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| Welcoming Our Future. Celebrating Our Past. |
| Volume 1, Issue 20_____________________________________________Wednesday, December 8, 2010 | |||||
Legislative Thursday, December 9 CONNECT TO JACK
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'P.L.A.Y.' Kicks Off With Slam Dunk Showcase Dear Baltimoreans, Students at Tench Tilghman Elementary/Middle School were treated to the high-flying acrobatics of one of the NBA’s most popular dunking mascots on Tuesday, December 7, 2010. I joined Washington Wizards mascot G-Man to bring a slam dunk show to 150 students as part of my P.L.A.Y. (Productive Lives, Active Youth) campaign. I chose Tilghman to kick off P.L.A.Y. because its students recorded the largest percentage increase of any city elementary school in math scores on last year’s MSA exams. My P.L.A.Y. campaign will provide Baltimore’s young people with a wide range of opportunities to strengthen their self-confidence, develop leadership skills, learn from positive role models, and be rewarded for their academic achievements. P.L.A.Y. encourages them to thrive academically, socially and emotionally. Our students work tremendously hard throughout the year, and I believe that their accomplishments should be rewarded. I am thankful that the Washington Wizards chose to include Baltimore in its annual 12 Days of Holiday Cheer campaign. The students at Tilghman represent the best and brightest young minds our city has to offer and were treated to a spectacular show as a reward for their progress. The Wizards' fourth annual 12 Days of Holiday Cheer kicked off on December 2 and runs through Christmas Eve. The campaign is dedicated to serving the community and honoring the academic achievements of area students. “Throughout the year, the Wizards, through Wizards Care, work to provide assistance to our community through special events and initiatives all designed to make our area a better place to live and work,” Wizards Executive Vice President of Business Operations Greg Bibb said. “Our 12 Days of Holiday Cheer is one of our signature programs as we devote the better part of two weeks to delivering impactful programs to those in need. We are proud to continue this tradition for a fourth year and look forward to continuing it for years to come.”
Council Legislation Would Help Improve City School Facilities City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young and Councilman James B. Kraft recently introduced their plan to help address the multi-billion dollar deficit for school construction projects and the renovation of existing school facilities. Council President Young and Councilman Kraft introduced a charter amendment on Monday, December 6, 2010, that would create a non-lapsing account to help pay for new school construction; renovate existing city school buildings and athletic facilities; expand recreational activities; and modernize education-related equipment and curricula. The bill was co-sponsored by Council members Warren Branch, Mary Pat Clarke, Robert Curran, Nicholas D’Adamo, Bill Henry, Edward Reisinger and Carl Stokes. The legislation was referred to the Council’s Judiciary and Legislative Investigations committee and a hearing will be held in January. The account would be funded, in part, with revenue generated by the City Council through proceeds from fines, fees, and programs as dedicated to the fund by ordinance; grants and donations; and through the annual Ordinance of Estimates. If passed by the City Council and signed by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, the proposed charter amendment would require a referendum to become law.
Currently, the City Council does not have the authority to earmark revenue toward educational improvements. On November 2, 2010, 87 percent of city voters approved Council Bill 08-0055, a charter amendment to create a similar non-lapsing fund to promote sustainability and maintenance of parks and other open space. That charter amendment was sponsored by Councilman Kraft. Council President Young and Councilman Kraft’s charter amendment is an out-of-the-box idea to deal with a $2.8 billion shortfall for capital school construction and renovation projects facing city schools. The city school system suffers from having the oldest facilities in Maryland and a local tax base that cannot adequately support new construction and renovations, said Mayor Rawlings-Blake on November 22, 2010 during a press conference announcing the creation of a mayoral task force to study the issue. “I agree with Mayor Rawlings-Blake that existing funding sources will never fully solve the multi-billion dollar deficit facing the school system, but doing nothing is not an option we can afford to take,” Council President Young said. “The charter amendment proposed by myself and Councilman Kraft will not singularly solve this funding crisis, but it’s a step in the right direction.” The school system receives a lower share of its government’s local dollars annually than any other school system in the state. “This is a perfect example of a situation where the council needs the ability to designate funds and to plan for funding needs outside of the yearly budget cycle,” Councilman Kraft said. “By passing this amendment, we will be ensuring that we are exploring every available resource to improve the conditions in which our students are learning. “In light of recent action by Mayor Rawlings-Blake and City Schools CEO Dr. Andres A. Alonso to create a task force, we hope that this will be another tool to assist them in their efforts to meet the overwhelming capital needs of Baltimore City Public Schools,” Kraft added. Council's Nominating Committee To Fill 9th District Vacancy After serving the 9th District of Baltimore City for almost 30 years, Councilwoman Agnes Welch announced her retirement on Monday, December 6, 2010. On behalf of the entire City Council, President Bernard C. "Jack" Young thanks her for her dedicated service to the city and its citizens. The Vacancy Nominating Committee for the Baltimore City Council hereby gives notice to all registered voters who reside in the 9th District of Baltimore City that it will conduct public interviews, as required by law, with the intention of filling the vacated 9th District City Council seat. All applicants must be citizens of the United States, above the age of 21, registered voters, and residents of the 9th City Council District for at least one year. The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 6 p.m. in the Clarence "Du" Burns Council Chamber (City Hall, 100 N. Holliday Street, 4th Floor). It will be televised on Cable TV25. Interested persons should forward their resumes, a copy of photo identification with proof of age and address and a copy of their voter’s registration card no later than December 28, 2010 by 5 p.m. to: Mr. Larry Greene
UPS Hiring Temporary Workers for Holiday Season Saturday, December 4 through Saturday, January 1 Engine Company 41, 530 S. Conkling Street Don't miss the train in a new Highlandtown tradition! This free exhibit showcases a model train garden built by volunteers and housed in the Conkling Street Firehouse in Baltimore City. It is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and Thursday evenings in December. For more information, visit highlandtowntraingarden.com. Komen for the Cure Focus Group Cease Violence/Increase Education Family and Friends Night Out BARCS Holiday Open House & Pet Photos with Santa A Critter Holiday Baltimore Reads Holiday Fair Kwanzaa Family Day Renters in Foreclosure Workshops Carrie Murray Creations Youth Service Saturday Neighborhood Grants Program Workshops Washington Wizards/Washington Mystics Holiday Hoops Camp |
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| Office of the City Council President 100 N. Holliday St., Suite 400 Baltimore, MD 21202 Copyright (C) 2010. All rights reserved. |
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