Mounties!
It has been an honor getting to know more of my neighbors in Ward 2 the last two months, whether you are someone I met for the first time, someone that has seen me pipe in on the listserve over the years, or someone I have known since I moved to Mount Rainier in 2010, I have learned a bit from everyone.
I tried to reach everyone I could walking around and attending forums. I spoke to over 200 folks, knocked on nearly every house, and stopped by the majority of the apartments. But I know I missed some of y’all. I will be out today walking one last time, so if I missed you and you want me to stop by send me a message.
I have heard a lot from the issues that many to many of y’all and plan on working on many of them, if y’all select me tomorrow.
- First and foremost, I will work with the Mayor and Council to achieve the most for us. As many of you heard, I have done a lot of work bringing elected officials together, especially with my advocacy with Prince George’s County Public Schools. I know I will work with whoever is on the council to both achieve the goals I can for the community and the are working towards as well. I know we will all bring different expertise as well and promise to be humble to listen.
- Secondly, street safety is clearly an issue facing many of us and I promise to work to make our streets safer. I have two young kids biking around the neighborhood now and have also been hit myself, so I want to make sure the streets are safe from the youngest to the oldest. I plan on making sure key speed bumps get done, stop sign cameras are placed appropriately, and several of our major roads are better designed. I also will bring what I have learned working on grants with DC government with me since I know some of this work is federally funded and we must be careful.
- Another area that I plan to work on is improving our street lights. LED street lights would be less expensive for us to maintain, provide better lighting that will positively impact many areas of public safety, and some designs are positive for night wildlife. I wrote a report on streetlights when I chaired the Green Team and also know that we will have to connect to other cities to team up to make this happen, which I also did on issues when I both chair of the Green Team and when I worked to advocate for a climate action plan for PGCPS.
- I also have heard many folks talk about the economic development along Route 1. I have seen some of the challenges over the years and learned lessons from the past. If elected I will support a comprehensive business plan so city staff have a clear vision to complete from the council. I also have gained experience and connections from my work Prince George’s Sierra Club that will help as well since I have read and digested much of the new zoning codes, stormwater rules, and other factors that are currently a key impediment to the development at the corner of Eastern and Rhode Island.
- I also will work to try to keep everyone safe from what is going on at the Federal level. I agree that we should not do anything we are not legally required to do. I also know what is most important here is listening and communication with communities effected by the draconian policies coming out of Washington. I plan on making sure I talk to CASA and others to make sure what the city does is helpful and protective.
- Obviously, this isn’t everything I talked about with everyone. I do want you to know I made notes on many of the conversations I had so this experience carries me forward of the next four years if you opt for me.
Also, I know some folks that are more recent to the community may not realize we are not the only election tomorrow. There are races up and down Route 1, including in our neighboring Brentwood. Make sure you go to the Nature Center to cast your vote if you are a Mountie!
Don’t forget to vote tomorrow, Monday, May 5, between 7am and 8p,, at the Nature Center!
Joseph Jakuta
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