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Hyattsville won’t share video from fatal police shooting

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Hyattsville officials now say they cannot yet share with Mount Rainier officials body camera footage its officers recorded during the events that led to the fatal 2019 police shooting of Leonard Shand. 

In a statement read during Hyattsville’s Jan. 21, 2020, City Council meeting, City Administrator Tracey Douglas said she had been advised against releasing additional information on the incident until after Prince George’s County police completed its investigation into the shooting. Douglas’ statement was a response to a Jan. 6, 2020, request from Mount Rainier City Councilor Scott Cecil to see video from Hyattsville police officers on the scene of Shand’s death. Shand, 49, died after 11 officers, including six from Hyattsville, opened fire him at the end of a half-hour early-morning walking standoff that started Sept.

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Hyattsville might legalize backyard chickens

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Hyattsville officials will consider repealing city laws prohibiting residents from raising chickens. At its Jan. 21, 2020, meeting, Hyattsville City Council will consider the aptly-named “Backyard Chicken Act,” which would strike “domestic fowl” and “poultry and game birds” from the list of animals prohibited in the city. 

Roosters, however, will remain banned. 

“Chicken raising is an enjoyable recreational activity that provides a healthy food source, high-quality fertilizer, fosters community building, and, with proper regulations, does not result in unsanitary or noisy conditions,” reads a summary of the legislation, introduced by freshman City Councilor Danny Schaible. But backyard chickens are also outlawed at the County level. Hyattsville’s Backyard Chicken Act, if passed, would not change that.

Hyattsville

Metrorail cars parked in Hyattsville could become bar, somewhere

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Since at least September 2019, two retired Washington Metro railcars have been collecting dust – and a bit of graffiti – in an abandoned gas station lot near the West Hyattsville Metro station on Ager Road. But someday, somewhere, they might be transformed into a bar or restaurant, presumably gracing the grounds of a hip new development. By chance, Route 1 Reporter happened upon the cars Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, as workers appeared to be preparing them for transport. The cars bear the serial numbers 5059 and 5058, and the work underway appeared to be cutting each car in half to fit on wide-load trailers.

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Hyattsville pushed to share police shooting body-cam video

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Hyattsville city officials say they are open to allowing Mount Rainier city officials to review video from Hyattsville police body cameras showing the events leading up to the fatal police shooting of Leonard Shand. The move comes after Mount Rainier City Councilor Scott Cecil, speaking during public comment at Hyattsville’s Jan. 6, 2019, City Council meeting, complained that Hyattsville officials had not responded to earlier requests from himself and Mount Rainier Chief of Police Anthony Morgan to review the footage, which had already been screened by Hyattsville city officials to members of Hyattsville’s City Council and to the president of the Prince George’s Count NAACP. 

“Many local residents were horrified, confused and concerned by this incident. They’re looking for transparency, which is rooted in civilian oversight from each of us,” said Cecil during the meeting. “I’ve reviewed the body camera footage from our officer on two occasions and I’m left with many questions.

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Transit briefs: Hyattsville eyes bike racks, bus service

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Hyattsville is trying to expand its network of familiar yellow bike racks. The first round of this fiscal-year’s bike rack requests have been submitted to Arrow Bicycles for consideration, according to City Administrator Tracey Douglas. Hyattsville partners with Arrow Bicycle on the project. Under Hyattsville Bike Rack Request program, businesses and commercial property owners are able to apply for one or more free bike racks to be installed on or near their properties. The racks must be kept available for public use at any time.

Environment

Hyattsville endorses energy proposal in Annapolis

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Hyattsville City Council threw its weight behind a proposed state law that, if passed, would allow local governments to negotiate with power companies to provide electricity for its residents. The measure, introduced by Councilor Danny Schaible, is unusual because Hyattsville doesn’t often weigh in on statewide proposals from the dais. 

The law is called the Community Choice Aggregation Act. It was introduced in Maryland’s legislature in 2019 by District 20 Delegate Lorig Charkoudian, but did not make it out of committee. A similar bill is expected to be introduced during the 2020 legislative session. 

“This would really send a letter to our delegation that represents us in Annapolis letting them know that we support this measure and encouraging them to pass it,” said Schaible during Hyattsville’s Dec. 17, 2019 City Council meeting.

A black metal gate bears a three-panel sign reading, top to bottom, "City of Hyattsville." In the background, bright green leaves.
Hyattsville

Responding to Trump, Hyattsville officially open to refugees

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It’s official: Hyattsville welcomes refugees to be resettled in its borders by the federal government. The declaration is a new necessity for cities. That’s because President Donald Trump issued an executive order this past September requiring states and local governments to notify the Department of State they consent to resettle refugees within their borders. 

In November, three local organizations that work with refugees – International Rescue Committee, Ethiopian Community Development Council, and Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital –  wrote to Hyattsville officials requesting they issue a consent letter. 

“The three refugee resettlement agencies requesting your consent have resettled refugees in the City of Hyattsville and the surrounding counties for over 13 years,” reads the letter from the nonprofits. “We have helped refugees successfully access housing, healthcare, education and employment with funding from the federal government. Local municipalities like the City of Hyattsville bear none of the cost of resettlement and reap many benefits.”

The measure to issue the letter passed unanimously.

Hyattsville

Metro to sell West Hyattsville land to developer

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WMATA is likely to approve a deal with Gilbane Development Co. and The Hogan Development Group LLC to expand the developers of the neighboring Riverfront at West Hyattsville project, according to Metro documents. 

Gilbane has been working for more than a year to re-grade and prepare for development at the Riverfront at West Hyattsville on the 18.5 acres it already owns. The project plans to have 183 townhomes and 9,000 square feet of retail space. So far, only the townhome portions of the project have already been approved by county officials. 

The proposal before Metro’s board, to be considered at its Dec. 12, 2019, meeting, would sell a 5.3 acre wedge of land to the southeast of the Gilbane property and the West Hyattsville Metro Station.

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Hyattsville Council might weigh in on statewide energy proposal

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Hyattville City Councilor Danny Schaible wants Hyattsville to throw its weight behind a proposed state law that would allow cities and other jurisdictions to negotiate for electricity service on behalf of their residents. The law is called the Community Choice Aggregation Act. It was introduced in Maryland’s legislature in 2019 by District 20 Delegate Lorig Charkoudian, but did not make it out of committee. A similar bill is expected to be introduced during the 2020 legislative session. If passed, the law would allow cities and counties to create a “community choice aggregator” to negotiate with electricity generators over the type of energy purchased by their community.