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Lieutenant governor legislation a missed opportunity for Marylanders
As is often the case, this year’s Maryland General Assembly session, which closed its annual 90-day session on April 11, had a number of highs and lows. Among the disappointments, in my view, was the failure of the Senate to take up a proposed constitutional amendment that would have established that the primary winners in […]
Inclusionary housing bill would curb new home construction in Baltimore
A bill before the Baltimore City Council that aims to increase the number of new housing units built specifically for low-income residents, known as inclusionary housing, could end up having the opposite effect and even has the potential to stifle any major new housing construction in the city if passed. The proposed legislation essentially would […]
A growing threat to public safety, ghost guns must be banned
It’s no secret that the digital revolution is rapidly changing our lives and purchasing power, but perhaps few with such alarming potential public safety consequences as the sale of gun parts, individually and in kits, over the Internet so that virtually anyone with a credit card number can buy and assemble a gun at home. […]
Maryland’s HBCUs fuel economy, innovation and upward mobility
Last December, Mackenzie Scott, the philanthropist and former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, donated $85 million to three of Maryland’s four Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs. The recipients of the generosity were Bowie State University, Morgan State University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). The gift generated a lot of […]
Baltimore’s silent crisis: Fatal opioid overdoses
Much has been made of Baltimore’s violent crime crisis, especially homicides, which have been above 300 annually since 2015. Unless there is a dramatic shift, the city seems on track to see more than 300 murders again in 2021. The city’s Police Commissioner and Mayor have pledged that addressing the homicide rate is priority No. […]
The leadership qualities needed in Baltimore’s next mayor
In 2016, after candidate Donald Trump won the presidency, President Barrack Obama said, “Elections matter.” Those words are worth considering again as the 2020 General Election nears on Nov. 3. The words of advice are not just relevant for the highest elected office in the country, but also for Baltimore, which is poised to elect […]
5G technology is Maryland’s future
While the way we communicate, work and live has evolved in recent years, the rate of change has accelerated dramatically in the last few months. The novel coronavirus has forced us to stay home and revealed just how much we rely on technology to go about our daily lives. For many, the ability to get […]
Mayoral candidates weigh in on fighting crime
While COVID-19 dominates the attention of many these days, there is a pivotal and transformative primary election coming up in Baltimore City on June 2. Seats up for election include those for mayor, city council president, comptroller and city council. Those elected on June 2 will go on to have a significant role in Baltimore’s […]
New General Assembly leadership shone in first year
Talk about trial by fire. The presiding officers of the Maryland General Assembly, Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Adrienne Jones, had their plates full during this year’s legislative session even before the outbreak of COVID-19. There was a packed legislative agenda of key policy initiatives, including a proposal to restructure the state’s horse […]
Maryland adds to patchwork of ban the box laws
During the 2019 legislative session, the Maryland House and Senate voted to enact the Criminal Record Screening Practices Act (Ban the Box). The governor, however, vetoed the act. At the start of the 2020 session, the legislature overrode the governor’s veto making the act effective on Feb. 29, 2020. The act adds to the patchwork […]
There is economic, social value in Baltimore’s arts
What defines a flourishing community? There are the obvious contributors: economic prosperity, educational opportunity and housing affordability. Just as important as these three factors, and often overlooked, is access to the arts. Not only do theater, music and visual arts programs balance and enhance curriculum, the arts provide a host of strong economic and […]
Salvos over public safety in Maryland, Baltimore
In recent days, the debate in Annapolis over legislative proposals to address public safety concerns has become personal and emotional between Gov. Larry Hogan and legislative leaders.
