Monday, May 20, 2013
The council will also be giving a hearing to a proposal to keep the parking tax at its current rate on Thursday.
A Baltimore City Council committee will hear Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s proposals for a new tax and preventing the rate from dropping on another. The Taxation Finance and Economic Development Committee will meet starting at 10 a.m., Thursday at City Hall, 100 N. Holiday St. on a proposal to charge a 25 cent excise tax on “passenger-for-hire” services as well as keeping the parking tax rate at 20 percent, according to the council’s website. Both of the proposals were included in a plan released by the mayor earlier this year to offset a predicted $745 million operating budget deficit in the next decade. The so called "taxi tax" and parking tax are also part of the Rawlings-Blake’s proposed fiscal year 2014 budget. The budget has …
Monday, March 4, 2013
A proposal to grant community groups legal standing raised the question of what groups are viable.
A City Council committee started a conversation on Thursday about how and if the city should recognize certain community groups and grant them increased powers. Councilman Bill Henry, chairman of the Housing and Community Development Committee, said the discussion was needed because of issues raised in legislation aimed at giving community groups standing to challenge city zoning decisions. Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke introduced a bill in December that would grant community associations the ability to appeal decisions made by the city’s zoning administrator. "I had conversations with people interested in [Clarke’s] bill, but had concerns about giving that power to anyone that chose to register themselves on the Planning Department’s […
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
The City Council passed a resolution asking that the city maintain recreation spending.
The administration of Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake will withhold comment on a resolution asking for the state legislature to pass a bill requiring the city to maintain a level of funding for recreation after voters approved table gaming in the state. In November, voters approved table games in the state, with 50 percent of the funds coming to Baltimore earmarked for maintenance, operation and construction of recreational facilities. The City Council passed a resolution last week asking the city’s state legislators to add a provision to the bill requiring the city to maintain its spending level on recreation, in addition to the funds coming from gaming. "If we are going to be receiving dedicated state funds toward recreation, then these …
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke wants to ban wireless communication towers on city property used for the "care and education of children."
Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke has introduced legislation looking to prevent the city from placing cell phone towers on city owned property, such as parks, schools and recreation centers, that are used for the "care and education of children." On Monday, Clarke said she wanted to look at banning wireless communication towers from some city owned property because it is unknown if the towers have adverse health effects on children. "Why take a chance?" Clarke asked. She said the Montgomery County Board of Education has already taken the steps to ban the towers from being placed on elementary schools and play grounds, and that Baltimore should follow suit. But the American Cancer Society expresses skepticism on its website about these towers …
Monday, December 3, 2012
Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke is submitting a bill and resolution seeking to improve neighborhood association standing to challenge zoning decisions.
Legislation set for introduction in the City Council would increase Baltimore neighborhood associations' power to challenge zoning decisions made by the city. Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke will introduce on Monday a bill intended to give neighborhood associations the ability to appeal decisions made by the city’s Zoning Administrator, and a resolution requesting that the city’s state legislators support a bill granting standing to groups challenging Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals opinions in court. Currently Baltimore law doesn’t give neighborhood associations the legal ability to appeal decisions—such as allowing a business to open in the neighborhood—or grant them standing with the Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals during a…
Monday, November 19, 2012
The bill would require certain contracts and projects to fill 51 percent of new jobs with city residents.
City Council President Bernard C. "Jack" Young will introduce a bill requiring at least 51 percent of new jobs created by a city contract of more than $300,000 or a project receiving $5 million in subsidies to be filled by city residents. The bill entitled the "Finance and Procurement—Local Hiring" will be introduced during the City Council’s hearing scheduled for 5 p.m., Monday at City Hall, according to a news release. "Baltimore must move beyond relying on the good faith efforts of contractors to ensure that residents have access to employment opportunities," Young said in the release. "City government must ensure that our residents, labor leaders and contractors join together to finally make local hiring a priority as we seek to grow …
Monday, November 12, 2012
City Council committees will give hearings to four bills this week.
City Council committees will give hearings to four pieces of legislation this week, including a resolution asking the Baltimore Police Department and Baltimore City Public Schools to abandon the practice of racial profiling, Tuesday: The Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Committee will hold a hearing on updating and adopting various building codes, including adopting updated Maryland Building Performance Standards. Sponsor: City Council President at the request of the Department of Housing and Community Development. Time: 9:30 a.m. Where: City Hall, Clarence H. Du Burns Council Chamber. Wednesday: The Land Use and Transportation Committee will consider legislation creating a planned unit development for BCP Investors on Lot 6505 aka…
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke introduced the resolution calling for the hearing.
BGE will appear before a City Council committee on Wednesday to discuss how future long-term power outages—such as the power failure experienced by many North Baltimore residents after June’s derecho—can be avoided. According to the council’s legislative calendar, the informational hearing before the Housing and Community Development Committee on the lessons learned from the storm will be held at 5 p.m., at City Hall. Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke introduced the resolution calling for the hearing this summer. This June a rare derecho with powerful winds formed quickly and pushed through the area giving BGE little time to prepare a response. In North Baltimore parts of several neighborhoods ranging from Hampden, to Poplar Hill to Cedarcroft …
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Gene Raynor was one of the deceased governor's closest friends. He shares a touching story of Schaefer's generosity when the cameras weren't rolling. Raynor also discusses where Schaefer loved to eat and travel, and the people in his inner circle.
William Donald Schaefer and Gene Raynor first met in 1955 when Schaefer was running for Baltimore City Council for the first time and Raynor was working in Baltimore's Board of Elections. At the time, Schaefer wanted to purchase the list of voters, but he didn't have the $200 to pay for it. So Raynor gave him his copy, asking only that Schaefer return it after the election. Schaefer won and returned the list, dog-eared and doodled. A friendship was born. Raynor and Schaefer remained friends ever since. In these videos, Raynor shares some of his best stories about his friend.
slangwhang
7:58 pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Poor you...Poor Us....She just was mentored by the TAX AND SPEND OMALLEY... What do you expect but MORE TAXES...She's a TAX HO! When people finally get FED UP they will realize, it is too late, the GOVERNMENT alread owns you before your PAYCHECK IS EVEN CASHED. BLAKES ONLY RESOLUTION and Answer to any problem is the same as OMALLEY's TAX IT...SCREW THE PEOPLE and SPEND SPEND SPEND. more ›