By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO The barriers blocking vehicle access to the Roland Water Tower in the historically Black neighborhood of Hoes Heights have been removed. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said in an exclusive Nov. 29 meeting with the AFRO that he has instructed the Department of Public Works (DPW) to remove the […]
Author Archives: Catherine Pugh Special to the AFRO
Commentary: Justice 40…for the greater good
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO The passage of national legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the Chips and Science Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law call attention to President Biden’s Justice 40 Executive Order. They raise the question: how aware are state and local governments when […]
Baltimore celebrates inaugural Emancipation Day Festival on grounds of former urban slave plantation
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO Speaker of the House of Delegates of Maryland Adrienne Jones said “It is always a humbling experience to receive an award, but this was special.” Speaker Jones received the Inaugural Great Emancipator Award alongside University of Maryland, Baltimore County Professor Emeritus, and author Acklyn Lynch, at the inaugural […]
Residents of Hoes Heights fight off road closure, seek continued access to local landmark
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO On the evening of Nov. 6, a group of diverse women gathered around the dining room table of Quianna Cooke. Present that night in the Hoes Heights neighborhood were Betsy Heeney, Hana Morford, Jennifer Jarvis, Joanne Kent and Eleanor Matthews. They were not angry women. They seemed frustrated–more […]
Historic election yields first Black governor, attorney general and female comptroller
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO The ballroom at the Waterfront Marriott hotel in downtown Baltimore could not have been more jovial on Nov. 8. It was teeming with campaign volunteers, well-wishers, people who wanted to be a part of history and those who made the trek just to get a glimpse of Gov.-Elect […]
Voters face thorny question in midterm ballot initiatives
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO On top of choosing the right candidate, voters are being asked to weigh in on changes Maryland needs to make for the better on Nov. 8 in the midterm elections. From marijuana legalization to the appropriate name of the state’s highest court and the right level of civil […]