seylou Bakery & Mill in D.C.’s Shaw neighborhood. Abrache brought a unique approach to pastries, using only whole grains like millet, buckwheat, and eichorn and eschewing all refined sugar. Abrache said that Takoma Park seemed like the right place to apply the same approach to pizza for a slice unlike any other in the area.

Several years ago, Abrache and his wife, Andrea, found themselves in Takoma Park quite a bit, bringing their red hound, Arepa, to the vet.

“We really liked the vibes of the neighborhood,” says Abrache. “You know how it feels how everyone seems to know each other and supports each other. We saw this opportunity and we said ‘Okay let’s give it a shot.’”

“[The Economic Development team] was super amazing and they helped us through process of opening the shop. And the grant gave us a little bit of oxygen to figure things out,” he says.

Aaron Seyedian, a Takoma Park resident, launched Well Paid Maids in 2017 in response to the Fight for $15 movement. Cleaners start at $26 an hour, in keeping with Seyedian’s philosophy. As the business has grown, it has required more office space, and the grant for $7,000 helped it move into the new space more quickly. Seyedian says that he appreciated that Takoma Park has “a long tradition of trying to support its small business community.”

When his business was faced a setback because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Seyedian took advantage of ARPA funding through the City’s Economic Development office. And he is grateful for a little push now that his business is thriving.

“The space that we were in in our building was quite cramped, especially in a job like this with folks are on the phone all the time, says Seyedian. It’s a lot of noise, and we needed a bigger space. Without the grant program, we probably would have waited another year. I think, is just going to make us a more productive firm.”

There is no restriction on use of grant funds—they can be applied where most needed, whether to support capital expenditures and hard costs related to new business fit-out, for existing tenant improvements, or to serve as a one-time subsidy to offset cost of lease.

“The thing that’s special about this grant is the funds are not restricted by us as to what they can be used for,” says Grants Coordinator Patti Mallin. “The owner is the one who knows best where they need the help.”

Mallin says that business owners receive half of the grant upon signing the agreement with the City and the other half at a grand opening or grand re-opening. She says that the City still has $50,000 in funds to award and encourages small businesses to apply online.

Mallin also says that she hopes business owners will take advantage of the newly launched Façade Improvement grant program, which is also funded through ARPA. The City is looking to disburse a total of $75,000 to Takoma Park businesses, with a $10,000 cap per business.

“We would reimburse expenses paid by small businesses to improve or repair their front-facing structures,” says Mallin. “That could be signage and awnings. It could be safety glass. Anything that is storefront, street facing.

“We want to have a vibrant commercial community, and these are ways we can help do it,” says Mallin.

This article appeared in the October Edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. Check out this article and more on the City webpage.

News Alert, Takoma Park Newsletter

Ranked Choice Voting on the Ballot in Wards 3 and 6

by Sean Gossard

When Takoma Park voters cast their ballots in November’s election, they will be using a ranked-choice voting system for races in Wards 3 and 6, which both have more than two candidates on the ballot.

Takoma Park first began using ranked-choice voting in 2007 after it earned the support of 84% of voters in a November 2005 advisory referendum. Ranked choice voting is now used in over 50 cities and two states (Alaska and Maine).

“Ranked choice voting helps us to ensure that our elected representatives actually represent us,” says Takoma Park Board of Elections member Joe Goldman. “In too many places, leaders get elected with the support of only a fraction of the electorate. Our election system supports candidates who are supported by a majority of voters.”

Ranked-choice voting works by allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference. If a voter’s first choice doesn’t have a chance to win, their ballot counts for their next choice. A candidate needs a majority of votes to be elected. If no candidate receives a majority of first choice votes, the candidate with the fewest first choice votes is eliminated. If those ballots indicate a second choice, the votes are transferred to the voter’s second choice. This continues until a candidate receives a majority.

The advantage of ranked choice voting extends to both voters and candidates. With ranked choice voting, a candidate is incentivized to try to earn a voter’s second choice vote if they see that a voter will rank an opponent as their first choice.

While Takoma Park is the only jurisdiction in Maryland that has ranked choice voting, the tide has been turning on its reception with voters, according to Rob Richie , the former CEO of FairVote, a nonpartisan organization working for better elections, and a Takoma Park resident. In the past 5 years, there have been 27 straight ballot wins for ranked choice voting, including New York City.

“I’m hopeful we’ll see some progress in Maryland,” says Richie. “We have some younger leaders who have supported it. D.C. is voting on it in November, so we’ll see how that goes. Arlington County in Virginia went carefully at it with a one-year pilot and they found that it worked.”

In Takoma Park, non-citizens as well as those 16 and over on Election Day and all otherwise-eligible people with a felony conviction are allowed to vote in City elections.

“Takoma Park makes it easy for everyone to cast their vote by mail or dropping ballots off early at a drop box,” says Goldman. “Personally, I like to fill out my ballot as soon as it arrives and drop it off in person at the drop box. I hope that anyone who waits until the final week before the election will drop their ballot off in person, so that we can ensure that everyone’s vote gets counted. If you are voting by mail, make sure to take into account how long it takes for the postal service to deliver your mail.”

“Voting in local elections gives us a voice on the most important issues facing our community,” he says. “Our city government makes decisions that impact every facet of our lives. I hope everyone will take the time to cast their ballots and make their voices heard.”

Takoma Park elections are non-partisan and there’s no primary. Candidate forums were be held on Monday, Sept. 30, and Monday, Oct. 7.

Takoma Park’s election for city council and mayor will take place the same day as the presidential election on Tuesday, November 5. Most voters in the city election will vote by mail, but the Community Center will be open for City Election voting only. For the presidential election, you can find your local polling location online or on the sample ballot sent out by the Montgomery County Board of Elections.

This article appeared in the October Edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. Check out this article and more on the City webpage.

News Alert, Public Notices

TKPK Façade Improvement Grant Now Accepting Applications!

 

The City’s new Façade Improvement Grant is now accepting applications!  Grants reimbursable up to $10,000 are available to assist local businesses in repairing or improving their storefronts to encourage vibrant, welcoming, commercial districts.

Grant funds may be used for façade improvements such as:

  • new signage,
  • awnings,
  • windows,
  • doors,
  • or repair of the street-facing portion(s) of the structure.

Awards will be approved on a rolling basis until funds are depleted. Grant agreements must be signed by Friday, December 13, 2024, and funds must be spent and submitted for reimbursement by November 1, 2026.

For full details including eligibility requirements and how to apply please visit  the Façade Improvement Grant webpage.

News Alert, Public Notices

How Does Development Impact City Services?

 

One of the common questions we hear is regarding the cost of development on City services and the concern that new housing development could increase the cost to current residents. This blog post aims to cover how the County and City ensure new development contributes to the impacts it creates.

The City splits service provision with the County. In some cases, we receive money from the County to provide these services through an agreement with the County called tax duplication. This agreement provides funding for:

  • Police
  • Roadway Maintenance and Improvement
  • Parks

Changes to the number of residents, service calls, roadways, and other items would necessitate greater funding from the County as the agreement is meant to provide a balance and ensure that where County Services end, City Services are able to address the need (roads, police, etc.). This agreement is negotiated between the City and the County and is approved by the City Council. The last agreement was approved in 2021 and will run until renegotiated. .

The City also collects additional fees for properties related to specific services. These fees are intended to cover a portion or all of the cost of the service provided. These fees include:

  • Trash Collection Fees for properties with more than 1 unit if the property has their trash and recycling collected by the City (in most cases, large multifamily buildings pay a private firm to collect trash and recycling);
  • A Rental Licensing Fee for every rental unit in the City to cover the cost of inspection and contribute towards the cost of the administration of housing programs (like Rent Stabilization Reporting, Landlord-Tenant work, and licensing administration).
  • The Stormwater Management Fee, which assesses a fee to ensure the City’s stormwater management infrastructure is maintained and sufficient.
  • Registration Fees for City classes or programs offered through the City’s Recreation Department

These fees are assessed independently of a property tax bill and specifically aim to fund partially or in full the services associated with the fee.

As noted in a previous blog post, proposed development goes through a lengthy review of potential impacts, including roadways, parks, and other ‘public facilities’. Each review is specific to the proposed development but the review aims to ensure that the development provides a public benefit of equal value to the cost it will incur on public services.

So would new residents have to be subsidized by existing residents?

Not necessarily! In some cases, the City would be able to receive additional funding for services we provide from the County through our Tax Duplication Agreement. In other instances, we would receive additional income from the fees we charge (Stormwater, Rental Licensing, Class Registration Fees, etc.). In cases where the development would require additional infrastructure (such as sidewalks, traffic lights, park space), they would be obligated to construct or pay for those improvements (or provide the City and County with something of equal value to offset).

The goal of these fees, tax duplication agreement, and development review process is to ensure that residents continue to pay a similar rate for the services they receive.

Helpful Links
News Alert, Public Notices

Proposed Housing Tax Credits – Catch up on the Details from the Public Hearing and Housing Strategic Plan Implementation Forum

 

Public Hearing Details:

On Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at 7:30 pm, during the City Council Meeting, a public hearing was held to discuss proposed housing tax credits.

Housing Strategic Plan Implementation Forum Details:

On Tuesday, September 24, 2024 City Staff held a forum on the City’s Housing and Economic Strategic Plan and what the City is doing to implement the plan for the benefit of all residents:

 Helpful Links:
News Alert, Public Notices, Takoma Park Newsletter

Leave the Leaves: Leaf Saver Signs Will be Available!

 

Leaf season is a festive time at Public Works. Residents often praise the annual curbside collection, and can be seen greeting the vacuum trucks and crews as they make their way through the city. Typically, leaves are collected within 10 feet of the curb, from piles raked in front of residential properties.

This year, the Department of Public works is piloting a program to encourage residents to consider using the leaves on their property, rather than have them all removed by the city.

I’m a leaf-saver

Fallen leaves are a great source of nutrients for gardens and lawns. They can be ground and left on the lawn or piled up and composted to be used in a garden bed. If you have started a garden or are mulching leaves in an area that may be subject to leaf collection, signs will be available to alert the collection crews that you intend to
leave these leaves in place. Leaves on sidewalks, near storm drains, or those likely to encroach on these areas will be collected by the crews.

“I’m a Leaf Saver” signs will be available for residents to pick up at the Public Works office between 8:30 and 5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Signs may only be placed in front of your own property. Please place one sign at each end of the area where you do not want leaves to be collected; corner properties may request additional signs. Signs should remain in place from the first day of collection, November 15, through December 31 and can be reused the following year.

Leaf piles up to a few inches thick provide valuable habitat to overwintering bugs, worms, and insects—as well as benefits for
soil and plant health as they decompose. Un-mowed leaves may be more beneficial to insects, but are also more likely to blow or drift away. Consider decorative garden fencing to contain the leaves.

If you choose to leave your leaves to protect overwintering invertebrates and wish to remove them as part of spring clean-up,
it is a safe bet that by the time the grass is ready to be mowed for the first time (after Tax Day), the invertebrates no longer require the protection. The city does not offer a vacuum leaf collection in the spring; however, the city’s Monday yard waste collection program—which occurs yearround— can be an opportunity dispose of those leaves.

More information about leaf collection and “I’m a Leaf Saver” program can be found on the City Yard Waste & Fall Leaf Collection webpage.

This article appeared in the October Edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. Check out this article and more on the City webpage.

News Alert, Public Notices, Takoma Park Newsletter

City of Takoma Park Election Information: Two Separate Elections on Tuesday, November 5, 2024

 

Please Note: With regret, there was a typographical error showing the date from the 2022 Elections on the Printed Version of the October Newsletter. The correct date for the 2024 elections is Tuesday, November 5, 2024, and has been corrected in the digital version on the City Newsletter webpage.

Two Separate Elections on Tuesday, November 5, 2024
  •  Presidential General Election
  •  City of Takoma Park Election

The Takoma Park Election for mayor and city council is separate from the Maryland presidential election process. Remember to vote in BOTH elections if you are eligible.

Takoma Park Vote by Mail

The Takoma Park Board of Elections is sending a vote-by-mail City Election ballot to every active registered voter. Voters can return the ballot by mail in the enclosed prepaid envelope or drop the ballot in an offi cial Takoma Park Ballot Drop Box at one of two locations:

Absentee Ballots

If you expect to be out of town through election day and want your ballot sent to a different address, request an absentee ballot here!

Election Day Voting

The Community Center will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day for residents to vote in person and for residents not yet registered. Remember that only the Takoma Park Election for mayor and city council will take place at the Community Center. To vote in the state/county election on November 5, you will go to your regular precinct polling place.

Need Assistance with City Voting, Voter Registration or City Election Questions?

In-person voter assistance for the Takoma Park Election will be available at the City Clerk’s Office in the Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave., from October 21 through November 4, Monday–Friday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Other times are available by appointment. If language assistance is needed, contact Irma Nalvarte at 301-891-7214 or irman@takomaparkmd.gov.

Voter Registration for the Takoma Park City Election—Up to and Including Election Day

If you are already registered at an addressin the City, you need not register again.

If you are not registered, you may register to vote in Takoma Park elections if you

  • are a resident of the City of Takoma Park;
  • will be at least 16 years old on Election Day;
  • do not claim the right to vote elsewhere in the United States;
  • have not been convicted of buying or selling votes;
  • are not under guardianship for mental disability or, if you are, you have not been found by a court to be unable to communicate a desire to vote.
U.S. citizenship is not a requirement for voting in City of Takoma Park elections.

Not everyone who registers to vote in city elections will be eligible to vote in county, state or national elections. Review the registration form carefully to understand the requirements for voting in the State of Maryland. For registration information, view takomaparkmd.gov/ elections, call 301-891-7252, or email elections@takomaparkmd.gov

This article appeared in the October Edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. Check out this article and more on the City webpage.

News Alert, Public Notices

Catch up on details from the TKPK Candidates Forum hosted by Eric Bond, TALK of TAKOMA – WOWD-LP

 

Eric Bond, Talk of Takoma, will hold a Candidates Forum on two nights. Please join in person or watch from home:

Candidate Forums (Two Nights)

Community Center – Auditorium
7500 Maple Avenue

  • Parking is reserved at the Piney Branch school parking lot ( 7510 Maple Avenue) for the forum
Date: Monday, September 30, 2024

Ward 4 & Ward 6: Watch the Recorded Candidate Forum (link)

Date: Monday, October 7, 2024

Ward 1 & Ward 3: Watch the Recorded Candidate Forum (link)

How to watch at home:

Please Note: As this is NOT a City Sponsored Event!

 

 

 

 

News, Public Notices

Message From Code Enforcement: Fall Is Upon Us! So, What Can We Do with Leaves?

Shredding leaves with a mulching mower will save you time and money. Mulching is faster and easier on the back than raking. Studies have shown that mulching leaves can return nutrients and organic matter to the yard and have long-term positive effects.

4 Best Practices for Making Shredded Leaf Mulch

  • The turf must be mowed high.
  • The leaves should be dry, not wet, and matted down.
  • Leaf mulching should be done every week. If done too infrequently, the thickness of the leaf litter will be too much for the mulching effort to be effective. You will create a layer of smaller leaves.
  • Leaf mulching early in the fall, while the soil temperature is still warm, will lead to rapid litter decomposition. Waiting until the end of fall is counterproductive as the soil temps have cooled, and decomposition is slower.

In conclusion, fall lawn care doesn’t have to include the tedious job of raking or blowing leaves. Follow these simple steps for how to mulch leaves and your lawn and your back will thank you!