Dear Friends:
Last Friday, I was honored to join Governor Martin O’Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony Brown for a major economic development announcement at the Port of Baltimore. As the Governor said, it can all be summed up in three words: Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. This is a tremendous development that will strengthen our port and create new job opportunities for city and state residents.
The O’Malley/Brown administration announced a 50-year agreement between the Maryland Port Administration (MPA) and Ports America Chesapeake that will allow the MPA to lease its 200-acre Seagirt Marine Terminal to Ports America. In return, Ports America has agreed to construct a 50-foot berth for the Port of Baltimore that is expected to result in increased business and larger vessels that will be able to dock at the Port. The partnership between the MPA and Ports America is expected to produce 5,700 new jobs, while the total investment and revenue from this agreement to the State of Maryland has the potential to reach more than $1.3 billion over the life of the agreement.
More information on Ports agreement
The Mayor and City Council, working in partnership with state government, fully support this new agreement. We understand that our 300-year-old Port of Baltimore—and the 20,000 direct and indirect jobs that come with it—is a vital economic engine that must be protected, enhanced and strengthened.
This year, the City Council affirmed its dedication to the Port by approving the Maritime Zoning Industrial Overlay District (MIZOD) legislation. This will help to protect Baltimore's maritime industry by extending the sunset provision of the MIZOD until 2024. And we will continue to work with the State to ensure that the port will be healthy and strong for many years to come.
Our diverse economy is driven by higher education, biotechnology government sectors, but as we look to the future, it is heartening that we can maintain this link to Baltimore's past. As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, Baltimore has much to be thankful for. I wish you all a fun and safe holiday weekend.
Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
President, Baltimore City Council
City Council This Week
Monday, November 30
Hearing: Community Development Subcommittee, William Cole - Chair
5:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
09-0169R Request for State Legislation - Operation of Bottle Clubs and the Transfer of Bottle Club Registrations
09-0170R Request for State Legislation - Transfer of Liquor Licenses
These hearings will be broadcast live on TV25.
Tuesday, December 1
Hearing: Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Committee, James B. Kraft – Chair
10:00 AM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
08-0095R Informational Hearing - Trash in the Inner Harbor
Hearing recessed on May 26, 2009 will reconvene on December 1, 2009
Work Session/Voting Session: Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Committee, James B. Kraft – Chair
11:00 AM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
08-0064 Scrap Metal Processors – Second-Hand Property Dealers – Reporting Requirements
Hearing: Budget and Appropriations Committee, Bernard "Jack" Young - Chair
4:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
09-0163R Informational Hearing - The State of the Baltimore City Budget
Wednesday, December 2
Hearing: Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Committee, James B. Kraft – Chair
5:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
LO09-0054 Investigative Hearing - Baltimore City Foundation
This hearing will be broadcast live on TV25.
Community Events
For a comprehensive listing of events in Baltimore,
check the City Council's online events calendar.
November 26-27
Department of Public Works’ offices will be closed Thursday, November 26, Thanksgiving Day and Friday, November 27, 2009, a mandatory furlough day.
On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26th:
Trash and recycling will NOT be collected. Saturday, November 28 will be the holiday make up collection for trash and recycling in those areas that are normally collected on Thursdays.
There will be NO bulk trash collection.
Citizen drop off centers will be closed.
Parking meters will NOT be in effect.
On the mandatory furlough day, Nov. 27th:
Trash and recycling, both curbside and City containers will be collected as usual.
There will be no bulk trash collection scheduled.
Citizen drop off centers will be closed.
All City buildings WILL BE CLOSED with the exception of the Police Headquarters complex. Citizens will be unable to pay City bills or obtain permits at City offices. Some bills can be paid online; please visit www.baltimorecity.gov.
Parking meters will be in effect.
Monday, November 30
Delta Mega-Fitness Workout, Nov. 30, 7pm-8pm, Delta Community Center, 2501 Springhill Ave. rsvp at mail@befitbaltimore.com
Tuesday, December 1
World AIDS Day Candlelight Vigil
Morgan State Universitys Christian Center, 6pm-7:30pm. There'll be a vigil walk, speakers and hot chocolate served.
Last day to apply for the 2010 Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade
Groups interested in participating can get an application at www.promotionandarts.com.
How Does White America Talk About Race?
7pm, Enoch Pratt Library Central Branch, 7pm. Authors Rich Benjamin and Tim Wise participate in this year-long speaker series, "Talking About Race," presented in partnership with the Open Society Institute-Baltimore. 410-396-5430.
Thursday, December 3
39th Lighting of the Washington Monument
Mt. Vernon Place, 600 N. Charles St. Pre-event festivities at 5:30pm. Lighting at 7pm.
WEB (Women Entrepreneurs of Baltimore) Holiday Expo and Open House
1118 Light St., Ste. 101, 4pm-7pm. Shop for your holiday gifts from more than twenty WEB-built businesses while enjoying music, refreshments, and the spirit of the holiday season. www.webinc.org
Upcoming/Ongoing
Baltimore School for the Arts (BSA) presents The Nutcracker, Dec. 4-13, 712 Cathedral St. $10-$15. For times, visit www.bsfa.org or call 410-624-2110.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Benefit Step Show, Dec. 5, 5pm, Lake Clifton High School, 2801 Saint Lo Dr. “Step Explosion II” benefits the Baltimore Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter’s public service projects. $20-$25. www.bmacdst.org/UpcomingEvents
Kwanzaa Celebration, Dec. 5, 11am-4pm, Morgan State U's New Student Center. Enjoy games, vendors, exhibits and more. For children in grades K-12th. Sponsored by the Office of Community Service. 443-885-4328.
Holiday Sing 2009, Dec. 5-6, 11am-2:30pm & 1pm-4pm, Harborplace Amphitheatre.
2009 National Academy Foundation Holiday Bash, Dec. 15, 5:30pm-8:30pm, The Tremont Grande, 225 N. Charles St.
The Northeast Food Pantry is facing a food shortage and non-perishable food item donations are urgently needed at the Harford Senior Center, 4920 Harford Rd. Donations can be dropped off weekdays between 9am-4pm. For more information, call 410-444-2100.
Food and Toy Donations needed for the Holiday Project for the Baltimore Police Northern District and the Greater Homewood Community Corporation. The goal is to assist 100 families in need. Call Officers Jon Walter or Doug Gibson at 410-367-8491 or jonathan.walter@baltimorepolice.org or Douglas.gibson@baltimorepolice.org.
Virtual Supermarket Program allows residents to order groceries online then have them delivered to the Neighborhood Planning Council (NPC), 904 Washington Blvd. Orders placed on Tuesdays 9am-1pm, then delivered free to NPC on Wednesdays, 3pm-5pm. Designed to help residents improve their diet and assist with transportation issues.
Teachers & Principals: Limited Grant Funds for Port Discovery’s Educational Field Trips for Pre-K to 5th grade. Activities & exhibits are linked to Maryland State Voluntary School Curriculum. Pre and post lesson plans are available. Call 410-864-2666 (ext. 1) or 410-864-2664.
Building Healthy Communities Grant Program provides grants up to $2,500 for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, public schools or tax-exempt public service agencies who are using the power of volunteers to improve the physical health of their community. Grants are made in the form of The Home Depot gift cards for the purchase or tools or materials. Deadline is December 15. http://corporate.homedepot.com/wps/portal/Grants
Assistance to repair or replace aging furnaces through the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) Heating System Fund, providing new, energy efficient furnaces to qualifying limited-income customers in the city in need of a heating system replacement. Homeowners can apply for assistance by calling 311.
"97 Years and Counting" Exhibition on the Baltimore NAACP Branch, Enoch Pratt Central Library, 400 Cathedral St., through December 31. See photographs, posters, documents, newspaper clippings, and memorabilia from the archives of the branch's 97-year history. 410-396-5430.
Free Weekend Tutoring offered by the Office of Community Service at Morgan State University for students in K-8th grade. 443-885-8267.
100 Mentors Needed for One 4 One Community Mentoring, sponsored by the Baltimore Urban Leadership Foundation. Mentors to connect with youth, ages 7-14, who live in Baltimore City. Mentors must be over 18, live in the Baltimore Metro area, and be dedicated to mentor for at least 12 months. Edmund Lee 410-675-3288 x15 or elee@thedoorinc.org.
The Baltimore Commission for Women is committed to providing women from Baltimore City an opportunity to share areas of interest and importance in their lives. The Commission has developed a Women’s Survey to help capture feedback from Baltimore City women. Survey responses will help the Commission shape future programming and activities. To complete the survey, go to www.baltimorecity.gov/government/women/index.php
Masonville Cove Environmental Education Center Offers Free Environmental Education Programs Educators from the Living Classrooms Foundation and Brooklyn-Curtis Bay Coalition are currently offering free environmental education programs for the public on weekends at the Masonville Cove Environmental Education Center, 1000 Frankfurst Ave. The center aims to be a model for community involvement and environmental awareness on 70 acres of water and 54 acres of cleaned-up wetlands, nature trails, and a protected bird sanctuary. For more information visit www.masonvillecove.org
The Community Law Center offers workshops on topics including How to Start and Maintain a Non-profit, Protesting Liquor Licenses In Your Community and Housing Literacy and Avoiding Scams. Advance registration and payment required. www.communitylaw.org or 410-366-0922.
Free legal services for non-profits through The Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service Community Development Project. It assists non-profits that engage in strengthening and revitalizing low to moderate-income communities. Assistance includes lease negotiations, organization and structural concerns, employment matters and more. Contact CDP Director Richard Chambers at 443-451-4064 or at richard@mvlslaw.org
Professional, business attire clothing donations are needed for The Bon Secours Outreach Center, which provides job readiness training. Clients need clothes and shoes for job interviews. tonia.mccoy@sba.gov 410-962-4392 ext. 316.
Assistance to help low-and fixed-income residents with cooling and heating bills is available through the Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP). Call the OHEP hotline at 410-396-5555 or visit the office at 2700 N. Charles St.
Mentors Needed for Community Law In Action (CLIA) is organizing a new mentoring program to connect 100 young people with 100 adult mentors. The youth are all rising 9th and 10th grade students from four Baltimore City schools--Lemmel & Garrison Middle Schools and Forest Park & Douglas High Schools. Mentors must be over 20, live in the Baltimore Metro area, and be dedicated to mentor for at least one year. Angela Hanks at 410-706-3940 or anghanks@gmail.com.
MD HOPE (Home Owners Preserving Equity) State Hotline 1-877-462-7555. For assessment and possible referral to a housing counseling agency or a volunteer attorney for assistance in your foreclosure matter. www.mdhope.org
For the second straight year, Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Dr. Andres Alonso will sport a clean-shaven look without his mustache. And again, it is for a great cause—for his 82,500 students.