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(CLS), a nonprofit dedicated to providing quality civil legal services to low-income residents, is preparing to celebrate 40 years of offering legal advocacy and protections. 

The nonprofit offers pro bono representation, advisory clinics, and eviction protection, and has grown tremendously, over the past four decades — with CLS assisting 132 clients in 1989, to 13,814 by 2024.

In the spirit of the milestone anniversary, Community Legal Services is aiming to raise $40,000 to sustain and expand operation through the “40 Years of Access to Justice” campaign.

“Forty years ago, CLS was established with a mission to ensure access to justice for every individual, regardless of income,” said CLS Executive Director Jessica Quincosa. “This campaign highlights our ongoing commitment to serving our community. Every dollar raised will allow us to continue providing critical legal services to those who need them most.”

While CLS is celebrating all the previous accomplishments, the organization has its sights set on future goals including introducing evening virtual clinics to accommodate more clients and enhancing both mobile services and the home protection program.

The nonprofit has over 40 staff, including several legal assistants, with primary funding from the Maryland Legal Services Corporation, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Toleo Foundation.

“Looking ahead, expanding access to legal services and innovative program delivery

remains a priority. Our Mobile Legal Services Program offers in-person support at the Prince George’s County Detention Center, as well as virtual consultations for wills, estates, and other civil matters,” according to a CLS statement submitted to The Informer. “By addressing systemic barriers and meeting the needs of our community, CLS continues to embody our mission of providing access to justice for all.”

Bladensburg and Cheverly Vying For Possession of Recently Redeveloped Hospital Site

The neighboring towns of Cheverly and Bladensburg, less than a half mile apart, are feuding over which town will have ownership of the redevelopment site known as Hospital Hill. 

While the site, currently owned by the County Redevelopment Authority, has existed at the periphery of Cheverly for decades, Bladensburg officials to annex the site in December. 

“This project would actually help us with what many communities are facing across the nation as we try to address the housing crisis, because it would provide space for us to consider things like new townhomes or condominiums, new apartments, perhaps new senior housing,” said Bladensburg Mayor Takisha James. “This project would also benefit Bladensburg by giving us the space necessary to enhance our retail offerings.” 

Numerous Bladensburg residents also testified in favor of the project.

“You can’t take something from someone who does not have ownership of it. I want to be clear, there is no formal agreement for annexation with the town of Cheverly. Had there been an agreement, then we wouldn’t have proceeded down this path,” James continued. “It sounds like there may have been some conversations that we weren’t privy to.”

This move has been poorly received by Cheverly officials and residents, including Mayor Kayce Munyeneh. 

Further, County Council Chair Jolene Ivey (D- At Large), a longtime Cheverly resident, sent a statement in opposition to Bladensburg’s proposed annexation.

She said the town has helped fund surveys and studies related to the redevelopment project, and there are plans for legal action to stop the annexation. 

Hospital Hill does not directly connect to Bladensburg, although James said there are past examples of such annexations that can be cited to prove her town’s case.

“It was always understood it was going to be part of Cheverly,” Munyeneh said. “Cheverly has also been the community that has suffered the most from the hospital traffic, from the escapees from the hospital, from the helicopter pad, and all the noise and the damages done to our homes.”

Last January, Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced a $7.5 million in State Revitalization Program funding to Hospital Hill in the upcoming budget proposal. 

When completed, the Hospital Hill redevelopment project will span 26 acres and more than 1,000 housing units, including 40,000 square feet of retail and entertainment options, a public square, and space for a grocery store, a dog park, and a new hotel. 

Munyeneh explained that having Hospital Hill in Cheverly was “always sort of understood” by local legislators.  “

“We did the suffering when it was the hospital,” Munyeneh said, “we will enjoy the benefit when it is a new development.”