Route 1 Reporter (https://route1reporter.com/category/news/)
Mount Rainier’s three candidates for City Council seats met this week in the only debate planned before the May elections. For two candidates — incumbent Ward One Councilor Celina Benitez and her opponent, local activist Charnette Robinson — it was a chance to define themselves against the other. But they didn’t really succeed — unless, that is, you were already familiar with the candidates.
Hyattsville is one step closer to becoming the first municipality in Prince George’s County with an affordable housing development incentive program.
A trade war with China and a strong regional construction market has dramatically raised the price of a planned Hyattsville Public Works facility.
On the narrow question of does this project achieve it’s stated goals — shortening highway commute times — Maryland may have a success. But on the greater question of proactive, responsible planning according to objective public policy, this plan is highly suspect.
Hyattsville’s Ward Five election pits incumbent Councilor Joseph Solomon against Sophie Gorman Oriani. Solomon, who was first elected in 2013 to fill a partial-term vacancy on City Council and re-elected in 2015, is running for his second full term. In their interviews with Route 1 Reporter, their differences were most-pronounced in assessing the satisfaction of their West Hyattsville neighbors. Joseph Solomon posed the “Ronald Reagan” question when asked why voters should re-elect him. “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?
Meet Joseph Solomon, running to hold onto his seat as Hyattsville’s Ward Five representative.
Meet Sophie Gorman Oriani, running to unseat incumbent Councilor Joseph Solomon in Hyattsville’s Ward Five.
Editor’s note: See correction below article. Ward Four’s wide open seat in West Hyattsville– vacated by former Councilor Paula Perry – has attracted to would-be City Councilors to this year’s elections in Hyattsville: Jonathan Mueller and Daniel Peabody. In interviews, both West Hyattsville candidates highlighted their approach to local politics. Each – in their own way – reflected a persistent sense of dissatisfaction with Hyattsville’s East-West divide that has left some residents west of Queens Chapel Road to say they feel left-out in both policy decisions and economic development. “We need to develop.
Meet Daniel Peabody, running for City Council in Hyattsville’s Ward Four.
Meet Jonathan Mueller, running for Hyattsville City Council in Ward Four