University of Maryland student arrested on child porn charges, Section 8 bill dead in the water, PGCo Council wants control of School Board budget,Council wants to limit dancehalls and clubs along Central Avenue/St. Barnabas corridor AND SO DO I, 73 acres for Auction along Central Avenue starting at $500k
From The Examiner, A University of Maryland student awaiting trial on child pornography charges was arrested in a separate case this week after he arranged to have sex with someone he thought was a 12-year-old girl, authorities say. Court documents describe how 18-year-old freshman Akshay Rajshekar walked to class Monday while discussing final plans to have sex with the girl and her father. Rajshekar, a freshman from Salisbury, Md., was already facing charges of possession and distribution of child pornography following an investigation by the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office. He had been indicted and arrested in November, released on bond and allowed to return to school. Crystal Brown, a university spokeswoman, could not say why Rajshekar was allowed to attend classes this spring while charged with numerous felony counts.
Akshay Rajshekar
Rajshekar on March 18 answered a Craigslist advertisement posted by a man who told Rajshekar that he was into incest and was willing to share the girl with Rajshekar, according to charging documents. “Wow, that’s hot.. I really want to experience what it is like…,” Rajshekar responded, according to charging documents. “…I have been trying to meet other [pedophiles] online with similar interest…it’s hard as hell.” It turns out Rajshekar was chatting with a D.C. police detective.
“A bill that would prohibit landlords from screening prospective tenants based on their source of income was sent back to a Maryland Senate committee after three days of floor debate over whether landlords should be allowed to exclude those on public assistance. The 23-22 vote likely dooms the bill this session. Advocates of the legislation said that it would encourage poor Marylanders to move out of ghettos and into communities with greater resources and superior schools, giving them a head-start in the race towards the American Dream,” from the Maryland Reporter. The law’s opponents said that it would herald an era where businesses were forced to participate in voluntary social welfare programs and that a universal mandate to accept government housing vouchers like those in the Section 8 program would place a heavy financial burden on landlords. The vote to return SB487 to the Judicial Proceedings Committee was extremely close, with 23 in favor and 22 opposed. Senate President Mike Miller took the side of those who thought the legislation was not ready for passage. “Members of my party are not happy with me right now,” Miller said, “but this is not the time to decide on this legislation.”
I‘m not sure how this legislation would get anyone with a Section 8 voucher out of a bad situation. No one wants to live in a neighborhood full of Section 8 renters. I know it’s not a politically correct thing to say but it’s the truth. Forcing landlords to accept these vouchers when there are no guarantees the voucher holders will seek out socioeconomic gains will just create another ghetto. The article goes on to say, “Sen. James Rosapepe, D-Prince George’s, said that the authors of SB 487 set out to accomplish their goal in a backwards fashion. He acknowledged that needy Marylanders frequently had difficulty finding landlords that would accept their housing vouchers but argued that there is a better solution. “The housing authority needs to find ways to attract landlords to the Section 8 program,” Rosapepe said. “Instead this bill uses a very blunt instrument, forcing businesses to take part in a government program, and that’s unprecedented. We don’t force doctors to participate in Medicaid, and we shouldn’t do this either.”
Everyone wants a piece of the pie. County Executive Baker wants most of it but the County Council wants a slice too. “Members of the Prince George’s County Council said Tuesday that they would oppose a bill in Annapolis giving the county executive control of the school system unless the council is given broader power over the education budget. The comments were the first by council members since County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D) announced this month his plan to take over the county’s school system by making the superintendent a cabinet position and assuming authority over the schools’ $1.7 billion budget. Currently, the School Board has control of the budget, but Baker isn’t budging, not even in the new watered down legislation,” The Washington Post reported. Even his ally Councilman Davis said, “If fiscal oversight . . . kills the bill, then it is a bad bill,” said council member Derrick Leon Davis (D-Mitchellville), a former school system employee.” All the council seems united in the call for fiscal responsibility. There must be checks and balances for reform to work. No one person or office can have complete control.
Reporter Matt Connolly posted an article on a proposal by Councilwoman Toles and Councilman Patterson that would limit the number of banquet halls, check-cashing businesses and pawn shops, “Under a proposal from Councilwoman Karen Toles, D-Suitland, and Councilman Obie Patterson, D-Fort Washington, those establishments and others would not be permitted in an area dubbed the St. Barnabas corridor. The council members would also like to limit the number of liquor stores, gas stations, fast-food restaurants and nail salons that they say can promote crime and unhealthy living. “We’d like to craft out the type of character we’d like to see along the St. Barnabas, Beech Road area,” Patterson said. “We think this could be beneficial for developers, as well — by having this type of upfront plan, we think it will save time.”
And speaking of corridors, 73 acres along the Central Avenue corridor is up for auction, starting at a mere $500k. It’s zoned for industrial use but I think it would make for some great artist and restaurant space. What do you think? I’m also curious as to why the owner is unloading this real estate. With all the development being planned and the almost surety that a health care campus will be nearby, why give up the property now? Nicholls Auction Marketing Group, Inc., announces the auction of 73 acres of prime commercial acreage yards from I-495 and minutes from FedEx Field – on April 19 at 11am on Central Avenue in Capitol Heights, MD, according to the Nicholls Auction web site.
These 73 acres +/- are in 4 individual tracts, but will be sold as a whole. Our seller is reducing his real estate holdings, and has instructed us to SELL!! Make plans now to purchase this rare large acreage parcel within the Capital Beltway!! 73.05 acres +/- Zoned I-1 (Industrial) w/360 ft. +/- of road frontage on well traveled Central Avenue
Property has 2 buildings and one office trailer. The main building is approx. 3,300 sf and features offices, large show room, restrooms, reception area, handicap ramp and parking