public safety

Crime Reduction & Violence Prevention hearings

The Public Safety and Government Operations Committee currently meets Wednesdays at 1 pm. We hold recurring topical monthly hearings in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement and the Baltimore Police Department to check in on crime statistics and our ongoing plan to prevent and reroute violence.

Police accountability board

In 2022, the Mayor signed a bill I sponsored into law, which established the Police Accountability Board. This board is going to be critical in helping to hold the department accountable and increase civilian oversight.

Environment & climate

In late 2021, I introduced a package of bills to help the city reach its environmental goals.

These were three ordinances aimed at decarbonizing city government and mitigating the effects of climate change for Baltimore’s communities. I also presented a resolution setting a goal that Baltimore be a carbon-neutral city by the year 2050.

• Resolution 21-0075R would adopt a goal of making Baltimore carbon-neutral by 2050. This resolution was adopted in January 2022.

• Council Bill 21-0161 would require city government to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, and set certain reporting requirements. This bill was adopted in April 2022.

• Council Bill 21-0159 would align Baltimore with state goals for moving the municipal vehicle fleet to fully electric vehicles: 50% by 2030 and 100% by 2040. This bill is still in committee as of July 2023.

• Council Bill 21-0160 would require newly constructed buildings and additions to existing buildings that are owned or funded by the city adhere to new “cool” roofing requirements that will reduce the heat island effect. This bill was adopted and sent to the Mayor for signature in June 2023.

  Additionally, I’ve sponsored two other climate bills of note:

• Council Bill 21-0066 would prohibit the new investment of certain retirement funds in fossil fuel companies. This bill was signed by the Mayor in October 2021.

• Council Bill 23-0385 is a study and report bill which would require the Director of Finance, the City Solicitor, the Director of Transportation, the Director of Public Works, the Director of Planning, and the Director of Sustainability to submit a report detailing how Baltimore City may establish a local climate resilience authority. As of July 2023, this bill is in committee.

REVITALIZING NEIGHBORHOODs

york road business improvement district

In February 2023, the York Road Business Improvement District was created via legislation and business owner vote. The BID’s goal is to revitalize the York Road Corridor, and make York Road, and the 4th District, a destination in the city.

With the creation of the York Corridor BID, the 4th District will have access to new funds for neighborhood cleaning and greening services, as well as having an umbrella group where businesses can gather and advocate together to effect change.

COUNCIL WORK AND BILLS

• 24-0507 (Study and Report - Infrastructure and Urban Meadows)

• 24-0506 (Managed Natural Landscapes)

• 24-0480  (Motor Fuel Credit Price - Signage)

• 23-0161R  (Informational Hearing - Anti-Littering Campaign in Baltimore City)

• 23-0205R  (Investigative Hearing - Procurement in Baltimore City)

• 23-0203R (Informational Hearing - BGE and Forestry)

• 23-0465  (Tree Removal on City Property - Permits and Procedure)

• 23-0449  (Public Safety - Baltimore City Police Department)

• 23-0445  (Charter Amendment - Baltimore City Police Department)

• 23-0161R  (Informational Hearing - Anti-Littering Campaign in Baltimore City)

• 23-0352    (City Property - Renaming Playground and Pavilion at Alhambra Park After Phyllis Gilmore)

• 23-0370  (Zoning - Use Regulation - Residential-Care Facilities (Age-Restricted))

• 23-0371    (Zoning - Conditional Use - Residential-Care Facility (Age-Restricted) - 201 Homeland Avenue and a Portion of Block 5027, Lot 003)

• 23-0372    (Office of CitiStat - Establishment and Administration)

• 23-0385    (Study and Report - Baltimore City Climate Resilience Authority)

• 23-0411    (Rezoning - 205-209 East Cold Spring Lane)

• 22-0102R    (Investigational Hearing - Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant)

• 22-0103R    (Investigational Hearing - Sewage Backup - Expedited Reimbursement and Direct Assistance Program Feasibility Study)

• 22-0114R    (Baltimore City’s Effort to Retain Professional Staff)

• 22-0246    (York Corridor Business Improvement District - Establishment)

• 22-0234    (Police Accountability)

• 21-0005   (Zoning - Conditional Use Conversion of a Single-Family Dwelling Unit to 2 Dwelling Units in the R-7 Zoning District - Variances - 810 Argonne Drive)

• 21-0006   (Rezoning - 407 Benninghaus Road)

• 21-0007R    (Investigative Hearing - Water Billing System)

• 21-0040R    (Informational Hearing - Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design)

• 21-0041R    (Informational Hearing - Domestic Violence in Baltimore City)

• 21-0049R   (Investigational Hearing - Existing Alternatives to Policing Strategies)

• 21-0066    (Retirement Systems - Precluded Investment and Divestment - Fossil Fuel Companies)

• 21-0072R  (Investigative Hearing - District Action Plans and Focused Patrols)

• 21-0075R    (Global Warming Solutions - Carbon Neutral City)

• 21-0082R    (Investigative Hearing - What is the State of Stat?)

• 21-0105 (RPP Area 26 (Campbell Lane) - Revisions)

• 21-0159    (Procurement - Zero-Emission Vehicles)

• 21-0160    (Building Code - Cool Roofs)

• 21-0161   (City Operations - Net-Zero Emissions of Greenhouse Gases)