Imara Crooms

Infrastructure / Transportation Community Over Corporations: I will hold developers accountable to community benefit agreements, ensuring that the community has a seat at the table when determining what is best for the public. Government Reform A Bad Actor Registry: Any company caught in wage theft, misclassification, or ethical violations will be debarred from receiving county contracts or tax incentives. Taxes / Budget Utility Affordability: I will oppose any rate structure that disproportionately burdens working-class people and neighborhoods to subsidize industrial-scale energy users like data centers. Environment / Energy Natural Climate Infrastructure: I will protect our forests, wetlands, and the Rural Tier as our primary defense against flooding. These are not just "vacant lots" to sell off to the highest bidder, they are essential infrastructure that manages stormwater and heat. Infrastructure / Transportation Infill Over Sprawl: My priority is center-first development, investing in existing communities like Clinton and Upper Marlboro where infrastructure already exists, rather than pushing development into our green spaces. Wages / Job Benefits Labor Peace Agreements: I will require Labor Peace Agreements for all county-subsidized hotel and retail developments to protect the right to organize without fear. Taxes / Budget Fair Property Taxes: I will hold the line on property tax increases by recapturing wealth from those who currently benefit from our infrastructure without paying for it. Government Reform Return to Fully Elected Board of Education: Accountability follows the ballot. I will fight to end the appointment process and ensure school leadership answers to families, not to the County Executive’s office. Government Reform End the South County Service Gap: I will ensure that District 9 is no longer the last in line for essential services. Whether it’s plowing during a severe winter storm or services like garbage and bulky trash pickup. Environment / Energy No Data Centers in District 9: I continue to stand firmly beside the people fighting hyper-scale data centers. This industry threatens our power grid, water resources, and residential utility rates, while offering nothing but empty promises. Infrastructure / Transportation People-Focused Transit: I will work to ensure that our public transit stops are dignified and people-focused, offering shelter, lighting and seating, no more anti-personnel design. Environment / Energy Environmental Justice: Our working-class communities are not the default location for harmful industrial projects. I will fight to protect our air, water, and forests as critical public infrastructure, further I will fight to hold those who have done historic harms accountable. Infrastructure / Transportation Reliable Connections: I will fight for better bus frequency and tailored routes that reflect the unique geography of South County. Environment / Energy Stormwater Utility Reform: I will ensure that the Stormwater Management Fund is used equitably, prioritizing the clearing of culverts and the repair of aging pipes in South County neighborhoods that have been historically overlooked. Taxes / Budget Shift the Burden: I will end the developer windfall by closing tax loopholes and ending unnecessary subsidies for luxury projects, we can fund our schools and infrastructure without overburdening homeowners. Housing Pathways to Ownership: I will expand the "Pathway to Purchase" program, increasing down payment assistance to 50,000 for first-time buyers and prioritizing union workers and residents displaced by economic instability. Environment / Energy Infrastructure-First Flood Control: I will stop approving new developments that worsen runoff and flooding for existing neighborhoods. Education The Community Schools Model: I will expand wraparound services, including clinics and legal aid, within our schools to turn them into true neighborhood hubs for civic and public engagement. Infrastructure / Transportation Mandatory Capacity Planning: Every major development must undergo a transparent capacity audit for schools, Fire/EMS, adequate public facilities, and transit to ensure existing residents aren't left with the bill for developer profits. Immigration Legislation Formalizing Our Safe County: I will work to codify legislation out of Executive Orders barring federal immigration agents from county-owned buildings and implement a moratorium on the construction of private federal detention centers in Prince George’s County. Infrastructure / Transportation Defend the Rural Tier: I will fiercely protect our agricultural land from predatory development and unchecked sprawl that drains our county’s resources. Wages / Job Benefits Mandatory PLAs & Prevailing Wage: Every taxpayer-funded project must be built by union labor with living wages, healthcare, and retirement security. Education Green New Deal for Schools: I will champion a program to solarize our public buildings, and to turn schools into resilience hubs and living laboratories- creating high-skill union jobs and vocational education opportunities while lowering our carbon footprint and energy costs. Education Fully Fund the Blueprint: I support full funding for the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, with a focus on ensuring those dollars reach South County classrooms, not just administrative offices. Government Reform End Cronyism: I will work to end the cycle of recycled insiders and political hires, ensuring our government is staffed by experts dedicated to the public good over friends, family and classmates. Taxes / Budget Expand the 3% Homestead Cap: I will protect the 3% cap and expand property tax relief programs to ensure our seniors can age in place with dignity. Housing Tenant Bill of Rights: I support "Good Cause" eviction protections and a permanent Rent Stabilization and Protection Act to stop predatory rent hikes and hold negligent landlords accountable for substandard conditions. Housing Missing Middle Housing: I will advocate for alternative housing models like cottage communities and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to provide dignified, affordable options for young families and seniors looking to downsize. Immigration Legislation on Resident Kidnapping Protection: I support directing county police to verify the identity and judicial warrants of any individuals engaging in immigration enforcement activity to prevent impersonation and protect residents from unlawful seizures. Infrastructure / Transportation End Government by Waiver: I will stop the culture of incessant waivers that allow luxury developers to bypass land-use laws. Roads, schools, and utilities must be fully funded and built before new large-scale projects are approved.