Political notes: Harrington earns civic leadership award

The award is named for Baker, a 1940s civil rights activist, and was created by the Zora Neale Hurston⁄Richard Wright Foundation, a nonprofit organization devoted to helping readers, writers and supporters of African-American literature.

‘‘Like Ella Baker, he is committed to his community on a grassroots level,” Clyde McElvene, executive director of the foundation, said of Harrington.

Harrington has been a supporter of the foundation from its start in 1990, McElvene said.

‘‘He has been a staunch supporter of the foundation and understands how writing raises consciousness, empowers others and communicates issues that effect change,” McElvene said.

- by Daniel Valentine

Council condemns Washington Gas outsourcing

Prince George’s County Council members voted unanimously last week to condemn Washington Gas Light Co.’s plan to turn over 300 local positions to a Bermuda-based company.

In a resolution passed Oct. 3, members said the utility’s plan to outsource call center operations to Accenture Ltd. would harm customers and workers.

Washington Gas announced the deal in July to have workers in Texas, the Philippines and Canada field customer calls on everything from gas leak complaints to billing inquiries. The move will allow the company to save about $170 million in costs over the next decade.

About 250 area human resource, customer service, finance and technology workers will be laid off, while an additional 50 vacant positions will be eliminated.

In addition to the loss of jobs, council members said the move creates ‘‘deep concern that workers thousands of miles away could be handling calls dealing with dangerous situations” and voiced fears that foreign workers would have access to customer financial information.

In its resolution, the council asked the Maryland Public Service Commission, which regulates the utility company, to ‘‘demand that Washington Gas Light Company maintain the quality customer services that we have already paid for.”

A spokesman for the company declined to comment.

Belafonte takes stage at county event

Legendary musician Harry Belafonte will be the featured speaker at the J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association’s 30th anniversary scholarship banquet tonight in Greenbelt, where he will talk about preventing and dealing with juvenile crime.

‘‘He’s taken an active role in trying to stem the tide of black juveniles going to jail,” said attorney Abigale Bruce-Watson, association president. ‘‘He’s interested in talking to people on both sides of the legal system.”

Now 80 years old, Belafonte’s storied career has involved some of the biggest artists and activists. In addition to his music career, Belafonte has pushed for social change to end segregation and discrimination.

Belafonte was invited to speak at the Bourne Bar Association by District Court Judge Hassan Ali El-Amin, who saw Belafonte speak at a previous event. This is Belafonte’s first visit to Prince George’s County, organizers said.