Anna Bedford-Dillow | Article Author |

6 Nov 2024

City’s JEDI Team Calls for Action Over Councilmember’s Behavior

by Anna Bedford-Dillow

On August 29, the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Action Team – a group of city employees that has 13 members, with all departments represented – sent a memo to City Manager Josué Salmerón. The memo was titled, “Addressing … Read More

23 Oct 2024

Fire Department Update: Litigation Dismissed; Response Times Increase

by Anna Bedford-Dillow

On Monday, October 21, Greenbelt was dealt another blow in their battle to see career firefighters return to the city’s station. A circuit court judge granted Prince George’s County (et al.) their request for a dismissal of the complaint filed … Read More

16 Oct 2024

PGFD Will Not Return Career Staff to Greenbelt Fire Dept.

by Anna Bedford-Dillow

Twenty-four career firefighters were pulled from Greenbelt station on June 30 as part of what was called a “summer staffing” plan to meet staff shortages exacerbated by scheduled summer vacation leave and unscheduled callouts. After dodging questions about when the … Read More

9 Oct 2024

Unsatisfied Greenbelt City Council Responds to PGFD

by Anna Bedford-Dillow, Joan Estenson, Julie Rapp

On October 2, in an open letter to Prince George’s County Fire Department (PGFD) Chief Tiffany Green, Greenbelt City Council expressed their concern over fire department and EMS response times, prioritization and communication with Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department. Alan … Read More

9 Oct 2024

City Acquires Armory; Feasibility Study Weighs Plans for its Future

by Anna Bedford-Dillow

On September 16 the deed to the Armory at 7100 Greenbelt Road, located at the corner of Southway and Greenbelt Road, was signed over to the City of Greenbelt. “It’s been years of work,” said City Manager Josué Salmerón. In … Read More

2 Oct 2024

PGFD Investigates Delayed Response; Suspends Personnel

by Anna Bedford-Dillow

On September 23, a fire alarm resulted in the dispatch of emergency vehicles to Green Ridge House on Ridge Road in Greenbelt. The equipment came from West Lanham Hills – five miles away. Firehouses in Greenbelt (0.7 miles), Berwyn Heights … Read More

26 Sep 2024

Greenbelt Amends City Charter To Allow All-resident Voting

by Anna Bedford-Dillow

On Monday, September 23, Greenbelt City Council held a public hearing on all-resident voting. Following the hearing the six councilmembers who were present voted unanimously to amend the city’s charter to allow noncitizens to vote in local elections. In the … Read More

26 Sep 2024

Green Ridge House Residents Wait 23 Minutes for Fire Response

by Anna Bedford-Dillow

At 11:18 a.m. on Monday, September 23, a fire alarm sounded in the Green Ridge House apartments on Ridge Road. It was a mechanical failure but it would be 23 minutes before a single fire engine responded to the multistory … Read More

18 Sep 2024

Greenbelt Parents Share School Transportation Experiences So Far

by Anna Bedford-Dillow

The Greenbelt News Review solicited comments from Greenbelt parents about their experiences with transportation to see how this year’s transportation changes are impacting families and students locally. Amidst an ongoing driver shortage, Lei Zong’s children didn’t have an assigned bus … Read More

18 Sep 2024

County Fire Dept Sends PowerPoint Charts to Answer PIA for Analysis

by Anna Bedford-Dillow

In July the Greenbelt News Review submitted a Public Information Act (PIA) Request for the analysis the Prince George’s County Fire Department (PGFD) has repeatedly said they conducted and used as the basis for the staffing changes but had not … Read More