In a move aimed to enhance the quality of life for Prince Georgians, County Executive Aisha Braveboy unveiled the latest phase of her signature Project Elevate initiative: Strike Force 311. The new effort is designed to tackle long-standing service requests in the county’s PGC311 system, focusing on nuisance abatement complaints.
Braveboy announced the initiative while standing in front of a neglected lot at 7109 E. Ridge Drive, which was filled with more than 200 commercial tires.
“These are not just numbers. They reflect the real concerns of residents, and this initiative is about responsiveness, responsibility, and results,” Braveboy said. “It’s about restoring and renewing hope, and building the kind of Prince George’s County we all deserve to live in.”
The county executive emphasized that the initiative aims to eliminate the frustration caused by bureaucratic delays that have hindered progress in the past. She introduced Chanel Dickerson as the new director of the Office of Community Relations, which manages the PGC311 system and will oversee the Strike Force 311 operations.
Operating seven days a week for the next 60 days, Strike Force 311 will coordinate with various county agencies, including the Department of Public Works and Transportation and the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement, to address more than 13,000 backlogged complaints in the system.
In addition, Braveboy highlighted that the two agencies alone have a surplus of 7,000 open cases, a situation she vowed would change under her administration.
To support these efforts, the county executive’s office has allocated $1 million in non-departmental funding to tackle nuisance abatement issues throughout Prince George’s.
“This is not just about beautification; this is about elevation,” she said. “When we elevate each of these properties, we are elevating the spirit, the culture, and the quality of life in our communities.”
The Strike Force initiative also opens doors for local small businesses to partner with the County government in addressing issues such as potholes, overgrown trees, and debris removal. Braveboy urged local contractors specializing in services like landscaping and litter collection to explore opportunities through the county’s procurement portal.
County Employees Supporting Elevation
County Council Chair Ed Burroughs also spoke at the event, highlighting the accomplishments of county employees since the launch of Project Elevate and the Countywide Litter and Beautification Blitz in June.
He noted that more than 71,000 pounds of litter were collected, 513 acres of lawns mowed, and nearly half a million pounds of debris removed through the Residential Street Sweeping Program.
During his remarks, Burroughs expressed his gratitude to County Executive Braveboy for her commitment to improving the County’s services. “There’s not a week that goes by that I don’t get a call from my office about the lack of response in the past from 311 and the need to trim trees and to fix potholes, and you’ve heard from the people of Prince George’s County and you’re doing things to make it better,” he stated, acknowledging the strides made in addressing residents’ concerns.
Braveboy expressed gratitude to all partners involved, including various departments and agencies committed to the initiative.
She encouraged residents to continue submitting service requests through PGC311 during this operation, assuring that the task force’s work would not interfere with current resident needs.
County Executive Braveboy emphasized the need for accountability in addressing residents’ complaints, stating, “I was told that some of these complaints may take up to 365 days and I said ‘to pick up trash?’ I don’t think so. That’s why we are initiating this strike force so that we can have [a] rapid response, so that we can be responsive to the residents in Prince George’s County.”
For additional information about Project Elevate, go to the county’s official website at mypgc.us/projectelevate.
