The Washington Informer: Regional

Prince George ’s Volunteers Delivered “Christmas in April”

Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson and county employees last week worked with many volunteers to repair 81 homes during this year's Christmas in April program.

"This year the volunteers working with Christmas in April have taken on several complex jobs, including building 13 ramps for handicapped homeowners," Johnson said. "The efforts of the volunteers show how the people of Prince George's County donate their time and resources to help others."

Christmas in April, one of the county's leading volunteer organizations, has been preserving and revitalizing low-income houses and communities since 1989. To date, 52,700 volunteers have made $12.4 million in repairs to 1,655 homes.

Norton Criticizes DOE

In a House hearing on the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) last week, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) vigorously cross-examined Department of Education officials (DOE), on their "high-risk" designation of the city's schools announced last week.

The treatment of the city as a state without a full and independent state education oversight mechanism with the usual staff and resources appears to be at the root of the difficulty, according to testimony Norton elicited from Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education Henry Johnson and Senior Counsel to the Secretary Hudson La Force.

Only U.S. territories and the District, none of which are parts of states, have been designated high risk. Norton, a graduate of the District of Columbia Public Schools, said she would never be an apologist for the schools, but said basic questions of fairness and much needed collaboration and technical assistance were raised when the DOE went to the most serious designation without any intermediate steps.

Norton criticized the Department for not offering in-depth assistance, "before pinning a label on the District." She said that DCPS was justifiably the object of strong criticism and has received this criticism, first and foremost from D.C. residents, and that the D.C. government is fully engaged with the schools as the city's first priority problem and concern. Nevertheless, Norton said it was highly unusual and unwarranted to give the most serious designation this year, the first full school year Superintendent Clifford Janey has been on the job.

Jack Johnson Decries NegativeCounty Image

Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson, Congressman Steny Hoyer, Hyattsville Mayor Bill Gardner and other federal, state and local officials held a press conference last week to refute the portrayal of Prince George's County and the City of Hyattsville on ABC's “Commander in Chief” show that aired last week.

Gang Prevention Officials Open New YouthCenter

County Executives Jack Johnson and Doug Duncan, of Montgomery County , and members of the Joint County Gang Prevention Task Force last week hosted a grand opening ceremony for the Crossroads Youth Opportunity Center in the Takoma/Langley Park area.

The center is a joint county program offering youth development, mentoring, job training and placement and counseling services for young adults who are involved in gangs or at risk for potential gang involvement. The center was the top recommendation of the Joint County Gang Task Force.

Van Hollen will be announcing $2.3 million in federal funding for anti-gang initiatives, including the Center, community-based after-school programs and support services, and increased policing activities.