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July 7, 2022

Cambridge Spy

The nonprofit e-newspaper for the Cambridge Community

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Community Reading: Frederick Douglass’s “What to the Slave is the 4th of July?”

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The Frederick Douglass Honor Society is pleased to announce their annual community reading of Frederick Douglass’s historic address “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” on Saturday, July 9, starting at 11 a.m. in front the Talbot County Court House, 11 North Washington Street, Easton, Maryland.

Frederick Douglass was thirty-four years old when he delivered this riveting and concise speech at the newly constructed Corinthian Hall in Rochester, New York. On July 5, he stood in front of six hundred abolitionists, all invited by the Rochester Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society, in 1852, nine years before the start of the Civil War.

“What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” was written at a point in time when the country was strongly debating the matters of slavery. Throughout Frederick Douglass’s speech he spoke about the contradictions between the reality of slavery and the contentions of a just society defined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Just one day following the country’s celebration of freedom, Douglass implored his audience to contemplate the endless oppression of the enslaved.

“The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me, “Douglass said. “The sunlight that brought life and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must morn.” The Fourth of July, he said, “is a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is a constant victim.”

A newspaper noted that when Douglass finished his stirring speech and was seated, “there was a universal applause”. His words stimulated deep thoughts, showed falseness, and addressed a call to action, “Not light is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.” His speech received such an overwhelming validation that over seven hundred copies were sold for fifty cents each or $6 for one hundred copies.

“It is an honor to host more than fifty members of our community, as we read “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”. More than two hundred years after his birth, Frederick Douglass’s words continue to resonate through our daily challenges and continuous fight for freedom for all people. Elizabeth Cady Stanton wrote in 1895, “Frederick Douglass is not dead! His grand character will long be an object lesson in our national history; his lofty sentiments of liberty, justice and equality… must influence and inspire many coming generations!”, said Brenda Wooden, President, Frederick Douglass Honor Society. The Community Reading is free and open to the public.

The Frederick Douglass Honor Society is dedicated to developing programs that continue the Douglass legacy of human rights, education, personal growth and involvement of citizens. For more information about the Community Reading or the organization, please visit us on the Frederick Douglass Honor Society Facebook Page or online at www.FrederickDouglassHonorSociety.com.

Hogan and Schulz Accuse Democrats of Meddling in Maryland’s GOP Primary

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Republican gubernatorial hopeful Kelly Schulz speaks to reporters outside the State House on Thursday, as Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. listens. Photo by Bruce DePuyt

Undeterred by shouts and catcalls from supporters of rival Dan Cox — and Cox himself — Republican gubernatorial candidate Kelly Schulz and Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr., denounced a Democratic effort to boost her main rival in the July 19 primary.

Hogan, who is term-limited, and his former commerce secretary stood in blistering heat outside the State House, where — surrounded by sign-waving backers — they slammed the Democratic Governors Association’s plan to spend more than $1 million in the weeks leading up to Election Day.

According to companies that monitor media spending, the association intends to run an ad called “Meet Dan,” a certain reference to the conservative firebrand. The Frederick County state delegate is one of four Republicans running for governor and, according to one new independent poll, he is the frontrunner.

In races around the country, Democratic groups have run ads that appear to be critical of far-right candidates but which have the real goal of boosting office-seekers who might struggle in a general election.

Hogan and Schulz offered a full-throated rejection not just of the DGA but of Cox as well. Cox and his family, including a newborn, having gotten wind of the event, stood just feet away, occasionally shouting back at the governor and his protege. Cox supporters waved signs and accused the pair of lying and Schulz of ducking debates.

It was, in short, as raucous and tense an event as tends to occur in Maryland politics.

The governor said that “Democrats are so scared about losing again, that they are now enabling, emboldening and embracing a QAnon conspiracy theorist, someone who bused people to the Capitol on Jan. 6 and called Vice President Pence ‘a traitor’ as the Capitol was under attack.”

Cox, who has the endorsement of former President Trump, has advanced baseless theories about the 2020 elections, including the vote-count in Maryland.

“The people who scream all day long about democracy being at stake are willing to play Russian roulette with the Maryland State House just to win an election,” Hogan said. “It’s the worst kind of hypocrisy.”

Schulz called Cox a “lying conspiracy theorist who is a danger to our party and to our state,” and she accused Democrats of making a strategic investment in the GOP primary to save money in November.

“The math is easy,” she said. “Spend a million now and save $5 million by not having to face me in the general election. … I am a threat standing in the way of one-party rule in Annapolis.”

Remarkably, the rally also featured the chairman of the Maryland Republican Party, Dirk Haire. Although he acknowledged that his post requires him to be neutral in party primaries, he called on GOP voters to be vigilant. “Don’t get fooled by the national Democrats and their rich liberal cronies,” he said.

Schulz drew applause from GOP lawmakers and other supporters when she pledged to “fight back” against the Democrats’ plan to sway the GOP electorate.

Research conducted by Kantar, a New York-based media company, outlines the purchases the DGA intends to make on Maryland TV stations next month. Source: Schulz campaign.

According to Kantar, a New York-based research firm, the DGA intends to spend $1.037 million over a two-week period starting on July 5. Mail-in ballots have already gone out and early voting begins on July 7.

A DGA spokesman declined to provide the “Meet Dan” ad. A spokesman for the Maryland Democratic Party declined to make Chair Yvette Lewis available for an interview.

Speaking to reporters after the Schulz rally, Cox said the statements from her camp “are proof that we’re winning.” He cast Hogan’s denunciation of him as a distraction from the increase in the state gas tax that is set to take place at midnight Thursday.

“This is all a distraction from the establishment that is going to crush the people at midnight,” he said. “And they’re doing nothing about it.”

In a series of cell-phone videos posted to social media, Cox accused Schulz of running a “failing” and “lousy” campaign. “This whole smear campaign is laughable. It’s hilarious,” he said. “They’re desperate. It’s going to be exposed and they’re going to fall into their own pit on this one…”

There was a heavy security presence during the Schulz rally. When a sign-holding Cox supporter tried to crowd in next to Schulz supporters before the rally, Schulz strategist Doug Mayer ordered him to leave. The two men then exchanged insults.

Trump’s “hand-picked candidate”

The 30-second spot hit the internet late Thursday. It is, effectively, two ads in one.

The first section appears designed to appeal to the GOP base. The second part labels Cox “too conservative.”

Speaking over graphics and video, a narrator calls Cox “Donald Trump’s hand-picked candidate for Maryland governor.”

“Cox worked with Trump, trying to prove the last election was a fraud. 100% pro-life, he’s fighting to end abortion in Maryland,” the narration continues. “And Cox will protect the Second Amendment at all costs, refusing to support any federal restrictions on guns, even pushing to put armed guards in every school.”

“Dan Cox. Too close to Trump,” the ad concludes. “Too conservative for Maryland.”

A risky strategy, critics warn

D.C.-based Democratic groups like the DGA have spent money in GOP primary races across the country in an effort to boost fringe candidates thought to be less attractive in a general election contest. In many cases, the gambit has paid off, but the practice is not without its critics.

They argue that the country is harmed when races don’t play out as expected.

Democratic strategist Howard Wolfson told The Washington Post it is “very dangerous and potentially very risky to elevate people who are hostile to democracy.”

“Either this is a crisis moment or it isn’t,” said Wolfson, who has worked for former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and others. “And if it is — which it is — you don’t play cute in a crisis.”

Gubernatorial candidate Dan Cox and his family listen as rival Kelly Schulz and Gov. Larry Hogan denounce him at a Schulz campaign rally in Annapolis on Thursday. Photo by Bruce DePuyt.

In a statement, DGA spokesman Sam Newton defended the association’s spending in Maryland.

He faulted “Republican politicians and organizations” who repeat false claims about the 2020 election, “pander to conspiracies or are simply too cowardly to issue a full-throated condemnation.”

“Educating the public on the MAGA extremism, and cowardice, of today’s Republican party is essential to ensuring all citizens have the facts,” he added. “It’s time for the GOP to look in the mirror and have a reckoning with itself, instead of trying to find someone else to blame.”

The new ad buy is not the DGA’s first foray into the Schulz-Cox race. The organization has sponsored two surveys of Maryland Republicans, both of which showed Cox in the lead.

Although subsequent independent polling produced similar results, Schulz loyalists were quick to denounce the DGA-funded surveys, calling them an attempt to sway the electorate.

 

By Bruce DePuyt

Rep. Harris would Support a National ‘Heartbeat’ Abortion Ban

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WYPR – 88.1 FM Baltimore reports that Maryland’s lone Republican congressman U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, who represents the first district, said he would support a national abortion ban if a fetus has a heartbeat.

If the legislation was passed by Congress, abortions after six weeks into a pregnancy would be illegal nationwide. The six week mark is often before many women know they might be pregnant.

Read for the full story here.

Edith Ramirez Joins Mid-Shore Pro Bono as Community Outreach and Communication Coordinator

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Edith Ramirez

Edith Ramirez of Greensboro, Md. has recently joined the Easton office of Mid-Shore Pro Bono as the Community Outreach and Communications Coordinator.

Her responsibilities include raising awareness about Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s civil legal services to individuals in need throughout the Eastern Shore, and to donors interested in forwarding the nonprofit’s mission.

Ramirez is bilingual in English and Spanish. She most recently worked in customer service in Dover, Del., and is a graduate of North Caroline High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society.

“Learning about resources available in our community has always been important to me, especially growing up as the daughter of a single, immigrant mother,” says Ramirez. “I’m passionate about helping to provide an equal chance to underserved individuals and families in my new role.”

“Edith is a pleasure to work with,” said Mid-Shore Pro Bono Executive Director Meredith Lathbury Girard, Esq. “Her experiences bring warmth to our clients and earnestness to our communications. We’re especially grateful to have her among our other interpreters so that we can make a difference in the lives of clients from different cultures.”

Mid-Shore Pro Bono delivers a mission of helping Maryland’s Eastern Shore residents obtain access to legal assistance, with offices in Easton, Chestertown, and Salisbury, with more at www.midshoreprobono.org.

One Mission Cambridge Hosts Open House

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Since its opening on June 6, 2022, One Mission Cambridge has served over 140 people in need. The first week alone, the coalition of Christian churches and ministries called to meet the physical and spiritual needs of men, women and children in the Cambridge area, served over 90 people and had to order 3,000 pounds of extra food to meet the needs of the community.  The organization will host an open house on July 16 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at its location at 614 Race Street in Cambridge. The open house is open to everyone in the community to learn about the mission center and celebrate it.

Pictured is Krista Pettit of One Mission Cambridge in the center’s facility at 614 Race Street in Cambridge.

One Mission Cambridge’s location has proved ideal to serve some of the community’s most vulnerable populations. The building includes a storefront on Race Street with a large communal space in the rear of the building. By consolidating some of the area’s food pantries, One Mission Cambridge can offer a food pantry store where people can shop for what they need in a dignified manner. In addition, the center offers community navigation with computers onsite for people to research jobs and complete job applications and look up resources to help them connect to community services. Whether you need food items, to get a replacement Social Security card or photo ID, or just need a friendly face to talk to, the center is open for walk-in services.

“When you are in a crisis, you are overwhelmed with navigating the process to get on the other side of it. We are the stopgap – stepping into the process and providing support,” comments Krista Pettit, leader of One Mission Cambridge’s efforts.

In the back of the storefront, there is a private meeting room to offer Christian counseling and support groups. Further back, a large community space is available to host community dinners for about 120 people. These dinners hope to start in the fall on the first Monday of each month and will include a sit-down dinner, along with a Bible reading and discussion, as well as music and art enrichment.

One Mission Cambridge is about the Body of Christ working together – combining resources and people. The organization’s name “One Mission” comes from all the churches having the same mission: to love God and to love their neighbors.  All Christian Churches are invited to participate in this exciting organization. The organization was born in the summer of 2021 when a volunteer subcommittee brought people from the community together and interviewed nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, and community members who utilize various agencies to determine the unmet needs in the community and what services could be provided. The survey revealed that people in the community have a heart for others, there are a lot of great organizations helping people, and there needs to be a place for people to talk, listen and provide guidance on getting help and encouragement.

One Mission Cambridge, the coalition of Christian churches and ministries, is called to meet the physical and spiritual needs of men, women and children in the Cambridge area. Its storefront location is ideal for serving some of the community’s most vulnerable populations.

To date, over 15 churches are working with One Mission Cambridge. Krista Pettit, who began working on the project as a volunteer with Grace United Methodist Church and St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, recognized the need in the community when talking with other churches. The organization wants to partner with everyone providing services in the Cambridge area, including area food pantries, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and churches who, according to Krista, are doing tremendous work in the community. Volunteers are also needed and interested persons can attend the open house to inquire, contact Pettit directly, or sign up via the website at onemissioncambridge.org or call 410-901-3959.

One Mission Cambridge will be open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, from 1 to 6 p.m. and the second Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. These hours were selected as times when other organizations aren’t open and to allow people who work to utilize the services.

Visit One Mission Cambridge on Facebook or Instagram or their website onemissioncambridge.org or call 410-901-3959. Donations can be made to One Mission Cambridge, P.O. Box 815, Cambridge, MD 21613.

Spy Reminder: Last Day to Register for Maryland Primary is June 28

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The Maryland State Board of Elections (SBE) reminds those who wish to register to vote, change party affiliation, and update their address before the 2022 Primary Election that the deadline to do so is Tuesday, June 28.

Those using the online registration system must submit their completed voter registration application to register, change party affiliation, or update their address by 11:59 p.m. on June 28. To ensure applications are completed and received by 11:59 p.m., SBE advises voters to access the online system no later than 11:50 p.m. on June 28. Those who prefer not to register to vote online may print the registration form (English version and Spanish version) and submit it at the office of their local board of elections by 5 p.m. on June 28 or return it by mail. Registration forms returned by mail must be postmarked by June 28.

Voters may also register to vote in-person during early voting and on Primary Election Day, July 19. Early voting runs from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. beginning Thursday, July 7 and continuing through Thursday, July 14. Voters can register to vote and vote early at any early voting center in the county in which they reside. A complete list of early voting centers for the Primary Election is available online.

Voters wishing to register to vote and vote in person on Primary Election Day – July 19 – can do so at their polling place.

Voters who wish to cast their ballots by mail or via one of Maryland’s 288 ballot drop boxes must request a mail-in ballot from the State Board of Elections or their local board of elections. Requests for a mail-in ballot for the Primary Election must be received by July 12, 2022.

Each of Maryland’s 288 ballot boxes are available for use until July 19 at 8 p.m. Voters can return their mail-in ballots using any official ballot box in their county of residence. A complete list of ballot box locations is available online.

The local boards of elections continue to look for voters to serve as election judges. Interested voters can learn more and apply here.

Maryland After Roe Is Extinguished

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Michelle Siri, a candidate for lieutenant governor, speaks at an abortion rights rally in Wheaton on Friday evening. She is running with John King, standing to her right. Photo by Josh Kurtz.

Everybody saw it coming.

And yet, the Supreme Court decision Friday to strike down Roe v. Wade, the historic 1973 decision guaranteeing abortion rights across the country, may be reordering Maryland politics just 3 1/2 weeks before the state’s primaries.

“It’s going to be a different world,” Del. Ariana Kelly (D-Montgomery), a leading abortion rights advocate in the General Assembly, said in an interview Friday. “Yesterday and tomorrow, totally different worlds.”

Maryland has fairly robust abortion protections, enshrined in state law 30 years ago by a statewide referendum. Abortion rights supporters took to the streets Friday evening in Wheaton, Annapolis and elsewhere, expressing their disgust and horror with the Supreme Court ruling.

But even with Maryland’s status as one of a dozen states that preserve abortion access up to the point of viability (usually 22 to 24 weeks into a pregnancy), abortion rights supporters moved with a new sense of urgency Friday, vowing to elect more pro-choice candidates and to press for even stronger protections in state law, including a state constitutional amendment to preserve abortion rights.

Separately, local leaders began setting policy and funding decisions in response to the court ruling.

Dozens of Democratic officeholders and political candidates issued statements decrying the Supreme Court ruling and vowed to preserve and protect abortion rights in Maryland, cognizant of the likelihood that the number of abortion seekers coming to Maryland will increase dramatically, with close to half of U.S. states set to outlaw the procedure in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling.

The Republican reaction in Maryland ranged from overjoyed to circumspect.

With mail-in ballots already arriving at voters’ homes, early voting set to take place between July 7-14, and the primary on July 19, abortion could be uppermost on voters’ minds in the days ahead. Democratic primary voters have a full menu of abortion rights supporters to choose from in the races for statewide office — governor, attorney general and state comptroller. So the choice there may be who is best-equipped to expand abortion protections in the state.

“An overwhelming majority of Democrats support women’s reproductive rights… and there is little daylight if any between any of the Democratic candidates who are currently running for governor on these issues,” said Mileah Kromer, a political science professor at Goucher College and director of the Goucher Poll.

That point was brought home Friday evening, when Democratic gubernatorial contender John King, who has been endorsed by the group Pro-Choice Maryland, and his running mate, Michelle Siri, shared the stage at the Wheaton rally with former Del. Aruna Miller, running mate to another candidate for governor, Wes Moore. Similarly, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich was just a few feet away from one of his Democratic primary challengers, County Councilmember Hans Riemer, and both spoke.

The leading Republican candidates for governor had notably different reactions to the Supreme Court ruling.

Former Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly Schulz, the favorite of the GOP establishment, issued a statement promising to preserve the status quo if she is elected.

“Today’s decision by the Supreme Court changes nothing with regard to abortion in Maryland,” she said. “As I have repeatedly said, while I am personally pro-life, the issue is settled law in Maryland and has been for 30 years, since Marylanders voted on it. Despite fear-mongering from others, as governor, I’ll do nothing to change current Maryland law.”

Schulz has largely hewed to the position of her political patron, Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R), who she is trying to succeed. When Hogan was first campaigning for governor in 2014, he said he was personally opposed to abortion but would not seek to change state law.

But is that line still cogent in the current political environment?

“I think that she’s going to be pushed on the issue more than Hogan was pushed on it during his eight years or during his two elections, just because of the decision today,” Kromer said of Schulz.

Hogan may not have helped Schulz’s cause when he vetoed a bill this year to expand the types of medical practitioners who can perform abortions — which the legislature overrode — and then withheld funding to provide training for those medical professionals. It served as a reminder that even with abortion protections in place, a governor can have an impact on how the laws are administered.

“I think Kelly Schulz’s statement was particularly interesting,” said Alexandra Hughes, former chief of staff to House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore County) and the late Speaker Michael Busch (D). “Fundamentally, [she] is a political pragmatist. Her problem is, there are a lot of suburban and urban women who are not buying this Susan Collins ‘walk the line’ thing.”

Schulz’s principal GOP primary opponent, Del. Dan Cox (R-Frederick), posted a minute-long video on Facebook praising the Supreme Court decision.

“Thank God, thank President Trump, thank the Supreme Court for doing what is right,” said Cox, who has been endorsed by Trump in the primary. “My wife and I for years and years have been fighting for the unborn. That’s one of the reasons why we’re in politics.”

Cox also took a swipe at Schulz, saying “my opponent wants to enforce taxpayer-funded abortions. She will do nothing to stop illegal actions against these precious babies.”

Democratic fissures

The upcoming primaries may expose certain Democrats who have opposed abortion rights.

Lily Bolourian, executive director of Pro-Choice Maryland, said the organization has in recent days retooled its endorsement policy to only focus on the strongest advocates on abortion rights. And, she said, the group is determined to defeat as many anti-abortion Democrats as possible.

“There is no room in the Democratic Party or in any progressive movements for anti-abortion elected officials. Period,” she told Maryland Matters. “It’s unacceptable, and we intend to continue building power to target any politician who voted against the Abortion [Care] Access Act.”

That’s a reference to Kelly’s legislation expanding the array of medical providers who can perform abortions. When the bill initially passed the House, 89-47, six Democrats voted against it: Dels. Dalya Attar of Baltimore City, Anne Healey of Prince George’s County, Shaneka Henson of Anne Arundel County, Cheryl Landis of Prince George’s, Mary Ann Lisanti of Harford County, and Geraldine Valentino-Smith of Prince George’s.

After Hogan vetoed the bill, the House voted 90-46 to override the veto. Attar, Henson, Landis, Lisanti and Valentino-Smith voted against the override. Healey did not vote. It takes 85 votes to override a gubernatorial veto in the 141-member House of Delegates.

“Democrats who voted against the abortion access bill are going to get pressed about it on the [campaign] trail,” Hughes predicted.

Landis and Valentino-Smith are not seeking election this year. Lisanti is running for state Senate in a competitive primary with former Del. Mary-Dulany James. Henson is one of two Democratic incumbents running in a two-member district, without opposition, so she will be safe in the primary.

It’s unclear whether Attar faces a competitive primary, in a district where Dels. Samuel Rosenberg (D) and Tony Bridges (D) are also seeking reelection. Former Del. Bilal Ali and Chris Ervin, a trucking company owner and civic activist, are also competing in the Democratic primary.

But Pro-Choice Maryland is clearly targeting Healey, who was first elected in 1990. The group has endorsed Ashanti Martinez, a research and policy analyst with CASA, the immigrants’ rights group, and he launched a digital ad earlier this week slamming Healey.

“It’s tough to understand why, in one of our state’s most progressive House districts, Anne Healey, a purported Democrat, is aligning herself with the positions of the far right,” a narrator says in the ad.

Healey could not be reached for comment Friday. But the Women Legislators of Maryland caucus released a series of statements from the caucus leaders, including one from Healey, the immediate past president.

While eight statements were full-throated denunciations of the Supreme Court decision, Healey’s was somewhat more measured.

“Regardless of what the Supreme Court said today, abortion in Maryland remains a private, medical decision,” she said. “The law we have in place makes sure that only the pregnant woman herself has the final say. I voted earlier this year to secure this policy as part of the Maryland Constitution. I would do so again.”

Her statement was in reference to a bill sponsored by House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore County) this year that would have set up a November referendum to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. The bill passed through the House but stalled in the Senate, to the consternation of many abortion rights supporters in and out of government. (Henson, Landis and Lisanti also voted in favor of the speaker’s bill.)

Healey is running on a ticket with the other incumbents in District 22, including Sen. Paul Pinsky (D), who spoke at the abortion rights rally in Wheaton on Friday evening, and Del. Nicole Williams (D), a vocal abortion rights advocate. But the delegation in that district has traditionally not been as close as lawmakers in many other districts.

The Abortion Care Access Act passed 28-15 in the state Senate this year, and the vote to override Hogan’s veto was 29-15. In both cases, two Prince George’s County Democrats — Sens. Michael Jackson and Ron Watson — voted against the measure.

Jackson, who also represents Calvert County, has nominal opposition in next month’s primary. Watson is in a three-way race against Raaheela Ahmed, a former member of the Prince George’s County Board of Education, and Sylvia Johnson, a business owner, in a district that has traditionally elected some anti-abortion legislators.

Asked Friday if he is concerned that abortion could become a late-breaking or defining issue in his primary, Watson replied, “I’m not worried about it. We have a lot of important issues we have to deal with in this upcoming legislative session.”

It takes 29 votes in the 47-member Senate to override a governor’s veto, so the veto-proof majority is in jeopardy this year. Sen. Obie Patterson (D-Prince George’s), an abortion rights supporter, is retiring, and his likely successor, former Sen. Anthony Muse (D), has opposed most abortion rights measures during his legislative tenure.

Pro-choice Sen. Katie Fry Hester (D-Howard) is considered vulnerable in November, though Democrats tried to firm up the Democratic majority in her district in the latest round of redistricting. Democrats and abortion rights advocates have a pick-up opportunity in Anne Arundel County, where Sen. Ed Reilly (R) is retiring and Democrats are rallying around attorney Dawn Gile, who is unopposed in the Democratic primary.

In the 18th District, where an abortion rights supporter, Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher (D), is seeking a second term, Pro-Choice Maryland has endorsed his challenger, Max Socol, because of what Bolourian called Waldsteicher’s “failure to lead” on the constitutional amendment that stalled in the Senate this year.

Bolourian said her group has “absolute confidence in Max’s tenacity to push to get the strongest abortion access bills passed. My core message to anti-abortion Democrats is to expect us.”

A special session?

The House has twice launched the idea of a constitutional amendment to codify abortion rights, in 2018 and this year, but both times Senate leaders resisted. Now it is a top priority for several Democrats, including the men running for governor.

Jones reiterated that point in a statement Friday.

“It is a dark day for our country,” she said. “The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade will put women’s lives in jeopardy across America. Here in Maryland, access to the full range of reproductive health services will not be limited by this decision. I will continue to put the full weight of my office behind a Maryland constitutional amendment to protect women’s healthcare and reproductive liberty. The recent decisions of the Supreme Court are dragging America backwards. We cannot and will not give up. Now is the time to mobilize for the country we all deserve.”

Earlier this week, Jones and Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) issued joint statements condemning Thursday’s Supreme Court decision on a gun rights case, and on calls to hold a special legislative session to discuss a proposed gas tax holiday. But they notably went their own way when it came to reacting to the Roe v. Wade verdict.

Ferguson’s statement said in part: “In the weeks and months to come, women will likely come to Maryland seeking reproductive care in a State that understands the importance of the right to privacy and equality. While many may now question the future of reproductive rights in America, in Maryland, that right will always be protected and enshrined in State law. We will welcome those who seek care in our State.”

Some Democrats and abortion rights advocates are now pressing the presiding officers to schedule a special session to move the constitutional amendment on abortion rights and force Hogan to fund the training this year for abortion providers. That seems unlikely for now — though matters could change.

King and Siri reiterated the call at the rally in Wheaton Friday evening.

“If folks can jump up and down out there and call for a special legislative session for a gas tax holiday, we sure as hell can have one for our bodily autonomy,” said Siri, the head of the Maryland Women’s Law Center and former president of the state’s Planned Parenthood board.

Local government reacts

Within hours of the Supreme Court decision, the Montgomery County government banned county employees from engaging in official travel to any of 25 states deemed likely to roll back access to abortion in the wake of the ruling. 

“By taking action to restrict access to reproductive health care services, the following states have possibly put the health and safety of our employees at risk while on official business,” Chief Administrative Officer Richard S. Madaleno wrote in a memo to county managers. 

“Our County taxpayers expect the County’s resources to uphold County values and Maryland state law,” he added.

Conference or other travel approved prior to the ruling must be canceled in those instances where monetary penalties will not be imposed, Madaleno said. The ban on official travel to anti-abortion states would not apply to members of the County Council, though they would be encouraged to follow the executive branch’s lead, a county spokesman said.

The 2023 National Association of Counties annual convention is scheduled to take place in Texas. 

In an interview, Elrich, the county executive, said Montgomery intends an aggressive effort to woo companies located in states “that are about to move back to the Stone Age.” 

“These tech companies that brought in all these young people to Austin, [Texas], I can’t imagine them being really comfortable there right now,” he said. “We want to encourage those companies to come to a state where everybody’s free.” 

In light of the rise in remote work, Elrich said Montgomery’s campaign will target both out-of-state employers as well as employees.

Several large companies announced after the ruling that they intend to compensate workers who are forced to travel to access abortion services.

The states on Montgomery’s travel ban: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. 

In Baltimore on Friday, Mayor Brandon Scott (D) announced that the city would provide $300,000 in grants to organizations that offer abortion and family planning services.

“It is crucial that we invest in abortion and family planning so that we can welcome women seeking these services with open arms,” Scott said. “We are morally obligated to make Baltimore a safe haven for care-seekers, and we are committed to doing just that.”

Earlier this week, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby (D) and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy (D) vowed that they would not prosecute women seeking abortions from other states, medical providers, or anyone who assists women who obtain abortions in Maryland.

“They’re doubling down to protect our staff and abortion providers all across Maryland,” said Karen Nelson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Maryland.

Battles ahead

Abortion rights foes in Maryland exulted in the Supreme Court ruling.

“Today we CELEBRATE!” Maryland Right to Life wrote on a Facebook post Friday.

The Maryland Catholic Conference, on Twitter, wrote: “Today’s Supreme Court decision on life is a historic moment in our nation. We renew — and invite all to join — our commitment to support both women and their children.”

Kelly, the state delegate and abortion policy leader, said Marylanders who support reproductive rights should not take Maryland’s current laws for granted. She said she fears that national anti-choice groups will start to focus more on Maryland, both with political advocacy and spending, and in intimidation of abortion providers and women seeking abortions.

“We become a target,” she said. “We are the southernmost state on the East Coast that’s considered a safe haven for abortion.”

Kelly said the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade shows how formidable the anti-abortion forces are.

“We’ve seen what this movement has been able to do,” she said. “They don’t have to expend their energy on states like Mississippi anymore. They can focus on Maryland.”

By Josh Kurtz

Bruce DePuyt and Nene Narh-Mensah contributed to this report. 

CAN’s Notes on the City Commission Meeting: Should Poplar Street turn into One-way Street?

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The Cambridge City Council Meeting of June 21, 2022 was a dual meeting.  The first part from 6:00 pm to 7:10 pm was a Council meeting and the second part from 7:10 pm to 7:35 pm was a budget workshop on the FY23 Budget. 

Council Meeting:

The Council Meeting centered on Ordinances that needed to be passed, as follows:

1 .Contract for Cornish Park Basketball Courts resurfacing – $20,500 approved 5/0

  1. Contract for Bayly Road Sidewalk Project – $152,600 approved 5/0
  2. Ordinance to approve the City Budget, as amended – approved 5/0
  3. Ordinance to set the City Tax rate, approved 5/0
  4. Ordinance to purchase 601 Chesapeake Court for $537,500, approved 5/0
  5. Ordinance to sell 700 Philips St to Groove City Black Heritage & Culture group for $3,535.  Approved 5/0
  6. Ordinance to repeal Ordinance #s 881,882 and 934 regarding the by-laws of the Historic Preservation Committee, approved 5/0
  7. Ordinance to require real estate contracts in the Historic District should state that exterior improvements are subject to approval by HPC.  Approved 5/0
  8. Ordinance that allows the Planning Commission to deviate from the Sign Program in Cambridge, Approved 5/0

The Council then went into a lengthy discussion led by Commissioner Roche about turning Poplar St. into a one-way street on a pilot basis.  The idea is to extend the side walk on the RAR side by 10 feet and set up Jersey barriers to project the people.  There would be no parking on Poplar St.  The street would be one way going from the Gay St./Race St. intersection to the High St. intersection. 

In addition, all traffic lights would be removed at that intersection and the High St./Glasgow intersection.  All the Commissioners were in favor of the idea; however both Commissioners Cephas wanted to contact business owners and making any amendments before voting on the issue.  The subject was then opened to public and 4 businesses testified and all were against the pilot.  After more discussion the pilot was passed 3/2.  

The final item of the Council meeting concerned the upcoming Mayoral election.  The City Manager had hoped to get the timeline started this week but due to difficulties with the contract it will have to be delayed two weeks which puts the election in the middle of August.  

Other news that came out doing the meeting:

  1. 3 new police recruits graduated from the Police Academy
  2. Council members toured the Hearn building which a contactor wants to turn into 53 one and two bedroom apartments 
  3. The Mill St. School has a developer who wants to convert the school into 8 luxury apartments and 10 townhouses on the back lot.

Public Comment:

  1. Charles McFadden spoke on the budget to make 4 points:
    1. The Council is raising salaries in an inverse order – more for the lower level employees, less for the top.  This gives the lowest level worker in DPW a $4,384 annual raise and the head of DPW a $3,336 raise.  This is the third time in the past 5 years this approach has been taken causing a salary compression within the organization,  Recommended a $40,000 wage study to be done.
    2. Requested that the Council provide funding for Council President Cephas  Gun Violence task force to start any recommendations 
    3. Requested a review of all the ARPA funds targeted to non-profits.  $500,000 in FY22 and $1,250,000 in FY23.  Thinks the numbers should be reduced to fund fire equipment and fix up Old City Hall.
    4. Recommended the Council set up a Marina Committee to proposed solutions to the complex problems the marina is facing.
  2. A woman spoke (did not get the name) and requested that the Council not spend $537,500 for the Chesapeake Court property and use the money elsewhere. 

The Council Meeting was adjourned at 7:10 and then the Council went immediately into the budget work section.

The City manager wanted to make 5 amendments to the draft budget based on comments from the Commissioners at the last budget meeting, they are:

  1. $50,000 for the Police department for the Spot Shooter program

  2. Increasing Community Policing by $100,000 but postponing that expenditure until FY 24 so it would be a two year effort.

  3. Spend $200,000 to stabilized City Hall so it would not fall down, estimate to refurbish it is about $5 million

  4. Take $200,000 from the $500,000 economic development budget and target it for Cambridge Harbor development

  5. An additional $30,000 was allocated for wages and a wage/classification study.

All items were approved 5/0 without discussion

The City manager then introduced the 4 business funds as follows:

  1. The New Special Projects fund, $13.3 million.  This fund is an accumulation of all the grants the City receives and has dozens of projects from sidewalk repair to the $6 million in ARPA funds that the City received from the Federal government.  There is a long list including dozens of projects that will use the ARPA funds.  Approved 5/0 with no questions asked.

  2. The Sanitary Sewer Fund, $4.7 million.  Two questions from Council on when construction will start on the sewer problem on Water St. – answer about 18 months and when will the construction start on the Trenton St. pumping station – answer 18 months. Fund approved 5/0

  3. MUC, $2.6 million, Approved 5/0, no questions asked

  4. The Marina Fund, $681.500, approved 5/0 no questions asked.

Commissioner Roche asked for $100,000 for two traffic circles, raised crosswalks and signs. Approved 5/0

The Council did not allow any public comments at this meeting, although they did at the last budget work session (unsure why).

Meeting adjourned at 7:35.  

Notes prepared by Charles McFadden, President, CAN

Letter to Editor: Facts Matter Senator Eckardt

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I am a resident of Wicomico County and a part time Talbot resident.  For the last eight years I have supported Delegate Johnny Mautz both as a candidate and as a member of the General Assembly.

In his current bid for the Maryland Senate (District 37) Johnny has given up his seat in the House and is now involved in the Republican primary election against the incumbent and his colleague, Senator Addie Eckardt. This was not an easy decision for him or one that he took lightly. 

Out of their regard for both Delegate Mautz and Senator Eckardt many prominent Republicans including Congressman Andy Harris and Delegate Chris Adams have refrained from endorsing either candidate over the other.  Their respectful position, however, has been compromised in Senator Eckardt’s recent mailing to potential primary voters, which features a dated picture of Senator Eckardt flanked by Congressman Harris and Delegate Adams displaying “Eckardt for Senate” shirts. The obvious implication being that both Harris and Adams are now endorsing her over Delegate Mautz in the July 19th primary election.

The slogan “Integrity Matters” has been bandied about in this campaign but in the real world facts matter. However, the facts of this matter reflect that the Harris/Adams picture is from an earlier election and is in no way connected with this current campaign. Also, true to their earlier commitment, Congressman Harris and Delegate Adams continue to withhold endorsing either Delegate Mautz or Senator Eckardt despite what appears in the Senator’s mailer.

The use of random pictures of other elected officials to misrepresent or imply endorsements is a classic political trick. This form of Annapolis style campaigning has mercifully not infected the Shore where issues and a candidate’s track record prevail over sleight of hand politics.  Yes, integrity does matter and to the voters of the Shore it is much more than a hollow slogan.

Russell C. Dashiell, Jr.
Wicomico County

 

                                         

 

    

 

                              

                         

 

                          

 

          

 

Election 2022: State’s Attorney

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The Spy has teamed up with the Dorchester Chamber of Commerce, WHCP Community Radio, and the Mid-Shore Board of Realtors to host several candidate forums in advance of the July 19, 2022 primary election. The goal is to get the forums complete well ahead of the July 19th primary to provide County residents time to learn more about each candidate.

We continue our series with State’s Attorney Republican candidates Molly W. Fox, Amanda Rae Leonard, and Kenneth E. Thalheimer.