COUNCIL PRESIDENT BEGINS LEGISLATIVE SEASON WITH BILLS TO STRENGTHEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND INCREASE GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY

BALTIMORE, MD – City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young will kick off the council’s new legislative season today by introducing a pair of bills that will continue to strengthen neighborhoods and provide Baltimoreans with tangible tools to help keep them informed about their government’s multi-layered decision-making process.

The first of these two bills will eliminate a sunset provision from the Inclusionary Housing Bill, providing additional time for the bill to have a positive impact on Baltimore’s communities.

Council President Young’s Inclusionary Housing Bill, an ordinance originally passed by the council in 2007, was a landmark piece of legislation that sought to increase the city’s stock of safe and clean affordable housing. The bill mandates that housing projects that have received a major public subsidy and consist of 30 or more residential units must reserve 20 percent of their housing units as market-rate affordable housing. The original bill included a provision that would sunset the law after only five years.

“My Inclusionary Housing Bill is positioned to have a profound positive impact on the lives of Baltimoreans by ensuring that people from all economic backgrounds have access to decent and affordable housing,” Council President Young said.

Ms. Inez Robb, president of the Sandtown-Winchester Condominium Association and president of the Fulton Community Association, said that it would be a major setback for Baltimore City if the Inclusionary Housing Bill were allowed to sunset after only five years.

“At this point we don’t have enough data to be able to accurately judge the effectiveness of the Inclusionary Housing Bill,” Ms. Robb said. 

Mr. Mel Freeman, executive director of the Citizens Planning and Housing Association agreed that the bill should not be subjected to a sunset clause.

“This legislation can provide more affordable housing for Baltimore City and we need to have that opportunity,” Mr. Freeman said.

The second of Council President Young’s two bills is a resolution calling for an investigative hearing into broadcasting proceedings from the Liquor Board, Board of Municipal Zoning Appeals and Board of Estimates, which represent three of the city’s most influential decision-making bodies. Most citizens are kept in the dark about decisions made by these powerful boards – which rule on everything from zoning changes to the awarding of multi-million dollar construction contracts – because they are not currently televised, and the meetings often take place during the day when people are at work.

“I am extremely concerned by the fact that some major, life-altering decisions are made with minimal citizen participation,” Council President Young said. “My bill calling for televising these hearings will help increase government transparency and lead to a better-informed public.”

Mr. Paul Robinson, president of the Federal Hill Neighborhood Association, said televising the proceedings from the three boards is a much-needed step toward spurring public engagement in city government.

“Participation on the part of the general public is really essential if the system is to achieve efficacy and transparency,” Mr. Robinson said. “People should believe that there’s an opportunity for them to participate in the political decision making process. But it’s difficult for people who have to work to attend some of these hearings.”

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