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Councilman Dorsey’s September 2019 Newsletter
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Last week was Labor Day, which is always a milestone marking the end of summer and the beginning of the school year. But it’s also an opportunity to remember the struggle and sacrifice of the working class labor movement that has shaped so much of what is good about life in the U.S.
This year the importance of unions is on full display. In Baltimore, unions are seemingly all that is standing between us and the diminishment of two cultural institutions: the Sun and the Symphony.
It’s a reminder how essential unions are to everything we hold dear, not just the middle class norms of the weekend, vacation time, health care benefits, or a minimum wage; but the very existence of journalism or the arts.
I encourage you to show support both to the members of the Baltimore Sun Guild and the American Federation of Musicians, Local 40–543, and every worthy cause taken up by labor.
Support my work? Make a contribution here.
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE GETS MOVING
Last month, Baltimore’s new standalone Transportation Committee held its first in a series of hearings. As the committee chair, I’m enthusiastic about the opportunity to conduct needed oversight of Baltimore City DOT’s operations as well as its vision for transportation in Baltimore.
Last month’s hearing followed a meeting I held with DOT Director Sharkey and his team regarding implementation of my complete streets legislation. In short, DOT has not kept up with its community engagement plan as required by my legislation. In addition to missing its milestones, DOT has not yet demonstrated a real commitment to developing a community engagement program for Complete Streets that overcomes issues of mistrust and planning fatigue associated with infrastructure. As a result of this hearing, I’ve introduced legislation to extend the deadlines imposed by my Complete Streets legislation to give DOT more time to get it right.
I had an opportunity earlier in the month to talk to WYPR about the Hamilton Streetscape Project. You can listen to the full segment here.
PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE 3RD
The 3rd District remains one of the safest districts in Baltimore City, with comparatively low rates of violent crime and property crime. But that doesn’t mean we’re without our challenges.
In recent months, we’ve seen an increase in violent crimes in District 3, including shootings and homicides. Last month on Eierman Avenue, 17-year-old Yousef Adam lost his life to gun violence.
It’s important that communities, my office and the Baltimore Police Department are coordinating efforts when we’re confronted with this kind of violence. In addition to regular communication between my office, Major Preston of the Northeast police district, and the 3rd District’s community leaders, last month I invited Commissioner Harrison out to personally meet with community members.
We visited two sites where violent crime has occurred in recent weeks, and where we’ve seen similar occurences last year and before. We had a healthy and productive conversation, with representatives from about a dozen community groups and institutions in attendance.
I remain committed to working with all stakeholders to reduce crime in a practical, sustainable, and holistic way.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Financial Disclosures. Mayor Young has signed my legislation overhauling financial disclosures. Council Bill 19–0376 makes it more clear who must file financial disclosures in Baltimore City, adds new filing requirements, and provides real penalties for failure to file for the first time. You can read the Sun’s coverage of the legislation here.
Whistleblower Rights. With financial disclosures signed, I’m working on two other bills that I introduced in the Spring as part of a comprehensive government reform package. One of them is Council Bill 19–0377, which adds protections for whistleblowers, or employees who report waste, fraud, abuse, and the like to supervisors or the inspector general. Strong whistleblowers make it possible for us to come forward when we see wrongdoing in City government. Last month I continued working with the Department of Legislative Reference to draft amendments to this legislation. This bill is scheduled to be heard in committee on September 17.
Overhauling Towing Policy. Last month, after months of preparation, I finally introduced my landmark legislation to overhaul Baltimore City towing policy, Council Bill 19–0431. As the City Council’s representative on the Trespass Towing Board, I’ve learned a lot about towing policy in my first term, and I’m proud to offer a reform bill that will modernize how we do things. A few of the key highlights:
- Revamp the Towing Board to give it jurisdiction over all city towing, not just trespass towing (towing from private lots)
- Require all towers to become licensed and follow regulations, cutting down on predatory towers soliciting business from disabled vehicles in the right-of-way.
- Streamline the Towing Board to allow for administrative approval of new towers and remove monetary amounts from the City Code, allowing the Board to update fines and fees without legislation.
- Move Baltimore to computerized GPS dispatch of nearest available tow truck driver.
- Create more opportunities for City towing contracts to be won by small and minority businesses.
- Require right-of-way towers to carry brooms and trash cans and leave crash scenes clean and clear of debris.
BACK TO SCHOOL
Faith & Eastern UMC Back to School Event. Last month we got ready to go back to school, and I’ve been thrilled to be a part of back to school events and programming around the 3rd District. Last month I attended Faith & Easter UMC’s back to school event and was happy to provide some words of encouragement along with Council President Brandon Scott. Great to see so many leaders out like Baltimore Teacher’s Union President Diamonte Brown and Morgan Park’s Faye Long.
Northwood School Replacement. Last month I attended a meeting on the plan to replace the Northwood Elementary School as part of the 21st Century Schools construction program. While the plan looks great overall, it eliminates the existing basketball courts. I’m working with the community, Rec and Parks, and Baltimore City Public Schools to make sure those facilities are retained.
Now is not the time to be limiting our kids’ access to recreation opportunities.
3RD DISTRICT COMMUNITY
District Office. Last month was my first full month at the new district office, and I had a great month of meetings with constituents on a variety of issues. I’m happy to meet with constituents at City Hall and I take pride in being an accessible Councilmember, however, it makes a big difference to be able to offer blocks of time at a fixed location in the District that constituents can count on.
In just one month I’ve met with constituents at Function Coworking Community on a range of issues: traffic calming, ADA improvements, right-of-way art, back to school, problem properties, property taxes, sustainability policy, recreational opportunity, community development, and much more!
Remember, I’m available every Tuesday, all day, and you can schedule an appointment in a matter of seconds at Calend.ly/RyanDorsey.
Fire House Visits. Last month I joined Chiefs Ford, Caine, and Clarke along with command, fire, and EMS personnel for tours of the 3rd District’s fire stations: Engine Company 42 and 56, both located on Harford Road, and Engine 4 on East Cold Spring Lane.
Overall, these locations are in good condition, which is not necessarily the case for facilities in other parts of the City.
This was a great opportunity to take a closer look at the facilities we have in the 3rd District, including the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management, based in the same facility as Engine 4, and one of only two ambulances in Baltimore City equipped with a bariatric stretcher, which is a special stretcher designed to accommodate patients of all sizes.
It’s important that we remember the tremendous service and dedication of our fire and emergency personnel and all first responders, who keep us safe around the clock.
Councilwoman Mercer Rigby Visits District 3. It was a lot of fun to get a visit from Howard County’s 3rd District Councilwoman Christiana Mercer Rigby.
She’s interested in my work on complete streets and creating safe, livable, and thriving urban spaces, so I was happy to show her around the Baltimore’s 3rd District to take a look at the Hamilton Streetscape Project and some other traffic calming wins.
It’s great to build these connections with legislators working throughout the wider Baltimore region, because at the end of the day, we’re in this together. I’m inspired by her leadership in the effort to desegregate Howard County Public Schools.
Won’t You Be My Neighbor? In this era of the NIMBY (Not In My Backyard), last month it was great to join members of Hamilton Hills and Glenham-Belhar as we connected with our inner neighbor at the Strand Theatre’s screening of the film, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”
This film is about the life of Fred Rogers, but the lessons go to the essence of community and what it means to be a neighbor and a neighborhood.
Want to join me on the campaign trail? You can sign up to volunteer at this link, and a team member will follow up with you.
That’s it for this month! The next time I write you it will be fall, and we’ll be one month closer to next year’s primary election at the end of April. If you support my work, I hope you’ll consider volunteering with my campaign or making a financial contribution.