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DEfund2Refund DominateS BOE Taxpayers Night

4/22/2021

Before the public comments rolled in, Comptroller Bill Henry expressed amazement that the city's proposed FY2022 budget does not “cut even .1%" from the police” budget but instead increases it by 5%. Even Mayor Scott’s opening remarks expressed the desire to cut the police funding in the future, even as he tried to explain the proposed increase of nearly $28 million. Add your name, neighborhood & story to the simple message here.

Then resident after resident, dozens of them, came forward to testify for cuts to the police -- with specific demands to remove from $100 million up to 25% (which would be over $138 million. Over and over they demanded a litany of investments that would do more to protect public health and safety.

Proposed increases in FY2022 is more than the City Council cut last year as protesters rallied and painted DEFUND THE POLICE outside City Hall. Baltimore already spends more per resident on police than the 72 largest cities in the US.

“Baltimore is one of the Blackest cities in America and spends the most per capital on police,” testified Shaquille Carbon, Communities’s United’s organizing director. Communities United presented members of the Board of Estimates an independent analysis of the preliminary FY2022 budget that revealed the same misplaced priorities of previous administrations.

“This year’s increase continues the structural inequity of an entrenched, ever increasing police budget that consumes more and more of the city’s discretionary spending year after year,” Carbon continued.

Last month, Communities United sent a letter to Mayor Scott and the other members of the Board of Estimates making the case for a 25% cut from the police and reinvestment of these funds in solutions that are proven to support real community health and safety.

Why 25%? Defunding Baltimore’s police by 25% would bring the department’s spending in line with the cost of some other expensive city police forces. Baltimore would still be one of the nation’s most expensive departments. It is also significant enough to help Baltimore meet its required increase in school funding ($161.5 million by 2030) to receive an transformational $585 million increase in state school funding, as promised under the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. The FY2022 budget actually cuts $12 million in general fund dollars and $41 million overall from the schools.

Mayor Scott led the effort to cut $22 million from the police budget last June. He recently announced that he would create a task force to develop a five year plan to reduce the police budget. And he stood up to attacks from Governor Hogan over that proposal.

#Defund2Refund is a campaign led by Communities United to right-size Baltimore’s police budget to free up public dollars to reinvest in health, schools, jobs and more in neighborhoods now facing crime, poverty, overdoses, and over-policing. If you tried to get on or get heard at Baltimore's BOE Taxpayers' Night last night & couldn't, we want to hear from you. Also, they will all accept public testimony through April 30, 2021, via email (Taxpayernight@baltimorecity.gov) or voicemail, 410-396-8873.

We reject the proposed increases to Baltimore’s Police Budget

4/15/2021

(Prepared by the Center for Popular Democracy and Communities United)
Background
Last summer, thousands of Baltimore residents took to the streets, joining the national call to divest from the police and reinvest in Black and Brown communities that have faced longstanding systemic divestment. Our demands included long sought, meaningful solutions for Black and Brown communities that realize real community safety, such as housing, mental health supports, and funding for education--not police and jails.

In Baltimore, like in localities across the country, the city has continued to allocate resources to the Police Department and Sheriff’s Department while underinvesting in public schools, affordable housing, jobs programs, and health resources. The city continues to over-invest in police despite the lack of evidence that policing leads to public safety. Study after study shows that a living wage, access to holistic health services and treatment, educational opportunity, and stable housing are far more successful in reducing crime than police or prisons.

The Problem

The Baltimore Police Department’s budget has continuously grown over the past several decades and now receives an outsized share of the general fund (the most flexible, discretionary fund in the city budget):

Even when adjusting for inflation, spending on police increased 173 percent between 1965 and 2005, accounting for a larger share of the city budget over time. And funding for the police has continued to grow in subsequent years. Meanwhile, the city’s population decreased 32 percent, from 939,024 in 1960 to 640,064 in 2005 to 593,490 in 2019.
By FY2020, per capita spending on the Police Department reached $840 per resident-- exceeding per capita spending on police in the 72 biggest cities in the US.
The BPD has consistently received an outsized percentage of the city’s general fund (26% in the FY22 preliminary budget), compared to community investment priorities, such as funding for public schools (14%), housing and development (2%), substance abuse and mental health (0.1%), recreation and parks (2%) and the Office of Homeless Services (1%).
In the FY22 preliminary budget, for every dollar spent on the Police Department, the city allocates 50 cents to Baltimore City Public Schools, 20 cents to Housing and Community Development, 11 cents to Parks and Recreation, 12 cents to the Office of Homeless Services, and one cent to “Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health” (within the Health Department).

Outsized Spending on the Police and Sheriff’s Departments Compared to Spending on Substance Use and Mental Health

851 people died of opioid-related deaths in Baltimore in 2019. There were 333 homicides in Baltimore in 2020--less than half of the number of opioid deaths. But the Police and Sheriff’s Departments still received outsized funding compared to the Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health program in the FY22 preliminary budget ($1.00 for every $.01, respectively).

Our Solution
We call on the city to divest at least 25 percent from the city’s current police department budget and reinvest these funds in solutions that are proven to support real community health and safety.
Why 25 percent?

Defunding the police by 25 percent would:

Bring Baltimore police spending in line with the cost per capita of other city police forces. We will still have one the most expensive department’s per resident.
Help Baltimore meet its required match in school funding - a $161.5 million increase by 2030 - to receive a $585 million increase from the state.
Free up resources for investments in affordable housing and housing the homeless, workforce development and resources to support returning citizens, job programs to employ, rebuild and serve communities, programming for youth in recreation centers across the city, and more.

Open Letter to Brandon SCOTT

4/14/2021

Dear Mayor Scott,

Last summer, thousands of Baltimore residents took to the streets, joining the national call to divest from the police and reinvest in Black and Brown communities that have faced longstanding systemic divestment. These calls were built on decades of work by Black and Brown organizers who have long demanded meaningful solutions to community safety, such as housing, mental health supports, and funding for education--not police and jails. The Mayor’s First 100 Days Transition Report is a strong response to these calls, and we commend you for your commitment to reimagining public safety and for prioritizing violence prevention funding that addresses the root causes of violence, regaining city authority over the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) in order to transform it, and the assessment and expansion of the alternative 911 system. These are all smart proposals that we welcome.

Yet in this moment of national reckoning, as COVID-19 strains public budgets and threatens further devastating cuts for our communities, we urge you to join us in a bolder yet essential vision for Baltimore. We ask for your commitment to divest at least 25 percent from the city’s current police department budget and reinvest these funds in solutions that are proven to support real community health and safety.

Why 25 percent? Defunding the police by 25 percent would bring Baltimore police spending in line with the cost per capita of other city police forces. It is significant enough to help Baltimore meet its local increase in school funding - $161.5 million by 2030 - required to receive an almost $585 increase in state school funding, as promised under the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. In combination with dismantling and abolishing the Police Department under Baltimore City Schools (the only school police force in the state), such new funding priorities are essential to reimagining the relationship between the city and the most underfunded schools, neighborhoods, children and families.

Baltimore’s neighborhoods have been shaped by a legacy of racist policies, and the resulting racial segregation continues to dictate investment decisions to this day. As is the case in many cities, in Baltimore’s whiter, wealthier neighborhoods, there have been more permits for building, rehabbing, and demolition; more loans for residential developers and property owners; more lending to commercial development; and higher sales prices. These investment patterns are mirrored within the city’s infrastructure investments: a 2017 study found that over the preceding five years, the budget allocated an average of $15 million for capital projects--which support the renovation of schools, libraries, museums, community centers, and streets and sewer lines, for example--in neighborhoods with more than 75 percent white residents, versus $8 million in neighborhoods that were 75 percent people of color. We must demand racial equity in the use of our public dollars--by defunding the police department and refunding Baltimore communities that have been systematically stripped of resources for decades.

The Baltimore Police Department’s budget has continuously grown decade after decade and now receives an outsized share of discretionary funding. Even when adjusting for inflation, spending on police increased 173 percent between 1965 and 2005, accounting for a larger share of the city budget over time. Between just 2012 and 2018, the police department budget grew 42 percent. In those six years, actual spending on overtime budgets for the BPD increased by 95 percent, exceeding the adopted amounts by an average of $6.7 million each year. Meanwhile, the city’s population has contracted, from 939,024 in 1960 to 640,064 in 2005 to 539,490 in 2019.

By FY2020, per capita spending on the police department reached $840 per resident-- exceeding per capita spending on police in 72 of the biggest cities in the US. The BPD has also consistently received an outsized percentage of the city’s general fund (26% in FY2020), compared to community investment priorities, such as funding for public schools (14%), substance abuse and mental health (0.2%), recreation and parks (2%) and the Office of Homeless Services (0.6%).

The city continues to overinvest in police despite the lack of evidence that policing leads to public safety. Continued overinvestment in police can not be justified by the data: Over the last several years, Baltimore has seen a relatively stable rate of violent crime, and since 2014, arrest rates have dropped by nearly 50 percent. Nevertheless, the city continues to grow the police department budget. The data does show, however, that investments in drug treatment, mental health support, educational completion programs, and supportive interventions for families in crisis are more effective and less expensive “crime fighting” strategies than increased incarceration and policing. Everything from preschool programs, to summer jobs for youth, to improved access to healthcare, are more clearly linked to reduced crime rates than police, jails, and prisons.

There is broad support to reimagine public safety. A recent poll shows that nearly 70 percent of voters nationwide support both non-police first responders and community programs for de-escalation. The Vera Institute of Justice conducted an analysis of Baltimore’s 2019 911 call data and found that only .5 percent of all calls were related to violent crime and nearly 56% were classified as non-emergency and low-priority. 4.3% of calls were related to mental health and substance use--more than 8 times the volume of calls related to violent crime.

This all shows the broad public openness to reimagine what we ask police to do and opens the door to emergency services that can be more effectively handled by non-police personnel and community groups. We want to strongly support your first 100 days goal to expand and assess an alternative 911 system. We offer our help and support, and note that the Vera Institute of Justice has crunched significant data from Baltimore and is willing to provide their analysis and expertise.

We understand that 25 percent is a significant amount to cut--$137 million based on the current year-- and that we will face resistance. But given the extreme spending realities in Baltimore, to cut any less would fail to redress the historic inequity in spending on police. Baltimore’s police budget literally bleeds our city dry.

We invite you to reimagine with us and to act boldly. We ask for your commitment to defund the BPD by 25 percent and to redirect those taxpayer dollars to meet future school funding demands and to scale up other programs and resources that support true public safety. We urge you to draw upon the expertise and wisdom of community leaders and organizers who are most impacted by policing to help Baltimore re-image public safety beyond policing for decades to come.

We have already reached out to your office to request a meeting to discuss this letter and its proposals. I look forward to hearing from you to schedule time to begin a deeper conversation. You can reach me at Shaq@communitiesunite.org or 410-905-5654.

Sincerely,

Shaquille Carbon,
Communities United
Organizing Director

In Session 2021...

2/16/2021

This post is meant to be a 101 explanation of the Maryland General Assembly (MD GA).

Maryland voters across the state elect state senators and representatives to write, discuss & approve new laws for the state.

Just like in the federal or national lawmakers in DC, they are separated into two groups: senators and representatives. Also like in DC, the State Senate has fewer members than the House, and elected officials in both allegedly work in the interests of those who live in particular places. This is how representative democracy "works" here in Maryland & across the U.S.

These elected people only come together for the session. Any new laws - or changes in laws - have to be done in a 90 day window, called the Session.

In Maryland, in 2021, that session began on January 13 and will be over April 12. During that time, legislators read, hold hearings & vote on the bills they've written or sponsored. Anything not voted into law before April 12 has to wait until NEXT January to be considered again. After lawmakers vote to pass a law, it goes to the governor, who must sign it to make it law. See School House Rock, "I'm Just a Bill" for a simplified version of what it's supposed to look like. Just replace "capital hill" with Annapolis, and "president" with "governor".

Right now, the public finds out when a hearing for a bill is scheduled just days before the hearing in a committee, or before the entire body. They have a day, two working days before the actual hearing to submit let legislators know they support or oppose a bill &/or submit or sign up to give testimony. You can do both of those things on the Maryland General Assembly website.

EVERY PERSON IN MARYLAND IS ALLOWED TO GIVE TESTIMONY.

This is also one of the few ways legislators find out what people actually support or oppose.

After the hearing, if a bill does not receive a favorable review, it will not be read or heard by the rest of the General Assembly. This is what is known as "dying in committee". Some bills start with sponsors in both the Senate & the House - called cross-filing.

If a bill is has had a hearing, but hasn't yet received a favorable review, you can still send letters urging legislators to give it one. This is another place where organizing matters.

ANYONE IS ALLOWED TO SEND A LETTER TO THE COMMITTEES THAT HEAR BILLS.

Which is where YOU come in! In the next few weeks, I'm going to briefly describe the bills Communities United supports, & let you know what you can do to help them pass & become laws.

At the state level - now that the veto of the Blueprint for Maryland was overridden - we are primarily interested in four issue areas:
- Harm reduction & decriminalization of drugs and drug users
- Police reforms (our #Defund2Refund effort is Baltimore city-based)
- Housing & renter justice & relief
- Fair taxation (#TaxTheRich)
- Education equity, bridging the #DigitalDivide & getting an our school board elected (it is currently 100% appointed)

Check back for weekly updates!

t-Shirt Slogan/Design Contest

7/14/2020

T-Shirt Contest Rules and Guidelines
WHAT DOES THIS MOMENT CALL FOR?

Communities United (CU) is soliciting a slogan and/or design to be used on our annual t-shirt. It will appear on the shirt and possibly other apparel which will be sold to support of Communities United's Mission. CU is a grassroots, member-led organization of low to moderate income people in Maryland. CU organizes, educates & builds power to bring about social, economic & racial justice. CU & the people organize leaders & learners who face injustice: racism, poverty, trauma, addiction, violence & criminalization. CU members have historically been shut out of Baltimore's economic & political life. CU builds involvement. Our people will be heard & we will be respected. CU envisions a world where we can live in justice & peace.

The work and mission of Communities United, this particular moment, and the movement for racial justice in Baltimore City, Maryland and the U.S.

Communities United (CU) is soliciting a slogan and/or design to be used on our annual t-shirt. It will appear on the shirt and possibly other apparel which will be sold to support of Communities United's Mission.

Prizes:
The slogan &/or design of two finalists will be posted to CU social media platforms. Bragging rights apply to all finalists! Both finalists will receive a t-shirt printed with the winning design or slogan.

One winning slogan &/or design will be selected by a count of all the"likes" on Communities United's IG &/or Facebook posts, between Saturday, July 25th, 2020 and Wednesday, July 29 2020.

The FINAL WINNER will receive: A PIZZA PARTY, including two large pizzas, and a liter or six-pack of soda, bragging rights forever & a t-shirt with the winning slogan or design.

Slogan/Design Guide:
Your design should connect to the work and mission of Communities United, this particular moment, and the movement for racial justice in Baltimore City, Maryland and the U.S.

Your slogan or design must be wholly original. By submitting a design you are guaranteeing that you hold rights to everything in it, and that it does not contain any copyrighted material, including images/copy found on the internet, unless clearly marked as published under a creative commons (cc) license.

Your design can be on either the front OR back of the shirt. It may include the Communities United logo, OR all printed shirts will include the logo on the reverse side. If location of the design is part of the relevance of the slogan, (for example: “Here comes history” on the front of a shirt) please indicate whether it is for the front or back. If you do not indicate, designers will determine for you.

Designs ONLY Guide:
Any design submission should be saved to 300 dpi to produce a quality output. Acceptable files are high resolution JPGs, TIFFs, and EPS files.

If you win and you submitted a design, you will be required to provide the original design in a high res format that is compatible with Photoshop, Illustrator or another professional design program. CU staff can assist you in this submission.

If you submit a design, you MAY include the Communities United logo only without alteration. Your design should contain a maximum of two (2) colors and MAY incorporate the Communities United pallet: Green, Blue, Black and/or white as appropriate.

The design should be on the front OR back of the shirt and should be contained within a 14 inch X 17 inch area. If the color of the shirt is important to the design, please indicate what color you suggest.

If you submit a design, you MAY include the Communities United logo only without alteration. Your design should contain a maximum of two (2) colors and MAY incorporate the Communities United pallet: Green, Blue, Black and/or white as appropriate.

The design should be on the front OR back of the shirt and should be contained within a 14 inch X 17 inch area. If the color of the shirt is important to the design, please indicate what color you suggest.

Submission Guidelines and Agreement:
All entries should be submitted to jessi@communitiesunite.org. All contestants will need to complete a registration form.

You must be 18 years or older to submit an entry OR your agreement will need to be signed by a parent or guardian.

Communities United will have first printing rights to the winning slogan or design. By submitting you agree that if your design wins, it can be used by Communities United on a t-shirt and other promotional items, including the website and on social media platforms and public relations materials. The winner and image of winning slogan or design may also be used in promotional materials.

Judging and Contest:

Criteria:
Slogans and designs will be judged on the following criteria:
1) Concept/originality- captures the spirit of the Communities United, its mission and this historical moment. 2) Striking and memorable design 3) Visibility – eye-catching and visible from a reasonable distance

Any part of the any design (anything other than words of a slogan) – must be ready for print Feasibility/must be easy to reproduce.

Each submission must be either a slogan (words only) OR a design, which can contain only an image, or an image and words. Enter your slogan or register to enter your design here.

Contest begins on Monday, July 11, 2020
You must submit your slogan or design by midnight ET, Friday, July 24, 2020.

Entries will be judged by a panel of Communities United staff and members, selecting two finalists.

Voting
Voting begins on 9:00 AM EST on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Finalists’ designs will be posted on the Communities United Facebook and Instagram page, utilizing likes as a voting mechanism.

Voting closes at 9:00 AM EST on Wednesday, July 29, 2020.

Winners:
The winner will be notified by email at the close of the voting period, via the information provided on the entry form, and will be posted to CU social media accounts.

Please note that CU reserves the right to make adjustments to the winning slogan or design.

At the sole discretion of CU, disqualification, forfeiture and the selection of an alternate winner may result from any of the following: winner’s failure to respond to notification within two (2) business days after its transmission; the return of an email notification as undeliverable after three (3) attempts; winner’s failure to provide original design files; winner’s failure to execute and return a release form. Upon contacting a winner and determining that they have met all eligibility requirements of the contest, such individual will be declared the “winner” of the contest via social post and the e-newsletter.

Communities United staff members are not eligible to enter. By submitting you are agreeing to all contest rules. If you have any questions, please email jessi@communitiesunite.org.

Tell Congress to #CancelRent and #CancelMortgages

4/16/2020

The Center for Popular Democracy is leading a petition drive to urge Congress to #CancelRent and #CancelMortgages by April 30th!

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted us in ways that many of us could not have prepared for. In the wake of unprecedented orders to “shelter in place”, millions of us across the country were suddenly unemployed in already precarious and unaffordable housing situations.

On April 1st, millions of tenants were unable to pay rent and soon, rent and mortgage payments will be due again. With no clear end to this crisis in sight, it is impossible for families to prepare for the economic fallout that will come if we are expected to continue to pay rent while we are unable to earn any income. And we are prepared to take collective action if Congress doesn’t #CancelRent by April 30th.

Our elected leaders have the power to alleviate the burden of rent and mortgage payments so that amidst these challenging times for our family, community and country, we can follow the best guidance for how to care for one another and weather this crisis. Even before the crisis, many of us were living paycheck to paycheck struggling with the high cost of housing.

Not only will cancelling rent and mortgage payments alleviate the immense financial hardship that so many of us find ourselves in, but it will also allow us to adhere to the recommendations of public health officials to stay at home.

It is the duty of the federal government to cancel these payments so that people can stay in their homes confidently, protect our communities in this unprecedented global pandemic and allow us time to recover from the devastating economic impact this has had on our lives. We are willing to take collective action if they don’t pass our policy demands by April 30th.

Check back here to SIGN A PETITION TO URGE CONGRESS TO #CANCELRENT AND #CANCELMORTGAGES NOW!

Out of school time Matters !

4/8/2020

Resources are still available and updated regularly in blog below.

Developed by Tia Downer for Communities United Members and Community
Out of School Time Matters-
During these trying times we want each and every Family to thrive. Access to technology can be overwhelming and may discourage many, We have compiled a few lessons to help families keep the love of learning going. Return to this page for new lessons each week!

Activity #1 - HoneyComb Hideout
Items needed
10 small items of your choice (can be toys,rocks,marbles,household items,etc)
10 index cards or pieces of paper (for clues)

Directions:
1) Take each item and find a hiding spot (with a clue to next item)
2) Write a clue that will help others find the item on a card or piece of paper. Include clue to the next item i.e.( I’m where the sun shines through and the wind blows in) Where am I?
3) Hide all items and clues and give the first clue to kids

Use age appropriate clues or pictures as clues for younger kids
Clues can be as hard or as easy as needed
Kids who live together can work together. Once they get it, kids can find new hiding places and write clues for other family members or each other.

Activity #2 - Lava Lamps
Items needed
Plastic bottles (washed out used water/juice/clear container)
Cooking oil
Water
Food coloring
Glitter (optional)

Directions:
1) Mix equal amounts of oil and water in container
2) Add in small amount of glitter (if desired)
3) Add 3 drops of food coloring
4) If container has a top or lid shake it up and watch what happens

Ask questions about what is happening during the process
What ?
When ?
Where?
Why ?

Resources & Virtual Meetings

3/20/2020

Emergency Declarations
News links and basic background can be found at the bottom of this blog.

Free Food
Here is a link to a map of all locations in the city to get free food. Many sites are specifically for those under 18 years old. Hours vary by location, so check before you go. There are three locations within .5 miles of McCulloh Homes, Gilmor Homes and one near Poe Homes at the James McHenry Recreation Center. Older adults (over 60) who participate in Eating Together in Baltimore can still order meals through Maryland Access Point. Older adults who are not Eating Together participants can contact should call Maryland Access Point at 410-396-2273. The application for Eating Together is here but is NOT necessary at this time.

Free WiFi
Xfinity is offering free internet access at hot spots all over the city for the next 60 days. To find the nearest hotspot, use this link and enter an address. There is also free internet access for those who qualify through the Baltimore City Public Schools website. Return here for details once we have them.

Also, City Schools have partnered with Comcast to bring the power of high speed internet service to students, families, and staff through the Internet Essentials program. Comcast is currently offering 2 months of free internet service to eligible Internet Essentials program participants. Any family with a child attending City Schools is eligible to apply to the Internet Essentials program through Comcast since the district provides free breakfast and lunch to all students. Staff may also apply for Internet Essentials if they are a parent of a City Schools student or fall within another qualifying group. Check here to see if you qualify!

Once enrolled in the program, participants can take advantage of special computer training and can even purchase a laptop or desktop computer at a super reduced rate while supplies last. To be eligible for the 2-month free promotion, you must apply by April 30, 2020. After the promotional period, the standard Internet Essentials rate of $9.95 + tax would apply. Program participants must opt out of the program to not be charged the fee after the promotional period ends. Apply today online (preferred) or by phone at 1-855-8-INTERNET (1-855-846-8376).

Education
Baltimore City Public Schools have districtwide packets of work for students by grade-level, available online or at schools where lunches are distributed. Baltimore City Schools also have a Distance Learning page that lists TV station programming for children with blocks of different subject at different grade levels as well as other grade level resources. Additional online learning resources selected by our partners at Baltimore Child & Youth Fund are available here. Baltimore County Public School learning resources by grade level are available here. Both City and County schools are initiating online learning curriculum starting Monday, April 6th, and are distributing meals to students in need. Check the food map for details.

Healthcare
Scroll down the Baltimore Public Schools’ health updates page - where learning packets, food locations and other resources are listed. The Baltimore City Health Department has provided a list of primary care clinics for anyone without health insurance. For the most up-to-date information on Maryland COVID-19 cases, follow this link.

For resources on COVID-19, the City, State and Federal Government all have information on their websites: Baltimore City Health Department, Maryland Department of Health Center for Disease Control and Prevention, The Maryland Health Department has a map with all the COVID-19 cases by county in the State. As of March 31, 2020, Baltimore City had 187 cases of COVID-19 and 3 reported deaths.

Transportation
Buses and other public transportation are still running, but on revised schedules. The Maryland Transit Authority is asking for your help slowing the spread of COVID-19. Guidance: PLEASE USE TRANSIT FOR ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ONLY. Essential travel means taking trips to work, hospitals, health care providers, pharmacies, grocery stores, banks, food distribution centers, schools, to provide care for family members, and other similar destinations. For the most updated schedule changes for MTA services, use this link.

Clearinghouse Information
Open Society Baltimore is keeping their resource page up to date. It includes links to: general information about COVID-19, local government resources, community-based resources (neighbors helping neighbors), educational resources, and arts resources.

You Cannot Be Evicted Right Now
Baltimore Mayor Young put a stop to evictions halted schools are closed because of coronavirus. This means that the sheriff’s office will not evict people from their homes before schools resume. This may not prevent landlords from threatening you, or announcing rent increases.

Our Responses
Our concern for the welfare of our communities has led Communities United to take the following steps:
1. All of our in-person events are canceled and offices are closed until further notice. Please stay up to date about when we are back live by following us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, or receive text messages, emails and calls from us by signing up here.
2. We are working remotely. This means we’re GOING to call, text and message you. Please let us know how you are doing. Thank you.
3. We are having meetings, and are planning events online. Please let us know when we call, text or message you what platforms you are on (Facebook, Twitter or Instagram...or another one, if you are on something else).
4. Please join our online events: Baltimore City Board of Estimates Taxpayer Night is April 7th at 6pm, Baltimore Budget-Freedom to Thrive Town Hall, April 21st at 6pm.

We love you. Please stay safe, and keep others safe by staying home or keeping your distance if you go out. Keep a regular schedule, as much as you can. Be kind to one another. We need all of you.

Background of Emergency Orders
Maryland State of Emergency
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s decision to declare a state of emergency due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on March 5 was ahead of the curve. He showed leadership when he directed the Maryland Department of Health and Maryland Emergency Management Agency to "ramp up" coordination among state and local agencies and "fast-track" the state's response to the illness. The story is here. Hogan has since issued an executive order (effective 8pm, 3/30) stopping all non-essential travel and instituting a statewide stay-at-home order. Here is that order. Guidance: Stay at home unless necessary.

National State of Emergency
President Donald Trump during a Friday, March 13 news conference declared a national emergency in response to the ongoing spread of the new coronavirus throughout the United States, which frees up to $50 billion in federal aid to states and municipalities. Here is the story.

Baltimore County State of Emergency
On March 13th, County Executive Johnny Olszewski declared a state of emergency due to the virus. Here is the story.

Baltimore City State of Emergency
On Wednesday, March 18th, Mayor Jack Young declared a 30-day state of emergency to expand the programs that provide free food shelter. There were 5 confirmed cases, and clear community transmission. Here is that story.

Fair Funding Coalition

1/14/2020

Fair Funding Coalition Calls on Legislature to Commit to Passage of Full Kirwan Commission PlanDecember 5th 2019

The Maryland Fair Funding Coalition, representing more than a dozen organizations around the state, issued the following statement about Governor Larry Hogan’s remarks today regarding the Kirwan Commission’s recommendations to strengthen public education.
“Passing the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is critical for Maryland students and our state’s future economic success. Rather than being a partner and a leader in advancing this ground- breaking legislation, the governor continues to make misleading statements while raising unlimited ‘dark’ money behind the scenes to fight these reforms.
“Marylanders overwhelmingly support investments in public education and strongly back the key planks of the Blueprint. The Kirwan Commission plan already includes new accountability measures to ensure public resources are well spent.
“We can afford to invest more in our schools if we take a few steps to clean up our ineffective tax code: eliminate ineffective tax breaks and close loopholes that benefit wealthy individuals and large corporations.
“We urge legislators to act in the next General Assembly session to pass the Blueprint and identify a fair revenue package that ensures we can make this vision a reality. Our kids can’t wait another generation to receive the great education they deserve.”

The groups endorsing this call to action include: Baltimore Teachers Union, CASA, AFSCME MD, Communities United, Good Jobs First, Maryland Center on Economic Policy, Maryland Nonprofits, SEIU Local 500

THe City and State Budgets must change

12/2/2019

On January 9th at 6pm, we are gathering at Douglas Memorial Community Church to discuss and take action on the Baltimore City Budget, as well as the one in the state of Maryland. Without work and some significant changes at BOTH levels, our schools will remain underfunded for the next ten years!

Public schools in Maryland and Baltimore City are grossly underfunded. It’s time for the Maryland General Assembly and Baltimore's Mayor and City Council prioritize a meaningful solution - one that addresses all aspects of the problem - so that every child and every neighborhood has a great public school.

We demand that our state legislators recognize:

Every child deserves the opportunity for a world-class education. The General Assembly must support a revenue package that fixes our upside-down tax code, which now asks the least of those most able to pay.
They must commit to the investments in the education system in Maryland. For the third year in a row, major reforms to Maryland’s education system will be on the agenda when the General Assembly convenes for its 2020 session we demand they put a stop to tax breaks to special interests that don’t help our economy.
The Kirwan Commission’s proposals can succeed only if policymakers back them with sufficient resources. The source for these investments is reform of Maryland’s tax code to make it effective and equitable.
The Fair Funding Coalition’s proposals are focused on 1) eliminating loopholes and tax breaks that benefit special interests, and 2) fixing our upside-down tax code, which allows the wealthiest individuals to pay the smallest share of their income in state and local taxes.

We need to fix our tax system to support significant new state investments in education and ensure that large corporations and wealthy individuals are paying their share for the public services we all rely on.

We demand that our Mayor and City Councilmembers:

Prioritize the educational, social and emotional welfare of every child in Baltimore.
The Mayor must write and the City Council approve a budget package that reverses the pattern of over-spending on ineffective police, criminalization and a "justice system" that is anything but just.
The Mayor and City Council must commit to investments in high quality public education and appropriate and equitable public services throughout Baltimore City.
Admit that the BPD has promised for years to cut waste and corruption within its ranks. We cannot tolerate anything less in the FY2020 budget. Their budget must be right-sized to reflect their actual capacity to improve conditions as evidenced by their past success - and failure
Stop providing property tax breaks, subsidies or financing in exchange for promises. These deals have historically lacked means to assess compliance or refund subsidies, and have resulted in theft from our economy or and our communities, who shoulder the bill for needed services (police, fire, etc). Be prepared to ask NPOs who have a PILOT Agreement to renegotiate and account for the benefits they offer Baltimore's citizens.
Recognize that the $330M additional dollars needed to fund the Kirwan Commission’s proposals can succeed only if LOCAL policymakers back them with sufficient resources. The source for these investments is revision of Baltimore's Budget to make it effective and equitable.
The Communities United’s proposals are focused on 1) permanent annual budgetary redistribution away from the BPD, and 2) investment in public health based solutions to the City's most pressing problems: opioid overdose and addiction, criminalization of poverty, and lack of educational resources and opportunities for Baltimore's families, children and youth.

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