I received this draft. Names and organization changed to protect the innocent. However this gives an idea of how upset people are with the current regime.
ROUGH DRAFT
September 16, 2025
To: Members of the Maryland General Assembly
From: Darius P. Chair
Coalition of 978 Concerned Black Leaders of Maryland
Subject: Urgent Call for State Oversight of Prince George’s County Fiscal Governance
Dear Senators and Delegates,
We write to you not in anger, but in alarm.
Less than 90 days into the FY2025 budget cycle, the Prince George’s County Council has introduced CR-100, CR-101, and CR-102—emergency resolutions that authorize the transfer of substantial funds from the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC), a bi-county agency governed under state law. This action, taken without public justification or fiscal transparency, raises grave concerns about the County’s financial solvency and governance ethics.
Our coalition—comprising clergy, educators, civic leaders, and former elected officials—has tracked a disturbing pattern of reckless spending and insider favoritism:
- Unbudgeted perks, including a police driver and luxury SUV for Darryl Barnes
- Nepotism hires linked to Councilmember Edward Burroughs
- Lavish, unaccountable events such as Councilmember Krystal Oriadha’s crab feast
- Reports of contractual favoritism and personal stipends tied to romantic partners and campaign donors
These behaviors are not isolated. They are systemic. And they are now bleeding into agencies governed by state statute.
As MNCPPC is a bi-county entity created by the Maryland General Assembly, we believe it is your constitutional and fiduciary duty to intervene. The misuse of MNCPPC funds—earmarked for parks, recreation, and regional planning—constitutes a breach of public trust and a potential violation of state law.
We therefore urge the General Assembly to consider the following:
1. Immediate audit authorization through the Office of Legislative Audits
2. Emergency hearings on fiscal mismanagement and governance ethics
3. Exploration of a state-appointed fiscal control board to oversee budgetary decisions
4. A formal review of the County’s bond rating and creditworthiness, which may now be at risk
We do not make this request lightly. Prince George’s County is home to over 900,000 residents—many of them Black, working-class, and dependent on public services. They deserve better than a governing body that treats taxpayer money as a personal slush fund.
If the County cannot rescue itself, the State must.
Respectfully,
Darius P.
Chair, Coalition of 978 Concerned Black Leaders of Maryland