Monday, March 18, 2013
It's your turn to share your thoughts on the issues facing Baltimore.
The Baltimore City Council wants to reexamine the city’s 10-year plan to end homelessness. Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke introduced the resolution calling for a hearing with external agencies to discuss revisions to the city's plan to end homelessness, following the city’s attempt to clear out a homeless camp under Interstate 83. What can Baltimore do to end homelessness? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Many of the residents have found at least temporary homes in North Baltimore.
Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke said all of the homeless people living in what was dubbed Camp 83 have roofs over their heads. Clarke said Thursday night that all of the "camp" residents now have housing vouchers, or found a place to stay, many of them in North Baltimore after a local woman volunteered to let them stay at properties she owns. The camp of homeless people living under Interstate 83 was set to be evicted Friday because Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s administration claimed it had become rife with drug and alcohol use. Clarke held a hearing at City Hall on Thursday regarding the plight of these homeless people. Sign up for our newsletter, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Contact editor Adam Bednar with any news tips. Want …
Thursday, March 7, 2013
It's Patch readers' turn to share their thoughts on what should be done about a homeless camp under Interstate 83
The city is telling homeless people who have made a camp underneath Interstate 83 near the Fallsway that they can no longer stay at the site. According to the Baltimore Brew, Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke, who represents North Baltimore, introduced a resolution on Monday to allow the people to stay there temporarily until transitional housing is found. The city posted notice that the camp will no longer be tolerated starting on Friday. The City Council’s Housing and Community Development Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the resolution at 1 p.m., Thursday at City Hall. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s administration wants to clear the camp because its allegedly been ovverrun by drugs, alcohol and violence, according to the …
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 […
Monday, February 11, 2013
Council members share concerns about employee benefits, trash collection fees and audits.
Some members of the Baltimore City Council, who represent North Baltimore, liked parts of Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s State of the City Address, but had some concerns about the initiatives she proposed. Scroll through the photos to find out what council members had to say about the speech.
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…
Councilwoman says designation is not meant to impact proposed redevelopment.
(UPDATED 3:38 p.m.)—Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke wants to add portions of the exterior and the interior of the Rotunda, formerly the Maryland Casualty Company Building, to the city’s Historic Landmark list. Clarke has sponsored two bills, one for the exterior and one for the interior, to be introduced during City Council meeting Monday evening. The building, located at 711 W. 40th St., is currently home to a struggling indoor mall that its owner, Hekemian & Co., has long sought to redevelop as a mixed-use outdoor shopping center. The redevelopment of the Rotunda is expected to break ground this spring. Clarke said that she is introducing the legislation not to complicate matters for the redevelopment of the building, but to instead protect…
Monday, November 19, 2012
The bill would require red light and speed camera violations to be reported four times a year to the city council and mayor’s office.
The bill would require violations of speed and red light cameras by school vehicles to be reported four times a year. Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke has introduced legislation that would allow the city to track speed and red light camera violations by school vehicles. The ordinance will be introduced during the city council hearing scheduled for 5 p.m. on Monday, according to the agenda posted online. According to an introductory copy of the bill, it would require the Department of Transportation, with assistance from the Department of Finance, to report citations and warnings for school vehicles to the council and mayor’s office four times each fiscal year. Sign up for our newsletter, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Contact editor …
bystander
1:39 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Baltimore will not be able to end homelessness any more in the next 10 years than it has been able to in the last two centuries. Mental illness seems to be the cause of a lot of homelessness and shooting rampages as well. To kill two birds with one stone (shooting rampages being the other bird) treat the mental illness. Trying to control guns without addressing mental illness is fruitless. Trying… more ›