Judith “J” Davis served the City of Greenbelt for almost 50 years. Thirty of those were on Greenbelt’s City Council, where she was the city’s longest-serving mayor and a councilmember until this year, when she decided not to run for re-election. Previously, she served on the Advisory Planning Board for 10 years and was chair for four years. The News Review spoke with her about her long tenure and legacy.
Over the years Davis was instrumental in the growth of our city, and according to her, the city is still moving in a positive direction. When asked to identify areas that she personally assisted with, she said that it was always a group effort, not an individual one. In fact, in all of her statements, she always says, “We were able to accomplish.”
However, among Davis’ areas of particular interest and contributions were the preservation of the Community Center’s historic flagpole, helping council see the wisdom of Greenbelt becoming a Sustainable Maryland Certified City, organizing stakeholder meetings among Greenbelt Homes, Inc. (GHI), HOAs and businesses, and working to convince former Governor Parris Glendening to set aside a third of the tract around Greenbelt Metro Station as state-protected land. However, again, Davis says that while she suggested actionable items, the entire council had to agree in order for any given project to be completed.
City Facilities
During her tenure, Davis oversaw new facilities being created and built, including Schrom Hills Park, the Greenbelt Cinema renovation, the Greenbelt Museum, the new police station and public works buildings, the skateboard park and new bike lanes. She also remembers when the Community Center was acquired and renovated for use by city residents. Other renovations done during her time on council include the Buddy Attick Park restrooms and parking lot, the Aquatic & Fitness Center and Roosevelt Center. In addition, the Forest Preserve was created and additional tracts developed throughout Greenbelt.
Infrastructure
During her tenure as councilmember and as mayor, Davis saw all departments expand, including the police, and new technology and planning within the city. New departments and programs that have been added to serve residents include: the Greenbelt Assistance in Living program, established in 2001, the Economic Development Office, to encourage new business development, and a Diversity Equity and Inclusion Office. The Advisory Committee on Environmental Sustainability (Green ACES) and Forest Preserve Advisory Board were also created. She is also pleased to see the expansion of new businesses and medical facilities in the city.
Areas that still need to be worked on are the historic cemeteries, she believes. There are grants available for the city to obtain plaques to inform the community about who is buried in the various sections of each cemetery. Hamilton cemetery and Indian Springs cemetery, where a revolutionary soldier is buried, are both in Greenbelt.
City Council
When Davis first was elected to the city council, there were only five members. However, after a legal challenge over discrimination, council was expanded to seven members. As a result, Emmett Jordan and Silke Pope were elected to the council in 2009. Davis is pleased that the current council is the most diverse in Greenbelt’s history, geographically, ethnically and by gender and age. When Davis ran in 1993, she was just the second woman to have been elected to the Greenbelt City Council.
Davis is also proud that council included Greenbelt residents in deciding how to allocate American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Greenbelt was one of a handful of cities that asked for and received community input. Most of the ARPA money was used to pay back rents, mortgages, assessments, for health care vouchers, education grants, etc. Council invested ARPA funds to help its residents sustain their lives, particularly during the pandemic.
Advice for Council Candidates
Her advice to those who wish to be elected to the city council is to first volunteer to join the Advisory Planning Board. Other suggestions are: avoid preconceived ideas, find out the background of any given issue and come with ideas. However, there is a great deal of history in Greenbelt and anyone interested in being a councilmember has to really know the history, the laws governing the city and the challenges that the city has had to face over the years. Too many would-be candidates have never attended a council meeting, may have attended GHI meetings, but never volunteered for the many advisory committees and boards whose ideas help to guide council decisions and actions, Davis said.
Advice to Councilmembers
Once elected, Davis suggests, “…listen, ask questions about a given topic, read your meeting packets and be prepared to contribute ideas and suggestions at the meetings. Attend city functions, be engaged and be prepared to attend meetings outside of Greenbelt that will impact our city in some way. As an elected representative of the city, councilmembers are expected to attend county, state and national events, conferences and other activities.”
Looking Forward
Davis plans to attend worksessions to support issues of great importance to her. She intends to participate in some organizational meetings and increase her entertainment activities since she is now free on Monday and Wednesday evenings, which were previously filled with council meetings and worksessions. For example, recently Davis attended the Greenbelt Concert Band performance at the Church of Latter-day Saints Tabernacle, which took place on a Monday.
The residents of Greenbelt have greatly benefited from Davis’ participation, commitment and contributions as a member of the Advisory Planning Board, as a city councilmember and as mayor. We all wish her the best and thank her for helping the City of Greenbelt prosper and grow.