The air was tense at a crowded pre-submission community meeting Thursday in western Howard County, where attendees discussed the impact and future of a go-kart track built on private property that has residents going in circles.

Howard County resident Charles Siperko built the half-mile long track for his son on a portion of his home’s 11-acre property at 6717 Mink Hollow Road in the rural suburb of Highland. His son has dreams of becoming a race car driver and participates in the sport of go-kart driving like other children participate in swimming, soccer, or baseball.

Siperko neglected, however, to obtain the required permits from Howard County and the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to build the track. His neighbors are putting up a fight, and many want it removed. The family has retained prominent land attorney Sang Oh to help navigate the process of saving the track.

The family filed a conditional use application for the racetrack retroactively, asking the county to consider the track an “athletic facility,” though go-kart tracks don’t currently fall into that category legally. They’re also promising not to use the track until the Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) issues a decision.

The meeting was informational in nature only, as decisions on next steps can only be made at the DPZ level. Residents who aren’t demanding the track’s removal want mitigations for noise and visual impacts and potential repercussions on the neighborhood’s wetlands. Some even went so far as to ask if he was planning to build a helipad on the property, as Siperko owns a helicopter and used it to bring his son to school. Siperko denied any plans for building a helipad on his property.

Siperko, in the application, offered to limit the hours of use to six days per week and only the afternoon/early evening hours. They pledge the racetrack will be kept private, will not be used for parties, and will be limited in use to the father, son, and coaches. They will also move part of the track to comply with the 100-foot buffer between properties required by the county. The family also promises no lighting will be added (ensuring no nighttime use) and to limit the use to electric motors only.

Residents claimed the engine is not the source of the noise they heard on the one day the family used the track, but the tires. One resident expressed concern about the microplastics shed by the tires on the surrounding wetlands, and others agreed.

While the Maryland Department of the Environment has jurisdiction over wetlands, Oh said the family’s application with MDE is on hold right now because it does not want to rule on a case in which DPZ may decide the track needs to be removed entirely. Oh expects a hearing with the DPZ to take place in the late February/early March timeframe.

This is the second such meeting because Siperko and his family were in Italy for a race in which their son was participating when the first pre-submission community meeting was held. The second meeting was scheduled so that Siperko could be there to hear from his neighbors and participate in the discussion.

The controversy has even attracted the attention of documentary filmmaker Scott Evans. Evans grew up in Howard County, and is doing preliminary work on a potential documentary about this dispute between neighbors.

“I grew up in Howard County and actively participated in both sports and environmentalism,” Evans told Fishbowl in a message. “After reading articles about the track on Mink Hollow Rd, I felt like there’s an interesting debate unfolding here on land rights, environmental impact, and creating safe spaces where kids can explore their sports interests. I want to hear all sides of this and plan to reach out to the community and interview anyone that wants to share their side of the story.” 

Nearly all who spoke at the meeting argued against the track, though degrees of animosity toward it varied. Some went so far as to insult Siperko’s parenting directly. Most, though, focused on the impact of the racetrack on their quality of life, property value, and the environment.

“It’s so frustrating,” said JoJo Lerner, a resident who also lives on Mink Hollow Road. “He said he Googled, and he didn’t see that he needed a permit for this. But it wasn’t just that. He didn’t talk to any of his neighbors. He didn’t tell anyone…. It definitely lowers the value of everyone’s property around it, because who wants to live right next to this go-kart thing?”

Colin Porter, another Highland resident, would like to see the county and/or state invest in a go-kart track like the one Siperko built so that other kids could have access to learning the sport. “These motor sports are certainly underserved,” he said. “We haven’t had a racetrack in this area since they closed Beltsville Speedway.”

Neither Siperko nor Oh would comment for Fishbowl’s article, citing the case being ongoing.

By ADAM HUDACEK

Capital News Service

There’s a little-known conservative power player in the nation’s school board elections, and it has endorsed more candidates in Maryland than in any other state. 

The 1776 Project PAC, which says on its website that it supports “reform-minded conservatives who oppose political indoctrination and believe in parental rights,” has endorsed 19 Maryland school board candidates in nine of the state’s 24 school districts. The endorsements come as the state’s Democratic Party announces strategic targeting of 24 “extreme” conservative candidates.

This isn’t the 1776 Project PAC’s first foray into Maryland’s election. In 2022, the political action committee campaigned for at least three Maryland school board candidates, but not without incident. 

A year ago, the state prosecutor and the Maryland State Board of Elections fined the PAC more than $20,000 for its campaign practices during the 2022 school board elections. The fine stems from what the 1776 Project PAC did in November 2022, when it sent 13,879 text messages to Carroll County voters urging them to vote for certain candidates.

“Stop indoctrination in our schools, early voting has started [sic] vote for the pro-parent ticket for school board Tara Battaglia, James Miller and Steve Whisler,” one message read. Battaglia and Whisler won election to the school board.

In Maryland, the law requires campaign messages sent on behalf of candidates to record who paid for the information to be distributed, regardless of whether it is a yard sign, a pamphlet or a digital advertisement. The 1776 Project PAC text in 2022 lacked such a provision and therefore deserved to be sanctioned, said Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard in announcing the fine a year ago.

“Being able to identify the source of information for campaign material is essential to honesty and transparency in our electoral process,” Howard said . 

This year, the 1776 Project PAC has spent a total of $75,409.58 on 13 Maryland school board candidates across Cecil, Queen Anne’s, Talbot, Calvert, Somerset and St. Mary’s counties. Other candidates endorsed by the group did not receive direct funding as of the latest campaign finance filing deadline.

The political action committee is the brainchild of former political consultant and journalist Ryan James Girdusky, who founded the organization in 2021. A letter from Girdusky on the PAC’s website explains that he was spurred to start the 1776 Project when his godson’s teacher read his class two books about police brutality and white privilege. 

“Progressive activists within our public education system were using their positions to indoctrinate children,” Girdusky wrote in the letter. 

“I created the 1776 Project to change public education by reforming school boards and electing reform-minded conservatives who wanted to improve public education in this country, he added.

The Maryland Democratic Party calls the 1776 Project PAC a “radical ring-wing group”, alongside the conservative parental rights organization Moms For Liberty, which successfully banned 21 books from public school libraries in Carroll County earlier this year. The involvement of the two organizations has prompted the state Democratic Party to invest directly in Maryland’s school board races, a move the party referred to as “unprecedented.” 

“The Maryland Democratic Party is committed to defending our students from the dangerous fringe agenda that extremist candidates and the far-right groups are hoping to bring to our state,” said Ken Ulman, chair of the Maryland Democratic Party, in a press release. “We won’t allow radical activists dedicated to banning books and discriminating against students to take over our schools.”

In its X account bio, the 1776 Project PAC boasts that it has helped elect over 200 “un-woke,” or conservative, school board members since its founding. According to its website, the Project 1776 PAC has focused its endorsements on four states – Maryland, Tennessee, Florida and Arizona – after its successes in three Wisconsin races in April.

To date, the organization has endorsed six candidates in Tennessee, 15 in Florida and 17 in Arizona this election cycle.

The 1776 Project PAC did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the specifics of its policy proposals on school library regulation or preferred pronoun use in public schools. However, some of the candidates it endorsed – such as Elena Brewer of St. Mary’s County – did.

“My main priority is to promote excellence in education and not indoctrination,” Brewer said in response to a Local News Network questionnaire. “Our public schools should in no way become avenues for various special interest groups to promote their political agenda, such as radical gender theory, which attacks the children’s God-given identity and robs them of their innocence. I intend to promote age-appropriate teaching materials, stop the sexualization of children, and promote learning, and the building of character.”

On the 1776 Project PAC website, the organization writes that “biological sex is real and must be taken into account in schools” and that so-called “gender ideology” has been popularized among youth in recent years, something the 1776 Project PAC views as a threat against young girls.

On the topic of book bans, Girdusky stated  in a post on his X account that “the 1776 Project PAC does not take a position on which books are offered in school libraries.” He listed the organization’s priorities as fiscal transparency, improving academic standards, promoting classic education and patriotism, safe classrooms and parental involvement in public schools.

Specifically, the 1776 Project PAC opposes critical race theory and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, stating on its website that they “subordinate the liberal arts to indoctrination.” 

That’s the kind of conservative agenda that some candidates want to stop.

“In recent years, I have become increasingly concerned with the politicization of public education,” Amanda Jozkowski, a Carroll County school board candidate who lost in 2022 and who is running again this year, said in response to the LNN questionnaire. “Decisions that impact our children should be driven by data, best practices and the needs of our students and educators – not by partisan agendas. I want to eliminate division and distraction and refocus the board’s efforts on what matters most: ensuring that every student has access to a high-quality education that prepares them for life after graduation, whether that means college, career or other pursuits.”

Local News Network reporter Tolu Talabi contributed to this report.

An East Baltimore park has undergone a $3.6 million renovation, including upgrades to the playground, the addition of an outdoor classroom, and other updates.

Parks & People, a nonprofit working to improve and expand green spaces in Baltimore City, held a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday to mark the grand opening of the renovated Cecil Community Park, located at Cecil Elementary School in East Baltimore Midway.

“Cecil Community Park is a beacon of what we can achieve when we invest in our youth and their education,” said Parks & People CEO Frank Lance in a statement. “Parks & People is committed to transforming our city, and Cecil Community Park stands as a testament to that mission. This park will not only offer a safe and fun space for children but will also provide a platform for educational programs, fostering a brighter future for our young generation.”

Spanning 1.5 acres, the project involved the complete renovation of the school’s park and playground spaces. The park also has a new outdoor classroom and raised garden beds, serving as “a hub for outdoor experiential learning, recreation, and community involvement,” according to a news release.

The park is intended to not only support the school community, but also the more than 2,000 residents who live within a quarter-mile radius of the space.

“This project embodies our commitment to building stronger, healthier neighborhoods through strategic investments in green spaces,” Mayor Brandon M. Scott said in a statement. “Building better park and recreation spaces to ensure every Baltimorean has access to world-class facilities has been a cornerstone of my administration.”

Scott added, “Cecil Community Park is a shining example of how public-private partnerships can help create lasting, positive change in our communities. By transforming this space, we’re providing a safe, welcoming environment for families and children, improving the quality of life for residents, and fostering a sense of pride and ownership in the neighborhood. Projects like this show the power of collaboration in creating a better future for Baltimore.”

The renovated park is the product of collaboration among Parks & People, the Central Baltimore Partnership, The Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs, Baltimore City Public Schools, Baltimore City Recreation and Parks, and the East Baltimore Midway community.

Funding came from a mix of public and private sources, including The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, the France-Merrick Foundation, the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs, and Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

“Creating Cecil Community Park was the top priority for the Cecil Elementary School and East Baltimore Midway community,” said Ellen Janes, Executive Director of Central Baltimore Partnership. “Through a participatory process, they envisioned a welcoming space where the entire community could have fun and meet their health goals. This Park is a true community achievement, and we look forward to keeping it as vibrant and active as possible with sports leagues, classes, and a wide array of gatherings.”

This year, Parks & People celebrates its 40th anniversary. The organization has completed 48 park projects, which have reinvested $15.4 million in underserved communities and impacted approximately 109,000 residents, according to the news release from the nonprofit.

By CALEY FOX SHANNON

Capital News Service

SILVER SPRING, Md. – Early voting began Thursday in Maryland, with some voters lining up before sunrise to cast their votes when the polls opened at 7 a.m. for president, Senate, House, ballot initiatives and various local races.

In Montgomery County, early birds formed a line at dawn outside the Silver Spring Civic Building.

Campaign volunteers set up tables on the plaza and unpacked sheafs of sample ballots to hand out. Inside, election judges plugged in ballot scanners, opened boxes of pens and laid out “I Voted” stickers.

“It’s a festive time,” Alan Bowser of Silver Spring told Capital News Service. Bowser was first in line at 6 a.m., and said he’s held that honor in every cycle since early voting became an option in Maryland.

Early voting began in the state in 2010 after Marylanders overwhelmingly favored a 2008 ballot question empowering lawmakers to write early balloting into law. In the intervening years, the Maryland General Assembly has voted four times to expand the number of early voting sites.

State Board of Elections Deputy Administrator Katherine Berry told CNS that as of 2:30 p.m. Thursday, more than 90,000 voters had turned out to cast their ballots. That pacing is on par with early voting turnout in 2020, Berry said, but far higher than the 2024 primary.

Bowser, a precinct chair for the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee, told CNS the voters he speaks with are feeling motivated to elect the two women of color running close races at the top of the ticket: Vice President Kamala Harris for president and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks for Senate.

Webb Smedley was out in the brisk morning sporting a Harris Walz cap in woodland camo, paired with an Alsobrooks t-shirt featuring the candidate’s portrait.

Smedley, who is retired, said that this is the first time he has volunteered for a campaign.

“I think that it’s the most important election of my lifetime, and I’ve voted since…for a long time,” he said.

Also on the Democratic ticket in Montgomery County is Rep. Jamie Raskin, who is running to keep his seat in Maryland’s 8th Congressional District.

Raskin arrived at the polls himself just after 7 a.m., greeting supporters with hugs and shaking hands with officials from the local board of elections. The Hill projects Raskin has a 99% chance of beating out Republican opponent Cheryl Riley to stay in Congress.

Walking in the front door of the polling place, Raskin told CNS, “I can’t wait to vote for Kamala.”

Of the many campaign signs dotting the parkway in front of the Civic Building, there was only one for Donald Trump, an unsurprising reality in deeply blue Montgomery County.

But that doesn’t mean there weren’t Republicans at the polls in Silver Spring.

Michael Fletcher, a Republican from Olney, was reprising his role as a poll watcher, a designated individual approved to observe election activities.

Fletcher told CNS that he became interested in being a poll watcher after the 2020 election, when, in his words, “there were so many allegations and innuendo and things like that. So I thought I’d get more involved and see how the process worked.”

Although Trump continues to repeat false claims of fraud in the 2020 election, a lie spread by FOX News and prominent Republicans like Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Fletcher said that he hasn’t seen anything concerning at the polls in his county.

“I think the Board of Elections in Montgomery County does a really good job of training their judges,” Fletcher said. “But I also like to think that just my presence here maybe makes everybody get up a little higher on the step, you know, do a little bit better job.”

For Montgomery County Board of Elections Secretary Amie Hoeber, a Republican, it’s frustrating that so many within her party continue to cast doubt on the voting process. She told CNS, “I find it fair and reasonable, and object to the people who consider it a problem.”

Hoeber has already cast her ballot by mail and wants to reassure the public that mail-in voting is another option that is “completely secure.”

Montgomery County Board of Elections President David Naimon said many voters like to wait until the last minute, but he urged the public to resist the “real human tendency to procrastinate.”

Polling places specially designated as early voting centers in Maryland are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Thursday October 31. More information about early voting can be found on the State Board of Elections website.

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield this week opened its approximately 20,000-square-foot West Baltimore workspace at The Village at Mondawmin.

In a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, officials marked CareFirst’s dedication to community-centered healthcare and economic empowerment. The new workspace represents CareFirst’s commitment to West Baltimore, serving as a community hub for health and wellness resources, workforce development programs, and support services for residents.

“Completing this project marks a significant moment in our mission at CareFirst as we continue to invest with the communities we serve,” said Brian D. Pieninck, CareFirst’s president and CEO. “In partnership with leaders from Coppin State University, Center for Urban Families, and Whiting-Turner, who share our strong belief in West Baltimore’s future, we understand success comes through being led by the community. The center’s vision is built around community voices, community talents, and community dreams.”

CareFirst’s novel workforce development initiative launched in 2023 in partnership with Coppin State University and the Center for Urban Families. The program’s focus is to create economic growth and opportunities for West Baltimore residents living in the 21215, 21216, and 21217 zip codes.

The initiative recruits and trains residents for jobs in the healthcare industry, from customer service to community health advocacy and beyond. Choosing The Village at Mondawmin as the location for the workspace helps address common barriers to employment, like transportation and childcare.

The community hub and resource center give residents access to free fitness and health education classes, in addition to help from CareFirst team members on billing, claims, benefits, and more. This in-person support helps current and new members and addresses the neighborhood’s health equity needs. Additionally, the resource center offers programs ranging from home-buying courses to legal education.

“We are proud to see our vision for The Village at Mondawmin come to fruition with CareFirst as a vital partner in this important project,” said Tim Regan, co-owner of The Village at Mondawmin and CEO of The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company. “We are working hard with our community partners to revitalize West Baltimore and enhance the quality of life. By attracting meaningful tenants, a dynamic community hub that addresses critical needs and unlocks opportunities for growth is being built. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with CareFirst and community leaders to ensure this space serves as a catalyst for positive change.”

“Our collective aim is to build safer, vibrant communities across Baltimore,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “The commitment and involvement of CareFirst in West Baltimore is a shining example of the transformative change that can be generated when community organizations and leaders unite. When we harness our collective strength, we can effect meaningful change that benefits our region and its residents.”

“Baltimore will lead Maryland into a new decade and partnerships that contribute to our shared progress are crucial to that mission,” said Gov. Wes Moore. “I want to commend CareFirst, Coppin State University, and the Center for Urban Families for their innovative workforce development program, along with all the organizations in The Village at Mondawmin. Today, we are not only celebrating the continued success of the workforce development program and the new CareFirst workspace; we also recognize the potential, resilience, and power within a revitalized, healthier, and thriving West Baltimore.”

CareFirst members and non-members are encouraged to check out programming as it is shared at CareFirst or Eventbrite. Initial grand opening events include a Medicaid Made Simple Class on Oct. 28 and a Holistic Childbirth Class on Nov. 2.

Work began in recent weeks on the infrastructure for 247 townhomes by Ryan Homes at the One Westport development in the Westport neighborhood of South Baltimore. The townhomes are phase one of a development by Stonewall Capital on a 43-acre waterfront parcel on the Middle Branch.

Stonewall Captial sold the 11.2-acre Parcel B of the development to H&H Rock, a land developer working to create townhome pad sites for Ryan Homes. Ray Jackson of Stonewall Capital said he expects vertical construction to begin on the townhomes in the first quarter of 2025 with the completed homes being delivered in the spring or summer.

Read more at SouthBmore.

The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) has chosen Baltimore to host its annual conference, bringing together more than 1,500 minority architects from around the country for a five-day summit in Charm City.

The 12 local young architects organizing the conference will highlight the housing, entertainment, and community projects making Baltimore the unique and exciting city it is for learning, living, and exploring.

The annual meeting takes place from Wednesday, Oct. 23 – Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 and is sold out. NOMA is a 50-year-old organization with 25 chapters around the United States. Baltimore’s chapter began in 2017 with just five members and boasts over 100 members today.

In addition to attending sessions designed around the topics of design; technical; community and justice; business; and “Hey, Smalltimore!”, there will be numerous networking events held around the city and keynotes featuring esteemed and groundbreaking minority architects on topics as broad as bridging continents to focused topics like underserved communities in Baltimore.

“With over 45-chapter cities to choose from to host our national conference, we are excited to be in Baltimore to honor its place in design history as well as it’s emerging community-inspired design programs. It is in cities like these where we want to gather, exchange local ideas that can make a national impact, and lift up our mission and members,” said Tiffany Brown, MBA, NOMA, Assoc. AIA, NOMA Executive Director. “From the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of African American History and Culture – designed by our former NOMA architecture colleague Philip Freelon, to the legacy of Morgan State University as the only Historically Black College and University in Maryland where we have an amazing student chapter, we are pleased to be here, engaged with the emerging design leadership in Charm City.” 

Some of the networking events include a private White House tour; a reception at Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture (designed by Philip Freelon, a late NOMA member, after whom the professional design awards are named); a graduate fair expo with 70+ exhibitors; tours around Baltimore including the Baltimore Art Museum, Lexington Market, Camden Yards Sports Complex Stadium Tour, and more.

The NOMA Awards Banquet will be held on Friday to honor exceptional leadership, elevate NOMA members moving to the NOMA Council (NOMAC), and recognize award-winning work of NOMA professional and student members. These awards are sponsored by national architecture firms HDR, SOM and Stantec.

Over 80 firms applied to this year’s Phil Freelon Professional Design Awards. Baltimore is home to several buildings designed by Freelon and his firm, including the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, and the Center for the Built Environment and Infrastructure Studies (CBEIS) at Morgan State University, the only Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Maryland with an accredited architecture program.

Melanie Ray, president of NOMA’s Baltimore chapter and the northeast university liaison for NOMA’s national board, spoke to Baltimore Fishbowl about some of the architectural design trends, their emphasis on design justice and accessibility, and what NOMA is doing to increase architecture studies to HBCUs nationwide.

Ray explained that attendees of the conference do not have to be members.

“We do have a lot of our conference attendees this year are either sponsors or allied professionals,” she said. “In some cases, they’re allied individuals who just support the mission of the organization to truly champion diversity within architecture and related professions.”

Since Ray sits on both the local and national boards of NOMA, she was able to speak to the organization’s involvement in HBCUs on both levels. Locally, NOMA partners with Morgan State University, since it has an architecture program (the student chapters are called NOMAS) and over 20 Morgan students are attending this year.

“We partner with them throughout the year,” Ray explained. “We co-host events with them. We invite them to our organization’s events. We do portfolio reviews. We really try to ensure that our NOMAS members have a direct connection to the professional community within Baltimore, so that when they graduate, they’ve got a job, they’ve got connections and mentorship.”

Beyond Morgan State University, NOMA has student chapters at all seven HBCUs that have architecture programs. NOMA has an HBCU professional development program that partners students with professionals for virtual membership opportunities. Additionally, this year, national president Pascale Sablan will visit all seven of the HBCUS with architecture programs.

Ray said NOMA approaches everything through the lens of design justice when it comes to accessibility, affordable housing, and planning. Since she does work in affordable housing, and those projects are federally funded, the emphasis is on universal design as the basis for all spaces. Universal design, according to the National League of Cities, “prioritizes usability by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialization.”

“There’s actually seven key features as it relates to universal design, and we’re seeing more and more jurisdictions incorporate this into their design requirements for new buildings,” Ray said. “We are seeing a heavier focus on designing spaces that accommodate everyone, without heavy adaptation or changes that often make people feel like these changes are inconveniencing other people or going above and beyond. But if you design spaces from the beginning to be accessible to all, then you don’t have to worry about that being an afterthought later.”

Speaking about justice, Ray exuded enthusiasm for kicking off the Baltimore NOMA conference at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture. “It’s a really iconic building, from the outside, the graphics, even to the ‘Black History Matters’ letters that are on the front,” Ray said. “Just kind of really highlighting that as the keynote of the conference.”

Maryland education leaders are ushering in a new literacy plan meant to boost student success as part of the statewide shift to the science of reading.

At a board meeting Tuesday, 11 members voted in favor of adopting the fourth version of the policy, with only one member opposing the measure. In June, the original draft faced heavy criticism because of a section requiring schools to hold back struggling third-graders for a repeated school year.

Read more (and listen) at WYPR.

A new agreement between two Maryland agencies will support construction of denser mixed-use projects near transit stations, including more affordable housing, and promote the state’s climate goals.

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) on Monday announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding to formalize collaboration between their agencies on transit-oriented development.

“This partnership is a win-win for Maryland families as transit-oriented development will help lower the costs of housing while increasing access and ridership to transit,” MDOT Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld said in a statement.

Maryland has a housing shortage of more than 96,000 units, but officials hope the new agreement will help close the gap by adding mixed-use, mixed-income developments within a half mile of transit stations.

“We know that progress doesn’t come without partnership,” DHCD Secretary Jake Day said in a statement. “Through this agreement, we’re making firm our commitment to collaboration with our partners at the Maryland Department of Transportation in addressing the housing shortage and fostering economic vitality for communities across the state.”

MDOT owns more than 300 acres of property directly adjacent to its transit stations, which it plans to work with DHCD to develop, said MDOT Assistant Secretary Joe McAndrew.

While the two agencies have a history of collaboration, the MOU will make it easier for them to share resources, McAndrew said.

For example, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit subsidies flow from the federal government to Maryland via DHCD, which will aid the development of affordable, transit-accessible housing.

“DHCD has years of experience developing and partnering with developers; … that’s not necessarily our expertise, so we have an opportunity to collaborate and leverage those years of wisdom, shall we say, in a way that will help us accelerate our curve of learning and delivery for the state, which is ultimately our goal,” he said.

Long commute times and high housing costs are two of the top reasons Marylanders cite in their decision to leave the state, said Scott Gottbreht, DHCD’s Assistant Secretary of Policy, Strategy, and Research. And since the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge earlier this year, commute times have gotten even longer for many residents.

“Maryland’s economic growth puzzle will require the close cooperation of DHCD and MDOT in order to figure it out,” Gottbreht said. “If we want Maryland growing again, we need improved strategies and effectiveness of both the transit and housing space systems, and this MOU will make that possible.”

The Moore-Miller administration’s 2024 State Plan highlighted that Maryland Transit Administration ridership was still down compared to pre-pandemic levels. That decline is consistent with national trends.

McAndrew said Maryland is at an important crossroads: the state can continue current land use development patterns and maintain ridership levels where they are today, or invest in denser developments within a walkable distance of transit stations and watch ridership rise.

With the latter path, he said, “you also see thriving communities … where you’ve got groceries and schools and attainable, affordable houses.”

Transportation is the largest greenhouse gas emission sector for Maryland, comprising 35% of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. Although the state has been building out infrastructure to support the transition from gas-powered to electric vehicles, McAndrew said EVs are only one part of the pollution solution.

“We also need to create options for people to have the freedom to travel outside of a vehicle, if they so choose, whether it be biking or walking or transit,” he said. “Fortunately, for the state of Maryland, we have great transit assets, whether it be the WMATA system, Baltimore Metro, light rail, bus network, and the MARC network, as well as our locally operated transit services. The question is: how can we go ahead and encourage and send folks to take those great assets, take those trip options?”

By developing near transit stations, Maryland will be making it easier for residents to use more energy-efficient public transportation to commute to and from work, home, and recreational activities, McAndrew said.

Denser housing complexes are also more energy-efficient, Gottbreht said, because they have fewer walls and have more energy-efficient technologies as new builds.

Building more densely will also cut down on housing-related emissions, Gottbreht said.

“This is good for climate, it’s good for equity, it’s good for affordability,” said McAndrew. “It’s also good for fiscal prudence, for making sure that we’re maximizing the return on our investments. It’s also good for the tax base.”

According to the Institute for Immigration Research (IIR), African immigrants represent 17% of the state’s immigrant population. Often overlooked, this community of about 900,000 people has begun organizing and demanding more political representation. In its research, the IIR found that Maryland has the fourth highest population of African immigrants. California, New York and Texas have higher populations according to migration policy experts.

At a recent fundraiser held in a Bowie mansion, the fusion of African and American cultures was on full display. Afrobeat music filled the air as guests enjoyed a mix of traditional American fare and Nigerian cuisine such as plantains and jollof rice. “I’m blending the two cultures in a pretty and tasty way,” said Chef Michel Odukoya as he garnished the food.

Read more at WYPR.

Bon Secours Community Works will dedicate their Community Resource Center to the late U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings.

In celebration, they’re hosting an event Thursday at 3 p.m. open to the community, featuring music, dance performances, refreshment, and family-friendly activities.

Cummings served as the congressman from Maryland’s 7^th Congressional District from 1996 until his passing in 2019. His family members will attend with George Kleb, executive director of Bon Secours Community Works, as the Anchor Group unveils a commissioned sculpture that honors his legacy and commitment to the residents of West Baltimore. Sculptor Frederick Hightower will also be in attendance.

The Community Resource Center opened to the public in West Baltimore in 2022. It was specifically designed by and for residents of West Baltimore, focusing on youth services, workforce development, and economic development for the neighborhood. The center also offers a variety of walk-in and scheduled programming for youth and adults.

In addition to the performances, refreshments, and activities, guests will be able to tour the Community Resource Center following the dedication program. They can learn about available programs and services, connect with one of Bon Secours’ partner organizations, and enjoy the local arts and culture with neighborhood friends.

There will also be an open call for small, meaningful West Baltimore-related items to be placed in a time capsule at the Community Resource Center, which will be sealed in January 2025.

The Bon Secours Community Resource Center is located at 31 S. Payson St., Baltimore, MD.

Maryland voters who checked the ‘uncommitted’ box on their Democratic primary ballots this spring are grappling with how to cast their presidential vote in November.

Just under one in ten Marylanders joined the nationwide movement to opt out of voting for then-Democratic nominee Joe Biden in May to demand more action against the war in Gaza. In Baltimore City, 14% of voters did the same.

But the state advocacy group Listen to Maryland isn’t backing a presidential candidate ahead of the November election. And neither is the National Uncommitted Movement, who instead urged supporters to vote “anti-Trump up and down the ballot” in a September statement.

That’s left uncommitted voters divided over how to cast their votes this fall. Three former volunteers for Listen to Maryland all have different plans — but none of them are checking the box for Kamala Harris or Donald Trump.

Read more (and listen) at WYPR.

Registration is now open for the Baltimore Together Summit, a daylong gathering of community, government and business leaders working to build a more inclusive and prosperous economic future for the city.

This will be the third year for the event, which is set to take place on Nov. 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Center Stage, 700 N. Calvert St. The Baltimore Development Corp. is the organizer and admission is free and open to the public, but registrations are required.

Launched as part of Baltimore’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, Baltimore Together seeks to address racial inequities and expand economic opportunities across the city. The Baltimore Together 2024 Progress Report and updated Implementation Matrix, to be released at the summit, will highlight strategies for fostering inclusive economic growth and ensuring opportunities for all. The summit will also celebrate key milestones from the past year, including the launch of the Baltimore Economy Dashboard; the release of the Downtown RISE plan, and the city’s response to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse while looking ahead to new initiatives that promote growth and resilience.

“Baltimore Together is a collective vision that belongs to every resident, business, and organization in our city,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott, in a statement. “This plan serves as our north star as we continue to create a more inclusive and vibrant economy. It’s about bringing everyone to the table, breaking down barriers, and ensuring that economic growth benefits all Baltimoreans, not just a select few. Together, we are building a future where opportunity is within reach for everyone in our city.”

The day will feature discussions on key topics such as strategies to address vacant housing; West Baltimore redevelopment; ways businesses can drive positive change through civic engagement, and an in-depth look at the life sciences sector as a driver of growth in Baltimore.

In addition to Scott, speakers will include U. S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen; Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson; Tom Barkin, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond; Ron Daniels, president of the Johns Hopkins University; Carim Khouzami, president and CEO of BGE; Elizabeth Clayborne, CEO and co-founder of NasaClip; Jesse Christopher, CEO of Longeviti Neuro Solutions; Alice Kennedy, Commissioner of Baltimore’s Department of Housing and Community Development; and Chad Williams, executive director of the West North Avenue Redevelopment Authority. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has been invited.

The event will end with a reception and the launch of the Made in Baltimore Lookbook, celebrating local talent and creativity.

In addition to the events on Nov. 12, 10 workshops will be held across the city throughout the week. They will focus on topics crucial to Baltimore’s economic development and growth, including youth entrepreneurship, Baltimore’s film and television industry, and supporting and empowering small local businesses.

Last year’s Summit attracted more than 700 registrants and more than 850 livestream participants, and the BDC is aiming to surpass those numbers this year. Sponsors include: Bloomberg Philanthropies; M&T Bank; CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield; BGE, and the West North Avenue Development Authority (WNADA).

“This Summit is more than a meeting; it’s a movement,” said Colin Tarbert, President and CEO of the BDC, in a statement. “Baltimore Together reflects our commitment to overcoming economic disparities and building a thriving, resilient city. Our economy has been growing steadily for two decades, and despite challenges like the Key Bridge collapse, we are poised for even greater growth. This is our moment, and we welcome everyone to join us in shaping Baltimore’s future.”

Registration information is available at BaltimoreTogether.com or by contacting baltimoretogether@justeconomy.com.

The Interim Board Executive Committee of the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts (BOPA) responded on Friday to Mayor Brandon Scott’s recent decision to terminate the city’s contract with the independent arts agency in the next 90 days.

Mayor’s Office representatives said this week that the city’s Board of Estimates will be asked at its Nov. 6 meeting to terminate the contract between the city and BOPA and that the Mayor’s Office will find other ways to support Baltimore’s arts community.

The agency receives city funds for producing some of the city’s major events and festivals, including Artscape, the Baltimore Book Festival and the July Fourth and New Year’s Eve fireworks shows at the Inner Harbor. It also serves as Baltimore’s Arts Council and Film Office and provides staff support for the city’s Public Art Commission.

A letter sent on Wednesday from the Mayor’s Office to BOPA cited “persistent financial difficulties that have come to light in recent months that have led us to conclude that [terminating the contract] is the best course of action to ensure the long-term sustainability of our city’s arts and cultural programming.”

In response, members of BOPA’s Interim Board Executive Committee issued a letter saying they believe “there remains a vital need for an independent arts organization, separate from City Hall, that can champion Baltimore’s arts community,” and that BOPA is “well-positioned to play that role.”

The letter was addressed to “Our Creative Community” and signed by Interim Board Executive Committee members Andrew Chaveas, Lady Brion, Angela Wells-Sims and April Lewis. It reads as follows:

TO OUR CREATIVE COMMUNITY:

As an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the designated arts council for the City of Baltimore, the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts (BOPA) remains deeply committed to the artists, cultural institutions, and creative community of Baltimore. Despite the City’s decision to terminate its contract with us, BOPA’s mission to support and elevate the arts will continue to guide our work. We want to be transparent with you, our valued creatives, about the steps we have taken to ensure the organization’s stability and future success. We also want to be clear about the concern we hold for how the decision to terminate the contract, without a clear plan of how to manage a 90-day transition, places our organization and the arts community at extreme risk.

HOW WE GOT HERE

In March 2024, the organization’s new CEO and interim board inclusive of representatives from the Mayor’s Office was charged with identifying and understanding the existing challenges as well as creating a strategic path forward to ensure the stability and sustainability of BOPA. As part of that, the organization hired an outside accounting firm to review the financials dating back to 2019. We have always maintained transparency with the City. Throughout that process, both the board, which includes designees of the Mayor’s Office, and the organization’s designated City representative were involved in discussions regarding our cash position and long-term financial management strategy. And when preliminary financial details were disclosed to the press absent full context, leading to misinformation and confusion for many, we expanded those conversations to include additional senior members of the Mayor’s administration.

Members of our Executive Committee met with the Mayor’s Office and left with the understanding that the City no longer desired to continue its relationship with BOPA in its current form, largely due to public discussions surrounding our finances. We acknowledged that some elements of the City contract placed a strain on stabilizing the organization and we agreed a transition of services would be necessary. However, we explained that our cash position could be resolved if the City released payments aligned with the timing of our expenses, noting that the current quarterly payment structure was a contributing factor. We proceeded to work in good faith that a collaborative outcome might be achieved.

WEDNESDAY’S EVENTS

At Wednesday’s board meeting, we presented a balanced cash flow through the end of the contract term, reflecting a proper payment cycle for services and resolving past due receipts. We expected a smooth transition of responsibilities and held out optimism of engaging in negotiations around what a new relationship with the City might look like.

We are concerned by the timing of the City’s notification just hours after our board approved a responsible path forward, a path that was approved by the Mayor’s representatives on our board. This reduces what could have been a productive and responsible 8-month transition to 90-days – without any indication of a plan on how to maintain the services provided by BOPA – places the arts community at significant risk and impacts the Interim Board’s ability to support a healthy transition in their volunteer capacity. This is concerning for our arts ecosystem.

THE FUTURE & OUR COMMITMENT

That said, we believe there remains a vital need for an independent arts organization, separate from City Hall, that can champion Baltimore’s creative community. We are well-positioned to play that role, and we are dedicated to ensuring that Baltimore’s arts ecosystem thrives with the support of an organization focused solely on advancing arts and culture in the city.

Over the last several months, we have identified new opportunities for growth and sustainability. We are optimistic about the road ahead and are committed to reimagining how we best serve the arts community moving forward.

We have advocated for our artists and stakeholders, and continue to do so, ensuring that Baltimore remains a thriving hub for creativity and cultural expression. We are grateful for your continued support and partnership as we work together to secure a bright future for the arts in Baltimore.

We share your concerns about the absence of a clear plan accompanying the City’s letter of termination and your uncertainty around the future of our current arts programming, facilities, exhibitions, and potential loss of necessary institutional knowledge. We also share in your concerns around the future of the State’s arts council designation. As we continue to advocate for the arts, we remain hopeful that an independent arts organization can safeguard the future of Baltimore’s cultural landscape.

In creativity,

Interim Board Executive Committee

Andrew Chaveas

Lady Brion

Angela Wells-Sims

April Lewis

BY: MARISSA YELENIK

Capital News Service

ANNAPOLIS – Top state officials have approved a $3.4 million bond to revamp affordable housing in Columbia while maintaining their commitment to sustainability and clean energy.

The project targets Maryland citizens in Columbia who make between 30% and 60% of the area’s median income, with a mix of one, two and three-bedroom units in the apartment complex, said Gov. Wes Moore.

“This is really revolutionary work that’s already showing significant impacts for a lot of families,” Moore said. “We are working this, united, to address an issue that we know is a very real issue for a lot of families and a lot of communities all throughout the state.”

The project will demolish the existing 62-unit housing in Waverly Winds, replacing it with a new 68-unit apartment complex for rent, according to Board of Public Works documents. The board gave its approval at its meeting on Wednesday.

The community, located in Howard County, serves to provide affordable housing to underserved communities that have fewer housing opportunities. 

As of 2018, Howard County had the highest cost of living index, as well as the second-highest median sale price of a home, according to the Maryland Department of Commerce. State officials are working to combat these high numbers with expanded access to and support for affordable housing.

“[It is] based totally on considerations of merit and need, and they are being distributed equally across communities all across the state,” said Moore. “It’s a very targeted program about the families that we’re hoping to build for and that we’re hoping to serve. And it’s going to do a great deal to be able to address the affordability challenges that we know a lot of families continue to face.”

Maryland has spent over $132 million in state bonds to expand access to affordable housing in the state, said Moore, creating almost 4,000 units of affordable housing since his inauguration as governor in January 2023. 

Moore has worked to improve affordable housing in Maryland in response to the 96,000 unit housing shortage in the state. He has signed multiple bills into law that worked to reduce the instability of prices, increase the affordability of units and improve renters rights.

State funding for the Waverly Winds project makes up one of 13 funding sources, amounting to $31.4 million in total, according to Board of Public Works documents. 

The project intends to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from the new apartment building, as well as save energy and promote water conservation. It will use energy-efficient materials, stay in compliance with energy guidelines, restrict the use of certain chemicals and install solar panels to be used in addition to common area electricity.

“It includes a number of sustainability measures that would align with the state’s commitment for reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Moore, “Continuing to show that … we do have an ability to be aggressive when it comes to adding additional housing options, and that does not mean compromising a larger idea that the state needs to move forward and make sure that you have a cleaner and greater state as well.”