PROGRESS & PRIORITIES

public safety

Crime Reduction & Violence Prevention hearings

Mark is a part of The Public Safety and Government Operations Committee which currently meets Wednesdays at 1 pm. The Committee holds recurring topical monthly hearings in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement and the Baltimore Police Department. During these meetings Mark and the committee check in on crime statistics as well as work on their ongoing strategy to prevent violence across the city.

Police accountability board

In 2022, the Mayor signed a bill which Mark sponsored into law that established the Police Accountability Board. This board has been critical in helping to hold the Baltimore City Police Department accountable by increasing civilian oversight.

LOCAL CONTROL

For 160 years, Baltimore has not had full local control over its police department, despite providing the majority of funding for its operations. In 2022, Question H appeared on the ballot to determine whether the city voters wanted the Baltimore City Police Department to become a city agency. Voters showed up and showed out, with nearly 83% in favor of BPD becoming a city-controlled agency. 

In fall 2023, Mayor Brandon Scott signed two council bills (23-0445 and 23-0449) to codify the police department in the city code and charter, both of which Mark introduced. The Maryland General Assembly then passed a bill in April 2024 to strike limiting language on city government’s authority over the police department.

Environment & climate

Throughout Mark’s first term, he introduced several bills to set environmental goals for the city and encourage sustainable practices and living. We only have one Earth — let’s protect it. 

Mark introduced three ordinances aimed at decarbonizing city government and mitigating the effects of climate change for Baltimore’s communities. 21-0075R set a goal that Baltimore be a carbon-neutral city by the year 2050, and 21-0161 requires the city government to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. 21-0159 would align Baltimore with state goals for moving the municipal vehicle fleet to fully electric vehicles: 100% by January 1, 2030. 

Two other bills of note that Mark introduced target the heat island effect and rising temperatures in our cities. 21-0160 requires that 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. 23-0465 codifies the mitigation requirements for tree removal in the rights of way and on parkland, and adding the mitigation requirement to the code made permanent the agency’s long-standing policy of tree replacement.

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY

Citistat & good governance

Mark’s bill adding the Citistat Program to the city code was passed in January 2024. His time as deputy director of CitiStat taught him so much about city government and delivering reliable, timely city services. This bill will bring back proven, data-driven practices to boost performance and accountability in city agencies.

Budgetary wins

Every year when budget season rolls around in June, Mark and his team identify priorities and interests that could be furthered with city funding. For FY24, that meant $250K for the York Corridor Business Improvement District, $250K for the Forestry Division of Recreation and Parks and the Zero Waste Division of the Department of Public Works, and $4.5 million for the Fire Department, among other wins. Have thoughts on where the city should spend its money? Email Mark!

REVITALIZING NEIGHBORHOODs

york road business improvement district

In February 2023, a vote by business owners as well as legislation proposed by Mark came together to create the York Road Business Improvement District. 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.

ALHAMBRA PARK PLAYGROUND AND PAVILION NAMING

In 2023, Mark introduced legislation to name the playground and pavilion at Alhambra Park after Ms. Phyllis Gilmore! Ms. Phyllis is a tireless advocate for her neighborhood of Woodbourne-McCabe, and we are proud to be sponsoring legislation to honor her in this way!

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)