The Politico website is reporting Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is launching a Senate bid.
The anti-Trump Republican is expected to file for the open Senate seat on Friday, the last day of the filing deadline.
Read the full story here.
Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Cambridge
The Politico website is reporting Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is launching a Senate bid.
The anti-Trump Republican is expected to file for the open Senate seat on Friday, the last day of the filing deadline.
Read the full story here.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
Gov. Wes Moore (D) used his second State of the State speech Wednesday to tease a major policy announcement expected for Thursday.
Upon entering office, Moore vowed Maryland would “win the decade,” and in support of that goal, he said he would move quickly to make state “policies as bold as our aspirations.”
Moore touted his pending announcement of an updated plan for state government.
“It’s the first State Plan in nearly a decade,” Moore said in prepared remarks released in advance of the speech. “It doesn’t just set the agenda for the next three months. It will chart the course for the next three years. Our state plan is about more than big aspirational targets. We’ve laid out specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and time-bound goals. We’ve built these priorities by listening to the people who sent us here: Our constituents.”
The plan is considered an expansion of a comprehensive annual report on state government operations issued by the Department of Budget and Management.
Last September, Moore announced the hiring of Asma Mirsa as his administration’s chief performance officer. Each government agency is expected to be required to send data to her for top state officials to analyze and develop policies.
“Money is important,” Moore said in selected portions of the speech released to reporters Wednesday morning. “But strategy, accountability, and partnership are imperative. We need to spend smarter and wiser across all state programs — in a way that respects the taxpayer, follows data, and responds to the needs of our communities.”
The governor and his staff are planning to roll out the strategy during a Thursday town hall meeting open to more than 40,000 state employees.
Moore’s speech ran 10 minutes longer than expected. At nearly 43 minutes, it was just two minutes shorter than the State of the State address he delivered last year.
‘Happy State of the State’
Before entering the House chamber, Moore walked down the steps from the second floor of the State House toward a few dozen people standing behind ropes in the lobby, who waved and acknowledged the governor.
“Happy State of the State,” he said to gathered onlookers.
Moore took a moment to acknowledge 12-year-old K.J. Lark.
“What’s up?” Moore asked the Crofton Middle School student who was at the State House with other members of the student council from his school.
“It felt pretty amazing. Like he recognized me as a person,” said K.J. “We came on a field trip…to see the State House. This is real life. Stuff is happening here.”
The students didn’t know that their trip was going to coincide with the State of the State address.
Moore entered the House chamber to the same level of the applause as a year ago. But gone were the repeated selfies with lawmakers that delayed his arrival on the rostrum. House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County) had chided him about the delay last year.
From the opening, Moore fell back on the theme of partnership he has broken in since becoming governor.
“Now I know I talk a lot about partnership,” said Moore. “And I know if the state received a nickel for every time I said the word ‘partnership’ we would have all of our budget issues solved. But let’s be clear, partnership is not the goal. Fulfilling the Promise of Maryland is the goal. Partnership is how we’re going to get there.”
Moore benefits from a legislature in which his party holds a supermajority in both the House and Senate.
“We can’t agree on everything, and we won’t,” Moore said. “The truth is, it would be weird if we did. But we can and we will work together to achieve common goals.”
The governor has also reached out to Republicans, including hosting them at a breakfast late last month in the governor’s mansion.
Senate Minority Leader Stephen S. Hershey Jr. (R-Upper Shore) said his party was “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 is also our duty to raise concerns whenever we proceed that actions taken may not be in the best interest of our constituents.”
Hershey, in his party’s response to the governor’s address, described Moore’s goals at various times as bold, ambitious, and lofty, but said they require “much more than grand declarations. It necessitates concrete actions and collaborative efforts.”
Moore, in his first year in office, has rallied supporters to his vision of combating generational issues including the elimination of both childhood poverty and the wealth gap between whites and Blacks.
The state plan Moore will highlight Thursday will be a roadmap to accomplishing some of those goals.
“It will chart the course that we will take for the next three years, and our state plan is about much more than just aspirational targets,” Moore said. “The plan that we are going to lay out it will lay out specific actionable realistic and measurable goals.”
The governor touched on several priorities that were reflected in his recent budget proposal.
“Public safety remains our administration’s top priority and that will not change,” he said.
Earlier this year, Moore announced three bills that make up his public safety package. Topping the list is the creation of the Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention. The program, to be housed within the Department of Health, would treat firearm violence as a public health issue. Moore has asked for $10 million to establish the center.
Republicans are unlikely to see eye-to-eye with Moore on public safety.
Hershey said Moore’s public safety proposals fall short and described the firearm violence center as “an Obama-Biden scheme.”
“Our vision for Maryland is one where public safety is not just the 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,” Hershey said.
Republicans are backing bills that would increase penalties for violent crimes committed by offenders armed with guns, would make the theft of a gun a felony, and would end so-called good behavior credits for offenders convicted of first- and second-degree murder.
The governor wants to expand victim compensation programs and establish an apprenticeship program to eliminate vacancies in police departments across the state.
Moore’s legislative agenda also includes bills expanding access to affordable housing, aid for entrepreneurs and an expansion of childcare assistance.
“In 2022, Maryland was ranked the seventh most expensive state to live in,” according to the printed version of Moore’s speech. “And that statistic tells a story. It’s the story of the entrepreneur in Hagerstown with a bold idea for a new business, but who doesn’t have the money to make rent this month — let alone start a company. It’s the story of a single mom in Leonardtown who works multiple jobs just to put food on the table. This year, we will address two big items on every family budget: Housing and childcare.”
GOP warns of ‘tax heists’
Moore entered office a year ago on a wave of optimism as the state’s first Black governor. He promised quick, bold actions for state government.
Since then, the tenor has changed.
Moore has found some promises, such as filling half of the estimated 10,000 vacant jobs in state government in his first year, easier made than fulfilled.
The governor spent the better part of his first year rarely saying no.
By August, he began hinting at a coming retrenchment of state government.
By January, Moore, avoiding use of the phrase budget cuts, announced some programs would be “rebased” to pre-pandemic funding levels.
Some stakeholders warn that the possibility of tax hikes could impede Moore’s aspirations for expanding economic opportunity in the state.
“The small business community is ready to partner with the Governor, his administration, and the General Assembly on making Maryland the best place to start and run a business,” said Mike O’Halloran, state director for the National Federation of Independent Business. “But we have to be honest on what it will cost Marylanders to fund the programs that are adding billions of dollars to our structural deficit. Small business owners do not have a choice. They must operate within their means or rethink how they do business. They expect policy makers to do the same. And do it without resorting to tax hikes on them and their customers.”
The state now faces mounting structural budget deficits that quickly approach $3 billion in coming years. And while Moore staved off initial cuts to transportation, local and state leaders are facing more than $3.1 billion in cuts without new ways to pay for road and transit projects.
Much of the state’s growing operational budget shortfalls are the result of growing costs of the educational reforms known as the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.
“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,” Hershey said. “Even if these tax heists 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.”
The tax bill highlighted by Hershey is likely to stall in the Senate this year. Even so, Republicans warn that a reprieve on tax increases is temporary.
Moore’s speech offered an acknowledgement that his honeymoon is over, and he is no longer the newcomer he was a year ago.
“I’m proud of what we’re doing. But I’m most proud of how we’re doing it,” Moore said in the excerpt. “The executive and the legislature are working together again. We chose to sweat the details of governing, knowing that our constituents deserve nothing less. And by moving in partnership, we’ve helped make life better for the people we serve.”
The governor received praise from other Democrats, including Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D). She was one of several county executives who sat inside the House chamber to hear Moore’s remarks, and was especially pleased that he spotlighted the future FBI headquarters relocating from Washington, D.C., to her jurisdiction, the second largest in Maryland.
“I think that is one of the single, largest economic accomplishments that we have seen in Maryland in many, many years. The impact of it cannot be overstated,” Alsobrooks said. “It will literally give a boost to our economy [with] 7,500 jobs, cybersecurity and technology jobs.”
Moore’s words also were emotional for Del. Vanessa Atterbeary (D-Howard), who he personally mentioned — along with a handful of other lawmakers — in his speech.
Atterbeary connected the governor with Elizabeth Clayborne, a medical doctor and an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, who Moore singled out during his speech for her entrepreneurial achievements. Both Clayborne and Atterbeary are African American single mothers.
“I can just relate,” Atterbeary said. “I just felt an incredible sense of pride to be able to help people and to have him recognize it was pretty amazing.”
By Bryan P. Sears and William J. Ford
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
On September 14, 2023, a proposal was presented to the Cambridge City Council’s Traffic & Safety Committee. It included a four-phase plan to install stop signs at four downtown intersections where there are currently traffic lights. Phase 1 would address the Spring/Gay Streets intersection and the Muir/Race Streets intersection. Phase 2 would focus on the Muse/Gay Streets intersection. Phase 3 would cover the High/Glasgow and High/Locust Streets intersections. And Phase 4 would handle the Gay/Poplar/Race Streets intersection.
The proposal went to the full council on September 25 and again on November 13. At that point, an additional public comment session was requested. Commissioner Brian Roche of District 5 has been involved with the project from the beginning, and he had a lot to say about it.
Phase 1 was planned to begin in January 2024. Has it started yet?
“Yes, I think they’re waiting on some materials. … The city was going to do it internally because it’s relatively simple changes, but they’re going to have somebody actually do it so they can be quicker with it. … Now, it’s weather permitting. … This time of year, it’s tough to paint…paint and install some stop signs.”
The impetus for the project
“I have been involved in the Traffic & Safety Committee since I was elected to Council, and one of the principal things that keeps coming up is how hard it is to cross certain intersections in town as a pedestrian. … We did a pilot by changing the intersection at the post office. … The best feedback we got was ‘Why don’t you do the other one? Because I hate sitting at a light and there’s no cars.’”
“They get there and they sit at the light, and they’re just like ‘Why am I sitting here?’ So, we commissioned a study. … ‘Let’s just see if these intersections are performing as high as they should from a safety standpoint and…a traffic flow standpoint.’ The study came back that not a single one of the intersections in the downtown area, with the exception of the base of the bridge maybe…not a single intersection in the town really qualifies for stop lights from a traffic flow standpoint.”
“And all this is according to what’s called the MUTCD, the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which is really federal and state guidelines for when you do stop signs, when you do stop lights, when you don’t do anything. And all the intersections came back as they would be more highly rated from a vehicular traffic flow standpoint and from a vehicular safety standpoint if they were converted to stop signs.”
The dangers of green lights
“The downtown area being our commercial core, the merchants were given the option for feedback, and their biggest complaint was cars zooming down the street. So, what happens with a stoplight is, if you’re at about mid-block and the light is green, it’s human nature to say, ‘Oh, God, it’s green. I need to catch that.’ So, you forget the fact that there might be an older person crossing the street or a ball that rolls out or somebody trying to get out of a car just to get through that light.”
“The red light’s not the problem. The green light’s the problem because people are trying to get through that intersection, not paying attention. And, if you hit a pedestrian at anything above 20 miles pan hour, the chances of death or even a vehicular accident, the injury goes up precipitously with the speed.”
“You only have to try to cross the intersection of Gay and Race or watch anyone to see how confusing it is for pedestrians and unsafe it is. There’s not a single point in time when a vehicle has to pay attention to a pedestrian.”
Why he thinks stop signs are better
“So, what a stop sign does is its predictability. They know they have to stop no matter what. So, they’re not in a rush to get there. They pay more attention, and that’s good for business. You have to make a downtown comfortable, or any place comfortable, for people to want to be there. And, if people are there, they spend money there. And, if there’s money being spent there, then there’s commercial activity, and people open businesses and things like that. So, it’s paramount from the redevelopment of our downtown to make it more comfortable for pedestrians, bicyclists, people with disabilities, etc.”
What about the fact that many people only slow down for stop signs without stopping?
“When people stop at a stop sign is when they’re looking out for their own safety. So, you at least slow down, which is really what we want. We want people to pay attention. So, if somebody slows down and rolls the intersection because nothing’s coming, that’s inherently not a problem. … The bigger problem is when they’re not paying attention. So, someone coming to an all-way stop, everyone is on alert, even if they roll the intersection, and the person approaching the intersection is more likely to slow down and be aware of the car that’s also approaching the intersection.”
Six citizens showed up for the November 30 public comment session. What were the comments?
“They were all there to make sure it happened.”
Two downtown businesses emailed Roche about the project separately from the Main Street endorsement.
“They said it was a long time coming and ‘Why are we waiting so long?’ They do not like cars zooming past the entrances to their businesses. They want that predictability. They want cars slowing down.”
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
Democratic leaders in the Maryland General Assembly have unveiled proposals aimed at tweaking the state’s juvenile justice system to combine accountability and rehabilitation.
Although the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS), led by Secretary Vincent Schiraldi, noted that complaints about and rearrests of young people under 13 have declined, juvenile justice reform has remained a hot topic in Maryland due to high-profile shootings and crimes last year.
In July a mass shooting at the Brooklyn Homes community in Baltimore killed two people and injured more than two dozen. In November, Baltimore police arrested two juveniles, ages 12 and 14, who assaulted, robbed and tried to steal a woman’s car. After their arrest, police returned them to their homes.
Some law enforcement officials, state’s attorneys, residents and lawmakers have requested changes to two measures which were signed into law in 2022: Juvenile Justice Reform and the Child Interrogation Protection Act.
But the Democratic leaders’ proposals, Senate Bill 744 and House Bill 814, posted online Wednesday night, make no changes to those laws. Instead, the bills propose for the department, law enforcement officials and local state’s attorneys to work in partnership to combat juvenile crime.
A spokesperson with the Department of Juvenile Services said the agency is willing to work with lawmakers to tweak the system.
“Secretary Schiraldi is leading the charge to help rehabilitate young people and instill accountability—both for our youth and the system stakeholders who serve them — all while engaging in systemic fixes to address what’s long been broken at DJS,” department spokesperson Eric Solomon said in a statement Thursday. “It’s the right thing to do, and it makes us safer. DJS looks forward to working with the legislature and other key stakeholders as we all strive for improved public safety and the best outcomes for our young people, families, and communities.”
The bills, led by Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) and House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County), would require a law enforcement officer to file a complaint with the department if a child younger than 13 years old commits a crime “that results in the death of a victim.”
Before the start of this year’s legislative session, Sen. Jill P. Carter (D-Baltimore) filed Senate Bill 2, which would require an officer to file a complaint and also makes it mandatory for an intake officer with the department to file a Children in Need of Supervision petition.
The petition, also known as a CINS, enables law enforcement personnel, social service representatives, educators and residents to fill out a form so a troubled youth and the youth’s family can receive a variety of services.
But currently, officers don’t fill out the forms because they see no remedy when a young person continues to commit certain crimes, the Maryland Fraternal Order of Police President Clyde Boatwright told a House Judiciary Committee in the fall.
The leaders’ bills would allow a juvenile court to extend a child’s probation on misdemeanor offenses from the current six-month maximum to as much as a year. After that a judge could extend the probationary period by four-month increments for up to two years.
For offenses categorized as a felony, a judge could extend the probationary period from the current one-year maximum to two years. But if a judge determines more probation time is needed, then it could be extended up to four years.
“Right now, juvenile offenders and the services and accountability they need are separated by an abundance of confusion,” Jones posted on her X (formerly Twitter) page Wednesday. “Our legislation will bridge this gap and ensue that we do a better job of connecting children with the services they need to be rehabilitated.”
The leaders’ bills would also require a Commission on Juvenile Justice Reform and Emerging and Best Practices — which was authorized by the General Assembly in June 2022 but as yet has only three members and eight vacancies — to complete several tasks including:
Their bills would more than double the number of members to be seated on the commission. They also would require specific members, including a representative of the state chiefs of police association or the sheriffs association, a representative with the state Department of Health and a representative of a private child welfare agency.
The House bill is scheduled for a hearing on Feb. 8 in the Judiciary Committee. The Senate bill is scheduled for a hearing on Feb. 9 in the Judicial Proceedings Committee.
Several criminal justice reform advocates said the measures are counterproductive to what was passed in 2022, especially the proposal to allow DJS to send to juvenile court children as young as 10 who have been arrested for serious offenses, such as those involving a firearm, motor vehicle theft and animal abuse.
“Ultimately, the impact of these proposals will be to incarcerate more children, specifically Black and brown children who statistically are catapulted into the juvenile and adult criminal legal systems more than other children,” Maryland Public Defender Natasha Dartigue said in a statement. “The 2022 reforms recognized the need to shift from punitive centered approaches. A return to outdated ‘tough on crime’ measures will not make communities safer…”
Study effectiveness
Sen. Chris West (R-Baltimore County) is sponsoring a bill similar to the Democratic leaders’ bills, but his Senate Bill 636 would also assess the costs of the department’s programs over the last five fiscal years.
West’s bill calls for a commission to be formed to study the department’s ability to “provide effective social services to juvenile offenders.”
The governor would designate the chair of at least seven members on the commission, including representatives from the department, Office of the Attorney General, Office of the Public Defender and a legislator appointed by the chairs of the Senate Judicial Proceedings and House Judiciary committees.
Similar to the Democrats’ bills, West’s would have the commission review department policies and practices.
A hearing on West’s bill is scheduled for Feb. 22 before the Judicial Proceedings Committee.
“The secretary of DJS does not have enough resources to provide services to the kids,” West said Thursday. “As a result, it’s like a recycling program. The kid gets arrested, he gets sent back home again. He commits another crime, gets rearrested, sent back home, and there are no services rendered. That doesn’t work.”
Another DJS-focused bill that the Senate committee may discuss on Feb. 22 is sponsored by Sen. Cory V. McCray (D-Baltimore City). Senate Bill 652 would require the department to report all shootings that involved juveniles under its supervision.
It would require DJS to document whether juveniles were involved in fatal and non-fatal shootings, the age of each individual and the jurisdiction where the juvenile resided. The DJS report would be required to describe the process and actions conducted by the department after each incident.
McCray said he receives similar information and data from the state Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services and from law enforcement personnel in his district.
“We don’t get that from DJS right now,” he said. “It’s not a [got-you] moment. I just think this is good, public policy…so that people understand what is happening when folks are under their purview, involved in a shooting or a non-fatal shooting.”
By William J. Ford. Reporter Danielle J. Brown contributed to this report.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
During the COVID pandemic, there was a realization that having a place to live is not only a basic right of everyone but also a matter of public safety and health. Consequently, a lot of attention started to be paid to understanding the financial challenges people faced, and the Maryland legislature looked more deeply into the issue. Although advocates had been working on it in Annapolis for years, finally there came a general feeling that it was time to act.
Shore Legal Access has been providing assistance to people with a range of housing issues for a long time, but during the pandemic they received many phone calls from folks struggling mightily. These desperate people were getting eviction notices, despite the fact that they had no work or other places to go. So, Shore Legal moved quickly to set up attorneys on rent court day in district courthouses throughout the eight counties they serve.
At first, they did this with volunteers. Shore Legal had some retired lawyers and a couple of practicing attorneys willing to help. Board members who were lawyers handled some cases, as did Meredith Girard, the executive director of the Easton office. Fortunately, the Maryland General Assembly passed a law giving tenants access to counsel for rent, breach of lease, and wrongful detainer cases.
Landlord vs. Tenant
The owner of an inhabited building has the right to take a tenant to court for nonpayment. But the renter must be given ten days’ notice before any legal action. According to Girard, this is an improvement over how it used to be.
“That’s a newer law in place,” she said, “and it really does help to get people a little bit more notice.”
In the past, a landlord who didn’t want to go through the complicated legal process might have pulled an improper stunt to get the tenant out. If the owner was paying the utilities for a tenant who was behind in rent, he could have the water shut off, making the situation untenable. Then he could have the sheriff evict the tenant because the residence was uninhabitable. Fortunately, the process has changed.
Once the landlord or owner files for a court hearing, the date is set quickly. Shore Legal always advises their clients to go to the hearing and be able to tell their story. Before court, they should get all their documents together—lease, correspondence with the landlord, photos of any problem areas—and take them to the hearing, for which they can have legal representation present.
“Sometimes we’re able to get postponements to give us more time to collect information,” said Girard, “because sometimes you need to have an inspector go out and see what’s going on. Sometimes the landlord doesn’t have their ledger, and that’s something that they’re required to bring to court and be able to show exactly what was paid and what wasn’t paid to be able to prove their case.”
Often, the tenant might not be paying the rent because something is seriously wrong with the unit, such as no running water or heat or the presence of a bug infestation. And they can express this at the court hearing.
On a typical court day, the landlords or their representatives will show up, often with multiple filings if they manage many units. If the landlord doesn’t appear, the case is dismissed. But, if the tenant does not show up, they may get a judgment on their record, which could lead to their inability to rent somewhere else. If the tenant does appear and receives a judgment saying they owe a certain amount of money, they have a certain amount of time to pay.
If they do not pay the rent they owe, the landlord can file for a writ of restitution and then eviction. Within four days of approval, the owner or landlord may call the sheriff’s office and request eviction. Then the tenant who has not voluntarily moved out could find their possessions on the street.
Preventing homelessness
“Maryland is doing a lot of effort to try to prevent this kind of thing from happening,” said Cambridge Mayor Steve Rideout, “because, once you are homeless, getting you back in a home is very, very difficult. Because who’s going to want to rent to you? Where are you going to come up with the money, the deposit?”
“Right now, a lot of the homeless are really people who are couch surfing,” Rideout continued. “They’re staying at your place today and my place tomorrow because they’re friends of ours. In some cases they’re taking their food stamps and paying you for the ability to spend the night when they need the money to buy food for themselves.”
The Salvation Army and Delmarva Community Services are the providers of shelter in Cambridge, and they require the inhabitants to be elsewhere between 8am and 5pm. According to Rideout, the life expectancy of these unhoused people is decreasing because they are out in the elements with insufficient clothing.
“We want to keep tenants in their homes,” said Girard. “It might be working out an agreement to pay any back rent. It might be that some of the rent that they’re being charged, they actually don’t even owe.”
In those cases, the landlords and renters can take advantage of the court’s mediation program and sit down to come to an accord. On occasion, the owner or landlord may not even implement an approved eviction, choosing instead to negotiate with the tenant. Additionally, if the tenant has not paid rent because the landlord has failed to make needed repairs, the tenant can pay into a rent escrow account held by the court until inspections of the property come to a satisfying conclusion.
Bradford House
One facility that Shore Legal Access is particularly concerned with right now is the Bradford House on Race Street in Cambridge. It is managed by Millennia Property Management, who has an agreement with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide housing for older adults and people with physical and mental disabilities.
Shore Legal has had clients at the Bradford for many years, but recently ten tenants called them for help because Millennia was suing them for failure to pay rent. But there have been long-standing issues there in terms of maintenance of the property—the elevator, toilets, and emergency call units not working, missing sinks, mold issues, and bed bugs. Despite HUD’s inspection report saying they’re out of compliance with their agreement, Millennia has been evicting these vulnerable inhabitants and leaving the others in unsafe conditions.
“There’s absolutely a complete lack of security at that facility, and people are in danger living there,” said Girard. “We’re very concerned about the health and safety of the tenants.”
One of the mental disabilities of tenants at the Bradford is substance abuse. As a result, there has been a considerable amount of drug distribution on the property, causing problems for the residents and the police. Rideout and other Cambridge officials met with the owner’s representatives and discussed corrective measures, such as a night guard and stairwell cameras.
“There’s a more systemic problem at play here, which is that the property management company is not being held accountable,” said Girard. “Right now there is a several-billion-dollar class action lawsuit against the same property management company for their failure to protect tenants in exactly the same situation…in another state.”
Girard is hopeful that she and her associates can continue to raise awareness about what’s happening at the Bradford House. In the meantime, they are looking for community partners to assist, because there are few options for the current residents who need to be rehoused.
“We have an immediate problem that we need members of the community to help fix,” she said. “I just don’t think we can stand by and watch this happen.”
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
On the strength of cooperating salinity levels driving “astounding, historic, phenomenal and miraculous” sets of oyster spat across wide swaths of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay waters, the state’s recovering oyster industry continues in a positive trend.
Watermen harvested a 36-year record 722,850 bushels of oysters in the 2022-2023 wild harvest season with a dockside value of more than $25 million. That season ended last March 31.
Those 722,850 bushels were up 24 percent from the previous year’s 548,558 bushels. There were 1,354 oyster license holders in Maryland during the 2022-2023 season with an estimated 85 percent of them actually harvesting. That was the highest number of license holders in 29 years.
Due to harsher weather and other market conditions hampering demand, the 2023-2024 harvest at this midpoint in the season may fall slightly short of last season.
“The decline we expect in harvest this year is market driven – not because watermen are pummeling the oysters,” said Maryland Shellfish Director Christopher Judy this week. “The good news is that the oysters being left behind will be there for next season. We have an active fishery, a robust fishery with our oysters. And in the presence of all of this activity, we’re still not seeing a decline in the population, we’re seeing a major increase.”
He said the strong sets of oyster spat – baby oysters that attach themselves to oyster shells and other hard bottom structure to grow – bode well for the overall future population of oysters in the Bay.
Judy spoke at the Jan. 9 meeting of the Maryland Oyster Advisory Commission where he presented findings from the fall 2023 survey. Conducted between Oct. 3 and Nov. 15, surveyors dredged 354 samples from 281 bars throughout Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake and its tributaries. The higher levels of salinity in the system in the summer of 2023, helped produce the fifth highest volume of spat on shells recorded in the 39 years of annual testing.
“Salinity is the main driver for oyster production in the Chesapeake,” said Judy. “It factors into feeding, reproduction, growth, disease and mortality. 2023 was a dry year, with high salinity and low freshwater flow. That led to greater instances of MSX and Dermo disease than we’ve seen in several years. That in turn led to higher than usual mortality. Not disastrous levels at all like the four dry years between 1999 and 2002, but still trending upward. The wet and cold weather we’re having this winter is encouraging. It’s lowering salinity and helping tamp down diseases for next spring and summer. That should help survival of these great spat sets.”
Judy explained further: “The spat set was enhanced by the high salinity through the summer. The recent salinity decline had no effect on the spat set event since it occurred after the set. The ‘perfect’ scenario for oysters is a dry summer to generate a spat set, then rain to enhance survival due to the lower salinity (which deters disease).”
Most notable, however, said Judy, is the wide-spread distribution of strong oyster spat sets found in the fall. “Dramatic improvement,” he said. “We found strong sets on the Eastern Shore – Choptank River, Broad Creek and a once-in-a-generation set in the Tred Avon River – and even stronger sets in the lower Eastern Shore areas like Tangier Sound. Those are areas where we wouldn’t be surprised by strong spat sets. But all across Maryland’s lower Bay waters – both sides – and up the Potomac and Patuxent rivers, our crews found oysters in areas that were actually phenomenal. Decades and decades have gone by and we haven’t seen anything like this.”
Judy said the fall survey found the Bay’s overall biomass of oysters – which considers size and numbers of oysters – increasing steadily since 2017. The 2023 numbers were the third highest in 19 years for smalls and the second highest for market size in that same time period. Smalls are oysters under the three-inch legal size for market oysters.
“The market oysters being taken this year will be back-filled next year with this year’s smalls, and the great spat sets of the last several years will begin growing into the smalls.”
Shellfish managers kept harvest limits for this season in place from last year while letting the industry know they would re-evaluate those limits after seeing results from the fall survey. Judy said with positive trends in spat sets and biomass, it was decided to keep current limits in place for the rest of the season which ends March 31.
Even with the law allowing harvesting from Oct. 1 through March – Mondays through Fridays – tongers and dredgers have nonetheless found harvesting limited by foul weather, and low demand evidenced by No Market signs posted on certain days of the week.
Responding to questions about where spat originate, Judy said when oysters spawn, larvae disperse and mix with the currents.
“The Bay becomes a large bowl of larvae soup. It is unknown and unknowable where the larvae came from (a sanctuary or a harvest area….or a lease that has brood oysters on it) or where they ended up as spat. The most one can say is that all the broodstock have value – given that the salinity is right – and it happens that the majority of the brood oysters occur in both sanctuary areas and harvest areas. In other words, where the prevailing thought might be that certain sanctuaries are the only place where broodstock exist, in fact the major harvest areas also have an abundance of broodstock. It’s not a competition – it’s nature providing a massive boon to the oyster population.
“Bottom line,” said Judy, “is that a recovering Bay with healthy salinities, strong brood stocks – biomass – and good spat sets is all leading to lots of oysters. The spat counted on the annual survey aren’t hatchery spat that have been planted in numerous large scale projects but are all natural spat; the result of oysters reproducing in the summer of 2023. These are not from hatcheries – this is a natural event.”
In a follow-up email for this article, Judy wrote:
“What occurred is accurately characterized as astounding, amazing and historic. The 2023 spat set positions the oyster population for a very strong near term future. I say near term because further down the line things could change if there is a hurricane or a tropical rain deluge, or a multiyear drought and serious disease outbreak. ….That’s been seen before….”
Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Maryland Executive Director Allison Colden issued the following statement in response to the stock assessment update from mid-year 2023:
“The dramatic increase in oyster harvests during the past two years comes as no surprise after several record years of oyster reproduction. We’ve seen this pattern before – without adequate controls on fishing effort, increases in the oyster population are quickly followed by increases in harvest and then declines in years where environmental conditions are less conducive for oyster productivity. Unfortunately, these boom-and-bust cycles undermine the long-term recovery of the species, by wiping out years of good productivity with increased harvest.
“However, fishing effort has not increased uniformly across the Bay. Of concern is a significant increase in fishing effort on Maryland’s most productive public oyster grounds, including Tangier Sound. In this region, the assessment indicated overfishing occurring for more than three years.
“Our best available science indicates that fishing rates like those seen in Tangier Sound, St. Mary’s, and the lower Patuxent River, are not sustainable. We are encouraged that DNR has proposed a more responsive approach to oyster management, based on the fall dredge survey, and urge them to consider further regulations that aim to end overfishing in the regions where it is occurring.
“It is critical,” said Colden, “to protect the oyster population gains made from strong spat sets during the past three years if we are to reverse the long-term trajectory of oyster decline. Oysters are a vital component of the Bay ecosystem that filter water and provide habitat and nursery grounds for fish and crabs. Despite the recent increases in oyster abundance, the current population remains far below levels needed to deliver these critical ecosystem functions.
Dennis Forney has been a publisher, journalist and columnist on the Delmarva Peninsula since 1972. He writes from his home on Grace Creek in Bozman.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
The meeting began at 6:00 pm with the Mayor speaking about the upcoming State Legislative process. After an amendment adjustment, the Mayor introduced Susan Ahlstrom, Regional Navigator of “For All Seasons” – an organization that deals with human trafficking in Maryland. Ms. Ahlstrom made a 20-minute presentation on the dangers and personal tragedies associated with human trafficking and the need for the City to help her organization deal with the problem. The City Council approved a proclamation opposing human trafficking and promised to do what they can to support her organization.
The Mayor next moved to the Consent Agenda which was approved 5/0. The Consent Agenda included approval of meeting minutes, a Cambridge Police Easter Egg hunt on March 23, the Cubmobile Derby on April 7th, the Six Pillars Century Bike Ride on May, 4th, the Cambridge Crab Run on May 12th Community Day on September 14th, and finally, approval on the Water Tower repair.
The Mayor opened up the meeting to Public Comment and 7 citizens spoke on the new fence installed at Long Wharf which blocks access to the Lighthouse. All seven were against the fence which they described as ugly and blocking access to the Lighthouse, which is a publicly-funded and publicly-maintained facility. They also expressed concern that the fence sends the wrong message to visitors who may want to see the Lighthouse up close. There was strong support of the speakers from Commissioner Roche who said he would help take down the fence. The City Manager took responsibility for the fence and said he would report back to the Council at the next meeting.
There was one citizen who asked about the Planning and Zoning Director, who resigned after an article about him surfaced on local networks.
Police Chief, Justin Todd, stated that the 2023 Annual Police Report will be out by January 24th. It can be found on the City’s website.
The City Manager provided a number of Agenda Reports as attachments to the agenda, including the following:
The four Agenda Reports listed above not were discussed by the City Council in open session. The meeting ended at 7:16.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
President Michael Diaz convened the public meeting at 6:00 pm with Board Members Susan Morgan and Sheri Hubbard present.
The Superintendent reviewed the Board Calendar (see below) and acknowledged Maryland School Board Recognition Month.
Mr. Gaven Parker, Principal of Choptank Elementary School (ES), delivered his Mid-Year Presentation, reporting that the school is making big changes to improve outcomes and behaviors. The Reading goal for this year is to reduce the number of students below grade level by 21% (from 71% in school year (SY) 2022-23). Choptank ES is regrouping students and using reading intervention coaches to help address reading issues. The Math goal is to reduce the number of students performing two levels below grade level by 30% (from 44% in SY2022-23). Other goals include decreasing out of school suspension hours by 25% compared to 5670 hours in SY2022-23, and increasing daily attendance from 84.5% to 90%. A number of after school activities are being offered to strengthen student engagement. Individual and group counseling, case coordination, and agency referrals are being offered to address students’ mental health needs. Mr. Diaz noted that he and Dr. Morgan visited Choptank ES recently and were impressed by the improvement in atmosphere compared to previous years.
Dr. Jodi Colman, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessments, presented an Instructional Update Data Review. Dr Colman reported that overall Kindergarten readiness has improved with 39% of students demonstrating readiness in Fall of SY2023-2024 (versus 32% in SY2022-2023 and 29% in SY2021-2022), with 42.4% of students who had been enrolled in pre-kindergarten demonstrating readiness. Dr. Colman noted
concerns across the District about chronic absenteeism, and that some high school students are not taking the courses needed to complete their program tracks.
The Board approved the consent agenda, consisting of the minutes of the December 4, 2023, Regular Board of Education Meeting
The Board approved the personnel actions discussed in Executive Session. The Board also approved an amendment to the FY2024 General Operating Budget to reflect funds received from the State for a Blueprint Coordinator ($101,702); receipt of grants from the Maryland State Department of Education to support school safety (radios, $25,000, assessment/evaluation, $47,500, and cell boosters, $200,000); and $238,486 in bus contracts to replace services from a vendor who is resigning from selected routes. The Board deferred purchase of approximately 230 Dell Latitude Laptops for teachers and staff (approximately $270,000), pending receipt of a specific purchase price from the vendor.
The Board approved the First Reading of the following revisions to its policies on Board of Education Powers and Duties; Relation of Board Members to the Board; Personnel Medical Procedures; Introductory Employment Period; Employee Calendar, Workday, Work Week; and Rejections, Termination, Suspension, and Promotion. The Board deferred consideration of revisions to the policy on School Board Member Attendance at Meetings Via Electronic Communication.
Ms. Sandy Green, Chief Financial Officer, presented informational reports on Fiscal Year 2023 Compliance, Appropriations & Expenditures, Capital Projects and Technology, and Quarterly Grants. She reported that the compliance report received a clean audit, and that the most significant variance involves greater than anticipated charges for legal services.
There were no oral or written Public Comments presented at the meeting.
Mr. Diaz described the process for filling the District 2 Board vacancy, which involves an application to the County Council. Interested persons should contact the Council directly for additional information. Mr. Diaz noted that two recent incidents in the schools have required strong disciplinary actions that the Board fully supports.
Board Members and the Superintendent delivered closing remarks, noting the recent death of District 2 Board Member, Dr. Theresa Stafford, and thanking all those who participated in the meeting. Dr. Morgan remembered Dr. Stafford as a force for good in the schools and in the community, whose thoughts were always for the children. Superintendent Bromwell remarked that he had known Dr. Stafford for over 40 years and that she pushed him and everyone for success for all students, and especially for minority children.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:21 pm.
**********
UPCOMING EVENTS
January 29-30, 2024 |
No School for Students – Semester Break |
Monday, January 29, 2024
|
Half-Day Report Card Prep Staff Half-Day PD for Staff |
Tuesday, January 30, 2024 |
No School for Students PD Day All Staff Countywide |
Friday, February 16, 2024 |
Half-Day for Students Parent/Teacher Conference |
Thursday, February 22, 2024 6:00 p.m. |
Regular February Meeting of the Dorchester County Board of Education at DCTC |
Monday, February 19, 2024 |
Schools/Offices Closed Presidents’ Day |
Note: Supporting documents may be found on the DCPS Board Docs website at https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/dcps/Board.nsf/Public.
Dr. Morgan’s closing statement may be found at https://susanmorganschoolboard.com.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) ), a member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System, received approval yesterday from the Maryland Health Care Commission to construct a new Regional Medical Center in Easton. Once completed, the UM Shore Regional Medical Center in Easton will replace the existing hospital in downtown Easton, which is outdated and obsolete, with the majority of the hospital constructed between 1955 and 1975. Additionally, its location in a residential neighborhood bordering the town’s Historic District prevents expansion and creates access issues for patients and staff.
The new UM Shore Regional Medical Center campus will occupy 200-plus acres off Longwoods Road near the intersection of U.S. Route 50, adjacent to the Talbot County Community Center. Approximately 3.5 miles from the current hospital, this location will offer greater visibility, and easier and safer access for ambulance and helicopter transport as well as ample parking for patients, staff and visitors.
Proposed Project Specifications:
Main Hospital Tower: 6 levels; 325,294 square feet
Adjacent medical office and outpatient services building: 60,000 square feet
Licensed Beds: 147 (all private rooms / includes Observation Beds)
Emergency Department Treatment Bays: 27
Operating Rooms: 7
Helipad (ground level)
Core Programs & Specialty Centers:
Acute Rehabilitation Center
Behavioral Health
Birthing Center
Cardiac Intervention Center
Critical Care/Acute Care Medicine
Emergency Services
Neurosciences
Orthopedics
Women’s Services
UM SRH has spent the last several years laying the ground work for the advancement of the new Regional Medical Center by making investments in other key supporting projects identified in the System’s integrated facility and clinical service delivery plan. The completion of the freestanding medical facility in Cambridge, several medical pavilions and stand-alone emergency centers in the region, urgent care facilities in Denton, Easton and Kent Island, and numerous major equipment upgrades have totaled over $150M in capital investments.
“We are so grateful for our communities’ patience and trust as we have implemented key strategies to improve health care access and services to each of the counties of the mid-shore,” said Ken Kozel, UM SRH president and CEO. “We were honored to include as part of our CON application multiple letters of support from state, county, city and town officials, health departments, law enforcement, chambers of commerce, educational institutions, safety-net health care providers, and economic development agencies in all five counties of our service area.”
The realization of this project has also been aided by this week’s announcement by Maryland Governor Wes Moore that the State’s Multi-Year 2025 budget includes a funding commitment of $100 million for the construction of the new hospital complex.
Achieving these two milestones are major steps forward as UM SRH continues efforts to advance this significant project with plans to begin site work this spring, construction starting in spring 2025 and final building occupancy in the summer of 2028.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
Every month, the Cambridge Spy and WHCP Community Radio sit down with Cambridge Police Chief Justin Todd to review the city’s current status of public safety.
In this recent update, Chief Todd talks about the recent homicide and important background about the crime. He also updates us on his campaign for community policing, staffing, and some observations as the Maryland Assembly meets in Annapolis to discuss juvenile justice measures.
This video is approximately ten minutes in length.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.