Councilwoman Fights to Keep Neighborhood

Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke is depending on a prison population count to keep the Pen Lucy neighborhood in her district.  

The proposed redistricting of Baltimore City Council seats is nearing completion, but the council is still waiting on prison population figures to approve the redrawn districts. Council members were hopeful they would receive the population figures as soon as today.

The prison figures, which must be included in district population counts by state law, aren't expected to bring any real changes to the map as currently proposed.

However Clarke, D-District 14, said she is holding out hope that the prison population figures will be enough for her to hold onto at least some of the Pen Lucy neighborhood.

"It's possible. I'm praying about it," Clarke said.

Currently two precincts that comprise the Pen Lucy and a portion of the Waverly neighborhood will be shifted to District 4. That district is currently represented by Councilman Bill Henry. 

Clarke, during the council meeting on Monday, used Robert Nowlin Sr. as an example of the deep partnerships she has built serving the neighborhood. 

Nowlin, although blind, helped lead a crusade to try and rid the area of drug dealers. He was also so persistent about passing along information to the police that drug dealers eventually started to refer to him as "the blind man who can see," Clarke said.

Under the current proposed redistricting map Clarke would no longer serve as his councilperson. 

If the current redistricting map is approved, it would take effect on April 1.