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"Investing Where Baltimore Lives" |
May 11, 2007 |
Dear Friends:
One of the most significant functions of the City Council is the oversight and approval of the City’s operating budget each year. It is our job as representatives of the citizens to ensure that taxpayer money is spent wisely and efficiently, and that the funding allocated to each City department is proportionate to their service and functional responsibilities. That is why each City department is asked to come before the Council, so Council members can carefully examine the budget proposals and ask direct questions when necessary.
 I am eager to participate in the FY2008 budget process in my new capacity as City Council President. As past Chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, I am looking forward to using my experience to guide the current proposals through a fair and thoughtful process. In my twelve years on Baltimore’s City Council, I have seen the budget priorities that have not resulted in promised success. Similarly, I have witnessed how careful, targeted financial patterns can serve the people of Baltimore in innovative ways.
In this unique time in Baltimore’s economic history, it is more important now than ever that City Government take ownership of its fiscal responsibility to the people of Baltimore, and to treat the budget process with the utmost respect. This is an opportunity to set the priorities of our City for the next year, and that can not be taken lightly. I look forward to working in close dialogue with administration officials to ensure that the final budget reflects the challenges, opportunities, and priorities of Baltimore as the citizens intended it.
Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
President, Baltimore City Council
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Baltimore Opportunity Summit: This Saturday at the Convention Center
 Speaking of citizen involvement in shaping our budgetary priorities, a very special event will be held at the Convention Center this Saturday.
The Baltimore Opportunity Summit
Saturday, May 11
Baltimore Convention Center
Noon - 5pm
Mayor Sheila Dixon and the
Safe and Sound Campaign have organized The Baltimore Opportunity Summit to "provide an opportunity for residents to re-imagine Baltimore as a city where every child grows up in a strong and healthy family and every individual has a fair chance to reach their full potential and live the American dream.”
This vision for our City’s future is what "Investing Where Baltimore Lives" is all about.
As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and Baltimore residents know the value of making upfront investments on building and maintaining strong communities, rather than devoting so many resources to remedies and picking up the pieces after the fact.
I encourage all city residents to attend The Opportunity Summit and participate in what I know will be very spirited discussions about Baltimore’s future. As Americans and Baltimore residents, it is one of the privileges and duties of participating in our great democratic society to stand up and be counted.
I know that Baltimoreans have no shortage of opinions about our city’s challenges and what we should do about them. Mayor Dixon and I and a number of my City Council colleagues will be attending the Opportunity Summit, and we will be listening.
For more information on The Opportunity Summit please visit www.safeandsound.org
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Each week in the President's SchoolSpot, Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake highlights the outstanding accomplishments of Baltimore City Schools students and staff.
Thomas Jefferson Elementary Wins Technology Grant
Thomas Jefferson Elementary School has been chosen by Hewlett-Packard to receive the 2007 HP Technology for Teaching grant, designed to transform and improve learning in the classroom through innovative uses of technology.
Five staff members were instrumental in writing the grant: Sara Huppert, Nicole Charouane, Latarsha Russell-Hicks, Nadine Zimmerman, and Sarah Hartwyk.The school will receive HP products and a cash stipend for program staff, with a total value of more than $31,000. Each of the HP Technology for Teaching grant recipients will use HP wireless Tablet PC technology to enhance learning in math, science, and technology education.
The school's proposal centered on providing students with the knowledge and expertise to create and design a new city. Students will participate in online field trips and research, web quests, and read e-books to enhance their knowledge of the chosen site for their city and the materials that could be used to create the city. Congratulations to the staff and students of Thomas Jefferson Elementary!
Have an exciting news item on achievements
in Baltimore City Public Schools?
Let us know so that we can feature them
in the President's SchoolSpot.
Call Council President Rawlings-Blake's office at 410-396-4804 or send an e-mail to Marva Williams at mwilliams@baltimorecitycouncil.com.
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City Council This Week
Monday, May 14, 2007
Voting Session: Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Committee, James Kraft - Chair
10:30 pm Reeves Conference Room, 4th floor, City Hall
06-0506 Baltimore City Office of Sustainability
07-0582 Resource Sustainability
07-0602 Building Code - Green Building Requirements
Joint Hearing: Budget and Appropriations, Jack Young - Chair;
Committee of the Whole, Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Chair
3:30 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
07-0657 Ordinance of Estimates for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2008
The City Council will review these FY2008 budgets:
| 3:30 PM |
Budget Overview |
| 4:30 PM |
Inspector General's Office |
Joint Hearing: Budget and Appropriations, Jack Young - Chair;
Committee of the Whole, Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Chair
6:30 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
07-0658 Annual Property Tax - Fiscal Year 2008
TAXPAYERS' NIGHT
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Hearing: Public Safety Subcommittee, Robert Curran - Chair
10:45 AM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
07-0650 Ticket Resales Near Stadiums - Repeal of Prohibition
Joint Hearing: Budget and Appropriations, Jack Young - Chair;
Committee of the Whole, Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Chair
11:30 AM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
07-0657 Ordinance of Estimates for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2008
The Council will review the FY2008 budgets of these departments:
| 11:30 AM |
Enoch Pratt Free Library |
| 12:30 PM |
Department of Public Works |
| 1:30 PM |
Baltimore City Public School System |
| 3:45 PM |
Dept. of Transportation/Parking Authority Board |
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Joint Hearing: Budget and Appropriations, Jack Young - Chair;
Committee of the Whole, Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Chair
3:30 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
07-0657 Ordinance of Estimates for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2008
The City Council will review the FY2008 budgets of these departments:
| 3:30 PM |
Planning Commission |
| 4:30 PM |
Health Department |
| 5:30 PM |
Fire Department |
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Hearing: Taxation and Finance Committee, Helen Holton - Chair
10:00 AM
07-0654 Minority and Women's Business Program - "Sunset" - Interim Extension
07-0573 Local Business Enterprises
Joint Hearing: Budget and Appropriations, Jack Young - Chair;
Committee of the Whole, Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Chair
3:30 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
07-0657 Ordinance of Estimates for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2008
The City Council will review the FY2008 budgets of these departments:
| 3:30 PM |
Police Department |
| 4:30 PM |
Dept. of Housing and Community Development/Baltimore Development Corporation |
| 5:30 PM |
Department of Recreation and Parks |
| 6:00 PM |
Mayor's Office of Cable and Communication |
Community Events
Friday, May 11
Summer Sounds at the Square
Belvedere Square
6-9pm
Free outdoor concerts every Friday
Featuring: The Crawdaddies
Details at www.belvederesquare.com
Saturday, May 12
Preakness Celebration Parade
Pratt Street 11:00 am
2007 Kids Being Healthy Expo
w/Richard Simmons and Council President Rawlings-Blake
Baltimore Convention Center
1 W. Pratt St.
8 am - 3pm
4th Annual CityLit Festival
Pratt Library Main Branch
400 Cathedral Street
10am - 5pm
Sponsored by the CityLit Project and Enoch Pratt Free Library
Details at www.prattlibrary.org
Baltimore Opportunity Summit
Noon-5 pm Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W. Pratt St.
Details at www.safeandsound.org
Academy for College and Career Exploration (ACCE) Fundraiser Dinner
"B'more Cultured" Youth Group
St. John's Church
27th and St. Paul Streets
6:30-8:30 PM
Baltimore City high school students from the Academy for College and Career Exploration (ACCE) will travel to Nicaragua this summer through the non-profit Bridges to Community. Last summer, the group teamed up with graduate students from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and built 2 houses and painted a community mural in Ticuantepe, Nicaragua. This summer, they will travel to the town of Siuna to work with masons, farmers and local college students on development projects. The evening will feature a diverse dinner and premiere a documentary film of last year's projects. The youth will host the event and share their learning and work experiences. All proceeds benefit the trip to Nicaragua. For more information, contact Maria Aldana at 410.752.4415, ext. 12.
Lithuanian Festival - May 12-13
11 am- 6 pm
Catonsville Armory, 130 Mellor Ave. Catonsville
Sunday, May 13
Cylburn's 2007 Market Day
Cylburn Arboretum
4915 Greenspring Ave.
8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Bring your little red wagon to load with super spring plants and crafts. Support Cylburn by purchasing vegetables, annual, perennials, azaleas, crafts and more. Also drop by on Sunday, May 13th for a day of workshops. The annual used book sale is a great place to pick up gardening, reference and popular fiction books. This is the spring plant and craft sale for Baltimore. This event is FREE and open to the public; parking is $4 per car. (410) 367-2217
Tuesday, May 15
Pee Wee Preakness
Federal Hill Park, Warren Street and Battery Avenue
Details at www.preaknesscelebration.org
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