The Prince George’s County Council received a briefing on the 2021-2022 Prince George’s County Responsible Legacy Task Force Final Report and Recommendations, during Council session on Tuesday, September 6, 2022. presented by task force Chair, the Hon. Joseph A. Solomon, and task force Vice Chair, the Hon. Gloria G. Lawlah.
The eight-member Responsible Legacy Task Force, established by Council Resolution 81-2019, revised by CR-009-2020, and extended by CR-71-2021, was charged with reviewing all County monuments, parks, street names, County buildings and other places of honor, and creating a process to determine the future of names linked to a prejudiced past. Task Force Members included Chair, the Hon. Joseph A. Solomon; Vice Chair, the Hon, Gloria Lawlah; Dr. Jenifer Stabler; Michael Gannon, Courtney Glass, Dr. David Reed; Jacqueline Woody; Timothy Moorehead; and Prince George’s County Council Member Todd M. Turner.
Council Chair Calvin S. Hawkins, II, thanked task force members for their committed service.
“The careful review of our County’s landmarks and monuments, and recommendations about how we might move forward to appropriately determine the future of those linked to a prejudiced past, is both necessary and timely. The Council looks forward to the review of their final recommendations as we prepare for a different future”
The Responsible Legacy Task Force held monthly virtual meetings beginning in October 2020, including presentations, and discussions about best practices with representatives from surrounding jurisdictions, community and governmental partners and subject matter experts.
District 2 Council Member Deni Taveras, proposer of the legislation, recognized her colleagues and Task Force Members for their support and hard work. “I want to thank the Council for supporting this legislation and the Task Force for working so diligently to provide concrete recommendations. This report will now serve as a rubric so residents of all cultures can finally feel included, reflected, and welcomed in the naming of places of honor in this beautiful County we call home.”
District 4 Council Member Todd M. Turner, who served as a member of the Task Force, thanked his colleagues for their efforts to answer difficult questions. “I thank the members of the Task Force for their work in help answering this question, ‘What is the importance and impact in a name and its legacy?’ The final report provides recommendations to the County and community on evaluating both past and future public recognitions.”
Task Force recommendations outlined in the Final Report include specific criteria for naming and renaming applications, facilitated by using a standard application form for agencies tasked with naming or renaming decisions.
In other Council action, CR-106-2022, legislation expressing support for declaring September 22, 2022, as Car Free Day in Prince George’s County, and CR-107-2022, legislation recognizing the month of October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month were among adopted measures. Council Members also supported the recommendation of County Executive Angela Alsobrooks to remove Keith Bell as a Commissioner serving the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.
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