The Takoma Park Reimagining Public Safety Task Force (RPSTF) first convened in March 2021. The purpose of the Task Force is to develop recommendations that make Takoma Park a safer, more livable community for all residents, with an emphasis on addressing racial inequalities that exist regarding public safety. The City Council created the Task Force as an opportunity for the City to bring community voices into the process as we take stock of what is working, what is not, and explore best practices in public safety in our City.

To date, the Task Force has met weekly as a full Task Force and established subcommittees related to Alternate Methods to Policing, Community Quality of Life, and Community Engagement and Transparency. The group has received and analyzed data from City agencies on traffic stops, arrests, and budgeting. The Task Force invited a number of subject matter experts to present information on topics ranging from housing and mental health to communications and complaint management. A complete record of meeting recordings and summaries can be found on the RPSTF project page here.

The Task Force has hosted two Community Listening Sessions so far where community members were able to address Task Force members directly.  The City has also created a number of opportunities for Takoma Park stakeholders to engage with this project. LINK Strategic Partners and Expectant Advisory, the Task Force’s facilitation partner, have conducted a series of stakeholder interviews with individuals in Takoma Park including school principals, renter community members, long-term residents, community leaders, and more. LINK also facilitated a focus group discussion for local community leaders and two focus groups with Takoma Park police officers. In the coming weeks, we are working with the business community to hold discussions to receive additional feedback. There is also an online survey open to the public to provide written comments that can be accessed here.

In the next six weeks, the Task Force will continue to meet to draft and refine recommendations for the City of Takoma Park. This timeline extension allows the Task Force to process additional community feedback and work with subject matter experts on further research while also ensuring that recommendations are finalized and communicated to the City Council in time to leverage funds anticipated from the American Recovery Plan Act.

As their efforts progress, please provide feedback to the Task Force using the public comment form on the project website here. The Task Force will hold a final Community Listening Session in mid-June to present initial recommendations for feedback – stay tuned for more information on how to participate.

Overview of Past Meetings: 

• March 16: Deep dive into the focus of the Task Force; discussed timeline, structure and process; spent time defining success for the work
• March 23: Task Force members received an overview of city government and agencies; discussion of subcommittees and structure; begin to identify subcommittee focus areas
• March 30: Task Force members went into breakouts to discuss subcommittee structure; what is working, what is not, and what can be done moving forward; resources and subject matter experts needed to accomplish the tasks.
• April 6: Chief DeVaul presented detailed traffic stop data as requested, overall and by race, and took questions from Task Force members.
• April 13: The proposed subcommittee assignments and their facilitators were announced. The subcommittees met to begin their work, map out recommendations for action, and identify further resource needs.
• April 20: Task Force citizen leads were announced, and they and subcommittee members reported on the themes developed during the subcommittee meetings of 4.13
• April 27: Grayce Wiggins, Manager of Housing and Community Development, was the guest speaker for the open portion of the meeting. City subject matter experts met with the subcommittees to respond to questions about their areas of expertise and their agencies’ operations.
• May 4: Chief of Police Antonio DeVaul gave an overview of arrest data for Takoma Park 2015-2020 and took questions from Task Force members. City Manager Suzanne Ludlow gave an overview of the Takoma Park budget and took questions from Task Force members.
• May 11: Subcommittees continued to dig into data and identify subject matter experts specific to their focus areas.
• May 18: Subcommittees reported on their process and progress. The Task Force and attendees heard from subject matter experts they had requested: Claudia Tolson, Takoma Park Police Department Victim/Witness Coordinator, and Dr. Simone Walton, Mental Health Subcommittee Lead on the Montgomery County Task Force.
• May 25: Subcommittees worked to further refine the recommendations developing from their research. Subject matter experts requested by Task Force members met with the subcommittees: Dara Baldwin, Director of National Policy, Center for Disability Rights; Bernice Mireku-North, The North Law Group, Co-Chair, Montgomery County Task Force; Marc Mauer, Senior Advisor at The Sentencing Project, Co-Chair, Montgomery County Task Force; Donna Wright, Takoma Park Communications Specialist; Andrew Powell, Deputy Chief & Internal Affairs Representative Takoma Park Police Department; Dan Frishkorn, Captain, Takoma Park Police Department; Jessica Clarke, Takoma Park Deputy City Manager
• June 1: Subcommittee report-outs on refining recommendations. Subject matter experts Delegate David Moon and Ann Ciekot of Public Policy Partners provided an overview of legislative reform efforts related to public safety at the State level

Timeline Graphic

Members of the Community,

I am thrilled to be joining the City of Takoma Park in August as your new City Manager. My family and I are very appreciative of you and many in our community who have and continue to reach out and welcome us.

I have a passion for public service and the impact we have on the community from building inclusive teams, programming, community events, arts, transportation investments to innovative health and wellness opportunities to public-private partnerships for economic prosperity.

I believe Takoma Park has a dedicated and professional workforce, strong commitment to racial equity, strong local employers, and diverse schools. The community is uniquely prepared for a strong future post-COVID-19.

What also attracted me was that this opportunity provided the right blend of cultural and educational opportunities in a region with a unique set of community assets that is unmatched given the proximity to Washington, DC for our young family.

My wife Jaimee and I will have two young kids and we were interested in an environment where we can not only re-establish family roots but also where we can make a significant impact on the community. I grew up in the DMV, particularly in northern Virginia and this opportunity will allow me to relocate closer to my family, who like many families over the last year have been impacted by the pandemic and need support and assistance.

We saw Takoma Park as a beautiful community that shared our family values and where we could raise our family. My family and I look forward to connecting with you in the community. We are very excited to take part in future community festivals, shop at both farmers markets and Takoma Park Silver Spring CO-OP and take advantage of all the City has to offer.

I want to thank you in advance for your grace and understanding as we embark on our journey together. The late Coretta Scott King once said, “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members, a heart of grace, and a soul generated by love”. As we collectively prepare for my tenure, I encourage us all to embrace the spirit of compassion with acts of kindness and a willingness to work together to solve the most pressing issues facing our community.

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Link to PDF of Letter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Release

Mayor and City Council Designate Jamal T. Fox as Takoma Park’s Next City Manager

“After conducting a thorough national search and an extensive interview process, we are pleased to welcome Jamal to the City. His experience, background and leadership will serve the residents and employees in Takoma Park and its future very well. We are looking forward to having Jamal join our team to assist our community as we look to recover from the pandemic and move forward on racial equity, housing, climate change, reimagining public safety and other initiatives,” said Mayor Kate Stewart.

“I am very honored by Mayor Stewart and the City Council to be selected to serve as the City Manager for Takoma Park. I am thrilled about this opportunity to join a strong, dedicated, and talented team. I am looking forward to collaborating with the City Council, staff, residents, and the business community,” said Fox.

Mr. Fox currently serves as the City Administrator in Camas, Washington. He has also served as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Mayor and was the city’s Parks Property & Business Development Manager for the City of Portland, Oregon. Previously, Fox worked in the City Manager’s Office and in the Planning and Community Development Department in the City of Greensboro, North Carolina.

Mr. Fox has a Master of Public Administration degree from the Capella University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from North Carolina A&T State University. At the age of 25, Fox became the youngest person ever to be elected and serve on the Greensboro City Council representing District 2 (northeast Greensboro). He is a former adjunct professor in political science at North Carolina A&T State University and high school teacher with Guilford County Schools.

Fox and his wife, Jaimee, have one son, Jamal Jr., who is 2 years old and a daughter on the way in July. Fox is a proud father, husband and member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Fox is looking forward to becoming an active member in the community and region.

Mr. Fox will begin work at the City of Takoma Park on August 2, 2021.

The City of Takoma Park operates under a council-manager form of government. The City Manager is responsible to the Mayor and the Council for the day-to-day management of city operations. Under provisions of the City Charter and code, the City Manager prepares a budget for the Mayor and Council’s approval; recruits, hires, and supervises staff; serves as the Mayor and Council’s chief administrative officer; implements Mayor and Council policies; and provides professional recommendations.

# # #

Read the Press Release here

Media Contact:
Donna Wright
Communications Specialist
donnaw@takomaparkmd.gov
301-891-7236

The Housing and Community Development Department announced today that Governor Hogan had awarded the City of Takoma Park  significant grant funds as part of the National Capital Strategic Economic Development Fund (NCSEDF) initiative.

The first grant is a $500,000 Revitalization Award for the revitalization of 6530 and 6600 New Hampshire Avenue.

The revitalization project includes the acquisition and rehabilitation of the properties. The property at 6530 New Hampshire Ave, a highly visible but derelict 3-story commercial building, will become a state-of-the-art conference center and commercial-use building with new construction to create housing units. In partnership with a private developer, this multi-phase project will be the first mixed-use development of modern times in the City of Takoma Park.

The second award, a $500,00 Affordable Homeownership Opportunities Fund is for acquisition of properties to develop affordable homeownership opportunities and preserve a continuum of housing affordability in the City.

For more information:

• Read more about the announcement of the Governor’s Revitalization Awards
• See a list of awardees here

As Race Director for the TKPK5K, I, Lucy Neher, have a confession to make. I have never actually RUN the TKPK5K, even though I have been RUNNING it for 13 years! It’s not that I can’t run a 5K; I just can’t run the TKPK5K. Making sure so many others can run the TKPK5K takes up all my time and energy. And it has been sheer joy.

I don’t do it alone. I like to say serving on the Race Committee is the best kept PTA secret (not anymore!) because we have so much fun. Together with representatives from all 5 PTAs, the work begins in October. We plan out all the details and prepare for any eventuality, even a pandemic! We make it look easy, because that kind of work, with a congenial group of individuals all pulling their weight is so satisfying. By the time we reach our finish line we are exhausted from the joy of it all.

From the first year when 350 smiling runners ran in the pouring rain to 2019 when 1500 runners seemed oblivious to the pouring rain and everything in between, it has been pure joy to cheer at the start and finish lines. The TKPK5K is full of stories about running and how running impacts our lives. One Spring, a former participant wrote to tell me he couldn’t run that year. He was in Florida running a marathon. He went on to say the TKPK5K had saved his life. He was going through a dark time, received an email about the TKPK5K, signed up, ran and never looked back until he crossed the finish line of his first marathon. He thanked us for saving his life. There are many joyous stories like his.

We decided to shut down the race in 2020 and to bring it back virtually in 2021. In this time of certain uncertainty, one thing is clear, the TKPK5K is a beloved springtime rite of passage. As we watch the race roster grow this year, scrolling through the names of the many people who have signed up for the race already, we see a remarkable cross section of our community: young and old, veteran and first-time runners, and families deciding to run together in the joyful spring sunshine! We are all finding JOY again!

SIGN UP NOW if you’d like to get your JOY ON!

We Belong Here: Equity Walk, the educational and engaging walking activity offers residents a safe space for discussion and exploration of equity issues. The relaunch includes the following updates within the Equity Walk:

• Fresh new paint
• New term glossary
• Signage that includes QR codes and directions on how to use the QR codes
• Tell us about your experience by responding to the survey. Respondents will receive a free We Belong Here t-shirt.

How to visit:

• To view the map of each stations location, please click here.
• Each pin on the map represents an activity station. You can start or stop at any station. Visit the Equity Walk as often as you like.
• There are ten stations near the Takoma Park Community Center and seven stations on Anne Street near University Boulevard.
• Access We Belong Here via QR code on any smartphone device. QR markers are located on the ground and signage throughout the route. Walkers can click on any QR marker to pull up prompts for exploration and discussion.
• A print version is also available.

Our experience: Learn more about the Equity Walk from two city interns

As two new interns tasked with working on ways to improve the We Belong Here Equity Walk, we first began by reading up on the project. We knew that working on a project dedicated to creating safe spaces for individuals to learn and grow in regards to issues of inequality was necessary. Especially in current times and during Autism Awareness Month, we believed the project to be much needed to further educate ourselves, others, and future leaders of tomorrow on the importance of acceptance and celebrating differences. After all, education is the foundation of change. With this in mind, we thought it would be a good idea to go out into the community and take part in the activities of the project and experience it for ourselves.

Once we arrived at the Takoma Park Community Center, one of the locations of the We Belong Here Equity Walk project, we noticed QR codes on the ground next to the painted sidewalk station. We took out our phones, scanned the code with our cameras, and there it was! An interactive webpage with descriptions of each painted station and discussion questions for after the activity was completed in English, Spanish, and Amharic!

The painted sidewalks suddenly became alive! We jumped and popped bubbles to break stereotypes, leaped over logs to overcome fears of taking risks and standing out, and more. We asked ourselves questions like: “What makes me feel unique?”; “What makes you want to speak out?”; “What is an assumption?”. Such simple questions demanded a level of self reflection that pushed us to break down our walls. It highlighted what we value the most and how, despite being four people of different ages, abilities, and racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds, we share similar perspectives.

We felt that with each station, although we did not have to complete them all, the discussions we had on race, equity, self worth, and more kept naturally flowing. These tough and necessary conversations must be had, and it is never too early or too late for them. The Equity Walk offered us a safe and active space to reflect on our lives and mentally reaffirm what we value the most in ourselves, in others, and in life. We are all united in our uniqueness. We are all valued because of our differences. For those reasons, and much more, we should work daily to remind ourselves that we do belong. We invite you to do the same, to step out of your comfort zone in this safe accepting environment, and to engage in these discussions with yourself, family, friends, quarantine groups, and loved ones.

-Two City Interns

For more information on how to visit We Belong Here: Equity Walk please click here

“The City welcomes the Circuit Court for Montgomery County’s decision today permitting the Co-op to continue to use the Takoma Junction lot for its deliveries and parking for the present time. The City continues to work with NDC and the Co-op in an effort to assist both parties in resolving differences.”

Dear Councilmembers,

Over the next two weeks, you have the opportunity to take a significant step towards finally resolving municipal tax duplication issues that have gone on for decades. The County Council’s GO Committee has recommended funding and processes that will build on hard work done by municipal and county officials over the past few years. What are these recommendations?

• Adding $5 million to the tax duplication payment recommended by the County Executive so that the County’s municipalities receive the amount that is appropriate for FY22; and
• Expressing the expectation that, by October, the County Executive’s staff will negotiate with the four municipalities with police departments to determine the appropriate rebate amounts for police services for FY23 and beyond; and that also park maintenance formulas and County Code language will be updated.

What do we ask you to do?
Vote to accept the unanimous GO Committee recommendation regarding tax duplication when it comes before you.

We also ask County President Tom Hucker and all Councilmembers to act to ensure that the full additional $5 million is in the final FY22 County budget.

THANK YOU to GO Committee Chair Nancy Navarro and Committee Members Councilmembers Sidney Katz and Andrew Friedson! We appreciate your understanding of the hardship the municipalities have faced due to having the rebates frozen since 2012, and your belief that this is the year to resolve the issues.

Best regards,
Montgomery County municipal residents

Background information and County Councilmember email addresses can be found here: Municipal Tax Duplication