US Department of Labor Seeking Workers Owed Wages, Benefits Denied by Libertytown Plumbing Subcontractor After Investigation Recovers $156K
Day C Soul Mechanical shortchanged 48 workers on Woodyard Station project
By PRESS OFFICER
U.S. Department of Labor
LIBERTYTOWN, Md. (April 9, 2024)—Individuals employed by a Libertytown plumbing subcontractor who worked on a Woodyard Station construction project may be eligible to receive their share of $156,495 in wages and fringe benefits recovered by a U.S. Department of Labor investigation.
The department’s Wage and Hour Division determined that Day C Soul Mechanical Inc. denied full pay and fringe benefits to 48 workers they employed from April 8, 2022, through September 2023 to work on the federally funded affordable housing project in Clinton. Investigators found Day C Soul Mechanical did not pay the prevailing wage rates and fringe benefits, in violation of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, and failed to maintain accurate payroll records, violating the DBRA and the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Air conditioning subcontractor Charles A. Klein & Sons Inc. of Sykesville, who hired Day C Soul, paid $124,022 in back wages and $32,473 in owed fringe benefits after the plumbing subcontractor refused to comply and pay the monies owed. In March 2024, the department debarred Day C Soul Mechanical and owner Oscar Jimenez-Medrano, forbidding them from bidding on federally funded construction projects for three years.
Day C Soul Mechanical employees who believe the company owes them money related to the period of this investigation should contact the division’s district office in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, at 570-826-6316.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provided funding to Prince George’s County, Maryland, for construction of Woodyard Station, a senior living housing project that opened in October 2023.
Day C Soul Mechanical Inc. provides commercial plumbing services in Maryland, Washington D.C. and Virginia.
Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by the division. Workers and employers can call the division confidentially with questions or concerns—regardless of where they are from—and the division can speak with callers in more than 200 languages. Help ensure hours worked and pay are accurate by downloading the department’s Android and iOS Timesheet App for free in English or Spanish.
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CASA Supports Recommendations of Prince George’s County Rent Stabilization Workgroup Report
By NKESHI FREE
CASA
HYATTSVILLE, Md. (April 11, 2024)—In response to the recent report by the Prince George’s County Rent Stabilization Workgroup, immigrant and working families advocacy group CASA and the Prince George’s County Housing Justice Coalition fully support the recommendations put forth to address the pressing issue of housing instability in Prince George’s County. The workgroup’s recommendations for permanent rent stabilization represent a significant step towards creating a more equitable rental housing landscape in our county. By prioritizing stability and predictability, the workgroup has laid a foundation for a rent stabilization policy that can positively impact renters’ lives and promote healthier communities.
“We applaud the Prince George’s County Council for working with researchers to design these recommendations. This is a positive step forward in winning a permanent rent stabilization in the county,” said Jorge Benitez Perez, CASA’s Prince George’s County lead organizer. “Rent stabilization is not just a policy; it is a lifeline for those members of the community that are disproportionately burdened by housing insecurity.”
Moreover, the workgroup report underscores the pressing need for urgent legislative action in the county, as a staggering 52% of Prince George’s County renters are burdened by housing costs, spending more than 30% of their income on rent.
“This statistic is not just a number; it represents the daily struggles of countless families who are forced to make difficult choices between paying rent and meeting basic needs like food and healthcare,” said Eden Aaron, CASA’s research and policy analyst.
Synester Scott, an 82-year-old renter from Upper Marlboro, said, “Landlords and developers are gambling with our lives, and it must stop now!”
CASA emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive approach to permanent rent stabilization and supports a 3% cap on rent increases. The organization also advocates for full vacancy control to prevent exploitation by landlords and ensure stability for tenants. Furthermore, CASA calls for regulations on fees to promote fairness and transparency in rental agreements, reflecting concerns raised in the workgroup’s report.
“It is time for us to come to a permanent solution for rent stabilization. With this workgroup, we wanted to hold space for both sides to come together and give their perspectives on what a permanent bill looks like. I am honored to lead this effort,” closed Krystal Oriadha, Prince George’s County Council Member, District 7.
With over 155,000 lifetime members across 46 US states, CASA is a national powerhouse organization building power and improving the quality of life in working-class: Black, Latino/a/e, Afro-descendent, Indigenous, and Immigrant communities. CASA creates change with its powerbuilding model blending human services, community organizing, and advocacy in order to serve the full spectrum of the needs, dreams, and aspirations of members. www.werecasa.org
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Christina L. Cornwell Chosen for the Leadership Maryland Emerging Leader Program Inaugural Class
By JOYCELYN JACKSON
City of Laurel
Leadership Maryland announced last week that Christina L. Cornwell, Director of the Department of Community Resources and Emergency Management at the City of Laurel, has been chosen to participate in their statewide professional development program as a member of the new Emerging Leader Program’s Class of 2024.
Ms. Cornwell is one of 40 individuals chosen for the Leadership Maryland Emerging Leader Program’s first class, who will complete the six-month, hands-on learning program focused on leadership development. The program will run from June to November, consisting of monthly day-long sessions that will include both interactive training led by a facilitator and panel discussions featuring leaders from across the state as guest speakers. The program’s curriculum offers a holistic approach to leadership development, designed to help each applicant increase their self-awareness and gain behaviors, skills, and tools to become more adaptive, inclusive, strategic, and impactful leaders.
“We are excited to announce the very first Emerging Leader class and welcome these motivated and forward-thinking individuals to our new program,” said David Fike ’16 (LM) president and CEO, Leadership Maryland. “This year’s class selection process was highly competitive, and after careful review of the applications, I am thrilled to share that the 40 members of the Class of 2024 represent a dynamic cross-section of ambitious and promising rising leaders. The knowledge, experience, and connections they will gain in our program will prepare them to become more adaptive and impactful leaders in their careers and communities.”
Leadership Maryland’s Emerging Leader Program is open to individuals who are advancing in their careers, are actively involved in their communities, and desire to become stronger leaders in both areas. Ideal Leadership Maryland members have a desire to learn more about Maryland’s most critical issues and a personal commitment to be a force for positive change in their organizations, their communities, and their state. For more information about Leadership Maryland, please visit leadershipmd.org, call 410-841-2101 or email info@leadershipmd.org.
Leadership Maryland is a statewide nonprofit offering professional development programs dedicated to building a better Maryland by harnessing the strength of its business and community leaders. Established in 1992, Leadership Maryland’s Executive Program selects as many as 52 diverse and accomplished senior-level leaders from Maryland’s public and private sectors each year to come together as a class for an eight-month learning program focused on the state’s most vital social, economic and environmental issues. And new in 2024, Leadership Maryland’s Emerging Leader Program brings together a class of the state’s rising stars and gives them the skills and tools they need to advance in their careers. With an alumni network comprised of leaders from all industries and regions of the state, Leadership Maryland has established thousands of Marylanders on their career leadership path, equipped with the knowledge, skills, and connections needed to influence positive change. Visit leadershipmd.org.
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