Some New State Laws and Investments Offer a Step Forward for Baltimore
Today marks the third anniversary of Freddie Gray’s death in police custody. Immediately following his death and the resulting anger and unrest in Baltimore, state lawmakers recommitted to investing in underserved neighborhoods across the city. Unfortunately, the more time that has passed, the more promised investments became the target of political power struggles.
In the months leading up to the 2018 Maryland legislative session, violent crime in Baltimore reached an all-time high, children shivered in icy classrooms as heating systems failed to keep up with an unusually frigid winter, and it seemed as though policymakers had all but forgotten about the significant systemic issues that leave many Baltimoreans struggling to get by. In the end, legislators in Annapolis did advance a number of policies during the legislative session that represent a positive step forward for Baltimore, but also a few that won’t help.
The 2018 Maryland legislative session was one of the most productive to date, advancing a wide array of innovative policies to raise the standard of living for all Marylanders. Guaranteed paid sick leave, an expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit, an increase to the child care subsidy, and many other new policies will create greater economic security for thousands of low-income Marylanders. These policies can have an even greater impact in areas of the state like Baltimore that have large income disparities, a high poverty rate, and a high cost of living.
In addition, Baltimore was the focus of a number of targeted investments passed this session. Policymakers set aside up to $15 million for city schools in the newly created Healthy School Facility Fund to repair and update heating and air conditioning and make other repairs to create healthier school environments. A bill to establish dedicated funding for the Metro system in the Washington, D.C., region was amended to include $179 million in new funding over the next three years for MTA’s operations in Baltimore over the next four years to improve public transportation services.
Addressing violent crime in Baltimore
Much of the Baltimore-focused debate in Annapolis centered on legislation creating harsher mandatory minimum sentences for certain crimes. Many community leaders and advocates in the city believe this approach does not address the main factor driving criminal activity – the lack of access to stable economic opportunities – and could exacerbate existing racial disparities within our criminal justice system. For decades, research has shown that mandatory minimum sentences are not an effective tool to reduce crime.
The legislation did create some new opportunities for people to have their criminal records expunged after a certain amount of time. Since having a criminal record can be a barrier to employment, housing, or even college admission, expungement reduces recidivism by giving ex-offenders a better shot at economic stability. Another successful bill will increase access to education and mental health services within correctional facilities. These changes are especially important to Baltimore communities that face high incarceration rates.
Baltimore’s Safe Streets program will also receive an additional $3.6 million in state funding to expand this effective violence prevention program to additional neighborhoods throughout the city.
Dodging budget cuts
Investment in Baltimore has frequently been subject to political power struggles throughout the state budget process, and this year was no different. Fortunately, the General Assembly restored many of the cuts to programs in Baltimore that Governor Hogan proposed in his budget.
The Senate fully restored $5 million in funding for extended day and summer academic programming. Under a bill based on recommendations from the state’s Innovation and Excellence in Education Commission (Kirwan Commission), this funding will be reserved for schools in which nearly all students are from low-income families, including many schools in Baltimore. $851,000 in funding for Baltimore City Community College was also restored to the budget.
In addition, legislators restored $5 million to the Baltimore Regional Neighborhoods Initiative, which aims to increase the tax base and quality of life in the Baltimore area through coordinated investments in targeted neighborhoods. The adopted budget restores more than half of the funding cut by the governor, maintaining the program’s funding at its level for the current fiscal year.
Though the legislature took some positive steps to strengthen Baltimore’s communities, the city still has significant unmet needs. Lawmakers should continue to work to rectify chronic underinvestment in neighborhoods such as the one Freddie Gray lived and died in and ensure that all Baltimore residents have the opportunity to live to their fullest potential.
