Dear Friends:

Yesterday, I stood at the Baltimore Police Department Headquarters to announce an emergency plan addressing the drastic staffing shortage of Baltimore’s Police Department. As police continue to target violent crime, a shortage of more than 140 funded police positions exists in our City.

I fully support the Mayor’s plan to address violent crime in Baltimore. But we can not fully enforce the plan without an adequate force on the streets. The shortage of more than 140 uniformed positions is roughly equal to an entire district worth of officers that are missing from our streets. Solving this crisis not only addresses the crime problem, but helps solve the Department’s overtime overages as well.

I will present the plan in resolution form at the City Council Meeting on June 4, 2007. It includes:

1. A formal request to the Mayor of Baltimore to make an emergency disbursement of $2 million from the City’s “rainy day fund” to begin an immediate and aggressive campaign to recruit new Baltimore City Police Officers. The funds will be used for:
1. The production of public service announcements aimed at recruiting new officers to air by August 1, 2007.
2. The development of recruitment banners to display at Baltimore City Police Headquarters, as well as the facilities in each of the nine Police Districts.
3. The creation of recruitment materials targeted at recent Baltimore City High School graduates and current BCCC students, as well as eligible city residents.
4. Materials to be used at Police Department job fairs to be held in each of the nine Police Districts beginning July 15, 2007.
2. A formal request to the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention to issue a grant to the City of Baltimore to further the campaign for the recruitment of Baltimore City Police Officers.
3. The creation of a Community Task Force focused on staffing a Police Auxiliary Unit to man PAL centers throughout the city, allowing sworn, uniformed officers to return to enforcement activities in Baltimore’s neighborhoods.
4. A formal request to the Maryland State Police Department to assign 15 State law enforcement officers to the Warrant Apprehension Task Force to target the apprehension of violent criminals in our communities.

Together with my colleagues on the City Council, the Mayor, and law enforcement officials, we can solve this problem plaguing our Police Department. Doing so will make our streets safer, can restore trust in our Police Department, and will allow officers to do what they do best: serve the people of Baltimore and protect our city from its most violent offenders.

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
President, Baltimore City Council

City Council This Week

Monday, June 4, 2007

City Council Meeting
5:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall

The Council meeting will be televised on TV25.

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Hearing: Education Committee, Mary Pat Clarke - Chair
3:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
06-0211R Promoting Financial Literacy in Baltimore City Public Schools
POSTPONED - To be rescheduled at June 4 Council meeting

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Hearing: Land Use and Transportation Committee, Edward Reisinger - Chair
5:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
06-0558 Inclusionary Housing

This hearing will be televised on TV25. (Rescheduled from June 13, 2007)

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Hearing: Highways and Franchises Subcommittee, Ken Harris - Chair
4:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
07-0567 Franchise - Private Communications Ductbanks Under the Beds of North Wolfe Street and Ashland Avenue
07-0568 Franchise - Private Bridgeway and Foundation Above and Within the Bed of East Madison Street

Hearing: Urban Affairs and Aging Committee - Agnes Welch - Chair
5:00 PM
07-0630 Urban Renewal - Key Highway - Amendment

June 1-3

Polish Festival
Patterson Park, Linwood and Eastern Avenues
Friday 4-10 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday noon-10 p.m.
Baltimore's Polish community kicks off the festival season with local, regional and national entertainment by polka bands and more; Polish crafts including hand-made
dolls and afghans, and delicacies. Info: 410-879-6336.

Clayfest
Baltimore Clayworks
5707 Smith Avenue, Mt. Washington

Details at www.baltimoreclayworks.org

Friday, June 1

Summer Sounds at the Square
Belvedere Square
6-9pm
Free outdoor concerts every Friday
Featuring: The Mooks

Details at www.belvederesquare.com

First Fridays at the Can Company
2400 Boston Street, Canton
Each first Friday of the month June – September
Enjoy free live music outdoors on the Can Company circle!
Featuring: The Crawdaddies

Saturday, June 2

Charles Village Festival 2007
"A Village Grows in Baltimore"
Saturday, June 2 - Sunday, June 3
Saturday 10 am- 8:00 pm Sunday 10 am-6 pm
Wyman Park Dell, 29th and Charles Streets
Celebrate city living all weekend long in the beautiful Wyman Park Dell. The Charles Village Celebration 5K Race begins Saturday at 8:30 AM. Enjoy the legendary quirkiness of the Charles Village Parade Saturday at 10am. Sunday features the Charles Village Garden Walk. Live music, vendors, artisans, and more.

Details at www.charlesvillage.net

Video Premiere: Wide Angle Youth Media
Pennsylvania Branch, Enoch Pratt Free Library
1531 W. North Avenue
2:00 pm
Wide Angle Youth Media is a 501c3 non-profit that provides Baltimore youth with opportunities to tell their own stories using video technology, public speaking, and critical thinking skills. In this documentary project, young people investigated the growing presence of gangs in their community, with interviews of community members, gang members, and Leon Faruq, Coordinator of the Operation Safe Streets Program.

Details at 410-338-0947 or www.wideanglemedia.org

2nd Annual Community Health Forum: Overcoming Disparities and Embracing Community Wellness
Sponsored by Baltimore City Commission on Aging and Retirement (CARE)
Heritage United Church of Christ
3110 Liberty Heights Avenue
9:00 am - 3:30 pm
For more information or to register, call 410-542-1204.

8th Annual "A Can-Can Make A Difference Walk Against Hunger"
Hard Rock Cafe, Inner Harbor
9 am - 11: 30 am
This 5-mile walk generates money to support programs to feed and support the hungry in Baltimore City and across Maryland.

Details at www.acancanmakeadifference.com

Summer Saturday Fun Series: Black Cherry Puppet Theater
Mount Vernon Children's Park
1221 N. Calvert Street
10:00 am

Details at www.mountvernonchildrenspark.org

Baltimore Parks Walking Tours: Patterson Park
Eastern and Linwood Avenues
1:00 pm
Sponsored by Olmsted Parks and Landscapes. Learn about the legacy of the Olmsted brothers in Baltimore's parks and in other American cities.

Details at 410-342-0600 or www.pattersonpark.com

Artists Market on the Waterfront
Inner Harbor, West Shore Park
Artists in all media and craftspeople sell their work each Sunday in June from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the Inner Harbor's new West Shore Park. The market will be set up on the grass in the park between the Visitor Center and the Maryland Science Center.

Details at 1-877-BALTIMORE

Ride around the Reservoir
Druid Hill Park / Jones Falls Trail
6:00 p.m.
The Ride will take place each Wednesday from June through September
Noon to 1:00 p.m. AND 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Featuring a guided historic bike tour of the park @ 6:30 p.m.
Sponsored by Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks
Info: 410.396.0730 or annee.draddy@baltimorecity.gov

Ongoing

A Timeless Collective Album Cover Retrospective - June 1 through July 7
The Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute and Cultural Center
847 N. Howard St.
All original album covers on display in this tribute to the art of album covers from all genres of music from the 1930's to the present. Free.

Details at www.eubieblake.org

Applications are being accepted for the Inaugural Cab Calloway Vocal Competition.
Men, 18 and older, who live in the Baltimore region may apply. New deadline June 15! Visit www.artscape.org

Family Caregivers & Grandparents Information Fair
The Forum Caterers
4210 Primrose Ave
Saturday, June 9, 2007
9:00am-3:00pm

Baltimore City Commission on Aging Retirement Education (CARE) presents this information fair, featuring info on estate planning, elder abuse, Medicare D, advance directives and more. For more info, call 410-396-1337.

Baltimore Paetec Jazz Festival
Pier 6 Concert Pavillion
August 9 - Boney James and Jonathan Butler
August 10 - Earth, Wind and Fire
August 11- B.B. King, Etta James and Al Green

Details at www.paetecjazz.com

Artscape Entertainment Lineup Announced! Performers will include:
The Isley Brothers featuring Ronald Isley
Burning Spear, roots/reggae
Los Lonely Boys, blues/rock
Martin Sexton, rock/soul
Nuttin' But Stringz, eclectic hip-hop violin duo
Fools & Horses, rock
Damsels, roots rock
June Star, alternative country
Ryan Shaw, soul

Details at www.artscape.org