College park city council
College Park is our home. For University of Maryland students, it is a place to dedicate a few years to your growth. For young professionals, it is a town that is somewhat affordable but lacks amenities that our neighboring cities boast. For other residents, our neighborhoods are beautiful places to live and raise families, but the town does not cater to our needs. Overall, our town needs improvement.
My name is Ryan Belcher, and I want to change this stigma. I am running for one of the two seats in District 3. The district includes Old Town and Calvert Hills. It contains many of the Commons buildings, Greek housing and now the Landmark. It boasts Lake Artemesia and the nearby neighborhoods, College Park Estates and Yarrow. The district is also front and center for city and university development.
Since I came to College Park in 2011, District 3 has experienced some changes. The university’s commitment to the Innovation District and involvement in future development downtown points to the potential our town has but, unfortunately, is not yet meeting.
That is why I am running. I want to provide a new, experienced and pragmatic perspective on the issues facing our community, specifically District 3. As an undergraduate, I learned much about our city through my involvement in the Student Government Association and as the student representative to the Senate Executive Committee. I represented students in the neighborhood quality-of-life meetings throughout the year; I provided input into university development in the city; and I worked on noise issues affecting our neighborhoods.
As a council member, I would use my experiences to place College Park on a path to become a top college town. A key aspect of my vision is developing diverse, affordable housing options that work for everyone. I will look into ideas to develop a main street with competitive amenities. I hope to work with the Office of Student Conduct and the Title IX Office to preempt and combat sexual assault off the campus. I also want to pilot a city composting program that supports our community gardening endeavors.
More broadly, I aim to create a city that engages all residents through better use of social media, by reaching out to constituents more often and asking for their input, and by bringing more people to the table. There has been a sentiment that our city, on many issues, comes down to “us versus them.” However, when I talk to citizens of the district, I have seen an emerging consensus on what our town needs.
I am proud to see that our community wants to change and improve. I hope to personify this sentiment if elected.
But this change can only happen if you vote. No matter how many years you will be here or have been here, College Park can be a community that serves the needs of both current and future Terps. Placing College Park on the right path is an awesome legacy to leave behind at the university.
