CLARIFICATION: The below article inaccurately described Student Government Association President Kaiyi Xie’s and SGA City Council Liaison Marcella Morris’ position on the proposal to build apartments atop the Maryland Book Exchange. Xie and Morris spoke in favor of adding more student housing to that area in general at a College Park City Council meeting Oct. 11. The article has been changed to reflect this clarification.
The three candidates running for two District 3 seats on the College Park City Council addressed public safety concerns and how to forge a stronger bond with the university and the surrounding community at a forum last night.
Because their district is one of two contested races, incumbent Stephanie Stullich, College Park Estates Civic Association President Robert Day and teacher Robert McCeney are gearing up for the city’s Nov. 8 election. About 20 city residents quizzed candidates from District 3 — which represents students who live along Fraternity Row, in Knox Boxes and in many of the South Campus Commons apartments — on several key issues at last night’s forum, which was hosted by the Calvert Hills Citizens Association.
The candidates said if elected, improving the city’s public safety programs will be a priority.
Stullich said she has seen a steady increase in investment in the contract police program — in which the city pays $1 million a year to have Prince George’s County Police officers patrol the city — in her four years on the council.
“Having officers on the street doesn’t necessarily prevent crime, but it’s an important part of catching criminals and bringing down our overall crime rate in the city,” she said.
Creating a police aide program — either volunteer or paid — specifically for the city or the establishment of a College Park Police Department would be the most effective way to lower crime rates, McCeney said.
Day said safety is essential for residents to have the opportunity to get involved in the community.
“Without public safety, the community recedes back into their homes, and they don’t pay attention to what’s going on outside,” he said.
Additionally, all three candidates said while tensions between students and residents in the city can sometimes run high, better communication would significantly improve relations between the groups.
“The majority of students at the University of Maryland are good people who want to do the right thing,” McCeney said. “One of the things I want to do on the city council is make sure those relationships get forged and get improved, so students are seen as members of the community.”
Residents quizzed non-incumbents McCeney and Day about their position on the student apartment complex proposed to be built above the Maryland Book Exchange. The city council voted against the proposal Oct. 11 after more than a dozen residents voiced opposition, saying more students near the Old Town neighborhood would disturb area residents. However, Student Government President Kaiyi Xie and SGA City Council Liaison Marcella Morris spoke in favor of adding more development in this area, saying more student housing would benefit both students and city businesses.
Although Day agreed with the majority and Stullich voted against the proposal at the meeting, McCeney said he would have supported the development because the opinions some residents voiced at the meeting may not represent the opinion of the neighborhood as a whole.
Stullich said although she opposed the Book Exchange proposal, she is not against other city developments, as long as they follow the vision the council has for the city.
And all three candidates agreed long-term projects, such as the development of East Campus — a 38-acre project to bring hotels, restaurants and retail to the city — would help turn the city into a top-notch college town and said they would make the development a priority if elected.
kirkwood@umdbk.com
