By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The trial for Daaon Spears, 18, who was accused of fatally shooting Deanta Dorsey, 16, in 2023, has ended in a mistrial.

Around 3 p.m. on Oct. 24, jurists reported that they could not come to a unanimous decision in the case. In response, Judge Robert K. Taylor Jr. declared it a mistrial.

“The [jury] was stuck within the first two hours,” said Brandon Taylor, Spears’ attorney, shortly after the trial ended. “It’s disappointing, you know. We have to go through this whole process again.”

The Dorsey family reacted to the news through their representative, Thiruvendran “Thiru” Vignarajah.

“This family has a deep reservoir of strength and patience. They’ve waited a long time for justice, and they can wait a little longer,” said Vignarajah in a statement. “Holdout jurors are not uncommon in Baltimore, and the evidence presented in open court this week renews the faith of this family that justice will ultimately be [served].”

The prosecution’s case in this trial primarily relied on circumstantial evidence. During the trial, Rita Wisthoff-Ito, the prosecutor, presented surveillance videos, police-worn body camera footage and 911 recordings to make her case.

Callers in the 911 clips can be heard depicting the scene to dispatchers while wails and police sirens are audible in the background.

Descriptions provided by the 911 callers matched the photo shown to jurors showing two suspects fleeing in all black.

The prosecutor also used an array of witnesses who retrieved or analyzed evidence related to the crime.

Megan Descalzi, a crime laboratory technician for the Baltimore Police Department (BPD), testified about what she saw when taking photos at 4000 Edmondson Ave., a location believed to be Spears’ home.

Descalzi identified two mattresses in a basement, a pile of black clothing, a book bag that is believed to have contained a box of bullets, and a firearm magazine found lying on one of the mattresses.

The technician pulled out the clothing in the courtroom, showing the jury a black jacket, black jeans, navy blue pants with white stripes down the sides, black and white sneakers and some other items.

Two boxes of 9mm bullets were identified in the basement, one full and one with just a few bullets remaining.

Taylor pointed out that the 911 callers said the suspects were in all black, not blue.

Taylor said it is not clear when Spears will get another trial – if the prosecution decides to try the case again – but he estimates it would occur sometime next year.

“It shouldn’t be too long from now, but we have to get back in line,” he said.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF), through the Center for Policy Analysis and Research (CPAR), recently released a Project 2025 fact sheet for Black voters ahead of Election Day on Nov. 5. 

Project 2025 is an extensive plan crafted by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, to provide the next conservative president with the resources and policies needed to vastly restructure the federal government. 

“This extreme proposal is designed to roll back progress, unravel justice, equality and fairness, and erode the most foundational ideals of our democracy,” said Janai Nelson, president of the Legal Defense Fund, in a statement. “These disturbing and egregious measures include aims to severely diminish Black political power, threaten and subjugate Black communities within the criminal legal system and undermine every person’s right to quality education and reproductive health care.”

“More than ever, it is paramount to the future of our multiracial, multiethnic democracy to advance an affirmative vision of justice and equality that serves everyone,” Nelson continued.

CBCF was founded in 1976 as a “nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy research and educational institute.” Their fact sheet outlines how proposed policies could impact criminal justice, the economy and more, potentially widening educational gaps and worsening economic inequalities for Black Americans.

According to the CBCF, when it comes to civil rights, “Project 2025 seeks to dismantle the civil rights divisions of the Department of Labor and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which investigate workplace and housing discrimination.”

“It would also prevent the Department of Justice from investigating voter suppression and election subversion, which would remove a crucial layer of oversight that safeguards every American’s right to vote,” reads the report. In addition, if implemented, “Project 2025 seeks to outlaw diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in federal agencies and ban what it calls ‘anti-White indoctrination,’ including critical race theory and affirmative action.”

“If successful, these changes would strip away career and educational opportunities for people of color, further reducing resources for Black communities that have long faced systemic barriers,” warns the organization.

When it comes to criminal justice, CBCF leadership warns that “while most criminal justice reforms currently occur at the state and local levels, Project 2025 advocates for a larger federal role in law enforcement, with potential negative implications for Black communities.” 

“Motivated by a mandate to ‘restore law and order,’ Project 2025 targets progressive prosecutors and empowers the federal government to bring charges against individuals it believes local jurisdictions have wrongfully allowed to evade responsibility for their conduct,” reads the report. “The plan also includes increasing police funding and reducing support for community-based alternatives, such as mental health responders. These programs, which dispatch unarmed responders to address mental health crises and homelessness, have been successful in diffusing police-citizen conflicts in cities like Chicago and Los Angeles.”

Aside from reducing resources that have been proven to help the community, “Project 2025 calls for the increased use of the death penalty and stricter federal sentences for drug possession,” according to information released by the CBCF. “These directives would empower the federal government to enforce inequitable laws that contribute to the overrepresentation of Black citizens in the criminal legal system.”

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The trial for 18-year-old Daaon Spears, accused of participating in the Jan. 4 mass shooting that claimed the life of 16-year-old Deanta Dorsey, began on Oct. 17 inside of the Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. Courthouse in Baltimore. 

Spears is one of two people accused of murdering Dorsey, who was a student of Edmondson-Westside High School. The shooting took place during the school day at the Edmondson Village Shopping Center. Dorsey was the sole fatality of the shooting, which left a total of five young men shot during the school’s lunchtime.

Thiruvendran “Thiru” Vignarajah, representative for the Dorsey family, spoke to members of the press outside of the courthouse on Oct. 15 about the trial.

“This is an important chapter for this family as they seek a measure of justice,” said Vignarajah. “The family is here to remind the world that their son is not forgotten– that there is a hole in their hearts that no courtroom will fill. They hope and pray that a measure of justice is delivered in the next few days.”

Brandon Taylor, Spears’ attorney, shared few comments on the case, but urged people to pay attention to the facts.

“Pay attention to the evidence,” said Taylor on Oct. 15.  “Public opinion will always be public opinion.”

In this case, 12 jurists were seated and there are at least three alternatives. The jurists and alternatives are primarily people of color.

Both the victim and the defendants in this case are young, Black males.

Taylor shared his frustrations concerning the Baltimore City judicial system with the AFRO. 

“Everyone accused of a crime is supposed to be viewed as innocent until proven guilty, but with the sound of chains in the hallways, the ability to see people chained and escorted down the hallways with officers and having four or five officers in the courtrooms…some inherent bias is going to arise,” said Taylor.

Throughout day one of the trial, Judge Robert K. Taylor Jr. and courtroom law enforcement made sure to unshackle the defendant while jurists were present. Spears was shackled again during breaks and when officers needed to transport him down the hallway.

The other person accused of murdering Dorsey is Bryan Johnson, 18.  He was mentioned throughout day one of the trial, but is still awaiting his trial date.

At the time of the incident, Spears and Johnson were 16, but both were tried as adults.

The trial is in a small courtroom with three rows of seats in the middle, mainly for the families of Dorsey and Spears, and two rows of seats to the left of the courtroom for reporters and other attendees.

Both the prosecutor, Rita Wisthoff-Ito, and Taylor gave brief opening statements. 

Wisthoff-Ito painted a picture of what happened on the day of the shooting and emphasized the intent of those who committed the crime.

“What is the intention but to kill when you fire at someone like this?” said Wisthoff-Ito. “If you fire multiple times you are going to kill somebody.”

Dr. Edernst Noncent, the medical examiner who performed the autopsy on Dorsey, confirmed that Dorsey was shot 16 times.

The prosecution presented several 911 calls and police-worn body camera footage to the jury and called up nine witnesses throughout the day. The audio clips of the calls helped depict how harrowing the scene was for attendees.

Callers depicted the scene to dispatchers while verbally reacting to Dorsey’s body on the ground, not breathing.

One caller repeatedly yells “he’s gone,” after realizing that one of the wounded young men– Dorsey–was already dead. Another caller could be heard shouting several times in disbelief. 

People in the courtroom could hear individuals wailing and police sirens in the background as the callers spoke with dispatchers.

Though the evidence was tough to hear, both sides are counting on the jury to process the information and make a decision on Spears’ fate. 

In his opening statements, Taylor asserted that the prosecution would fail to present a motive and Spears’ DNA in connection with this incident to the jury.

“Spears is accused of a crime he did not commit,” said Taylor. “Spears was not responsible for what happened here.”

As the trial continues, the AFRO will continue to provide updates.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Dawn Moore, first lady of Maryland, attended United Way of Central Maryland’s 2024 Women’s Forum on Sept. 26, addressing the need to elevate women and change childcare.

Moore said she’s “proud of the work this administration is doing to provide more access so that women can go back into the workforce” after having children.

Through the fiscal year 2025 budget, Gov. Wes Moore (D) and state legislators increased funds toward the state’s Child Care Scholarship program by $270 million. The program provides services for around 30,000 children.

During the forum, speakers pointed out the hardships families experience through the cost of child care. 

“You should not have to make a decision between whether you can take a job or stay with your children,” said  Moore on Sept. 26.

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 58 percent of parents exit the workforce because they can’t find suitable childcare.

“You can’t work without child care,” said Reshma Saujani, author and founder and CEO of Moms First, a movement to support mothers in the workforce. 

Saujani pointed out that when child costs are unreasonable or child care is unavailable women are often left to pause their careers to take care of the children.

Dawn Moore highlighted the importance of mothers’ ability to find quality child care and return to the workforce.

“We are needed in the workforce,” said Dawn Moore. “We make up over half the population.”

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, women make up 47 percent of all American employees and are essential in the modern workforce.

Baltimore City Councilwoman Phylicia Porter (D-District 10) spoke with the AFRO and offered a deeper look into how childcare costs impact Baltimore City.

“When we look at the disproportionate level of the rates of child care versus what African-American women in the City of Baltimore are taking home, obviously a disparity,” said Porter before a city council meeting on Sept. 30.

According to the Maryland Family Network, a non-profit, the estimated cost of child care in Baltimore City is $22,983. With a median family income of $72, 972, Baltimore families are spending about 31.5 percent of their median household income on child care, the highest percentage for any county in the state. 

The Maryland Family Network’s findings reflect a distinct financial burden on families in Baltimore City, a region where approximately 60 percent of residents are Black.

Porter offered some solutions.

“It’s a two-pronged approach. You can’t have good daycares without good daycare providers,” said Porter. “Making sure that we combat the workforce along with the price of childcare, that’s how we’re going to solve that issue.”

Porter laid out some ways federal, state and local governments can and should address the cost of childcare.

“From a federal level, tax incentives for families,” said Porter. “At the state level, making sure that we provide incentives for opening a daycare for daycare workers childcare subsidies for families.”

Porter said city legislators can “look at different zoning options where we can put daycares” in certain areas so they are not over-concentrated in any one location.

She also said city legislators can provide partnerships through philanthropic opportunities, helping daycares remain in underserved communities.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

AFRO.com now features AFRO Votes, a one-stop shop of resources and information related to the upcoming Nov. 5 election. The new feature on the AFRO’s main web page can be found by scrolling to the bar that says “AFRO Votes” in the middle of the page.

At AFRO Votes, readers can check their registration status, learn about what elections are going on in their local area and request an absentee or mail-in ballot. It also contains a feature to help youth, between the ages of 13 and 17, register as future voters.

Included on the page are articles showcasing the AFRO’s latest election coverage, aimed at informing voters of the issues and platforms being discussed ahead of Nov. 5. 

According to the Pew Research Center, about 34.4 million Black voters will be eligible to vote in November, but not all are registered. 

Though the voter registration deadline is Oct. 15 in Maryland, Washington D.C. and Virginia, eligible voters can still register during the early voting period and on Election Day.

In Maryland, early voting is from Oct. 24-Oct. 31. In D.C., early voting runs from Oct. 28-Nov. 3 and in Virginia, early voting has started and will continue through Nov. 2.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

As the D.C. Circulator’s impending shutdown grows near, circulator employees and unions are taking to the streets to voice their concerns about how the shutdown has been handled.

“We’re going to get some answers,” said Darryl Hairston, D.C. Circulator supervisor, at a rally on Aug. 29.

Initially, circulator employees were assured that a five-year contract, finalized last year, would supply job security through 2028. However, after Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) suddenly cut Circulator funding from this year’s budget, workers were left scrambling to figure out what they were going to do.

The AFRO reached out to the mayor’s office and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) for comment, but did not receive a timely response.

The impact of the sudden change grew when the Circulator shutdown moved up from March 2025 to December 2024.

“I went out on sick leave. I returned on July 19 and on July 29 I received a letter saying I’ll be one of the people being laid off on Sept. 30,” said Natarsha Guest, a D.C. Circulator employee. “How are we supposed to rearrange our lives in 60 days and start over?”

Employees are demanding the city and RATP Dev, Circulator operator, ensure all D.C. Circulator employees retain their current pay rates if transitioned into the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Workers also want a five-year financial plan to support Circulator employees and a seat at the table during shutdown discussions.

Unions, including the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689, have joined the call for better employee support and the absorption of the Circulator routes.

Since the announcement of the Circulator shutdown on July 29, the union has been vocal about the need for a transition plan, urging the mayor and DDOT to transition the services to WMATA.

DDOT has previously indicated that RATP Dev has had discussions with workers about their employment options since the announcement. Workers say those offers just aren’t enough.

“It be a tremendous pay cut for us because we have to start off from the beginning,” said Glynda Dansby, a D.C. Circulator dispatcher and supervisor. “Even if the Circulator has to leave, bring us in wherever we go, at our pay or close to it.”

Guest said some employees could lose around $10 to $12 an hour due to their positions not being directly absorbed into WMATA.

“If we’ve already been established at the job that we’ve had…why do we have to go back now and try to do two or three jobs to make ends meet?” questioned Dansby.

Though circulator employees have not yet gotten the responses they are looking for from the mayor’s office and DDOT, workers have received support from the D.C. Council.

“The employees who work for the D.C. Circulator have every right to demand better from D.C. government on how the end of the Circulator has been handled,” said Erik Salmi, deputy chief of staff for D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen (D-Ward 6). “DDOT has known this was a likely outcome for more than a year as budget constraints and improved WMATA operations made the end of the D.C. Circulator an attractive cut for the mayor. There are staff who have faithfully served D.C. residents for many years at the Circulator, and they don’t feel they are getting the support they deserve at this challenging time in their careers.”

As the official phasedown begins on Oct. 1, workers and unions show no sign of slowing down.

Phase one will include ending the Rosslyn-Dupont Circle route, altering bus arrival times to every 20 minutes instead of every 10 minutes and ending late-night service on the Woodley Park-Adams Morgan and Georgetown-Union Station routes.

By Dec. 31, all Circulator operations and employment will end.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Gov. Wes Moore (D) officially recognized September 2024 as African Heritage Month in Maryland. The proclamation highlights what African immigrants have and continue to contribute to the state economically and socially.

According to the governor’s office, 10 percent of Marylanders are African-born. Maryland is also home to the fourth-largest population of African immigrants living in the U.S., according to the George Mason University Institute for Immigration Research.

At the announcement on Sept. 10, Moore recognized the state’s history concerning Africans and African Americans.

“There is a power in understanding that this building that we are standing in was built by enslavement,” said Moore at the Maryland State House.

Moore recognized that the slaves who built the Maryland State House are those “whose stories are oftentimes not known, whose portraits are not emblazoned and frankly whose sacrifices have not always been celebrated.”

Chukwunonso “Vincent” Iweanoge, chair of the Governor’s Commission on African Affairs, thanked and commended the governor for standing by Maryland’s African community. 

The Governor’s Commission on African Affairs was created in 2009 in part to respond to the needs and concerns of Maryland’s African immigrants.

Iweanoge pressed that Moore is not just a politician, but a leader.“Politicians are the ones that will work for the next election and do the things that are not controversial,” said Iweanoge. “The leaders are the ones that do the things that are necessary, even if it is not going to get them elected.”

The post Maryland celebrates African Heritage Month appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced that they are awarding the Maryland Technology Development (TEDCO), an instrument of the state, $10 million to support small businesses.

With the funding, Maryland will create the Business Resource Information, Development and Guidance Ecosystem (BRIDGE) program. BRIDGE will provide specialized accounting, financial and legal advisory services to small businesses throughout the region.

During a Sept. 9 press call, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) acknowledged that it can be “difficult to become a successful entrepreneur.”

“When you start out, there are often more questions than answers,” said Moore. “How do you scale up a business model? How do you access the legal services that you need?”

He went on to emphasize that this initiative would help tackle those questions.

“It’s going to help us to create pathways for work, wages and wealth,” said Moore.

According to a 2023 Maryland small business profile by the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, there are 639,789 small businesses in the state. Around 99 percent of Maryland businesses are small.

TEDCO plans to work with the University of Maryland to help the state develop and implement the new program. Both have already pledged to match almost $2.2 million to help support the initiative.

Troy LeMaile-Stovall, TEDCO’s chief executive officer, emphasized how the BRIDGE program will help entrepreneurs throughout the region.

“It will give them back a minute. It will give them access to talent that they need to grow and scale their enterprises,” said LeMaile-Stovall. “The whole TEDCO team and this ecosystem is excited about this opportunity to put these resources to work, to help make this region the economic powerhouse it can and should be.”

Though Maryland will lead BRIDGE, it will be done in partnership with Delaware, Virginia and Washington D.C.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Self-care and wellness have become top of mind for people all around the world. Self-care can look like therapy to time alone with a book.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines self-care as “the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote their own health, prevent disease, maintain health and to cope with illness.”

Many can benefit from self-care and veterans are no exception.

“I’ve learned over the years from several different other veterans the importance behind taking care of myself,” said Terrence Hayes, deputy assistant secretary of the Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. “They taught me that if I take an interest in self care that I would be the best version of myself professionally, personally.”

Hayes shared that mental health is one of the most important ways he practices self-care.

Hayes said he uses “yoga, meditation and exercise” to improve and maintain his mental health.

Eli Williamson, co-founder of Leave No Veterans Behind, told the AFRO that he uses swimming to better his health.

“It’s a place that forces you to breathe,” said Williamson. “You can’t swim being tight, rigid.”

Williamson also views swimming as beneficial in teaching “balance and about relaxation.” 

Disconnecting from technology

Hayes said making sure he takes time away from his phone, laptop and the internet helps him enjoy the life in front of him.

“I find that when I tend to disconnect from those items, I’m able to reset my mind,” said Hayes. “I’m able to put things in better perspective and my stress level tends to go down.”

Hayes recognized that in a technological world this can be challenging, but it’s worth it.

“To be able to disconnect from them at least an hour before you lay down for bed is critical,” said Hayes. “You’re allowing your body to truly rest. You have to know when to turn it off so you can actually get that rest time.”

Connecting with others

Though taking a break from technology is encouraged, Williamson said connecting with others is an important aspect of self-care.

“People are very disconnected,” said Williamson. “Right now everyone is connected through phones, but very disconnected interpersonally. They don’t have proximity to one another.”

According to the Army Resilience Directorate, feeling connected with others can help prevent suicide and increase quality of life.

On the flipside of connecting with others, Hayes said making sure he has alone time to journal is important to him because it can be “humbling and restful.”

“Journaling allows me the opportunity to write my thoughts down. Put down things like goals and aspirations,” said Hayes. “I’m able to go back in my journal and see the things that I’ve written and see some of the things I’ve been able to accomplish.”

The post Self-care tips for veterans appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

A September poll by Emerson College Polling, DC News Now and The Hill, revealed that Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) is leading her Republican opponent, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan in the race for the U.S. Senate.

About 49 percent of voters polled said they’d choose Alsobrooks if the November election was “today,” while 42 percent said they’d vote for Hogan. Alsobrooks also has a 63 percentage point lead among Black voters.

“In this poll, 9 percent of the respondents are still undecided about the Senate race. Given that the margin of difference here is 7 percentage points, the outcome of how they vote will determine the winner,” said Nina Kasniunas, associate professor of political science at Goucher College. “What’s not clear from this poll is whether those voters are undecided because they need more information about who Alsobrooks or whether these are folks who previously supported Hogan as governor but are torn about supporting him for the Senate.”

While this seat would normally be a sure thing for Democrats, the stepping down of Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) in May 2023 opened up the door for Hogan, a Republican with enough popularity to potentially turn the normally blue seat to red. 

“The outcome of this race will be critical to determining which party controls the Senate,” said Kasniunas.

Democrats currently enjoy a slim majority in the Senate, which means the Maryland contest could tip the balance of power to either side of the aisle in the Congress’ upper chamber.

“Today’s poll demonstrates what we’ve known for a while: Marylanders understand we must defend our Democratic Senate majority to protect our freedoms, fight for safer communities, and lower costs so hardworking families can not just get by, but can thrive,” said Alsobrooks in a statement to the AFRO. “But we also know we still have a lot of work left to do, and this will be a tight race.”

With less than 50 days remaining in the election cycle

, Alsobrooks said she’ll continue “traveling to every corner of our state to remind Marylanders what exactly is at stake in this race – their futures.” 

In a May poll by Emerson College Polling, Alsobrooks got 48 percent in a hypothetical matchup of the November election, while Hogan got 38 percent. About 14 percent of registered voters were undecided.

Blake Kernen, campaign spokeswoman for Hogan, said “even in a poll like” this one “Hogan is gaining ground.”

“He’s working to win every vote and represent all Marylanders,” she said.

The September poll also found that the economy is a top issue for 40 percent of likely voters. Following the economy is crime (14 percent), housing affordability (14 percent), threats to democracy (8 percent), education (8 percent), immigration (5 percent), health care (5 percent) and abortion access (3 percent). 

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Attorneys William “Billy” Murphy Jr., Jason Foster and Ronald Richardson on Sept. 19 detailed the significance of the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) $100 million lawsuit against the owner of the Dali cargo ship, which crashed into a Baltimore-area bridge, causing its collapse on March 26. The results of the litigation, filed on Sept. 18,  could impact the attorneys’ impending lawsuit on behalf of their client, Damon Davis.

Davis is a road construction inspector who survived the toppling of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, a major thoroughfare that spans the Patapsco River and part of the Baltimore Harbor. The attorneys have not yet filed Davis’ lawsuit but assured the press that they will do it by Sept. 24.

Davis worked closely with the six workers who died in the Key Bridge collapse.

“He knew these men,” said Murphy at a press conference in Baltimore on Sept. 19. “They all knew each other; they had to work together as a team.”

Davis was working on the bridge when the collapse occurred. He was about to take his break when he felt the rumbling of the bridge.

“Our client approached his car to take his break along with the other individuals who were in the trucks when he felt the bridge collapsing,” said Richardson. “He began running. He took a giant leap to make it to that part of the bridge that was still standing.”

The attorneys explained how the DOJ’s civil claim could benefit Davis’ impending case against Dali owner Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and manager Synergy Marine Group, both of Singapore.

“One, it helps in the first phase of litigation to defeat the claim of limitation of liability,” said Foster. “Then when we actually get into presenting our client’s claim for his damages and his losses, it will be tremendously helpful in that regard as well. It essentially sets the tone for the litigation.”

Foster said the DOJ’s case could help establish entitlement to compensatory damages for Davis’ losses and “provides an avenue to recover damages above that, called punitive damages.”

Murphy explained punitive damages as the DOJ asking for “a huge amount of money to punish this ship owner and everybody else” who was responsible for the tragedy. 

“They’ve gone further than making sure that everybody is made whole,” said Murphy.

In the DOJ’s lawsuit, the agency claims that because of the “unseaworthy condition of the ship, none of the four means available to help control the Dali—her propeller, rudder, anchor, or bow thruster—worked.”

The DOJ also alleges that the crash was avoidable and holds the ship owner and operator responsible for negligence. The suit is seeking $100 million in cleanup costs, plus punitive damages.

“There were all kinds of failures,” said Murphy. “People just didn’t do their jobs.”

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The expanding role of artificial intelligence in modern life has been the subject of much discussion and some controversy in recent months. Therefore, it was no surprise the topic was featured on the first day of the 2024 Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference, which kicked off Sept. 11 in Washington, D.C. 

A group of panelists, including Tracy Owens, director of U.S. public affairs at Sage; Aaron Harris, chief technology officer at Sage; Dona Franklin, owner of Turnkey Solutions; and Georgia State Sen. Jason Esteves (D-Dist. 6), discussed how small businesses can maximize the use of AI.

The conversation featured Sage, a software company that provides human resources services to small and medium businesses,  and how it has incorporated AI into its business. The company is particularly aiming to use AI in ways that can serve their clients.

“With the help of AI, we can capture all business activity in real time and account for that business activity,” said Harris. “We pair continuous assurance for continuous accounting to create trust in that data. Small business leaders and owners need to move very fast to compete, and our objective is to give them technology that enables them to [do just that].”

Franklin described how she has used ChatGPT, an AI chatbot, in her business to save time on everyday tasks.

“AI has literally revolutionized our business in the past couple of years,” she said. “I looked at ChatGPT as a fun thing when I first discovered it. But what has happened over the past two years is we found that it can make mundane, everyday tasks so much easier, and it provides such tremendous productivity.”

Franklin said she has used ChatGPT to create documents based on presentation slides and develop training videos.

“An activity that might have taken me an hour and a half [to] two hours literally took 10 minutes,” she said. “If you think about the time you spend doing those things, it translates directly into money.”

With the plethora of issues Black small businesses already face such as high interest rates, AI could provide that much-needed relief.

“Just this morning, I gave a speech to an association not too far from here, and prior to finalizing that speech, I ran the text through ChatGPT,” said Esteves. “I said ‘Give me your thoughts on the speech. How long is it? How long will it take me, and do you have any recommendations on what I had?’”

“It did a lot for me in [those] 30 seconds that it took to spit out the information,” he continued. “I was able to add more to my speech.”

Though only 3.8 percent of American businesses were using AI in 2023, Owens insists that it will continue to expand rapidly and urged small business owners to take part in the conversation.

“Small businesses, medium-sized businesses are going to be in the mix for all of this,” said Owens.

He said small business owners should ensure “investments are being made” and have conversations with government officials and larger businesses about how they can best assist small business owners’ AI endeavors.

“There’s room for all of us,” said Owens.

In a related event, Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) led a discussion about ways African Americans can use AI to empower the Black community.

Butler emphasized the importance of this conversation and briefly discussed legislation she was planning to introduce. 

“This is legislation that is directed towards traditionally marginalized communities,” she said. 

Butler said it would set aside $250 million to invest in upskilling students, educators and employers in industries that will potentially be impacted by artificial intelligence.

The post A time to change: How small businesses can leverage AI for success appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The Baltimore Rhythm Festival is back. 

This vibrant and artistic festival will be held on Sept. 14 from 12 – 6 p.m. at the Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School.

The day will include local vendors, workshops and performances. The workshops and performances will be free and open to the public. 

“Over the years, we’ve been able to bring some phenomenal artists to Greenmount West for our festival,” said Eboni Yahudah, festival co-director, in a statement. “It’s become an end-of-summer event the creative community eagerly anticipates.”

Performers will include the Bele Bele Rhythm Collective and the Baltimore Twilighters, a community marching band. Workshops will include yoga sessions, drum classes, a puppet show and much more.

This year the Baltimore Rhythm Festival will mark 10 years since the festival was revived. The Baltimore International Rhythm and Drumming Society started the festival in 1995. It was eventually revived in 2014 by Menes Yahudah and Rory Turner, co-founders of the festival.

“As a musician and creative individual, I love to cultivate spaces for my peers,” said Menes Yahudah in a statement. “We consistently receive positive feedback from the artist community here in Baltimore.”

For those looking for more fun things to do this week, check out the Baltimore Rhythm Festival’s evening concert on Sept. 13. It will be held at 2640 Space in North Baltimore from 7 – 10 p.m.

Janeliasoul, an Afro-soul vocalist, and Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band will headline the concert. 

Though the festival is free, the evening concert requires a ticket, available for $15. 

The post Baltimore Rhythm Festival to celebrate 10 years appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Democracy in America and closing the racial economic wealth gap were topics of discussion on Sept. 12 at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s (CBCF) 2024 Annual Legislative Conference (ALC). 

Day two of the event kicked off with a National Town Hall under the theme “Pathways to Prosperity: Advancing Democracy and Black Economic Opportunity.”

The event was hosted by veteran journalist and moderator Don Lemon and included Dr. Michael McAfee, president and CEO of PolicyLink; LaTosha Brown, co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund; Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Planned Parenthood Federation of America; and Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP. 

Legislators, top officials and leaders from around the country, including Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D), attended the two-part town hall to discuss the state of American democracy and explore ways to increase access to economic opportunities for Black Americans.

“There is a huge disparity in terms of wealth between the Black community and the majority community, and we know it is our obligation to do what we can to close that gap,” said Nicole Austin-Hillery, president and CEO of the CBCF. “ is a moment for us to use our collective and collaborative thinking and strategies to make a difference.”

Austin-Hillery encouraged attendees to “figure out how each of you, in your own communities, in your own jurisdictions, can be leaders right where you sit.”

Moore fired up the crowd with powerful remarks on why and how the racial economic wealth gap should be closed and what he’s doing in Maryland to slash poverty and create economic equality.

“We didn’t have, in our state, an 8-1 racial wealth gap because one group is working eight times harder,” said Moore. “If you do not understand things like racist procurement policies and how government dollars are being used to support some and not others, then you cannot understand why this gap exists in the first place.”

Moore detailed victories won in the fight to eliminate economic disparities in Maryland. 

 “We’ve been able to raise minimum wage,” he said, “Because gone should be the days when you have people who are working jobs– and in some cases multiple jobs– and still living at or below poverty line. We’ve been able to pass the most aggressive housing package in the history of the state of Maryland, turning renters into homeowners.”

Moore emphasized that policy matters when it comes to economic opportunities for African Americans. Still, he acknowledged that this was not enough. 

“We will not make progress with policy alone,” said Moore. “We’re going to need everybody involved in this conversation.” 

Moore highlighted that “this country has lost $16 trillion in GDP (Gross Domestic Product) over the past two decades because of the racial wealth gap.”

“Racism is expensive, bigotry is expensive,” he said.

Moore vowed to use every day left of his first term as governor to work towards economic equality. 

“Our time in these seats are temporary,” he said, addressing the conference audience. “We’re not going to waste a minute.” 

Democracy in America

Panelists of the town hall answered questions from Lemon regarding solutions to the democracy issues faced by Black America and the country as a whole. 

“What happens to a nation when the population that it never loved becomes the majority?” quipped Dr. Michael McAfee, president and CEO of PolicyLink. “We haven’t really designed our institutions and our systems for the multi-racial democracy we have. In too many instances, we haven’t shown the intellectual and the applied interest to do that work.” 

“It’s unsexy work,” said McAfee, “But it’s foundational work. That’s what nation building work looks like.”

Derrick Johnson said “work, not rhetoric” will help ensure African Americans advance regardless of the general election results this year.

Derrick Johnson spoke on solutions to the problem.

“If we’re saying that economic advancement is through home ownership, we have to chart out how to get there,” he said. 

Johnson said loan forgiveness was one avenue of helping African Americans buy homes by putting dollars back into their pockets.

Through revisions to the PSLF, $5.2 billion was forgiven for 66,900 borrowers, according to the U.S. Department of Education. 

Derrick Johnson said this “opens up the ability for individuals to get into home ownership.”

Still, it seems as though as soon as one battle is won, another rages on.

“Private equity firms are buying up lots of homes to create permanent home renters,’ said Derrick Johnson. “We have to revise public policies to prevent that so we can get into the game.”

Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.-02), ALC honorary co-chair, echoed Johnson’s sentiment.

“Today’s conversation isn’t just about identifying problems, it’s about finding real, tangible solutions,” said Carter. “It’s time to push the policies that expand access to capital for Black entrepreneurs…invest in education and workforce development and create affordable job options.”

“We need to dismantle the systems of discrimination in hiring, lending and tax practices,” said Carter. “We must ensure that Black Americans have a seat at the table- or seats- at the table when decisions that shape our economy, shape our future and shape our lives are being had.”

The post Leaders discuss democracy in America, closing racial economic wealth gap at Black legislative conference appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Maryland voters’ approval of Vice President Kamala Harris (D), Democratic presidential nominee, and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) have increased since February.

According to a poll released on Sept. 3 by Gonzales Research and Media Services, Marylanders approve of Harris’ job in the White House by 55 percent and Moore’s job as governor by 64 percent. In a February poll by Gonzales, Harris had around 46 percent approval and Moore had 58 percent. 

In comparison, Harris’ Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, has a 57 percent disapproval rating for his job in the White House. About 42 percent of Marylanders approve of Trump’s work as president.

Pollster Patrick Gonzales said he believes Harris’ approval ratings are up in Maryland, because “she had an excellent convention in Chicago.”

The poll was conducted on Aug. 24-30, days after Harris and Moore’s televised speeches at the vibrant 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC).

Gonzales continued saying “the events of the last seven to eight weeks,” including President Joe Biden (D) dropping out of the presidential race, led Maryland voters to support her.

Gonzales said he felt that Moore’s primetime speech at the convention has much to do with his approval increase as well. He also credited Moore’s success to his handling of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse on March 26.

Moore spent weeks in Baltimore working with federal, state and local officials to recover the six workers who died, reopen the Port of Baltimore and support those impacted by the tragic incident. Through that work, the port was reopened in 11 weeks.

Though Moore’s ratings have risen, recent scrutiny could have produced different results. 

Moore apologized on Aug. 29 for inaccurately stating that he received a military Bronze Star Medal on a White House application.

“I sincerely wish I had gone back to correct the note on my application,” said Moore in a statement. “It was an honest mistake, and I regret not making that correction.”

The AFRO reached out to the governor’s office for comment but did not receive a timely response.

The Gonzales poll found that if the election was held today 56 percent of Maryland voters would choose Harris, while 35 percent would vote for Trump.

Gonzales’ report acknowledges that voters’ preference for Democrat candidates makes sense for the heavily Blue state.

According to the poll, 81 percent of Democrats, 44 percent of independents and 10 percent of Republicans approve of Harris.

For Moore, 82 percent of Democrats, 52 percent of independents and 35 percent of Republicans approved of him.

Poll results show that Harris and Moore largely have the approval of Black Maryland voters.

About 88 percent of African Americans approve of Moore, while only 2 percent disapprove. About 84 percent of Black Marylanders approve of Harris, while 8 percent disapprove.

Gonzales noted that Moore’s high results can provide him with stronger “political capital,” policy-making power. Gonzales provided an example of how this influence works.

“If I was the governor of Maryland and I walked into a room trying to execute this big deal the same day a poll came out that showed my approval was at 30 percent, I would have a much more difficult time than if I walked into that room on a day when my approval came out at 65 percent,” he said. 

About 820 registered voters, who said they are likely to vote in the general election, were polled via live phone interviews for the poll.

The Gonzales poll also addresses what Marylanders find important. 

According to poll results, 58 percent of Maryland voters prefer strict laws that hold juveniles accountable for their actions, while 34 percent favor lenient laws.

Overwhelmingly, 95 percent of Marylanders surveyed believe it is important for the state to invest in transportation infrastructure. About 61 percent find it “very” important and 34 percent find it “somewhat” important.

The post Kamala Harris, Wes Moore approval ratings soar in Maryland appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced the re-opening of the Lane Place Pedestrian Bridge in Ward 7 on Aug. 23. The bridge had been out of use since it collapsed on June 23, 2021 when a truck crashed into it.

“We want every Washingtonian to be able to get where they need to go quickly and safely,” said the mayor’s office on Aug. 26. “This new bridge is a critical replacement which will help keep residents safe and connect neighborhoods.”

The bridge, which goes over DC-295, was rebuilt using $17 million in federal emergency funds.

The remodeling of this bridge ended the work of repairing three of four pedestrian bridges along DC-295 that were in poor condition and posed safety risks. The other two revamped bridges are the Douglas Street Bridge and the Parkside Pedestrian Bridge.

“The completion of the Lane Place Pedestrian Bridge marks a great milestone in our efforts to provide safe, accessible and sustainable transportation options for all residents,” said DDOT Acting Director Sharon Kershbaum in a statement on Aug. 23. “We want to thank the Biden-Harris administration for their continued support on these transformative projects that are having a meaningful impact in supporting communities.”

The new structure features an enhanced vertical clearance to ensure safer vehicle passage below, Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramps and access stairs and better lighting on the bridge and sidewalks.

The Lane Place Pedestrian Bridge also now goes over both Kenilworth Avenue service roads, ending the need for pedestrians to cross the busy access roadways.

The post DOT announces reopening of D.C. bridge after 2021 collapse appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Tipped employees and One Fair Wage, a national advocacy organization, presented the Baltimore City Council with a 400-signature petition in supporting the Fair Wages for Tipped Employees bill on Aug. 26.

The proposed legislation would gradually implement a $15 minimum wage for tipped workers. Employers are currently only required to pay tipped employees $3.63 per hour under state law.

“The reason why I support it, as well as others, is because I believe it’s the right thing to do,” said Councilman John T. Bullock (D-District 9), the main bill sponsor. “It’s about fairness, it’s about equity predictability in terms of wages.”

Ebony Battle, a waitress, talks about how the bill would benefit her.

“I wouldn’t have to wonder if I’m going to make ends meet every single weekend,” said Battle, 28. 

Right now, Battle says she is often “not sure if I’ll be able to pay my rent or eat food.”

Battle emphasized the need for everyone to have access to the bare necessities of life.

“We should have universal basic income and everybody should have access to housing,” she said. “At $3 an hour, that’s not possible.”

Though Bullock says there is support among his colleagues for the initiative, one group has met with council members advocating against the bill.  

“The Restaurant Association of Maryland strongly opposes Baltimore City legislation that would eliminate the tip credit, because of the negative consequences it would have on tipped employee earnings, restaurants and customers,” said Melvin Thompson, senior vice president of Government Affairs and Public Policy at the Restaurant Association of Maryland, a non-profit advocacy organization.

According to Innessa M. Huot, an employment attorney, a tip credit allows restaurants to pay employees less than the minimum wage as long as they earn enough tips to bring them over the minimum wage. 

Thompson claims that “tipped employee earnings would significantly decrease” as a result of the increased minimum wage because restaurants would turn to service charges to cover the higher labor costs. 

“Customers are unlikely to tip on top of service charges,” he said.

Thompson also said restaurant operators may raise menu prices and eliminate jobs to accommodate the new requirement.

The Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan organization, found that if the federal minimum wage, which is currently $7.25 an hour, was increased it would raise family income and earnings for most low-wage employees. Though it would give some tipped employees the chance to overcome poverty, it would leave others jobless due to higher labor costs. 

Bullock introduced the fair wage bill on June 24 and hopes there will be a hearing within the next few weeks in the Ways and Means Committee.

The post Tipped workers push for $15 minimum wage in Baltimore appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Baltimore City Council members pressed the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) for better communication with employees and policies at a much-anticipated city council hearing on Aug. 22.

This hearing comes after the heat-related death of DPW worker Ronald Silver II, 36, on Aug. 2. The council acknowledged the family during the hearing and gave them a platform to speak about their loss.

“This pain is indescribable, and it is not anything I would wish on my worst enemy,” said Faith Johnson, Silver’s mother. 

Johnson commended the council for calling the hearing, but pushed the need for the city “to do what should have been done before my son died.”

“Don’t play politics with my son’s life,” she said.

Throughout the hearing ​​city council members questioned the city’s decision to hire Conn Maciel Carey, a D.C.-based law firm, to do an independent investigation of DPW’s work conditions and practices.

“This is a firm that represents companies largely trying to push back on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),” said Councilman Zeke Cohen (D-District 01).

A proposed OSHA heat stress ruling would mandate certain employers give workers access to regular hydration, rest breaks and cooling areas among a host of other training and emergency planning measures.

In recent years, Conn Maciel Carey has led a coalition of employers and trade associations representing airline operations, petroleum refining and more, largely to ensure OSHA heat regulations don’t overburden employers.

The mayor’s office further explained their choice in a statement.

“Conn Maciel Carey has been retained to assess the city’s current policies and practices and then to help provide the city with a set of recommendations about heat safety that will be shared publicly before any decisions are made about implementation,” said the mayor’s office in a statement. “The firm’s recommendations will be one part — and will be incorporated alongside discussions with and recommendations made by our partners in the union.”

The AFRO reached out to Conn Maciel Carey for comment but did not receive a timely response.

According to OSHA, out of 66 heat-related illness investigations from 2011-2016, 80 percent of heat-related deaths occurred in outdoor workplaces.

Aside from safety measures, council members called to attention the need for a better work culture at DPW.

“We want folks to feel our pain,” said Glover, who spent 16 years working for DPW. “See what we see. Feel what we feel.”  

Longtime DPW worker Michael Stanley gave an inside look at some of the issues he has faced over the years. 

Stanley said he’s seen upper-level DPW employees verbally disrespect workers on the job.

“Instead of sympathizing with employees and helping us make it through the day, they want to try to make it as bad as possible for them,” said Stanley. “They want to send them home angry.”

Antoinette Ryan-Johnson, president of the City Union of Baltimore, emphasized the need for DPW to properly train their workers.

“Baltimore City needs to train every employee,” said Ryan-Johnson. “You cannot hire someone and expect them to know what the policies and procedures are if you do not train them.”

Stanley said he’s had to help teach newcomers while also doing his own job, as they’re often thrown into the work without proper training.

Cohen asked if DPW would commit to working with frontline sanitation workers, their union and city council members.

“I think the workers need to inform the process,” said Cohen. 

Councilwoman Odette Ramos (D-District 14) questioned DPW Director Khalil Zaied’s lack of knowledge of DPW facility issues and work conditions during his site visits.

Zaeid admitted he has not done DPW ride-alongs to speak directly to employees and see their daily work conditions. 

“By the time I get to a lot of those sites, in many cases, most of the routine service drivers and laborers have left,” said Zaeid.

His responses prompted Ramos to speak on what it means to be a leader.

“Leadership is supposed to be there to make sure that the workers have everything that they need to be able to perform their duties,” she Ramos.

The director eventually committed to doing a ride-along on one of the DPW trucks within the next few weeks. 

The post Baltimore City Council scrutinizes DPW policies after worker’s heat-related death appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Even though the summer season is winding down, the calendar of events for the Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area is quickly heating up. Offerings for the whole family are available, from home ownership workshops to music festivals.

Now is the perfect time to get involved in the community and learn something new!

Maryland

First-time homebuyer workshop

Join Mitch Pollard of Mogul Realtors for a virtual workshop to begin the homebuying journey. In this session, aspiring homebuyers will learn about financing options and how to build wealth through homeownership.

Date: Aug. 30

Time: 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.

Location: Online

Cost: Free

Baltimore by Baltimore Festival

Baltimore by Baltimore has returned for its third year. The festival is a chance for you to get to know and support Baltimore-based creatives and artists. This five-day series of all-day festivals is full of music and art.  On Sept. 7, enjoy a celebration of dance with performances curated by Cjay Philip, artistic director of Dance and Bmore.

Date: Sept. 7

Time: 12 – 8 p.m.

Location: Inner Harbor Amphitheater 

                 Baltimore, Md., 21230 

Cost: Free

Community Bombazo: Puerto Rican Bomba for All!

Join Semila Cultural, a non-profit organization, as they celebrate Puerto Rican culture and arts for a community bombazo. A bombazo is an event where people come together to sing, dance and play bomba, a genre of Puerto Rican music and dance style influenced by African culture.

All skill levels are welcome! Instruments and skirts will be available for use during the event.

Date: Sept. 22

Time: 4 p.m.

Location: Jo’s Movement Emporium 

                 3309 Bunker Hill Rd. 

                 Mt. Rainer, Md.

Cost: Free

Clinicians of Color to host quarterly dinner

The Clinicians of Color quarterly dinner serves as a safe space for Black clinicians to gather and share tips in the career field. The quarterly dinner provides a positive atmosphere for networking and celebrating each other’s wins. 

Date: Sept. 26

Time: 6 – 8:30 p.m. 

Location: The Ale House Columbia 

                 6480 Dobbin Center Way 

                 Columbia, Md., 21045

Cost: Free

D.C. 

Community Volunteer Day

Every Tuesday and Thursday DC Greens, a community organization focused on addressing and eliminating food deserts in the nation’s capital, welcomes volunteers of all ages and abilities to get their hands dirty in the garden. 

Volunteers get a chance to support DC Greens’ work at The Well at Oxon Run, a community farm and wellness space. Volunteers will help workers create fertilizers, harvest produce, maintain the soil and much more.

Date: Sept. 5

Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Location: The Well at Oxon Run

                 300 Valley Ave, SE

                   Washington, D.C. 20032

Cost: Free

Black Girls Code: Animate your name 

Black Girls Code DMV will host an in-person event for young girls between the ages of seven and 12 who are looking to learn how to code. Attendees will be able to learn how to animate their names, bringing their creativity to life through coding. 

Date: Sept. 28

Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Location: Trinity Washington University 

                 Payden Academic Center 125 Michigan Ave, NE 

                 Washington, D.C. 20017

Cost: Free

Honfleur Gallery hosts artist talk on Black beaches and segregation

Contemporary art space, Honfleur Gallery will host an artist talk with D.C. muralist and artist Rik Freeman. Freeman will be discussing his current exhibit “Black Beaches During Segregation,” and the creative standpoint behind his artwork. 

Date: Aug. 31

Time: 5- 6 p.m.

Location: Honfleur Gallery

                1241 Marion Barry Ave., SE 

                Washington, D.C., 20020

Cost: Free

Breastfeeding 101 for families

Mamatoto Village will host a breastfeeding workshop for the whole family in celebration of Black Breastfeeding Week. The workshop will go over health and bonding benefits as well as answer any questions that families may have. Registration is required through Eventbrite.

Date: Aug. 31

Time: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Location: Mamatoto Village

                4315 Sheriff Rd., NE, 

                Washington, D.C. 20019

Cost: Free

Virginia

Rosslyn Jazz Fest 2024

Join Rosslyn BID and Arlington Arts for their 32nd Rosslyn Jazz Fest. Come and enjoy live music, food trucks, yard games and so much more. Performers will include two-time Grammy award-winning group Ranky Tanky, D.C.-based vocalist Cecily and more.

Registration is available on Eventbrite.

Date: Sept. 7

Time: 1 – 7 p.m.

Location: Gateway Park 

                 1300 Langston Blvd. 

                 Arlington, Va. 22209

Cost: Free

Free shopping spree for families

The Psi Rho Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority will host their annual free family shopping spree. This event is for families in need of lightly used clothes, shoes, backpacks and toiletries. 

Date: Sept. 14

Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Location: Park View High School 

                400 West Laurel Ave. 

                Sterling, Va. 20164

Cost: Free

International Peace Week Celebration

Change USA will return with their International Peace Week Celebration, this year’s theme is “(Re)Turning to Healing.” The event is filled with various events, conversations and activities surrounding peace and community. Registration is available through Eventbrite.

Date: Sept. 19 – 22

Times: 

Sept. 19 –  6 – 8 p.m.

Sept. 20 – 6 – 8:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 – 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. 

Sept. 22  – 12 – 5 p.m.

Location: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts 

                 200 North Arthur Ashe Blvd. 

                 Richmond, Va. 23220

Cost: Free

Roots and Reconnection Festival  

Poplar Forest’s African American Advisory Group and the Board of Directors for the Roots and Reconnection Festival are excited to invite D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) residents to celebrate and learn about the enslaved Africans who worked on the plantation. The special event will include music, food, workshops, conversations and a tour.

Date: Sept. 14

Time: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Location: Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest 

                1776 Poplar Forest Parkway 

                Lynchburg, Va. 24502

Cost: Free

The post Upcoming events in the D.C, Maryland and Virginia area appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@.com

With 78 days left before Election Day 2024, President Joe Biden (D) officially handed the reins to Vice President Kamala Harris (D) in his Aug. 19 speech at the Democratic National Convention (DNC). Biden served as keynote speaker on day one of the conference, where Harris is expected to accept the party’s nomination on Aug. 22.

“Are you ready to vote for freedom? Are you ready to vote for Democracy and America? Are you ready to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz?” asked Biden at the top of his speech in Chicago. “Our best days are not behind us, they’re before us.”

Harris became the official Democratic Party nominee for president on Aug. 6 via a virtual roll call. Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, her running mate, will officially accept their nominations during the DNC.

As he took the stage, Biden fondly paused for lengthy applause from the DNC crowd. Those in attendance shouted “Thank you Joe,”as Biden reflected on his presidency and what’s at stake in November.

“America, I gave my best to you,” said Biden, quoting lyrics from “American Anthem” by Norah Jones.

Biden spoke on his economic successes during the address, touting “record small business growth.” He also noted that his administration has worked to ensure that “total prescription cost can be capped at $2,000 no matter how expensive the drug.”

The $2,000 out-of-pocket cap is for anyone with Medicare Part D. The cap will fully go into effect in 2025 through the Inflation Reduction Act, which Biden signed into law in 2022. 

Biden also acknowledged the results of his executive action earlier this year to tighten security at the U.S.-Mexico border.

“Border encounters have dropped over 50 percent,” said Biden.

The standing ovation Biden received at the convention was a stark contrast to how the Democratic Party treated him after a poor June 27 debate performance. In the days and weeks after, top Democrats called for Biden to step down. 

Biden officially withdrew from the 2024 presidential election on July 21, puting his support behind Harris.

Much of night one of the DNC was about pushing excitement for and confidence in a Harris-Walz ticket.

Hillary Clinton (D), a former presidential candidate, spoke during opening night about progress and highlighted Harris’ past as a lawyer.

Clinton pushed the need to fight to get Harris in office this November in hopes of accomplishing what Clinton was not able to in 2016.

“No matter what the polls say, we can’t let up. We have to fight for Kamala as she will fight for us,” said Clinton. “We’re opening the promise of America wide enough for everyone. Together, we put a lot of cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling.”

Clinton highlighted several women who have run for president or were nominated for the vice presidential role in the U.S. including Shirley Chisholm and Geraldine Ferraro.

“We both got our start as young lawyers helping children who were abused or neglected,” said Clinton about Harris. “Kamala carries with her the hopes of every child she protected, every family she helped (and) every community she served. As president, she will always have our backs.”

DNC Chair Jaime Harrison shared what Americans can look forward to at this year’s DNC.

“In the coming days, the party will undertake a transparent and orderly process to move forward as a united Democratic Party with a candidate who can defeat Donald Trump in November,” he said. “As we move forward to formally select our party’s nominee, our values as Democrats remain the same – lowering costs, restoring freedom, protecting the rights of all people and saving our democracy.”

U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07) acknowledged the historical aspect of this year’s convention.

“I am honored to support the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz team,” said Mfume, in a statement sent to the AFRO. “I have attended every Democratic convention since 1980, where I was a delegate for the late Senator Ted Kennedy. Without a doubt, this will be among one of the more historic ones.”

Democrats paid homage to Biden for his dedication to the party throughout the first night of the DNC.

“The American people owe President Biden an enormous debt of gratitude for the unparalleled progress he has delivered over the last four years,” said Harrison. “We will honor that legacy and the decision that he has made today, through a firm commitment to nominating and electing a Democratic president this November who will carry that torch into the next four years.”

Harris made a sudden and brief appearance on stage hours ahead of Biden, recognizing his leadership.

“This is going to be a great week,” said Harris, to much applause and cheers. “I want to kick us off by supporting our incredible President Joe Biden. Joe, thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime service to our nation and for all you will continue to do.”

Day one of the convention featured delegation breakfasts and caucus meetings.

It also included DemPalooza, a series of trainings and panels to ensure Democrats win up and down the ballot in November. Sessions included talks about the future of immigration reform, protecting the vote and talking to friends and family about Project 2025.

There’s much more to come at the DNC including a speech from former President Barack Obama. 

On day two, a youth council meeting will be held, along with a session to address Black voters. The rural council and disability caucus meeting will also be held in the afternoon. 

Day three of the conference, a variety of different caucuses will meet. The Black, Hispanic, AAPI Caucus and Native American Caucuses will each hold their sessions on the morning of Aug. 21. 

On the final day of the convention, there will be a session to address how women in politics can combat misinformation created via artificial intelligence and another on how to gain political ground in places that are considered “factory towns.” The day will also include a session titled “Crisis in the Court: It’s Time for Reforms to Restore Legitimacy and to Protect Our Constitution.”  The Women’s Caucus will also meet, along with the poverty and interfaith councils. 

The post Biden ushers in 2024 Democratic National Convention as Harris prepares to officially accept nomination appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Baltimore City officials announced on Aug. 16 that they would hire Conn Maciel Carey, a D.C.-based law firm, to conduct an independent investigation on the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) safety policies and practices following the death of DPW worker Ronald Silver II, 36.

Silver died on Aug. 2 due to heat exhaustion. He leaves behind his fiancée, Renee Garrison, and five children.

“The insights from this additional outside review of DPW’s workplace safety practices will play a critical role in strengthening safety standards and best practices across all city agencies,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) in the release. “Together, we will ensure that all city workers and their families can have peace of mind knowing that nothing is more important than the safety of the frontline public servants who make our city run.”

There are also ongoing investigations on DPW through the Baltimore Police Department and the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health.

The family was not particularly pleased about the news nor the timing of it according to the family’s attorney Thiruvendran “Thiru” Vignarajah.

“The family finds it a touch offensive that they would have scheduled that announcement today,” he said, pointing out that the family planned to share memories of Silver in a press conference by the end of the week.

Garrison, Silver’s partner of 12 years, shared her appreciation of Silver and her fond memories.

“I would like to thank my Ronald. As we planned our future together, I never imagined that your tenacious, hardworking (and) bold personality would lead us to a life without you,” said Garrison standing with the numerous aunts, uncles and children that came out in support of Silver. “The structure and love he embedded in our children can never be dissolved.”

Garrison shared that Silver enjoyed shopping and watching Marvel movies.

“All I can think about is how funny he was,” said Faith Johnson, Silver’s mother.

Johnson recalled a fond moment when Silver came up to his mom saying, “King Kong doesn’t have anything on me. I’m the king of this house.”

The family is expected to speak more on the additional investigation by early next week after looking into the D.C.-based law firm.

The Silver family first spoke out on Aug. 12, where they demanded several things from the city and called for DPW workers to share their experiences.

One of the demands was for a liaison to better inform them of investigations surrounding the matter. Vignarajah said the mother and fiancée were not informed about the additional investigation before the news release on the morning of Aug. 16. He said they received a copy of it around 8:30 a.m., the time it was released to the public.

Baltimore City Council also recently took action on the matter. They will hold a legislative oversight hearing on the facilities and work conditions of DPW on Aug. 22 in the Rules and Legislative Oversight Committee.

The hearing is scheduled for 5 p.m.

“We feel an obligation to act with urgency to immediately address the health and safety issues plaguing sanitation workers at DPW,” said Councilman Zeke Cohen (D-District 1). “During the upcoming series of hearings, we’ll fight to improve the safety conditions in the agency in order to ensure our workers get home safely to their families at the end of each shift.”

Cohen said it is a top priority that city residents and employees are safe and prosperous.

A few days before the hearing was set, the family of Silver called for the council to hold a hearing as early as this week.

“We are glad our plea this week for an immediate and open investigation is being heard because the public has more questions than answers,” Vignarajah told the AFRO. “We hope next week’s hearing will be a real effort to get to the bottom of what happened.”

An inspector general report from last month revealed numerous poor conditions in DPW facilities such as no working air conditioning units, inconsistent access to water and Gatorade and humid workspaces.

A July inspection was conducted due to several complaints the Baltimore City Office of the Inspector General recently received, reporting poor work conditions at DPW and heat-related illnesses.

These issues will presumably be brought up at the DPW hearing.

The public can join the hearing by visiting the fourth floor of the Baltimore City Hall or attending virtually on Webex.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The Charm City Circulator (CCC), a free transit system in Baltimore, recently expanded into Cherry Hill, a neighborhood where 90 percent of its residents are African-American.

The Baltimore City Department of Transportation (BCDOT) announced the Cherry Route in May and implemented it on June 23.

“Service enhancements include a long-anticipated new CCC route, which will serve the Cherry Hill neighborhood,” said a representative of the City of Baltimore in a news release. “The expanded network will allow ease of access to job opportunities, entertainment and all Downtown Baltimore has to offer.”

In its first month, 10,553 people rode the new line, according to a social media post by BCDOT.

The AFRO reached out to BCDOT for comment but did not get a timely response. 

Councilwoman Phylicia Porter (D-District 10) said this new route has been in the works for nearly 10 years through the work of Cherry Hill community organizations and residents. 

Within Porter’s role on the council, she helped to ensure the route was made possible. 

“It took a long time, but within four years that’s something I’ve been pushing and we were successful,” said Porter.

Since the route was enacted over a month ago, Porter says she believes the service has been received well by the Cherry Hill community.

“I’ve heard accounts from residents that not only can they go to the grocery store at McHenry Row, they also can get to their jobs pretty quickly,” said Porter.

However, one Cherry Hill resident who spoke to the AFRO said the route is not accessible enough.

“If I have to catch the 71 to get to the free bus, I’m defeating the purpose. Staying on the 71, which I paid for, makes more sense,” said Vicky Morris, who travels to the downtown area regularly for work.

Based on the Cherry Route map, the buses primarily travel Cherry Hill Road in and out of the community.

In response to this concern, Porter points towards the additional funding needed to expand the route.

The Cherry Route goes from the Inner Harbor to Cherry Hill. Stops include Middle Branch Park, MedStar Harbor Hospital and the Cherry Hill Light Rail Station. Cherry Route buses arrive every 20 minutes.

“We know that more connectivity means more funding,” said Porter. “Having that conversation with our state legislators and my colleagues on the city council is going to increase that connectivity.”

In 2023, the AFRO reported on calls from West Baltimore activist Marvin “Doc” Cheatham and others to make the service more diverse. Cheatham proposed creating a “Brown Line,” which aims to connect Baltimore’s majority Black neighborhoods from East to West.

“We now have it in Cherry Hill, but the majority of Black people do not live in Cherry Hill, they live all over Baltimore,” said Cheatham. “It’s still an issue for us because they still haven’t really addressed the problem.”

In response to this concern, Porter said she’s “more than willing” to talk about expanding the circulator into other routes in West and South Baltimore communities. 

Porter said she will push for more opportunities to increase transit in communities like Brooklyn in the upcoming Maryland General Assembly session.

“I think that connectivity within some of our Black and Brown neighborhoods needs to happen,” said Porter. “I’m more than willing to have that conversation with residents in West Baltimore to see how, not only we can increase connectivity, but increase connectivity in neighborhoods that typically and historically have not had that kind of (access) to main bus lines.”

Cheatham believes his communities’ call to action and the CCC being called out for having a facility in Cherry Hill but not servicing the area led to the Cherry Route being rolled out this year.

Though it is unclear if BCDOT will move on Cheatham’s proposed “Brown Line,” he said he will continue to advocate until the job is done.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) pledged to assist more than 150,000 military and veteran caregivers around the state through the Hidden Heroes campaign, an initiative of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, on Aug. 6. 

The Elizabeth Dole Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports military families. Their Hidden Heroes campaign promotes awareness about the problems veterans and caregivers face and brings military caregivers together.

“Last year, Governor Moore declared 2024 to be the year of the military families. Today, the Moore-Miller administration takes further action to support our military families by becoming a Hidden Heroes state,” said Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller during the announcement at the Maryland State House. “As such, we are committed to supporting caregivers facing the physical, emotional and financial challenges as they navigate our health care system and advocate for their loved ones in uniform.”

According to the governor’s office, Maryland joins 10 other states in the Hidden Heroes campaign.

Moore said the partnership will help make sure resources that are available to Maryland veterans and families are expedited to those who need them.

“This is a very military and veteran-heavy state,” said Moore. “We take a deep sense of pride that this is a very military friendly, and, frankly, military forward state. We take care of our own.” 

Moore added that it’s important to support those who help take care of servicemembers. 

“It’s the family that is oftentimes taking the brunt of this work,” said Moore.

According to a 2023 report by the newly named Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families, more than 550,000 service personnel, veterans and families call Maryland home. 

The agency was previously called the Maryland Department of Veteran Affairs. 

“We’re thankful that Maryland is a part of this movement,” said Moore.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Baltimore is home to a number of local businesses and organizations providing opportunities and supporting those within the community.

While many programs are geared towards adults, leaders and organizations around the city are  taking the time to pour into Baltimore’s young entrepreneurs– especially when it comes to arts and agriculture.

“The arts a thriving community here in Baltimore, and allows our young people different opportunities to express themselves,” said Jamye Wooten, founder of CLLCTIVLY. “When you spend time with young people you’ll realize they have their own ideas and genius. It’s important to put them at the center of the process and help them with whatever resources they may need.”

CLLCTIVLY is a social change organization focused on fostering Black intelligence, mobilizing resources and funding other Black social change entities. 

Wooten said his organization supports young entrepreneurs through funding opportunities.

Through the Black Futures Micro-Grant, CLLCTIVLY has given over $1 million since 2019 to an array of Black-led businesses, with grants ranging from $500-$25,000.

“Often youth organizations are competing for the same resources,” said Wooten. “We allow them to see each other as resources and begin to partner and collaborate to build a greater capacity within youth-serving organizations.”

In addition to CLLCTIVLY, organizations like the Black Church Food Security Network and Joy Baltimore are also supporting young entrepreneurs on their journey. Read below to understand the work they are doing with youth entrepreneurs throughout Charm City. 

Black Church Food Security Network

The Black Church Food Security Network is an organization of Black churches promoting health, power and prosperity within the Black community. 

“Our organization provides internships, volunteer opportunities and other kinds of strategic partnerships for younger people who have an interest in agriculture and food justice,” said Rev. Heber Brown III, founder and executive director of the Black Church Food Security Network. “We also do workshops to help young people learn about farming.”

Brown said his organization also teaches young people about the intersection of farming and African-American history.

“We have a lot of rich heritage and history when it comes to farming and food,” said Brown. “Unfortunately, this is not something that is regularly introduced to young people in schools.” 

Brown said entrepreneurs in the agricultural space have long been an integral part of making change in the Black community- especially while working with young people during the Civil Rights Movement.

“Young college students and activists went down South to organize as a part of Freedom Summer. Sometimes they would get arrested for participating in civil disobedience,” said Brown. “Many times it was Black farmers who bailed them out. Farmers could put up their property to help bail somebody out of jail.”

Still today, Black farmers and people in the agricultural space like Brown are helping younger generations and providing opportunities for them.

One young entrepreneur who has benefited from the support of the Black Church Food Security Network is Naima Winston, 16.

Winston has a baking business called Cocina Naima, which is based in Baltimore. She started the baking business in December 2019 after appearing on season eight of the “Kids Baking Championship” on the Food Network.

“My mom and I found out about the Black Church Food Security Network and the farmer’s market they held after church,” said Winston. “Once I opened my business I was able to sell my baked goods. A lot of people, every week, would look forward to eating my baked goods.”

She said the opportunity the Black Church Food Security Network provided and the support of the buyers kept her motivated to keep going and participate in more events.

Cocina Naima offers all types of baked goods such as cupcakes, donuts, french macarons and parfaits.

J.O.Y Baltimore 

J.O.Y (Just Our Youth) Baltimore is a grassroots organization aimed at connecting children who are experiencing homelessness with support while working to put an end to youth homelessness. One of the ways it supports Baltimore youth is by helping them start businesses.

“We get a lot of youth who want to be actors and rappers,” said Lonnie Walker, founder and CEO of JOY Baltimore. “What we do is connect them to people who are already doing the work.”

JOY Baltimore has worked in partnership with organizations such as Baltimore Center Stage, a performing arts theater, and introduced youths to celebrity makeup artists and local musicians.

“Over the last ten years, we’ve had 15 people who have become successful in entertainment,” said Walker.

The post Baltimore leaders speak on empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689 called out the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) on Aug. 12 for not moving to transition the DC Circulator into the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).

“We’re disappointed that there is not a clear transition plan in place to take care of the workers and the bus operators, who could be facing layoffs, and the thousands of people who have come to rely on the Circulator bus service,” said Ben Lynn, a spokesperson for ATU Local 689. 

The union urged WMATA to absorb the Circulator into the Metrobus instead of terminating the service altogether.

“There is already a process in place,” said Lynn. “When WMATA first put together their bus service in the 1970s, they absorbed four private bus entities into one. It worked back then, it works now and it will work in the future.”

The mayor’s office declined to comment on this matter.

DDOT announced on July 29 that the DC Circulator would begin phasing out on Oct. 1 and services would completely shut down on Dec. 31.

As of Aug. 12, the union had not received information from the mayor’s office or DDOT about a transition plan. 

The phase-down includes terminating the Rosslyn-Dupont Circle route, ending late-night service on the Woodley Park-Adams Morgan and Georgetown- Union Station routes and changing bus arrival to every 20 minutes instead of 10 minutes.

The free bus line has served Washingtonians for nearly two decades through various cuts and enhancements.

In 2019, just before the pandemic began to impact ridership, the DC Circulator served about 5.5 million riders.

The D.C. Council approved Bowser’s (D) budget in June, which cut the funding for the DC Circulator and made way for the phase-down.

Lynn said the mayor’s office reached out to the union a couple of days before the budget was presented to the Council, to notify them of the phase-out.

“The union walked away from that conversation with the understanding that there would be a transition plan in place and that the union would be provided a copy of that transition plan,” said Lynn.

ATU is concerned about the reduction in service for riders and workers.

“DDOT is working with WMATA and circulator contractor RATP Dev USA to highlight employment opportunities for circulator staff,” a spokesperson from DDOT told the AFRO.

DDOT said on Aug. 15 they would host a WMATA information session for RATP Dev USA Circulator employees where workers could apply for available WMATA positions. 

“RATP Dev USA employees who are part of a collective bargaining agreement may have received additional guidance regarding future employment opportunities from the contractor or their union representative,” said the DDOT spokesperson. 

DDOT’s current guidance for circulator riders is to use the DC Circulator website and WMATA’s online trip planner to see what routes they can take.

“Additional information regarding these impacts will be shared in the coming months as the service transitions,” said the DDOT spokesperson.  

The post DC Circulator to shut down, union calls for transition plan appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, AFRO American Newspapers CEO and publisher, was recognized on Aug. 9 for being a powerful leader and making a positive difference in the community.

The William and Lanaea C. Featherstone Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to improve equity in underserved communities, recognized Draper with the Featherstone Changemaker Award during their annual award ceremony.

“I’m a product of so many change-makers that have done amazing things. I’m representing all of them tonight,” said Draper at the Featherstone Awards, held at the University of Baltimore. “I’m humbled and honored to receive the award and I am proud of the Featherstone Foundation for all the work they’re doing.”

Draper has been a leader throughout Baltimore for decades. She served on Morgan State University’s Board of Regents for 24 years and is the chair of the board of the AFRO American Newspapers, which her great-grandfather founded in 1892. She previously served as president of the company from 1987 to 1999.

During the ceremony, the Featherside Foundation awarded 27 college scholarships to help students begin or complete their higher education endeavors. The scholarships were awarded through the foundation’s $80,000 scholarship fund.

Previous winners of this award include Alicia Wilson, co-founder of the Black Philanthropy Circle; Catalina Rodriguez, director of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs; Monica Mitchell, co-founder of the Lillie May Carroll Jackson Middle School; and Pamela King, senior program manager of the Open Society Institute of Baltimore.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The family of Ronald Silver II, 36, a Department of Public Works (DPW) employee who died from heat exhaustion on Aug. 2, are calling for immediate action from city government and legislators.

“Our family is seriously heartbroken,” said Renee Meredith, Silver’s aunt, on Aug. 12 at a press conference. “Ronald was the backbone and heartbeat of our family. He was taken from us long before his time in what was a completely preventable death.”

The Silver family, through their attorney Thiruvendran “Thiru” Vignarajah, are asking for the city council to convene immediate investigative hearings and assign a liaison to the family for direct updates on ongoing investigations. The family is also calling on DPW workers to share their stories about the agency’s work environment.

Vignarajah said the family is looking for the council to convene these hearings as early as this week. He also spoke on the investigation called at the state level. 

“They want more than platitudes and press conferences. They want action and they want it now,” said Vignarajah, standing in front of City Hall. “A statewide investigation is a wonderful step in the right direction for workers who are going to be toiling in the hot summer heat next year–but it’s August– it is hot today.”

Vignarajah said the family saw the press conference from last week where city council members called for city officials to cooperate with hearings on the matter. 

City council members did not say how soon they are looking to start their city council hearings on the matter. He emphasized that the family is pushing for hearings now– not at a later date.

“The hearings don’t do workers any good if done during the cool of October,” he said.

Vignarajah shared that the family is exploring their legal options and will speak out more about the loss of their family member in the next week.

The post Family of DPW worker Ronald Silver II call for immediate action after heat death appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

After the U.S. Senate passed two major online safety bills for kids in a 91-3 vote, parents with Parents for Online Safe Spaces (ParentsSOS) are now pushing for members of the House to pass the legislation. House members will return on Sept. 9.

The Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) were passed in a bipartisan vote on July 30.

“We intend to keep sharing our stories and express to our legislators that no family should have to bear the pain that we live with daily. No one expected this bill to advance out of the Senate but we did it,” said a spokesperson for ParentsSOS, an organization led by parents who lost their children due to the influences of social media. “When lawmakers in the House hear our personal stories and that there’s such a common-sense solution to addressing the wide range of harms young people face, we are confident they will support KOSA too.”

“We are determined to make KOSA a legislative priority in the House and get it signed into law before the end of the year,” said the spokesperson from ParentsSOS.

ParentsSOS members are currently meeting with their House representatives at home during the Congressional recess. Parents are also expected to meet with representatives one-on-one once House members return.

“We lost our 12-year-old son Matthew to an online viral challenge on TikTok and YouTube. This is after he was allowed access to the internet for just one hour,” said Todd Minor Sr., in a July 25 press conference on the bills. “The never-ending pain of his loss and never seeing is smiling face again coupled with the tragic memories of performing CPR on him to try and save his life stays with us every day.”

Minor said he’d heard from several of Matthew’s classmates and friends that they could not opt out of seeing online challenges when they were on social media. 

“They felt that there was no way out,” said Minor.

Other parents, through ParentsSOS, shared the stories of their children who have lost their lives due to cyberbullying and online drug dealing.

KOSA aims to force tech companies to take reasonable steps in changing their design of their products and services used by children to prevent harm. COPPA 2.0 is an enhanced version of the 1998 COPPA, which was created to protect the privacy of children under the age of 13. 

The original COPPA’s requirements include enforcing website operators to acquire parental consent before collecting personal information from youth and providing a reasonable way for parents to review the personal information collected.

COPPA 2.0 could increase protections by banning advertising to kids and teens under the age of 17.

“It is really just about empowering young people and parents to take back control over their lives online,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a bill sponsor, at the July 25 press conference. “To say to big tech, ‘we no longer trust you to make decisions for us.’”

According to the Pew Research Center, 16 percent of teens say they use social media almost continuously. 

In late 2023, a study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that social media platforms generate almost $11 billion in ad revenue from American youth. The authors of the study found that this emphasizes the need for increased transparency and regulations of the practices of tech companies to mitigate the potential impacts on youth mental health.

Though the future for the bill may be uncertain, Biden announced his support for the initiative highlighting his efforts on the issue and encouraging the House to pass the legislation.

“The Senate took a crucial bipartisan step forward to make our kids safer online. There is undeniable evidence that social media and other online platforms contribute to our youth mental health crisis. It is past time to act,” said Biden. “The last time Congress took meaningful action to protect children and teenagers online was in 1998 – before the ubiquity of social media and smartphones. I encourage the House to send this bill to my desk for signature without delay.”

Vice President Kamala Harris, likely Democratic nominee for president, also announced her support of the effort.

“​​I applaud the Senate for passing the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act today. This bipartisan legislation will help protect children’s mental health, safety and privacy online,” said Harris, upon the bill’s passage. “I have spent my entire career fighting for the well-being of children, and I urge Congress to pass this bill as we continue to invest in our children and their health.”

Though there is much evidence as to why the push for child online safety is needed, it still faces some road blocks such as an often divided House and opposition from some national organizations such as the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.

“We would definitely support the bills with changes,” said Ash Johnson, senior policy manager at Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF). 

One of those changes includes no ban on targeted advertising. Johnson emphasized the need for no large shifts in regulatory compliance burdens from the 1998 COPPA. 

“Making big changes like that is where you run into the biggest compliance hurdle for businesses,” said Johnson.

The House also has until the Sept. 30 deadline to pass the 2025 fiscal year budget to prevent a government shutdown, a process which dragged on last year.

Despite this, ParentsSOS believe this issue will rise as a top and urgent concern for all legislators.

The post Advocates press for House to pass online safety bills for kids appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) as her running mate ahead of the Democratic National Convention from Aug. 19-22. 

“I am proud to announce that I’ve asked Tim Walz to be my running mate. As a governor, a coach, a teacher and a veteran, he’s delivered for working families like his,” said Harris via X, formerly known as Twitter. “It’s great to have him on the team. Now let’s get to work.”

Walz is hitting the ground running alongside Harris, rallying in seven states through the end of this week. The first rally is set for later this evening in Philadelphia.

First elected in 2018, Walz is the 41st governor of Minnesota. While in office, he’s worked on reproductive freedoms, lowering prescription drug costs and expanding voting rights to include 55,000 formerly incarcerated Minnesotans. Walz also established reproductive freedom as a fundamental right in Minnesota in 2023, protecting fertility services, abortion care and more.

Walz also previously served as a congressman for 12 years representing Minnesota’s First District and in the U.S. Army National Guard for 24 years.

“The selection of Gov. Tim Walz as our nominee is a momentous occasion for our party and a pivotal moment for our country,” said Maryland Democratic Party Chair Ken Ulman, in a statement shortly after the announcement. “I am confident that with Gov. Tim Walz on the ticket, Democrats can be confident that our ticket is well-positioned to inspire voters, build on our grassroots momentum and realize a future that reflects our shared values.”

Ulman commended Harris for her choice and threw full support behind her and Walz.

“VP Kamala Harris has once again demonstrated that she is the leader our party needs in this moment with her bold, exciting choice for vice president,” he said. “The Maryland Democratic Party is proud to stand behind VP Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz, and we are ready to work tirelessly to ensure their victory.”

The Trump campaign released a statement on Harris’ choice, calling Walz a “radical leftist.”

“From proposing his own carbon-free agenda, to suggesting stricter emission standards for gas-powered cars and embracing policies to allow convicted felons to vote, Walz is obsessed with spreading California’s dangerously liberal agenda far and wide,” said Karoline Leavitt, Trump campaign press secretary. 

Harris made her announcement on the heels of growing major endorsements from former officials under Trump, youth voter groups and environmental organizations.

The post Kamala Harris selects Minnesota Gov. Walz as running mate appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The Department of Public Works (DPW) paused trash and recycling collection on Aug. 6 to conduct mandatory heat safety training after the heat-related death of crew member Ronald Silver II. A make-up day was scheduled for Aug. 10, with regular duties resuming on Aug. 7.

The session focused on the Occupational Safety Health Administration’s guidelines for knowing the signs of a heat stroke and related illnesses. It also aimed to ensure employees notice potential heat stress hazards and know how to address them.

Silver died on Aug. 2 while on the job due to heat exhaustion as confirmed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

“We lost a dedicated crew member of the Baltimore City Department of Public Works’ Bureau of Solid Waste,” said Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Acting DPW Director Khalil Zaied in a joint statement released on Aug. 3. “Our hearts are first and foremost with him, his family and loved ones and his DPW colleagues as we grapple with this loss.”

This all comes a month after the Office of the Inspector General released a report, which described poor conditions in DPW facilities and company trucks. Issues included an inoperable ice machine in an employee break room and no air conditioning in an employee locker room.

Scott and Zaied said Silver experienced a “medical situation” as the workday was about to conclude on Aug. 2, requiring immediate aid while he and his fellow crew members were in their truck.

“Emergency Medical Services were called, dispatched and Silver was transported to the hospital, where he passed away,” they said. 

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 14,000 Americans have died directly from heat-related causes since 1979.

In an Aug. 5 news release, DPW said they are working with the Maryland Office of Safety and Health as they investigate the conditions around Silver’s death. 

“As part of standard procedure, the Baltimore Police Department’s Special Investigation Unit is conducting its own review of the incident,” said DPW. “We are fully cooperating with both efforts.”

Drop-off centers will remain open to residents:

•  Northwest Transfer Station, 5030 Reisterstown Road (7 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
•  Quarantine Road Landfill, 6100 Quarantine Road (9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.)
•  Northwest Residential Drop-off Center, 2840 Sisson Street (9 a.m. – 7 p.m.)
•  Southwestern Residential Drop-off Center, 701 Reedbird Avenue (9 a.m. – 7 p.m.)
•  Eastern Residential Drop-off Center, 6101 Bowleys Lane (9 a.m. – 7 p.m.)

“DPW remains committed to prioritizing the health and safety of our frontline workers as the city grapples with the impact of extreme heat,” said DPW. “We will continue to assess working conditions at all sites and make necessary adjustments to ensure a safe working environment for all employees.”

Baltimore City Councilmembers, unions demand worker safety now 

On the morning of the scheduled heat safety training, several Baltimore City Council members and unions gathered in front of city hall to demand cooperation from DPW.

Councilman Zeke Cohen (D-District 1) laid out initiatives the council is expecting DPW to comply with.

“The council will immediately launch a series of hearings to identify necessary changes to safety and health conditions across DPW,” he said. “We call for complete cooperation by DPW and a commitment to make immediate improvements.”

Patrick Moran, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Maryland Council 3, emphasized the need for DPW to act now.

“Heat waves are longer and more dangerous. It’s affecting working conditions everywhere. We must work together to ensure this doesn’t happen again,” said Moran. “This can’t be a marathon. This has now got to be a sprint.” 

The post Heat safety for outside workers in spotlight after death of Ronald Silver II appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) joined the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and Ward 7 community members on July 25 as she celebrated the grand opening of the new Douglas Street Pedestrian Bridge. According to DDOT, the new structure is expected to be used by thousands annually to connect residents with mass transit and different neighborhoods within the ward.

“The new Douglas Street Pedestrian Bridge is another example of how we can work with the federal government to upgrade our infrastructure and build more connected communities,” said Bowser in a news release. “We’re grateful for the support of the Biden-Harris Administration, and we look forward to getting more federal dollars out the door and into projects that help us build safer, more accessible and more sustainable communities.”

The new pedestrian bridge, spanning DC I-295, cost $17 million and was funded by around $14 million in federal dollars and $3.4 million in District funds. 

The bridge will bring enhanced pedestrian safety and community connectivity to Ward 7. The Douglas Street Pedestrian Bridge includes new quality lighting, access ramps that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards for accessibility and stairs as an alternative route for bridge access. 

“By investing in projects like the Douglas Street Pedestrian Bridge, we are keeping communities connected and creating safer pathways for our residents to walk, bike and commute,” said Sharon Kershbaum, DDOT acting director. “Thanks to Mayor Bowser and our federal partners, projects like the Douglas Street Pedestrian Bridge, and the soon to be completed reconstruction of the Lane Place Bridge, we are making a meaningful impact by supporting communities, improving accessibility and ensuring residents in every ward can utilize safe, multimodal transportation options.”

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) spoke at a fireside chat on Maryland’s small businesses community and the future of the state’s economy on July 29.

“We have some of the best entrepreneurs in the country, here in our state. We have some of the top institutions of higher education. The problem is we have not had a strategic plan,” said Moore. “We frankly made it far too difficult for a lot of our small businesses to be able to succeed. It’s far too difficult in the way that people have to go through the permitting and regulatory process. It’s far too difficult when it comes to basic access to capital.”

Moore spoke on his work to help those striking out into business on their own.

“We’ve tried to put together that strategic plan and level the playing field. One of the first things we started doing was working on procurement reform,” continued Moore. “ had significant capital coming from the state, but we never were able to actually come up with real procurement policies.” 

Moore highlighted an issue within the state procurement process his administration is currently addressing.

“Oftentimes when come up with procurement goals we allow things like free waivers to go through and allow people to make excuses like ‘well I made a good faith effort to find someone I could work with.’ Good-faith effort is not good enough. You’ve got to work harder.”

According to a 2021 small business profile by the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, Maryland has about 618,000 small businesses, 36 percent of them being minority-owned.

Moore was also asked how his administration is working to build wealth in minority communities. 

“The racial wealth gap has cost this country $16 trillion in GDP over the past two decades,” said Moore. “We have and have had a real focus to say if you actually want to have a growing economy, you’ve got to have a participatory economy.”

Moore highlighted the work he’s done in countering the impacts of racial policies that have held minorities back from attaining and maintaining wealth in Maryland. That work includes a massive housing package that he sponsored and signed into law this year and 175,000 pardons for convictions of possession of cannabis post-legalization in Maryland.

He went on to speak about how crucial it is for Maryland to begin receiving federal funds for the costs of rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge this year. President Joe Biden (D) pledged that the federal government would cover the full costs of the bridge shortly after the collapse. 

“It’s imperative because the bridge is a crucial artery for the Port of Baltimore, and the Port of Baltimore is an absolute crucial element to our American economy,” said Moore. “If you’re buying spices or sugar or coal, chances are that’s coming through the Port of Baltimore.”

According to the Peterson Institute for International Economics, The Port of Baltimore handled about $7 billion worth of trade in April 2023, which was about 4.4 percent of all U.S. imports and 3.3 percent of all U.S. exports that month.

Moore also pointed out that hazmat materials and oil trucks are not able to go through tunnels which is the quickest alternative route for most vehicles right now. 

“The sole lane for them to go to the Port of Baltimore is now collapsed,” said Moore. 

“We have to get moving now,” said Moore. “If we can get this done with bipartisan support from Congress, we will have that bridge built in 2028. We’re going to do something so spectacular that the entire country is going to see just how Maryland moved and the entire country will be very proud about what Maryland got done.”

Maryland business owners Teara Strum, CEO of Strum Contracting, and Brendan McCulsky, founder of Trident Builders, commented on Moore’s efforts concerning small businesses in the state.

“The governor has often said that this is going to be Maryland’s decade and I think he’s right,” said McCulsky. “I think the governor’s leadership has been providing the framework to allow people like us to be successful.”

McCulsky continued saying the governor’s work has created an ecosystem where Maryland’s small business owners can feel comfortable leaping into various business ventures. 

“Some of the policies and the things that he’s creating at the state level are truly trickling down to the mom and pop small businesses we have here in Maryland today,” said Strum. 

She highlighted a project that Strum and Trident are working on together that was made possible in part through a state provided fund, which helps small businesses enter the cannabis industry.

“We have 26 subcontractors. Fifteen of them are minority and women-owned business enterprises,” said Strum. 

The post Gov. Wes Moore discusses small business ownership, state of Maryland’s economy in fireside chat appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Former President Donald J. Trump, Republican presidential nominee, fueled controversy during a question and answer session at the 2024 National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Annual Convention and Career Fair on July 31. 

Rachel Scott, senior congressional correspondent for ABC News, opened the conversation by asking Trump to explain why Black voters should vote for him, considering previous insulting comments he has made about Black elected officials and other people of color.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question in such a horrible manner,” said Trump, in response to the first question.

“Are you with ABC? Because I think they’re a fake news network. I think it’s a very rude introduction,” he continued.

Trump evaded a response to the first question, instead taking several digs at Scott, the company she works for and NABJ itself for a late start due to technical difficulties. 

The conversation with the former president caused a stir once it was disclosed to the Black journalists that make up NABJ and the general public. NABJ leadership addressed the controversy around the invitation, emphasizing that they spent months in communication with both political parties about participating in the convention.

Trump said NABJ invited him “under false pretense,” claiming that Vice President Kamala Harris (D) would be in attendance for the session as well. Ultimately, she was not on the stage for the conversation at the convention.

“NABJ has been in talks with both the Democratic and Republican parties since January. NABJ was in contact with Vice President Kamala Harris’ team for an in-person panel before President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July,” said NABJ President Ken Lemon in a statement. “We were advised by her campaign at the time that her schedule could not accommodate this request.”

Lemon said the last word they received from her campaign, earlier this week, was that Harris would not be available in person or virtually during the convention. Less than an hour before the conversation, NABJ announced that they were in conversation with Harris’ campaign for a live or virtual Q and A in September.

“We are in talks about virtual options in the future and are still working to reach an agreement,” continued Lemon. 

Throughout the session with Trump, moderators tried to move forward with the Q and A by asking questions on some of the most pressing issues for Black Americans, such as the economy and abortion.

On the topic of abortion, Trump said he is proud of the Supreme Court’s move to overturn Roe v. Wade, leaving the decision to each individual state.

“Right now, it’s an amazing thing. It’s out of the federal government, it’s [up to the] states and people are voting,” he said.

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, at least 14 states have criminalized abortions.

During the session, Trump doubled down on criticism of Harris’ actions around the border and expressed concern about “Black jobs” being taken by people who enter the U.S. illegally.

“Coming from the border are millions and millions of people that happen to be taking Black jobs,” said Trump. 

When asked to finally answer the question of “What is a ‘Black job?’” Trump stated that “a Black job is anybody that has a job.”

Trump claimed Harris has allowed millions to flock to the border, referring to her as the “border czar” due to Biden assigning her to address the root causes of Central American migration as vice president.

“She’s done a horrible job,” criticized Trump.

Before the Q and A, NABJ convention co-chair Karen Attiah announced her resignation via X, formerly known as Twitter.

“I have decided to step down as co-chair from this year’s #NABJ24 convention in Chicago,” she said. “While my decision was influenced by a variety of factors, I was not involved or consulted with in any way with the decision to platform Trump in such a format.”

Lemon backed NABJ’s decision to move forward with Trump’s invitation stating that it was in line with their usual practices concerning political candidates

“It has always been our policy to ensure that candidates know that an invitation is not an endorsement,” said Lemon. “While we acknowledge the concerns expressed by our members, we believe it is important for us to provide our members with the opportunity to hear directly from candidates and hold them accountable.”

The convention included a live fact-checking option on the NABJ website, which attendees applauded at the event.

Ahead of the session, the National Newspapers Publishers Association (NNPA) issued a strong statement against the invitation, demanding that it be rescinded. 

“I strongly oppose Trump’s participation in the NABJ annual convention and career fair,” declared NNPA National Chair Bobby Henry, via the NNPA Newswire. “The NNPA represents over 250 African American-owned newspapers and media companies and has been a pillar of the Black Press of America for 197 years.”

Henry said Trump’s “divisive rhetoric and actions have harmed marginalized communities, particularly the Black community.” 

“Allowing him a platform at this event undermines the NABJ’s values of inclusion and solidarity and risks normalizing his damaging behavior.”

NABJ was founded on Dec. 12, 1975 by a group of 44 individuals with a focus on providing “quality programs and services to and advocacy for Black journalists worldwide.”

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
Tmcqueen@afro.com

After seven months as the Baltimore City Health Commissioner, Dr. Ihuoma Emenuga has suddenly been terminated from the position.

Emenuga served as interim commissioner in December 2023 after nomination from Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D). She was sworn in on March 20.

“Dr. Ihuoma Emenuga will no longer serve as the Baltimore City Health Commissioner and is no longer employed by the City of Baltimore, effective immediately,” said Scott in a statement released the evening of July 29. 

Scott did not explain the termination of Emenuga in his statement.

Emenuga is an internal medicine physician operating in various capacities across clinical medicine, academia and healthcare consulting. According to Big Cities Health Coalition, a forum for leaders of health departments, she started her medical career as a primary care physician in Cote d’Ivoire and worked as a consultant for the African Development Bank in Tunisia. When she arrived in Baltimore, she served as the medical director of the Baltimore City Health Department’s Youth Wellness and Community Health Division and for Chase Brexton Health Care.

Several top appointed officials have left their positions during Scott’s first term as mayor. Jason W. Mitchell, who served as director of the Department of Public Works, left the role in January 2023. Former Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael S. Harrison resigned in June 2023, along with the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement director, Shantay Jackson. 

Scott has already disclosed who will step into Emenuga’s role, while a permanent replacement is found.

“Effective immediately, Deputy City Administrator (DCAO) Simone Johnson will temporarily join the Baltimore City Health Department as interim commissioner of health,” he said. “The City of Baltimore will commence a nationwide search for its next health commissioner.”

Scott highlighted that Johnson has more than 20 years of state and local government experience including her previous roles as chief of staff and chief operating officer at the Baltimore City Health Department. Johnson also served as chief of staff for the State Department of Housing and Community Development and the Maryland Transit Administration.

The post Baltimore City Health Commissioner terminated appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed a plain language executive order on July 23 that aims to make state services and programs more accessible. Moore also recognized 34 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

“If a Maryland family cannot understand updates about a hurricane in their community because our website is hard to read, that’s not good government,” said Moore. “This executive order will help to ensure every piece of writing that comes out of this administration in print and online is simple, accessible, proofread and easy to read. This is not just going to help out some, this is going to help out all.” 

The ADA has been in place and protecting people with disabilities from discrimination within the workplace and state and local government programs since 1990.

According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 42.5 million Americans are living with disabilities. Those disabilities include people with vision, walking, cognitive and hearing difficulties.

“Today Governor Moore is taking more action to fulfill the promise he made to all of us when he ran for office, to leave no Marylander behind,” said Rachel London, executive director of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council. “With this executive order, he is showing his commitment to make Maryland’s government more accessible and inclusive for all of us.”

London further explained the benefit of ensuring plain language is used in Maryland’s programs and services.

“Plain language is a way of writing so people can understand information the first time they read it,” she said. “When state agencies use plain language in their public documents and on their websites, more people can access the information they need and the information they want. Creation of the Maryland plain language plan will help state agencies take the steps necessary to make sure that happens.”

London touted the strength of the plain language approach, highlighting positive results the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council has seen through implementing it in Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) services.

“The MVA’s Driver’s Manual and learner’s permit test are now in plain language, making it easier for all new drivers to understand the rules of the road,” she said. “We are proud to say that since the plain language tests were rolled out late last year, the MVA has seen a 15 percent increase in people passing the test.”

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

State Sen. Cory V. McCray (D-Md.-45) hosted a two-day apprenticeship program that gave youth the chance to learn about the electrical industry July 23 and July 25. 

Around 70 YouthWorks participants (ages 14-19) toured the International Brotherhood of Electrical Worker (IBEW) Local 24 Apprenticeship facility in West Baltimore and learned about the basics of conduit bending and the difference between residential, commercial and industrial electrical work.

“I’m an electrician. I went through a five-year apprenticeship program. I’m also in my second term in the Maryland State Senate,” said McCray, introducing himself to the group and explaining how important the program is to him. “We collectively partner with a number of different organizations. Every year we do an apprenticeship tour, making sure we bring as many young scholars from our city to this space.”

During the day, McCray talked with students about overcoming obstacles and making the most of life’s opportunities. He also emphasized the importance of perseverance, efficient resource use and time management.

“The only expectationsa that we have for our apprentices are that they have a good attitude, that they’re ready to show up to work on time and that they are willing to learn,” said McCray. “Every apprentice has a journeyperson that they’re working next to that’s training them on the basic functions of (what they need to know) in this electrical profession.”

Dave Springham, training coordinator at the IBEW Local 24 Apprenticeship facility, explained the difference between an apprenticeship and an internship.

“Do you get paid as an intern? Sometimes. Traditionally, you’re doing it for academic credit…life experience. Sometimes you get paid, sometimes you don’t,” said Springham. “Every one of our apprentices, every single minute on the job site are getting paid well.”

“Our first year apprentices with absolutely zero experience, first day on the job, start at over $21 an hour,” Springham continued.

The students were engaged throughout the day, asking questions and volunteering for the demonstrations.

“It was very educational and I really appreciated it,” said Kirsten Tyler, 17. “There’s definitely not a negative thing I got from today. It helped me figure out what it is that I want to do after college, and that there’s definitely multiple things I could do. It’s not just college or nothing.

“I would love to go to an apprenticeship, but that would be my second option as opposed to me going to school for being a chiropractor – something that I’ve always wanted to do,” she continued. “I’m definitely appreciative of the program for allowing me to be able to experience this because I didn’t know anything about apprenticeships and I have a lot of knowledge about it now.”

McCray emphasized that the aim of the program was to introduce Baltimore youth to more of the opportunities that are out there for them.

For those hesitant about apprenticeships, Tyler encouraged other youth to just give it a try and don’t give up.

“There is nothing worse than failing and never trying to do something again. If something doesn’t work out, the best thing that you can do is continue to try and build and prosper,” she said. “And apprenticeships are one of those opportunities where there’s no downfall. It’s easy work and you’re getting paid.”

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Early July 26, Vice President Kamala Harris (D) gained the key endorsements of Barack and Michelle Obama in her bid to be the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee.

They made the announcement through a video where Harris can be seen walking and talking on the phone with the Obamas about their endorsement.

“We called to say, Michelle and I couldn’t be prouder to endorse you and do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office,” said the former president to Harris.

Harris thanked them for their friendship and support.

“Oh, my goodness. Michelle, Barack, this means so much to me,” said Harris. “I am looking forward to doing this with the two of you—Doug and I both—and getting out there, being on the road.”

President Joe Biden (D) stepped down via social media on July 21, putting his support behind Harris shortly after his announcement. This action by the president started a huge wave of funding and endorsements for Harris.

Harris still has to be officially nominated at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) next month. This year’s DNC will be held in Chicago from Aug. 19-22.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

D.C. leaders gathered at the John A. Wilson Building on the evening of July 17 to celebrate the John Lewis National Day of Commemoration and Action. Lewis, who died on July 17, 2020, was well known for his persistent work as an American civil rights leader and legislator.

“We have to be careful that we don’t lose the history. We know that there is a systematic attempt to erase the history,” said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), during the live-streamed ceremony. “We have to make sure that our children, our new activists, our voting educators are reminding everyone of the remarkable life of John Lewis.”

Lewis was largely known for leading the Selma March in 1965 on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala. The significant event of the civil rights movement was abruptly ended by police violence, which included tear gassing and assaulting unarmed marchers with billy clubs. 

“At 23, he became the youngest speaker at the March on Washington. At 25 he was on the Edmund Pettus Bridge,” said Barbara Arnwine, president of the Transformative Justice Coalition. “He didn’t need a doctor’s degree. He didn’t need a law degree. What he needed, as everybody has mentioned, was God-given courage. Afterward, what happened? The president of the United States introduced the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and it passed! For fifty years John Lewis, for the remainder of his life, was a champion of voting rights.”

“He was a dear friend of mine and the last time I saw him it was in the halls of Congress where we had just passed the then-called Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019 in December of that year,” said Arnwine. “He gave me a hug and when I felt him I knew something was wrong. I said Lord, protect our brother. We are standing here today not just to celebrate, but we’re standing here today because we know his legacy and we are saying to his spirit, ‘we’re going to finish the job.’”

Bowser uplifted the importance of voting in this year’s election, what’s at stake and the ongoing call for D.C.’s statehood. The call for D.C. to be recognized as a state is partly to ensure adequate representation in Congress for the more than 678,000 District residents and reduce Congress’ legislative authority over the D.C. Council.

“What John Lewis fought for, what so many people fought for, we know is on the ballot this year. On Nov. 5, Americans will go – all the states, all of the territories and of course the best city in the world – and cast our ballots for, I believe, how we will save our democracy and our right to vote,” said Bowser. “We are especially concerned in Washington, D.C. We want to ensure our already limited autonomy is not further trampled on.”

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel spoke on plans to expand internet connectivity in Baltimore on July 22. 

“Last month when the emergency connectivity fund expired, we were faced with an impossible situation. We had to either turn off the data to those hotspots for over 2,000 families or find the hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep the program running,” said Darcell Graham, interim CEO of Enoch Pratt Free Library (EPFL), during a press conference at the EPFL Walbrook Branch in West Baltimore. “As a library, we knew we could not leave our families disconnected. We found the funding to keep them on, knowing that the program may not be financially sustainable for us in the future.”

The Enoch Pratt Free Library currently has about 2,000 hotspots in circulation. According to Meghan McCorkell, Enoch Pratt Free Library’s chief of marketing, communications and strategy, about 969 people are waiting for a hotspot.

The FCC voted on July 18 to allow schools and libraries to broaden the E-Rate Program, a federal program that makes internet access more affordable for libraries and schools throughout the U.S. The program specifically permits funds to be used to loan Wi-Fi hotspots to teachers and students so they can use the internet anywhere they go.

“I think all of us know that in this age, in the 21st century, having access to the internet is as important as it was to have access to electricity in the twentieth century,” said Van Hollen. “Workers need it to develop their skills, people need it to connect with healthcare providers, entrepreneurs need it to help start-up and sustain their small businesses and our students need the internet to learn.”

Scott emphasized the importance of “closing the digital divide.”

“Baltimore has lagged behind other jurisdictions when it comes to internet connectivity and access to the technology and devices that we need,” said Scott. “There isn’t a single silver bullet that is going to close the digital divide. It’s going to take every piece, internet access, education and training and access to devices. There needs to be a mosaic of strategies and programs to help close the gap in short and long-term goals.”

Rosenworcel elaborated on how many families will benefit from the expansion.

“It’s going to depend on the demand of an annual budget for e-rate. That’s roughly $4.9 billion,” said Rosenworcel. “We anticipate more than a billion dollars will be available specifically for hotspots, so it’s gonna make a meaningful difference in a lot of places across the country.” 

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Just months before the 2024 presidential election, President Joe Biden (D) announced that he is stepping down from being the Democratic nominee for president and putting his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.

Biden faced many calls for him to step down after a rough televised presidential debate in June. Despite the damage done, he remained persistent in going forward with his campaign–that is until July 21.

“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your president. While it has been my intention to seek reelection. I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term,” said Biden in a statement via X, formerly known as Twitter, on July 21. “I will speak to the nation later this week in more detail about my decision. For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected. I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work.”

Biden also sent out a separate message on X saying he’s putting his support behind Harris.

“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President and it’s been the best decision I’ve made,” said Biden. “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”

The reactions he’s received thus far for his decision have been commending.

“This is such a courageous and historic move on the part of President Biden. His full endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris is a directive to all the pledged delegates and superdelegates of the Democratic Party to back her as the nominee of the party at their convention in three weeks,” said Nina Kasniunas, an associate professor of political science at Goucher College in Maryland. 

“Trump is a deeply flawed candidate and Kamala Harris is a fresh face, a real choice for so many swing voters who indicated they wouldn’t vote for Trump or Biden,” she added.  “There will be a lot of work ahead and the Democratic Party and its allies will have to be ready with strong mobilization efforts, but Kamala Harris is ready to take on Trump.” 

Will Hanna, a longtime Biden supporter based in Baltimore, said this news was tough but provides new opportunities.

“I just believe that the president made the best decision for him, his family and for the country. He’s had a stellar career, and he’s done nothing but support this country all of his life,” said Hanna. “We now have the opportunity to have the first African-American woman president.”

Angela Alsobrooks, Democratic nominee for a Maryland seat in the U.S. Senate, released a statement shortly after the news emphasizing her support of Harris, who endorsed her campaign over a month ago.

“It is paramount that Democrats come together quickly and unite behind a qualified leader. Kamala Harris is that leader. She will provide a clear and stark contrast to the regressive vision Donald Trump has for this country,” said Alsobrooks. “I am proud to be behind her 100 percent and know that she will defeat Donald Trump and continue the great legacy of accomplishments that President Joe Biden and she spearheaded. Kamala, my friend, let’s go!”

Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) was also quick to back Harris after Biden’s announcement.

“President Biden has been one of the best, most accomplished presidents of my lifetime. He’s been a true partner to Baltimore and a champion in the fight to end gun violence everywhere. We’ll continue that fight together for the remainder of his tenure,” said Scott via X. “Now’s the time for us to rally around Vice President Kamala Harris and defeat Donald Trump. Black women have saved this country time and time again. For that reason and a hundred others, there is no other — or better — option than the Vice President to unite our party and win in November.”

Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) released a statement on Biden’s decision to step down.

“It has been a tremendous honor to serve alongside President Biden in the Congress, and his tenure as the leader of our great nation will be revered forever. At this moment, we all would be better off if we allow him to have the dignity that he deserves and has earned in this moment,” said Mfume. “He has been and remains a great president who through the simple eloquence of his example has led our nation and the world through tough and difficult times.”

Ken Ulman, chair of the Maryland Democratic Party, released a statement lifting up Biden’s legacy.

“In three and half years, President Biden navigated the country through COVID-19 and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, passed historic investments in infrastructure and climate, lowered prescription drug prices for seniors, passed landmark gun safety legislation and so much more,” said Ulman. “Our country and party owe Joe Biden a debt of gratitude. As president, he is a remarkable leader that has always put his country first.”

—-

Original announcement: President Biden on drops out of presidential race, endorses VP Harris

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By Tashi McQueen 
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The Biden-Harris Administration has made addressing climate change collaboratively a focus of their administration, which includes Black faith leaders.

“The Federal Emergency Management Agency has been focused since the beginning of the Biden-Harris administration on helping to lead whole community climate resilience. What we recognize is that when communities are affected by disasters, unfortunately, Black communities have been disproportionately impacted,” Marcus T. Coleman, Jr., director of the Department of Homeland Security Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (DHS Partnerships Center), told the AFRO. “What we wanted to do was create a series of engagements to bring together faith leaders, community leaders, non-government organizations and begin to be proactive about what we can do to help mitigate against the impacts of climate change.”

According to the McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility, the results of climate change such as damaged property and increased health issues due to dangerous heat exposure or a lack of clean air and water, can significantly hinder the potential for Black socioeconomic mobility.

Black populations are also more vulnerable to physical hazards due to their concentration in areas more susceptible to extreme weather. Around half of all Black people in the U.S. reside in 11 southeastern states, which include Alabama, Louisiana, Maryland and Tennessee, where intense heat, hurricanes and flooding are particularly high.

“The roundtable that was hosted in June was one of several iterations of conversations we’ve been having again since 2021 and reflects our focus on making sure that before we have our next major disaster, we’ve built relationships with a broad array of partners,” said Coleman. 

The roundtables and related meetings have been conducted by the Department of Human services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), gathering groups of non-profits, federal agencies and faith-based organizations under the White House’s National Climate Resilience Framework.

Objectives under the framework include equipping U.S. communities with the resources they need to determine climate risks develop solutions and help neighborhoods become more safe, equitable and resilient.

Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune of the National Council of Churches is one of the partners who attended an April multi-faith leader climate resilience roundtable. Copeland Tune shared her experience at the meeting.

“It was really helpful to hear how FEMA and DHS negotiate responses to emergencies, and how they do the preparedness piece, and knowing the resources that are available to churches and faith-based communities for grants and other programmatic initiatives,” said Copeland-Tune. “You have a better idea of if you were an affected community, how you might engage with them to get the best response.”

One thing Copeland-Tune said that she believes could be improved is ensuring information on grants and resources is easily available to all churches throughout the U.S.

“Just dealing with what’s going on in their local congregation, it takes a lot of time and energy and effort,” she said. “It’s making it as easy as possible, as simple as possible, having connection points, those are the things that make the difference in ensuring churches get the resources that they need when they need them.”

Even so, Copeland-Tune says she’s experienced great communication from Coleman and Nicole C. Wood, deputy director of the DHS Partnerships Center, when she’s needed assistance.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

In Michigan, Aug. 6 will mark a battle for the U.S. Senate seat. With the political world currently in upheaval and slim majorities in the House and Senate, who takes the seat is more important than ever.

Hill Harper, an actor and union organizer, is running to be the first Black U.S. senator of Michigan. There have only been 12 Black senators in the history of the U.S. and four are currently in office. Harper has made it a focus of his campaign to get more Black people and other groups that don’t typically vote to turn out.

“I’m really focused on educating those that don’t typically vote in the primary about its importance,” Harper told the AFRO. “I get so many people that come up to me and say, ‘Hey man, I’m voting for you in November.’ And I say, ‘Well, if you don’t vote for me on Aug. 6 you’re not voting for me in November because I won’t be on that November ballot.”

The actor plans to push for women’s reproductive rights, establishing universal health care and ensuring a $15 minimum federal wage for all Americans if elected to the Senate.

“Showing up continuously in the community is the best way,” said Harper about his tactic to reach voters. “There is no meeting too small.”

The seat was made available in January 2023 after Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.)  announced her retirement at the end of her term. Stabenow has been in the U.S. Senate representing Michigan since 2001. She also served in the House for four years.

Harper is running against Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), who has represented the state’s seventh district since 2019, former Rep. Mike Rogers (R) and several others. There are in total six candidates running for the seat, two Democrats and four Republicans.

Slotkin has had nearly two decades of experience working for the federal government in the CIA, Department of State, Department of Defense and the Office of the National Security Council.

Harper responded to the political experience of his opponents and why he is the person Michiganders should choose in August.

“It’s very clear: You look at the makeup of the U.S. Senate and we don’t need more career politicians in that body,” said Harper. “We need people with diverse lived experience and folks who aren’t beholden to special interests and corporate interests.”

Nina Kasniunas, an associate professor of political science at Goucher College, said she believes he has an uphill battle before him, but nothing is impossible.

“It’s not out of the realm of possibility,” said Kasniunas. “(His celebrity status and support) kind of elevates him into what we would consider possibly a quality challenger, because of the fundraising ability based off of the notoriety or celebrity, but he will have a hard time.”

“Slotkin has run for office before and has won. She knows how to run a campaign,” said Kasniunas. “Of people who vote, they’re probably going to be quite familiar with Slotkin.”

Harper emphasized the importance of voter turnout for his success in August.

“Now that we’re down towards the end, everything’s about getting people to vote,” he said. “This whole thing is about voter turnout. I win with a high voter turnout.”

The post Hill Harper vying to be first Black U.S. senator from Michigan appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen 
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Gov. Wes Moore (D) and Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) spoke at the commencement for the first cohort of the Maryland Corps Service Year Option, the fulfillment of a promise made by Moore during his campaign.

“Keep doing you, keep serving, keep protecting each other. This is going to be a moment that people will remember for generations to come and they are going to remember you,” said Moore to the large group of graduates gathered at Camden Yards in Baltimore on July 16. “I want to thank you for being leaders and making your entire state proud.”

The program, which began in 2023, offers recent high school graduates, GED recipients or those with a school completion certificate, an opportunity to get exposed to different career paths and serve their community while earning at least $15 an hour. The first year of this program saw around 240 corps members graduate.

“The work all of us have done was not just to fulfill our duties, but to make a real difference in the lives of those around us,” said graduate Courtnei Wright to her peers on the sweltering hot day. “I especially want to extend my thanks to Governor Wes Moore and to the state of Maryland for providing us with this opportunity and experience like no other.”

Paul Monteiro, secretary of the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation, emphasized the diversity among the cohort and how they were able to work together despite those differences.

“I am proud to say there are Republicans in this concourse, there are Democrats in this concourse and there are independents in this concourse,” said Monteiro. “I’m proud to say that we have almost every jurisdiction in this state in this concourse right now, and over 80 percent of this cohort started the race and finished it together.”

About 500 people are expected to be in the 2024-2025 cohort. This new class will begin on Sept. 11 and conclude in summer 2025. 

Nancy Noriega, an executive assistant at Asian American Center of Frederick, one of the host sites, shared that three of the four Corps members at her site will continue with her company after graduating.

“It’s great for us because they know the ins and outs and we’re excited that they want to continue servicing the community,” said Noriega. “We are a nonprofit, and we serve a lot of refugee and immigrant families that come to the U.S. We help them prepare with citizenship services, also English classes. The members that we have played a really big role in helping us reach out to the community, doing outreach with us for the different programs that we have.”

Noriega said her organization had a pleasant overall experience and are looking forward to welcoming the next group of cohort members in September.

The post Maryland leaders celebrate graduation of first cohort of Gov. Moore’s service year program appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen 
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

As weather patterns drastically shift and rising sea levels threaten whole communities and cities, climate change policies are becoming more crucial throughout America.

Maryland legislators and leaders are increasingly giving focus to the impacts of climate change, pushing for a better tomorrow through legislation.

“We are only on pace to reach about 7 percent solar energy by 2030, when we were supposed to meet 14-½ percent. We’re only on pace to maybe meet half of what our goal was,” said state Sen. Sarah Elfreth (D-Dist. 30) during a hearing on her solar energy bill during the 2024 Maryland General Assembly session, emphasizing the importance of acting now.

Elfreth’s bill creates a Small Solar Energy Generating System Incentive Program, establishes the Customer-Sited Solar Program in the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), makes changes to solar property tax incentives and more. 

“It extends a sunset for tax incentives for certain projects, serving low- and moderate-income communities in Maryland,” said Elfreth. “It makes sure we can meet our goals without leaving anyone behind–particularly when it comes to our friends in organized labor–by taking the federal standards for prevailing wage and layering them onto every large-scale solar project here in Maryland, so that we can pay family-sustaining wages to the folks who work on these projects.”

The legislation largely took effect on June 1, but provisions for the Customer-Sited Solar Program took effect July 1 and will terminate on June 30, 2027. Also, net metering provisions will take effect on Jan. 1, 2025. Property tax measures within the bill will apply to taxable years starting after June 30, 2024.

Maryland, like much of the U.S., has experienced heat wave after heat wave this summer, causing it to feel like it’s anywhere from 100 to 110 degrees most days.

In its 2021 annual report,  the Maryland Commission on Climate Change (MCCC)  reported that heat will be one of the first ways Maryland will be impacted by climate change. They said heat waves will be longer, more frequent and hotter. The commission also highlighted that disadvantaged communities, the elderly, and people with more than one medical condition will be impacted the most by this shift.

According to previous AFRO reporting, Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced and signed a slew of climate change policies in June that would support Maryland’s climate goals and efforts to move away from fossil fuels. 

“It is bold and we will get it done,” said Moore to a crowd of Henderson-Hopkins School students, educators and state legislators in East Baltimore on June 4. “Today’s order ensures that the state of Maryland focuses on environmental justice and economic justice in all of our climate work. Climate justice is economic justice if you’re doing it right. We are going to craft policies that reflect that mindset.”

The “Implementing Maryland’s Climate Pollution Reduction Plan” executive order directed the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to create new policies to decrease building emissions, direct the Maryland Energy Administration to develop a framework to reach 100 percent clean energy by 2035 and enact new policies that include reducing energy use by imposing zero-emission heating standards.

In Baltimore in February, Moore announced a Zero-Emission Bus Pilot Program through the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA).

The initiative was a part of the Administration’s plan to convert its buses to zero-emission vehicles. It added seven zero-emissions buses to the MTA’s local bus fleet, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality in the city.

To fund climate change initiatives, an in-depth report by the MDE last year said the state would need to come up with $1 billion annually.

The post Climate change: What Maryland leaders are doing about it appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Gov. Wes Moore (D) and Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) spoke at the commencement for the first cohort of the Maryland Corps Service Year Option, a campaign promise of Moore’s.

“Keep doing you, keep serving, keep protecting each other. This is going to be a moment that people will remember for generations to come and they are going to remember you,” said Moore to the large cohort of graduates at Camden Yards in Baltimore on July 16. “I want to thank you for being leaders and making your entire state proud.”

The program, which began in 2023, offers recent high school graduates, GED recipients or those with a school completion certificate, an opportunity to get exposed to different career paths and serve their community while earning at least $15 an hour. The first year of this program saw around 240 corps members graduate.

“The work all of us have done was not just to fulfill our duties, but to make a real difference in the lives of those around us,” said Courtnei Wright, Maryland Corps Service Year Option Graduate, to her peers on the sweltering hot day. “I especially want to extend my thanks to Governor Wes Moore and to the state of Maryland for providing us with this opportunity and experience like no other.”

Paul Monteiro, secretary of the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation, emphasized the diversity among the cohort and how they were able to work together despite those differences.

“I am proud to say there are Republicans in this concourse, they’re Democrats in this concourse and they’re independents in this concourse,” said Monteiro. “I’m proud to say that we have almost every jurisdiction in this state in this concourse right now, and over 80 percent of this cohort, started the race and finished it together.”

About 500 people are expected to be in the 2024-2025 cohort. This new cohort will begin on September 11 and conclude in Summer 2025. 

Nancy Noriega, an executive assistant at one of the host sites for the members Asian American Center of Frederick, shared that three of the four members at her site will continue with her company after graduating.

“It’s great for us because they know the ins and outs and we’re excited that they want to continue servicing the community,” said Noriega. “We are a nonprofit, and we serve a lot of refugee and immigrant families that come to the U.S. We help them prepare with citizenship services, also English classes. The members that we have played a really big role in helping us reach out to the community, doing outreach with us for the different programs that we have.”

Noriega said her organization had a pleasant overall experience and are looking forward to welcoming the next group of cohort members in September.

The post Maryland leaders celebrate graduation of first cohort of Gov. Wes Moore’s service year program appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

North Atlantic Treaty Organization Alliance (NATO) members held their 2024 summit in Washington D.C., commemorating 75 years since they signed the North Atlantic Treaty in the District and discussing ways to ensure collective defense.

“In 1949, when leaders of 12 countries, including President Truman, came together in this very room. It had been four years since the surrender of the Axis powers and the end of the most devastating world war the world had ever known,” said U.S. President Joe Biden (D) during his speech at the NATO summit on July 9. “Here, these 12 leaders gathered to make a sacred pledge to defend each other against aggression, provide their collective security and to answer threats as one. They knew to prevent future wars, to protect democracies, to lay the groundwork for a lasting peace and prosperity, they needed a new approach. They needed to combine their strengths. They needed an alliance.”

“Today, NATO is more powerful than ever: 32 nations strong,” touted Biden. 

The conference was held from July 9 to July 11, featuring discussions on partnerships, support for Ukraine and strengthening defense and deterrence.

In his speech, Biden pushed that Ukraine will prevail against Russia, stopping any potential Russian invasion efforts in surrounding European countries.

“Make no mistake, Ukraine can and will stop Putin, especially with our full, collective support,” said Biden as he welcomed NATO members to the summit. “Together, we’ve built a global coalition to stand with Ukraine. We’ve provided significant economic and humanitarian assistance. We’ve supplied Ukraine with weapons it needs to defend itself: tanks, armored fighting vehicles, air defense systems, long-range missiles and millions of munitions.”

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky took to social media on July 10 to acknowledge the support Ukraine is receiving from NATO members. 

“I am grateful to the United States, Denmark and the Netherlands for taking practical steps to achieve the goal of all Ukrainians: to strengthen the Ukrainian air force with F-16s,” said Zelensky via X, formerly known as Twitter. “This is a clear signal that Russia’s ability to terrorize Ukrainian people, cities and communities will continue to reduce.”

“I anticipate that our air force capability coalition will be strengthened even further through the joining of new participants. F-16s bring just and lasting peace closer, demonstrating that terror must fail everywhere,” he continued.

NATO also held a live-streamed public forum from July 10 to July 11 in Washington D.C., aiming to help the public better understand NATO’s goals and policies through various debates, interactive sessions and panel discussions with NATO leaders.

The post NATO leaders recognize 75 years at 2024 NATO Summit in Washington D.C. appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Former President Donald Trump (R) returns to the campaign trail on July 9 with a televised rally in Florida. The gathering took place at one of his golf clubs, the Trump National Doral Miami. 

At the rally, Trump challenged Biden, offering an additional debate this week after a subpar one for the Democratic president on June 27. Trump also challenged Biden to a game of golf, something they argued about during the CNN debate.

“If he wins, I will give the charity of his choice, any charity that he wants, $1 million,” said Trump at the rally.

During the event Trump teased a potential vice president pick, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), but did not officially confirm who his running mate will be. 

James Singer, a Biden-Harris campaign spokesperson, released a statement during the rally rejecting Trump’s challenges.

“Joe Biden doesn’t have time for Donald Trump’s weird antics – he’s busy leading America and defending the free world,” said Singer.

Throughout the rally, Trump reveled in the Democratic party being at odds concerning whether or not to keep Biden as the party’s presidential nominee. He also discussed increasing border control and improving the economy. 

During a Zoom press call ahead of the rally, the Biden-Harris campaign and supporters hammered Trump’s responsibility for the undoing of Roe v. Wade via several Supreme Court appointments during his presidency. They also pushed that voting for Trump is voting for Project 2025, despite Trump’s recent attempts to distance himself from it.

Project 2025 is a massive presidential transition plan for the next conservative administration to carry out. It was created by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. The plan includes eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and removing the terms “diversity, equity and inclusion,” “abortion” and “reproductive health” from all federal documents and agencies. 

Project 2025 assumes that a conservative president will enter office in January 2025, ready to implement these wide-ranging, upending policies.

“Unfortunately for team Trump, no matter what they say, we know exactly what Trump is planning to do and he cannot run from what he has already done,” said U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16) during the call. 

The post Trump challenges Biden, teases VP selection upon return to campaign trail appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen 
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Baltimore City Councilman Mark Conway (D-District 4) was set to lead a legislative oversight hearing on July 10 about Baltimore’s recently revealed opioid crisis, but it was abruptly canceled.

The cancellation led to a public exchange about why it was called off when Conway released a statement on the matter, saying he didn’t agree to cancel the hearing.

“I specifically asked that we hold off on any decision on the hearing until I had a strong understanding and agreement from the administration on how we were going to go forward. We did not get that,” Conway told the AFRO. “The purpose of the hearing was to understand the problem, and I’ve requested private hearings with the agencies that could help me understand the problem. I thought we were working towards understanding what that might look like. Instead, I was offered a meeting with the city solicitor.”

Conway expressed that he didn’t believe that a meeting with the city solicitor would be the best way to gain the comprehension he needed about where the city is concerning the public health crisis. 

“I understand we have pending litigation that we want to be careful about. I fully agree and respect that,” said Conway. “I don’t feel fully equipped to make decisions on this matter unless I can get briefed from our city agencies. I think that’s a pretty basic and very reasonable ask.”

Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) released a rebuttal to Conway’s comments shortly afterward.

“Councilman Conway’s statement regarding this cancellation is categorically false. Private briefings were offered to the Councilman in lieu of a public hearing, which can only serve to endanger the litigation that we have been fighting on for more than six years and are now poised to win at trial later this year,” said Scott. “Our administration is handling this case with the diligence and care it deserves, and have repeatedly communicated our position publicly and directly to the Councilman. We will avoid doing anything that endangers this case – because winning this case is what’s best for our residents.”

Councilwoman Danielle McCray (D-District 2) is also leading legislative hearings on the opioid crisis, an ongoing effort for the Health, Environment and Technology Committee since 2022. Her committee’s hearings are still set for July 24, August 28 and Sept. 25.

McCray did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“This is all still very fresh,” said Conway. “We may revisit the idea of a hearing – I’m still evaluating that.”

The post Baltimore City Council Opioid hearing canceled, politicians at odds about why  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Baltimore City officials are looking for applicants who support and are willing to oversee the city’s vision for their newly acquired hotels. City officials aim to turn the two Downtown Baltimore hotels, Holiday Inn Express and the Sleep Inn and Suites, into permanent supportive housing for those experiencing homelessness. 

The City of Baltimore acquired the two properties and the adjacent parking lot in February for $15.2 million, using federal funds through the American Rescue Plan Act. The Holiday Inn Express is located at 221 N. Gay St. and the Sleep Inn and Suites on 301 Fallsway.

“When I look at these hotels behind us and beside me that were once the Holiday Inn Express and the Sleep Inn and Suites, I see an important investment in the people of our city. Tackling homelessness is not a one-size-fits-all approach,” said Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) at the unveiling of the two hotels on July 1. “It requires individualized and innovative responses to every aspect of the system and every factor that can lead a person to homelessness. These hotels provide us more capacity and another tool in the toolbox to continue that work.”

The hotels are currently being used as temporary housing for those experiencing homelessness in the city, which Ernestina Simmons, director of the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services (MOHS), confirmed will continue as they go through their request for proposals (RFP) process.

Simmons said 378 families have been served at these two locations, including 136 adults over the age of 50 and 40 children (zero to 17).

“When you look at why permanent supportive housing, think of every developer and nonprofit organization that wants to stand behind this work,” said Simmons. “You are meeting people where they are, you’re seeing them as they need to be seen and you’re saying ‘housing isn’t going to be your challenge today.’”

A few days after Scott and other city and national officials unveiled the two properties, the MOHS released their RFP. 

According to MOHS, they are seeking proposals from non-profit, for-profit and joint ventures that plan to rehabilitate and run permanent supportive housing within the two properties. They also want the proposals to incorporate varied affordability levels of no more than 60 percent of area median income and a 55-year affordability covenant.

MOHS expects at least 100 units to be made available between the two buildings as well as onsite services ranging from mental health aid to case management services.

For those interested in submitting a proposal, the deadline is August 16 at 3 p.m.

MOHS will also host an optional virtual bidder’s conference on July 15 at 3 p.m. to help those applicants who may need technical assistance. Registration is mandatory to attend the conference. Go to homeless.baltimorecity.gov to register. 

The post Baltimore City officials seek applicants to take over newly acquired hotels appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Baltimore City Councilwoman Danielle McCray (D-District 2), chairwoman of the Health, Environment and Technology Committee and Baltimore City Councilman Mark Conway (D-District 4) have announced upcoming legislative hearings on the opioid crisis. 

Conway said the initial meeting is aimed at getting an understanding of the opioid problem, talk about the data and get a better understanding of what the next steps may be.

“My hope is that everyone can be on the same page about what is happening today so we can all figure out what we should do moving forward,” said Conway.

Conway’s initial hearing is set for July 10 at 1 p.m. with the Public Safety and Government Operations Committee. 

McCray’s three hearings, set for July 24, August 28 and Sept. 25, will continue her committee’s efforts to create a coordinated city government approach in addressing Baltimore City’s overdose crisis. 

“As a lifelong Baltimorean, I have long recognized the severity of the overdose crisis in Baltimore. That’s why in 2021, I proactively introduced 21-0071R – Investigative Hearing – Developing a Coordinated Response to Baltimore City’s Overdose Crisis. I remain committed to collaboration and transparency in addressing this critical issue,” said McCray, in a statement sent to the AFRO. “The upcoming hearings are part of this ongoing effort to ensure all stakeholders are involved and informed. I also commend our city solicitor and legal team for achieving a historic $45 million settlement with Allergan Finance. 

This monumental victory is a testament to our unwavering commitment to seeking justice for those affected by the opioid epidemic and using the resources effectively to combat the crisis.”

The committee held recurring hearings in 2022 and 2023.

Conway said members of the public will not be able to testify at his meeting due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing lawsuits against Johnson and Johnson, McKesson, Cardinal Health, AmerisourceBergen, Walgreens, CVS, Teva Pharmaceuticals and former Insys Therapeutics CEO John Kapoor.

Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) announced on June 10 that the city had reached a $45 million settlement with Allergan Finance, an opioid manufacturer. 

“We are fully aware of the devastating toll that the actions of these defendants have taken on our city and we have shown our commitment to ensuring that they pay their fair share to tackle the harms they have left in the wake of their greed,” said Scott in a statement. “We are committed to ensuring that every penny of this and any other amount recovered is put to its most effective and best use to combat the opioid epidemic in Baltimore City at all levels.”

According to the release, Baltimore received a larger settlement than the state of Maryland, which settled on $38 million earlier this year. The entire $45 million must be paid in 30 days.

“While that settlement does not bring back the people we lost, it is an important statement of our city’s values,” said Baltimore City Councilman Zeke Cohen (D-District 1) during a city council meeting on June 10. “I’m grateful for Ebony Thomspon and the Scott administration for holding this company and others accountable for the harm that was done.”

The release assures that the current administration will do everything they can to address the opioid crisis in Baltimore and use the funds they get from litigation to decrease the impact of the issue.

To attend both hearings, those interested can go to the fourth floor of the Baltimore City Hall or watch online via Charm TV.

The post Baltimore City Council to hold hearings on opioid crisis appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
Tmcqueen@afro.com

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) announced the final phase of a three-part transformation for the Skyland Town Center on June 20. The new development will bring 126 townhomes, 75 affordable housing units for seniors, 10,000 square feet for retail, a public square and a plaza to Ward 7.

“It’s been 10 years since we broke ground here. We’re excited about Skyland,” said Bowser at the live-streamed groundbreaking ceremony. “I want to thank the community for trusting, believing and fighting for this neighborhood. When we all work together we not only get economic development, but we get economic development that enhances the neighborhood and delivers what the people want.”

The residential area’s nearly 90,000 inhabitants will benefit from the complete transformation of the Skyland Town Center. As 83 percent of Ward 7 residents are African-American and 7 percent are White, according to 2022 U.S. Census data, Black residents should largely benefit from this investment.

Bowser acknowledged the delays in the process but emphasized that they are on track now and will get done.

“I have to take a moment just to acknowledge all of the great people in government that make sure projects like this get done,” said Bowser. “This has been over a series of many years. We added to a series of hard projects. These are the projects I like to say were stuck when I became mayor, and we worked really hard to unstick them. Skyland will be like the poster child of unsticking projects over many years.”

Bowser acknowledged that Skyland was one of many community projects held up that is now on its way.

“Last week we were at the McMillan Reservoir to open what will be the first in a series of openings, first the Reservoir Park Recreation Center,” she said. “Last week we were at Sycamore and Oak adding to the entertainment and sports arena, adding to Whitman-Walker Health, adding to affordable housing with a great play space for kids.” 

At-large D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (Ind.) echoed the magnitude of the efforts put into these long-term projects.

“In 2014 the council voted to provide tax increment financing proceeds to support this Skyland Redevelopment. Ten years later, I’m happy to be here getting you all one step closer to the finish line,” said McDuffie. “To the development team, as I mentioned, that is continuing these efforts to complete this worthwhile project, keep pushing. To all the residents, keep pushing. We all look forward to coming back here successfully to take part in a ribbon cutting and a grand opening.”

The post D.C. Mayor Bowser unveils final phase of Skyland Town Center transformation appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The Prince George’s County Council recently released two dates for special elections to replace former Council Member Jamel “Mel” Franklin who resigned on June 14.

“After nearly 14 years of service, At-Large Council Member Mel Franklin has resigned his position. Franklin served two terms representing District 9 beginning in December 2010, before being elected twice as an At-Large Council Member,” said Jennifer A. Jenkins, Prince George’s County Council administrator, in a statement on June 14. “We thank Council Member Franklin for his years of dedication, hard work and service.”

“We are committed to a smooth transition for the benefit of our residents,” she continued. 

The special primary election is set for Aug. 6 and the special general election is on Nov. 5. Prospective applicants must file a certificate of candidacy with the Prince George’s County Board of Elections by July 5. 

On June 20, about a week after Franklin resigned, Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III announced that charges were filed in the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County against Franklin with multiple counts of felony theft scheme, perjury and embezzlement.

“Our office strives to hold individuals in positions of public trust accountable if they violate that trust and exploit the Maryland electoral process for personal financial gain,” said Howard in a statement on June 20.

According to the document, Franklin is accused of embezzling $124,450 from the Friends of Mel Franklin campaign committee account from 2020 through October 2023. Franklin allegedly used the funds to pay for personal subscriptions, credit card debt, personal loans and cosmetic procedures for himself and a friend.

According to the charges, from 2021 through December 18, 2023, Franklin was in a similar scheme embezzling $8,719 from the campaign account to third parties to pay for Franklin’s personal expenses.

Franklin allegedly falsified information on campaign finance reports filed with the Maryland State Board of Elections instead of reporting the expenses described in the document.

The AFRO reached out to Franklin for comment but did not receive a response.

The post Prince George’s County Council announces special election after recent resignation appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen 
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Baltimore City Councilwoman Danielle McCray (D-District 2), chairwoman of the Health, Environment and Technology Committee and Baltimore City Councilman Mark Conway (D-District 4) have announced upcoming legislative hearings on the opioid crisis. 

Conway said the initial meeting is aimed at getting an understanding of the opioid problem, talk about the data and get a better understanding of what the next steps may be.

“My hope is that everyone can be on the same page about what is happening today so we can all figure out what we should do moving forward,” said Conway.

Conway’s initial hearing is set for July 10 at 1 p.m. with the Public Safety and Government Operations Committee. 

McCray’s three hearings, set for July 24, August 28 and Sept. 25, will continue her committee’s efforts to create a coordinated city government approach in addressing Baltimore City’s overdose crisis. 

“As a lifelong Baltimorean, I have long recognized the severity of the overdose crisis in Baltimore. That’s why in 2021, I proactively introduced 21-0071R – Investigative Hearing – Developing a Coordinated Response to Baltimore City’s Overdose Crisis. I remain committed to collaboration and transparency in addressing this critical issue,” said McCray, in a statement sent to the AFRO. “The upcoming hearings are part of this ongoing effort to ensure all stakeholders are involved and informed. I also commend our city solicitor and legal team for achieving a historic $45 million settlement with Allergan Finance. 

This monumental victory is a testament to our unwavering commitment to seeking justice for those affected by the opioid epidemic and using the resources effectively to combat the crisis.”

The committee held recurring hearings in 2022 and 2023.

Conway said members of the public will not be able to testify at his meeting due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing lawsuits against Johnson and Johnson, McKesson, Cardinal Health, AmerisourceBergen, Walgreens, CVS, Teva Pharmaceuticals and former Insys Therapeutics CEO John Kapoor.

Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) announced on June 10 that the city had reached a $45 million settlement with Allergan Finance, an opioid manufacturer. 

“We are fully aware of the devastating toll that the actions of these defendants have taken on our city and we have shown our commitment to ensuring that they pay their fair share to tackle the harms they have left in the wake of their greed,” said Scott in a statement. “We are committed to ensuring that every penny of this and any other amount recovered is put to its most effective and best use to combat the opioid epidemic in Baltimore City at all levels.”

According to the release, Baltimore received a larger settlement than the state of Maryland, which settled on $38 million earlier this year. The entire $45 million must be paid in 30 days.

“While that settlement does not bring back the people we lost, it is an important statement of our city’s values,” said Baltimore City Councilman Zeke Cohen (D-District 1) during a city council meeting on June 10. “I’m grateful for Ebony Thomspon and the Scott administration for holding this company and others accountable for the harm that was done.”

The release assures that the current administration will do everything they can to address the opioid crisis in Baltimore and use the funds they get from litigation to decrease the impact of the issue.

To attend both hearings, those interested can go to the fourth floor of the Baltimore City Hall or watch online via Charm TV.

The post Baltimore City Council to hold hearings on opioid crisis appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Gov. Wes Moore (D) and Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) gathered at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, an expected stop for the Red Line, to announce that the transit line will be a light rail instead of a rapid bus system on June 28. 

“Over two decades ago, leaders from around the city and around the state got together and first started working on the first iteration of the Red Line project,” said Moore to the crowd gathered in support of the project. “The work began with an understanding that you cannot have economic mobility if you do not have physical mobility.”

Moore did his best to reassure those who are skeptical about completion of the Red Line, an east-west Baltimore transit line proposed, but then axed in 2015 by former Governor Larry Hogan’s administration.

“I understand the frustration that a lot of you might feel. It’s difficult to have hope if you feel like hope is going to be dashed,” said Moore. “The promise of today, the promise of this team and the commitment that we’re making is that everyday we’re going to make sure that we’re fulfilling this promise.”

Moore said the state is going to continue working with the community, federal and local partners throughout the process and echoed that the Red Line is a priority for his administration.

According to the Baltimore City Department of Transportation,  because the line is being built as a light rail, it will operate similar to a subway, providing swift and reliable transit.

“We are one step closer to a time when our patients and their loved ones will find it easier to get to their appointments,” said Kevin Sowers, president of the Johns Hopkins Health System. “We are one step closer to ensuring that our staff members have safe, reliable means to get to and from our campuses each and every day.” 

The 14-mile transit route will connect Baltimoreans from Woodlawn in Baltimore County, Md. to the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

“The next, largest phase is the alignment study. That means where you are physically going to put the alignment of the light rail,” Paul Wiedefeld, secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT). “What we’re going to do now is work with the community on that, do some environmental documentation to support that and hopefully by the end of the year, we’ll be able to say that’s the alignment.”

Wiedefeld said the completed rail alignment plans will allow MDOT to move forward with seeking federal funding. He said the mode of transportation and alignment must be determined to compete against other cities for the funds.

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By Tashi McQueen and Madeline Seck 
AFRO Political Writer and AFRO Intern

At the 2024 National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Convention in Baltimore on June 21, panelists discussed the importance of racial impact studies in public policy making, especially in an election season.

Panelists included Major Neill Franklin (Ret.), treasurer of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership; Captain Sonia Y. W. Pruitt (Ret.) of the Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland; Jiles H. Ship, president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives New Jersey; and Special Agent Trevor Velinor (Ret.), police commissioner of the US Virgin Islands Police Department.

A racial impact study is a technique that the government can apply to look at how a policy or budgetary measure would affect different racial groups. 

“I work very closely with the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus and a number of other state legislators in the state of New Jersey. I will tell you, when the legislation is made and we’re not at that table, we’re probably on the menu. You need to be at that table,” said Ship. “One of the things we were able to do in New Jersey, any legislation that’s dealing with public safety that comes up, before any reports are signed by the governor, they have to have a racial impact study.”

On Jan. 21, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. This order reinforced preventable measures to ensure laws created have equal opportunities and equity for all. 

“Whoever is elected into office decides on what policy is going to be impacting you and your daily lives,” said Jiles, pushing the importance of getting out to vote. “Decisions being made right now on the U.S. Supreme Court going to impact everyone in this room’s daily lives.”

State Sen. Jill P. Carter (D-Md.-41) was also in attendance and spoke to the AFRO afterward about the use of racial equity impact studies in Maryland and how effective they are for inclusive lawmaking.

Since 2021, the Maryland General Assembly has enacted a requirement for racial equity impact notes to reduce racial discrimination and inequities on significant criminal justice bills making their way through the Legislature. 

“It happened around the time the whole country seemingly woke up about the racial disparities in this country, it happened around the time of George Floyd,” said Carter. “Senators and the Senate president got together and we all discussed what are some of the ways that we can make this place more balanced racially. One of the suggestions was to have a racial impact note on every piece of legislation.”

Carter elaborated on how racial equity impact notes have supported her legislative efforts.

“There’s a lot of times, of course, when many people want to contend that issues don’t have a racial impact and that it’s only imagined by some Black people that it has a disparate impact on the Black community,” said Carter. “This helps us legitimize our arguments and helps us use data to show what percentage of Black people are impacted by a certain piece of legislation.

“I think every single legislature should have a racial impact study and note on every piece of major legislation,” continued Carter.

Though moves are being made in state and local legislatures to consider how policies will impact the Black community if enacted, Jiles encouraged African Americans to do their part to ensure Black people have a say in public policy.

“People come to us all the time complaining about policies that law enforcement have, agencies have in place. The first question I asked them was when was the last time you were at a council meeting when they were deciding what that policy was going to be?” said Jiles. “Do you know who your state representative is?”

He also encouraged the Black Press to help reach African Americans with the truth about policy-making, especially about policies that will directly impact the Black community.

The post Experts discuss importance of racial impact studies in public policy appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), alongside several Maryland congressional delegation members, announced more than $15 million for Baltimore City’s Hanover Street Corridor revitalization project on June 26.

“While the Hanover Street Corridor has long been a critical route into Baltimore City from the south, it has also been an obstacle to progress for the communities it passes through,” they said in a joint statement. “We worked to deliver $15.5 million in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to improve transit, pedestrian walkways and other transportation options in South Baltimore. This investment will help realize a new vision for the corridor – a vision to bring neighborhoods together and promote equitable access to economic opportunity for the residents of South Baltimore.”

The 2.4-mile corridor is located between Interstate 95 and the Baltimore City boundary line with Anne Arundel County, Md.

The federal funding derives from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grants program under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.

Some of the legislators wrote to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in March supporting the city’s application for the funds.

“It is impossible to overstate just how critical the Hanover Street Corridor Revitalization Project is for Baltimoreans, particularly those residents in South Baltimore in neighborhoods like Cherry Hill and Curtis Bay who rely on the corridor for connection to the rest of the city,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) in a statement. “The importance only became heightened following the tragic collapse of the Key Bridge earlier this year, which limited other routes of travel and increased the amount of traffic utilizing the century-old Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge. This federal grant will move this project forward fully with federal dollars and ensure that the Baltimoreans that need it most realize the benefits of this updated transportation corridor.”

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By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer

tmcqueen@afro.com

President Joe Biden and the Republican contender, former President Donald Trump, are set to face off once again on June 27 at this year’s first presidential debate in Atlanta. This debate will be hosted by CNN and moderated by reporters Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. 

Ahead of the debate, the AFRO spoke with several prospective voters to gauge whether people will be watching the televised event, what they’re expecting to hear  and how they’re feeling about this rematch overall.

“’I will watch. I’m looking to hear Trump’s economic plan to reduce inflation, reduce federal taxes and regulations to spur business and development growth, as well as giving Americans back their own money for their own income and growth,” said Evie Harris of Baltimore. “I’m hoping to hear a plan to cease the war in Ukraine.”

A June poll by Quinnipiac University shows Trump has a slight lead in Georgia over Biden, 49% to 44%, ahead of the debate.

Leon Clifton Purnell of Baltimore talked about what he’s looking for from Biden in this first debate.

“I just hope Biden tells Trump to stop crying about his many charges being a witchhunt or a political tactic,” said Purnell. “He needs to tell him if he wasn’t a criminal this wouldn’t be possible.” 

Michael Eugene Johnson of Baltimore said he will be looking for two things at Thursday’s debate.

“Fixing the level of education in many of our urban cities and attention to the housing crises in our cities,” said Johnson.

Though Johnson said he’s not happy about the Biden and Trump re-match this November, he still believes he must vote.

“I have not missed an election since 1975,” said Johnson. “ I must vote, then I can say something. If you don’t vote your voice is a sound with zero bass.”

Some voters said they already know who they will vote for in November.

“I am ecstatic that Trump is on the ballot and I will be proudly voting for Trump, a third time,” said Harris, who shares what is motivating her to vote for Trump once again.

“We have a country to save, from economic to social aspects and including foreign relations,” she said. 

On the opposite side of the spectrum, Torreah Washington says she’s all in for Biden this fall.

“I’ll just watch , because I’m an American, but I’m absolutely voting for Joe Biden,” said Washington of South Carolina. “I think he’s done a lot of good for our country. I do know that he is quite old, as is his opponent, but I think that President Biden is smart enough to have a very good team of younger, smart people around him and I trust that Vice President Harris, if needed, could certainly step into the job as president.”

Though presidential debates have been orchestrated by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) since 1988, this year Biden said he will not agree to debate under the sponsorship of the CPD. Due to Biden and Trump agreeing to circumvent the CPD, the commission announced on June 24 that the four venues for the sponsored debates have been released from their contracts.

Virginia State University (VSU) was one of the locations dropped. VSU has not yet released a statement on the recent development but did comment on the suspected withdrawal in May.

“Virginia State University is disappointed to hear media reports suggesting that the U.S. presidential candidates may not participate in the scheduled October 1, 2024, debate at VSU. A presidential debate at VSU is a huge win, not only for our students and campus community but for the greater community in general,” wrote VSU in an official statement. “As the first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) ever selected to host a general election U.S. Presidential debate, VSU recognizes the event’s significance and welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the democratic process.”

Both candidates agreed to the rules of the CNN debate, which includes muted mics, no audience, two commercial breaks, no props and no pre-written notes. 

Thursday’s debate will start at 9 p.m. The second debate is set for Sept. 10, hosted by ABC News. 

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
Tmcqueen@afro.com

With the first presidential debate of this election season just days away, Vice President Kamala Harris (D) made a stop in College Park, Md. to recognize the second anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade., a landmark case that made abortion a constitutional right. 

“Over the past two years, in states across our nation, the extremists have proposed and passed laws that criminalize doctors and punish women. Laws that limit access to contraception and to fertility treatments like IVF. Even some of them, trying to revive laws from the 1800s,” said Harris.

According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, a non-profit organization of reproductive rights advocates and lawyers, around 14 states have made abortion illegal.

“Two years ago today, Donald Trump’s Supreme Court majority ripped away the fundamental freedom for women to access the health care they need and deserve. The consequences have been devastating. If given the chance, there is no question he will ban abortion nationwide, with or without the help of Congress,” said Biden in a statement on June 24, acknowledging the day. “I will never let that happen. My message to Americans is this: Kamala and I are fighting like hell to get your freedom back. And we won’t stop until we restore the protections of Roe v. Wade for every woman in every state.”

At the gathering, Harris doubled down on Biden’s sentiments.

“In the case of the stealing of reproductive freedom from the women of America, Donald Trump is guilty,” said Harris, gaining cheers from the crowd.

The lively crowd chanted “four more years” and “restore Roe” several times throughout the event.

Throughout her speech, Harris played up Trump’s part in and lack of remorse for the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

“When he was in the White House, Donald Trump handpicked three members of the United States Supreme Court because he intended for them to overturn Roe v. Wade,” said Harris. “As intended, they did.”

There are currently six Republican-nominated justices on the U.S. Supreme Court and three Democrat-nominated justices.

“Today is more than just an anniversary. It’s proof that we should never take for granted our liberties,” said Democratic nominee for U.S Senate and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks at the gathering. “It’s the confirmation that we must be vigilant and fighting for and protecting, with everything we have, our rights.

“Electing Vice President Kamala Harris and President Biden means that we will have a country that remains recognizable to us,” said Alsobrooks.

Voters’ perspectives of a candidate’s views on abortion surely matter as a poll by Navigator Research, a project led by pollsters, finds that 68 percent of Americans believe it is important for Biden and Congress to protect abortion access this year. 

In Our Own Voice, a national partnership to uplift Reproductive justice leaders, finds that Black voters are six times more likely to vote for a candidate who supports abortion access than one who opposes it.

The poll by Navigator Research also shows that 80 percent of women are supportive of increasing access to birth control pills, 70 percent for easier access to fertility planning such as IVF, 57 percent for an abortion pill and 56 percent for in-clinic abortions.

Trump did not make any public statements on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. 

Previously Republicans have said the decision restored power to the states concerning abortion and protects the lives of unborn children.

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By Tashi McQueen 
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

After weeks of agency hearings led by the Baltimore City Council Ways and Means Committee, the council overwhelmingly approved Mayor Brandon M. Scott’s (D) $4.2 billion budget on June 17.

“Tonight, the Baltimore City Council unanimously voted to pass the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget without any amendments. At the beginning of this budget process, our city was staring down a more than $100 million deficit that we were able to close without cutting services or eliminating the jobs of any city workers,” said Scott in a statement shortly after the vote. “This budget maintains important investments that will sustain our historic reductions in gun violence, bolster our work to support Baltimore’s young people through recreation and parks and unprecedented funding in City Schools and continue to modernize city government to improve services for all residents.”

This was the city council’s second year having the ability to cut and re-align funding for the city’s budget. Last year, the council reallocated $10 million to benefit a range of issues, including violence prevention and better working conditions.

This year’s budget includes an increased operating budget of $3.47 billion and a capital plan of $732 million.

Though the budget process was rather peaceful, there was some turbulence concerning the date for the final vote.

“Unfortunately, I will not be able to vote yes on this budget as the vote has been scheduled and rescheduled multiple times and ultimately was rescheduled during a vacation that I planned with my wife and our family a year ago,” wrote Councilman Zeke Cohen (D-District 01) hours before the final vote via X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. 

Council President Nick Mosby (D) responded to Cohen’s remarks after the final vote for the bill. 

“I think it’s really important, as we highlight all of the hard work that folks have done, that we also maintain the integrity of the process,” said Mosby. “There was a voting session that was scheduled last Thursday. Unfortunately, it fell directly on a Jewish holiday. In order for us to be more inclusive we needed to ensure that we voted this week. For something that’s important and statutorily required like passing the budget, we cannot do that in the eleventh hour. That’s why we’re voting this week.”

Mosby also said council members are advised not to schedule vacations during budget time.

Scott must now sign the budget by the end of the month as the new fiscal year begins on July 1.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Celebrating 40 years since Maryland’s divestment from apartheid-era South Africa, the “Marylanders Cry Freedom: Civil Rights At Home and Abroad” is an exhibition that opened inside of Baltimore’s City Hall on June 18, highlighting impactful contributions to the Civil Rights Movement.

During the opening ceremony Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) emphasized that the fight for civil rights is ongoing, acknowledging the 400 years of slavery, decades of segregation and the battle to stop police brutality and “realize the liberty and justice for all promised centuries ago.”

“We must acknowledge our state and our city’s deep ties to this challenging part of America’s past,” said Scott. “Baltimore, as a port city, played a significant role in the transatlantic slave trade. Baltimore was where some of the strictest policies and codes in the country were created, worsening the mistreatment of African Americans.”

Scott acknowledged the people who didn’t settle for the harmful past of Baltimore and worked to change things for the better.

“Because of their perseverance and unwillingness to back down we are here,” he said, to the large crowd in the rotunda of City Hall. “You are here able to hold power in these halls that used to serve laws to prevent those who look like us from achieving our excellence. We can never forget the history, the good and the bad.”

The exhibit was created through the partnership of Baltimore City, the Maryland and KwaZulu-Natal Sister State Committee, a partnership between Maryland and the Province of Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa and the Sister States of Maryland, a conduit for Maryland’s sister state relationships.

“It’s important for us to ensure that something like art, that is a living tool, a living symbolic representation of that struggle, continues,” said Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby (D). “That’s why we must continue to support our artists, that’s why we must tell our own stories.”

The exhibit will be open to the public weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The post Maryland leaders, officials celebrate new civil rights exhibition in Baltimore City Hall appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
Tmcqueen@afro.com

By Tierra Stone 
AFRO Intern 
tierrastone@afro.com 

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) is hosting its annual four-day convention at the Four Seasons in Baltimore from June 19-22. This year, the event consists of an array of sessions concerning the Black Press, Black communities, families and voter turnout.  

Damon Todd Hewitt, president and executive director of the Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, was keynote speaker of the June 20 session titled, “What is at Stake for African Americans: the 2024 Vote,” held on day two of the convention. He spoke primarily about the range of challenges Black people are facing throughout the nation today. 

“We actually exist in a moment of strategic and orchestrated erasure,” said Hewitt. “They’re trying to erase references to facts. They’re trying to erase everything that we use to understand ourselves, to know ourselves, to know our identity, to know what our struggles are and to know what our plan should be next.”

The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law was founded in 1963 by urging of John F.Kennedy to ensure that lawyers used their expertise to bring awareness to the fight of the civil rights movement and to help bring it inside the courtroom. Hewitt not only detailed the history of voting but how the Lawyers Committee has worked to maintain and increase the voting numbers of African Americans. 

“It wasn’t until 1965 that the passage of the Voters Rights Act which resulted from Bloody Sunday and the March from Selma to Montgomery, where everybody came to Selma— including Malcolm X. That was the first opportunity for Malcolm X to join the Civil Rights Movements in a larger context,” he said. “It is this civil rights event that is commemorated annually because of its urgency and importance. The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law has poured into that over the years.”

Hewitt highlighted why African Americans should take to the polls during this year’s general election on Nov. 5. 

“Our voice is on the line,” said Hewitt. “We fought so long for a voice in the political process. I think that our vote is the loudest and clearest part of our voice.”

This year, Americans are voting for the president, congressional members and state and local legislators.

Hewitt explained that there’s been a recent wave of voter restriction laws, voter intimidation, misinformation and disinformation. For example, Georgia passed laws in 2021 to ban voters from receiving food and water while waiting in line to cast their ballots. 

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, a non-profit public policy organization, in 2021 more than 440 bills restricting voter access were introduced in 49 states throughout the country. From January 2021 to December 2021 the Brennan Center for Justice recorded that around 19 states passed 34 laws effectively restricting voting access.

Hewitt shared that when voter suppression happens online it can also play a part in prohibiting people from voting. 

“Voter suppression is not just when they close polls early or play those little tricks,” he said. “What people do online is a form of voter suppression. When they discourage you to vote online and try to make you think you shouldn’t vote or there’s a reason not to vote, and ‘somebody ain’t doing enough for the Black man’ and that’s why you shouldn’t vote’ that’s a form of voter suppression in some countries even voter suppression online is outlawed for some reason in America that’s not enforced,” he said. 

To fight against these actions Hewitt suggests African Americans turn out to the polls this November and use the Election Protection hotline, 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683), a voter information helpline where people can access election facts and options.

Furthermore, Hewitt prompted the Black Press to answer the call to action by publishing and spreading information Black Americans need this election season.

“We need your help. I mentioned the election protection hotline. The hotline only works when people call it,” he said. “We need targeted advertising to reach the Black community.” 

He also encouraged local Black publications to write about the opportunities and Black power in the communities they operate within.

“We need space, opportunity ​​and publications and platforms to lift the ideas ,” said Hewitt. “We need to leverage that reputation capital.”

Aside from Hewitt’s presentation, the day included a panel on GenZ voter issues and a session called “Get Your Money Right for Your Business.” Convention attendees were then able to tour Baltimore’s famed National Great Blacks in Wax Museum. The second day of the conference concluded with the NNPA Fund’s Messenger Awards Reception.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) alongside several top state officials and legislators announced a historical number of pardons, over 175,000, for convictions related to low-level marijuana offenses on June 17. 

To the sound of applause, Moore emphasized that Maryland must address the consequences of criminalization done in large part by the war on drugs, a legal effort meant to address illegal drug use by increasing the incarceration and penalties of convicted drug offenders.

“We know that legalization does not turn back the clock on decades of harm that was caused by the war on drugs. It doesn’t erase the fact that Black Marylanders were three times more likely to be arrested for cannabis than White Marylanders,” said Moore. “Policy making is powerful. If you look at the past, you see how policies have been intentionally deployed to hold back entire communities. We are talking about tools that have led to the mass incarceration of Black men and boys.”

“To undo that kind of intentionality, we need to apply intentionality of our own,” said Moore. “Today, we take a big step enacting the kinds of policies that can reverse the harms of the past and to help us to work together to build a brighter future.”

Recreational cannabis use and possession was legalized in Maryland on July 1, 2023, for adults 21 and up.

Moore’s signing ceremony marked one of the largest state-level pardons in the country. The governor’s office said that an estimated 100,000 people will be impacted by the pardons.

In a virtual call ahead of the announcement, the governor’s office said there are no people currently incarcerated solely on misdemeanor charges in Maryland. Due to that, there will be no people released from jail exclusively due to these pardons.

“The legacy that the war on drugs has had on our city of Baltimore – and many places around the country like it – is still visceral and tangible. We still see and feel the wounds every day in the lives, families and communities that were disrupted and destroyed,” said Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott in a statement after the ceremony. “For those receiving the pardons – which includes thousands upon thousands of Baltimoreans – it will be life-changing.”

Baltimore City is receiving an overwhelming 39,865 pardons, 22.77 percent, compared to Baltimore County’s 22,298, 12.74 percent, and Prince George’s County’s 21,080, 12.04 percent.

“I want to thank and commend Governor Moore for his commitment, compassion and love for the people who have been so impacted by this history,” continued Scott. “This action and our work together to overcome the dark legacy of our predecessors, will lay the foundation for a better, safer future for all of our residents.”

Now that the executive order has been signed, the Maryland Judiciary will make sure every individual court docket is updated, notifying those who were pardoned by Moore of their status. The process should take around two weeks according to the governor’s office.

Moore’s executive order pardoned misdemeanor convictions for simple possession of cannabis and misdemeanor convictions for use or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia. 

Through this order, more than 150,000 convictions were pardoned for simple possession of cannabis and over 18,000 convictions for use or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia. 

“This legislative session, we prioritized re-entry reform and transforming our system in our state of Maryland for returning citizens. We focused on expungement and expanding expungements and making them automatic,” said Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland Chairwoman Del. Jheanelle Wilkins (D-Md.-20), after the ceremony. “This is just really a true partnership in terms of the governor’s actions to absolve people of their crimes.”

When asked to respond to people who may not believe pardons for past marijuana convictions are necessary or helpful Wilkins said, “We know that it’s the right thing to do, and it moves us towards equity in our state.”

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously voted on June 13 to dismiss a challenge to mifepristone, an abortion pill, saying opponents lack standing to contest the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) actions concerning the drug.

“Today’s decision does not change the fact that the fight for reproductive freedom continues. It does not change the fact that the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago, and women lost a fundamental freedom,” said President Joe Biden (D) in a statement. “It does mean that mifepristone, or medication abortion, remains available and approved.”

The FDA approved mifepristone in September 2000 to be used for terminating a pregnancy up to seven weeks gestation, according to the FDA’s website. In 2016, they approved its use for up to 10 weeks.

Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), who has been vocal about protecting abortion rights in Congress, commented on the decision.

“It was correct that the Supreme Court made the decision to keep this single right intact – women’s access to this particular reproductive medication,” said Alsobrooks in a statement. “But I, like so many women across this country, shouldn’t have to wait with bated breath to see if justices will allow us to make our own health care decisions. I shouldn’t have to fear for our daughters’ and granddaughters’ futures in this country.”

With the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, abortion access has become a top issue for one in eight voters or 12 percent, according to a health-tracking poll by KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation), a health policy organization. About half of voters polled say they believe the upcoming presidential, congressional and state-level elections will have a “major impact” on abortion access.

For that reason, the decision has drawn a range of responses.

“I have both relief and anger about this decision. Thank goodness the Supreme Court unanimously rejected this unwarranted attempt to curtail access to medication abortion, but the fact remains that this meritless case should never have gotten this far,” said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, in a statement shortly after the decision. “In the end, this ruling is not a ‘win’ for abortion—it just maintains the status quo, which is a dire public health crisis in which 14 states have criminalized abortion.”

According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, the 14 states that have made abortion illegal include Arkansas, Idaho, Texas and West Virginia.

“While we’re disappointed with the court’s decision, we will continue to advocate for women,” said Erin Hawley, a senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal advocacy group, in a statement. 

The post Supreme Court rejects challenge to abortion pill mifepristone appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Baltimore City residents will see some changes in their water bills this month.  

“There will be several critical improvements made to our water bill payment systems, including a newly enhanced physical water bill and customer self-service portal for Baltimore City residents,” said Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott to the media on June 5. “These enhancements are designed with convenience and transparency in mind.”

The enhanced online portal will be available to customers on June 17, and the newly designed water bills will begin to arrive in customers’ mailboxes through the last week of this month.

“Starting June 12 through the 17, customers will see a message indicating that the customer self-service portal is temporarily down,” said Khalil Zaied, the Baltimore City Department of Public Works director.

Zaeid said that during the shutdown, customers can pay their water bills in person at 200 Holiday St., Baltimore, Md., online at pay.baltimorecity.gov/water, by mail or by calling 866-377-0765.

Scott said the enhancements will also allow residents to designate other people to manage their accounts.

“We know that it’s really important, especially for our older adults who may have family members who may need to manage that account for them,” he said.

Upgrades include a QR code on the mailed water bill and the ability to change communication preferences, access due balances and update contact information online. Scanning the QR code will take customers to the online portal.

The post Baltimore City water bills to get a makeover this month appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

At a campaign rally at the Kentland Community Center in Landover, Md., Vice President Kamala Harris (D) endorsed the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. 

“I was so proud to support her when she was state’s attorney and to endorse her when she was county executive. Today, I then proudly endorse Angela Alsobrooks for the United States Senate,” said Harris, amidst the cheers of the crowd on June 7. “She was the first assistant state’s attorney in Prince George’s County, Md., to specialize in domestic violence cases. To be here to support her today is to know she will be an experienced leader on this issue.”

The event also addressed National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

Throughout the gathering, leaders emphasized that the leading cause of death for children and teens in the U.S. is guns, according to the CDC. Speakers put emphasis on voters to choose those candidates and leaders that will support gun safety regulations on the federal level.

“Together we can break the cycle of gun violence and create a world where safety is given, not a privilege, in every community,” said Isabella Socha Soares, social lead for the Students Demand Action-University of Maryland chapter of Everytown for Gun Safety, a non-profit gun control advocacy organization.  “Students all over the country want to feel safe and not fear that they might go to school and not come home. I fight as a student not because I want to, but because I have to for students across the nation and for future generations.”

Gov. Wes Moore (D) and more top Maryland Democrats were present, supporting Alsobrooks and other Democratic nominees in this year’s general election. 

“Today, tomorrow and all the way through November, we are going to ride with Angela Alsobrooks. We’re going to ride with the Biden-Harris Administration,” said Moore. “We have to have the right leaders in place who are going to fortify our future, who are going to actually use their time and their energy and their power to increase freedoms and not to decrease them.”

Alsobrooks outlined what she would do as senator about crime and gun violence prevention.

“As a senator, I’ll stand for common sense approaches to make sure that firearms don’t end up in the hands of the wrong people, who can’t pass a background check,” she said. “I won’t back down from holding gun manufacturers accountable.” 

Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, former Governor Larry Hogan’s campaign responded to the event via X, a social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

“While Angela Alsobrooks is campaigning today, instead of just offering more platitudes, we urge her to tell voters how she will address the skyrocketing crime on her watch in Prince George’s County, Md.,” reads the statement. “Hogan has put forward a plan to address this out-of-control crime wave by funding law enforcement, taking repeat violent criminals off the streets and getting guns out of the hands of violent criminals and the mentally ill.”

The post Vice President Kamala Harris endorses Angela Alsobrooks in Prince George’s County, Md. appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The Unified Command announced the full reopening of the Port of Baltimore’s main channel on June 10. Earlier in the day, the command released a statement saying they expect the full reopening to occur in the “next few days,” but around 6 p.m., they announced its restoration.

“One of our four key directives in the wake of the Key Bridge collapse has been to fully clear the federal channel. Today, we bring that directive to completion,” said Maryland Gov. Wes Moore in a statement shortly after the announcement. “With the channel now fully open, we can get more Marylanders back to work at the Port of Baltimore, increase the flow of commerce through the city and accelerate our economic recovery.”

The federal channel has been restored to its original dimensions of 700 feet wide and 50 feet deep. Previously, the channel was only open to 400 feet wide and 50 feet deep, allowing some commercial maritime traffic to resume.

Though Moore applauded the combined work of the Unified Command thus far, he emphasized that the work is not done until the Francis Scott Key Bridge is rebuilt.

Since March 26, members of the Unified Command have worked to safely remove bridge wreckage, restore waterway traffic to the Port of Baltimore and recover the six workers who lost their lives in the bridge collapse.

“I cannot overstate how proud I am of our team,” said Col. Estee Pinchasin, Baltimore District commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). “It was incredible seeing so many people from different parts of our government, from around our country and all over the world, come together in the Unified Command and accomplish so much in this amount of time.”

The response to the collapse of the Key Bridge included the combined efforts of the USACE, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Maryland Department of the Environment, the Maryland State Police and the Maryland Transportation Authority.

The Unified Command initially aimed to reopen the channel by the end of May, but it was ultimately delayed.

On June 4, the Unified Command removed the final large steel truss, about 700 feet wide, from the Patapsco River. This achievement was the last major step in reopening the full federal channel.

Salvage crews freed the large steel truss using concrete breakers, oxyacetylene torches and underwater surveys to detach tons of roadway, steel rebar and cable.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

With time steadily winding down in the D.C. budget process, the D.C. Council passed the fiscal year (FY25) 2025 budget to second reading with a majority vote on May 29. If the budget advances from second reading on June 12, then it will go to Mayor Muriel Bowser’s desk to either be signed into law, enacted without a signature or vetoed.

“When the mayor transmitted her proposed budget, many criticized the proposed budget for not being about shared sacrifice and instead hitting low-income citizens the hardest,” said Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) during the budget meeting on May 29. “For instance, cutting the Access to Justice Program by about 60 percent, cutting domestic violence programming, cutting the Emergency Rental Assistance Program by over 50 percent, adding no new vouchers for affordable housing.”

According to Mendelson, the budget that the council advanced restores Access to Justice funds to about $31 million, funds 200 new housing vouchers for qualifying D.C. residents, provides $5 million for the Housing Preservation Fund, and establishes a child tax credit at $15 million.

The D.C. Access to Justice Commission is an initiative created by the D.C. Court of Appeals in 2005 to improve low-to-moderate-income individuals’ access to the criminal justice system. They help prevent evictions, support survivors of domestic violence, services to address employment-related problems and more.

“In 2023, more than 40,000 residents benefited from Access to Justice Services,” said Mendelson.

The council’s budget includes raised taxes for employers and residential property taxes for homes valued over $2.5 million. Under the council’s proposal, the payroll tax employers pay for each of their employees’ wages has increased to 0.75 percent from 0.26 percent to cover costs related to the District’s universal paid leave program.

As well, through the council’s proposal, properties valued at more than $2.5 million will be taxed at the rate of 85 cents per $100 of assessed value for the first $2.5 million. For every $100 above the $2.5 million threshold, the property will be taxed at a rate of $1 per $100 of assessed value.

The council’s proposed budget will increase the mayor’s proposed budget by about $40 million.

According to Mendelson, “the budget that the mayor submitted to the council was roughly a billion dollars more than the current year budget. The council’s actions do not add much to that.”

The bill also permits funding for one additional teaching position in each Ward 7 and 8 elementary school.

“Those are the wards, the schools that have the highest concentration of at-risk students,” said Mendelson.

Councilmembers voted on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Local Budget Act of 2024 and the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Support Act of 2024. Councilmember Trayon White was the singular no vote on both bills, though several councilmembers had reservations about the budget and plan to work on them before the legislation is taken up for a final vote on June 12, the last day for the council to take action on the budget.

In Mayor Muriel Bowser’s proposed budget, she cut the D.C. circulator due to low ridership to balance the budget. Bowser said they will “go all in on METRO.” D.C. had to deal with balancing a $700 million budget shortfall this fiscal year.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

After weeks of counting ballots, the Maryland State Board of Elections has finalized the state primary results.

The primary featured shocking wins throughout the local level, including Councilman Zeke Cohen’s (D-District 1) 50.92 percent win for Baltimore City Council President and Mayor Brandon M. Scott’s 52.78 percent victory. Political spectators believed it would be a close race between Scott and former Mayor Sheila Dixon, who received 38.88 percent of the vote in the end. 

“The Democratic primary highlighted what citizens want from their public servants. They want better city services, they want transparency and they want us focused on issues that matter for quality of life, like education, opportunities for youth and public safety,” said Cohen. “For me, the focus is always around building a diverse, robust coalition, delivering world-class city services and making government more accessible, proximate and transparent.”

Cohen unseated Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby by a large margin. Mosby received 23.26 percent of the votes and candidate Shannon Sneed got 25.83 percent.

“Baltimore, you’ve been with me through every win and every loss, so I simply want to say thank you,” said Mosby via X, the social media platform formally known as Twitter. “Thank you for believing in me and allowing me the privilege of serving you.”

Though most of the 14 city council members have secured their spots on the November ballot, Eric Costello (D-District 11) and Robert Stokes Sr. (D-District 12) did not.

Candidate Jermaine Jones unseated Stokes by 369 votes and political contender Zac Blanchard unseated Costello by a mere 48 votes. 

With Councilman Kristerfer Burnett (D-District 8) stepping down from the council this year, the seat opened up for others to run, including former State Delegate Bilal Ali and Paris Gray, a community outreach coordinator for Baltimore City Council District 8. Gray won with 41.41 percent of the vote, and Ali received 37.71 percent.

Blanchard, Gray and Jones are the Democratic nominees for their respective races and are in line to be the newcomers to the council. Baltimore City is a primarily Democratic region, meaning whoever wins the Democratic nomination is likely to take the seat in November.

The council could soon shrink from 14 to eight if Baltimore residents vote in favor of the referendum on the ballot this November. PEACE Baltimore, a civic engagement organization that is leading the initiative via a petition, argues that some other counties in the state have about eight or fewer districts and have about the same population as Baltimore. They also argue that taking away six of the districts would help the city save millions.

The Baltimore County Circuit Court judge slate, Judges Michael S. Barranco; Patricia DeMaio; Marc A. DeSimone; and James Rhodes also secured their spots in the November election. The group of sitting judges fought to keep their seats after the usually uncontested race became a challenge with the entrance of Robert N. Daniels, an assistant attorney general, whose name placed him second on the ballot. 

Sitting Judges Christine Marie Celeste, with 34.64 percent of the votes, and Ginina A. Jackson-Stevenson, with 30.72 percent of the vote, secured their spots in the November election for the Anne Arundel Circuit Court.

In Cecil County, Md., County Executive Danielle M. Hornberger was unseated for the Republican nomination by Adam Streight, a sergeant with the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office. Streight received 53.24 percent of the votes and Hornberger got 46.76 percent.

The general election is Nov. 5. Early voting will take place from Oct. 24 to Oct. 31.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
Tmcqueen@afro.com

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed an expansive executive order supporting Maryland’s climate goals and efforts to move away from fossil fuels. The order will impact all government agencies and buildings throughout the state.

“It is bold and we will get it done,” said Moore to a lively crowd of Henderson-Hopkins School students, educators and state legislators in East Baltimore. “Today’s order ensures that the state of Maryland focuses on environmental justice and economic justice in all of our climate work. Climate justice is economic justice if you’re doing it right. We are going to craft policies that reflect that mindset.”

The “Implementing Maryland’s Climate Pollution Reduction Plan” executive order directs the Department of the Environment to develop new policies to decrease building emissions, direct the Maryland Energy Administration to create a framework to reach 100 percent clean energy by 2035 and implement new policies that include reducing energy use by enforcing zero-emission heating standards.

The order also calls on all state agencies to submit a Climate Implementation Plan.

“Each plan is going to center on how we can meet our goals of cutting emissions by 60 percent by 2031 and achieving net zero in our state by 2045,” said Moore. “These proposals must be submitted by every single state agency because every single state agency is going to have a role to play and is going to have accountability measures we must meet.”

The Maryland Department of the Environment will be the center of the state’s whole-of-government approach to addressing climate. The Maryland Department of the Environment will submit an annual report directly to Moore about each agency’s progress on the climate change initiatives mentioned.

Moore said Henderson-Hopkins was chosen as the location for the executive order signing due to its Solar4Us project, which will provide solar power to 175 low—to moderate-income households in the school community and surrounding area.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Under pressure to address the large flow of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico Border, President Joe Biden signed an executive action on June 4, temporarily restricting illegal immigrants.

“Migrants will be restricted from seeking asylum at our southern border unless they seek it after entering through an established lawful process,” said Biden in a speech on June 4. “This ban will remain in place until the number of people trying to enter illegally is reduced to a number that we can manage.”

The order will go into effect on June 5.

Some Democrats are not on board with this initiative.

In a statement, U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.-09), co-chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Foreign Affairs and Immigration Task Force, spoke about her concern for Black immigrants and how they will be impacted.

“President Biden’s executive action to close daily border crossings arbitrarily at 2,500 will prevent countless Black immigrants from the Caribbean, the African continent and Latin America from exercising their legal right to apply for asylum at our ports of entry,” said Clarke. “We should move toward a more nuanced approach that considers the real humanitarian issues that migrants are facing each day.”

“We urge the Biden-Harris Administration to prioritize efforts to address the root causes of migration and expand pathways for legal migration for people who are fleeing violence and persecution and who are seeking a better life,” Clarke continued.

In his speech, Biden pointed towards congressional Republicans who thwarted his efforts to pass a bipartisan border bill in February for resorting to this method of reform.

“I’ve come here today to do what the Republicans in Congress refuse to do–take the necessary steps to secure our border,” said Biden. “Four months ago, after weeks of intense negotiations between my staff and Democrats and Republicans, we came to a clear bipartisan deal.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-04), Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN-06) and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) released a joint statement on Biden’s executive action, calling it a “political stunt.”

“President Biden’s Executive Order is nothing more than a desperate political stunt,” Johnson, Emmer and Stefanik. “Over a year ago, House Republicans passed the Secure the Border Act, which would actually fix the problem, but Joe Biden and Senate Democrats continue to drag their feet on taking meaningful action, sacrificing the safety and security of our communities.”

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

With Baltimore County Executive John “Johnny O” Olszewski securing the Democratic nomination for Maryland’s 2nd Congressional District, consideration has begun on who would finish the rest of his four-year term and potentially succeed him.

One potential candidate named was the previous chair of the council, Baltimore County Councilman Julian Jones (D-District 4).

“I’m humbled and honored that people would consider me,” said Jones, emphasizing that there is no current vacancy, so his focus is not on the potential opening at this time. “Right now, I’m just humbled and really focused on doing my job as being the best councilperson I can be for all the citizens of Baltimore County.”

The Charter of Baltimore County states that the county administrative officer would immediately be the interim county executive upon Olszewski’s resignation, but the County Council is left to make a definitive decision on who will finish his term. 

“I’m confident that my colleagues, as well as myself, will do what’s best for Baltimore County,” said Jones.

The council’s current chairman, Izzy Patoka (D-District 2), was also named.

“Quite a few people have reached out to me and asked me to consider that and I will be making some sort of decision towards my future at the end of this year,” said Patoka.

Matthew Crenson, professor emeritus of political science at Johns Hopkins University, said Patoka and Jones have both been vocal on the council and are more likely to get re-elected because they are Democrats.

“It’s critical that our next county executive continue to build on the foundational and transformative reforms we’ve put in place to open our government like never before, to further embed principles of equity and suitability into the culture of governing and to embrace data and innovation so that we can keep building a better Baltimore County for decades to come,” said Olszewski, when asked about his thoughts on who should succeed him.

According to the Maryland State Board of Elections’ 2020 list of eligible active voters in Baltimore County, of the 566,408 people listed, 55 percent were registered as Democrats and 25 percent were Republicans.

Currently, on the County Council, there are four Democrats and three Republicans.

County Councilman David Marks (R-District 5) revealed the names of a few more potential persons that may run based on the county’s ability to either select a council member for the position or choose a “caretaker” to carry out the rest of the county executive’s term.

“If you follow what happened in 2018, when County Executive Kamenetz passed away, the council’s impulse was to appoint a caretaker who would serve until the next election,” said Marks. “I have a feeling that’s probably the direction the council is going to go.”

Marks said Barry Williams, former Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks director and State Senator Kathy Klausmeier (D-Md.-08) are among the names of potentially interested “caretakers.”

Williams worked for 16 years in the Baltimore County Government. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Maryland State Fair and Agricultural Society and the Pikesville Armory Foundation. He has also worked in several overseeing positions in the Baltimore City and Baltimore County school systems.

Klausmeier has been a state senator for 21 years, during which she has co-led legislation to create the nation’s first Prescription Drug Affordability Board and a bill in 2018 to prohibit the use of gag clauses which prevent pharmacists from discussing lower drug prices with customers.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

As the last leg of Baltimore City’s Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) budget process gets underway, the city council hosted its annual Taxpayer’s Night on May 16, providing an opportunity for residents to have their say on what should be included in the budget. 

Though not many were in attendance, residents who were there spoke passionately about what they wanted to see in the budget.

“My ask for the council is to adjust the operating budget under the public safety pillar to include a transparent line item with a dollar amount that is dedicated to youth violence prevention,” said Agzja Carey, Baltimore resident and executive director of Crayons and Culture, a non-profit. “Specifically, with the focus on getting dollars to Black-led grassroots organizations.”

This will be the second year that city council members have the newly permitted ability to move allocated funds around in the budget. Last year, with that power, they moved $10 million around to fund better equipment for firefighters, violence prevention and finer facilities for laborers.

Detrese Dowridge, a member of Baltimore Renters United, a tenant advocacy organization, asked that $2.5 million be allocated in the FY25 budget to pay for additional housing inspectors and put $20 million towards rental assistance.

“As a tenant advocate and organizer I not only hear but witness the unsafe and deplorable conditions that renters are subjected to live in here in Baltimore,” said Dowridge. “I would also like our city leaders to do better with speaking with and seeking input from organizers who are on the ground doing the work to make the city a better place.”

The need for housing inspectors was discussed in a March Baltimore City Council meeting on a bill that aims to strengthen renter safety. During the meeting, a representative of the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) explained that part of the issue is that inspectors have to go into unsafe environments with little to no protection, which can be a hindrance to DHCD’s ability to employ and retain inspectors.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott unveiled his $4.06 billion preliminary FY25 budget in April, amidst Key Bridge collapse recovery efforts. At the budget unveiling, Scott said no funding is included for the Key Bridge in his proposed FY25 budget because the city does not yet know what financial impact the collapse will have.

The budget includes $19 million in funding for school construction, $3.5 million for building enhancements at the southern and eastern police district stations and $14.2 million to modernize several citywide software systems.

Next, the city council will hold budget hearings with city agencies starting May 23 and continuing through June 6 in order to come to a consensus and pass the budget by June 26, per the Charter of Baltimore City.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

At the fourth and final bill signing ceremony of the 2024 Maryland General Assembly, Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed several much anticipated and controversial public safety measures into law.

“When we entered office, we said that public safety was going to be our number one priority. In order to actually get the results we wanted it meant that we were going to have to move differently,” said Moore at the live-streamed bill signing on May 16. “Baltimore had endured over 300 homicides every year for eight straight years before we took office. The issue of public safety mattered too much to think that we could call on everyone else to take action without being willing to take action ourselves.”

That action includes passing several major public safety bills, including legislation to create the Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention, the Juvenile Law Reform, the Pava Marie LaPere Act and the Pava LaPere Legacy of Innovation Act of 2024.

“There was a challenging issue that we came into session this year dealing with youth who have committed crimes. It was an issue that we heard from constituents, from law enforcement, from defense attorneys, from the Department of Juvenile Services, that the juvenile service system was not working as effectively as possible,” said Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Md.-46). “This is probably one of the most controversial and hard issues that we have because, at the end of the day, what we’re talking about are kids.”

“I am very proud of the work that we are going to be putting into law today to create greater accountability, rehabilitation and coordination, or ARC, within the juvenile justice system,” said Ferguson. 

The Juvenile Law Reform bill permits the juvenile court system expanded jurisdiction over 10 through 12-year-olds who have allegedly committed car theft, animal abuse, offenses involving firearms and third-degree sexual offenses. The law previously stated that no child under 13 can be charged with a crime.

The two LaPere bills are in homage to Baltimore Tech CEO Pava La Pere, who was allegedly murdered in her downtown apartment by a convicted repeat sex offender in September 2023. 

“Pava was a friend. You never forget meeting Pava,” said Moore. “She was an entrepreneur– someone who had a brilliant mind, someone who committed herself to building a brighter and a better future for all of us.”

“These two bills in concert do two things, they both make sure that the tragedy that happened to Pava never happens again,” said Moore. “They also celebrate the light that Pava was and that she still is.”

The governor’s office also released a list of vetoed bills from this session, including legislation that would have modernized the state’s public notice requirements concerning estate administration and a bill that would have allowed out-of-state RV dealers to temporarily participate in Maryland RV shows. 

In a letter to House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Md.-10), Moore said he vetoed the public notice bill because it did not adequately address the multifaceted issue of the current requirement, which costs the state a lot of money but helps local news stay alive and thriving in a time when they are dwindling throughout the country.

In a letter to Ferguson, Moore said he vetoed the RV bill because it would take business away from Maryland-licensed RV dealers without affording them the same opportunity as the bill did for licensed out-of-state RV dealers.

Moore also signed the fiscal year 2025 (FY25) budget into law. 

“By working together, we made significant investments in public safety, education, housing, child care,” said Moore. 

Moore also highlighted that state officials and legislators made these investments without raising personal income tax, corporate income tax, sales tax or state property tax.

Legislators were at odds in addressing the $761 million projected deficit for FY25. House delegates believed in raising taxes and fees to close the gap, while the Senate and the governor opposed raising taxes.

The House and Senate reconciled $257 million of revenues by increasing vehicle registration fees, generating a Transportation Network Company impact fee, an annual registration surcharge on owners of zero-emission and plug-in electric vehicles, raising the dealer processing charges and raising fines for speeding in work zones.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
Tmcqueen@afro.com

Former U.S. President Donald Trump made history in April 2023, becoming the first former U.S. president to face criminal charges. Now, with the 2024 presidential election mere months away, Trump becomes the first U.S. president to be convicted in a criminal court case. 

“Donald Trump’s unanimous conviction on 34 counts proves that our system of justice is not a respecter of position, power, or privilege,” U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07) told the AFRO. “This case, while historic in nature, proves that America’s system of equal justice under law remains steadfast. Even if it is the former president of the United States on trial, this case proves that no one is above the law.”

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg spearheaded the efforts to get Trump into a courtroom facing criminal charges. Trump was accused of falsifying documents to conceal a payment to Stormy Daniels, an adult film star, in order to keep her silent about an alleged affair 12 days before the 2016 election. 

Bragg alleged that the former president used his company, American Media Inc. (AMI), and a team of lawyers to send $130,000 to Michael Cohen, a former attorney, to pay Daniels.

The indictment claims Trump, after the 2016 election, reimbursed Cohen for the payment through monthly checks via the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, a legal entity that held the Trump Organization’s assets after Trump became president, and from Trump’s personal bank account. 

Allegedly, each check was disguised as a legal services payment.

The conviction came after jurors deliberated on two separate days. 

The Biden-Harris campaign released a statement via X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, shortly after the announcement of the conviction.

“In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law,” said the Biden-Harris campaign in a statement released on the conviction. “Today’s verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the oval office: at the ballot box.”

The Biden-Harris campaign emphasized the likelihood that Trump will move forward as the Republican nominee for president and why people should vote in November.

“The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater. He is running an increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution,” read the statement. “A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans’ freedoms and fomenting political violence – and the American people will reject it this November.”

Trump also spoke to the upcoming November election in his response to the conviction on his campaign website.

“The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 –by the people. They know what happened here,” said Trump, in a May 30 statement. 

The convicted former president said that he will “fight to the end” and claimed the “country has gone to hell.”

When asked for comment, White House Counsel’s Office Spokesperson, Ian Sams, in a separate statement to the media said “We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment.”

According to the Associated Press, the judge set Trump’s sentencing for July 11.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Appointed by Gov. Wes Moore, Judge Michelle Greer is making history as the first African-American woman to be appointed to the Baltimore County Orphan’s Court in its nearly 250 years of history.

On May 8, in a touching ceremony, Greer was joined by around 200 people, including her loved ones, friends, colleagues and government officials.

“I am humbled and honored to accept this appointment as judge of orphan’s court for Baltimore County,” said Greer at the ceremony. “I’m looking forward to bringing not just a strong skill set but tremendous empathy to the bench. More often than not, people are hurting, and they just need to know that the judge cares.”

As an orphan’s court judge, Greer will help oversee the management of estates of people who have died by approving administration accounts and ensuring proper payments are made from estate assets and distributions are made to the correct beneficiaries or heirs. They also preside over disputes regarding a will or estate.

Vicki Ballou-Watts, an associate judge at the Baltimore County Circuit Court, spoke about the nature of the job that lies before Greer.

“The reality is that the administration of estates can be a very emotional and challenging process. Often, the filing with the judicial probate takes place at a time when family members are still grieving. There may be confusion or uncertainty about the way forward,” said Ballou-Watts. “The deceased may have left the will, making very clear how their property was to be divided. Yet, there can still be a family member that insists that certain property was promised to them.”

Ballou-Watts also said there can be concerns of undue influence in the last days leading to that person’s death or unknown children that have a right to the property in another state.

“These are just a few examples of the issues that orphan’s court judges confront on a regular basis,” continued Ballou-Watts. “Judge Designate Greer is well suited to join the orphan’s court and resolve these issues. Not only because of her good temperament and her experiences as a probate and family law attorney but also because, as someone mentioned earlier, she brings with her a skill set as a trained and certified mediator, a crisis management specialist and a children’s advocate.”

Greer has been a certified paralegal for around 20 years and has worked as a divorce coach and mediator. 

“I was blessed to work for and be mentored by some of the greatest trial lawyers in the state and in our nation,” said Greer. “Lawyers like A. Dwight Pettit, Billy Murphy and the late Robert E. Donadio and Russell White, to name a few. I was also blessed to meet some of the greatest legal minds of our time.”

Tisha Edwards, secretary of appointments for the Moore-Miller Administration, spoke on behalf of the governor to Greer’s ability to do the job.

“In your career, you have shown so much compassion for people in their time of loss and misfortune,” said Tisha Edwards, secretary of appointments for the Moore-Miller Administration, at the ceremony. “You have a remarkable success record as a legal mind in our state, as a paralegal, attorney and a certified mediator. You will bring invaluable experience to the bench.”

Greer’s experience with the death of her loved one and how she came through it is another reason the governor chose her.

“In 2003, my husband of 19 years passed away from a sudden massive stroke. He was 40 years old and I became a widow at the age of 32. My children were seven and 11,” said Greer. “I had not experienced a loss quite as devastating other than the murder of my dad when I was 10 years old.”

“Just before my husband passed we decided that it was time for me to resume my studies and pursue my law degree. My acceptance to the University of Baltimore arrived two days after his death,” continued Greer. “Within two months as a single mom and young widow, I embarked upon what became my greatest lesson in perseverance, sacrifice and hard work. It took my children and I 11 years to complete my undergraduate studies, as well as law school.”

She went on to explain that she experienced the impacts of being unprepared to suddenly lose a loved one and navigate the estate process. 

“As judges, we are tasked with making the right decisions in circumstances where quite often there’s more than one victim and many are impacted beyond those in front of us, and yet we have to make the decision,” said Greer. “I believe that how we make these decisions is just as important as the decision itself. I believe that humility goes places that the ego cannot. I believe in empathy, and its place in the delivery and execution of justice.”

Though Greer has begun serving on the bench, she will still need to be officially elected into the position in the 2026 midterm elections.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

On May 23, Former Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby was sentenced to three years of supervised release and 12 months of home detention for mortgage fraud and perjury. She must also complete 100 hours of community service.

Around 13 other people spoke at her sentencing, speaking to Mosby’s character and the need for her to return home with her family and children, instead of prison.

Well-known Civil Rights Lawyer Benjamin Crump was one.

“The conviction should only be classified as a minor white-collar crime in which many others have been convicted of and faced a sentence that amounted to a slap on the wrist,” said Crump. “What is different here today, is that underneath that white collar is the neck of a Black woman, who dares to challenge the status quo.”

In November 2023, Mosby was convicted on two counts of perjury for falsely claiming she experienced financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to withdraw funds from Baltimore City’s Deferred Compensation Plan.

In February, a federal jury found Mosby guilty on one of two counts of mortgage fraud in coordination with the purchase of a property in Longboat Key, Fla.

Mosby’s supporters came out in droves by car and bus.

Mosby could be seen entering the courthouse with her head held high alongside her daughters, Aniyah and Nylyn, in matching white outfits. Her ex-husband, Nick Mosby, came in a little afterward in a blue suit. The family members did not comment ahead of the court proceedings.

The courts made available overflow rooms in Greenbelt, Md., where the proceedings occurred, and Baltimore.

Supporters walked up to Mosby, giving her hugs as they filed into the Greenbelt, Md., courtroom. Mosby looked tearful as the proceedings were set to begin.

In court, Mosby first faced arguments for forfeiture of her Florida property in Longboat Key, Fla. The judge ultimately granted the forfeiture of that property.

In the days and weeks leading up to the sentencing, Mosby pushed for a presidential pardon, which has not yet been answered.

As of May 23, Mosby’s online petition for a presidential pardon from Biden received more than 75,000 signatures, gaining about 14,000 in three days.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Marilyn Mosby avoids prison, sentenced to one year home detention for mortgage fraud, perjury convictions appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Just ahead of former Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby’s sentencing on May 23, her story has gained national attention.

“We are enthused about the grassroots efforts that have taken place and now the support from many of the national organizations, supporters and the media,” said Haki Ammi, a supporter of Mosby and member of the Baltimore Chapter of Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network (NAN). “We started making small noises, and it manifested.”

In November 2023, Mosby was convicted on two counts of perjury for falsely claiming her finances were negatively impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to withdraw funds from Baltimore City’s Deferred Compensation Plan. 

In February, a jury in Greenbelt, Md., delivered a split verdict, finding Mosby guilty of making a false mortgage application to purchase a property in Longboat Key, Fla., but acquitting her of allegedly doing the same to purchase a home in Kissimmee, Fla.

Mosby could face up to 40 years for her convictions.

Earlier this month, Mosby’s legal team filed for no incarceration and one year of supervised release. The prosecution responded by insisting on 20 months in prison.

“The government requests the court sentence the defendant to 20 months incarceration followed by a period of supervised release,” said the prosecution in the memorandum. “This sentence appropriately reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s conduct and is not greater than necessary to satisfy the purposes of sentencing.”

Throughout her trial, supporters came out in busloads to stand with her.

“Wherever there is injustice, I will show up,” said Josephine Mourning, president of the Prince George’s County, Md. chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, on Feb. 16.

The NAN and 14 other organizations wrote and signed a letter to President Biden on May 7, asking him to pardon Mosby.

In part, the letter reads:

“On behalf of the nation’s civil rights, justice and advocacy organizations, we write to request a presidential pardon of former Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby. Ms. Mosby was wrongfully convicted and will face sentencing of up to 40 years in federal prison on May 23, 2024 after enduring the political persecution and malicious prosecution of the Trump Administration’s Department of Justice. 

We are deeply concerned that the last administration abused their power to advance a meritless indictment against Ms. Mosby and worse, the current administration’s U.S. Department of Justice ignored a clear political motive of the malicious prosecution against Ms. Mosby.

We ask that you grant a full pardon to Ms. Marilyn Mosby before May 23, 2024, and restore her full rights. Given that this prosecution illustrates selective prosecution within the last administration, we ask that you direct a thorough review of the prosecution of Black elected officials and other persons of color.”

As well, National Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump and more than 50 other lawyers signed Mosby’s application for a presidential pardon.

On May 16, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said she had not spoken to the president about Mosby’s pardon and could not comment further.

“Obviously, those letters have come through. I just haven’t spoken to the president directly about this,” said Jean-Pierre at a press briefing. “We do not want to speak about individual cases. We believe it’s inappropriate. We want to be really, really mindful here.”

Even so, Ammi said he and the other supporters won’t stop. 

“We’re not taking our foot off the pedal,” said Ammi. “We understand President Biden has Gaza, the Congo and Haiti, but we respectfully say that this is an election season, and he will need the support of Black people. He should use his good judgment.”

Maryland-based organizers gathered over 100 supporters on May 19 for a cookout in Mosby’s name. The cookout was aimed at strengthening support for her.

Mosby was present, greeting and speaking with supporters.

“I knew that coming in, trying to equalize, balance the scales of justice, was going to come with a tax,” said Mosby in a passionate speech to a crowd of her supporters in Clarksville, Md. “I decided I wanted to reform the criminal justice system because this is a system that disproportionately impacts people of color.”

As the Baltimore City State’s Attorney, Mosby enacted progressive practices and tried police officers in court for their alleged part in harmful or deadly interactions with suspects, such as in the Freddie Gray incident in 2015. Mosby served in the position from 2015 to 2023, losing the elected office after being indicted in 2022.

The prosecution insists that Mosby’s convictions have nothing to do with her progressive policies.

“Ms. Mosby was charged and convicted because she chose to repeatedly break the law, not because of her politics or policies,” said the prosecution in a recent memorandum.

Mosby maintained her innocence and encouraged her supporters to attend Thursday’s sentencing and sign her online petition for a pardon, which has more than 61,000 signatures as of May 20.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Marilyn Mosby pursues presidential pardon amidst national support appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
Tmcqueen@afro.com

With the aid of five tugboats, the Dali cargo ship was moved to the Seagirt Marine Terminal on the morning of May 20, about 2.5 miles away from where it struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26. 

“Early yesterday morning, Unified Command, salvers, first-responders and the ship’s crew worked in tandem to re-float the Dali ship. This is an absolutely critical step in fully reopening the full federal channel and restoring full access to the entirety of the Port of Baltimore,” said Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott, in a statement on May 21. “As we move closer to fully accomplishing our goal of fully reopening the port and rebuilding the bridge, we continue to stand committed to accomplishing this work in partnership. We will continue to diligently prioritize the needs of those most impacted as we move forward on the work still left ahead.”

The Unified Command includes the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Maryland Department of the Environment, the Maryland Transportation Authority, the Maryland State Police and Witt O’Brien’s, a risk management company, representing Dali manager Synergy Marine.

Refloating and moving the cargo ship involved removing obstructions via small detonation charges and precise cutting of the steel wreckage, pumping water out the ship and releasing lines that were stabilizing the Dali.

“Exactly eight weeks ago today, we were gathered right here at MDTA (Maryland Transportation Authority) headquarters,” said Moore on May 21 to members of the media at a press conference . “We came together to stand up our response– our collective response–to the Key Bridge collapse.” 

On Monday morning, much more than just the ship was moved. For the first time in over a month, the crew members on board the Dali will have an opportunity to put their feet on dry land. 

“Now that we have the ship refloated, they are now going to have the opportunity to have time off of the ship,” said Moore, when asked when the crew members may get off the ship and return home. 

Moore said the Dali is expected to remain in Baltimore for another four to six weeks.

“We still have roadway from the Key Bridge that is still sitting on top of the Dali. There’s still going to be a process to fully clear the Dali allow it to make its final journey to the Port of Norfolk,” continued Moore. “In order to do that, we know that not only is it going to take a little time, but also the support of the workers.”

This milestone opens up the waterway for deep-draft commercial vessels to move in and out of the Port of Baltimore.

“Over the next week, we expect another 20 vessels and barges to come through the port’s public terminals,” said Moore. 

The Unified Command said that any remaining bridge wreckage will be removed from the waterway as they work to fully reopen the full federal channel by the end of May.

Moore emphasized that though the Unified Command has made much progress they are not finished.

“Completion means opening the full 700-foot wide, 50-foot deep channel,” said Moore. “Completion means coming together again to celebrate the reopening of the new Francis Scott Key Bridge.”

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Dali cargo ship moved to Seagirt Marine Terminal appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser opened the District’s second Safe Commercial Corridor Hub in the Anacostia neighborhood of Ward 8 on May 13. The first safe commercial hub was opened in Chinatown in February. 

The hubs connect residents to an array of city services they may need, aiming to keep community corridors safe and unsullied.

“The idea is very simple: These are places where residents can walk in to get help from D.C. agencies,” said Bowser at a live-streamed press conference on May 13. “It is particularly aimed at improving public safety to make sure that people are getting the behavioral health services that they need.”

The new hub will be staffed by outreach teams from several community relations, human services, public safety and behavioral health agencies that can respond to community challenges in real time.

“We’re excited to have this resource in the community and we learned some lessons from the Chinatown hub. There we’ve seen a 15 percent drop in crime since we opened the hub, including a 78 percent drop in violent crime,” said Bowser. “We’ve also connected more than 200 people to DHS (Department of Human Services) and to the Department of Health through walk-ins.”

The Anacostia hub is located at 2300 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., S.E. It is open to residents Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

“Time and time again, we hear from residents and business owners and you speak about your desires to have more Metropolitan Police Department officers in your community,” said D.C. Chief of Police Pamela Smith. “This is certainly an opportunity for us today to be able to enhance and embark upon those things that you have constantly shared with us over and over again.

“Also, this hub will offer several benefits for us,” continued Smith. “It will give our officers more accessibility for police services through their police desk. It’ll give the officers the opportunity to be readily accessible, and we will cut down on response time when things are happening in this area. We will have officers here on bike patrol. We’ll have officers in this area on foot patrol.”

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post D.C. mayor opens safe commercial corridor hub in Anacostia appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

With 2024 being a major election year, it is imperative that citizens of all ages have a solid understanding of how to exercise the right to vote and engage in civic duties. As the AFRO works to cover the issues and happenings of the current election year, it’s important to consider civic education in a country that boasts a democratic system. 

“Civics education in K-12 prepares students to live in a democracy,” said Nina Kasniunas, an associate professor of political science at Goucher College. “It teaches students how to think critically about our governmental system and gives them the knowledge and ability to think about and address the problems that arise in our society.”

According to Civics for Life, an initiative through the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for American Democracy, civic education helps to foster a sense of national identity, helps people understand their rights, encourages civic responsibility and helps create meaningful participation in society.

Social studies standards in Tennessee include lessons about American identity as citizens, the various levels of the political system, and its purpose and how it functions. Maryland’s social studies standards include teaching youth the historical development of the foundational processes of authority and power in American society and helping students question them to gain a better understanding of them.

“Research has shown that having a strong foundation in civics education leads to greater civic engagement as adults,” said Kasniunas. “Without a good civics education, we risk a generation that’s unprepared to step up to leadership roles in our democracy.”

It appears that youth in recent years have heard the call, with increased voter turnouts in the 2022 and 2018 midterm elections. They are also exercising their rights by protesting at college campuses over the nation’s stance and involvement in the Israel-Hamas war. 

In addition, younger people are running for notable offices across the country, and some have even won their campaigns, such as Congressman Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.-10) and Maryland State Dels. Jeffrie Long (D-Md.-27B) and Joe Vogel (D-Md.-17). Frost, Long, and Vogel were 25 when they were elected.

“Young people need civics education because it helps them understand their responsibilities and power as citizens,” said Mileah Kromer, director of the Sarah T. Hughes Center for Politics. “A robust civics education is a building block– a necessary foundation– for future change-makers.  You can’t expect to improve this country unless you know exactly how government functions and where power is held.”

Though American schools put an emphasis on preparing youth for their civic responsibilities, it is not common practice for every American school to remind and register 17-18-year-old high schoolers of their civic duty to vote. 

According to a survey by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning (CIRCLE) and Engagement, an independent research organization, about two-thirds of respondents, 64 percent, said they were encouraged to vote in high school, while 50 percent say they were taught how to register to vote. CIRCLE found that youth who said they were encouraged to vote or taught how to register to vote in high school are more likely to vote and participate in other civic activities.

According to CIRCLE, about 50 percent of eligible youth, ages 18-29, voted in the 2020 presidential election.

Kasniunas says while adults are important in the process of learning civics, youth can and should take responsibility as well. 

“When students take the initiative, it’s a practice that is more likely to become a lifelong habit,” said Kasniunas. “If you do it for them, it’s not as likely to have the same effect. We want students to have agency to vote because they understand why it’s important.”

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post A time to educate: The importance of civic studies in K-12 classrooms appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Aria Brent 
AFRO Staff Writer 
abrent@afro.com

And 

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The 2024 primary election featured several important races, including the mayoral race for Baltimore City. The much-anticipated night for the mayoral race ended with incumbent Brandon M. Scott (D) leading with 50.96 percent of the votes, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections. Dixon received 41.29 percent of the vote and Baltimore Businessman Bob Wallace (D) received 3.15 percent.

“I want to thank Sheila Dixon for her tireless service and commitment to our city. This was a hard fought campaign and regardless of any policy disagreements we may share, there is absolutely no disagreement about Sheila Dixon’s passion and love for Baltimore City,” said Scott in response to Dixon’s concession on May 17. “Mayor Dixon’s advocacy has been a fixture in our city and today I join thousands of city residents in acknowledging her many contributions to our city.”AF

Though Dixon has now conceded, she did not give up hope right away.

“In respect to all who voted, I’ll be waiting for the final outcome of the mail-in ballots before I make any further statements on the outcome of the mayoral primary,” said Dixon in a statement from her campaign on May 15. “I appreciate your patience as we monitor the tally of the outstanding votes still being counted.”

After more votes were counted on May 17 at 11 a.m., bringing Scott to 12,340 mail-in ballot votes and Dixon to 10,365 mail-in votes, she conceded.

“I have called Mayor Brandon Scott to congratulate him on his victory in the mayoral primary. His success leading our city is success for us all, so I sincerely wish him all the best in his second term,” said Dixon in a statement on May 17. “While this isn’t the outcome we hoped for, I’m profoundly grateful to God and to each and every one of the Baltimoreans who stood with me in this race. Those who know me know that my commitment to our city does not end with this campaign. I have dedicated my life to Baltimore, and while this race marks the end of my journey in public office, I will never stop working to serve the city I love.”

“After some much-needed rest and some time with my family, I look forward to stepping back into the community as your lifelong partner in the work to fulfill this city’s potential because I know it will take all of us to realize the future we all envision and the great people of this city deserve,” continued Dixon.

Baltimore Mayoral Candidate Thiru Vignarajah (D) shook things up when he dropped out of the race and endorsed Dixon just ahead of the primary.

“I’m going to make the best closing argument I can to my voters, to people that were planning to vote for me, to those who are undecided about why tomorrow, it is critical for you to cast the ballot for Sheila Dixon,” said Vignarajah on May 13 at Dixon’s final rally of the campaign. “There is something that she has learned over the course of time that has enabled her to bring people together. It’s the reason why she was able to bring an incredible team together in city hall.”

Vignarajah announced he was dropping out of the race and endorsing Dixon on May 1, just a day before early voting. On May 13, less than 24 hours before Marylanders took to the polls for the Maryland primary, Vignarajah joined Baltimore City Councilman Eric Costello (D-District 11) and other supporters in urging voters to turn out for Dixon.

During her campaign, Dixon garnered support from several Baltimore notables, including Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates (D), State Sen. Jill P. Carter (D-Md.-41) and former U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski (D).

“We believe Sheila Dixon is the best hope to lead our city moving forward,” said Costello. “She has the demonstrable track record of reducing crime.” 

According to a book by Theodore Carl T. Hyden and Theodore F Sheckels, “Political Problems and Personalities in Contemporary Maryland,” in 2007, as Dixon was entering office, Baltimore was expected to exceed 300 homicides. Dixon made it her priority to tackle crime when she got into office and was able to reduce homicides by 17 percent by the end of 2008. She partially did it by using community policing and officer resources to address violent offenders.

During the initial conference, Vignarajah discussed how closing his campaign to promote Dixon’s run for mayor was done with “unity” in mind and “for the sake of a broader purpose.”

“It became increasingly clear to me that it was important to show the people of Baltimore what unity looks like,” said Vignarajah at the press conference on May 1. “What it means to put small differences aside for the sake of a broader purpose, a bigger vision, a greater goal.”

Much of the former deputy attorney general’s speech highlighted Dixon’s passion for service and dedication to Charm City. However, he took time to acknowledge her past and that she was in a place of redemption.

“We’ve all stumbled. It’s how you respond to those stumbles that define you. Redemption is a journey, and I think that she and I understand and appreciate that sometimes you have to earn that redemption through public service,” he stated.

Vignarajah explained that despite their differences, he’s happy to support the former mayor’s campaign. As he continued to speak, it became clear that his interest in helping her seemed equally tied to his interest in seeing current Mayor Brandon Scott leave office.

“One failed corrupt politician endorsing another failed corrupt politician is a prime example of the broken, corrupt politics of the past,” said Scott’s Campaign Manager, Nicholas Machado, in response to Vignarajah’s announcement. “Thiru’s endorsement was for sale and Sheila Dixon was more than happy to buy it. We’d expect nothing less from Sheila Dixon, who has already proven time and again her personal interests outweigh all others.”

Dixon spoke towards the end of the nearly 15-minute press conference, noting how much she appreciates him and his team’s support. 

The seasoned politician assured citizens that her interest in being mayor again is rooted in her love for the city.

“I got into this race not to create political enemies, not to do this for any politics on my agenda, but because of my commitment and love of this city,” said Dixon. “The one thing that I’ve done over the years, no matter if somebody supported me or didn’t support me, I always brought people to the table for Baltimore and the citizens of this city.” 

Dixon responded to Scott’s comments that evening, declaring them “false narratives.”

“Mayor Scott has responded to today’s endorsement news by pushing a false narrative regarding commitments I have allegedly made to Mr. Vignarajah. While we had conversations about issues facing the city and his desire to support my team in addressing them, I can say unequivocally that no promises were made regarding future employment with my administration,” said Dixon. “I have a reputation of being a strong manager that brings smart people with different perspectives to the table. I appreciate Mr. Vignarajah’s support today and I look forward to working with him towards a better Baltimore.”

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Former Mayor Sheila Dixon concedes to Mayor Brandon M. Scott in Democratic primary appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

After weeks and days of anticipation, the results are in. Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) is the projected winner of the Baltimore City mayoral race.

“Our victory tonight means that the work has just begun,” said Scott as he addressed the crowd of his supporters at his watch party in South Baltimore on May 14. “Winning is not just a triumph, but a challenge to go further, to be better and do more for Baltimore. The results tonight show that Baltimore’s choice is to keep moving forward.”

The Maryland State Board of Elections (MSBE) reported that all precincts in Baltimore City had reported by 1 a.m. on May 15, meaning most of the votes are in. The provisional ballot votes still need to be counted.

As of 5 a.m. on May 15, Scott received 50.96 percent of the votes, former Mayor Sheila Dixon received 41.29 percent and Businessman Bob Wallace received 3.15 percent.

“I want to extend my thanks to former Mayor Dixon for her passion for this city, for her years of service and for her commitment to our residents and for a very, very hard-fought race. But now it’s time to turn the page,” said Scott, invoking cheers from supporters and chants of “four more years.”

Early in the night, the race results showed Dixon ahead of Scott via mail-in ballots and early voting, but that lead was brief. After Election Day votes began to come in, the votes flipped for Scott, slowly but surely increasing his lead as the night went on.

Hours before the announcement, Scott’s supporters gathered at his watch party in South Baltimore, with hope and vibrancy ringing through the crowd. As the night went on, the crowd grew, and so did the joy as the results showed up in favor of Scott.

“This really means a lot to me,” said Baltimore City Councilwoman Sharon Green Middleton (D-District 6). “Brandon Scott is my fifth mayor. I have had a new mayor every single term and now I found someone that I can relate to.”

Middleton highlighted that Scott understands Park Heights and is supportive of the area.

“We all know the trials and tribulations of Park Heights,” said Middleton. “We finally have a mayor that understands what’s going on in that community.”

Scott designated Park Heights as the ninth Baltimore Main Street district this week. The Baltimore Main Streets program aims to revitalize community economies and support businesses in the neighborhood. Under Scott’s administration, a new Enoch Pratt Free Library and hundreds of affordable rental and senior units are in the works in Park Heights. 

“I think Mayor Brandon Scott is an amazing mayor,” said Shardey Jones, a supporter of Scott, at the watch party earlier in the night. “I’ve watched his story from start to finish and I’ve had the pleasure of doing work with him in the community back when I first moved to Baltimore back in 2015. It’s a pleasure to see someone who is so committed to the cause, committed to the community, be elected mayor and to shine.”

Uncertainty was caused during the mayoral race concerning the votes already cast for former candidate Thiruvdeven “Thiru” Vignarajah, who ended his race suddenly on May 1 and immediately backed Dixon for mayor through mail-in ballot.

The MSBE issued a statement on the matter.

“Under Maryland law, a voter may only cast one ballot. Once a voter fills in a mail-in ballot, seals it in an envelope, signs the envelope, and returns it by mailing it, delivering it in person to a local board, or putting it in a ballot drop box, then the ballot is cast,” said MSBE. “Once the ballot is cast, regardless of whether the candidate remains in the race or withdraws, the voter may not request another ballot to replace the cast ballot or vote in person during early voting or Election Day to replace the cast ballot.”

“A candidate announcing a withdrawal from a race does not invalidate or affect any of the votes recorded on a cast ballot and all votes will be recorded and tabulated as they were voted,” continued the MSBE. “If a voter has marked a mail-in ballot but has not mailed it or if they have misplaced their mail-in ballot, they may request a new mail-in ballot online.”

In an April Goucher Poll asking surveyors who they’d vote for if the election were today, 40 percent chose Scott, 32 percent chose Dixon and three percent chose Wallace. Fifty-nine percent of surveyors said they were set on their choice for mayor, 37 percent said they could change their mind and four percent said they were unsure. The AFRO endorsed Scott in the mayoral race ahead of the primary election. 

As primary results finalize, winning primary candidates will prepare for the Nov. 5 general election, in which they will face opposing political party candidates for the position. 

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott wins 2024 Democratic primary race appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The 2024 Maryland primary election finally arrived on May 14. The months and weeks leading up the day have been filled with candidates’ attempts to reach voters through public forums and televised discussions.

All throughout the state polls opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m., presenting the last chance for voters to have their say on several levels of government offices from the U.S. Senate to city council members.

“I just think that we need strong leadership and we haven’t had that in the last few years,” said Baltimore native Bernard Webster, 61, as he exited the voting poll at the War Memorial Plaza, directly across from City Hall. 

“If I don’t vote I don’t have a say, ” said Webster. The AFRO was able to catch up with voters as they exited the polls to share why they decided to vote, their choices and top concerns from this election season.

Kyle Pompey, echoed Webster’s sentiments when asked why decided to exercise his right to vote.

“I came out to vote because if we don’t come out to vote, we don’t have control,” said Pompey. “You need to come out and vote if you want to control what’s going on in the city.”

Erica Myers, 36, said she came out in recognition of the African-American plight.

“The reason why I came out today is because I think about the sacrifices and the legacy of my grandmother and my ancestors, who fought so hard to vote,” she said. “I don’t ever want to take it for granted— regardless of what’s going on in the world.”

Myers said she is concerned about her tax dollars being properly allocated and support for city residents looking to do more than survive, but thrive.

Baltimore native, Marc Edmunds, 70, said voting this election season was important, in part, because it will decide who gets to be mayor. 

“I wanted to make sure we have a change in city hall,” said Edmunds. “Mayor Scott is a good man. I know he means well, but I have an issue when there’s no heat in the schools during wintertime and no air conditioning. I have an issue with that.”

Edmunds also said he had a good experience at the polls today, but was surprised at the small number of people coming to vote at the War Memorial poll site.

With more ways to vote in the modern era, registered voters had the option of mail-in and early voting, voting on election day is no longer the main voter turnout day.

According to the Maryland State Board of Elections, in Baltimore City for the 2022 Midterm primary election, 34,577 people voted by mail, nearly 14,000 voters turned out for early voting and more than 40,000 voters came out for election day.

At the Baltimore Unity Hall poll site, one voter said she came out primarily to vote for former Baltimore City Mayor Sheila Dixon, a top candidate for the seat.

“I basically wanted to vote for Sheila Dixon because I think she is a good person,” said Barbara Horton, 71 of West Baltimore. “I think she deserves another opportunity.”

Political spectators are expecting another close race this year between Mayor Brandon M. Scott and former mayor Dixon. In the 2020 primary election, Scott won with 29.6 percent of the vote over Dixon, who received 27.5 percent. With last minute major endorsements from Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates and former mayoral candidate Thiruvendran Vignarajah, Dixon increased her chances for snagging a win this year.

Due to Baltimore City being a majority Democratic city, the winner of the Democratic primary will most likely secure the seat.

Results from the polls are expected to roll in after voting ends at 8 p.m.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Baltimore voters take to the polls for Maryland’s primary election appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
Tmcqueen@afro.com

After a weekend of delays, the Unified Command was able to cut the remaining portion of the steel frame bridge with several small detonation charges, which caused the bridge to fall into the water within a matter of seconds. 

“It went as planned in terms of separating into two pieces and some of the other pieces falling away from the ship,” said David O’ Connell, captain of the port, to the media shortly after the detonation. “I think we’re in good shape. We’re going to do an assessment tonight and tomorrow and see what needs to be done to clean up and get the Dali out of here as soon as we can.”

Detonation charges were used to ensure the safety of salvage workers and other members of the Unified Command. 

“Safety in this operation is our top priority,” said Moore in a press conference that took place earlier in the day on May 13. “We’ve gotten to this point without a single injury. We plan on continuing this mission without a single injury. That is the standard that we have going forward.”

Now that the Dali cargo ship is freed in most areas, with only portions of the debris remaining on the boat, the vessel is expected to be refloated and moved by tugboats on Wednesday, May 15. The ship will be moved by several tugboats about 2.5 miles away to the Seagirt Marine Terminal in Baltimore.

Before the ship can move, O’Connell says that the Navy’s supervisor of salvage and diving will be in the water through the night using their Coda 3D system to get a look of the detonation aftermath. 

“They will be followed by a dive survey tomorrow morning,” said O’Connell. “They will be removing water from the ship to make it lighter in preparation for it to be moved in the next couple of days.”

Moore reminded the public of the Unified Command’s four directives: bring closure to the impacted families, clear the channel and fully reopen traffic to the port, take care of all of those impacted by the collapse and rebuild the Key Bridge.

Unified Command members said they see this progress as a significant win, helping them get closer to reopening the full channel by the end of the month.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Explosives detonated to free Key Bridge from cargo ship appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The Prince George’s County Council recently passed a resolution allowing local business owners to chime in on the enforcement of juvenile curfew zones.

The council’s resolution authorizes the chief of police to enforce and create curfew zones for juveniles under 17 when requested by commercial property owners in Prince George’s County. The bill took effect immediately.

“The resolution we passed today will fill the gap as the Juvenile Curfew Bill becomes law,” said Council Chair Jolene Ivey (D-District 5) in a statement on April 30. “Our county executive put an executive order in place specific to National Harbor, but we want to allow other commercial property owners in the county to apply for a curfew zone if they feel it’s needed.”

Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks’ executive order prohibits unaccompanied minors 16 and under from the National Harbor between 5 p.m. and 6 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The curfew went into effect on April 26.

“The safety and well-being of our residents, visitors and businesses at National Harbor are of the utmost importance,” said Alsobrooks in a statement. “The implementation of a juvenile curfew is a necessary step to address the recent incidents of unruly behavior and ensure public safety. We are committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to preserve the vibrancy and security of National Harbor.” 

Eligible business owners must meet particular criteria before submitting an application for a curfew zone, which includes a letter of support from the county council member of that area.

“Our biggest priority is making sure we’re in partnership with the business community, law enforcement and the residents of our county who have all been strong supporters of these measures,” said Ivey.

With the Juvenile Curfew Bill the council aims to enforce more aggressive measures within the juvenile curfew zones in order to handle youth violence.

The bill is expected to be voted on at the end of May.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Prince George’s County Council gives business owners a say in juvenile curfew zones appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Gov. Wes Moore signed data protection bills and legislation to eradicate poverty throughout Maryland into law on May 9.

​​The Maryland Kids Code creates regulations designed to keep kids safe while online.

“It’s meant to rein in some of the worst practices with sensible regulation that allows companies to do what’s right and what is wonderful about the internet and tech innovation, while at the same time saying, ‘you can’t take advantage of our kids,’” said Del. Jared Solomon, a sponsor of the bill, during a virtual press conference on May 8.“‘You have to have some limits on what you can do.’”

A 2022 Pew Research Center survey, found that 97 percent of teens ages 13 to 17 use the internet daily. 

Solomon further explained how the bill limits what online platforms can do concerning youth users.

“When it goes into effect in October, companies will no longer be able to track the locations of individuals. They won’t be able to collect or sell the data of young people,” he said. “It will prevent anonymous adults from contacting minors.”

Solomon said companies will still be able to use data that is required for a platform or website to function. The bill will go into effect in October of this year, but the data impact assessment portion of the legislation will go into effect on April 1, 2026.

Moore also signed the Maryland Online Data Privacy Act of 2024, a broad data protection bill that will take effect on October 1, 2025.

The Engaging Neighborhoods, Organizations, Unions, Governments, and Households Grant Program (ENOUGH Act) was also signed into law on May 9. It aims to eradicate poverty in Maryland communities by putting state money into impoverished neighborhoods and building partnerships. 

“This legislation calls on communities to come together and create comprehensive plans on how to make their neighborhoods better,” said Moore. “This is about the communities putting together a plan and then just simply looking at the state as a partner in that work.”

Moore also reflected on the Brooklyn Homes mass shooting of July 2023, which resulted in the death of 18-year-old Aaliyah Gonzalez and 20-year-old Kylis Fagbemi. Moore emphasized how poverty can snowball into larger issues.

“One of the greatest drivers of hardship and heartbreak in our state is poverty. Poverty drives violence, poverty drives despair,” said Moore. “It should not be lost on anyone that in Brooklyn, one in two children grow up in poverty. We’ve seen similar numbers in Brooklyn for over a decade because those who grow up in poverty are most likely to die in poverty.”

The ENOUGH Act goes into effect on July 1.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced on May 6 that over $125 million will be allocated to State Revitalization Programs under the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to support community, housing and economic development projects.

“We must ensure that our cities, towns and communities are strong and resilient. Serving as viable, vibrant economic and social hubs with pathways to opportunity for all Marylanders,” said Moore in a news release. “Our State Revitalization Programs foster partnerships with local governments and stakeholders and provide critical capital resources to address the unique redevelopment goals and challenges of Maryland’s diverse communities.”

The funding will be available through seven programs, which include Community Legacy, Maryland Facade Improvement, Strategic Demolition Fund-Project C.O.R.E., Strategic Demolition Fund-Statewide, Baltimore Regional Neighborhood Initiative, National Capital Strategic Economic Development Fund and Seed Community Development Anchor Institution. 

The Governor’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget includes:

• Community Legacy: $8 million capital
• Maryland Facade Improvement Program: $5 million capital
• Strategic Demolition Fund – Statewide: $10 million capital
• Strategic Demolition Fund – Project C.O.R.E.: $50 million capital to accelerate the elimination of vacant properties in Baltimore
• Baltimore Regional Neighborhood Initiative: $20 million capital, $2 million operating
• National Capital Strategic Economic Development Fund: $19 million capital, $1,200,000 operating
• Seed Community Development Anchor Institution Program: $10 million capital

Interested applicants should apply by June 26 at 3 p.m. The governor’s office advises first-time applicants to reach out to a regional project manager for more information on the process and to determine eligibility.

“Each year, State Revitalization Programs support hundreds of community improvement projects and activities that generate millions of dollars in additional public, private, and nonprofit investment,” said Jake Day, secretary of DHCD, in a news release. “I am extremely grateful that Governor Moore recognized the importance of these resources to local communities by maintaining or increasing funding for these important programs in his budget.”

Eligible projects should align with strategies outlined in an approved local government sustainable community plan. 

There will also be application training webinar sessions on May 20 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. 

To register, visit https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Communities/Pages/StateRevitalizationPrograms/default.aspx.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The body of the fifth victim in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge has been recovered. Miguel Angel Luna Gonzalez, 49, of Glen Burnie, Md. was pulled from the Patapsco River more than one month after the Dali, a container ship, struck the bridge in the early morning hours of March 26, causing the structure to collapse. A total of six people lost their lives in the incident, which is under investigation. 

“We remain dedicated to the ongoing recovery operations while knowing behind each person lost in this tragedy lies a loving family,” said Col. Roland L. Butler, Jr., superintendent of the Maryland Department of State Police, in a news release. “Along with our local, state and federal partners, we ask that everyone extend their deepest sympathies and support to the families during this difficult time.”

The Unified Command’s salvage team discovered a missing construction vehicle and reported it to the Maryland Department of State Police.

Maryland State Police investigators, alongside Maryland Transportation Authority Police officers and the FBI, responded to the report and recovered Luna’s body in a red truck on May 1.

According to Gustavo Torres, executive director of CASA, Luna was an active member of CASA and came to the United States from El Salvador two decades ago in search of the American dream. CASA is an advocacy organization.

There is still one remaining construction worker missing.

In support of these recovery efforts, the Baltimore City Council voted to extend the city’s State of Emergency on May 1.

“Our council took action to ensure that the recovery effort at the Key Bridge can continue under the current mode of operation with all of the resources currently available,” said Council President Nick J. Mosby in a statement. “Without the council’s prompt action to extend the state of emergency, access to many of the resources would have lapsed.”

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Baltimore County Sitting Judges Michael Barranco, Patricia DeMaio, Marc A. DeSimone Jr. and James Rhodes came together as a slate to encourage voters to help them retain their seats on the Circuit Court for Baltimore County bench this election season.

DeMaio, DeSimone and Rhodes were appointed to the seats in December 2023. The appointments of DeMaio and Rhodes made history, as they are the first two Black judges appointed at the same time to the Circuit Court for Baltimore County.

“As demographics change around the county, you would expect to see a change in positions on county councils, the judiciary and other positions,” said Rhodes. “Taking into account also the fact that we have the first African-American governor, you would also expect that some changes will be made with respect to the increase in non-traditional people holding positions in the county.”

Rhodes practiced law for 26 years before he was appointed to the bench. He also served as the legal chair to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) while providing pro bono services to law enforcement and government attorneys. Rhodes, as an attorney, tried cases in civil litigation, criminal defense, family law and more.

“I have extensive practice experience that includes both criminal law as well as civil practice as I was an in-house counsel for an insurance company,” said DeMaio. “I was a judge before I was appointed to the Circuit Court for Baltimore County. I was an administrative law judge with the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings.”

DeMaio was also a full-time faculty member at Howard University School of Law, teaching legal reasoning, research and writing.

“My life background is such that I understand what our citizens face. On the bench I’m not sitting high and looking low on people,” said DeMaio. “I was raised by a single parent. My mother was a teen mother. We grew up in subsidized housing and on public assistance. My mother died when I was 19 after my first year of college.”

“I know what it’s like to feel like you are part of those who have been left behind. I know what it feels like to try to fight to make it out of a life circumstance that you did not choose, but you were born into,” DeMaio continued. “I think it’s that background and that experience that allows me to make decisions with compassion, with respect, with understanding and to treat people fair and justly when they appear in front of me in court.”

All appointed candidates had to go through an extensive vetting process in order to even be presented to Gov. Wes Moore as an option.

DeMaio explained that within the appointment process candidates have to include their practice experience, community service and any negative things in their history.

“It doesn’t mean you won’t become a judge, but you have to disclose everything,” she said.

DeMaio added that they also had to go through interviews with several bar associations.

All materials in the process are submitted to the Judicial Nominating Commission who then interviews you and selects a shortlist of names that is then sent to the governor. The governor then interviews the candidates and chooses who to select for a vacancy from there.

“We are Baltimore County residents ourselves, our families live here,” said Rhodes. “We want to make sure that the people who appear before us are just as safe as we want our families to be.”

Since the appointment, they have served in the Circuit Court, but this historical appointment could be short lived if voters do not select them both on May 14, during the Maryland primary and on Nov. 5 in the general election.

Judge races are typically uncontested, but this year, Robert Daniels decided to run. As the ballot is organized by last name, Daniels’ moniker places him second on the ballot, making it more likely that voters will choose him, potentially unseating one of the appointed judges. 

This concerns supporters of DeMaio and Rhodes, who believe some voters– when asked to choose four judges– will simply mark the first four names on the ballot. 

“I think that certainly there is luck in ballot placement, some folks do win the alphabet lottery, but I wanted to make this race about qualifications and experience from the moment I got in,” said Daniels, in response to the concerns. “I would really love nothing more than if we could put an end to ballot placement being the deciding factor.”

Only four candidates can be selected on the ballot, and Daniels makes five. 

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Gov. Wes Moore (D-Md.) made the issue of better housing his mission during the 2024 Maryland legislative session, working hard with legislators to ensure support for renters and homeowners in the state. 

On April 25, at his second bill signing after the 2024 session, Moore said there is a “shortage” of “a minimum of 96,000 units” in his state. 

“Thirty percent of younger Marylanders are considering leaving our state simply because of housing costs. You cannot have a growing state if people cannot afford to live here.”

More than 52 percent of Maryland renters spend 30 percent or more of their earnings on housing costs. As a result, Moore authored and signed the Housing Expansion and Affordability Act of 2024, the Renters’ Rights and Stabilization Act of 2024 and the Housing and Community Development Financing Act.

“This was the year that we made the choice to put housing front and center because we knew this was an issue that could not wait,” said Moore, who identified the efforts as “legislation that is making our state more affordable.”

According to the governor’s office, between October 2021 and October 2023, the household income necessary to afford a median-priced home in Maryland increased by 56 percent, from $85,000 to $132,000. 

Moore also signed the Freedom to Read Act, which aims to prevent politically motivated book bans and ensure students have access to a range of viewpoints. House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Md.-10) spoke on the work being done to discourage discrimination and racism in Maryland.

“Over the past few years, I’ve seen anger and hate resurface as part of our political discourse. We’ve seen political discourse pull apart our communities, families and friends,” said Jones, adding that she was proud of the Freedom to Read Act because she “wanted to put some safeguards and best practices in place” to prevent hate “from taking further root in our state.”

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com

Mayor Brandon M. Scott and members of the Baltimore City Council filed a lawsuit against the owner and manager of the Dali, the cargo ship that struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, causing a deadly collapse.

In the lawsuit, filed on April 22 in the U.S. District Court of Maryland, the city alleges that the owners were negligent in allowing the vessel to leave the Port of Baltimore even though alarms on the ship were allegedly reported before the vessel left port, indicating an unreliable power supply.

Scott refused to speak on the “pending legislation” at the live-streamed Key Bridge update on April 23.

Moore gave several updates on the Key Bridge salvage operations at the press conference.

“We’ve lifted over 2,900 tons of wreckage,” he said. “There have been 145 commercial vessels that have moved through the temporary channels that have been set up by Unified Command.”

Moore announced a fourth channel, available to commercial transit, that they expect to open later in the week.

“Three of these channels are already open,” said Moore. “One with a controlling depth of 11 feet, one with a controlling depth of 10 feet [and] one with a controlling depth of 20 feet. Today, the Unified Command began laying out buoys and lights to mark a fourth temporary channel with a controlling depth of 35 feet.”

Moore emphasized that this situation remains complex as he described the work involved in pulling a 560-ton piece of the bridge out of the water.

“It’s important to remember that just the process of rigging it, just the process of preparation, was about a two-and-a-half day operation,” said Moore. “We are going to work efficiently and we’re going to work safe. We’re not going to choose between the two.”

U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath said that the Unified Command will suspend vessel traffic in the fourth channel for about 10 days to remove the Dali from the channel.

Col. Estee Pinchasin, Baltimore district commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said they plan to open the full federal channel by the end of May.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com

The Arizona Supreme Court issued a ruling that created a near-total abortion ban in the state on April 9. The Arizona Supreme Court, through the Planned Parenthood Arizona v. Kristin Mayes case, reinstated a criminal law from 1864 that nearly completely banned abortions in the state until the 1970s.

“Freedom shouldn’t be dictated by your zip code. When I’m in the Senate, I’ll fight like everything to eliminate the filibuster and make sure women across this country have access to abortion rights, IVF and the full spectrum of reproductive care,” said Angela Alsobrooks, a U.S. Senate candidate for Maryland. “I can’t imagine what the women and families of Arizona are going through today. Know that we see you and we will not stop fighting until your freedoms are restored.”

The reinstated law reads: 

“A person who provides, supplies or administers to a pregnant woman, or procures such woman to take any medicine, drugs or substance, or uses or employs any instrument or other means whatever, with intent thereby to procure the miscarriage of such woman, unless it is necessary to save her life, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than two years nor more than five years.”

According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, a worldwide human rights legal organization, the law will be “enforceable in 45 days after the court issues its mandate, which is separate from today’s decision.”

“This cruel ban was first enacted in 1864—more than 150 years ago, before Arizona was even a state and well before women had secured the right to vote,” said President Biden in a statement on the matter. “We will continue to fight to protect reproductive rights and call on Congress to pass a law restoring the protections of Roe v. Wade for women in every state.”

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced on the day of the ruling that she would not enforce this law.

“Today’s decision to reimpose a law from a time when Arizona wasn’t a state, the Civil War was raging and women couldn’t even vote will go down in history as a stain on our state,” said Mayes in a statement. “This is far from the end of the debate on reproductive freedom, and I look forward to the people of Arizona having their say in the matter. Let me be completely clear, as long as I am Attorney General, no woman or doctor will be prosecuted under this draconian law in this state.”

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonprofit law public policy organization, in the 1960s, abortions were illegal in most states in the U.S.

“To stop bans like this we need a United States Congress that will restore the protections of Roe v. Wade and when they do, President Biden will sign it into law,” said Vice President Kamala Harris, in a video she released on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “Let’s always remember, it does not have to be this way.”

The Alliance Defending Freedom, a faith-based legal advocacy organization, held a live-streamed press conference on April 9 to discuss their approval of the decision.

“We are incredibly grateful for the Arizona Supreme Court’s ruling today,” said Jake Warner, senior counsel for the Alliance Defending Freedom’s Appellate Team. “We celebrate the Arizona Supreme Court’s decision that allows the state’s pro-life law to again protect the lives of countless innocent unborn children.”

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Arizona outlaws abortion using law from 1864 appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com

Baltimore City Council Budget Briefing

On April 25 at 3:00 p.m., the Baltimore City Council Finance and Performance Committee is holding a hearing to inform the city council on how the city and school finances compare to its budget projections. Baltimoreans who want to keep track of the city’s budget process as it goes through the city council should plan to attend in person on the fourth floor of the City Hall or via Webex.

Quarterly Oversight Hearing on American Rescue Plan Funds

Join the Baltimore City Council Finance and Performance Committee on April 25 at 3:05 p.m. for an oversight hearing concerning the management and disbursement of the $641 million American Rescue Plan Act funds, federal funding to help the city recover from the impact of COVID-19. Those interested can attend by going to the fourth floor of the Baltimore City Hall or Webex.

Sketching Sessions at the Walters Art Museum

Calling artists of all levels. On April 25 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., the Walters Art Museum will host a sketching session with some guidance on techniques. Materials will be provided, and no registration is required. The Walters Art Museum is located at 600 N. Charles St., Baltimore, Md. 

Blueprint for Successful Coaching Programs

Women entrepreneurs seeking guidance on creating a successful coaching program should consider attending the virtual master class, Blueprint for Successful coaching programs. On April 29 from 7 to 8 p.m. attendees can learn to identify their clients’ needs, set courageous goals and design interactive learning activities. Those interested should register online at https://allevents.in/baltimore/10000875686009427.

Tashi McQueen is a Report for America corps member.

The post Upcoming meetings and events in the Baltimore area appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com

Earth Day Family Festival 

The National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum are celebrating Earth Day with a family festival on April 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 800 G Street Northwest, Washington, D.C. The event will feature musical performances, craft workshops, a scavenger hunt and face painting for children 12 and under.

Budget Oversight Hearing: Committee of the Whole

The D.C. Council is currently going through its budget process. Anyone who’d like to be apart of the process can attend a budget oversight hearing on April 24 at 9 a..m. During the hearing the Office of Zoning, the Office of Planning and the Department of Buildings will testify. Those interested can attend at 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, D.C. or via https://bit.ly/2ooL0l1.

Protecting Cultural Heritage Under Siege

The National Museum of Asian Art is hosting a panel discussion on April 24 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on protecting tangible cultural heritage and those who work to maintain it in areas of violence. Panelists will explore the intertwined economic, humanitarian and political challenges of protecting shared cultural heritage.

The event is located at Freer Gallery of Art on Independence Avenue at 12th St, SW Washington, D.C. 

The Big 202 Entrepreneur Networking

Those looking for an opportunity to network with other entrepreneurs grow their connections and should attend the Big 202 Entrepreneur Networking event on April 25 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 800 Maine Avenue Southwest, Washington, D.C.

DC Walk 4 ReCovery 2024 

Join the D.C. Walk 4 ReCovery for a day of support, music and networking at the National Mall on April 27 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The D.C. Walk 4 ReCovery is a national initiative committed to providing education and providing solutions for individuals dealing with the effects of co-occurring Disorders associated with addiction and mental health illnesses.

Tashi McQueen is a Report for America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com

Amidst the ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts surrounding the Francis Scott Key Bridge, on April 8 members of the Caucus of African-American Leaders (CAAL), a consortium of Black organizations and individuals from around Maryland, called for Gov. Wes Moore and the Maryland General Assembly to rename the Key Bridge and the Senator Fredrick C. Malkus Jr. Memorial Bridge.

“If people understood what his real legacy was—Francis Scott Key—I think they would be offended,” said Carl Snowden, the convener of CAAL. “The reality is the vast majority of people do not know that Francis Scott Key was an enslaver.”

Key is well known for creating the song “The Defense of Fort McHenry” in Baltimore, which eventually became “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the U.S. national anthem.

Though Key defended enslaved people who sought freedom as an attorney, he also represented enslavers seeking to regain runaway “property.” During his lifetime he owned up to six enslaved people, contradicting his depiction of the U.S. as the “land of the free.”

Members of CAAL recommend the Key Bridge be named after the late Congressman Parren J. Mitchell instead.

“Congressman Mitchell was a national treasure and a son of Maryland,” said Snowden. “He was a founder of the Congressional Black Caucus, his legacy in the state of Maryland for public service is second to none. If we’re going to name a bridge it seems to me and others that we want to name it after people who all Marylanders can respect.”

As for the Senator Fredrick C. Malkus Jr. Memorial Bridge, they suggest the late civil rights activist Gloria Richardson.

Richardson was born in Baltimore in 1922 but moved to Cambridge, Md., with her family at the age of 6. Throughout her life, she has had much impact on the Black community, leading the Cambridge Nonviolent Action Committee and advocating for economic justice. 

Moore responded briefly to the request, saying, “I am laser-focused on providing closure to these families, clearing the channel and rebuilding the bridge.”

U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07) reacted similarly to the request.

“I don’t have a problem with the renaming of the bridge,” said Mfume. “For me, the heavier lift and the harder push right now is to find a way to get Republicans on board, Democrats in unity and an appropriation to be able to come up with this $1 billion to rebuild the bridge as we once knew it.”

Mfume added that the bridge renaming process, if or when it happens, should be thoughtful and open.

Still, Snowden insists that now is the time to reconsider the name of the bridge.

“If we don’t take advantage” of the opportunity now, “it may never happen,” Snowden said. “Why not talk about the history of the man the bridge is named after, and make the appropriate changes?” 

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com

Maryland’s state legislators acknowledged April 8, the last day of the Maryland General Assembly session, with a flurry of last minute deals and– finally, as the clock struck midnight– blasts of confetti to signify the crossover into April 9. 

“This session we responded to the moment and we protected Maryland’s future,” said Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Md.-46). “While we did some remarkable work this year, the last 14 days really proved what this general assembly is about. There were a number of issues from housing security to making sure that our neighborhoods are safer.”

Major bills such as the Juvenile Law Reform and the Maryland Protecting Opportunities and Regional Trade (PORT) Act passed in time to make it to the governor’s desk.

“This year, we worked together to pass meaningful juvenile justice legislation. Legislation that puts rehabilitation front and center while strengthening the oversight and accountability for the Department of Juvenile Services to make sure children are treated fairly and held accountable to their treatment plans,” said House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Md.-10).

The general assembly passed over a thousand bills in the 2024 session.

The Juvenile Law Reform bill, laid out in HB 814 and SB744, was one of the high-tension bills this session, with everyday Marylanders and legislators alike concerned about the number of youth involved in crimes in the state over the last year. 

During fiscal year 2023, the Department of Juvenile Services reported that there were 12,363 complaints about Maryland juveniles.

HB 814 expands the juvenile court’s jurisdiction to include 10 through 12-year-olds who have allegedly committed car theft, animal abuse, offenses involving firearms and third-degree sexual offenses. Current state law says that no child under 13 can be charged with a crime.

It also requires that intake officers forward complaints to the state’s attorney to consider prosecution. The bill also authorizes detention before a hearing.

Some were not happy with the bill, which permits the Department of Juvenile Services to have control over children ages 10-12.

“I don’t want anybody’s child locked up at 10 years old,” said Zakiya Sankara-Jabar, of Racial Justice Now! “I don’t want people to think that it’s okay to lock up 10-year-olds without providing the necessary services and care they deserve. These kids need care, not cages.”

Dayvon Love, director of  public policy for Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, was one of many gathered days before the April 8 deadline to pressure Gov. Wes Moore to veto the bill.

“That’s the last step in the process,” said Love. 

But Moore supported the package when it was announced, so Love said he’s not confident that the governor will veto it.

If the governor signs the bill it will take effect on January 1, 2025.

“It’s been great, having my first session with the general assembly under my belt as a Delegate,” said Del. Malcolm Ruff (D-Md.-41) as he reflected on the 2024 session. “A couple of things that I’ve been able to accomplish include, today, passing the bill that will start the process of developing Gwynn Falls/Leakin Park into a state park.”

House Bill 1358, if signed into law, will convene focus groups on the establishment of the state park, identify priority needs and associated costs and establish an advisory committee to oversee the management of the park.

Ruff said he was also able to work on a bill that would keep Preakness in Park Heights in Baltimore City and fund community revitalization efforts in the Park Heights community.

“For too long Park Heights has been left out of the spoils of Preakness,” said Ruff. “I think with House Bill 1524, which I along with the senator and my fellow delegates in the 41st district were able to help weigh in on how we would set up a plan that would really work for the people of the neighborhood that hosts the Preakness.”

The bill also transfers ownership and operation of thoroughbred racing facilities in the Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) to the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority (MTROA). If signed, the bill would take effect on June 1.

The PORT Act was the first bill to be signed into law from the 2024 session on April 9. The PORT Act aims to provide financial support to Baltimore port workers and businesses impacted by the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse through the slowdown of port operations.

“Today, I will proudly sign the PORT Act into law,” said Moore at the signing. “This bill will help create a new permanent scholarship program for the families of transportation workers who died on the job. The legislation will empower our administration to stay nimble in our response to the collapse.”

Because the PORT Act is an emergency bill, it became law immediately upon receiving the needed signatures on April 9.

Moore also signed a few of his bills, including the Time to Serve Act of 2024, a bill that will provide more military leave for members of the National Guard and Reserves to 30 days and a bill to rename the Port of Baltimore the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore.

Moore highlighted that he has gotten all of the 26 bills he’s introduced since becoming governor passed by the Maryland legislature.

The Budget bills SB360 and SB362, were passed and sent to the governor’s desk on April 5. The governor has not yet signed the bills.

The budget process took a bit longer this year, partly due to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse on March 26 and legislators’ being at odds on how to address the $761 million projected deficit the state began with for fiscal year 2025.

House delegates believed in using raised taxes and fees to close the gap and the Senate, as well as the governor, were against raising taxes.

The House and Senate reconciled $257 million of revenues by raising vehicle registration fees, creating a Transportation Network Company impact fee, an annual registration surcharge on owners of zero-emission and plug-in electric vehicles, raising the dealer processing charge and increasing fines for speeding in work zones via Senate Bill 479.

The budget eliminates the projected fiscal 2027 Blueprint Fund shortfall by increasing taxes on cigarettes, dedicating new revenues and a portion of existing tobacco tax revenues to the Blueprint Fund and transferring $40 million from the School Construction Revolving Loan Fund.

“We have passed a budget that funds the Blueprint through 2027 and makes critical investments in Maryland’s Transportation system to ensure that we don’t see catastrophic cuts to roads, bridges, busses, transit, airports and the port,” said Jones. 

The budget also restores funds the governor’s proposed budget reduced including nearly $10 million for community colleges, $5 million for pediatric cancer and $1 million for warrant apprehension grants.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Maryland General Assembly passes several major bills as session ends appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com

Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott unveiled his preliminary fiscal year 2025 (FY25) budget against the backdrop of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse recovery efforts.

“As I mentioned in the state of the city, exactly a week ago, this budget is an important one that requires us to take a critical look at how we could cover a structural deficit,” said Scott on April 1. “We accomplished that and more. Today, we’re putting forward a budget that completely covers the gap.”

Scott said they were able to close the $107 million deficit without furloughing employees or cutting city services.

“Some of the steps that we took to balance the budget include utilizing new license plate reader technology to step up enforcement of the resident parking permitting program eliminating 89 positions that have been vacant for an extended period of time,” said Scott. “The city’s finances also continue to benefit from the growth in property values we saw in 2021 and 2022.”

Fifty-five police positions were cut, as well as eight in public works, eight in recreation and parks and seven in libraries.

The preliminary budget is $4.06 billion overall, including $3.41 billion for the operating plan and $654.1 million for the capital plan.

Key aspects of the budget include $19 million in funding for school construction and $3.5 million for building upgrades at the southern and eastern police district stations.

In addition, $14.2 million will be used to modernize several citywide software systems, including tax and permitting systems, and $6.5 million will be used for Americans with Disabilities Act enhancements to alleys, roads and sidewalks.

Laura Larsen, Baltimore’s budget director, said no American Rescue Plan Act funds were used to balance the budget.

The mayor’s preliminary budget does not include funding for addressing the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse as they believe it is too early to determine the economic impacts it will have on the city.

“Our city is bracing for the long-term impacts of this unthinkable tragedy,” said Scott, referring to the Key Bridge collapse. “Our focus is doing all of this in the right way, not the fast way or half-baked way, but it means that it’s going to take as long as it takes.”

Per the Charter of Baltimore City, the budget must be adopted by June 26.

Important upcoming dates:

April 17 – The Board of Estimates’ Taxpayers Night 

May 1 – The Board of Estimates votes on the FY 25 budget

May 16 – City Council’s Taxpayers Night

May 23 through June 6 – City Council Budget Hearings

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott unveils preliminary fiscal year 2025 budget appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com

The Baltimore City Council’s Economic and Community Development Committee recently held a hearing on the Strengthening Renters’ Safety Act, 23-0357. The bill aims to add enforcement actions on buildings with repeated code violations and allow renters to anonymously submit their apartments for priority inspections.

“What this legislation does is it focuses DHCD’s (Department of Housing and Community Development) attention on a relatively small but extremely problematic population of bad actors in the landlord community that are causing undue harm to our elders to folks with disabilities,” said Councilman Zeke Cohen, D-Dist. 1, on March 26.

These landlords, he added, are “simply not maintaining their properties.”

Baltimore resident Jacqueline Matthew testified during the hearing about her experience with poor property upkeep.

“The building poses significant safety hazards, especially for disabled residents like myself,” she said. “I cannot get down the stairs when the elevator is out, and most recently it was out of service for five days. It has forced me to seek assistance from the fire department on multiple occasions to get down the stairs.”

She also said her building’s door locks often break, allowing individuals experiencing homelessness to gain access to her building. 

In addition to spurring landlords to address such concerns, the bill would also create the Baltimore City Rental Licensing and Inspection Task Force.

“For me, it’s really important to have a task force just as a form of oversight,” said Cohen.

During the hearing, the mayor’s office and the DHCD said they support the bill but believe more collaboration between the bill’s sponsor, the mayor’s office and DHCD is needed to move forward with the initiative. They also desired to eliminate the task force portion of the bill.

“What the mayor’s office or the administration is asking for by striking the task force is to eliminate what I consider to be critical oversight,” said Cohen. “Essentially, you would have DHCD overseeing DHCD to implement legislation.”

He continued, “If the agency was in a position where it was doing what it was supposed to do,” there would be no need for an external task force. 

“We’re not in that position right now,” Cohen said.

Councilwoman Odette Ramos (D-District 14) argued that the bill hearing has been rescheduled several times, with much time to meet with the sponsor.

The bill was originally introduced in February of 2023. It was scheduled for a hearing on Sept. 18, 2023, but was postponed four times until March 26.

Needing more inspectors in order to follow up on inspections was also an issue expressed during the hearing. 

A representative of DHCD explained that inspectors sometimes have to go into unsafe environments with nothing to protect themselves, which can hinder DHCD’s employment and retention abilities.

Councilman Robert Stokes Sr. (D-District 12) argued that this bill could result in community residents being put out on the street. 

Cohen responded by saying, “We’re not talking about putting people on the streets, we’re talking about revoking” landlord’s licenses.

Cohen’s bill already has the support of six other council members.

The next hearing on this bill is set for April 9 at 2 p.m. in the Economic and Community Development Committee.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Baltimore City Council Committee hears bill on strengthening renter safety appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

No contamination has been found in the waterways where Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after a ship crashed into the structure on March 26, officials said.  Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, members of the Unified Command and other officials recently announced that the waters of the Patapsco River had been tested for contamination and all results were negative.

“There’s no danger inside of the water right now, but we continue to monitor,” said Moore on April 3 about contamination concerns. 

Contamination was a significant concern early on, as parts of the bridge collapsing on the ship caused some containers to burst open and spill into the waterway.

Moore said the Unified Command will “still be out there making sure we’re capturing any type of residue.”

Suzanne Dorsey, the deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment, said the number of containers in the water is unclear, but they are “continuing to sample to ensure the safety and health of the Patapsco River.”

On April 4, Moore announced the arrival of 75 containers to the Port of Baltimore through “creative” measures.

“Vessel traffic accounts for the vast majority of economic activity that takes place to and through the port, but to keep things moving we’ve got to get creative,” said Moore. “Over the last few days, a large vessel bound for the Port of Baltimore was rerouted to the Port of New York and New Jersey due to the collapse. I’ve been informed that as of this morning, 75 containers from the rerouted vessel arrived at the Seagirt Marine Terminal at the port of Baltimore.”

Those 75 containers represented less than 5 percent of the average number of containers the port processed daily before the collapse,” Moore added, but he promised, “We will get it back up to full capacity.”

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Key Bridge waterways deemed uncontaminated appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer 
Tmcqueen@afro.com

At the office of Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates on April 3, Bates announced the arrest of 20 juveniles, ages 12 to 17, in connection with numerous carjackings and other crimes throughout Baltimore City in 2023.

“This group is alleged to have committed offenses working in subgroups of two to eight members,” said Bates to reporters on April 3. “The majority of the incidents occurred over an eight to ten-week period between October and November of 2023. The alleged offenses include armed carjacking, armed robbery, assault and handgun violations.”

According to information released by Bates, the juveniles operated in seven of the nine police districts in Baltimore City.

Bates said he “received numerous complaints about carjackings across the city” in 2023, which encouraged a collaborative operation between the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) and the state’s attorney’s office.

“As part of this 15-week investigation that began in mid to late October of 2023, this was conducted with my juvenile and major investigation units in partnership with the BPD,” he said.

Bates said his office is in the process of charging a total of 113 cases for 53 incidents involving these youth including some individuals who can be charged as adults. Baltimore City Police Commissioner Richard Worley also spoke at the press conference.

“To those who committed these heinous acts, just let it be known that we are going to continue to come after you – whatever age you are juvenile adult. Together, with the partnership, we are going to come after you and we are going to put you behind bars if you don’t stop the behavior,” said Worley.

Bates also announced that new parental accountability measures will be implemented moving forward. 

“Parents and guardians in Baltimore City, I want you to listen closely, if you don’t remember anything else about this press conference just remember two words– ‘parental accountability,’” said Bates. “From here on out if you are found to contribute to the delinquency of a minor child, my office will look to charge you and hold you accountable.”

Bates said before this measure can be applied, they will have to ensure the parents in question were informed about their child’s behavior and knew the rules.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Ivan Bates announces arrest of 20 juveniles in carjacking group and new parental accountability measures appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, along with other local, state and federal officials, announced the opening of another temporary channel on April 2. The channels have partially reopened the Port of Baltimore’s waterways as clean-up and salvage efforts continue where a portion of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed on March 26. 

“We opened another channel today at around 13:15 or 1:15 and it measures 14-foot depth,” said Moore. “These channels will support traffic from small boats and yesterday we had one fuel barge and one scrap barge move through the temporary channel.”

The first channel measured 11 feet deep.

The Key Bridge fell after the Dali container ship collided with the bridge in the early morning hours of March 26. 

Moore, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski and other local, state and national officials have gathered in the days since to try and clear the federal waterway, find the six victims and start rebuilding the bridge.

Even with this progress, Moore stresses that there is still much to be done before operations at the port are back to normal.

“We are still a long way from being able to get the size and the cadence of the commercial traffic back to where it was before the collapse,” said Moore. “Rough weather has forced this team to pivot over the last 24 hours. This morning crews were setting buoys in the rain to make sure vessels could navigate the waterways.”

According to U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath, a third channel is coming but when it is opened depends on the removal of debris around the bridge.

The governor also announced that his office is working with the Maryland General Assembly to support efforts to recover from the collapse. He said his team is pushing for several amendments to the Maryland Protecting Opportunities and Regional Trade (PORT) Act, which Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson and Del. Bill Clippinger introduced it on March 29.

“The bill will be authorizing the administration to establish certain programs targeted at those who are the most negatively impacted,” said Ferguson to the AFRO. 

Ferguson continued, adding that the bill is aimed at helping “workers of the port, who can’t work because ships can’t come in or out” and “small businesses that are associated with port operations who want to keep employees on, but without the work there is no revenue.”

“For this temporary period, it would be emergency funding to help them keep employees hired,” he said.

Gov. Moore highlighted three of those proposed amendments. 

“We proposed the creation of a new permanent scholarship program for the families of transportation workers who die on the job,” said Moore. “The work that these men and women do every single day is both essential and dangerous. We must ensure that when there are tragedies like this one that the state does not forget about their children and their families.”

The second amendment his office proposed would create flexibility in work search requirements for unemployment insurance so port workers who receive unemployment insurance will be ready to get back to work at the port at the appropriate time.

“We proposed an amendment that will ensure flexibility for our Department of Commerce and our Department of Labor because our goal is to make funding available for critical needs of workers and businesses as we move forward Mission first and people as we move forward,” said Moore. 

There are currently two business resource centers, one permanent and one temporary. The permanent location is Baltimore City and the Baltimore County one is temporary, though Moore said a permanent one for Baltimore County is on the way.

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefield said officials will monitor potential increased aging of infrastructure due to the pressure diverted traffic will put on the Harbor tunnel, which opened in 1957, and the Fort McHenry tunnel, which opened in 1985.

“We’ve seen approximately 15,000 additional vehicles a day in the Fort McHenry tunnel and about 7,000 in the Harbor tunnel,” said Paul Wiedefield. “Over time, yes, that will have an impact. What we will do is monitor the condition of those facilities and make any necessary improvements to make sure that the safety of those facilities are maintained.”

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Second channel opens near site of Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, legislators seek to support recovery efforts appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com

Eight U.S. Senate candidates attended a March 21 forum in Baltimore the day after a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll revealed that Republican frontrunner and former Maryland governor Larry Hogan (R) is leading his Democratic opponents.

Before Hogan suddenly entered the race on Feb. 9, Democrats, through Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) and U.S. Rep. David Trone (D-Md.-06), were believed to have a clear path to the seat in November. 

Now, according to the poll, Hogan is leading by double digits over his Democratic competitors. About 49 percent of voters said if the general election were today, they’d choose Hogan over Trone. About 37 percent said they would select Trone over Hogan.

Around 50 percent of voters said they’d choose Hogan over Alsobrooks, while 36 percent said they choose Alsobrooks over Hogan.

“We’ve got to be real about what is coming at us,” said U.S. Senate Candidate Brian Frydenborg (D), during the forum at New Psalmist Baptist Church. “Hogan 50–Alsobrooks 36,  Hogan 49–Trone 37, that is not where we need to be as Democrats. What that means is that despite the best of intentions and two quality frontrunners, we are failing.”

The results were not completely in Hogan’s favor, though. The poll found that 55 percent of the surveyed Maryland voters prefer a Democrat-controlled Senate.

Maryland, a longtime blue state, hasn’t had a Republican senator in 37 years, but Hogan’s popularity as governor and bipartisan views make him a top contender for the seat.

“I think the Democratic candidate will still win in the end, but this is going to be a competitive race,” said Nina Kasniunas, an associate professor of political science at Goucher College. 

In the months since Hogan entered the race, candidates have called out Hogan’s rhetoric and policies on reproductive rights and abortion. Alsobrooks said he is subject to compromise to Republican demands in the Senate.

“Larry Hogan, if re-elected, would align with Republicans,” said Alsobrooks. 

Republicans largely agree with more restrictions on abortion or banning abortions altogether.

Michael Cobb Sr. (D), Marcellus Crews (D), Robin Ficker (R), John Myrick (R), Steven Seuferer (D) and Andrew Wildman (D) also attended the forum, but Trone and Hogan did not.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Maryland U.S. Senate candidates address recent poll at Baltimore forum appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com

Many gathered for Mayor Brandon M. Scott’s 2024 State of the City Address at Baltimore Center Stage on March 25. In it, he highlighted his efforts to implement gun reform and lower Baltimore’s homicide rates.

“Now is the time to double down, not to pull back or return to the failed, broken policies of the past,” said Scott.

The mayor first touted his accomplishments in decreasing the number of homicides in Baltimore by 20 percent in 2023.

“It [was] the first time Baltimore had [fewer] than 300 homicides a year in nearly a decade,” said Scott. “This year, we’re building on top of that reduction. It is not yet enough – it will never be enough until we do not lose a single one of our neighbors to violence.”

Scott said that his administration will “remain focused on quality of life crimes,” to include auto theft and carjackings. 

“We know that much of the problem is due to the proliferation of guns on our streets. Small, everyday conflicts escalate into horrific violence in the presence of too many guns,” he said. “We’ve seen it too many times, including last summer after the Brooklyn mass shooting.”

The Brooklyn Homes mass shooting occurred last summer at a large, unmonitored block party that left two dead and 28 injured. 

“Alongside all of our law enforcement partners, we are going after guns in our communities, focusing on everyone from those who pull the trigger to those who supply the weapon,” said Scott. “Last year, Baltimore Police Department (BPD) recovered over 2,900 guns, including hundreds of ghost guns. So far, they’ve seized 596 guns this year – an 11 percent increase – including 86 ghost guns.”

Scott’s administration recently reached a settlement in its lawsuit against Polymer80, a gun manufacturing company that sells gun kits. The settlement effectively secured $1.2 million in damages and prohibited Polymer80’s advertisements in Maryland and sales to Maryland residents.

Though he primarily focused on his accomplishments in public safety, he also spoke about how he has and will continue to invest in Baltimore’s youth in 2024.

“With the success of our Squeegee Collaborative—which has reduced squeegee-related incidents by 85 percent—sidestep youth diversion and last year’s ‘Bmore This Summer’ youth engagement strategy, we know what works,” said Scott. “Young people themselves told us what they wanted to see: teen pool parties, bringing back midnight basketball, block parties from back in the day and launching new activities. This summer, it will all be back.”

A few protestors briefly interrupted his address. They were promptly removed, but not before the crowd shouted “four more years.”

Tensions are boiling with Maryland’s primary, May 14, right around the corner and Scott’s time as mayor on the line, but State Sen. Cory McCray (D-Dist. 45) said this is to be expected.

“Good debate is not a bad thing,” said McCray. “There has to be some push and pull. I push and pull on my mayor all the time. If we’re not holding him accountable, we’re not going to be the best team that we can be.”

City Council members and Maryland leaders commented on the night.

“I thought it was a good speech,” said Councilman Zeke Cohen (D-Dist. 01). “I believe the focus needs to be on delivering great city services and continuing to reduce violence across Baltimore. We still have a long way to go.”

McCray said he appreciated Scott’s speech and is proud of his work thus far.

“As a son of Baltimore I am proud of the mayor at the moment,” he said. “We have to make sure that we are talking to public safety as the first priority all the time.”

He added, “that’s what our constituents,” neighbors and family “want to hear.”

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Baltimore Mayor Scott touts success with crime and gun reform during State of the City Address appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com

The popular saying goes that “April showers bring May flowers,” but in the District, the month will also bring a slew of events geared toward empowerment, education and family fun. Here are are some of them:

Family Fun Day 

Bring your children to Family Fun Day with the Greater Tyson Temple located at 3024 Massachusetts Ave. SE. On April 7 from 1 to 4 p.m., there will be moon bounces, snow cones, face painting and more. They will also hold a church service at 11 a.m. For more information contact JoElla Goodwine at 202-415-0551.

Solar Eclipse Viewing 

The DC Public Library is providing special sunglasses for the total solar eclipse on April 8. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon completely covers the sun. To keep your eyes safe while viewing the eclipse, grab your glasses from the library between April 1-8. Get them while supplies last.

Youth Empowerment and Career Incubator 

Starting April 13, youth can participate in an eight-week-long youth empowerment and career incubator hosted by Girl’s and Women’s Empowerment and Development Organization (GWED), a D.C.-based nonprofit, and the D.C. government. For more information call 202-704-3425.

Second Chance Job Fair 

If you’re in the market for a new job, check out the Second Chance Job Fair on April 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the DC Dream Center, 2826 Q St. SE. Get access to free resources and job coaching. Come as you are.

All listed events are free to the public.

The post Upcoming meetings and events in the D.C. area appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com

The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) announced that 702,557 women veterans now receive disability benefits, a 26 percent increase from 2019. 

The Under Secretary for Benefits, Joshua Jacobs, spoke to the press on March 20, saying this accomplishment is due to the VA’s desire to “build a VA that meets women veterans where they are, rather than asking them to come to us.”

Women make up 16.5 percent of the 18 million veterans in the U.S.

Their recent expansion efforts to better accommodate women veterans included increased healthcare options. The VA now has breast cancer screenings and mammograms for women veterans potentially exposed to toxins, access to reproductive health services and one-on-one maternity care.

According to VA press secretary Terrence Hayes, one reason women veterans were not getting as much access to VA benefits was that they simply did not sign up. 

“Women veterans in the past may not have felt welcome by the VA,” said Hayes. “That’s why it’s important now, within our leadership and our VA charged by President Biden, to ensure that we’re going directly to every single veteran.”

Jacobs said the VA is hosting nearly 140 events this year to support women veterans. Throughout 2023, the VA held more than 2,500 events and has begun directly texting and emailing veterans to encourage them to engage with the VA.

“While we’re proud of these accomplishments, there is still more work to do,” said Jacobs. “We want every woman veteran to come to us for the benefits that they’ve earned and deserved. We’re constantly working to expand our outreach and our services to better serve women veterans.”

Zaneta Adams, a U.S. Army veteran and a VA disability beneficiary since 2005, believes the VA can improve its outreach to women and ensure that they know it is a safe place.

“The VA can do better at making sure more women veterans know that the culture has changed for the better,” said Adams, the VA’s deputy assistant secretary for intergovernmental affairs.

Adams said she’s been able to have all-women providers during her time with the VA and access quality mental health services.

“Yesterday’s VA is not today’s VA,” she said. “If you are not taking advantage of the benefits you have earned, you’re missing out.”

Women Veterans can call, text, or chat online with the Women Veterans Call Center (WVCC) at 855-829-6636 for assistance and to find resources and services in their area.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Thousands of women veterans receive Veterans Affairs disability benefits appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com

All listed events are free to the public.

Teen Lab at Walters Art Museum

Starting on April 4, Baltimore teens can hang out with friends, create art or do homework at the Walters Art Museum during Teen Lab. Every Thursday until April 25, youth ages 13 to 17 can explore cultures with art and check out galleries from 4 to 6 p.m.

Public Safety and Government Operations Hearings

On April 10, Baltimore City Council’s Public Safety and Government Operations committee will hold hearings on the establishment of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and a legislative oversight hearing on crime reduction and violence prevention. At 1 p.m., residents can attend the hearings either in person at City Hall on the fourth floor or via Webex. 

Board of Estimates Taxpayers’ Night FY 2025

The Baltimore City Board of Estimates is hosting its annual taxpayers’ night for the fiscal year (FY) 2025 proposed budget. On April 17 from 6 to 8 p.m., Baltimore residents will get an overview of the preliminary budget and have the opportunity to testify publicly on budget priorities for FY25. Before the event, at 5 p.m., residents can ask city agency representatives questions before giving testimony. 

Taxpayers can participate in person at City Hall on the 2nd floor or via Webex. To attend via Webex, sign up at https://bbmr.baltimorecity.gov/FY25BOE.

Free Fresh Food Boxes 

Get free fresh food boxes from Plantation Park Heights Urban Farm in Baltimore at 3811 Park Heights Avenue every Thursday from 12 to 4 p.m. Plantation Park Heights Urban Farm is a local farm committed to sustainable agriculture, community and environmental stewardship.

The post Upcoming meetings and events in the Baltimore area appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

A new report shows that roughly 25 million Black and Latino voters are out of reach when it comes to communicating essential information during crucial election years.

The report, titled “Surfacing Missing Voters: Addressing Data Systems, Tools, and Engagement Models that Invisibilize Black and Brown Communities,” aims to shed light on how voters of color are disenfranchised in political elections.

Miriam McKinney Gray, author of the report, is founder and CEO of the research and data analytics company, McKinney Gray Analytics. Gray worked with the Democracy and Power Innovation Fund (DPI) to create the report. 

“According to my estimates, based on U.S. Census data and on a recent Stanford study, 24.76 million Black and Latino eligible voters are currently missing or listed with incorrect information in voter databases sold by vendors, making them effectively unreachable,” said Gray, in the report’s executive summary. “While 40 percent of Black and Latino people are invisible to voter outreach efforts, only 18 percent of White people are missing or mislisted.” 

This information is increasingly critical as the country faces crucial local and national elections this year.

Gray offers several solutions to the problem in the report. 

“Philanthropic investments directed at surfacing missing voters will be necessary to increase community-based data collection, support organizational engagement in antiracist modeling and bolster efforts to build better community-based strategies,” said Gray. 

She argues that voter outreach organizations are currently relying on incomplete data or voter file matching systems that are unable to draw accurate conclusions about large groups of people and need to be more diligent about what they use to connect with voters.

“As our lives continue to skew toward virtual and data-driven reality, it becomes more pressing to address data systems that have proven to be biased against Black and Brown people,” said Gray.

Within the next six months, Gray recommends that organizing and voter engagement groups focus on reaching Black and Brown communities by cleaning up and completing their membership databases and designing programs that use same-day registration.

For donors, she suggests they invest in programs that are targeting and identifying missing voters and ask the programs they invest in how they are locating and appealing to missing voters.

In the long term, Gray recommends that donors and voter engagement groups invest in community oversight of widely used data models, enable anti-racist modeling practices and embrace new metrics to measure their impact on connecting with voters.

“The people unseen by voter files are still capable, if organized, to make moves and wield their latent power,” said Joy Cushman, senior advisor to DPI. “People deemed ‘low propensity’ by models and the political industry are defying the odds and still turning out to vote. And many are doing even more than that: they are becoming active members and leaders in power-building organizations, mobilizing their friends and family to vote as well.”

The full report is available here.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com

Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott, U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07) and other city officials announced the award of nearly $30 million to 11 community projects in Baltimore. The money will be used to increase permanent supportive housing (PSH) and affordable housing through the Housing Accelerator Fund.

The investments were made possible through the $641 million grant Baltimore acquired through the 2021 America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

“It is the exact type of project we want to spend ARPA on– providing long-term, tangible, real-world solutions to some of Baltimore’s most vulnerable residents and families,” said Scott on March 11 at New Shiloh Village Senior Living. 

The PSH merges affordable housing, health care and other community-based aid to assist Baltimoreans and their families who are experiencing homelessness, are formerly homeless, or are unable to keep stable housing.

The 2023 Baltimore City Point-In-Time Count Report found that 1,551 people were homeless in Baltimore on one night in January. About 58 percent of them resided in emergency shelters, 34 percent were in transitional housing, and less than 7 percent were unsheltered.

Housing Accelerator Awards:

• 407 Franklin Partners $1.5 million
• Beacon House $1.8 million
• Belvedere Place $2.75 million
• Dominion $1.15 million
• Episcopal Housing $7 million
• Govans Ecumenical Development $1.9 million
• HCH Real Estate $3.4 million
• Homes For America $4.25 million
• NHP Foundation $3.2 million 
• Springboard Community Service $419,000
• Unity Properties and New Shiloh 3 $2.5 million

“I feel particularly good to know that these funds– just this bit– will create 450 housing units in this city for people to live in and to grow in and to survive in,” said Mfume. “We will continue to find ways to make sure that the housing crisis in this city is in fact dealt with.”

Scott, Mfume, and director of the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs Shamiah T. Kerney, whose office launched the Housing Accelerator Fund, defended how the funds have been used, which has recently been under scrutiny by mayoral candidates.

“It is easy to be critical now about how ARPA funds are being spent or the commitments we are making,” said Kerney. “Let me also remind you and take you back to where we were when many of these decisions were being made.”

She highlighted the fact that there were numerous people facing housing, food and job insecurity during the initial years of COVID-19.

“We did not know what normal would look like,” said Kerney.

By law, the city must commit all ARPA funds by Dec. 31 and they must be spent by Dec. 31, 2026. 

Nearly all of the ARPA funding has been committed to date. According to the Baltimore City ARPA Reporting Center, around 31 percent has been spent as of Feb. 29.

“We have to make sure that these projects and things are ready to go because we know there’s timelines and limits on what you can use the money for,” said Scott. “We’re not going to just do things that sound good, but actually won’t impact and help people.”

Thiruvendran “Thiru” Vignarajah, a leading candidate for Baltimore mayor, responded to their comments.

“Devoting funds to housing is a worthy cause, but this feels a dollar short and a day late,” said Vignarajah. “We needed this money two years ago. We needed recovery funds to be deployed for recovery when we were still recovering.”

“The notion that there are limitations on what the money can be spent for is no defense at all,” he added.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Roughly $30 million in funding announced for permanent and affordable housing appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com

Congress is one step closer to banning or requiring a change in ownership of the popular social media platform, TikTok. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a much anticipated, contentious bill aimed at protecting national security from the dangers of social media. 

The bill, if passed into law, would require TikTok to either part with its Chinese owner, ByteDance, or be banned.

“The ultimate objective of the bill is about a question of ownership. Do we want TikTok, as a platform, to be owned by an American company or owned by China?” said National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to the press on March 12. “Do we want the data from TikTok – children’s data, adults’ data– to be staying here in America or going to China?”

According to TikTok, more than 150 million Americans use the platform. TikTok employs around 7,000 people in the U.S. and around 5 million businesses utilize the platform to expand their businesses.

On March 13, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, H.R. 7521, was overwhelmingly passed by a 352-65 vote. Though it was largely passed by a Bipartisan vote, 50 Democrats and 15 Republicans voted no on the bill.

Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.-08), who voted no, claims the bill is an infringement of First Amendment rights.

“How could it be that Congress should be working hard to devise a means to circumvent that prevailing principle of the First Amendment against the use of a particular means of expression by 170 million Americans?” said Bishop, who voted no on the bill. “America confronts a great challenge in China, and it will not prevail by becoming more like it.”

The bill still has to make its way through the U.S. Senate and President Joe Biden to become law. 

On March 8, Biden said he would sign the bill if it made it to his desk.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post U.S. House passes bill that could ban TikTok appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com

All listed events are free to the public.

Tamron Hall discusses her upcoming book “Watch Where They Hide”

On March 16 from 3-4 p.m., the Enoch Pratt Free Library will welcome TV Host Tamron Hall in conversation with Karsonya Wise Whitehead, host of WEAA’s TODAY with Dr. Kaye, to discuss Tamron Hall’s upcoming book “Watch Where They Hide.”

The free event will be held at 400 Cathedral St. Baltimore, Md. 21201.

U.S. Senate Candidate Democratic Forum 

As Maryland’s primary and general election getting near, the Baltimore City Democratic State Central Committee is holding a forum for residents to get to know the Democratic U.S. Senate candidates. The Baltimore City Democratic State Central Committee represents the Maryland Democratic Party on the city level.

On March 16, from 6-9 p.m. Baltimore residents can hear the perspectives and initiatives on issues that matter to them. Attendees can submit their questions to baltimorecitydems@gmail.com. The event will be held at 2640 SPACE on 2640 St. Paul St. Baltimore, Md. 21218. 

The moderator will be Karenthia A. Barber, the past chair of the Baltimore City Democratic State Central Committee. Light refreshments will be served. 

Baltimore City Council Meeting

Attend one of Baltimore City Council’s regularly held meetings to understand better what’s happening in your community, what laws may change and engage with your city councilmembers and what they are advocating for in your neighborhood.

This city council meeting will take place at 5 p.m. on March 18.

Black Family Wellness Expo

On March 16 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., community members and their families can attend the Black Family Wellness Expo. Attendees can connect and access free resources such as cholesterol screenings, blood pressure checks and weight loss tips to support family wellness. The event will be held at Roberta’s House at 928 E. North Ave., Baltimore, Md. 

Women as Creators and Leaders with the AFRO

In honor of Women’s History Month on March 23 from 2-3 p.m., the Walters Art Museum will spotlight the AFRO’s own Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, CEO and publisher of the AFRO. She will be in conversation with Lynley Herbert and Robert and Nancy Hall Curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts. She is expected to share stories about the AFRO’s accomplishments, long-running history and women creating and publishing books. The program is free but requires registration at thewalters.org.

This event will be held at the Walters Art Museum at 600 N. Charles St. Baltimore, Md. 21201.

The post Upcoming meetings and events in the Baltimore area appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

All listed events are free to the public.

D.C. Council hearing for the Direct Care Worker Amendment Act of 2023

On March 13 at 1 p.m., the Committee on Health will hold a hearing for the Direct Care Worker Amendment Act of 2023. If passed, B25-0565 would replace the home health aide and certified nursing assistant certifications for direct care workers with a universal credential. Additionally, it would get rid of barriers to certified apprenticeship programs for direct care workers and lower the age requirement to become a certified direct care worker to 16. 

Residents who would like to testify on this bill can attend via Zoom or in person at 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 2000 in room 412.

Break into Tech: Arlington, Va.

Join the Northern University Khoury College of Computer Sciences’ Break into Tech event in Arlington, Va. on March 14 from 6-7:30 p.m. Attendees will learn about algorithms and their Align pathways to a Master of Science in Computer Science, Data Science, and Cybersecurity. 

Participants must hold a bachelor’s degree or be close to graduate college and must sign up at connect.northeastern.edu. The event will be held at 1300 17th St. North 1505 Arlington, Va. 22209.

Saint Patrick’s Day Parade 

On March 15 starting at noon, D.C. residents can enjoy the 44th annual Saint Patrick’s Day parade. The parade will take place along Constitution Avenue, beginning at 7th St. NW and ending at 17th St. NW.

National Cherry Blossom Festival 

Kick-off spring admiring cherry blossoms and celebrating Japanese culture from March 20 to April 14 at the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival on West Basin Drive SW. Programs include a kite festival, live performances and fireworks.

Sakura Sunday Festival 

Visit the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md. on March 24 for the Sakura Sunday Festival. The Sakura Sunday Festival features a wide variety of Japanese-inspired activities including art, dance and food at no cost.

Attendees of all ages can join in on the fun from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The post Upcoming meetings and events in the D.C. area appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Leading mayoral candidates discuss education, crime and the perception of crime at the first major mayoral forum this election year on March 5. 

The evening included incumbent Brandon M. Scott (D), former Mayor Sheila Dixon (D), Thiruvendran “Thiru” Vignarajah (D) and Bob Wallace (D) accompanied by a room full of community members and enthusiastic supporters.

Education

According to the Maryland Online Manual, the mayor appoints nine members of the school board, two are elected to office by city voters and one student member is appointed by the Associated Student Congress of Baltimore City, a local student government organization.

Vignarajah said, if elected, he would ensure the city has universal pre-k for every three and four-year-old in the city and free college and trade school for every Baltimore City public school graduate.

“The mayor has exactly as much power as needed to redirect the direction of public education in this city,” said Vignarajah. “What happens in these schools is the ultimate responsibility of the mayor.”

According to the Alliance for Early Success, an early childhood advocacy non-profit, universal pre-k is a policy framework that ensures every family access to pre-kindergarten education and care programs.

Wallace said he would ask the school board and chief executive officer to resign and create three tracks in Baltimore City schools for college, trades and entrepreneurship.

Scott reflected on his achievements as mayor, which include renovating school buildings and investing in needed programming. 

“It’s about modernizing city schools and supporting us as we go through the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, that has already been passed at the state level to make sure that every single school gets invested in,” said Scott. 

Crime and perception of crime

Breaking the trend of 300-plus annual homicides in Baltimore last year is a big plus for Scott during this election year, as it pertains to public safety.

“What we will continue to do is take record numbers of guns off the street— 2,900 last year,” said Scott. “We know what we have to do. We have to work with our partners on the other side to make sure that when the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) makes the arrest that those folks don’t get back out immediately.”

“The best way to change perception, is to change the reality,” said Scott when asked about how to improve the perception of crime in Baltimore. “We have to let people know by showing them that the streets are safer. The same way that we talk about and sensationalize things that happen in one incident, we should talk about it with the same vigor when things are going well.”

Dixon said, “we have to deal with reality.”

“We have to work with families,” she continued speaking to the increased concern about youth committing crimes. “You need mental health services in the schools to work with that child and the family. A lot of families are dysfunctional as a result of many issues that impact them.”

Those issues include homelessness, low income and little to no food access.

Dixon said, if elected, she would make sure officers get out of their cars and engage with residents to help restore trust between BPD and community members.

“Of course, we should return to community policing, but the problem is we don’t have enough cops,” said Vignarajah. “We need to recruit aggressively 600, 700 more police officers, but the right kind of police officers. Local, diverse, minorities, women, immigrants, professionals folks with college degrees.”

According to a recent poll through Dixon’s campaign and the Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group, the mayoral race continues to be competitive but Dixon has a slight lead over Scott. 

The poll shows Dixon received the support of 40 percent of surveyed voters, while Scott got 37 percent. Vignarajah received 10 percent and Wallace 6 percent.

“Uncle Wayne” Baker (D), Wendy Bozel (D), Texas Brown (D), Kevin P. Harris (D), Wendell Hill-Freeman (D), Yolanda Pulley (D), Joseph E. Scott (D), Keith B. Scott (D), Yasaun Young (D), Michael Moore (R), Donald E. Scoggins (R), Shannon Wright (R) and Chukwuemeka Egwu, who is only a candidate for the general election, are the 13 other candidates in this race. 

Maryland’s primary is on May 14. Early voting for the primary takes place from May 2 to May 9 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The general election is on Nov. 5. Early voting for the general election runs from Oct. 24 to Oct. 31 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Baltimore City mayoral candidates discuss education and crime in first major forum  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.-04) recently announced the passage of nearly $12 million in Community Project Funding through congressional appropriations legislation.  The money will benefit Montgomery County, Md. and Prince George’s County, Md.

“One of the things that became clear when we were speaking with community activists and leaders, is that they don’t have enough from a resource standpoint to do all that they can,” said U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.-04).  “Burtonsville needed help with a parking lot for their commuter lot we got funding for gun violence reduction.”

The Burtonsville park-and-ride project will help construct a 500-space parking garage. The parking garage will provide secure and covered park-and-ride spaces. It will also allow for the conversion of the existing ground park-and-ride lot, which would free up the property for about 250 rental apartments and benefit low-income residents. 

The funding will assist with other projects including:

• $850,000 for Blackhawk Lane Replacement
• $850,000 for Burtonsville Park and Ride Improvements
• $725,000 for Digital Workforce Transformation by Black Data Processing Associates
• $963,000 for Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel Electrical Modernization
• $500,000 for Incentivizing Accessibility in Housing Rehabilitation and Development Projects
• $300,000 for Laurel Boys and Girls Club Window Repair/Replacement Project
• $963,000 for Rapid Innovation Accelerator (RIA) for Cybersecurity Research
• $850,000 for Renovation of the Dam Ruins at Riverfront Park in Laurel, Maryland
• $963,000 for Saturday Youth Justice Academy
• $1,616,279 for Saving Jobs, Eliminating Solid Waste, and Expanding Green Opportunities
• $275,000 for Violence Intervention Program
• $726,000 for Violence Reduction Research Initiative (VRRI)
• $1,600,000 for Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission for Utility Services Project
• $500,000 for West Hyattsville Station, Street and Road Infrastructure Improvements

Ivey briefly outlined the process for selecting projects when it comes to federal funding.

“We open it up to the community for people to request the funds. We run it by the House Appropriations Committee, and they have a series of rules and guidelines that they issue as well that helps to trim down, who’s eligible and who’s not,” said Ivey. “Then, we put together the packet for the ones we are going to move forward with.”

“I thought we had a good cycle and we are very pleased with the way it worked,” he continued.

Ivey said the next round of federal funding will begin soon.

“It should be any day now,” said Ivey directing the public to keep an eye on his website for the announcement. “We expect that to be happening sometime this month.”

The post Rep. Glenn Ivey helps secure nearly $12 million in federal funds for Montgomery and Prince George’s County, Md. appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

President Biden delivered his third State of the Union Address in the U.S. Capitol on March 7.

“My purpose tonight is to both wake up this Congress and alert the American people that this is no ordinary moment,” said Biden.

Biden’s address was largely a campaign speech for his re-election campaign.

Dems shouted “four more years” several times throughout the night.

Biden said he will continue to support Ukraine, discussed the January 6th insurrection and said he will guarantee the right to in vitro fertilization (IVF).

“My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth of January 6th. I will not do that,” said Biden. “I ask you all, without regard to party, to join together and defend our democracy. Respect free and fair elections. Restore trust in our institutions and make clear –political violence has absolutely no place in America.”

Biden repeatedly mentioned “his predecessor,” Donald Trump (R) several times throughout his speech.

“My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy. A future based on the core values that have defined America: honesty, decency, dignity equality. To give hate no safe harbor,” said Biden. “Now some other people my age see a different story. An American story of resentment, revenge and retribution. That’s not me.”

In a released prebuttal on Biden’s address, Trump largely criticized Biden’s handling of the U.S.-Mexico border.

During Biden’s speech, he said, “we can fight about the border, or we can fix it.  I’m ready to fix it.”

Biden also recognized the Uvalde, Texas school shooting from 2022 where 19 children and two teachers were killed. 

“Jill and I went to Uvalde and spent hours with the families. We heard their message and so should everyone in this chamber – do something,” said Biden. “I did do something by establishing the first-ever Office of Gun Violence Prevention in the White House that Vice President Harris is leading.”

Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) plans to follow suit by introducing legislation this Maryland General Assembly session to create a Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention in the Maryland Department of Health. 

“I have never been more optimistic about the promise of our future. But the future we seek is only possible if we work together,” said Moore in a statement shortly after the address. “I believe that we must move in partnership if we want to meet this critical moment in our history. The president’s speech tonight reaffirmed my deep belief that we can.”

HB583/SB 475 would go into effect on Oct. 1 if passed by the Maryland General Assembly and signed by the governor this year.

“We commend President Biden for the work he has done to create a more inclusive and equitable America,” said Mount Vernon, N.Y. Mayor Shawyn-Patterson Howard, African American Mayors Association president, in a statement. “We look forward to working with his administration in the coming months to build upon his investment in America and strengthen the state of our union.”

Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.-04) highlighted the state of the economy in his reflection on the president’s address.

“I thought he did a great job of laying out the positive things he did in his first term. You know, 15 million new jobs, cutting unemployment down under four percent,” said Ivey.

When asked how he thinks Biden can reassure the African-American vote he pointed back to the economy.

“Bringing manufacturing back to the country, those are the kinds of things that can resonate with folks,” said Ivey.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Biden delivers fiery, political 2024 State of the Union Address appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, alongside Baltimore City officials, announced the indictments of six individuals in connection with 80-plus crimes, including participation in a criminal gang, murder and armed carjacking in Baltimore.

“We do not tolerate the reckless behavior that plagued our streets and changed innocent lives forever,” said Brown on Feb. 27. “Though nothing can bring back the life that was stolen or erase the traumatic stress that accompanied these attacks, I hope these indictments bring some peace of mind to the victims and their families.”

The Office of the Attorney General identified the suspects as Twan Ellis, 67 counts; Lovelle Little, 269 counts; Kevin Mills Jr., 86 counts; and Anecio Rodriguez, 156 counts. The other two individuals are minors and their information has been withheld.

Katie Dorian, chief of the criminal division in the Office of the Attorney General, said the four individuals are charged with the same four overarching counts: participation in a criminal organization, conspiracy to participate in a criminal organization, common law conspiracy and theft scheme over $100,000. 

“The individuals would target victims who had just parked their cars and were exiting their vehicles, walking to and from their homes or getting gas,” said Dorian. “They would take the victim’s property and flee in the stolen vehicle.”

The indictment alleges the suspects would use the vehicles to commit other violent acts and sell other stolen property online. The Coppin Heights and Ash-Co-East neighborhoods of West Baltimore were identified as hubs for their alleged criminal acts.

“The group would wear masks and dark clothing and approach the victims in an organized fashion while displaying handguns, which they would often point at the victim’s heads and demand the victims give over their property,” said Dorian. 

The indictment alleges they would say things like “get the f out or we will kill you” and “give me everything before I blow your head off” to the victims.

The investigation into the crime ring began after the murder of Delaka Augins, who was shot and killed during an attempted carjacking in Baltimore in November 2022. 

Dorian said all of the adults are being held pending trial.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Six indicted in connection to organized crime spree involving carjackings appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com

The Maryland House of Delegates Judiciary Committee unanimously voted favorably on a major juvenile justice bill, HB 814/SB744, which brought a range of reactions.

With Black children making up 77 percent of the children detained in Maryland juvenile jails, this legislation, as it stands, could increase that number, causing many observers to voice concern.

“The young people of Maryland don’t need us to turn to more ineffective, failed ‘tough on crime’ policing and incarceration,” said Hashim Jabar and Zakiya Sankara-Jabar, co-executive directors at Racial Justice NOW, in a statement on Feb. 26. “They urgently need us to make deep investments in providing a world-class education, community-led, culturally relevant programs. Investing in our children should be our highest priority.”

The Juvenile Law Reform makes several changes to the juvenile system, including increasing the juvenile court’s jurisdiction to include 10 through 12-year-olds who allegedly committed certain violent crimes. Those crimes include cart theft, animal abuse, offenses involving firearms and third-degree sexual offenses. Currently, no child under 13 can be charged with a crime.

“HB 814 remains a plague on Black and Brown communities,” said Natasha M. Dartigue, Maryland’s public defender. “The Office of the Public Defender (OPD) will continue to amplify the voices of marginalized communities, fight laws that have a disparate impact on Black and Brown people challenge systems that further strain and impact the quality of legal services that OPD provides.”

The bill also extends the amount of time possible for several probationary periods and implements various required reporting and referrals for the Department of Juvenile Services to ensure children are not left without needed services.

Those who approve of the bill say it is a comprehensive approach that addresses critical issues, encourages accountability and increases public safety.

“Our goal is not to lock every child up; the goal is rehabilitation, but there has to be accountability,” said Aisha Braveboy, Prince George’s County state’s attorney, at the bill hearing on Feb. 8. “What we don’t always know in the system is what is happening to the child. Are they receiving the services ordered by the court, and if they are not receiving the services, why aren’t they?”

“Having some additional safeguards in the legislation that can provide for accountability is extremely important and that’s why we support this bill,” said Braveboy.

The post Favorable vote on juvenile justice legislation gets mixed reaction appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com

After more than 30 years of vacancy, the Carlton has been renovated and reopened to the Reservoir Hill community.

“When we invest in projects like this, we make sure that we eliminate vacancy and blight by making things safer,” said Chad Williams, executive director for the West North Avenue Development Authority (WNADA). “We make Maryland and Baltimore competitive when we make investments like this.”

With the help of many city partners and developers, Alex Aaron led the renovation of the long-vacant historic building into a modern-day apartment building with 12 market-rate, affordable housing units with features such as smart locks, smart home technology, secure access, a courtyard and resident lounge.

“I didn’t give up; I held onto hope. And with all of the strategic partners we had it was possible,” said Aaron, CEO of Blank Slate, a Baltimore-based real estate firm. “Mayor Scott, we will tackle that vacancy, we will tackle that blight and we will make Baltimore a better community going forward.”

Baltimore has about 13,000 vacant properties, a noticeable drop from 2020 when the city had approximately 16,000.

Though the city is progressing, Mayor Scott is calling for more advancement. 

“At the end of last year, we gathered not too far from here to announce a plan to eliminate vacant [lots] in Baltimore in its entirety. Accomplishing that goal is going to require tasks like this one,” said Scott.

In July 2023, Baltimoreans United In Leadership Development (BUILD), the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) and the mayor announced a collaborative effort to eliminate the city’s longtime vacant housing crisis. Their plan includes a $3 billion investment throughout the next 15 years.

They have already started advocating for some of the funds from the state during the 2024 Maryland General Assembly session.

On Feb. 27, Scott advocated for the millions of dollars Gov. Wes Moore allocated to Project C.O.R.E (Creating Opportunities for Revitalization and Equity) and other housing priorities in Baltimore. Project C.O.R.E. is an initiative between the state and the Baltimore City government to eliminate thousands of vacant properties to help redevelop and invest in the city.

“In Baltimore, there is a renaissance building,” said Scott in a hearing on the capital budget funds in the Capital Budget Subcommittee of the Maryland Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. “The State Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) capital budget, specifically the $50 million allocated for Project C.O.R.E., is going to be crucial to help accelerate a key component of that effort.”

The governor’s proposed capital budget for fiscal year 2025 includes $115.5 million in additional funds for housing and community revitalization initiatives under the Maryland DHCD.

“That capital budget, as proposed, would allow for significant acceleration of our vacants work around Baltimore City,” said Scott. “The $50 million in Project C.O.R.E. money in the governor’s budget could be leveraged to unlock $1 billion over 15 years if bonded and sustained.”

“Overall, this ambitious undertaking is going to require all of us to accomplish it,” added Scott. “We will need investments from the city, state and private partners to make it happen.”

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post The Carlton reopens in Reservoir Hill after decades of vacancy appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Villareal “VJ” Johnson plans to keep community voices at the forefront if elected to the D.C. council member for Ward 7. Johnson is a D.C. native who found his way to community service and hasn’t stopped since. 

Johnson has been engaging in Ward 7 for about 20 years.

“I have been steady with pushing the agenda for improving the lives of Ward 7 residents,” said Johnson. “I am carrying the work forward.”

Throughout the years, he has served as an advisory neighborhood commissioner (ANC), a non-partisan body made up of locally elected representatives spread across each ward and worked with the D.C. Council among many other positions throughout the city and ward. 

Johnson said he knows what has been done and what needs to be done. 

If elected, Johnson plans to keep community voices at the center of his work by implementing regular town halls and community forums and using digital platforms for greater accessibility and opportunities for feedback. 

Johnson said he knows the community voice and knows how to extract it. Even before he began running for a D.C. Council seat, he was meeting residents where they were to make change.

“Basically, you do it in small groups–community by community,” said Johnson. “We have chat and chews–couch conversations in neighbors’ homes where 10 -15 people show up– and we talk about the issues.”

He also plans to create community advisory boards and include youth organizations and schools in discussions about Ward 7’s future.

Johnson’s platform also includes public safety, education, economic development, housing and health. 

“People know I’m invested,” said Johnson. 

A few community members agree with this sentiment.

“I have known Mr. Villareal Johnson for at least 20 years. We worked together on a number of civic projects in the ward,” said Carrie Thornhill of the Hillcrest community in Ward 7. “ He’s very smart, engaging dedicated to the interests of this Ward.”

“Villareal is very knowledgeable on how this city and the community works, and I think that sets him apart from some of the other candidates,” said Thornhill.

Edmund Fleet of the Hillcrest community of Ward 7 said Johnson helped revive his engagement with the community’s civic activities.

“I’ve been neglectful the last couple of years being involved with the  Hillcrest Community Civic Association and he re-engaged me,” said Fleet. “The thing that resonated with me was the college scholarship program that he has helped bolster in terms of giving out more financial dollars to our young people that live within Hillcrest to give them an opportunity to go to college.”

“He made the community more aware of it and has got more people to donate to it, thereby increasing the amount of scholarship dollars we’ve been giving away,” continued Fleet.

The D.C. primary is June 4, and the general election is Nov. 5. Johnson is competing against Ebbon Allen, Eboni-Rose Thompson, Kelvin Brown, Ebony Payne and Wendell Felder. The incumbent, Vincent Gray (D-D.C.-Ward 7), will not run for re-election leaving a noticeable opening for those interested in serving at the council level. 

The post Meet Villareal Johnson, the D.C. Council candidate looking to amplify community voices in Ward 7 appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com

Longtime Congressional Democrats Reps. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.-02) and Steny Hoyer (D-Md.-05) endorsed Baltimore County Executive John “Johnny O” Olszewski Jr. (D) for Maryland’s Second Congressional District on Feb. 21.

Ruppersberger announced he was retiring from Congress in January, leaving his seat open this election year.

“You must move on and have other people coming up that you like, respect and that makes a difference. Johnny is one of those people,” Ruppersberger told reporters outside the historic Towson courthouse. “The factor that made my decision easy in the end – and it was not easy until the end – was that Johnny O was waiting. Johnny, you are the right person at the right time.”

Del. Harry Bhandari (D-Md.-08) and Kim Klacik (R) are among the nine candidates running for Maryland’s Second Congressional District.

“I’m truly honored and humbled to be joined by two of the best leaders Maryland has to offer,” said Olszewski. “Thank you both for your endorsements. I appreciate your belief in me, this campaign and this movement.”

Olszewski has acquired over 70 endorsements from various state and local leaders since announcing his campaign on Jan. 30, including Maryland House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Md.-10), Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman (D) and Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D).

Ruppersberger has been in office for about 21 years and Hoyer has been in Congress for more than 40.

May 14 is the Maryland primary and Nov. 5 is the general election. 

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Reps. Dutch Ruppersberger and Steny Hoyer endorse Johnny Olszewski for Congress appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates announced on Feb. 20 that his Public Trust and Police Integrity Unit has indicted five law enforcement officers with various offenses in three separate cases. 

“Wearing the badge of law enforcement and protecting and serving the residents of Maryland is an honor and a privilege. The allegations outlined in these indictments show a complete disregard for upholding the integrity of the badge,” said Bates in a statement. “Creating a safer Maryland becomes all the more challenging when officers sworn to uphold the law commit criminal acts themselves.”

Case One 

In case one, a Baltimore City grand jury indicted Corporal Zachary James Small of the Baltimore County Police Department (BCoPD) on second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, excessive force and misconduct in office. 

The indictment of Small alleges that, on September 27, 2023, he, along with BCoPD officers Jacob Roos and Justin Graham-Moore, picked up a suspect at Johns Hopkins Hospital who had escaped police custody.

The cuffed individual allegedly told Small he couldn’t breathe in the back seat, as all the windows were rolled up. Small responded by threatening to pepper spray him. The argument escalated and Small sprayed nine shots of pepper spray into the suspect’s face. 

The suspect kicked the doors and yelled for the officers to help him, so Small pulled the individual out of the car by his shirt and threw him on the ground. While on the ground, Small grabbed the suspect’s hair and yanked his head and neck while the suspect continued to ask for help. 

Though the suspect asked not to be put back into the vehicle because he could not breathe, Small forced him back into the patrol vehicle.

The indictment alleged that Small did not call for medical help for the individual or give him aid. Small transported the suspect to Woodlawn Police Precinct in Baltimore County, Md.

Small’s indictment originally included one count of first-degree assault, but the state dismissed it before the announcement. 

“We believe we have the evidence to proceed on the remaining charges,” said Bates. 

Roos and Graham-Moore were indicted on misconduct in office for not intervening and assisting the arrested individual.

BCoPD has since released Small’s body camera footage from this incident.

Case Two 

In case two, Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officer Alexia Davis was indicted for a vehicle collision in June 2023 on Sinclair Road in Baltimore. She was indicted on misconduct in office, reckless driving, negligent driving, failure to control speed to avoid collision and driving an emergency vehicle without regard for safety.

Case Three 

In case three, BPD Detective June Hall was indicted on theft between $100 and $1500, theft scheme between $100 and $1500, false entries in public records and misconduct in office.  

The indictment alleges that in several instances, Hall falsely reported hours on her timesheet between March and May 2023 that she did not work while using BPD vehicles for personal matters.

“My administration will remain steadfast in its commitment to apply the law equally regardless of the offender, with the ultimate goal of achieving justice for victims and holding individuals accountable,” said Bates.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Ivan Bates announces indictments of five Baltimore City and County police officers in three separate cases appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com

Longtime legislator Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.-6) announced his departure from Democratic leadership on Feb. 14.

“I have informed Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.-8) of my intention to step down as assistant democratic leader of the House Democratic Caucus.  I am deeply grateful for the confidence my colleagues have placed in me throughout my career,” said Clyburn in a news release. “I am confident that Leader Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.-5), Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.-33) and the entire leadership team will continue the important work of putting people over politics.’’

Throughout his 31 years in Congress, Clyburn has served as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, vice chair and chair of the House Democratic Caucus and two times as both majority whip and assistant democratic leader.

Though he’s stepping down from leadership, he plans to run for re-election this year.

“South Carolina and our already-great nation, have made tremendous progress under the Biden-Harris Administration,” said Clyburn. “I look forward to continuing to work alongside my Democratic colleagues in the 118th Congress, and beyond, to regain a Democratic majority, retain our Senate majority and rally Americans to reelect President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.”

Rep. Alma S. Adams (D-N.C.-12) commented on the news.

“Jim Clyburn has my respect and admiration for his incredibly successful tenure in leadership, during which he helped usher in historic legislation on healthcare, the economy, the environment, and more,” said Adams in a statement. “We’ll miss his steady hand.” 

The post Rep. Jim Clyburn steps down from Democratic leadership appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Gov. Wes Moore (D), Maryland’s first Black Governor, delivered his second State of the State address on Feb.7, highlighting partnership as a way to tackle state initiatives and challenges.

“One year ago, we began our work together. We knew our state had boundless opportunities and blinding potential,” said Moore. “One year later, we still have work to do. We learned a lot of lessons. Solving big problems can’t happen overnight, but change is happening.”

Similar to last year, Moore acknowledged Marylanders from the crowd he invited. Three of those he uplifted were Black women.

“Michelle works in a community health center that treats Marylanders who’ve been turned away by other providers,” said Moore. “She’s the mother of a beautiful daughter named Diamonique – and both of them are with us today.”

He also recognized Cleoda Walker, 82, of Cherry Hill in Baltimore.

“She sees the promise in every child. Her mission in life is to steer kids, youth and adults away from violence and toward opportunity,” said Moore. “She believes in the power of partnership and prevention – and her legacy will endure in the future leaders she has mentored, guided, and inspired.”

Dr. Elizabeth Clayborne of the University of Maryland School of Medicine was another.

“She loves teaching medicine, but she always wanted to be an entrepreneur. As a woman of color, she struggled to find capital to get her idea off the ground,” said Moore. “Eventually, she raised enough money to start her business and today, she is the founder and CEO of her own medical device company that’s focused on helping children and families.”

Moore described the state of Maryland as strong in 2024, citing the state having the lowest unemployment rates in the country for the fifth month in a row.

“Crime is down – and homicides in Baltimore City are the lowest they’ve been in nine years,” he said. 

Moore acknowledged the work he’d done on child poverty, which was part of his top initiatives in last year’s speech. 

“We launched a frontal assault on child poverty that will lift a combined 160,000 children to the

next rung on the economic ladder,” said Moore. “We returned stolen SNAP benefits to thousands of Marylanders living paycheck-to-paycheck.”

Moore highlighted the collaboration of the executive administration and the legislature.

“We can’t agree on everything, but we can – and will – work together toward common goals,” said Moore. 

Those goals include making Maryland safer, more affordable, competitive and “the state that serves.”

“Public safety remains our administration’s top priority,” said Moore. “Our administration will continue an all-of-the-above approach to public safety.”

Moore said he will listen to law enforcement, “the communities they protect,” the state’s attorneys, public defenders, elected officials and “local advocates” when addressing public safety in Maryland.

“This year, we’ve introduced legislation to ensure our firefighters receive the medical benefits

they deserve. We are working together to ensure that our military families aren’t forgotten,” said Moore. “This year, we will also double the number of Marylanders in the Service Year Option. To the people who said we need to continue making Maryland the state that serves: we hear you, and we’re moving.”

Moore highlighted the 16 pieces of legislation he authored this year, including the Engaging Neighborhoods, Organizations, Unions, Governments, and Households Grant Program (ENOUGH Act) and a bill that would create a center for firearm violence prevention and intervention in the Maryland Department of Health.

Maryland legislators reflected on the governor’s speech.

“I strongly felt at home and at peace with hearing the governor speak about public safety. He’s heard directly from our citizens, and his legislation that is being proposed this session is speaking to those needs,” said Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes (D-Md.-37A), a member of the Judiciary Committee. “It’s not a perception of feeling public safety is an issue. It’s the reality of it.”

Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey (R-Md.-36) spoke on the governor’s public safety legislative initiatives, acknowledging his talks of partnership.

“Hopefully, when it comes to our public safety and anti-crime agenda, we can get some support from the Democrats,” said Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey (R-Md.-36). “I don’t think the governor’s legislative package regarding crime was robust enough to really move the needle.”

Moore briefly mentioned the state budget during his address. He acknowledged the projected budget deficit lightheartedly and highlighted what investments his administration made. The investments include a fully funded Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and an allocated $1.4 billion to small and minority-owned businesses through the Board of Public Works.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Gov. Wes Moore highlights collaboration, crime reduction tactics in 2024 State of the State address appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com

Members of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland (LBCM) recently unveiled their 2024 legislative priorities, which include upholding recently passed juvenile justice laws, making resources more available for Maryland’s small businesses and ensuring prescription drugs are affordable for Black Marylanders.

“Members of the legislature founded the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland to advance policies that promote the interests of Black residents. For 54 years we have fiercely advocated for change that ensures Black Maryland thrives,” said LBCM Chair Del. Jheanelle Wilkins (D-Md.-20). “We will work together to ensure passage of every single one of these bills that we have outlined.”

Justice Reform and Public Safety

As public safety and juvenile justice remain significant concerns for Marylanders, in 2024, LBCM will prioritize establishing and supporting a correctional ombudsman office within the attorney general’s office, creating an expungement expansion bill package, supporting the success of returning citizens and maintaining recent policies and laws related to juvenile justice.

“The Legislative Black Caucus last year in the Maryland General Assembly passed really important foundational legislation to make sure that children in our communities are not interrogated without their Constitutional right of access to an attorney,” said Wilkins. “We believe that legislation is a critical bill, and we will defend that legislation this session.”

Black Wealth and Black Business

Redeveloping Maryland small business online resources, ensuring accountability and transparency between the Board of Public Works and Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and increasing MBE contracting opportunities are prime legislative initiatives for the LBCM in 2024.

“The caucus truly believes that Black wealth will grow through entrepreneurship,” said Del. N. Scott Phillips (D-Md.-10). “We will work with the Comptroller’s office to create a public interactive searchable informational dashboard of public works data.”

The Board of Public Works oversees most state agency procurements and contracts exceeding $200,000, according to their website. Phillips said caucus members believe that “transparency in that process is essential for us to understand procurement in the state of Maryland and to grow the opportunities for minority businesses.”

Phillips explained that the dashboard would include relevant information from BPW agenda items such as contract spending amounts, MBE goals and MBE waiver requests. 

Housing and Transportation 

“It’s a bold policy posture to create a dedicated funding stream to pay for public transit. This is a moral decision,” said Del. Robbyn Lewis (D-Md.-46). “Martin Luther King fought for the right of Black people to move freely in pursuit of education, health care and opportunity. As members of the LBCM, the largest such body in the U.S., we have a sacred duty to carry on his work to help make sure Black people can move and seize opportunity.”

LBCM’s initiatives in this area include authorizing just cause evictions for lease non-renewals and increasing oversight and compliance on evictions. They are also working on “banning the box” on lease applications and protecting access to transportation for Black communities. 

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, a bipartisan non-governmental organization, “banning the box” is a movement to remove questions about an applicant’s criminal history from job applications until after they are offered the job. It ideally gives applicants a better chance at employment.

Health and Environmental Justice

LBCM’s top health and environmental justice priorities include the Maryland Maternal Health Act of 2024, the Prescription Drug Affordability Drug Act, a prostate, breast and lung cancer screening bill and legislation on the impact of environmental permits.

“Maternal health continues to be an area where we struggle and witness devastating outcomes. We find that Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than their White counterparts,” said Del. Jennifer White Holland (D-Md.-10).

Holland said the bill aims to update and streamline medical forms used during pregnancy and upon discharge to improve care coordination and connections to community-based services. It would also increase the state’s study and action on severe maternal morbidity.

Education Equity

“I’m proud to sponsor, alongside Chair Wilkins, legislation to support the expansion of community schools under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future,” said Del. Alonzo Washington (D-Md.-22). “The bill does several things, including empowering community school coordinators to operate with flexibility to create transformational change with their students [and] codifying national best practices for community schools implementation.”

Del. Stephanie Smith (D-Md.-45) said there is a bill she is planning to sponsor this session that will ensure unnecessary duplicate programs from HBCUs are not approved, much like the issue that heated up in 2023 between Towson University and Morgan State University concerning a duplicated doctoral program.

LBCM’s other initiatives in this area include equitable funding for land grant institutions and preserving the affordability of the Child Care Scholarship Program.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com

As candidacy filing deadline for Maryland’s primary was Feb. 9, the AFRO is sitting down with said candidates to ensure residents know their options.

Don Scoggins is one of multiple candidates running for Baltimore City Mayor this year.

Q: What was your childhood like?

A: My father lived in Tulsa, Okla., my mother lived in Philadelphia. I was raised in Tulsa, Okla., during the closing days of Jim Crow. From what I can remember, it was an advantageous time. Within the Black community, which was segregated, you had everything you wanted, and we pretty much made our own decisions. You had grocery stores, Black merchants and my dad was an electrical contractor.

The schools were very good because you had teachers who were of the community and very accomplished academically. They could teach at a college level, but because of segregation, they couldn’t receive that opportunity. So, you had capable teachers at the elementary and secondary school levels. In that time, we were more unified. You had middle-class Blacks and those that weren’t quite middle class, somewhat living amongst each other. We didn’t have that internal division that we have today.

Q: Who is your biggest inspiration and why?

A: I would say my grandad was a very big inspiration. In my early years, he was an inspiration because being the president of an HBCU (historically Black college or university),which– back in those days–was a big thing. He had this big Lincoln sedan and resided in the school’s large granite presidential mansion. I saw how he did things, how people reacted to him when he talked and his influence over people– which was a big inspiration.

Q: What do you believe has been your biggest contribution to society?

A: I feel my 50 plus years involved with community and affordable housing work has been my biggest contribution to society. I have been very fortunate to have engaged professionally in work I fully enjoyed. It included military service in Vietnam, assisting the City of Danang in reestablishing its city planning department after a war with the French. After the military, I acquired many years of experience working in various local and federal government agencies, including housing and real estate management. I also helped create several non-profit affordable housing corporations.

Q: Why run for mayor of Baltimore?

A: I want to share my life experiences and professional expertise to provide better opportunities for our youth. Baltimore is a microcosm of many similar cities across the country. In my view, its residents– particularly the Black community– are being terribly shortchanged. Our youth have been neglected and are not being well educated. With this being said, Baltimore is a beautiful place. It has tremendous potential if managed competently. When blessed in life, you have a duty to try to help people– it is not an option. I am not a “go along to get along” type of person. I would rather lose being honest than succeed dishonestly.

Since I’m retired, I have the time, energy and great passion to do the job.

This article has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America Corps member.

The post Meet Baltimore City mayoral candidate Don Scoggins appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
Tmcqueen@afro.com

Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott officially signed the formerly stalled CB 23-0195, “Inclusionary Housing for Baltimore City” and the CB 23-0369, “High-Performance Inclusionary Tax Credit” into law on Jan. 22. Both laws will ensure there are more affordable homes available in Baltimore as soon as next year. 

The city’s former inclusionary housing bill expired in June 2022, leaving Baltimore City with no active inclusionary housing laws for a year and a half. According to Ramos, the original 15-year legislation is regarded as a failure since only 34 low-income units were created throughout Baltimore City. 

“What we did not want to do with this bill was develop another policy that was great on name, that was great on paper, but did not actually meet the needs of our residents,” said Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby at the official bill signing. “We knew this time around we could get it done, but more importantly get it done the right way.”

The bills were authored and led mainly by Councilwoman Odette Ramos (D-District 14) and the Inclusionary Housing Coalition (IHC) of Baltimore, a group of local organizations advocating for equitable and affordable housing.

In 1911, the Baltimore City Council passed housing segregation legislation that was intended to keep Black people from living in majority White neighborhoods, according to Urban Institute, a D.C.-based think tank.

“We did it, finally! It took not just 15 years, it also took almost three years here in a process to make this work,” said Ramos at Baltimore City Hall. “This bill is one of the first steps in totally annihilating the impact of the racist housing policy that started here.”

According to the latest U.S. Census data, about 20 percent of Baltimore residents live in poverty.

The Baltimore City Point-In-Time Count Report stated that 1,551 people were experiencing homelessness in Baltimore on one night in January 2023. About 73 percent of them were Black Americans, 65 percent of them were men and 17 percent of them were youth (up to 24 years old).

Ramos said the inclusionary housing law was created to establish affordable homes in Baltimore and the tax law was created to pay for it. 

“With a history of intentional neglect in so many of our neighborhoods, our focus on housing issues is absolutely critical,” said Scott. “We will continue working to overcome the decades of disinvestment that we have endured.”

Through the legislation, affordable rental units must remain at an affordable price for at least 30 years from the initial occupancy, and the owner must notify the Department of Housing and Community Development one year before its expiration date.

The inclusionary housing bill also requires any residential project with 20 or more dwelling units to set aside at least five percent of the units for low-income households.

“1199SEIU was one of the organizations that worked on the original legislation. We’ve been following this legislation for the last 10 plus years,” said Ricarra Jones, the political director at 1199SEIU United Health Care Workers East, a group that’s a member of the IHC. “We were really glad when Councilwoman Ramos decided to sponsor a new bill so that we could create some legislation that will produce actual units because in the past that hadn’t happened.”

Both bills will go into effect approximately six months after Scott’s signing. 

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen

AFRO Political Writer

tmcqueen@afro.com

Councilman Zeke Cohen (D-District 1) will introduce an ordinance and charter amendment, creating an independent redistricting commission in Baltimore City – fundamentally altering the process.

Cohen will introduce the legislation at a city council meeting at 5 p.m. on Feb. 12.

“What we came up with was this idea of a commission that would determine the map. Everyone could apply, and then one person would be randomly selected from each of the 14 city council districts, and then one person would be randomly selected city-wide,” said Cohen. “We would also have two subject matter experts appointed by the randomly selected commissioners.”

Redistricting takes place every 10 years nationwide. According to the Baltimore City Charter, the Baltimore City Council map has to be redrawn and agreed upon by the mayor and the council to ensure even populace representation throughout the city.

“ leaves communities feeling a great deal of frustration,” said Cohen. “In particular, I think having elected officials select their constituents is not the way that we should operate. This needs to be a community-driven, neutral process that eliminates the politics.”

Mayor Brandon M. Scott introduced his redistricting plan, in which the city council had 60 days to amend, pass, or create a map in September 2023.

The council desired to give the community more chances for input, so they held five public meetings and feedback sessions.

Council President Nick Mosby created his version that included much of the community’s concerns from the sessions. It was eventually passed by an 8-6 vote, but Scott vetoed the bill after the council could no longer override his veto.

Scott’s version of the map is the one elected council members will use starting in December and for the primary and general elections. 

Mosby introduced his response to the disappointment in January, a charter amendment,  24-0473, that would ensure that the mayor no longer has veto power when it comes to redistricting and require community input sessions before the mayor introduces his plan.

“Where our legislation goes a big step further is that we want to remove all of the political influence, to the extent that we can, out of the redistricting process,” said Cohen. “This is one of those issues where having elected officials play too much of a role is actually harmful to democracy and to people’s faith in the process and the people that they elect.” 

Applicants for the commission must fit the criteria, which include being a resident of Baltimore, being registered to vote in Baltimore for eight consecutive years, not being an elected official, not being a registered lobbyist, not being a state or local government employee and not being a leader of a political party.

One expert will be from a Baltimore-based organization focused on equity and data. Another shall be a faculty member at a Baltimore City higher education institution in law, public policy or political science.

Cohen drafted the bill with community input from those who were impacted by last year’s process and wanted something different.

“In the most recent redistricting, we felt like what resulted really wasn’t the will of the people,” said Maraizu Onyenaka, Coldstream Homestead Montebello Community board member. 

One of the top issues was the reshaping of which district Clifton Park is located. At the town halls, many residents from District 14 spoke of their concern about losing Clifton Park to District 12 after years of advocacy for the communal space.

 “My community has been at the forefront of bringing more attention to it doing programming in it,” said Onyenaka. “I’m sure that the current councilperson of the 12th will be somewhat responsive to our concerns and what we’re trying to do, but in the future, the next one probably won’t.”

Omar Hamza, president of the Madison Park Improvement Association, is another community member who provided feedback for Cohen’s plan during the drafting stages.

“We have a very tight-knit community that is being divided by the last map and are worried that it will be more difficult to advocate for more improvements in our neighborhood,” said Omar Hamza, president of the Madison Park Improvement Association. “I’m hopeful that this legislation will give more power to the people to have a fair redistricting process unaffected by politics and the desires of politicians.” 

Though he has hopes for the legislation, Hamza said he is concerned that a future commission would not fully represent the racial and economic diversity of Baltimore. 

“I hope the legislation takes that into account in some way,” said Hamza.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

As the Feb. 9 candidacy filing deadline approached, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. (D) announced his bid for Maryland’s 2nd Congressional District seat. He officially filed with the Maryland State Board of Elections on Jan. 31.

The campaign launch comes after U.S. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.) announced Jan. 26 that he won’t run for re-election. Ruppersberger has served in Congress for more than 21 years.

According to his website, Olszewski plans to run on gun safety, police reform and equity.

“Together, we have modernized Baltimore County’s government, made historic investments in

our schools, roads, parks and beyond and tackled issues like gun safety, police reform and

attainable housing,” said Olszewski, 42, in a statement. “I’m running for Congress so that we can help do the same in D.C. It’s time for a new generation of leaders in Washington who will defend our democracy, ensure Maryland remains a beacon of hope for women and choice, act with urgency to combat climate change and work to lower costs for our families.”

According to his campaign, he has already been able to raise over $400,000 within 48 hours of his announcement. Contributions came from all parts of the second district: Baltimore County, Baltimore City and Carroll County, Md.

“I am beyond humbled at the outpouring of support we have received since launching this

campaign two days ago,” said Olszewski on Feb. 1. “To everyone who has chipped in and who knows we can do better for our communities and our country, I want to say thank you.”

Before becoming the Baltimore County Executive in 2018, Olszewski served two terms  in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2006 to 2015.

As of Feb. 2, Olszewski will run against Jessica Sjoberg (D) of Baltimore County, Clint Spellman Jr. (D) of Baltimore County and Dave Wallace (R) of Carroll County for the congressional seat.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Thiruvendran “Thiru” Vignarajah, former deputy attorney general of Maryland, is running for mayor of Baltimore City yet again.

“I hope the people of Baltimore understand that I love running, but I love running for Baltimore,” said Vignarajah on Jan. 24 to reporters outside Baltimore City Hall. 

Vignarajah ran an unsuccessful campaign for mayor in 2020, losing by 18 percent of the votes or 26,847 votes. He also ran for Baltimore City state’s attorney in 2022 but was defeated by Ivan Bates for the Democratic nomination, losing by 11 percent of the votes or 8,999 votes. 

“I have years of experience in leadership, in fighting crime, organizing coming up with solutions to big problems,” said Vignarajah. “I think there is a handful of positions in government where you can make the kind of dramatic changes at the pace that this city needs.”

Vignarajah said he believes the mayor and the state’s attorney can make those necessary changes.

“If it were not for him, we would not have gotten the justice that we did,” said Rebecca Reynolds, sister of Timothy Reynolds, who was shot and killed after approaching a group of squeegee boys with a bat in July 2022. “He is an amazing person, and this city is begging for change. The citizens that have lived here their entire lives deserve to have someone like Thiru leading this city to a new place, a better place for everyone to live.”

Tavon Scott Jr., 16, was sentenced to 15 years in October 2023 for the killing of Timothy Reynolds.

Vignarajah joins over 14 other candidates for the mayoral position. The other notables of the race include incumbent Mayor Brandon M. Scott, former mayor Sheila Dixon and Baltimore businessman Robert “Bob” Wallace.

“Mr. Vignarajah is free to run as he always does. Our focus is going to continue to be on our record,” said Mayor Scott in reference to Vignarajah’s announcement. 

Mayor Scott highlighted his success in significantly reducing homicides in Baltimore in 2023, opening recreation centers and a fast-growing economy.

Along with the news of his mayoral bid, Vignarajah announced that he would use public financing to fund his campaign.

“We can slowly but surely build up the resources to take on people that are wedded to the old system… that believe that the pay-to-play culture is the only system that this city has ever known and will ever know,” said Vignarajah. “The idea of going around and asking people to make a small contribution to show their faith in this campaign, in this city – it’s going to be joy.”

This route is relatively new for Baltimore City as it was just established in 2020 and not many candidates are using it yet. He joins former city councilmember Shannon Sneed, who’s running for city council president, in this approach.

As of January, Sneed has raised more than $230,000, which includes matching funds from public funding through the Baltimore City Fair Election Fund (FEF). Under FEF, individual contributions cannot go over $150. Also, contributions gathered outside of the FEF are not permitted for use.

Montgomery County Executive Marc Ehlrich has successfully run twice on public financing. Under Montgomery County public campaign financing laws he could accept a minimum of $5 and at most $250 from individual contributors to qualify for the matching funds, according to the Montgomery County Council.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Mayor Brandon M. Scott and other legislators across the city and state gathered in support of the new legislation, the Engaging Neighborhoods, Organizations, Unions, Governments, and Households Grant Program (ENOUGH Act), SB482/HB694.

“As legislators, we get tens of hundreds of emails, sometimes tens of thousands of emails, that come into our inbox about resources needed for different families the violence that is erupting in our communities,” said Baltimore City Councilwoman Phylicia Porter (D-District 10) on Jan. 29. “The ENOUGH Act provides us with the political will, action to make meaningful changes. Not only within our policy but within our people that serve you all every single day.”

The ENOUGH Act aims to eliminate poverty in Maryland communities by putting state money into impoverished neighborhoods and building partnerships based on data. The bill requires the governor to allocate $15 million to fund the initiative’s first year. 

“For most of our city’s history, as you all know, communities just like the one we’re in today in Brooklyn have been neglected, ignored, disinvested,” said Scott at L.I.F.E Church Ministries in Baltimore.

According to Moore, the median household income statewide is $98,000 but in Brooklyn, the median income is $35,000.

“We’ve always known that in order to fully tackle this effort of overcoming this historic disinvestment, we need to work together. We need to utilize every tool available to all of us, and we need to all share the same goal,” continued Scott. “I knew the moment that they declared victory for Governor Moore and his administration, that we finally have the type of partner in Annapolis, Md., that so many Baltimoreans have been waiting a lifetime for.”

Moore said what makes this bill unique is that it’s people-led.

“This legislation calls on community leaders to come together and create comprehensive plans on how to make their neighborhoods better,” said Moore. “Leaders in our communities will provide the vision, the state will provide the support and not the other way around.”

“The only way for a community to be able to participate in ENOUGH is if the leadership comes from them,” said Moore to reporters after the event. “They have to be the ones to submit the applications. They have to be the ones who initiate the partnerships.”

Moore said the state, through the Governor’s Office for Children, will assist interested community partners along the way.

“They don’t have to do this on their own,” said Moore.

Tashi Mcqueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
Tmcqueen@afro.com

U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.-03) recently announced his endorsement of Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) for U.S. Senate.

Sarbanes said he sees Alsobrooks as “good for Maryland” and “terrific for our country.”

“It’s why I’m as motivated as I am in this moment to support her and her candidacy,” said Sarbanes. 

Maryland is primarily a Democratic state, meaning the winner of the Democratic primary election may likely be the overall winner. The Maryland primary is on May 14.

Alsobrooks has over 160 endorsements from local, state and national leaders and organizations. Gov. Wes Moore (D), U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07) and Howard County Executive Calvin Ball (D) are a few notables on that list.

“Thank you so much again, congressman, for your support today and for your leadership. We are just really grateful — 15 years pushing democracy at a time when people weren’t talking about it the way they are today, but you had the foresight to know that this moment was coming,” said Alsobrooks. 

Alongside the announcement was a roundtable discussion with Towson University (TU) students on protecting democracy and voting rights. Students asked questions about how to keep their friends and family engaged in politics and the importance of voting for Americans.

“Make a project of voting. Commit to it, be intentional about it,” said Sarbanes. “If people are trying to stop you from voting, get creative and figure out every single way to get around those obstacles. That kind of creativity, when it comes to democracy, can determine whether we hold on to this democracy or not.”

Alsobrooks encouraged the students to speak with their peers and make sure they are engaging and participating in the voting process. As well, she wanted them to remind their peers that “this is your country too” and that they have a stake in how it turns out.

Citiyana Amsalu, a criminal justice major and political science minor at TU, commented on the event.

“I would say that that was very refreshing,” said Amsalu. “My big thing is making sure that people who are running for Senate, or anything electoral, engage with voters. Making sure voters know moving forward, you can vote, it’s okay to go and there should be no fear. I think it was really great that we addressed this and had a talk about it.”

Shawn Bell, a political science major at TU, shared his thoughts on Alsobrooks.

“I’m lucky to be from Prince George’s County, Md., and she is just an outstanding individual who will be an amazing asset in Congress,” said Bell. 

Alsobrooks is running against U.S. Rep. David Trone (D-Md.-06). Over 60 congressional members have endorsed him for his bid for U.S. senator, including U.S. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.-02) and U.S. Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas-32). He has about 130 endorsements in total.

There are about 12 others in the race for U.S. senator, including John Thormann (R) of Baltimore County, Md., and Robert K. Houton (D) of Montgomery County, Md.

Tashi McQueen is a Report for America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
Tmcqueen@afro.com

U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.-05) announced Jan. 9 that he will seek re-election in 2024, ending speculation that he would step down after representing the state for 23 terms in the House of Representatives.

In an interview with the AFRO, Hoyer said he sat down with his wife, Elaine C. Kamarck, to put some serious thought into whether he should run for re-election or not.

“We sat down and talked about it and the challenges to the country posed by the Trump candidacy and the support, sadly, that Trump has in the Republican Party and the threat that he poses to our democracy, Constitution and our values as a country,” said Hoyer. “The overall environment is a very concerning one for me and I felt that the priorities that I care a lot about are at risk. I wanted, therefore, to stay in the fight.”

Those priorities include securing the funding for the new FBI headquarters in Greenbelt, Md. 

“Over the last 14 years, Angela Alsobrooks both as state’s attorney and as a county executive – we’ve both worked very hard to get the FBI to select ,” said Hoyer. “Now we want to fight very hard to make sure that we get the money to have it constructed.”

Hoyer has endorsed Alsobrooks to take the seat to be vacated by the retirement of Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) in 2025.

Hoyer is the longest-serving current representative in Maryland and was House majority leader during Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) term as House speaker.. 

Pelosi similarly announced her run for re-election via X back in September 2023.

“Now more than ever our city needs us to advance San Francisco values and further our recovery,” said Pelosi. “Our country needs America to show the world that our flag is still there, with liberty and justice for ALL. That is why I am running for reelection — and respectfully ask for your vote.”

Hoyer, Pelosi and Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.-06) stepped back from their longtime Democratic leadership positions in the House in 2022 to let younger leaders step forward for the Democratic party.

“I imagine it is a difficult call for congressional leaders like Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer about whether to retire or not given the stakes are so high right now about which party governs as the majority,” said Nina Kasniunas, an associate professor of political science at Goucher College.  “Pelosi and Hoyer have a lot of experience and fundraising prowess that can still benefit Democrats in Congress, while at the same time there is a push for the older members of Congress to step out and make room for younger leaders.”

Pelosi has been in office for 37 years and Clyburn for 30 years.

Hoyer was celebrated in 2023 at the Maryland Democratic Gala for his 50-plus years of political work.

Six candidates have officially filed for the 5th congressional district seat: Quincy Bareebe (D) of Anne Arundel County, Md., Andrea L. Crooms (D) of Prince George’s County, Md., Leonard “Lenny” Proctor (D) of Charles County, Md., Michelle Talkington (R) of Charles County, Md. and McKayla Wilkes (D) of Charles County, Md.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The Baltimore Police Department (BPD) recently filed a joint motion with the Department of Justice (DOJ) announcing that BPD has reached full and effective compliance on two sections of their mandated consent decree. 

“Together with the DOJ, we filed a joint motion that BPD has reached a state of full and effective compliance on two sections of our consent decree: transportation of persons in custody and officer assistance and support,” said Baltimore City Commissioner Richard Worley at a live-streamed press conference on Jan. 17. “Reaching full and effective compliance with these two sections of the consent decree not only helps us build trust with our communities but also sends a message to our members that their health and wellness is a priority.”

The BPD Consent Decree Monitoring Team’s report in December 2023 found BPD to be in full and effective compliance with the two provisions.

The decree was spurred in part by the 2015 death of Freddie Gray, who died after sustaining injuries while being transported by BPD. The death influenced the DOJ to conduct a comprehensive investigation of BPD’s practices. A consent decree was approved in 2017 and the city complied to resolve inadequacies identified through the investigation. 

 “Under my administration, I am proud that for the first time in the consent decree’s nearly seven-year history, we are able to join DOJ in jointly recommending the court to find us in full and effective compliance with whole sections of the decree,” said Scott. “It is no coincidence that as we make progress in implementing the consent decree, we have also managed to achieve record-year reductions in violence in Baltimore City. In fact, 2023 was the first year that Baltimore has had less than 300 homicides since the death of Freddie Gray.”

There have been 11 homicides and 22 non-fatal shootings as of Jan. 23, according to BPD. Last year, on this same date, there were 17 homicides and 27 non-fatal shootings. 

According to the monitoring team report, BPD still needs to work on systematically documenting services offered to its personnel after traumatic events and the timing of such outreach. They also need to better document and label protests and demonstration-related activity. BPD must ensure their personnel adhere to supervisors’ instructions when unrest or demonstrations occur.

“Constitutional policing and the reduction of crime are inseparable components of our law enforcement strategy. They are not disparate goals; rather, they are interconnected elements that reinforce each other,” said Baltimore City Solicitor Ebony Thompson. “Today, we affirm our commitment to constitutional principles as the driving force behind our crime reduction initiatives. Together, we build a safer community where justice, fairness and respect for individual rights guide our path forward.”

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Gov. Wes Moore unveiled his fiscal year (FY) 2025 proposed budget on Jan. 17, highlighting his focus on public safety, with increased funding for police protection, the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and a new statewide gun violence prevention center. 

Moore said that his goal is to “make Maryland safer, more affordable” and “more competitive” all while becoming “the state that serves.” 

“We will achieve each of these goals without raising taxes on Marylanders,” said Moore. “Our budget includes a record $127 million for local police agencies. That is a $5 million increase over the last year.”

According to Giffords, an advocacy organization for gun control, 79 percent of all homicides committed throughout Maryland are done with guns.

About $10 million is set to erect a new Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention, an initiative encouraged by President Biden that Gov. Moore is supporting in the general assembly.

Moore said he “believes in accountability” and “consequences for people that break the law” but does not believe children should be put through a system that “makes them more likely to commit crime.”

“We’re doing it wrong. That’s why our budget provides an increase of $16 million to programs at the Department of Juvenile Services,” said Moore. 

The budget also prioritizes making Maryland more affordable with housing, education and economic development investments.

“Most Marylanders in rental properties put a third of their monthly paycheck towards rent. Mortgage interest rates have more than doubled over the past two years,” said Moore. “If we do not have enough homes, the prices go up. If we build more homes, the prices come down. This is why our budget includes an additional $115 million for housing and community revitalization initiatives under the Department of Housing and Community Development.”

Those initiatives include the Appraisal Gap (Homeownership Works) Program, the Baltimore Regional Neighborhoods Initiative, the National Capital Strategic Economic Development Fund, Rental Housing Works, Statewide Strategic Demolition and the Project C.O.R.E (Creating Opportunities for Revitalization and Equity).

“Earlier this month, the comptroller released a report highlighting that as child care costs increase, overall female employment decreases by five percent,” said Moore. “In order to get this economy going, we’ve got to make it easier for people to actually participate in the economy.”

Throughout the state, child care can cost $13,000 to $35,000 a year, according to Secretary Helene T. Grady of the Department of Budget and Management. 

The Maryland Family Network, a non-profit family and child care advocacy organization, released a study in 2018 that gives greater context to the issue in the state.

“The Maryland Family Network, in 2018, estimated that Maryland lost more than $2 billion in lost wages, taxes and spending due to challenges with child care,” said Grady. “This budget provides $218 million additional general funds in FY 24, the current year, and $270 million in additional funds, new funding, in FY 25 to support the Child Care Scholarship program at MSDE (Maryland State Department of Education).”

Grady said this funding will also help sustain the program’s rapid growth over the past year.

According to the governor, his budget proposal reduces Maryland’s structural deficit by 34 percent, maintaining the Rainy Day Fund balance at 9.4 percent and overturning the state’s projected cash deficiency of $1.1 billion to a positive balance of over $100 million.

If passed by the general assembly as is, the projected deficit for FY25 would drop from $761 million to $502 million, according to the Maryland Department of Legislative Services in December 2023.

Del. Marlon Amprey (D-Md.-40) believes the state is off to a great start with the governor’s proposed budget but said we have to consider the long-term impacts of this year’s budget.

“We got to think more so in the long term. I know we had to make some decisions and move some money to make us not have to raise taxes for this year, but we’re still going to have to figure out some revenue sources to make the budget work for the future,” said Amprey.

Sen. Cory McCray (D-Md.-45), who is on the Budget and Taxation Committee in the general assembly, commented on the proposed budget transportation initiatives.

“Some of the things that I just want to monitor and make sure that we push the administration on is things like transportation,” said McCray. 

McCray said that though the state put forward $150 million to help cover some of the $3.3 billion that is planning to be cut from the state’s transportation budget, it’s not enough. 

“That’s a temporary fix for this fiscal year and transportation isn’t done on a year-by-year basis. We need to make sure that we close that gap in a six-year period versus a one-year period,” said McCray. 

The Maryland Transportation Administration’s FY 25 capital budget is $656 million, with $319 million, or 49 percent, of it coming from federal dollars.

Major projects funded under the proposed budget include a study for the Baltimore Red Line, $21 million, and the Purple Line Light rail construction in Prince George’s County, Md. and Montgomery County, Md., $95 million.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Mayor Brandon M. Scott, alongside legislators and public safety officials, reflected on the city’s public safety strategies, accomplishments and shortcomings from 2023 and shared the city’s plans for 2024. 

“When I took office, Baltimore was grappling with high rates of violence that have crippled our city for nearly a decade,” Scott said to the press at a conference this month. “I set the goal of achieving a 15 percent reduction in homicides. While it took us more than a year to achieve that initial goal, we are finally seeing those efforts paying off and saving lives.”

Scott said there was a 20 percent reduction in homicides and a 6.8 percent decrease in non-fatal shootings in 2023. This is the first time Baltimore City has ended the year with less than 300 homicides since 2014, but still, he acknowledged that one death is too many.

“None of us that you see here today are ready to celebrate. We are ready to push this work even further,” said Scott. “We still lost 263 Baltimoreans to violence and that is unacceptable.’’

There have been five homicides in the new year, according to the Baltimore Police Department (BPD).

Scott acknowledged the collaborative work of community organizations and local, state and federal agencies that helped decrease the number of homicides and non-fatal shootings in 2023.

Scott highlighted youth violence and illegal guns as significant issues the city must continue to address in the new year.

“Guns continue to flow from outside of Baltimore into the hands of young people and other individuals who are using them to deal death and destruction on our streets and in our neighborhoods,” said Scott. “We must continue on the path of progress and build on the groundwork we laid. Continue to remove illegal guns from our streets by going after straw purchases and gun trafficking in addition to going after locations that continue to sell guns to people that they know are going to end up on the streets of Baltimore.”

According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), straw purchasing is when a person buys a gun for someone who is prohibited from owning one or for someone who does not want their name affiliated with the firearm. Straw purchasing is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Baltimore City recently filed a lawsuit against ATF for denying their Freedom of Information Act request, which would have allowed them information on the top ten “crime gun” sources in Baltimore City from 2018 to 2022.

Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said BPD took over 2,900 guns off the streets of Baltimore in 2023. 

“We continue to work with many of our law enforcement partners and target those perpetuating violence in our city while focusing on limited resources to reach a greater epidemic of gun violence in our city,” said Worley.

Worley spoke on the limited number of BPD officers, approximately 2,000, and how they will persevere despite the challenge.

“Even if we hired 500 cops a day, we’re not going to see any residual effect of it for all of 2024,” said Worley. “We’re going to continue to do what we did in 2023 with the people we have now. I’d like to have the cops, but they’re not coming anytime soon, and we will continue to adjust and do the best job we can with what we have.”

Stefanie Mavronis, interim director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE), said MONSE plans to expand the Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS) to the Central District.

Mavronis said GVRS is in year three of its five-year plan.

“We will scale the promising outcomes of the Group Violence Reduction Strategy beyond the Western and Southwestern Districts,” said Mavronis. “It’s directly playing a role in driving down overall violence. We engage the individuals we know are the most at risk of gun violence and offer them another way.”

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America Corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The much anticipated 2024 Maryland General Assembly commenced on Jan. 10. Though the first day is largely ceremonial, hundreds of pieces of legislation have already been filed and assigned to committees.

The 90-day session will feature policies aiming to reduce gun violence trauma, protect youth and hold them accountable for their actions and ensure legislators are executing their roles to the fullest.

“As we’re focused on addressing the issues around juvenile crime, I think that we have to be thoughtful on how we do it,” said Del. Marlon Amprey (D-Md.-40).  “I’m looking forward to figuring out how we can hold accountable, but at the same time, taking care of our young people holistically.”

Amprey pre-filed HB 121, which aims to limit the number of police training facilities near hospitals, school buildings, state correctional facilities and juvenile locations. 

“Training locations are next door to the prisons. When you are walking around in the yard on the premises, you can hear gunfire throughout the day,” said Amprey. “If they’re really trying to become better people and leave that life behind, hearing gunfire throughout the day is not going to help them.”

“We can’t fix it overnight and we’ll have to find those kinds of spaces somewhere else or move it indoors, but it’s going to cost money, and we don’t have a lot of money right now,” continued Amprey. “I think the ultimate fix is what can we do around firing range times to make sure those who are incarcerated either have earmuffs or they’re not outside. I’m up for any solution, but I know for a fact we cannot have repetitive gunfire around our prisons. That is just not humane.”

The first hearing on this legislation will be held on Jan. 23 at 2 p.m. in the Maryland House Appropriations Committee.

Amprey is re-introducing his artistic expression bill, which aims to prohibit creative work such as rap music from being used in criminal cases in Maryland.

“The Judiciary Committee had a heavy plate last session and I think that our bill just wasn’t a priority at the time. This year, they have a little bit of a lighter load as far as major bills,” said Amprey. “We’re looking forward to continuing to press on that matter and collect more people that have more information around how it truly impacts the state of Maryland.”

Del. Regina T. Boyce (D-Md.-43A) will be working to make HB 80 law, which she has been trying to do for the last five years. 

“ that an elected official cannot also be an elected central committee member,” said Boyce. “There’s no need for an elected official to be an organizing member of a party when the committee essentially works on behalf of a candidate from each party.”

Boyce said central committees are organizing bodies that help candidates aligned with a political party, such as Republicans and Democrats, garner votes and fundraise for their campaigns.

“As an elected official, there’s no reason for me to be on the committee. When it comes to organizing, doing the work, I’m not going to be available because I’m doing the work of being a delegate or a council member,” said Boyce.

This legislation was heard on  Jan. 17 at 1 p.m. in the Maryland House Ways and Means Committee.

Sen. Jill P. Carter (D-Md.-41) is re-introducing the NyKayla Strawder Memorial Act, SB 2.

NyKayla Strawder was a 15-year-old girl who was shot and killed by a nine-year-old in Baltimore in 2022. Due to the juvenile justice reform law, the nine-year-old could not be charged with the crime. His grandmother, April Gaskins, has since been found guilty and sentenced to three years in prison for reckless endangerment and one year for firearm access by a minor, according to the Office of the State’s Attorney Baltimore City.

“After talking to the family and other people at the Department of Juvenile Services, it is my belief that we need to mandate that some type of evaluation and assessment of that nine-year-old,” said Carter.

Currently, a child in need of supervision (CINS) can be filed when an intake officer suspects a child needs guidance, but it’s not required. Carter aims to change this with her legislation.

“If a child commits a violent or a felonious act and they are not eligible for prosecution because they’re too young, then it would mandate that a CINS petition would automatically be filed,” said Carter.

Carter sponsored the Juvenile Justice Reform Act in 2022.

This legislation has been assigned to the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee but has not been given a hearing date yet.

Marylanders can keep up with what‘s happening in the general assembly, including bills introduced and hearing dates at mgaleg.maryland.gov .

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America Corps member.

The post Maryland General Assembly begins 2024 legislative session appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

After much anticipation, Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced his “aggressive” all-of-government approach to public safety, through his legislative priorities for 2024.

Moore recently announced three pieces of legislation that he will sponsor and potentially testify on behalf of during the hearings for the bills.

“We introduce the Victim Compensation Reform Act,” said Moore to members of the press gathered at the Maryland State House on Jan. 9. “This bill will ensure that victims of crimes can count on support when they need it most. When people feel safe and feel like justice will be served, then we have a better chance of getting a conviction and actually closing cases. By forming stronger bonds with victims of crime, we can help with the cycle of violence in our community.”

Moore said he’ll also introduce the Growing Apprenticeships and Public Safety Act (GAPS Act) this session.

“Law enforcement is vital to the safety of our communities. We have a responsibility to recruit, train, and retain quality law enforcement officers,” said Moore. “This legislation will build stronger pipelines to law enforcement jobs for all Marylanders, even those who do not pursue a four-year college degree.”

The third bill will create a new Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention in the Maryland Department of Health.

“We have got to confront this inexcusable fact that 75 percent of all homicides in Maryland are committed with a gun,” said Moore. “This is a public safety crisis, but it is also a public health crisis. We have got to get these illegal guns off of our streets, and we will. This legislation marks an important step forward to making that happen.”

According to Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun violence prevention organization, about 796 people die and 1,363 are wounded in Maryland by gunfire every year. The rate of gun deaths increased by 54 percent from 2012 to 2021, compared to a 39 percent increase nationally. Gun homicides increased 91 percent in Maryland compared to 73 percent throughout the U.S.

President Biden created the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention a few months ago and encouraged other states to do the same.

“From suicide to domestic violence, mass shootings and everyday community violence, our communities are being torn apart,” said Rob Wilcox, deputy director of the White House office for gun violence prevention. “ led the way in passing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act – a law that has funded the hiring and training of 14,000 new school counselors – 500 who will be in the state of Maryland.”

“What we need is an ecosystem where the federal government and agencies have partners at the state level partners at the local level so we can make sure important funding dollars and enforcing priorities get to where they need to go,” said Wilcox. 

Moore said he’ll also support moving crimes related to illegal guns from misdemeanors to felonies and lengthening probation for juveniles guilty of violent crimes.

“The hallmark of what I hope to see in any juvenile justice legislation that is going to make it to my desk can be summarized in one word: accountability. We need accountability for the kids that are repeatedly violating the law,” said Moore. “I believe in rehabilitation, but we need accountability for the young person who picked up a handgun and threatened the safety of their neighbors. You cannot destroy the lives of other people and believe there will be no consequences.”

Last year, Moore announced the release of $122 million to support local police departments, $11 million to the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center, and $35 million for crime victims.

“He didn’t really embrace legislative ideas that would actually bring accountability,” said Senate Minority Whip Justin Ready (R-Md.-05). “The rhetoric is great, and we agree that accountability needs to be the watchword and that the entire state government needs to be focused on accountability for criminal activity, but there’s still a lot of fluff and not real, concrete commitments to embrace legislation that will put more criminals behind bars.”

Republican legislators released a list of public safety legislation in November 2023 that they hope the governor will support this session.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Carlos Ayala, newly resigned member of the Maryland State Board of Elections, was arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection and breach of the U.S. Capitol.  The FBI arrested Ayala, 52, on Jan. 9 on civil disorder, a felony according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. 

Ayala is a Republican from Salisbury, Md. He was appointed to the Maryland State Board of Elections in 2023 by Gov. Wes Moore (D), recommended by the Maryland GOP.

“The Maryland GOP believes in the First Amendment and in the American principle that one is innocent until proven guilty,” said Nicole Beus Harris, chairwoman of the Maryland Republican Party. “That said, Mr. Ayala did choose to resign because he believes that the 2024 elections process and the State Board of Elections is extremely important and should not be muddied with distraction.”

The Moore administration declined to comment though Michael G. Summers, chairman of the Maryland State Board of Elections, provided a statement on Ayala’s arrest and resignation.

“As chair of the Maryland State Board of Elections, I have accepted the immediate resignation of Carlos Ayala,” stated Summers. “The Board is committed to maintaining the security and integrity of our elections in Maryland in a non-partisan manner. The state board will remain steadfast in our mission to oversee our elections process and serve as a trusted source of information for all Marylanders during this presidential election year.”

According to court documents, Ayala was allegedly identified among a group of rioters on restricted U.S. Capitol grounds near scaffolding erected for President Biden’s inauguration.

Ayala allegedly carried a flagpole that day bearing the words “We the People” and “DEFEND.” The flag also had repetitive images of an M-16-style rifle, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

Ayala is allegedly seen on video climbing over police barricades, waving his flag through a Capitol window and jabbing his flagpole at a Capitol officer.

Since Jan. 6, 2021, over 1,265 individuals have been charged in almost all 50 states for crimes relating to the U.S. Capitol attack. Around 440 individuals have faced felony charges of assaulting or obstruction of law enforcement.

Morgan Drayton, policy and engagement manager of the Common Cause Maryland, released a statement on the matter. The Common Cause Maryland is a nonprofit organization that aims to strengthen democracy.

“It is sickening to think that Ayala was making decisions about our elections after allegedly participating in the attempted insurrection. His disrespect for the voices of Maryland voters and his disregard for the peaceful transfer of power stands in direct contrast to the duties of the Board of Elections. It is concerning that he was allowed to be a part of the Board, but we are grateful that he will be held accountable for his crimes, even if it is three years later,” said Drayton. “After the 2024 election, the General Assembly should seriously consider whether the process for selecting board members needs to be changed. This should be a wake-up call.”

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

As Brooke Lierman’s first year as comptroller comes to a close, the AFRO reflects on her accomplishments and goals as Maryland’s chief financial officer and general accountant.

In 2023, the Comptroller’s Office of Maryland processed more than $2.7 million in tax returns and sent out $1.8 million in refunds valued at more than $2.25 billion.

Lierman said the Comptroller’s Office of Maryland was able to pass several bills that echoed her goals for the office.

“The themes of our legislation last year, and frankly this year again, were public engagement, transparency and modernization,” said Lierman. “We passed several bills, including HB 707/SB 660, to create the office of taxpayer advocate.”

“Unlike our neighboring states and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Maryland has no taxpayer advocate office. The legislation would broaden the scope of the existing ombudsman’s office, which is small, to help taxpayers resolve complex and sensitive problems,” continued Lierman. “We will be ready to hit the ground running as soon as we have the full staff in the fiscal year 2025 (FY 25) budget starting on July 1, 2024.

There were five other bills the agency was able to get passed and signed into law. The legislation will start planning for a new modern statewide accounting system and help the agency dispose of long-time abandoned property held by the Unclaimed Property division.

Another facet of Lierman’s priorities is improving opportunities for Maryland’s Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) by following up with businesses that have low MBE participation, asking for answers, better goals and results.

“I believe I’m an independent advocate looking out for the best value for taxpayer dollars. That means looking at our MBE percentage, at the sustainability of how we’re spending our dollars, at whether we’re working with partners based in Maryland and that whenever possible, we can be working with small businesses,” said Lierman. “Sometimes that means unbundling contracts so that we can work with smaller businesses around the state rather than just one large business.”

Lierman’s modernization efforts include improving the Financial Management Information System (FMIS), creating a new state-wide accounting system, and releasing a new tax system for all business taxes.

“We have one of the oldest systems in the nation right now,” said Lierman. 

Another big part of the agenda for 2024 is Maryland’s FY 25 budget, especially as the fiscal year is expected to face a $418 million structural deficit, according to the Maryland Department of Legislative Services.

“We have low unemployment and high household wealth, but our economy is growing at a slower rate than the U.S. and our neighbors,” said Lierman. “We know there is a tax gap in Maryland, which is the gap between what is owed and what is paid. I want to make sure everybody is paying their fair share in Maryland.”

The Board of Revenue Estimates, which Lierman chairs, finalized their projections for FY 25 on Dec.14, which will help Gov. Wes Moore (D) create his proposed budget by Jan. 17, 2024.

January

Brooke Lierman was inaugurated as the 34th comptroller of Maryland on Jan. 16, becoming the first woman to be elected as comptroller in Maryland. One of her first initiatives was to announce agency budget priorities and top initiatives for the comptroller’s office, which included modernizing the office and ensuring financially stable families.

February

Comptroller Lierman urged Marylanders to sign up for health insurance during tax season. Maryland’s Easy Enrollment Health Insurance Program allows Marylanders to check a box on their tax returns. The comptroller outlined three legislative priorities in February. The first bill would generate a directive to produce a new general accounting system for the entire state government, establish an Office of the State Taxpayer Advocate, and create a rebate program withheld from or paid due to Unemployment Insurance (UI) payments received in 2022.

March

Lierman appointed the first-ever chief information officer (CIO) for the Office of the Comptroller of Maryland on March 7. The CIO will oversee all technology functions for the office. The internal tax processing system was shut down for a week in March, which held up the processing of tax returns and direct debit and refund requests. The comptroller highlighted in a statement that the malfunction is an example of why the office needs modernization and updated information technology (IT) systems.

April

The Office of the Comptroller of Maryland urged residents to stay vigilant about fraudulent notices of property seizures due to unpaid debts. The office included a list of things the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) nor the Office of the Comptroller of Maryland will not do if a person owes back taxes. In April, six agency bills were signed into law, which included a bill that allows the comptroller’s office to get rid of longtime abandoned property with no commercial worth and a bill to create a taxpayer advocate office in Maryland. April also marked Lierman’s first 100 days in office. 

May 

Lierman announced eleven new advisory councils and work groups to help guide the agency’s policies, new endeavors and priorities. The advisory councils include business, climate, financial literacy and labor. The work groups include information technology and tax practice. The groups will meet quarterly throughout their two-year terms, which were set to begin during the summer months.

June

The Comptroller engaged in PROTECT Week, a statewide education and awareness initiative focused on elder abuse and financial exploitation, alongside several state agencies. Lierman announced that people whose names are on the Unclaimed Property list could file a digital claim form through Maryland OneStop, a hub for state licenses, certificates, registrations and more. 

July 

Lierman joined Vice President Kamala Harris and the Maryland legislators to announce a $20 billion competition to stimulate the development of U.S. clean energy projects. The two competitions were created to help bring clean energy opportunities to all Americans through a nationwide clean energy financial network. 

August 

In August, Lierman made her rounds throughout the state for various events including the National Night Out, which recognizes law enforcement for the work they are doing in the community, and her Take a Look with Brooke Tour to meet county commissioners and businesses. She also helped authorize $204 million in state expenditures through the Board of Public Works, of which she is a member.

September 

Lierman released the FY 2023 Closeout Report, stating that the state’s economy remains stable but is experiencing some challenges, which include the effects of national inflation. She also shared that the budget ended with a $555 million budget surplus, meaning there is money left over at the end of the fiscal year according to treasury.gov.

October 

Lierman announced two new additions to her executive leadership team, Maria Robalino and Robyne McCullough. Robalino is the deputy comptroller for public engagement and communications and McCullough is the director of media relations. Comptroller Lierman also announced a new online engagement tool that will help inform and connect Marylanders through agency updates. 

November

Lierman attended the Maryland Black Caucus Foundation’s “Business Over Breakfast” event at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore, where she spoke about the agency’s priorities to enhance opportunities for Maryland’s Minority Business Enterprises. Lierman announced tax relief for Maryland taxpayers impacted by the Hamas-Israel conflict. Eligible individuals and businesses can request penalties and interest be waived through the comptroller’s office.

December

Through the Board of Public Works, Lierman helped officiate a new lease of Camden Yards between the Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) and the Orioles on Dec. 18. The lease will allow the Orioles to remain at Camden Yards for another 30 years. The Orioles have been at Camden Yards since 1992. The Office of the Comptroller of Maryland announced that Lierman’s Baltimore office will transition to 7 Saint Paul St. in January 2024, meaning some services will be provided at the new location and others at the old site – 301 West Preston St.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Gov. Wes Moore (D) became the first Black man to lead the state of Maryland on Jan. 18, becoming only the third Black governor to be elected in U.S. history. 

Moore has spent his first year making good on campaign promises and funding initiatives throughout the state.

“In year two, we will keep saying ‘yes’ to many of the priorities that we focused on in year one. ‘Yes’ means continuing the all-out assault and bipartisan assault that this state needs to make on child poverty. In 12 months together, we have lifted over 34,000 Maryland children up the next rung on the economic ladder,” said Moore, at the live-streamed 2023 Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) Winter Conference. “‘Yes,’ means elevating our state’s assets. For example, because of the investments that we have collectively made together, Baltimore is now a federal tech hub and a federal workforce hub, which will bring tens of millions of dollars into the city for infrastructure.”

Moore has also funded affordable internet access and authored and signed 10 bills through the 2023 Maryland General Assembly session, which includes a service year option for high school graduates.

In February, Moore set in motion a review of the state’s minority business enterprise (MBE) goals. He signed an executive order giving the 70 agencies affiliated with MBE 60 days to disclose their progress in meeting Maryland’s MBE procurement goal of 29 percent—a target that has not been hit in over a decade. 

The Moore administration revealed that the report was the first survey of MBE outreach plans, their strategies for engaging the MBE directly and indirectly and a more in-depth request for information that has been done before in Maryland for MBE goals. 

After examining each agency’s plan, the Moore administration will be able to determine which agencies are currently reaching MBE goals and then use their tactics on a larger scale with other state agencies. 

Moore also invested $122 million into police departments throughout Maryland to help with reducing crime. His plans include funds to bolster the correctional system, enforce parole and probation tactics by “following the data.” Though these investments were implemented, a detailed plan has not been released, nor has Moore outlined a specific youth crime reform plan, which is a top concern for Marylanders.

Towards the end of the year, he also had to deal with an impending statewide deficit.

Moore highlighted that in the last 20 state budgets, 17 needed cuts to stay balanced. 

“Since at least 2017, The Department of Legislative Services has forecasted a structural budget deficit,” he said.

Moore recognized that aid due to the COVID-19 pandemic and record highs in the stock market helped bring in tax revenue that kept the government afloat, but said that extra money in the short term is not the solution to the chronic deficit issue that the state faces.

“This year is going to be difficult, but I can tell you right now, we’re not flinching,” said Moore. “I know we enter this season of discipline. It will all be for the benefit of unlocking remarkable potential and future generations.”

January 

After being sworn into office on Jan. 18, Moore held a grand People’s Ball at the Baltimore Convention Center, bringing together more than 10,000 supporters. This move showed his well-articulated support for Baltimore, promising he would stand up for the city more than his predecessor, Larry Hogan (R). 

On Jan. 30, President Biden and Moore announced funding to replace the Baltimore-Potomac Tunnel through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. On Jan. 31, Moore announced a $3.9 million award to Coppin State University for their broadband initiatives for students and the underserved portions of the West Baltimore community. 

February 

On Feb. 1, Moore gave his first State of the State Address, where he recognized Black History Month and the significance of being the first Black person to provide the State of the State Address in Maryland. He also highlighted legislation he sponsored throughout the 2023 Maryland General Assembly, including affordable child care and pre-k, a service year option for high school graduates and the Maryland Educator Shortage Reduction Act of 2023. 

On Feb. 3, Moore attended a public safety summit in Baltimore City alongside Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates and Morgan State University President David K. Wilson to discuss their part in the state’s public safety and potential future partnerships.

March

Moore announced that Home Chef, a meal kit company, will create about 500 jobs in Baltimore through their new distribution center at East Patapsco Avenue. On March 29, Moore committed to increasing clean energy vehicle usage by 2035 in Maryland. Moore also nominated the first Black person to lead the State police, Lt. Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., who was fully sworn in on April 11.

April

Moore began signing various bills as the Maryland General Assembly ended its 2023 session, including the ten bills he introduced, such as a service year program. Moore’s first 100 days in office was April 28. Moore announced $20 million in aid for Marylanders with COVID-19 water bill debt. Assistance was provided through 19 water systems that were awarded funding through the Water Assistance Relief Program. Moore proclaimed that Maryland would remain an abortion-access state a year after Roe V. Wade was repealed and state-wide restrictions throughout the U.S. increased. 

May 

In May, Moore signed hundreds of bills, including SB 858, Firearm Safety – Storage Requirement legislation, HB 186, the Victim Services Stabilization Act and HB 243, the Young Readers Program Act of 2023. Moore gave graduation speeches at several universities, including Coppin State University, Morehouse College and Howard Community College. 

June 

Throughout June, Moore held his first official meeting with Maryland’s federal legislators, focusing on federal funding plans for improved public safety across the state. He followed his promise to Baltimore leaders and residents that the Redline, which would connect East and West Baltimore like never before, would be reinstated.

July 

Moore presented $11.4 million in state funds to the West North Avenue Development Authority (WNADA). WNADA intends to use the money from the West North Avenue Corridor, which runs between Coppin State University and the Maryland Institute College of Art —to help expand the internet across the state through $268 million federal investments in broadband infrastructure.

August 

On Aug. 10, Moore announced that more jobs would come to Maryland through Early Charm, a venture studio that creates sustainable companies. The company opened a new production shop in Baltimore City, which plans to create 115 jobs in four years. Moore marked six months in office by touring Mountain Maryland with his cabinet. 

Moore announced $6.3 million to improve local police recruitment and retention efforts and protect Marylanders from hate crimes through the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services. He held a town hall where he heard from Marylanders about their top concerns, including public safety, education and affordable housing. 

September

Moore, the Maryland Stadium Authority and the Baltimore Orioles finalized a memorandum that keeps the Orioles in Baltimore for at least 30 years, modernizes the facility operations and helps revitalize downtown Baltimore City.

October

Moore launched the first public service year program for high school graduates, housed by the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation. Program members will work at least 30 hours a week and earn $15 an hour while working with support coaches. Moore went to the Banneker-Douglass Museum to announce 2024 as the civil rights year for Maryland. Throughout the year, the museum will show programming to celebrate the milestone.

Baltimore is named a national tech hub for biotechnology and artificial intelligence (AI). In October, Biden deemed 31 communities across the United States Regional Innovation and Technology hubs through the CHIPS and Science Act.

November 

Moore and Lt. Governor Aruna Miller endorsed Angela Alsobrooks to succeed Sen. Ben Cardin in 2025. Moore shined a light on transportation investments in Baltimore. Moore and Lt. Governor Aruna Miller continued their past few weeks of supporting Maryland and, specifically, Baltimore City’s workforce by signing an executive order on Nov. 17. 

December