Editing Greenbelt, Maryland (section)

==Government==
The City of Greenbelt operates under a [[council-manager government]] as established by the city charter, the first such arrangement in Maryland.<ref name="Greenbelt1937" />  The Council consists of seven members elected by [[plurality-at-large voting]]. From their members, the Council selects the Mayor and the Mayor Pro Tem (who assumes the duties of the Mayor when the Mayor is unavailable). The Council has traditionally chosen the member with the highest vote count to be Mayor and the member with the second-highest vote count as Mayor Pro Tem.  Elections are held every two years, in odd-numbered years, in part to diminish the influence of political parties. Political party affiliations are not an official part of the city election process and are seldom part of candidate campaigns. Regular council meetings are held on Mondays, twice per month except during July, August, and December, when meetings are held once per month.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Greenbelt City Government|work=Greenbelt CityLink|publisher=City of Greenbelt, Maryland|url=http://www.greenbeltmd.gov/city_government/index.htm|access-date=2008-08-24|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080901200646/http://www.greenbeltmd.gov/city_government/index.htm|archive-date=2008-09-01|language=en-US}}</ref>

The City Council is supported by 14 advisory boards and committees of citizen volunteers.  The council appoints a professional city manager responsible for supervising government operations and implementing the policies adopted by the council.

The 2021 election selected the current city council:
* '''Mayor:''' Emmett V. Jordan
* '''Mayor Pro Tem:''' Kristen L. K. Weaver
* '''Council Members:''' Danielle McKinney, Jennifer Pompi, Amy Knessel, Silke Pope, and Rodney Roberts<ref>{{cite news |title=Get Your Md. Municipal Election Results Here! |url=https://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/issues/GNR20231109.pdf |access-date=April 14, 2024 |work=[[Greenbelt News Review]] |date=November 9, 2023}}</ref>

The council selects the City Manager:

* '''City Manager:'''Josué Salmerón<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rosado|first=Lois|title=Perspectives of Josué Salmerón, Greenbelt's New City Manager|work=[[Greenbelt News Review]]|date=November 9, 2024|url=https://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/issues/GNR20231109.pdf |access-date=April 14, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref>

===2009 election reform===
Of the [[Prince George's County#Cities and towns|ten incorporated cities in Prince George's County]], Greenbelt is one of three with at-large elections for council and mayor (the others are [[District Heights, MD|District Heights]] and [[New Carrollton, MD|New Carrollton]]).  The remaining seven use combinations of districts and at-large voting.  On February 28, 2008, the Maryland [[American Civil Liberties Union]] and Prince George's County [[NAACP]] sent a letter to the Greenbelt City Council claiming that Greenbelt's at-large system may violate [[Voting Rights Act#Section 2|Section 2]] of the [[Voting Rights Act|Voting Rights Act of 1965]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=ACLU Contacts City re: Reform for Fairness of Election System|work=[[Greenbelt News Review]]|pages=1, 6|date=2008-03-27|url=http://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/issues/GNR20080327.pdf|access-date=2008-08-24|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911102546/http://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/issues/GNR20080327.pdf|archive-date=2008-09-11|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the letter, the 2000 Census indicated that African-Americans constituted 38% of Greenbelt's voting-age population, Asians 13%, and Latinos 6%.  At the time, however, all members of the city council were white. The letter proposed that the city switch to [[single-winner voting system|single-winner district-based voting]], [[cumulative voting]], or [[choice voting]], and indicated a lawsuit would follow if no reform were implemented.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jeon|first=Deborah A.|title=Legal Director, American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland, Letter to the Greenbelt City Council|date=2008-02-28|url=http://www.aclu-md.org/Index%20content/Attachments/Greenbelt.pdf|access-date=2008-08-24|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113231503/http://www.aclu-md.org/Index%20content/Attachments/Greenbelt.pdf|archive-date=2016-01-13|url-status=dead}}</ref> While the city population is racially diverse, only two African Americans had run for Council in the 30 years preceding the 2009 election, one of whom had withdrawn before the election.<ref>{{Cite web|last=McLaughlin|first=Michael|title=City Manager of Greenbelt Response to Gazette editorial|date=2008-06-03|url=http://www.greenbeltmd.gov/city_government/Gazette_edit%20_2.pdf|access-date=2010-09-27|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718062642/http://www.greenbeltmd.gov/city_government/Gazette_edit%20_2.pdf|archive-date=2011-07-18|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Attebury|first1=Jordan|last2=Lyles|first2=Jeffrey K.|title=A change in complexion for Greenbelt|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|date=2009-12-03|access-date=2010-01-12|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/02/AR2009120202181.html|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604112724/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/02/AR2009120202181.html|archive-date=2011-06-04|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2008, the [[United States Department of Justice]] opened an investigation into the city's election system.<ref>{{Cite news|last=McGill|first=Natalie|title=Probe of election system begins|work=Maryland Gazette|date=2008-06-05|access-date=2008-07-17|url=http://www.gazette.net/stories/060508/greenew124118_32362.shtml|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522184641/http://www.gazette.net/stories/060508/greenew124118_32362.shtml|archive-date=2011-05-22|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2008, the city government hosted three public community meetings regarding election reform, in concert with the ACLU, NAACP, and [[FairVote]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Woods|first=Bay|title=NAACP and ACLU Hold Their Third Meeting in Greenbelt West|work=[[Greenbelt News Review]]|pages=1, 6|date=2008-10-09|url=http://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/issues/GNR20081009.pdf|access-date=2009-11-07|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711124828/http://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/issues/GNR20081009.pdf|archive-date=2011-07-11|url-status=live}}</ref> Over 100 residents attended the forums, including one of the unsuccessful African American candidates, Jeanette
Gordy, who said, "My concern is that people don't get off their royal behinds. By going to meetings I got what I wanted and found out I had power as a citizen."<ref>{{Cite news|last=White|first=Thomas X.|title=County Groups Seek to Change Manner of Voting in Greenbelt|work=[[Greenbelt News Review]]|pages=1, 12|date=2008-08-28|url=http://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/issues/GNR20080828.pdf|access-date=2008-09-11|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029093531/http://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/issues/GNR20080828.pdf|archive-date=2008-10-29|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2009, the city implemented several election reforms with the goal of increasing diversity: increasing the city council from five to seven members, adding another precinct in Greenbelt East to shorten voter lines, and amending the city charter to allow early voting.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Attebury|first=Jordan|title=Nine candidates vie for city office|work=Maryland Gazette|date=2009-09-24|access-date=2009-11-04|url=http://www.gazette.net/stories/09242009/greenew173354_32522.shtml|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113135722/http://www.gazette.net/stories/09242009/greenew173354_32522.shtml|archive-date=2016-01-13|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the election held November 3, 2009, Emmett Jordan, an African American, was chosen by 75% of voters, electing him to the Council as Mayor Pro Tem, the second-highest city official.<ref name="Giese 1, 8">{{Cite news|last=Giese|first=James|title=Jordan, Davis, City Are the Big Winners in City Council Election|work=[[Greenbelt News Review]]|pages=1, 8|date=2009-11-05|url=http://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/issues/GNR20091105.pdf|access-date=2009-11-07|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711124921/http://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/issues/GNR20091105.pdf|archive-date=2011-07-11|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite news|last=Attebury|first=Jordan|title=Greenbelt elects first black city councilman|work=Maryland Gazette|date=2009-11-03|access-date=2009-11-04|url=http://www.gazette.net/stories/11032009/prinnew231722_32545.shtml|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113091940/http://www.gazette.net/stories/11032009/prinnew231722_32545.shtml|archive-date=2016-01-13|url-status=dead}}</ref>  Voter turnout increased from {{formatnum:1898}} to {{formatnum:2399}} voters (a 26% increase in ballots cast) from 2007 to 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|title=City of Greenbelt 2009 Election Results|date=2009-11-04|url=http://www.greenbeltmd.gov/city_government/election/results.htm|access-date=2009-11-04|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112165904/http://www.greenbeltmd.gov/city_government/election/results.htm|archive-date=2010-01-12|language=en-US}}</ref>

In the election held November 5, 2013, Emmett Jordan was chosen by 77% of voters, and receiving highest vote count was then elected Mayor by the council.<ref name="Giese 1, 7">{{Cite news|last=Giese|first=James|title=Emmett Jordan Gets Top Vote All Incumbents Are Re-elected|work=[[Greenbelt News Review]]|pages=1, 7|date=2013-11-07|url=http://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/issues/GNR20131107.pdf|access-date=2013-11-16|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126130619/http://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/issues/GNR20131107.pdf|archive-date=2013-11-26|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Oberg 1, 6">{{Cite news|last=Oberg|first=Diane|title=Full House Sees Emmett Jordan Elected and Inducted as Mayor|work=[[Greenbelt News Review]]|pages=1, 6|date=2013-11-14|url=http://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/issues/GNR20131114.pdf|access-date=2013-11-16|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131125220750/http://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/issues/GNR20131114.pdf|archive-date=2013-11-25|url-status=live}}</ref>

===County government===
[[Prince George's County Police Department]] District 1 Station in [[Hyattsville, Maryland|Hyattsville]];<ref>"[https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/District-1-Station-Hyattsville-1 District 1 Station - Hyattsville] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909112749/https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/District-1-Station-Hyattsville-1 |date=2018-09-09 }}. [[Prince George's County Police Department]]. Retrieved on September 9, 2018. [https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2650/District-1-Beat-Map--PDF?bidId= Beat map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909055502/https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2650/District-1-Beat-Map--PDF?bidId= |date=2018-09-09 }}.</ref> District 2 Station in [[Brock Hall, Maryland|Brock Hall CDP]], with a Bowie postal address;<ref>"[https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/District-2-Station-Bowie-2 District 2 Station - Bowie] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909112105/https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/District-2-Station-Bowie-2 |date=2018-09-09 }}." [[Prince George's County Police Department]]. Retrieved on September 9, 2018. "District 2 Station - Bowie 601 SW Crain Highway Bowie, MD 20715 ". [https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2652/District-2-Beat-Map-PDF?bidId= Beat map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909062828/https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2652/District-2-Beat-Map-PDF?bidId= |date=2018-09-09 }}. [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2410150_brock_hall/DC10BLK_P2410150_000.pdf 2010 U.S. Census Bureau index map of Brock Hall CDP] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828134247/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2410150_brock_hall/DC10BLK_P2410150_000.pdf |date=2018-08-28 }} as well as the detail on [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2410150_brock_hall/DC10BLK_P2410150_000.pdf Page 1] .</ref> and District 6 Station in [[Beltsville, Maryland|Beltsville CDP]] serve the community.<ref>"[https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/District-6-Station-Beltsville-6 District 6 Station - Beltsville] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909112529/https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/District-6-Station-Beltsville-6 |date=2018-09-09 }}." [[Prince George's County Police Department]]. Retrieved on September 9, 2018. "4321 Sellman Road Beltsville, MD 20704 ". [https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2673/District-6-Beat-Map-PDF?bidId= Beat map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909070251/https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2673/District-6-Beat-Map-PDF?bidId= |date=2018-09-09 }}. See [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2406400_beltsville/DC10BLK_P2406400_000.pdf 2010 U.S. Census index map of Beltsville CDP] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826183052/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2406400_beltsville/DC10BLK_P2406400_000.pdf |date=2018-08-26 }}: area with police station is [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2406400_beltsville/DC10BLK_P2406400_003.pdf page 3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826214444/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2406400_beltsville/DC10BLK_P2406400_003.pdf |date=2018-08-26 }}.</ref>

===Federal government===
* The [[United States Department of the Interior]]'s [[National Park Service]] manages and operates [[Greenbelt Park]].
* The [[United States Postal Service]] operates the Greenbelt Post Office on Ora Glen Dr.<ref>"[https://tools.usps.com/go/POLocatorDetailsAction!input.action?locationTypeQ=all&address=Lanham%2C+MD&radius=20&locationType=po&locationID=1365565&locationName=GREENBELT&address2=&address1=7600+ORA+GLEN+DR&city=GREENBELT&state=MD&zip5=20770&zip4=9998&tollFree=800-ASK-USPS%26reg%3B%26nbsp%3B%28800-275-8777%29&fax=301-345-3827&tAddress=&tAddress1Ams=&tAddress2Ams=&tCityAms=&tStateAms=&tZipAms=&tCarrierRouteAms=&latitude=38.991765&longitude=-76.874994&sWithin=20&&&&&&&&& GREENBELT] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928003435/https://tools.usps.com/go/POLocatorDetailsAction!input.action?locationTypeQ=all&address=Lanham,+MD&radius=20&locationType=po&locationID=1365565&locationName=GREENBELT&address2=&address1=7600+ORA+GLEN+DR&city=GREENBELT&state=MD&zip5=20770&zip4=9998&tollFree=800-ASK-USPS%26reg%3B%26nbsp%3B(800-275-8777)&fax=301-345-3827&tAddress=&tAddress1Ams=&tAddress2Ams=&tCityAms=&tStateAms=&tZipAms=&tCarrierRouteAms=&latitude=38.991765&longitude=-76.874994&sWithin=20&&&&&&&&& |date=2018-09-28 }}." [[U.S. Postal Service]]. Retrieved on September 11, 2018. "7600 ORA GLEN DR GREENBELT, MD 20770-9998"</ref>