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July 9, 2025

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Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Cambridge

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Point of View Opinion

The Divisive Impact of a Maryland Sales Tax Increase on the Shore by Clayton A. Mitchell, Sr.

March 7, 2024 by Opinion
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In order to pay for upcoming structural deficits and increased spending in the Maryland operating and capital budgets, tax and fee increases have been informally discussed among some members of the General Assembly.  One such potential tax proposal is to increase the Maryland Sales and Use Tax.

In the ongoing discourse over whether to increase Maryland’s sales tax, a candid revelation from a Western Shore delegate about a decade ago offers a prescient glimpse into the prevailing sentiments within the state’s political landscape. The delegate’s straightforward admission, “Clay, if you think the urban delegations cares about Kent County, I’m going to tell you ‘No’ “, serves as a sobering reminder of the historical disparities between the Western and Eastern Shores. This revelation, shared with me approximately a decade ago, sheds light on the perennial struggle faced by the Eastern Shore in securing fair and equitable treatment in the halls of Annapolis.

As I reflected on this insight in an article I wrote for Center Maryland in December 2014 (“There’s a Blue Dog Room in Maryland’s Third Party”), the stark reality emerged that the Eastern Shore, with its old-style conservative Democrats and Republicans, finds itself vastly outnumbered by the progressive Western Shore Democrats who wield considerable influence in the state’s political landscape. The sentiment expressed by the Western Shore delegate encapsulates the prevailing attitude in Annapolis—one where the concerns of the Eastern Shore, particularly those related to the impact of undifferentiated tax policies on local businesses, are met with a dismissive “who cares” attitude from many progressive leaders.

It is against this backdrop that an increase in Maryland’s sales tax takes on a more sinister hue. The Eastern Shore, already grappling with a political climate that marginalizes its concerns, now faces the prospect of an additional economic hurdle in the form of a heightened sales tax. The notion that Eastern Shore residents would willingly pay a 6 ½ % to 7% premium to make purchases within Maryland, especially when the neighboring state of Delaware beckons with a tax-free haven, is a testament to the shortsightedness of such a tax policy.

To argue that Marylanders will voluntarily pay the “use tax” for their Delaware purchases that are imported into this state is laughable. The complexities of cross-border economic interactions, particularly with a state boasting a tax-free haven, belie the simplistic notion that such an increased Maryland sales tax adequately compensates for the financial burden placed on Maryland’s Eastern Shore residents.

The juxtaposition of economic trajectories between Middletown, Delaware, and Kent County, Maryland, further accentuates the potential consequences of a sales tax increase. While Middletown, Delaware experiences a surge in economic growth and prosperity, neighboring Kent County, Maryland languishes in stagnation. This stark divergence prompts a poignant question: Does anyone in Annapolis wonder why neighboring jurisdictions can experience such disparate economic outcomes when the areas share a geographical border?

The Eastern Shore’s economic interdependence with Delaware is a reality that cannot be ignored. As policymakers deliberate on tax policies, they must heed the warning signs from the past and recognize the consequences of an unjust burden on the Eastern Shore. A myopic focus on urban priorities at the expense of rural communities threatens the delicate balance of Maryland’s economic ecosystem.

In conclusion, a sales tax increase, when viewed through the lens of historical neglect and dismissive attitudes towards the Eastern Shore, reveals itself as a potentially divisive and detrimental policy. Annapolis must reckon with the reality that fair and equitable treatment of all Maryland residents, irrespective of their geographic location, is essential for fostering a thriving and united state. Only through thoughtful consideration and inclusive policymaking can Maryland hope to bridge the divide and create an environment where the economic well-being of all its residents is safeguarded.

Clayton Mitchell is an attorney who resides on the Eastern Shore

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Opinion

Senate Bill 1: They Make More. We Pay More. By Len Foxwell

March 5, 2024 by Opinion
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Who is ready for more sticker shock at the grocery store? Well…get ready. It’s going to happen right here in Maryland. 

On March 1, the Senate Committee on Education, Energy and the Environment voted favorably on Senate Bill 1, which means it will now go to the Senate for likely approval. If passed, it will end retail energy competition and choice in Maryland, and take us back to the days when everyone was forced to shop with the government-backed utilities. 

It’s arguably the most anti-business and anti-consumer bill I’ve ever seen brought before the General Assembly. And if possible, the bill has gotten even worse.

Amendments have been added to the bill that will prohibit a green energy producer from marketing “green energy” unless it has been approved as such by the Public Service Commission. Which must, according to the bill language, consider THE STATE WHERE THE RENEWABLE ENERGY WAS PRODUCED.

Here’s what this means:

There will be even more pressure to chew up Maryland farmland for the installation of solar panels. 

As a result, there will be fewer family farms producing less food for local consumption, and prices at the grocery store will go up even more than they already have.

That’s basic economics.

To summarize, we will be paying even more for our electricity because that’s what always happens in a monopoly.

And now we will pay more for our milk, bread, eggs and vegetables. 

This is a windfall for the big utilities and it is a land grab for big energy corporations. It is a punch in the gut for consumers who don’t need and cannot afford to deal with higher costs at the grocery store.

Senate Bill 1 is anti-business. It is anti-consumer. And it is anti-green energy. Please contact your senator and delegates today and ask them to tap the brakes and think this through before voting for a bad bill.

Len N. Foxwell is the principal of Tred Avon Strategies and the former chief of staff to Comptroller Peter V. R. Franchot

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Opinion

 Power for Themselves: The Truth Behind the Big Utilities’ Claims By Clayton A. Mitchell, Sr.

February 22, 2024 by Opinion
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In the corridors of legislative power in Maryland, a bill looms large, bearing the ominous moniker Senate Bill 1 / House Bill 267. This legislative concoction threatens to strip away the cherished right of choice from Maryland’s electricity and natural gas consumers. The intended consequence? Cementing the dominion of utility monopolies while muffling the voice of the customer.

Baltimore Gas and Electric, among others, wields an iron grip over the market, a fact that evokes the ire of many consumers. Despite fervent opposition, BGE’s petition for a staggering three-year, $408 million rate hike found favor in December. If permitted, this would culminate in a jaw-dropping 30% monthly rate increase this year. Such unchecked control, it is plain to see, bodes ill for the ratepayers.

Cast your mind back to 1999 when Maryland’s lawmakers, in a gesture towards fostering consumer choice, ushered in legislation aimed at broadening the array of electricity options available. Yet, despite the ostensible diversity promised, the tentacles of utility monopolies still ensnare a staggering 80% of residential customers, leaving the notion of choice a mere chimera for many.

Advocates of Senate Bill 1 / House Bill 267, like former Maryland Governor Parris Glendening, tout its virtues in a recent online news publication, alleging that retail energy suppliers have raked in undue profits at the expense of the consumer. However, this narrative conveniently sidesteps the elephant in the room – the exorbitant profits amassed by utility monopolies, which then find their way into the coffers of organizations like “Power for Tomorrow,” serving as a haven for erstwhile regulators and governors in their advocacy pursuits.

A damning report from The Energy and Policy Institute unmasks the opaque machinations of Power for Tomorrow, revealing its aversion to any attempts at fostering competition in the utility sector. Under the guise of consumer advocacy, this Arlington-based cabal furtively advances the interests of corporate behemoths.

The former champion of consumer choice, Governor Glendening, merits accolades for his role in shepherding the Electric Customer Choice and Competition Act of 1999 into existence. However, his dalliance with Power for Tomorrow warrants scrutiny, exposing the veritable collusion between regulated utility monopolies and those ostensibly tasked with safeguarding consumer interests.

SB 1 stands poised to usher in a new era of monopoly hegemony under the pretense of consumer protection—a wolf in sheep’s clothing if ever there was one. Let it be known: the erosion of the competitive market is no panacea. I urge you to wield your voice and preserve your choice, lest the specter of utility monopolies cast its suffocating shadow over the landscape of consumer rights.

Clayton A. Mitchell, Sr. is an attorney who resides on the Eastern Shore

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Opinion

The Solar Industry’s Giant Land Grab of Maryland Farmland by Jay Falstad

February 14, 2024 by Opinion
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Maryland’s farming lands, especially those on the Eastern Shore, are a crucially important food-producing asset of our State. Unfortunately, those rural lands and associated small-town economies are in the crosshairs of a giant land grab by the solar industry. The industry has weaponized ‘climate change’ as a low-cost way to capture tens of thousands of acres of Maryland’s food production capacity. Do we really have to let that happen?

Right now, the solar industry has Maryland policymakers by the tail. Masquerading as public utilities (which they aren’t), solar companies are ruthlessly trying to take advantage of Governor Moore’s goal of getting Maryland to 100% renewable by 2035. While the Governor’s clean energy goals are necessary in this age of rapid climate change, solar company representatives are forcing outrageous policy objectives concerning the siting of solar projects – putting them on Maryland’s croplands and open space. As a consequence, urban policymakers – most of whom know nothing about agro-economics – are making hasty, uninformed decisions that will irreversibly harm Maryland’s rural communities. Cheerleading on climate change at the expense of Maryland’s agricultural sector is short-sighted and irresponsible, especially when future food production becomes increasingly important on an ever-growing planet.

Nestled in the heart of the mid-Atlantic’s major markets, Maryland’s vibrant agricultural sector accounts for $8 billion in annual revenues, $20 billion in value-added products, and a whopping 350,000 ag-connected jobs across Maryland’s 23 Counties. Displacing crop-producing farmlands with solar panels – even incrementally – has the potential to irreversibly upend Maryland agriculture and the ancillary businesses it supports, devastating small communities on the Eastern Shore and in Southern and Western Maryland.

While solar projects are crucial in reaching Governor Moore’s clean energy goals, they should not come at the expense of Maryland’s productive agricultural sector. There are many other recognized options for solar arrays like parking lots, airports, brownfields, rooftops, industrial sites, and water bodies. But the solar companies don’t want that – they want carte blanch access to cheaper farmland and the ability to bypass all local zoning in their aggressive pursuit of larger profits. We should not allow that.

Right now, solar siting policies in Maryland are a chaotic mess in desperate need of leadership from the Governor’s office. The Maryland Energy Administration and certain state senators and delegates aren’t listening to the concerns of Maryland’s counties, and they’re not understanding how this “rush to renewables” will impact Maryland’s rural communities. Governor Moore needs to tap the brakes so that no one is left behind. Obviously, Maryland’s agricultural leaders should have a seat at the table when it comes to solar siting policies on agricultural lands – right now, they don’t.

Likewise, the Maryland Department of Planning needs to have a much greater role – similar to Comprehensive Planning – in determining where solar growth areas will be reasonably situated to prevent bait-and-switch scenarios coming from the industry. None of that has been determined, and solar companies are running the show.

While solar energy should be a priority in Maryland, it should not come at the expense of farmland. Farmland and open space should be very last on the priority list of where solar panels should go.

Jay Falstad is the Executive Director of the Queen Anne’s Conservation Association

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Filed Under: Opinion

Opinion: The Republican Perspective on the State of the State by Senator Steve Hershey

February 8, 2024 by Opinion
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In my role as the Senate Republican Leader, a position bestowed upon me by my fellow Republican colleagues, I am here today to communicate our collective vision for the State of Maryland. This vision encompasses both an acknowledgment of where we stand currently and an approach for where we believe we should be heading in this new chapter for our state.

As you have just heard, Governor Moore has put forth a bold and ambitious plan for Maryland, one that is built on the promise that no Marylander will be left behind. This is a vision we can certainly support; after all, our ultimate goal is the success and well-being of every single Marylander.

However, we must underscore that achieving such a lofty goal requires much more than grand declarations.

It necessitates concrete actions and collaborative efforts. To this end, we are fully prepared to work alongside Governor Moore and his administration to seek and find common ground that will advance the interests and welfare of all Marylanders.

As we embark on this journey of collaboration, it is also our duty to raise concerns whenever we perceive that the actions taken may NOT be in the best interest of our constituents.

Public Safety

Governor Moore has rightly stated that Marylanders should not have to choose between safety and justice. We wholeheartedly agree. The safety of our citizens in their homes, vehicles, schools, and communities is of paramount importance.

We believe Governor Moore is sincere when he says that public safety is a top priority of his administration. However, the Governor’s recently unveiled package of bills focusing on crime in our state merely addresses enhancing victim compensation, expanding apprenticeship programs to recruit law enforcement and creating an Obama/Biden schemed Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention.

To make a real difference, the Governor will have to push for a more proactive plan that defines swift and certain consequences for violent criminals thus preventing Marylanders from becoming victims in the first place.

Our vision for Maryland is one where public safety is not just a priority but the foundation upon which all other aspects of society rest. It is impossible to envision a thriving state without a strong commitment to ensuring that repeat violent offenders are held accountable and that our communities are protected from harm.

This vision requires a balanced approach that supports law enforcement and the judicial system in their critical roles. This is why the Joint Republican Caucus has introduced the Safe Communities Act which will eliminate diminution, or “good time credits” for those convicted of 1st and 2nd degree murder.

For other crimes of violence, this bill will cap diminution credits to know more than a 10% reduction in the sentence, as determined by a judge and prohibit bail for an individual charge with a crime of violence, similar pending charges are evident.

We have also introduced the Violent Firearms Offenders Act which increases penalties for committing crimes with a stolen firearm, creates penalties for an individual who gives or sells someone a firearm knowing they will use it to commit a crime, and closes the drug dealer loophole.

Not surprisingly, 89% of Marylanders support making the theft of a handgun a felony from a simple misdemeanor. This commonsense measure was discussed by the Governor, but not included in his public safety agenda. We have supported this legislation for the last four years and have once again introduced the Gun Theft Felony Act this year.

Maryland’s Looming Budget Deficit

In little over one year, Maryland has gone from a $2 billion budget surplus to a $761 million shortfall that is only projected to grow worse in upcoming years.

While it’s a relief that Governor Moore’s initial $63.1 billion FY25 Budget proposal does not include tax increases, long-term spending is still outpacing revenues, and this budget does not identify a solution to this ongoing dilemma.

An exorbitant part of the blame for Maryland’s multi-billion dehicit can be put at the feet of the Democrat leadership which advanced the one-sized hits all education reform known as the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future also referred to as “Kirwan”.

This alone increased the state’s $9.2 billion annual spending on public schools by an additional $40 billion over the next ten years.

In an attempt to make up for undisciplined spending, Democrat legislators are now proposing an omnibus tax increase proposal that would raise taxes on job-creating corporations, raise the state’s so- called death tax and increase the capital gains taxes. Even if these tax hikes were passed, this $1.6 billion annual projection does not incorporate how much revenue would be lost from individuals, businesses and jobs leaving the state as a result of them.

Conversely, Republicans have introduced the Economic Prosperity Act which would lower the income tax rates and rate brackets reducing the amount of income taxes paid by all Marylanders. Our bill will increase take home pay and put more of the hard-earned money back in the hands of Marylanders.

Additionally, we will continue to build on our previous year’s successes to alleviate the tax pressures on our retirees and those who have served in the military.

We recognize that tax cuts are only achievable if we address the expensive mandates from the past and refrain from adding new ones that will further weigh down the budget. We must be disciplined in prioritizing the programs that are cost-effectively achieving their intended results while eliminating or scaling back the ones that are no longer necessary.

Education

In the early days of the Moore Administration, we have observed, with growing concern, certain decisions and policies that, in our view, could potentially leave some Maryland children at a disadvantage.

This is especially true in the realm of education.

Maryland prides itself on making record investments in public education, with taxpayer money being allocated in unprecedented amounts. Yet, despite these significant financial commitments, the results we are seeing do not seem to align with the level of investment.

This discrepancy raises important questions about efficiency and effectiveness in how our educational resources are being utilized. Furthermore, it is crucial to recognize the diverse needs and circumstances of Maryland families when it comes to education.

While some have the means to choose private education for their children, many do not.

This disparity led to the establishment of the Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today (BOOST) Program, aimed at providing scholarships to some of Maryland’s most economically- disadvantaged students to attend private schools that better meet their needs.

The success of the BOOST program is evident in its reach and impact, benefiting thousands of students, including a significant number of children of color and English-language learners.

Over the stringent opposition of the Maryland Teacher’s Union, Republicans have led the efforts to fully fund and expand BOOST. It’s never been more clear in Annapolis, the Democrats represent the Teacher’s Union while the Republicans represent the Parents and Students.

Maryland’s Economic Climate

A thriving economy is crucial for the well-being of everyone in Maryland.

Unfortunately, our state ranks amongst the lowest in the nation regarding tax rates, regulatory challenges, and the climate for fostering private sector growth. It’s unsustainable to keep imposing heavy burdens on our businesses without expecting some to relocate.

Early last month, the Comptroller released Maryland’s State of the Economy Report, which underscored that Maryland is at a 1.6% GDP growth rate while neighboring states and the national average are just below 14%. According to the Maryland Chamber of Commerce’s Redbook, which provides key indicators of Maryland’s Business Climate, Maryland ranks 47th in the county for the cost of doing business.

This is why Maryland Republicans have introduced the Economic Competitive Act which will reduce Maryland’s corporate income tax from 8.25% to 6.25% over the next four years. With one of the highest corporate tax rates in the region, it’s imperative that we lower these taxes to boost our competitiveness.

Lastly, Maryland should reconsider its approach to environmental policies, particularly the proposal to blindly follow California vehicle emission standards that will ban the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles in Maryland by model year 2035, a move that is sure to have detrimental economic consequences for automotive dealerships and repair shops across the state. Adopting such extreme measures without pragmatic considerations once again puts Maryland at an economic disadvantage compared to our neighboring states.

To allow time for thoughtful consideration, we have introduced legislation prohibiting Maryland from implementing the new California Advanced Clean Cars Act regulations for an additional two years.

Under the previous administration, Maryland Republicans were able to demonstrate a clear and irrefutable commitment to hiscal balance, reducing regulations, and cutting taxes. Empirical data illustrates those states with lower taxes, pro-business policies, reasonable regulatory environments outperform other states in job growth, population growth and income growth.

Conclusion

In closing, while we share Governor Moore’s desire to transcend partisan divisions and work together for the betterment of Maryland, it is imperative that we also present alternative solutions and ideas.

The Republican Caucus is committed to advancing legislation that addresses the critical issues facing our state, from ensuring public safety and improving educational outcomes to revitalizing our economy. Our proposals are grounded in practical, common-sense approaches that we believe will make a positive difference in the lives of Marylanders.

We believe that by working together, in a spirit of bipartisanship and mutual respect, we can achieve a Maryland that is safe for all its citizens, offers unparalleled opportunities for education, and boasts a dynamic and inclusive economy.

Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey is proudly representing District 36 and the Upper Eastern Shore constituents of Caroline, Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne’s Counties.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Opinion

Solar Energy and Farmland are Compatible by Gerald Winegrad

February 2, 2024 by Opinion
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The recent commentary published in Maryland Matters attacking the ability of farmers to install solar panels on their farmland is deserving of condemnation after a fact check. The lead author is the PR person for the massive poultry industry and appears to be worried that farmers choosing to augment their farm income with solar arrays may lead to less land to grow more chickens and grains to feed them.

Left out of this demand to curtail solar on farmland are these facts:

  1. Maryland has 2 million acres of farmland, about 32% of all our land mass, with 12,400 farms averaging 161 acres.
  2. From 2017 through 2021, the number of Maryland farms has remained the same.
  3. Placement of solar panels on farms does not necessarily remove land from productive agricultural uses.
  4. Farm owners can benefit from using the electrical energy produced and by payments from solar installation.
  5. The biggest threat to farmland loss is from farmers selling land for development which solar installations can help prevent.

The authors would deny property owners the right to lawfully do

as they wish with their land, especially a revenue generating use with great societal benefits from the generation of carbon and pollution free electrical generation. There are already crippling regulations in place in many counties, including Anne Arundel, making it exceedingly difficult to place solar panels on farmland.

The column’s authors assert that “When farm fields are covered by solar panels, they cease to be farms.” Readers should know of the many examples of farming being augmented by solar installations.

Triple Creek Farm in Howard County has a 27-acre solar array on its 97-acres that has been in the family for 90 years. The owners were having difficulty surviving growing grains and cattle. The solar arrays are mounted on sun-trackers six feet above the ground allowing grasses and hay to grow underneath. Sheep graze in the shade below the panels, reducing the need for maintenance and providing farm income. This is happening all over the country and the term “agrivoltaic” farming has been coined.

The perimeter of the solar arrays not being used for sheep grazing is planted with native pollinator habitat enriching the soils and helping farm production as 75% of food crops rely at least partially on pollination. The solar arrays generate about 13.7 million kWh per year of electricity eliminating greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking 1,282 cars off the road or planting 98,380 trees.

Left out of the column that would deny farmers the choice of what to plant on their farms, is that the Delmarva Chicken Association representative well knows that one of her most prominent members, Perdue Farms, in 2011 installed a 6,720-panel solar array on their land in Bridgeville, Del. And subsequently installed a 5-acre solar project next to their Salisbury headquarters.

They touted the planting of a pollinator-friendly habitat under and around the latter as “a no-brainer for us … pollinator habitat can help increase yields of a variety of fruits and vegetables, including soybeans — one of the key components of a chicken’s diet … pollinator-friendly solar is a great way for electric utilities and corporations to ensure the solar energy they are buying does not result in negative tradeoffs.”

In 2017, Perdue Farms was part of a coalition of agriculture, conservation, and energy organizations that gained enactment of legislation to establish statewide standards for pollinator-friendly solar.

The Delmarva Chicken Association representative would block significant solar expansion on farmland, the best and cheapest way to meet our state’s ambitious clean energy goals. This is despite the industry record breaking chicken production on the Eastern Shore in 2022 with $5 billion in wholesale sales for 4.4 billion pounds of chicken meat, a 38% production increase in 20 years.

Chicken litter (poop, etc.) produced from 4,889 chicken houses reached 1.6 billion pounds creating serious ecological issues. Farmers should not be denied the ability to plant solar panels under the guise of making more land available to grow chickens and the grains to feed them. Isn’t 2 million acres of farmland enough?

The writer is an attorney and environmental leader who served in the Maryland General Assembly for 16 years, 12 as a senator. 

The editorial was originally published by Maryland Matters. 

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Opinion

The Value of Being Multilingual on the Shore: By Elena Deanda and Owen Silverman Andrews

January 30, 2024 by Opinion
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Maryland is increasingly becoming a multicultural, multiethnic, and multilingual state. Last July, the state reported that 16.7 percent of the population were born outside of the country– around 946,000 multilingual individuals out of 6,180,253 total residents. According to 2020 U.S. Census Bureau numbers and Data USA, about 22% percent of the state population identifies as belonging to ethnicities other than White American or African American alone, that is, Asian (about 6%), Multiracial (about 3.6 %), and Hispanic (about 12%). Relatedly, nearly 21 percent of Maryland households report speaking languages other than English at home as their primary language. The five most common languages in Maryland’s households other than English are Spanish (494,447 households) and Chinese, including Cantonese and Mandarin, (72,246 households), followed by French, Korean, and Tagalog.

These numbers demonstrate the linguistic and cultural richness of the state, and highlight the need to value the many economic, educational, and political contributions that this diversity brings to our communities. Multilingualism has always been part of our social fabric, despite English’s dominance. This has, for many years, created a tension between and within PK-12 education and higher education. While the first has often positioned the multilingual child as a “problem” to fix with the help of English Language Learning (ELL/ESL/ESOL) courses, the best higher education institutions, such as Washington College, recognize acquisition of an additional language is one of the most significant academic and professional assets one can obtain. This tension, between and within PK-12 education and higher education institutions, often limits students designated as English learners from accessing sufficient resources for their academic and professional success.

Unfortunately, due to the lack of a robust multilingual education, by the time high schoolers arrive at college, some have not fully developed their home languages. Similarly, many multilingual students (both ‘heritage’ speakers or international students) have to quickly “catch up” and acquire mastery of the English language during high school to thrive or get into college. Maryland community colleges do not currently award college credit for ELL classes, nor are these classes’s credits transferable to bachelor-awarding institutions. The problem with this “English first” approach is that we, as a society, are missing opportunities to energize multilingual citizens, value their multiculturality, and recognize their hard work.

Students and educators on the Eastern and Western Shores of Maryland are working together to ensure that the academic work of multilingual students is valued by passing the Credit for All Language Learning (CALL) Act in the Maryland General Assembly. The CALL Act requires Maryland community colleges to award degree-applicable credit for advanced ELL courses and requires Maryland colleges and universities to accept these transferred credits for the fulfillment of foreign languages requirements and/or Humanities electives. Multilingual students in Maryland who have taken ELL courses are working as hard as any other student learning French, Spanish, German, or Chinese. As a community college educator on the Western Shore and a World Languages professor on the Eastern Shore, we fully support the CALL Act because of the positive impact it will have on students, their families, and our communities. This Act brings value to the mastering of languages and to the academic work of multilingual English learners.

It is important to consider the positive impact the CALL Act will have on both the Western and the Eastern Shore’s education systems, economies, and cultural lives. At the high school level, the CALL Act would send a message to students learning English that the workforce and academic credentials offered at community colleges are for them, too. Community colleges, meanwhile, would likely see increased enrollments and retention of multilingual English learners. Currently, both Chesapeake College and Wor-Wic College offer robust ESL programs for beginners, and may add offerings of the advanced courses incentivized by the CALL Act. Many colleges and universities support this initiative, from ESL professors and staff at University of Maryland Eastern Shore to Washington College’s professors and staff. They all recognize that multilingual students are an asset for our state and our nation, regardless of a student’s first language.

The benefits of the CALL Act would also stimulate economic and cultural vibrancy in the region. Multilingual employees and multilingual businesses are better positioned to meet the needs of an increasingly multicultural and globalized world. Enhancing workers’ English skills is good for workplace safety, from the farm field to the packing plant to the hospital emergency room, energizing a more efficient workforce. Furthermore, valuing Marylanders’ multilingualism, and recognizing their hard work as active members of our society, is the first step in embracing the rich cultural tapestry made by the many cultures and languages they bring to our Shores.

We encourage our neighbors, on both shores of the mighty Chesapeake Bay, to support the Credit for All Language Learning Act. Contact your state senator and delegate and ask them to vote for SB395 and HB569, respectively. Our students will appreciate it, as will our local schools, businesses, and cultural centers.

Owen Silverman Andrews is a community college instructional specialist of ELL on the Western Shore. Dr. Elena Deanda-Camacho is a professor of Spanish and Black Studies at Washington College.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Opinion

Opinion: Architectural Misstep with New Regional Hospital by Jay Corvan

January 23, 2024 by Opinion
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Today I was bored and looking for a read, anything . I rifled through the mail and found nothing interesting to look at. More bills and promotions, Ad nauseam. In desperation, I picked up a University of Maryland Health flyer and turned the front pages and immediately I spotted what looked at an architect’s rendering of an extremely modern “ progressive architecture centerfold” building , and I learned it was to be the new county health facility slated to be built in 2023-2025 which I guess is right now! Horrors not here in historic Talbot county please!

Digesting more of the picture, I went into the next level shock imagining that new 6 story plate glass mid rise building is to be placed out on route fifty at the entry gateway to Easton on the old Longwoods road near the community center, but seriously, literally in the middle of a field. Two things struck me right away. In a green field a six story structure. Crazy , inappropriate. Why isn’t this in town! Who designed this?

Point One , this proposed building is both trendy , rather obnoxious and ugly , but most importantly horribly inappropriate. I ask what a trendy suburban modern structure doing out in the middle of a farm field. I thought Maryland was smarter than this , but I remembered this is a county site, not city. I thought that we as a state were focused on “smart growth” , That means we steer big buildings and new growth into towns, not out in green fields. We’ve made these similar mistakes in other counties and we are supposed to Know better.

Smart growth happens inside towns not outside of them. We keep green fields green because we like agriculture and we respect it. The big idea here is to use the existing town infrastructure already in place, build town density and not sprawl. . Also the need for transportation to and from that facility is reduced for those in town and trips to stores can be combined. Placing facilities like this is a green field is extremely bad planning, unsustainable, and energy intensive. . If state money in involved it this project should be shelved for violating the biggest guiding principle of smart growth, placement. It’s in the wrong place. Obviously looking at the pathology of this project, a county approval trumped city requests. They found a site that the city wouldn’t or couldn’t provide.

Second point: when all Is said and done , this building looks like it slipped off the shelf of a psychologist office, a classic case of multiple personality disorder, playing to modern architecture critics , designs like this are trendy but hold no lasting value.

The Talbot community center just next door is least an attempt at looking like it belongs to Talbot county architectural heritage , it’s looks like a warehouse or sorts albeit a bit out of place also. A community center outside of town ? Oh well. The community center building plays down the dazzle factor and attempts to link to county historical lineage as a commercial “packing house “.

This new medical building does nothing of the sort. It’s arrogant and it’s huge. And it sits right on a gateway site of the city of Easton. All six plus stories of it. I’ll bet the city is angry about this and they should be. The county should have respected the gateway entry site but ignored it.

But this building takes the prize for fish out of water, and As much as I know how important a hospital is to a community ( we all know the value of that investment in our county) , I am shocked to see how much this does not look like Talbot county and how much it does look like suburban PG county. In fact it may have already been built somewhere else and did in fact slip Off the shelf. It’s a bad franchise design at best.

My main point here is to say that nowhere in the process did it occur to the university of Maryland architects or the county commissioners that approved the design that this structure needed to respond to its site and context. It’s in a field!. Are we now a suburban extension of the Washington metropolitan area? Did they think we’d be impressed by modern imagery ? Not really.

Finding the right context for a buildings new image , That’s job one for an architect. It’s important as the building use which should also be legible ( readable) from the exterior.

If this building yells anything it’s saying “ I’m something modern and new” it will soon be dated and horribly out of place. Soon modern building becomes old and dated. Their visual language becomes trite and outdated and suddenly new looks out of place and old, like an ugly 1950’s sweater. It’s almost funny that it even was imagined to be interesting.

Unfortunately, we locals will be stuck looking at a hyperactive modern building out of place for decades to come because an arrogant corporate firm and medical corporation wanted to make a bold and heroic statement. Enough of this ! We demand better. This is hugely Inappropriate!

A bigger problem exists that allowed this to happen. The county has no one with architectural experience to point out the failings of any building design. If someone ( maybe a retiree) could help them through these growing pains, we’d all be better off. We wouldn’t get to where we are now without someone raising a question.

Linkage to our county history is the one thing that makes us special and it’s our distinct competitive advantage. When we throw it to the wind and don’t demand others respect that history, we are lessening our worth. We are corrupting our future..

The owners , university of Md corporations also know better too , but are playing the public using some off the shelf franchise design . No one asked for better. The new emergency care facility in Cambridge at least tries to link the warehouse history of Cambridge to their new facility, Cambridge demanded it in their zoning review but not Talbot. The Cambridge facility looks almost like it belongs. The city knew enough to ask for better. What was the linkage to Talbot , it was not even considered. No one asked or cared. That’s Talbot’s fault.

This building really could have been more. It’s a terribly disappointing performance and and horrible misstep. Building placement and exterior imagery are everything to a rural community. And this six story building ( tallest in county ) fails the test miserably and will scream as an ugly suburban institution for decades , a real shame. It could have been more….. and still could actually. It’s not built yet.

Jay Corvan is a local architect and preservationist from Trappe, Maryland. 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Opinion

Cambridge 2023 by (some of) the Numbers by Tom Carroll

January 19, 2024 by Opinion
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As 2023 drew to a close, I had some time to think back on the year, pondering what the City accomplished, what it is still working on, and what more we need to do in 2024 and beyond. I decided to put together a 2023 recap in the time-honored, end of the year tradition of preparing a list.  Although my list was decidedly less interesting than the typical media ones like Top 5 Celebrity Marriages of 2023 or 7 Habits to Jumpstart the New You, I wanted to offer some numbers that jumped out at me as I reflected on the past year.

0 – The amount of PFAS detected in Cambridge’s water system. PFAS is commonly known as “forever chemicals” and is a carcinogen now found in most public water supplies. That we have found none in our water system is incredibly good news.

0.8096 – The City’s property tax rate this fiscal year, the same as it was in FY 23 and lower than it was in the previous five years. This is essentially 81 cents per $100 of real estate value. The City is trying to hold it steady in the upcoming budget year.

1 – The employee ranking I am assigning to Executive Assistant Tyasia Johnson who has worked in the City Manager’s Office for a full year now. Tyasia is the glue that holds the CMO together. She is as close to perfection as any mortal I have ever met, and she is here to help you anyway she can.    

2 – The number of checklists Administrative Services Director Ina Holden has created. One checklist is for onboarding a new employee, and the other is for whenever an employee separates from City service. All City department heads were issued copies of The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande and asked to develop checklists for municipal use. We need more systems in place to help us reduce errors and manage processes, and checklists are a great tool. Department heads have also been issued copies of The Sum of Us by Heather McGee and Dear White Friend by Mel Gravely. I recommend all three books.

3 – The number of certified police officers the CPD hired in 2023. Combined with new officers graduating from the academy less officers who have left CPD, we now have 37 sworn police officers. These three certified police officers have been essential to the CPD rebuilding efforts. Assuming the two recent academy graduates complete their field training successfully in the coming weeks, three of our four patrol squads will have a full complement of six officers of various ranks on duty. The other squad has five officers of various ranks on duty at a given time. (Of course, on any given shift the number of officers patrolling may be reduced by training, vacations, court, sick leave, or some other duty. But the point is our certified officers are helping us rebuild the patrol function staffing levels.)

3.829 – The true interest cost (TIC) as a percentage for the $2,500,000 the Commissioners of Cambridge borrowed in April for the West End Sewer Project. The good news is this interest rate is better than assumed in the 2022 utility white paper pro forma. The bad news is the City needed another $500,000 or so to undertake the project in 2024. Council awarded the contract on January 8th and the project should start next month with plans that it will be completed in 2024.

4 – The number of small geographic areas moving from one ward to another to rebalance the City’s wards for the next few years. About 97% of Cambridge residents remain in the ward they are already in, and the five wards are even closer in population size than in the last redistricting process.

5 – The number of employees who were dismissed from employment by the City in 2023. Two were dismissed for gross misconduct, one was let go for not meeting standards during his probationary period, and two did not pass necessary classes to continue employment. While we never wish to see employees separated involuntarily, we need to uphold clear standards for performance and conduct.

6 – The number of extra months Assistant City Manager Brandon Hesson served in the dual role of acting Director of Public Services and Director of Development. When he returned to the City in February, I expected him to serve in this split capacity for two months and it ended up being eight months in total. I so appreciate the extra work he did running two complex departments, both in the midst of reorganization processes. Staffing has been a challenge for the City, as it has been for many organizations.

7 – The number of departments we have in our revised organizational chart if we include the Rescue Fire Company as a City department. And we should, as RFC provides an incredibly valuable service to our community, and I too often fail to call out the hard work and service RFC provides our community.

8 – Employee evaluations I completed (or almost) last year for staff reporting to me for some or all of 2023. CPD and Finance each did performance reviews annually as part of their own department procedures before I became city manager, but the rest of the organization has had a spottier record of annual performance reviews. Setting up a management system that gives clear and candid feedback to all employees is essential to improving our operations. Evaluations need to be forward-looking too, to give specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, timely (SMART) goals for employees. One simply does not hit a target that has not been identified. The City is putting in place systems for all employees to have an annual review, too.   

9 – The number of employees the City hired who took a third-party, pre-employment personality assessment which I have found to be very helpful in the hiring process. It is not determinant, but it is a very useful tool to include in our overall candidate review process for professional roles.

10 – The number of additional Work Sessions City Council held in 2023 to discuss a wide range of topics, including special elections, ward realignment, the draft budget, and housing. This figure excludes two joint work sessions held with our legislative delegation in January and with Dorchester County in July. I subtracted these two joint work sessions only because I already had what I thought was a clever idea for number 12.

12 – This is the number of bonus months of public service the City will receive from George Hyde, the City Engineer for 25 years. Technically, only one of these 12 months (December) of additional service was in 2023, so this should really be in the 2024 list (spoiler alert!). But I think it is worth mentioning how fortunate we are to have another year of George’s service to our community. Bucky Jackson is now officially the City Engineer, and George will be known as our Senior Projects Engineer.

13 – Portia Johnson-Ennels interns employed in 2023. We will continue this program for at least four more years and expect to have ten in 2024. Staff learned a lot through the first year of this new program, and we hope to make it better each year. The absolute highlight of my year was the reaction from the interns when Greg Olinde from Bay Vanguard announced his bank was opening accounts in each intern’s name with $500 in it. Two of the PJE interns remain working with the City, and one has become our first ever Stafford Fellow in 2024 (Cameron Waters who works in Finance).

24 – The number of paid weeks of parental leave employees enjoyed after welcoming a new baby. (One employee who was the birth parent enjoyed 12 weeks and two non-birth parents enjoyed six weeks apiece.) This was the first fiscal year we offered this benefit, and it is part of a broader review of benefits and policies we are examining to increase our organizational competitiveness and be an employer of choice.

27 – The number of new employees hired in 2023. Of these, 14 are people of color, 3 are women, and 2 identify as members of the LGBTQ community. We have a long way to go to make our organization a better reflection of our community, particularly in senior and professional positions. But we are making progress.

30 – The number of years Oliver “CeeCee” Freeman has served the City of Cambridge Department of Public Services as of September in 2023. First Sergeant Jose Hernandez and City Engineer George Hyde each clocked 25 years of service this year. Three employees are now able to say that they have worked for the City for 20 years: Lisa Jones in CPD, Tynell Molock in the water division of Public Services, and Lavonte Edmonds of the buildings and grounds division of Public Services. It’s a bit strange to think about how CeeCee has quite a few more cumulative years of service than the most recently hired 27 employees. As much as I want to call to everyone’s attention the fact that we have a huge number of new employees, we do have some seasoned veteran coworkers who are the backbone of the organization.

65 – The number of employees who selected $150 gift cards from local businesses this year, helping to recycle some of the Commissioners’ holiday gift card dollars back into the Cambridge business community. What I am still trying to understand is why 45 employees opted for smaller $100 gift cards that were not tied to a local business. I would have thought more would opt for the more generous card that also supported community businesses. This has me wondering how the City can make sure that its investments provide as much benefit locally as possible, and how we can leverage our workforce to benefit the community.

481.2  – The value in millions of dollars of the amount of planned construction projects in the Cambridge community over the next five or so years. If we are not careful and intentional, most of this construction investment will go to employees and companies outside our area and we will not enjoy the full social and economic benefit of this amazing amount of construction. This list of projects is far from all inclusive, so it is fair to say Cambridge has more than half a billion dollars of construction on the books in the 2020’s.

200,000 – Amount of bond bill dollars the City received for a phased approach to the renovation and restoration of the Old City Hall at 309 Gay Street. This funding will be combined with $100,000 from Maryland Historic Trust and $400,000 in local appropriations for a good first phase project in 2024. Special Projects Coordinator Cheryl Hannan was instrumental in both the bond bill and the MHT grant.

1,025,000 – Amount of DHCD Community Legacy grant dollars awarded this month to Cambridge-based projects. The City benefits from a great working relationship with DHCD. Special Projects Coordinator Lynne Widli completed our Sustainable Communities recertification earlier this month, without which we would not be eligible for this funding. This is essential behind-the-scenes work that does not get a lot of attention.

1,063,463 – Amount of dollars the Commissioners of Cambridge have set aside in the City’s General Fund as a “debt reserve” reserve. This is the amount of General Fund debt service the City has in FY 25. The debt reserve policy essentially has the City squirreling away next year’s debt obligation as well as funding the current year debt service payment.

2,444,337 – Amount of dollars the Commissioners of Cambridge have set aside as a “rainy day” reserve. I am pleased with the ways in which Deborah Cooper and I were able to advance our annual budget as a policy document this year. This includes starting to establish some fiscal policies and reserve policies.

3,792,630 – The bid price in dollars for the West End Sewer project that will go forward with in 2024.

Every good year-end list inevitably comes to an end, if for no other reason than time runs out. But all of these metrics some way or another relate to the five goals City Council set in February. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to email me at TCarroll@ChooseCambridge.com.

Tom Carroll is the Cambridge City Manager 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Opinion, Cambridge, Op-Ed

The Dobbs Decision and the Burden of Interstate Travel

January 14, 2024 by Opinion
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On June 24, 2022, the day the U. S. Supreme Court announced the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, I was in Montana, on my way from Spokane, WA to Chestertown and retirement. Although the opinion had been leaked on May 2, the decision to overrule a nearly-fifty-year precedent shook the country. On my trip, I crossed into nine different states, thinking only that I was one state closer to Maryland. Now, for pregnant persons seeking abortion care in a post-Dobbs world, state borders loom large, as they did in a pre-Roe world. Borders matter now more than ever.

The states I sped across represent a variety of state government reactions to Dobbs. Having lived next door to Idaho for several years (think Ruby Ridge, Aryan Nation, and now New Apostolic Reformation), it is no surprise that Idaho quickly banned abortion with extremely limited exceptions—to save the pregnant person’s life and in the case of rape and/or incest. And Idaho will be in the U. S. Supreme Court this term in a case involving the rights of emergency room doctors to make decisions to protect the health of a pregnant person.

South Dakota, on the very day Dobbs was announced, implemented an abortion ban, the only exception being to save a pregnant person’s life. South Dakota’s neighbor, Minnesota, is a stark contrast. It is a “sanctuary state,” with no ban on abortion, codifying the right last January, and, in April, the governor signed legislation protecting those who travel to Minnesota to get an abortion. (Article here) Ohio permits abortion up to “viability” ; after that point there are limited exceptions. In November, Ohio voters decided that the state constitution should be amended to include the right to make autonomous reproductive decisions. But challenges await.

(Article here) In Pennsylvania, abortion is legal up to 23 weeks and 6 days with exceptions after that. (For current laws in each state see https://www.abortionfinder.org/)

In December, the Guttmacher Institute released new data regarding the rise of interstate travel since Dobbs. In 2020, one out of ten patients had to travel to another state for an abortion; in the first half of 2023 “nearly one in five” traveled to another state . . . Nationally, the number of people who crossed state lines to obtain abortion care more than doubled, reaching 92,100 in the first six months of 2023, compared with 40,600 in half of 2020. People traveling for care are mainly traveling to states that border states with total abortion bans or bans that begin early in gestation.” (Study here) Fourteen states do not have any clinics that provide abortions—Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia.

For West Virginia residents seeking abortion care, Maryland is on their radar. In Forbes, Judy Stone, a practicing physician in Cumberland, Maryland (Allegany County) wrote about the opening of an abortion clinic there that originally had been in Charleston, West Virginia. Not only will it provide abortion care for patients from West Virginia, but will serve the needs of residents of western, rural Maryland. (Article here) In May, Governor Moore signed several bills that make Maryland a place where those seeking abortion care can be protected. For example, “judges are prohibited from requiring individuals to provide testimony or evidence in other states’ cases that allege a violation of criminal law for receiving or assisting with health care that is protected in Maryland.” (Article here) And, in June, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown signed a letter of comment, along with 24 other attorneys general, asking that the Department of Health and Human Services stiffen rules so that it would be “illegal to share a patient’s private health information if that data is being sought for certain criminal or civil investigations and proceedings against someone in connection with a legal abortion or reproductive care.” (Article here)

Laws might protect patients traveling out of state, but interstate travel costs money, a huge challenge for many. The Guttmacher Institute  notes that the increase in interstate travel has been accompanied by more of a demand for assistance. For example, “ the Baltimore Abortion Fund distributed almost three times the funds in 2022 as in 2021.” (Article here) The Fund has described the realities of interstate travel for those seeking abortion care: “Our average out-of- state caller has an abortion that costs $8,347, an expense that 87% of people living in restricted states will pay for out-of- pocket. This is especially shocking when you consider that more than half of Americans are unable to afford an unplanned expense of $1,000 or more. Many of our clients will have to call multiple sources of financial support . . . They also need to arrange travel, accommodation, meals, and time off from work, which is often unpaid. Travel expenses can range from $50 for a bus ticket, to over $1,000 for flights and hotels. Many of our clients have never left their hometown before — let alone their state — and are suddenly forced to board a plane or drive across the country for the first time.”  (https://www.baltimoreabortionfund.org/2306_sun_guest_commentary)

While patients are crossing state borders this winter and coming spring the Supreme Court will be hearing two important abortions cases, one regarding the prescription and distribution of the abortion drug, mifepristone, and the other regarding the rights of healthcare providers to provide emergency care to pregnant patients. And in November, Maryland voters will vote on a referendum which would enshrine reproductive rights in the state constitution.

In Dobbs, states’ rights came back with a vengeance. Tragically, the power given to states over decisions related to pregnancy means that one’s zip code determines even more one’s autonomy to make some of the most important decisions of one’s life. To paraphrase Justice Ginsburg, when government action causes a person to travel to another state to gain the healthcare they need, to save their lives, then those people are being treated “less than a fully adult human responsible for [their] own choices.”

Kathryn Lee (Ph.D., J.D.), is  the former chair of the Political Science Department and Director of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program at Whitworth University in Spokane, WA. She retired to Chestertown last July.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Opinion

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