Grievances and Openings

Perhaps you read the Baltimore Sun article about Governor Hogan’s memoir:

In the book, Hogan writes of hearing from Baltimore residents about what he refers to as “grievances”: a lack of jobs, poor schools and closed community centers. Hogan writes that he told people he would “keep working on the things you’re talking about that aren’t right. But first, we have to get the city back under control.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-pr-pol-hogan-memoir-2024-presidential-possibility-20200715-doh6bf7md5cj5o3ojkev2x7m6u-story.html

The disturbances after Freddie Gray’s funeral are the subject of the chapters released to the press.

The center of the confrontation between residents and the police was the intersection of North and Pennsylvania Avenues. 

There’s a Pratt Library branch there.  It stayed open, unlike the community centers Governor Hogan speaks of. 

That decision was made by Carla Hayden, then the CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, now the Librarian of Congress. 

When the General Assembly reconvened, Speaker Mike Busch made a decision. 

He had a bill introduced to increase state and local funding for Pratt branches throughout the City so that hours could be extended.

The bill passed the House and the Senate by wide margins.

The Governor let the bill become law without his signature. 

My constituents – from one end of the 41st District to another, were enthusiastic. 

The next year, however, the Governor introduced legislation to eliminate this funding. 

The General Assembly restored the money. 

— 

You can speak with City Council President Brandon Scott on our 41st District Town Hall Tuesday evening from 5:30-6:30.  For details on this Zoom meeting, contact aswilliams@house.state.md.us.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • My Key Issues:

  • Pimlico and The Preakness
  • Our Neighborhoods
  • Pre-Kindergarten
  • Lead Paint Poisoning