Category Archives: News Alert

Category for Takoma alert items.

News Alert, Public Notices

Message from the Police Chief regarding incidents in DC and Security in Takoma Park

 

We all were shocked and horrified to see the images of rioters violently breaching the Capitol building yesterday. While there were and are no direct threats to the City of Takoma Park, our agency immediately implemented security protocols. This involved increasing our staffing, securing high profile sites in the City, and coordinating with our law enforcement partners across the region to provide mutual aid.

We implemented a high-profile police presence in the city to deter any events in Takoma Park. We will continue our heightened level of alertness, communicate with our regional law enforcement partners, and monitor intelligence.

I know many are shocked and scared by the events in the District of Columbia yesterday and the possibility of our city becoming the target of certain groups. I want to be clear there are no active threats against the City of Takoma Park. That being said, the Takoma Park Police Department is prepared for any event that may occur in our beautiful city. We have operational plans in place and have Memorandums of Understanding with our law enforcement partners should any event occur in Takoma Park.

We are here to protect all residents equally and with dignity and respect.

Arts & Humanities, News, News Alert

Sidewalk Poetry Contest Needs Your Poems!

2 Comments

SIDEWALK POETRY CONTEST

Deadline: Feb. 28, 2021 

Would you like to see your original poem imprinted in a city sidewalk? Takoma Park residents can enter their short original poems in a contest organized by the City of Takoma Park’s Arts and Humanities Division. The contest is open to adults and children, and no poetry experience is needed. Just write a poem and enter it!

Winners will receive a $100 award and a chance to have their poem stamped into a local sidewalk. You can find more details in the online submission form. 

Sidewalk Poem in St. Paul, MN  Photo credit:Thaiphy Phan Quang

News Alert, Public Notices

TPPD host Essential Drive for Montgomery County Animal Shelters: Starts, Monday, January 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Starting  Monday, January 4 through Friday, January 29, 2021, Takoma Park Police will be collecting sheets, towels, and bath rugs to help the Montgomery County Animal Shelter.

**NOTE:  For the animals’ safety, NO fitted sheets, items with zippers or snaps, and/or other fabrics with rips or frayed edges.**

Please bring your new or gently used bath towels, beach towels, bathroom rugs, sheets, hand towels, and washcloths to:

Takoma Park Police Department
Lobby 
7500 Maple Ave.
Takoma Park, MD 

We will get them to the animal shelter.

 

Thank you!
Contact:
Catherine Plevy
Public Information Officer
Takoma Park Police Department

Email: cathyp@takomaparkmd.gov
Phone: 301-891-7142
Cell: 240-338-2901

City Manager & Staff Blog, News Alert

Update: Raskin Family announces Tommy Raskin Memorial Fund

 

Update:

The Raskin family today announced the launch of the Tommy Raskin Memorial Fund for People and Animals: https://t.co/BFTKVD7mCA https://t.co/j21YgLjdpi

 Information on condolence notes and other memorial plans through this link:  https://raskin.house.gov/media/press-releases/raskin-family-announces-memorial-fund-tommy-raskin.

To make donations in honor of Tommy, go to: https://cfncr.wufoo.com/forms/tommy-raskin-memorial-fund-for-people-and-animals.

The City of Takoma Park expresses its heartfelt sympathy to Jamie Raskin and Sarah Bloom Raskin on the passing of their son, Tommy.

Please know that just as you have been here for us, we are here for you and your family.

City Manager & Staff Blog, News Alert

City Manager Ludlow’s Holiday Message of Hope as we Move into 2021

 

Dear Residents,

As I have been for almost every year for 27 years, I am at work on Christmas Eve, which is a half-day workday for City staff. I traditionally get some work done, talk to staff in different departments and then, at 12:30, make sure the doors are closed and the lights turned off. This year, most doors have been locked since March and the building has a few staff inside, although many are working at home or in the field. Very strange indeed. And yet we persist.

Holidays are always both joyous and hard. My heart goes out to all who have lost family members this year or who have had a difficult time. Although my husband died three years ago, I have felt his loss more this year. And, I lost a nephew to suicide two weeks ago – which I believe is an indirect COVID-19 death. Many City staff have lost loved ones this year and I so appreciate that they continue to work to serve the residents of Takoma Park despite the difficulty in doing so.

One thing that surprised me after my father’s death 20+ years ago is how his love continues. I didn’t know what to expect when he died, and it has been wonderful to know that the memories and counsel of my father, mother and husband remain. For those who are having a very difficult time, I recommend the book, Healing After Loss by Martha Whitmore Hickman. I still find it useful.

There is much to be hopeful about as we move into the year 2021. Thank you to the researchers, scientists, volunteers and others who have developed COVID-19 vaccines! Over the next six months, everyone should be vaccinated unless there is a medical reason not to receive the vaccine. This is the only way to save lives, reopen schools and stores, and get back to the communal everyday life we so badly need.

I am reminded of a story I think I read in a Reader’s Digest years ago. A flood warning had gone out to a community and a resident said he wasn’t leaving his house because “God will protect me.” The floodwaters were at waist level when a man in a boat came by to get him and the man turned him away, saying “God will protect me.” As the floodwaters deepened and the man was on his roof, a helicopter came by to get him and the man said, “No, God will protect me.” The man drowned. When he then saw God, he said, “What happened? Why didn’t you save me?” God replied, “I sent you a warning, a boat and a helicopter, what more did you need!”

Whatever your faith, please heed the sound health care advice: wear a mask, avoid large gatherings, and get a vaccine as soon as you are able.

The City has a terrific COVID-19 resource page that you should check periodically. It includes information on testing, as well as food, financial and mental health resources. And, as we get information on vaccination plans, we will help share it.

One of my brothers wrote in a message to me this morning, “As in other countries, there are masses of people who are ready for more truth, more peace, more justice, more freedom, more environmental responsibility than our so-called leaders give us credit for.” This particular brother is one that I expected to die this year but now is out of hospice care. It is one of the best holiday presents I could have hoped for.

I hope the miracle of love comes your way this holiday season. We will get through all of this together!

Happy holidays!
Suzanne Ludlow

City Council & Mayor Blog, News Alert

Mayor Stewart Reiterates Our Commitment to Creating an Equitable and Inclusive Community

 

Two disturbing events recently took place in our community, and I wanted to provide an update on actions being taken and to reiterate our commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive community in which all residents can live with dignity and respect.

The first event was a woman who vandalized public art at the Gazebo. The actions and destruction of the image of a Black woman were shocking and appalling to witness. The Maryland-National Capital Park Police, who are handling the incident, have identified a suspect.  Currently, the State’s Attorney’s office is reviewing the case to determine if charges will be filed. The City is working with the Old Town Business Association (OTBA), who commissioned the art, to ensure repairs are made. OTBA has stated that they are waiting to hear back on this and, once the information is available, will work with the artist, the City, and community leaders to determine what the next steps will be. OTBA and I have also been in contact with the Montgomery County Chapter of the NAACP regarding the incident. Our work cannot stop at restoring art. The defacement of this art starkly illustrates the need to continue to fight anti-Black racism.

The other event was the spray painting of a swastika on a car parked in a resident’s driveway. Our Police Dept responded to the call and is investigating the incident. It has also been reported to the Montgomery County hate crimes unit. We know that there has been a recent rise in deadly attacks and historical violence toward Jewish people, and to have this happen in our own community is deeply disturbing. As a City, we strongly denounce anti-Semitism, Holocaust denial, and distortions about Judaism and Jewish life and culture. Last January, the City Council passed a Resolution, Upholding Commitment to Human Rights and Inclusivity.

As we begin 2021, I would like us as a community to recommit ourselves to anti-racist work and reaffirm our commitment to building a welcoming, inclusive community that celebrates diversity and strives for equity and respect for all. We live in a community of people with a great deal of expertise, and we welcome suggestions on concrete steps we can take to advance this work in our City in the weeks and months ahead.

News Alert, Public Notices

HOLIDAY CLOSURES AND TRASH COLLECTION CHANGES

 

The City office closures for upcoming holidays are listed below. The Police Department is always open for emergency services.

New Year’s Day: City of Takoma Park operations is closed from Thursday, December 31 at 6:00 pm through Saturday, January 2 for the New Year’s Day Holiday.

Holiday-Trash and Recycling Pick Up Changes:
Please note that collections scheduled for Friday, January 1, 2021, will happen a day earlier, on Thursday, December 31.

We wish you and yours a happy, safe and healthy holiday season! Here’s to a better 2021!

#wearamask #stayhome #HeresTo2021
News Alert, Public Notices

The Bell Family Sons “Hunt” Garbage Trucks From an Early Age and Find Real Treasures!

The following is from an email sent to the City Manager from Takoma Park
resident Jeff Bell, used with permission

Hello Suzanne,

My name is Jeff Bell, and I’m a resident here in Takoma Park.  For years, I’ve meant to reach out on this topic, but have never taken the step.I want to share with you how delightful our experiences have been with the crews that handle trash removal/recycling/compost collection.

For a little background, I have two sons, who are now 6 and almost 4.  Since our oldest was a baby, we would often go on walks in the neighborhood early in the morning and would encounter the garbage trucks.  Like most young boys, both of our sons found the garbage trucks to be very cool.  Over time this evolved from simple chance encounters to us going out in the morning to “hunt” the garbage trucks.  This has been going on for years, and I must say has given both my wife and me some truly remarkable memories.

What I find special is how incredibly warm and engaging every member of this team has been over the years.  Several will know our kids by name, and all will take a second to chat with us when they’ve been found.  In Pre-COVID times, my kids were very excited to get fist bumps from the crew.  At one point, they would report to their daycare teachers at morning drop-off how many trucks we found and how many “knucks” we got.  It certainly brightened everyone’s day that heard tales of our adventures garbage truck hunting.  I even had people in my office inquire as to how many garbage trucks we found on a particular morning.  There were times during hot summer months where my boys insisted that we take a couple of extra Gatorades with us that we could share to make sure the guys were staying hydrated.

I’ve had countless people witness our interactions, and go out of their way to tell me how big of a smile it put on their face, and how great the workers are.  I mean, who wouldn’t want to see two boys getting fist bumps from their heroes? COVID has forced us to pause on the fist bumps, but my boys will still run out of the house to greet the truck when we hear it pull up on Tuesdays.  There have been times we’re in the front yard and we’ll see a truck on Philadelphia, and if they see us they’ll always give a honk and a wave — while it’s not a fist bump, my boys really do appreciate being acknowledged.  I’ve even had instances where workers would be driving by our house (off work in their personal vehicle) and stop to say hello when we’re in the front yard.

I think it’s important to recognize the impact these hard-working gentlemen are having beyond just the service they provide — they are having a very positive in the community, and bring a great deal of joy to a lot of people, and I can attest that they make my boys feel special.

I’ve included a few pictures from over the years, including one that was taken just this morning.

News Alert, Public Notices

The City of Takoma Park Announces the Public Safety Task Force Facilitation Team

 

The City of Takoma Park recently issued a request for proposals (RFP) to solicit the services of a facilitator or facilitator team to manage the City’s Public Safety Task Force, established by City Council Resolution 2020-21. This Task Force will reimagine the structure and role of public safety in Takoma Park through engaged discussions and recommend changes to public safety policies and funding.

After a review of proposals and team interviews, the City has selected the joint facilitation team of LINK Strategic Partners (LINK) and Expectant Advisory, LLC. LINK is a social impact strategic communications and community engagement firm with demonstrated commitment to the community and civic-based work for causes that matter.  Expectant Advisory, LLC, is a Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) led consultancy with experience facilitating dynamic discussions across the United States and around the world.

In light of the sensitive nature of the topics the Public Safety Task Force will address, the City selected a partner who was able to demonstrate their capacity for and experience with strategic planning, racial equity, and community-building efforts across the country. This year alone, LINK and Expectant Advisory have convened national action-oriented discussions on equity, facilitated discussions on public safety reform, and have worked with partners to apply a Black history and culture lens to the history of policing.

Additionally, it was critically important that the project team selected was diverse and reflected the diversity of our community. LINK’s organization reflects the pluralistic, multi-ethnic composition of not only Takoma Park, but the United States of America. LINK’s youngest employee is 17 years old and their most senior staff member is 92. More than half of LINK’s staff is female and nearly 70% are people of color. This project will be led by a diverse group of facilitators, who can provide context and framing for a discussion and connect with the communities with whom we will engage as part of this process.

Given that the City of Takoma Park has long been a leader in inclusive approaches to policies and engagement, we are honored to partner with LINK and their partner Expectant Advisory, LLC as they help us reimagine public safety.

Links of Interest:
Website and Social Media Info
www.linksp.com

Local Insight. National Know-how.
Facebook • LinkedIn • Twitter

Recent News:
https://linksp.com/news/

City Council & Mayor Blog, News Alert

A Message From Mayor Stewart: We Are Here for Each Other – Updated 12/18/2020

 

The Mayors Blog is updated – December 18, 2020
Mayor Stewart updates her blog with translations in Amharic, French and Spanish languages to help share her message throughout other communities.

We are in the tenth month of the uncertainty and enormity of the COVID-19 crisis. While a vaccine appears on the way, we continue to witness the impact the virus is having every day on our families, friends, neighbors, and local businesses.

More than ever since this crisis began, we need to come together as a community to support and help each other. This starts with wearing a mask when in public. Also, stay up to date on the Montgomery County public health guidelines on gatherings, and while I know it can be difficult this time of year, please do not travel for the holidays.

As we have been over the last ten months, the City is here for all of you and will continue to be here.

I am deeply appreciative of all the support, patience, and compassion as we face this crisis together. Our City staff continues to work around the clock to make sure our government keeps running and residents, especially those most vulnerable, are being cared for.  We are working in coordination with County, State, and regional groups, as well as non-profits because we cannot do this alone.

When the crisis first began, we worked on getting reliable testing in our community and we have achieved that.

Every Wednesday and Saturday we have no appointment necessary for FREE COVID-19 testing at

  • Takoma Park Recreation Center
    7315 New Hampshire Avenue
    10:00 am – 5:00 pm
    View the flyer

Addressing food insecurity is also one of our top priorities. We have been working with non-profits to get food to those in need. Grayce Wiggins, our Housing and Community Development Manager, sits on the Montgomery County Food Council to assist in the coordinating of food distribution.

We also know residents need assistance paying their rents, condo fees, receiving unemployment benefits, and much more. Our City staff continues to provide one-on-one support. Personally, I have seen them in action late at night and on the weekends. Together we have been on the phone, talking with building managers and owners to ensure buildings are properly maintained during the pandemic, and assisting residents with accurate information in different languages.  You can see the latest on the City’s efforts here.

City staff continues to keep updating the Information and Resources: COVID-19  page where you can get information about:

  • City facilities and services
  • Resources including where to get masks, food distribution, and much more.
  • Information and resources for businesses
  • Things to do
  • And More!

There are also recommendations on how you can support local organizations and businesses during this time. Check back frequently because we are constantly adding and updating the information.

A few things to highlight for the next couple of weeks:

  • Toy Drive. Our City Police Department accepts toys for children aged 2-12 years old through noon December 23, as well as monetary donations and gift cards.
  • Winter Coat Drive. Bring clean, gently used warm coats and jackets in any size, gloves/mittens, and scarves, to the lobby of our City Police Dept. at the Community Center, for those in need this year, in partnership with Adventist Community Services. Ends Friday, December 18.
  • Volunteers Needed for Food Distribution on Saturday, December 19. Please join me on Saturday, December 19 to help the Shepherds of Zion Ministries Intl. Church in partnership with the Capital Area Food Bank and the United States Veterans Reserve Corps and the Maryland Medical Reserve Corps distributes food at Takoma Park Elementary School (TPES). For more details email me at kates@takomaparkmd.gov

To stay connected with the City, please be sure you are signed up for:

Facing this crisis together also requires taking time to take care of yourself. As we enter the upcoming week and continue to check-in and care for others in our community, make sure you are also checking-in and caring for yourself. I continue to go back to this Washington Post article for helpful reminders of how to care for yourself and others during this time.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also provides great resources. Here are some things they suggest you can do to support yourself:

This time of year my family observes Advent, and each Sunday evening in the weeks leading up to Christmas we light a candle in our Advent wreath. When my children were younger they wrote this poem that we recite when lighting the candles each week:

  • On the 1st week I have hope.
  • On the 2nd week I have love.
  • On the 3rd week I have joy.
  • On the 4th week, I wish for peace for all, through winter, spring, summer, and fall.

As we enter the final weeks of 2020, I wish you all hope, love, joy, and peace for the coming year.