Governor Larry Hogan – Baltimore Magazine

The Great Divide: How The Bay Bridge Changed Maryland Forever

Aaron Hope — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 15:46:20 +0000

Seventy years ago, one stretch of metal and concrete changed Maryland forever.

By Lydia Woolever

Photography by Jay Fleming, Timothy Hyman, and Mike Morgan

Business & Development

Seventy years ago, one stretch of metal and concrete changed Maryland forever.

By Lydia Woolever

Photography by Jay Fleming, Timothy Hyman, and Mike Morgan

July 2022

Every summer when she was a little girl,

Lynne Outerbridge’s parents would pack up the car and pile her in with her two sisters, bathing suits and beach towels in tow, before heading south, out of Dundalk, away from the asphalt heat of Baltimore, then onwards east, toward the cool breeze of the Atlantic Ocean.

“We’d go to Ocean City, and with that, you knew, hey, we’re going to the Bay Bridge,” says Outerbridge, 65, her eyes lighting up behind thin glasses. “You were going to be in traffic, but you’d sit out there and eat snacks and play games—that was part of the experience, you know? It was fun. And when you got to the top, you saw all the boats, all the fishermen, and thought, ‘Oh, isn’t it pretty . . .’”

Years later, while working at the Department of Motor Vehicles, Outerbridge came across an open toll collector position for that very location—about 30 miles from her home in Baltimore County, just north of downtown Annapolis, on the heel of Sandy Point State Park, at the western edge of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. She was hired in 1986, working her way up to shift supervisor and manager before retiring last April, seeing many evolutions of that iconic crossing, from the removal of the westbound tolls to the addition of E-ZPass and the traffic that came with it.

“When I was little, I thought, that looks like it would be an easy job—sit there and take money all day?” Outerbridge remembers. But that was before she descended the stairs into the tunnel that snaked beneath Route 50, climbed up through a tollbooth door, and saw the volume of vehicles, first during the prime-time commute, then more still, during the height of Maryland and Delaware beach season.

“That first summer weekend really shook me, when you looked up and saw it—headlights—as far as the eye can see,” she says. “But you got used to it.”

In fact, Outerbridge preferred the busy shifts. Regulars would bring her coffee, and when traffic stalled, she’d chat with the passersby. “Everyone had a story,” she says, not forgetting the grief she sometimes received from gridlocked travelers. During downtime, she’d read books, and on occasion, play ball in the center plaza with her colleagues until, inevitably, the cars returned.

“The collectors would yell, ‘Here they come!’ and I’d say, ‘Okay, go get it!’” she says. “We raced each other to see who could move the most vehicles.” Her record was 500 an hour.

Even on days off, she would find herself there. “My husband and I used to go across all the time for vacation, to the beach, for Bike Week—we still do every year,” says Outerbridge, who recently moved to Pennsylvania. “From up there, you can really see everything. To this day, we get to the top and I say, ‘Hey, that’s my bridge.’”

Opening photo and video by Jay Fleming

Vintage postcard of the first span, connecting both shores of Maryland.

here is the Francis Scott Key, and the Hanover Street, and the Hatem Memorial, but as far as any Marylander is concerned, the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bay Bridge—located between Annapolis in Anne Arundel County and Stevensville in Queen Anne’s—is the Maryland bridge.

Halfway down the state, two silver ribbons of steel and concrete seem to defy gravity as they float for more than four miles across the waters of the wide and majestic Chesapeake Bay, riding high—200 feet above seafaring ships and sailboats, alongside seagulls and osprey, between foggy sunrises and against dazzling sunsets—before sloping softly into the eastern and western shores, which, from up there, seem to welcome its arrival.

It is the stuff of postcards and license plates, having evolved into a quintessential symbol—a 20th-century architectural feat heralded as the great connector of the Old Line State.

The truth is, most people either love the bridge or hate it. For some of the 27 million cars that cross each year, it is the gateway to vacationland, through which sandy strands and vinegar-splashed buckets of boardwalk French fries await, no matter the traffic. For others, it’s a parking lot of taillights, or a towering deathtrap too terrifying to travel. And it's a division only likely to increase in the days ahead, as the ninth smallest and fifth densest state continues to grow, and its officials discuss what might become of this soaring infrastructure that so sparks our emotions.

But now, as it was when the first cars drove across it 70 years ago this month, as it will be with whatever iteration comes next, those iconic spans—in fact two bridges—remain an undeniable threshold. Between an otherwise disconnected state. Between economies, industries, and communities along the Chesapeake watershed. Between the past and the future. A precipice that has, for better or worse, forever altered the fate of Maryland.

The original eastbound span, built in 1952. COURTESY OF MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

ong before the Bay Bridge, the body of water that it was built to cross served as the region’s primary bond and barrier. By sheer geography, the Chesapeake Bay divided the horseshoe-like landscape, with its limb-like western and eastern shores separated by the nation’s largest estuary. On either side of those brackish tides, distinct worlds developed based on a variety of factors, such as proximity to trade and access to natural resources, and with them came wholly unique cultures, ideologies, and even dialects.

Executives discuss early bridge plans. Photography by Timothy Hyman

To the west, urban areas like Baltimore City and Annapolis became epicenters of industry, transportation, and politics—part of the metropolitan corridor near the eventual capital of Washington, D.C. To the east, the nine Maryland counties of the Delmarva Peninsula, surrounded on all sides by a labyrinth of tributaries and ocean, remained resolutely rural, rooted in maritime and agricultural traditions, at times even threatening secession into neighboring Delaware and Virginia. “The bay has always isolated us,” says Pete Lesher, chief curator of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, “but at the same time, the bay has always connected us.”

Before roads and rails, the bay was the region’s interstate highway, “a natural artery that helped us get from here to there,” says Lesher, moving people and products between its two shores. During the Colonial era, towns were situated near waterfront ports that were lifelines to the outside world, and vessels, from schooners to skipjacks, commonly swapped the seafood and produce of the east with the manufactured goods of the west.

But after the Civil War, the Chesapeake Bay became an obstacle. Suddenly train and automobile transportation better connected the Eastern Shore to rival cities like Wilmington, Philadelphia, and New York via the northern peninsula, while Baltimore hoped to keep that valuable commerce in state.

Vintage Bay Bridge postcard, c. 1955.

The first Bay Bridge discussions date back to the 1880s, but it wasn’t until 1927 that Baltimore businessmen were authorized to raise funds for construction of a crossing between Miller Island in Baltimore County and Tolchester in Kent. Those efforts were squandered by the stock market crash of ‘29, while a second attempt, mired in arguments over the location, was put on hold by World War II.

In the meantime, steamboats rose to the occasion, with ferries tempting passengers to “save 100 miles” instead of driving up and around the headwaters of the Chesapeake, and entire towns were built as rural retreats for urban clientele. The Sandy Point-Matapeake line would become the precursor for the present-day Bay Bridge, operating at one of the narrowest distances across the estuary, with notorious queues of sunburnt beachgoers waiting to head west on Sundays. At the on-ramp of the eastbound lane, you can still see remnants of the old terminal, deteriorated by weather and time, an artifact of another era.

“From the viewpoint of the average citizen, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge project has had a checkered career,” wrote The Sun in 1936. “Is there hope or isn’t there of a bridge ever materializing?”

Nothing more than “castles in the air,” surmised H.L. Mencken, created by “the artful hand of realtors.”

But after World War II, skeptics would finally be convinced, when in 1949, Governor William Preston Lane Jr. broke ground on what was then the largest public works project in the state’s history.

The massive undertaking was overseen by the J.E. Greiner Company of Baltimore, which would also engineer other local landmarks like the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel and Baltimore-Washington Parkway. Plans called for construction of what was then the third longest bridge in the world and the longest continuous steel structure over water. Rumors quickly spread that it would be too light to be safe, surely to be washed out by the wind and ice of Chesapeake winters.

“The bay has always isolated us, but at the same time, the bay has always connected us.”

The 'Louise' ferry between Baltimore and Tolchester in Kent County, where a mini Ocean City sprung up in 1877.

But engineers deemed the two-lane design, featuring some 60,000 tons of steel and 118,000 cubic yards of concrete (allegedly mixed with Baltimore City water for its purity), structurally sound. Sections were built by the Bethlehem Steel Company, then towed down the bay on tugboat barges to floating cranes that would lift them into position.

The bridge was actually a series of bridges, consisting of beam, girder, truss, cantilever, and suspension spans, designed to handle 3,000 cars an hour with 354-foot towers and 1,500 tons of suspension cables resting on a foundation of 57 concrete piers and 4,130 steel pilings pounded some 200 feet into the bay bottom. At the water’s surface, boats bound for the Port of Baltimore were provided 186 by 1,600 feet to navigate the shipping channel, a factor that necessitated the bridge’s elegant 90-degree curve.

“I’d never seen anything like it,” says Timothy Hyman, 84, who started his 66-year career as staff photographer for the Maryland State Highway Administration at age 12, documenting the construction of both spans. “I walked that bridge from one end to the other, many times, before there were even roads, using land, sea, and air to get my shots. . . . I was one of the many unsung people who worked on the bridge, then got out of the way.”

In the end, the bridge took three and a half years and more than six million man-hours to complete, carried out by more than 2,000 laborers from both shores, some of whom lived in a floating hotel at a nearby pier during construction. It cost $45 million, with a commemorative issue of this magazine hailing it “one of the greatest structures ever built.”

“It is a vital link in a fast-growing network of superhighways serving an ever-increasing volume of private automobile, bus, and truck traffic along the Atlantic seaboard, Maine to Florida,” wrote The Sun the weekend before its opening—one that is “expected to have a profound impact on the economy of the state, and in particular on that of the nine Eastern Shore counties.”

“I walked that bridge from one end to the other...using land, sea, and air to get my shots.”

The setting of concrete support piers. Photography by TIMOTHY HYMAN
Timothy Hyman in his home holding his photographs and camera from the construction of the first Bay Bridge. Photography by MIKE MORGAN

Prepping the foundation for road. Photography by TIMOTHY HYMAN

On the hot summer morning of July 30, 1952, an estimated 10,000 people crowded Sandy Point to watch as then-Governor Theodore McKeldin, wearing a light suit and striped tie, cut a silk ribbon and freed the way for traffic on the brand-new Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Red, white, and blue buntings hung from the tollbooth plaza while a police-led motorcade made its way up the span. At the top, cars pulled over for passengers to look down, take pictures, and throw pennies into the bay.

“It is more than just a great, new bridge, modern in type and highly useful in purpose,” said McKeldin that day. “It is a symbol of America. It is industrial progress.”

The first cars cross the bay following opening ceremonies on July 30, 1952. AP Images

In the first 72 hours, nearly 30,000 vehicles crossed the bridge in an average six minutes at 40 miles per hour for a toll price of $1.40. Long lines backed up on both sides with motorists eager to get a look at the new crossing, while several cars ran out of gas, got flat tires, and even burst into flames. Others drove slowly, taking in the view for some 20 miles in either direction. In fact, it was supposedly up there that executives of the National Bohemian beer company invented the state’s “Land of Pleasant Living” nickname. On the other side, state police declared that the Eastern Shore “had never seen more traffic.”

July 1952 cover of Baltimore magazine. BALTIMORE CITY ARCHIVES, BRG29-10-46

That record, of course, would soon be broken. For years, countless advertisements tied to the new bridge ran in The Sun papers, promoting real estate, recreation, and relaxation from Kent Island to Ocean City. Among those Eastern Shore communities was a mix of excitement and apprehension.

“What the ferries did to some extent but what the bridge does with an exclamation point is strengthen those ties to Baltimore,” says Lesher, also a Talbot County councilman. “The steamboats are on borrowed time, the railroads are struggling, and the highways are what’s going to connect us, making it so much easier to travel back and forth. And of course, the more lanes you add, and the more traffic that can cross, the stronger those bonds become.”

By the mid-1960s, new debate had already begun about a second parallel span, with traffic reports stating the first would reach its maximum capacity by the summer of 1967 when Sunday traffic headed west from the ocean. Critics claimed that the State Roads Commission was not considering the whole picture and accused then-Governor J. Millard Tawes of porkbarreling to seal the votes to build.

The public voted down the addition in 1966, but it was approved a year later via an emergency bill by the General Assembly under new Governor Spiro Agnew. Mired in mounting costs, delays, and controversy, the second span nonetheless managed to open with three lanes just north of the first on June 28, 1973, costing $148 million and funded by revenue bonds to be paid back by toll dollars, like the first.

(Just months later, in an ironic twist, Agnew, now Richard Nixon’s vice president, would be forced to resign following a criminal investigation into kickbacks to his associates, including the State Roads chairman and a Greiner Company affiliate with whom he purchased 107 acres of land near the bridge.)

the dual-span bridge today. Photography by JAY FLEMING

By this time, Ocean City was in the midst of a major transformation into Maryland’s Jersey Shore. Once a sleepy resort town and fishing village in Worcester County, the 10-mile barrier island had only grown by 259 year-round residents after the first bridge, but following the second it more than quadrupled, to 6,900 residents today.

And were it not for Mother Nature there might have been two such towns in the same vicinity. Plans for “Ocean Beach,” a 15- mile resort community dreamed up by Western Shore investors along a “Baltimore Boulevard,” were permanently washed out by a winter storm and, in 1965, Congress established that same land as the Assateague Island National Seashore.

The Atlantic seaside was an especially meaningful destination for another governor, William Donald Schaefer, who had grown tired of sitting in traffic on the way to his summer trailer in Ocean City. In 1987, he announced his seminal “Reach the Beach” initiative, which would add express lanes to the Bay Bridge, widen Route 50, and establish a travel hotline.

Though considered a success, not everyone was a fan of Schaefer’s big ideas. “Spending all that taxpayer money on U.S. 50 and calling it a ‘Reach the Beach’ program is equivalent to widening the Jones Falls Expressway under a ‘Get to Pennsylvania Faster’ sign,” wrote The Sun’s Peter Jensen in 1991. “Most hardcore Shoremen would like to blow up the Bay Bridges and let the fool chicken-neckers swim.”

Not that Schaefer always loved them back. “How’s that shithouse of an Eastern Shore?” he was once overheard asking a local delegate, leading a band of angry residents to bring a parade of wooden outhouses and bags of manure to the State House.

Secretary Harry Hughes takes the first Bay Bridge toll. Courtesy of MDTA

hether they liked it or not, the Eastern Shore would experience a watershed moment with the Bay Bridge, as projected by The New York Times in 1952: “It is expected to bring the Eastern Shore and the Western Shores of the state...into closer unity of thought and habit, and to work other important social and economic changes—all in time, of course,” particularly in counties along the beach corridor.

The crossings opened the floodgates for tourism and recreation, expanded markets for its pride-and-joy produce and seafood, increased populations with newfound commuter access to more job opportunities on the Western Shore, and with it, diversified mindsets in a region reluctant to give up Jim Crow. Since 1970, Queen Anne’s County grew from 18,500 to 50,163 residents, whereas just south, Talbot County jumped 19,428 to 37,626 since 1950, even as empty beaches now stand where forgotten ferry-era resorts like Tolchester and Claiborne once prospered.

Before he moved to Queen Anne’s full-time in 2000, resident Jay Falstad had been traveling across the Bay Bridge since 1976, watching mom-and-pop restaurants like Holly’s in Grasonville give way to Royal Farms gas stations and the old Kent Narrows drawbridge get buried beneath an overpass.

“Route 50 used to be a country highway, but it’s not one any longer,” says Falstad, director of the Queen Anne’s Conservation Association, established in 1969 to protect the county’s natural resources and rural character, notably through legal challenges to the Four Seasons retirement condominiums in Chester, which might be the largest subdivision in the Chesapeake Bay’s Critical Areas. “Our biggest fear is not just what a new crossing would do to Queen Anne’s County, but the entire Delmarva Peninsula.”

BEFORE THE FIRST BAY BRIDGE, Map of steamboat lines, c. 1926. COURTESY OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Falstad first got involved with the Bay Bridge in 2016, when Governor Larry Hogan announced a two-tier, multi-year National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) study, which sought to identify the best site for a new bay crossing from 14 potential locations up and down the estuary, in order to address the current and projected traffic. According to the Tier 1 study, in 2017, the bridge carried about 68,600 vehicles per day with three hours of congestion on non-summer weekdays, and 118,600 vehicles with 19 hours of congestion on summer weekends. By 2040, the state projects those an increase to seven and 22 hours, respectively.

Two years into the process, Hogan let his preference be known, disheartening some Anne Arundel and Queen Anne’s residents already beleaguered by the bridge and relieving other communities who had been scrambling to protect their shorelines: “There is only one option I will ever accept: adding a third span to our existing Bay Bridge,” he tweeted in 2019.

Community activist Jay Falstad at the Terrapin Nature Park in Queen Anne’s County on the Eastern Shore. Photography by MIKE MORGAN

And this April, he got his wish, when the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) and Federal Highway Administration officially chose that 22-mile Corridor 7—just west of the Severn River Bridge in Parole to the U.S. 301-Route 50 split in Queenstown—said to likely be the cheapest, least environmentally impactful, and most congestion-relieving of all the potential routes.

No one will know exactly what that crossing will look like until the end of the multi-year Tier 2 study, which has yet to begin. A third span, a whole new replacement bridge, or even a bridge-tunnel have all been thrown around, estimated to cost up to $13.1 billion, in 2020 dollars. In Tier 1, a high-speed rail line was eliminated as an alternative, deemed too expensive for further review—though the estimated cost is unknown—while rejuvenated ferry and bus service were found unlikely to adequately reduce congestion as stand-alone options.

The latter two, in addition to other alternatives, such as variable toll rates for peak hours or high-occupancy vehicle lanes, could be considered in some combination in Tier 2, though likely still in conjunction with new construction. In the meantime, some improvements have been made, from the removal of Outerbridge’s beloved toll plaza for an all-electronic model, and this fall’s replacement of rudimentary orange barrels with automated gates for contraflow—aka that two-way traffic.

“This has been a very highly seen project for the region and, as you can imagine, we received the gamut of public comments,” says Heather Lowe, MDTA project manager for the NEPA study. “But we heard loud and clear that the congestion at the Bay Bridge now is a problem.”

Environmentalists and community activists don’t disagree.

“The traffic congestion is a problem and it needs a solution, not in 2040, but now,” says Steve Kline, president of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and Centreville Town Council, whose grandfather was a Sparrows Point iron worker on the first span. “However, we do not believe that a new Bay Bridge solves this problem any more durably than the previous bridge. A two-lane bridge was not sufficient for very long. A five-lane bridge has proven to not be sufficient for very long. If we add more lanes, how long will that be sufficient? Maybe it can make traffic at the bridge half as bad—for 10 years. But then it’s going to be right back to where it is now, and people will be sitting here having this same debate.”

Kline is referencing the economic concept of “induced demand,” which has found that the initial benefits of congestion relief fade within a decade, simply drawing in more cars and filling the new capacity. (See: The Baltimore Beltway.)

“If you build it, they will come,” says Erik Fisher, land-use planner for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, who hopes the state will work to offset a new crossing’s environmental impacts, to be studied in Tier 2, such as habitat loss and water pollution in a region at the forefront of climate change. “We know more roads bring more cars. We need to think more broadly about how to get people where they want and need to go without forever expanding the pavement. We’re not building an interstate all the way to Ocean City.”

Which brings us to the great paradox: How do you alleviate traffic—including the GPS-stymied sideroads that block emergency vehicles and hinder homeowners from leaving their houses on summer weekends—without increasing development pressure in a place sought out for its rural nature?

The answer is unclear, and fingers get pointed over who created the problem in the first place.

“The bridge is not the problem—development’s the problem,” says Secretary of Transportation Jim Ports, who spend summers driving to the beach from Baltimore City. “I mean, Ocean City becomes the second largest city in the state during the summer. . . . The expansion of Queen Anne’s County, of Anne Arundel County, of other shore counties, as well as Ocean City, is what created the overcapacity problem. . . . And they’re continuing to expand now while they know it’s a problem. It’s not going to stop, whether we build a bridge or not,” emphasizing that land-use planning takes place “on the local level.”

A vintage postcard between circa 1930 and circa 1945.

“Land use should begin at the local level, but when the state makes the decision to invest billions of dollars into a transportation system to an area, they’re making a decision for the local folks,” counters Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman. “They’re putting additional development pressure on the localities by doing so, and they know that.”

Still, there are mixed messages from these small towns, who on the one hand want to keep their pastoral charm, and whose local governments on the other make decisions that put that very character at risk. In Queen Anne’s, where more than 70 percent of the workforce commutes out of county, land use for commercial real estate, high-density housing, and transportation has increased by 24, 30, and 696 percent, respectively, since 1973—when the second span was built—taking 21,000 acres of farmland with it. And in 2020, the Talbot County Council (minus Lesher) gave the greenlight to the controversial Lakeside development that would bring 2,501 homes to Trappe, population 1,228. And then there’s Ocean City.

“The question that nobody’s asking, except for maybe a couple Wicomico County commissioners, is can the beaches, which are already crowded, already having an incredibly difficult time finding staff, accommodate or handle induced demand?” poses ESLC’s Kline, who calls the traffic a “16-week-a- year problem.” “How much more can we love these beach communities before it perhaps becomes a problem of loving them too much?”

Ninety-seven percent of buildable land has been developed in Ocean City, which includes more than 10,000 hotel rooms. And updates to West Ocean City’s sewer and water service could prime the former suburb for further spillover.

“I think there’s still room to grow here,” says Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan, a Coldwell Banker real estate agent, estimating that the majority of his town’s now eight million annual visitors come from the Bay Bridge, though others also undoubtedly arrive via the expanded Route 1 in Delaware. “I think the pleasurable culture of the Eastern Shore is affected today by the current capacity issues. . . . [A new bridge] will be certainly more beneficial than it will be detrimental.”

Meehan has signed on to a coalition of officials from 12 of Maryland’s 23 counties, some of whom have specifically asked for a replacement bridge featuring a minimum of eight lanes, larger than the six-lane Brooklyn Bridge and San Francisco Golden Gate.

“Will there be more traffic? There always will be more traffic,” says the group’s founder and Queen Anne’s commissioner-at-large Jim Moran, who owns a concrete company in Crofton. “Going from five lanes to eight lanes with shoulders for safety reasons will allow that traffic to flow,” adding that the number does indeed factor in future growth.

The exact scale of a prospective future crossing will be decided sooner than originally thought, as this June, Governor Hogan announced that he would be fully funding the $28-million Tier 2 NEPA study. “People have kicked the can down the road for literally decades . . . no one ever took the steps to say, how are we going to fix this, and that’s just what we’ve decided to do,” says Hogan. “This really has to do with the health of the entire state.”

A vintage postcard between circa 1930 and circa 1945.

Hogan, who is nearing the end of his final term, has made the bridge corridor a top priority of his administration, paving the way to the beach through Route 404 expansion, Salisbury bypass upgrades, and funding for the congested Ocean City Expressway. For the record, his Annapolis-based real estate company, currently owned by a non-blind trust and run by his brother, Timothy, also has multiple development projects in Anne Arundel County and on the Eastern Shore, among other locations.

“You have to ask yourself: With so many unanswered questions, why the rush?” says QACA’s Falstad, who hopes that the state will exhaust its transportation management strategies and non-car alternative options before constructing a multi-billion-dollar crossing. “There are other projects in Maryland that I’m sure Larry Hogan can put his name on. This doesn’t need to be one of them.”

The NEPA study’s final results will come down to the consideration of Maryland’s next governor, but in the meantime, Secretary Ports says managing the bridge, now and in the future, boils down to sheer volume. These days, 91 percent of commuting adults use a personal vehicle, and car ownership, increasingly electric or self-driving or not, continues to outpace people. The affordable $2.50 base toll—compared to the $5 Delaware Memorial or the $14 Bay Bridge-Tunnel in Virginia—likely doesn’t hurt, either.

“It’s a difficult task and you get a lot of criticism, but at the end of the day, we could do nothing, and it would really back up,” he says. “As I’ve told people on both sides of the shore: If you can tell me how to put eight gallons of water into a five-gallon bucket, I’m all ears. That’s the traffic problem that we have on the bridge—there’s just too many cars trying to go at the same time for two or three lanes of traffic. Period.”

“Our biggest fear is not just what a new crossing would do to Queen Anne's county but the entire Delmarva Peninsula.”

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAY FLEMING

All the while, amid the clamor, the 70- and 49-year-old bridges stand quietly above the Chesapeake. This Memorial Day weekend, sailboats passed between the spans below and watermen loitered around the piers while a projected 330,000 cars drove across the top.

A stone’s throw from the old ferry pier sits a brick MDTA building just south of Sandy Point, and inside, the office of Bay Bridge administrator Richard Jaramillo faces that incessant flow of traffic.

From this vantage point, Jaramillo conducts the round-the-clock orchestra that is keeping both bridges as safe and operational as possible. He coordinates with some 100 colleagues—from police and emergency response departments to maintenance and construction teams to the 24/7 operations command center—who together oversee everything from clearing debris to cleaning up accidents to inspecting the superstructure from top to bottom. At all hours, they assess weather and wind conditions, control navigational lights for ships and airplanes, and monitor more than 14 video surveillance cameras.

“It’s a juggling act that goes on constantly, every day, by the minute,” says Jaramillo, who sometimes gets stuck in the backups himself while commuting from Kent Island, “just like everyone else—we all share the pain.”

It’s a polarizing position, he knows, being at the helm of this bridge, even recalling one woman he dated before her father found out his job title: “We’re not seeing each other any longer.”

Despite his intimate knowledge, Jaramillo has no official preference for its future, though he regularly attends meetings for the Bay Bridge Reconstruction Advisory Group between state officials and community members, certain to be involved in whatever comes next.

“Richard is just here to make sure the traffic gets through safely and efficiently,” he says with a broad smile. “You deal me the cards and I’ll figure out how to make it work.”

For now, both spans are in fine condition, as they should be until 2065, says Jaramillo, who even once climbed the suspension cables all the way to the tippy-top.

“It was an experience, everything was moving, and it’s supposed to,” he says. From way up there, “it gives you a whole different level of respect and appreciation—for the people who built it, who designed it, who work on it today.”

People like photographer Timothy Hyman, who stood there more than 70 years ago, before that bridge had become the bridge.

“When I tell people what I did, they don’t believe me, then I show them the pictures,” says Hyman, sitting amongst them. “I walked with my camera, and there I was...”

Source

Hogan Says All Businesses May Reopen Friday, But Baltimore City Takes Cautious Approach

Ron Cassie — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 16:16:30 +0000

Governor Larry Hogan announced Tuesday that based on the state’s flattening COVID-19 positivity and hospitalization rates, Maryland will begin to move into the state’s next phase of reopening.

As with earlier stages of reopening, individual jurisdictions are empowered to make decisions regarding the timing of the reopening of movie theaters and live entertainment venues, as well as increased capacity at restaurants, retail stores, and religious services.

Baltimore Mayor Jack Young said Wednesday that the city is not yet ready to fully move into the next phase of the reopening guidelines put forth by the Hogan administration. But Baltimore will loosen restrictions in some areas, including restaurants and movie theaters. The city will allow restaurants to open indoor dining to 50 percent capacity next week, Young said during a Wednesday press conference at the War Memorial Building.

Late Wednesday, City officials said movie theaters will be allowed to open Friday at 25 percent of their capacity, according to reporting by The Baltimore Sun.

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. said in a statement that the county will align with the state and move into the next phase of the Hogan Administration’s coronavirus recovery plan, allowing theaters to reopen and retail and religious facilities to expand indoor capacity.

“Baltimore County has taken significant steps to combat the COVID-19 pandemic while gradually and safely reopening our economy,” Olszewski said. “Thanks to our efforts, and the efforts of county residents to protect themselves and their loved ones, we’ve seen continued progress. This dangerous disease is still with us and I urge all our residents and businesses to continue to follow the best public health guidance. In the days and weeks ahead, we will continue to strictly enforce state laws and guidelines—any businesses found to be violating face-covering or social distancing mandates will be held accountable.”

According to state metrics, Baltimore County’s positivity rate has remained below 5 percent since July 7, 2020 and is currently 4.4 percent. Baltimore County’s case rate is 1,800 cases per 100,000 residents—35 percent lower than Prince George’s County, 22 percent lower than Baltimore City, and 2 percent lower than Montgomery County.

Face coverings are still required under state and local order. Individuals aged 5 and up must wear face coverings in any indoor business, service, organization, or establishment that serves the general public. Individuals aged 5 and up are also required to wear face coverings when outdoors and unable to consistently maintain at least six feet of distance from those who are not members of their household.

Individuals are not required to wear a mask if eating or drinking while seated, but face coverings are required when otherwise moving in or about a restaurant or bar premises.

“As we move into this third and final stage of our recovery, I want to sincerely thank our doctors, nurses, and public health officials, our small business community, and, most importantly, the people of Maryland who have pulled together over the last five months to respond to this unprecedented challenge with incredible courage and perseverance,” Hogan said.

Last week, Hogan implored local school boards to immediately take action toward reopening schools for in-person classes.

Although the rate of cases has flattened in Maryland in recent weeks, new cases continue to accumulate in the state with 3,833 positive results over the past seven days. Overall, there have been nearly 110,000 confirmed cases in the state. To date, there have been 3,623 coronavirus fatalities in the state, with another 143 probable tests, according to the Maryland Department of Health’s tracking program. Maryland ranks 12th in per capita deaths, tied with Delaware, and just ahead of Pennsylvania.

As part of the state’s new guidelines, the following gradual reopenings are allowed in Maryland:

Indoor theaters where live performances occur or motion pictures are shown may open to the general public at 50 percent capacity, or 100 people per auditorium—whichever is less—with appropriate health and safety protocols in place.
Outdoor venues where live performances occur or motion pictures are shown outdoors may open to the general public at 50 percent capacity, or 250 people—whichever is less—with appropriate health and safety protocols in place.
Capacity for retail establishments and religious facilities may increase from 50 to 75 percent.

Meanwhile, the Stronach Group—which owns the Preakness Stakes—and the Maryland Jockey Club announced Wednesday that the 145th Preakness will be run will without fans in attendance at Pimlico Race Course on Oct. 3.

“The Stronach Group and the Maryland Jockey Club have been working closely in consultation with local and state health and governmental authorities for the past several months to thoughtfully and safely plan for Preakness 145,” Belinda Stronach, chairman and president of The Stronach Group, said in a statement. “While we had hoped to be able to welcome fans as we have for the past 145 years, the health and safety of our guests, horsemen, riders, team members and the community at large is, and will always be, our top priority.”

Source

Hogan Implores Schools to Reopen for In-Person Classes

Ron Cassie — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 15:42:12 +0000

Citing lowering coronavirus positivity rates in the state, Gov. Larry Hogan implored local school boards to immediately take action toward reopening schools for in-person classes at a press conference in Annapolis Thursday afternoon.

All 24 school districts in Maryland will begin the 2020-2021 academic year with online instruction only. Hogan repeatedly pointed out that 16 districts currently have plans to bring some students back this fall in hybrid models, but other school districts have decided to wait until the start of the second semester to physically reopen—a cautionary timeline he does not support.

Baltimore City—which welcomed back teachers and staff this week—and Baltimore County, as well as Anne Arundel, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s, and Calvert counties issued statements that they have no intention of foregoing their virtual opening. During a virtual meeting Thursday, Baltimore County Public Schools community superintendent Christina Byers said that while the county school system acknowledges the governor’s recommendations, it is not in a position to immediately address in-person instruction.

Byers said that local superintendents and boards did not receive any advanced notice about the details of Thursday’s announcement.

Hogan, taking a strident tone at times, alleged those boards, as well as administrators, teachers unions, and associations, have failed to do the “hard work [that] lies in developing the safe reopening plans.” “This is simply not acceptable,” the governor said.

“As a result of our improved health metrics, every single county school system in the state of Maryland is now fully authorized to begin safely reopening,” Hogan continued. “Nearly everyone agrees that there is no substitute for in-person instruction. It is essential that we all work together on flexible hybrid plans to safely get some of our kids back into classrooms and into healthy and supportive learning environments.”

By law, the governor of the state does not have the power to mandate when schools open, which is a decision left to local school boards.

In his remarks, Hogan noted encouraging reports that the statewide positivity rate has dropped to 3.3 percent from a peak of 26.9 percent in mid-April.

The benchmark for generally safe reopening of public buildings, according to the CDC, is a 5 percent positivity rate. Maryland’s overall rate has been below 4 percent since August 8, according to state health department methodology. Hogan also stressed that the positivity rate among Marylanders under the age of 35 has now fallen below to 3.79 percent.

That said, Towson University, like other colleges around the country, has already been forced to cancel in-person learning and close residence halls after a concerning number of students tested positive for the coronavirus just before classes resumed this week. In Baltimore City, the Department of Public Works announced Thursday it was suspending curbside recycling pickup because of staff shortages due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Maryland Senate Majority Leader Bill Ferguson, a former teacher, said he appreciated the Hogan Administration’s publishing of new health metrics for school reopening statewide, but also stated that the new information comes late in the process with schools so close to reopening.

“These metrics are critical for Maryland schools to have the framework for in-person reopening,” Ferguson tweeted. He added, however, that “expecting districts, administrators, educators, and families to flip the switch in 10 days is simply unreasonable.”

We'd likely have more local school district consistency on reopening if the State had provided *any* guidance whatsoever prior to TEN DAYS before the planned start of SY 2020-21.
— Bill Ferguson (@SenBillFerg) August 27, 2020

Cheryl Bost, the president of the Maryland State Education Association, expressed frustration with the governor’s rhetoric in a statement late Thursday.

“At a time when educators are focused on working hard to make the best of this year for students, the governor and [state Superintendent of Schools Karen Salmon, who joined Hogan] are focused on throwing school communities under the bus,” Bost said. “We need collaboration and problem-solving, not political theater.”

Bost stated that Gov. Hogan and the superintendent had previously “abdicated responsibility for creating reopening standards and told districts to come up with their own plans, indicating appropriate confidence that local school systems would do what is best for students.”

“In the continued absence of adequate state and federal funds to help schools open safely—to include measures such as rapid testing, certified ventilation systems and needed PPE—this is a recipe for chaos, confusion, distrust, and deepening the inequities that too many of our students face,” Bost said.

Salmon announced the state is making $10 million in grant funding available to help systems that are able to move toward in-person instruction.

“While adherence to these metrics for re-entry into classrooms are not considered requirements, I am strongly encouraging local school systems to utilize our improving numbers and the provided metrics as the driving force for the decision to return to school buildings,” Salmon said. “Health and safety precautions must remain in place once we begin to bring more students back into schools, and school systems should continue to work in conjunction with local health officials to monitor trends in the metrics and any outbreaks at area schools.”

The issues around school reopening are complicated. Educators are concerned about student safety, as well as their own health and that of their families, while also scrambling to address the digital divide. Economists are also worried about the impact on economic recovery if schools don’t reopen. Without schools reopening, many parents will have trouble returning to work.

Hogan dismissed partisan concerns around his push to reopen schools, noting that the Democratic governors of New York and New Jersey, Andrew Cuomo and Phil Murphy, have issued similar statements about reopening classrooms.

Dr. Jinlene Chan, acting deputy secretary for public health services at the Maryland Department of Health, who also spoke at the press conference, sounded a more measured approach than the governor. She said that the new metrics and the guidance being offered at this time by the state is designed to aid in decision-making rather than serve as prescriptive policy.

“There is flexibility that schools have to make decisions about how to best meet the educational needs of their students while taking into account the level of community spread and their capacity to implement the guidelines,” Chan said.

Source

Weekend Lineup: May 1-3

Lauren Cohen — Fri, 01 May 2020 09:30:00 +0000

EAT

May 3: Blue Moon Cafe’s Breakfast To-Go

1621 Aliceanna St. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. 410-522-3940

Since restaurants were forced to shut down in March, brunch lovers have been missing this tried-and-true mid-morning spot (and bonafide hangover helper). After weeks of longing for Blue Moon’s massive breakfast platters and famous Cap’n Crunch French Toast, fans will be happy to hear that chef Sarah Simington is launching carryout service this Sunday. For the first run, expect classics like the “Sweet Baby Jesus” (hash browns topped with jumbo lump crab, fresh diced tomatoes, cheddar cheese, eggs, and hollandaise) and sausage, egg, and cheese sandwiches. Place your order online by noon on Friday, wait for your confirmation, pick up curbside from the Fells Point location at your preferred time Sunday, and prepare for all of your brunch dreams to come true.

DRINK

May 2-3: Nepenthe Brewing Co.’s First Can Release

3626 Falls Road. 2-8 p.m. $14-18

The team at this Hampden favorite just added a special new offering to its takeout menu, which already highlights everything from sandwiches and frites to growlers and bottled cocktails. This weekend, the brewery is celebrating its first-ever can release with three beers available in four packs for curbside pickup. Head to Nepenthe’s website to order the newly canned “Lord Bones” double dry-hopped milkshake IPA, “Dubbabeebweepa” double IPA, and the “Tiny Tyrant: Idaho Gem” single hop pale ale. Regulars might recognize the can art by illustrator Mike Moses, whose pieces are on display in the taproom. Pre-sale will be live until 3 p.m. Friday.

SEE

May 2: Healthcare Heroes Day

Multiple locations including Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium.

At a press conference earlier this week, Gov. Larry Hogan declared Saturday, May 2 to be Heathcare Heroes Day in Maryland. To honor the selfless efforts of doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other providers fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, landmarks throughout the state—including the Annapolis State House, M&T Bank Stadium, and Camden Yards—will be illuminated blue. Additionally, the Navy’s Blue Angels and Air Force’s Thunderbirds are scheduled to fly over Maryland Saturday. Head outside to watch the planes overhead, take a drive to see the glowing blue buildings, or don some blue gear throughout the day to show your support for our healthcare workers. “These men and women are as compassionate as they are fearless,” Hogan said in a statement. We couldn’t agree more.

HEAR

May 1 & 3: BSO Off-Stage Performances

Facebook Live. Friday 7:30-8:30 p.m., Sunday 3-4 p.m. Free.

As much as we wish we could enjoy these BSO performances from the seats of the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, a comfy sofa or outdoor patio chair will be as good a venue as any to take in the solo concerts. First up is principal oboist Katherine Needleman, who has organized a Friday-night lineup including the “Solo Sonata” by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. If you prefer to tune in on Sunday afternoon, catch violinist Greg Mulligan performing the first four movements of Bach’s “Partita in D Minor,” as well as the “Largo and Allegro assai” from Bach’s Sonata No. 3 on his Baroque violin.

DO

May 2: Virtual Kinetic Sculpture Race Salute

Zoom. 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Free

On the day that would have hosted the American Visionary Art Museum’s 22nd-annual Kinetic Sculpture Race—one of the city’s most beloved events in which makers race wacky, imaginative, human-powered works of art made from used bicycle parts—organizers are still celebrating by live-streaming a portion of the opening ceremony. Each year before peddlers take off, Sister Euphonia O’Blivion (aka Joe Wall) performs a blessing of the feet. This year, the virtual “Blessing of De-Feet” will undoubtedly feel a bit different, but it’s still an opportunity for devotees to don clean socks, throw on a costume, and show their support for the time-honored tradition.

Source

Maryland Schools To Remain Closed Through May 15

Ron Cassie — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 17:35:00 +0000

Dr. Karen Salmon, the state superintendent of Maryland schools, announced Friday that state schools will remain closed through May 15 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

To date, 26 states have extended their statewide school closures through the rest of this academic year. Twenty three extended by formal mandate, with three more states recommending schools remain closed at least until summer, according to a tally from education and technology online newsletter The Journal.

Previously, the state had decided to keep Maryland schools closed through April 24. Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the District of Columbia have all announced their schools will remain closed for the 2019-2020 calendar.

Making the announcement at an Annapolis press conference with Gov. Larry Hogan, Salmon said she made the decision after “extensive consultation with the State Board of Education and leading public health experts in the state.” She noted June 15 marks the end of the school year for many Maryland schools; for others it is a week later.

Maryland reported 33 new deaths Friday, increasing the state total to 425, with another probable 69 deaths due to coronavirus since its outbreak. The number of hospitalizations in the state rose by another 161 patients in the last 24 hours, surpassing 2,600 admissions since the outbreak.

In terms of the racial impact, despite making up slightly less than 30 percent of the state’s population, African Americans make up the majority of COVID-19 deaths in Maryland.

Traditional graduation ceremonies this spring are also not likely, Salmon said. “I don’t think we will see the types of ceremonies we have seen in the past,” she said, adding that she expects virtual celebrations will take their place.

Speaking to Maryland lawmakers earlier this month, Salmon said the state is working to increase schools’ digital capabilities as they prepare to possibly remain closed though the remainder of the year and even into next fall and winter should the current outbreak continue, or if the coronavirus resurges.

The Maryland State Department of Education is also working on plans to monitor school systems’ digital learning progress and curriculum, Salmon said Friday. She said going forward state schools must provide accountability measures for assessing online student performance and a description of how Maryland school systems are addressing equity issues for special education students, homeless students, and English-as-second-language learners.

Baltimore lags well behind most U.S. cities when it comes to the number of households with home internet connections, with the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2013 American Community Survey ranking Baltimore 261 out of 296 cities surveyed.

The Baltimore City School System has nearly 80,000 students. As of April 13, however, only about 41,000 students had logged on to the school system’s curriculum, according to city school officials. Overall, Baltimore City school officials estimate there are about 25,000 students who don’t have technology devices. An estimated 37 percent of children in the city live below the poverty line.

In her remarks, Salmon highlighted federal government support that is expected to send $207 million to assist Maryland’s schools in delivering digital devices and broadband capabilities in the state. Numerous efforts in Baltimore City, by both nonprofits, local schools, and teachers have been launched in recent weeks to address the digital divide.

In his address Friday, Hogan reiterated his executive order that, as of Saturday, facial coverings will be required for all those inside retail establishments and utilizing public transportation in the state.

Earlier this week, Hogan said the state has been making tentative plans for a reopening of businesses, schools, and other public places. He also said he and his administration have been looking at the Trump Administration’s recently announced phase-in guidelines and recommendations. On Friday, however, he stressed that with the number of hospitalizations, acute care patients, and deaths still on the rise in Maryland, now is not the time for a reopening of the state and broader, non-essential economic activity.

Among other national public health experts, Dr. Leana Wen, the former Baltimore City health commissioner, has said the availability of widespread testing for the virus is necessary before anything like a full reopening of activity can begin.

“Our numbers are all going in the wrong direction,” Hogan said, adding that the same is true for the capital region in general. “Now, is not the time to open things up.”

Source

Kirwan Commission Bill Aims to Set Higher Education Standards for Maryland

Evan Greenberg — Wed, 19 Feb 2020 17:32:00 +0000

EDITOR’S NOTE: 3/20: The bill has passed through both the General Assembly and the House of Delegates. It now awaits the signature of Governor Larry Hogan.

As discussions ramp up in the Maryland General Assembly surrounding the proposals in the Kirwan Commission—sweeping reforms in the state’s education system based off three years of study—there is a palpable sense of urgency among all those fighting to see it through.

“We have leaders who are ready to act,” says Joe Francaviglia, executive director of Strong Schools Maryland, an education advocacy group in support of the legislation. “It’s a generational moment. This is Maryland’s chance. Either we’re going to seize it, or we’re not.”

The 26-member Kirwan Commission was created by the Maryland General Assembly in 2016 with the purpose of setting a standard for education across the state and preparing students for life beyond the classroom. Its namesake, William E. “Brit” Kirwan—former president of the University of Maryland, College Park and a former chancellor of the University System of Maryland—was appointed by Governor Larry Hogan, the state Senate president, and the state House speaker to lead these efforts.

What resulted was a lengthy report examining the best schools and education systems across the world, which allowed Kirwan and his team to develop several new key ideas to help Maryland become a nationwide education leader. The bill at hand, known as the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, is purposefully comprehensive, covering issues such as increasing teachers’ salaries to a baseline of $60,000, providing access to Pre-K for all 4-year-olds and 3-year olds in low-income families, and offering career and technical services for impending high school graduates.

The first three years of funding for these proposals was approved last year by the General Assembly. Getting that same approval—and funding—for the next 10 years is what’s currently on the table.

“One of the most exciting things about this whole package is that it is a package,” Francaviglia says. “Often in our state and nation’s history, we’ve tried to find silver bullets to very complex problems, and there are no silver bullets in education. It takes systemic reform. That’s exactly what this is.”

These proposals are crafted in a way that considers how they might work in concert with each other. Essentially, advocates say, one reform’s benefits can’t fully be realized without another. Cheryl Bost, president of the Maryland State Education Association, attended a marathon hearing in Annapolis Monday, where more than 150 business leaders, educators, and advocates testified on the bill’s behalf.

“When students come and they’ve had great Pre-K and kindergarten opportunities, they are really engaged and ready to learn the same as other peers,” says Bost, who has observed this relationship at work as a 4th and 5th grade teacher at Title I East Baltimore elementary school Mars Estates. “We can’t wait another year until we make an investment in our students. This is a once in a generation opportunity for our public schools in Maryland.”

However, much has been discussed as to how exactly a decade-spanning, revolutionary $4 billion annual bill like the Blueprint is to be funded. Baltimore City would have to contribute $340 million more annually, and the total amount of spending to fulfill the program in its full term amounts to around $32 billion. Elected Democratic officials in Baltimore, and the city’s delegation in Annapolis, have expressed their commitment to fully implementing the Kirwan plan—although where the increased city funding will come from remains a question.

The bill has faced opposition from Republican leaders including Governor Larry Hogan, who called the spending proposals “reckless and irresponsible” on Facebook. He has also floated a $6,000 increase in taxes per family figure that he claims the bill would initiate, though critics have said that the variables used to arrive at this figure are questionable.

As for how the bill’s programs could be funded, there are a variety of measures being considered, from legalizing sports betting to increasing the state tobacco tax. Those in support of the legislation feel that no price should be too high to provide world-class education to Maryland’s students.

“It’s disturbing, because we’re talking about children,” says Shamoyia Gardiner, a former educator and the education policy director at Advocates for Children and Youth. “People are so ready to skew the conversation that should be about placing children at the center and focusing it on taxes. If you have childrens’ best interests at heart, then you don’t see a problem and decide that’s the end of the line.”

Throughout this process, there has been little to no opposition for the proposals contained within the bill. Rather, the disconnect is between those who want to make the legislation work at all costs, and those who have concerns about the amount of money it would take to do so.

As for when and if the bill could be passed, that will be up to the General Assembly, whose session runs through April. If the beginnings of conversations around the legislation are any indication, the passion that has engulfed the proceedings isn’t likely to die down anytime soon.

“This is not something where we can just meet halfway,” Francaviglia says. “These are fundamental and moral questions of our time. We have momentum and public opinion on our side, and a legislature who cares deeply. We can’t delay any further.”

Source

Why Is Governor Larry Hogan Meeting with Chris Evans?

Evan Greenberg — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 11:51:00 +0000

Chris Evans is perhaps best known for playing Captain America, and lately, he’s been placing the emphasis on the “America” part of that moniker.

Evans has been making the rounds on Capitol Hill in an effort to raise awareness about his new project, A Starting Point, which explains political concepts in the form of short video clips starring politicians across the country. He’s been connecting with lawmakers over the course of several months, and this past week, he met with Governor Larry Hogan.

In a tweet posted from his account, Hogan displayed his support for Evans’ efforts.

“I still believe that in spite of all that divides us in America today, there is far more that unites us,” Hogan wrote.

Great to talk to @ChrisEvans this morning for his upcoming series, “A Starting Point,” which seeks to promote respectful discourse and civic engagement. I still believe that in spite of all that divides us in America today, there is far more that unites us. pic.twitter.com/xtES03cyY0
— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) February 9, 2020

Hogan is the chair of the National Governors Association, and he was front and center at the organization’s winter meeting this past weekend. The event is a way for governors to meet with federal leaders and talk about the issues in their state, and it was there that Evans and Hogan crossed paths.

“I had a great time talking with Chris Evans during the NGA Winter Meeting,” Hogan said in a statement provided to Baltimore. “I’m looking forward to the launch of his project and glad I was able to represent the nation’s governors and our mission of bipartisan political discourse.”

In a Wired magazine cover story last month, the politically-minded Evans explained that he often found himself confused when trying to research the topics that made up the news of the day.

Partnering with actor and director Mark Kassen and Joe Kiani, founder and CEO of medical technology company, Masimo, Evans developed the initiative to divide big-picture political issues up by category (immigration or education, for example), and provide breakdowns on each.

The project’s format is centered around politicians explaining their position on these issues in digestible one-minute videos. It also provides links to contact local representatives and an updated list of “trending topics.” As for the extent of Governor Hogan’s involvement, that will be revealed when A Starting Point is officially up and running.

Evans has recorded more than 1,000 videos for the project, which is set to launch in March. If successful, he told Wired, the project will “reduce partisanship and promote respectful discourse.”

Source

What to Look Out For at the Newly Renovated Camden Station

Evan Greenberg — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 17:15:00 +0000

With the introduction of a shiny new and improved Camden Station comes a vision for what similar projects across Baltimore might look like.

“It could be a jumpstart,” says Brian O’Malley, president of the Central Maryland Transportation Alliance (CMTA). “It shows that riders and the public that transit can be what we’re used to, and that we need more investments like this to be competitive and vibrant in the 21st century.”

In mid-September, tons of improvements to the Light Rail station adjacent to Oriole Park at Camden Yards were unveiled. The $7-million upgrades highlight the history of the transit hub, which was built in 1856 and once served as a stop for Abraham Lincoln on the way to deliver both his inaugural address and the Gettysburg Address.

“This new facility is a milestone for Baltimore and all of Maryland,” said Governor Larry Hogan in a press release. “This station represents a tribute to Camden Station’s historic past, as well as its bright future as an important transit resource for commuters and visitors.”

With this in mind, it’s also a model for how the city can place an emphasis on more specific initiatives within its projects. Here are a few things to look out for at the new Camden Station:

A New Look

Though the location of the station hasn’t changed, it is newly polished and refurbished after shutting down in 2018, which makes it a huge boon for commuters and those traveling to Ravens and Orioles games. There is updated art on the station’s walls and a drawing that dates back to 1869 provided by Baltimore City Sheet Maps Collection at JScholarship, which is the digital hub at the Sheridan Libraries of Johns Hopkins University. In addition, an MDOT MTA graphic designer contributed brand designs and incorporated the colors of the Maryland flag. The brick at the station is the same that is used at Camden Yards. “The station is an important location for people working downtown and for visitors to the Inner Harbor,” O’Malley says.

Going Green

Camden Station’s redesign was done with the environment in mind. MDOT is pursuing LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, which would designate Camden Station as a “green” facility. “It’s critical to have public transportation infrastructure,” O’Malley says. “For our region to be green, we need a working state of good repair and high-performing buses and trains.” To that end, there is an emphasis on reducing energy consumption, and MDOT has installed lighting and plumbing fixtures designed to curb energy use related to heating and cooling.

A Streamlined Ticketing Experience

Among the new additions to the station installed with riders in mind is a larger waiting area with plenty of seats and a new ticketing vending machine that accepts Apple and Google Pay. Riders can also purchase commuter bus tickets on the machine as well.

Bike Racks

Perhaps most importantly, a new bike canopy has been installed outside on the west side of the station, housing four bike racks that can fit four to eight bikes each. These racks join two existing bike stations. It’s an indication that MDOT is committed to creating multi-modal opportunities for Baltimoreans at a site that has a lasting footprint in Baltimore.

“Cities evolve,” O’Malley says. “And the most exciting projects keep elements of the past but allow progress to take place at the same time.”

Source

Governor Larry Hogan Announces New Initiative to Combat Violent Crime

Michelle Evans — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 11:01:00 +0000

On Tuesday, Governor Larry Hogan announced that he will be implementing several new initiatives to target violent crime in Baltimore City, citing the increasing violence as “completely unacceptable.” Hogan plans to open a Violent Crime Joint Operations Center in the city that will have 200 “strike force” officers from 16 federal and local agencies to fight crime and gangs.

“Citizens across the state are outraged by the daily headlines of this rampant gang violence,” Hogan said at the press conference. “They don’t feel safe in their own neighborhoods . . . They’re crying out for somebody to do something to stop these killings.”

For the last four years, the city has exceeded more than 300 homicides. Hogan said that “enough is enough” and that he will use every resource available to curb the amount of violence in Baltimore, including providing additional funding to the Baltimore Police Department for signing bonuses to attract more recruits, as well as $50 million to fund every request received from victim service providers across the state.

“All of these efforts won’t be enough if we can’t keep these repeat offenders off the streets,” he said. “According to the BPD, 60 percent of those convicted of gun crimes in Baltimore City do not serve any real time and are released back onto the streets to commit violent felonies again and again. This is completely unacceptable.”

The governor will fund the expansion of Project Exile, a federal program that targets repeat offenders and have them charged under federal laws and courts that may lead to longer sentences. Hogan also said he would introduce legislation at Maryland’s General Assembly session, which begins today, that would increase the mandatory minimum sentence for repeat gun offenders.

“The federal mandatory sentences are 10 years. If we can process them on federal gun crimes and federal courts, we can put them in jail rather than a slap on the wrist with Baltimore City judges and without mandatory sentences with prosecutions here in the city,” Hogan said. “They are not enough prosecutors to handle all these cases, and we ask them, ‘How could they do more of them,’ and they said they need more manpower, so we’re paying for them.”

Hogan believes that there has been too much focus on the misconduct of the BPD and not enough on the violent criminals plaguing the city, pointing the finger at the consent decree that was implemented in 2017.

He also said that permanent leadership is vital to make this all work expressing his frustration at the vacancy of the position for the past seven months. This comes just one day after Mayor Catherine Pugh announced New Orleans Superintendent Michael Harrison as commissioner-designate.

“There’s been a whole lot of focus on the consent decree, that’s all people have been talking about,” Hogan said. “I think it’s out of balance. We’re going to focus on getting the criminals off the street.”

Source

Everything You Need to Know About Tomorrow’s Election

Michelle Evans — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 12:27:00 +0000

For the last several months, we’ve all become accustomed to televised debates and campaign commercials in preparation for November 6. In addition, promotional material has been handed out, and signs with smiling faces of candidates have been strategically placed on lawns and at busy intersections. Now, Election Day is finally here.

Early voting wrapped up in Maryland on October 31—which was also the last day to register to vote in the general election—where more than 660,000 votes were cast. Tuesday’s turnout is also expected to have record numbers.

We’ve compiled an Election Day cheat sheet to break down everything you need to know, and make your visit to the polls on Tuesday a little bit easier.

Polling Places
All polls are open on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. In order to vote, you have to know where you need to go. By simply checking in to the Maryland Board of Elections site with your home address, you will find your exact polling location and times. You will also find out more about the candidates within your specific district.

If you moved more than three weeks ago, go to the polling place for your new address where you will be given a provisional ballot. As long as you complete and sign the provisional ballot application, all of your votes will count.

If you moved less than three weeks before the election, you may vote at the polling place for your old address or vote with a provisional ballot at your new address.

What to Bring
Now that you know where you have to be, you want to make sure you are prepared when walking through the door. In most instances you won’t need anything, but be sure to bring your state-issued ID card just in case.

If you’re unsure if you are registered to vote, searching here will let you know.

Races to Watch
Things are heating up on both sides—especially for the gubernatorial race. Current Republican governor Larry Hogan is hoping to keep his position as he goes up against former NAACP president and Democratic candidate Ben Jealous, who is trailing significantly in terms of the polling.

In the attorney general race, incumbent Brian Frosh is being challenged by Republican Craig Wolf.

In the Baltimore County Executive race, Democrat John “Johnny O” Olszewski Jr. is competing with Republican Al Redmer Jr. to replace Kevin Kamenetz—who served two terms and passed away while competing in Democratic primary for governor earlier this year.

Congressional, state delegate, and state senate seats are also up for grabs across the state, along with a plethora of other locally elected positions. Sample ballots are available for residents to review prior to voting to learn more about the candidates, and to minimize the amount of time spent in the booth.

Partisan Parties

There will be plenty of opportunities around Baltimore to watch the election results, but here are a few partisan parties to check out:

Baltimore City Get Out the Vote Rally with Lt. Gov Boyd Rutherford: Join Gov. Larry Hogan and Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford on November 5th for a Get Out the Vote Rally with in Baltimore City at Ryleigh’s Oyster Bar. Doors open at 6 p.m. with free appetizers for the first hundred people. There will also be $1 soda specials and happy drink specials during the event. 26 E. Cross St.

Ben Jealous Election Night Watch Party: Come out to celebrate on Election Night with Ben Jealous at the Hippodrome Theatre. Doors open at 7 p.m. RSVP here.

Baltimore City Green Party: Gather your Green Party group and check out this election night watch party. The event runs from 7-10 p.m. with a light fare and plenty of drinks. 131 West N. Ave., 410-685-0039

Al Redmer Election Night Party: Join Team Redmer at 8 p.m. for an election night at Columbus Gardens. Enjoy food, refreshments, and good music. 4301 Kiosterman Ave., 410-256-2737

Election Night Party hosted by Libertarian Party of Maryland: Supporters of Shawn Quinn for Governor will gather at the Savage Fire Hall for a night full of food, drinks, and dancing. 8521 Corridor Rd., 443-684-0924

Joe Hooe’s Election Night Celebration: Joe Hooes’s supporters will join up at The New Lansdowne Inn at 8:30 p.m. to celebrate Hooe’s accomplishments thus far. The event will feature a cash bar, great conversation, and a speech by Hooe himself. 2710 Hammonds Ferry Rd., 410-247-1163

HoCo Dems Election Night Watch Party: Join the Howard County Democrats for Election Night festivities at Kahler Hall. The event starts at 8 p.m., and there will be free food and fun activities for everyone. 5440 Old Tucker Row, 410-730-0770

Source

Maryland Officials React to Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s Confirmation to Supreme Court

Michelle Evans — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 11:57:00 +0000

On Saturday, in one of the slimmest votes in American history of 50-48, Judge Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court of the United States amid controversial sexual misconduct claims from Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. He was sworn in promptly after the vote by both Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and the retired Justice Anthony M. Kennedy—whom he is replacing—in a private ceremony.

This is considered a major victory for the Trump administration and Senate Republican leaders who have made stockpiling conservative judges a signature issue. At 53, Kavanaugh is young enough to serve on the Supreme Court for decades if not more.

“I applaud and congratulate the U.S. Senate for confirming our GREAT NOMINEE, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, to the United States Supreme Court,” President Trump tweeted Saturday afternoon. “Later today, I will sign his Commission of Appointment, and he will be officially sworn in. Very exciting!”

Maryland officials were not pleased with Kavanaugh’s confirmation and made their grievances known on social media:

Senator Chris Van Hollen, who voted no to the confirmation, believes that the allegations against Kavanaugh should have prevented him from obtaining the seat on the high court.

By advancing the nomination of Kavanaugh, the GOP-led Senate is saying this body no longer values seeking the truth through impartial, thorough means. Even retired Justice Stevens thinks Kavanaugh should not be on the Supreme Court. This is about politics, not justice—I voted NO.
— Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) October 5, 2018

Maryland gubernatorial candidate Ben Jealous also expressed his opposition to the confirmation.

The people of our state and our nation will not forget who ignored their voices and refused to stand in opposition to Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation, including Larry Hogan. https://t.co/qjMghLfUtL
— Ben Jealous (@BenJealous) October 7, 2018

This is a difficult day for our country. For those of us who believe Judge Kavanaugh lacks the impartiality to serve on #SCOTUS – and who fear how his opinions will shape the future of reproductive rights, health care & other key issues – it’s understandable to feel disheartened.
— Senator Ben Cardin (@SenatorCardin) October 6, 2018

The confirmation of Judge Kavanaugh is the result of a partisan, hypocritical process the GOP implemented to achieve their political ends at the expense of an independent & impartial #SCOTUS. Republicans should be ashamed. https://t.co/W41id30gpW
— Steny Hoyer (@WhipHoyer) October 7, 2018

Officials on the other side of the aisle were pleased with the decision to vote him in.

I am proud of my colleagues in the Senate for their decision to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to be the next associate justice on the United States Supreme Court. Congratulations, Judge Kavanaugh.
— Rep. Andy Harris, MD (@RepAndyHarrisMD) October 6, 2018

Before the vote, Governor Larry Hogan declined to say whether he would confirm Kavanaugh if he were a senator.

“I’m glad that actually happened, that there was an FBI investigation,” Hogan told The Sun. “I have frankly no involvement in that. I’ve never taken any position on any Supreme Court nominee. I’m not qualified to make those decisions. I’m not a member of the Senate. I haven’t seen the report. I haven’t watched the testimony. I’m working 15, 18 hours a day, seven days a week. I’m not sitting home watching television. I’ve followed what’s happening, but I don’t feel educated enough to make that decision.”

Source

New School Tip Line Created to Anonymously Report Threats

Michelle Evans — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 09:40:11 +0000

Just six months after the deadly shooting at Great Mills High School in St. Mary’s County, Governor Larry Hogan announced a new tip line for students, faculty, and parents to report any suspicious or dangerous activity on school grounds. The Safe Schools Maryland Tip Line is a tool meant to create preparedness, prevention, and school safety.

“Incidents of targeted violence at our schools are rarely sudden impulsive acts,” Hogan said in his announcement. “Instead, in the majority of these incidents, another person, or persons, was aware of what the student was thinking or planning to do.”

Now, in Maryland, there are three ways to report potential threats at school: The Safe Schools MD mobile app available in the Apple app store or Google Play, or by calling 1-833-MD-B-SAFE. Hogan says that the tip line is not intended to replace 911 and that all calls and reports will go directly to the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA).

According to the website, issues that can be reported are not limited to possible school violence but also include harassment, mental health crises, and bullying. Kiona Black, a training and exercise administrator at MEMA, said that the system got a tip within minutes.

“The first tip came in while the governor was speaking,” Black said. “I processed that while I was sitting in the room, and it was read and received within seven minutes.”

The Maryland State Department of Education (MDSE) announced on Wednesday that Maryland was awarded $3.6 million in federal grants to strengthen classroom safety. A five-year, $2.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education will allow the state to roll out the Maryland School Emergency Preparedness Program—a partnership between MSDE, MEMA, and local school systems.

“These grants will help Maryland in implementing our Behavioral Threat Assessment Model and the mental health training and intervention support initiative,” said Dr. Karen Salmon, states schools superintendent in a statement. “These funds will help Maryland update and modernize emergency operations plans in schools throughout the state and utilize state-of-the-art techniques to better identify potential threats to student safety.”

According to CNN, there have been 23 school shootings in the U.S. in 2018 where someone was injured or killed, averaging to about one shooting per week.

“Sadly, all too often, students choose to remain silent because they are afraid of retaliation, rejection, or being stigmatized by their peers,” Hogan said. “We need to empower our students to break that code of silence.”

Source

Local Politicians and Voters Feel Primaries Could Be Turning Point for Baltimore

Michelle Evans — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 15:52:00 +0000

With record numbers over the eight days of early voting in Maryland—a 57 percent increase from the last primary election in 2014—polling places throughout the city experienced shorter lines and wait times today. When the polls opened at 7 a.m., local politicians and campaign staffers were there to eagerly greet voters for the 2018 Maryland primary election.

Del. Brooke Lierman—who is one-fourth of the district 46 team including senator Bill Ferguson, and delegates Luke Clippinger and Robbyn Lewis—was out bright and early to greet voters at William Paca Elementary School in Patterson Park.

Lierman also believes that this primary election may be the turning point for major change within the city. She says that residents are more focused than ever on all of the major issues in the city and are ready to put leaders in places they believe will do some good.

“It’s been good to see people coming out,” she said. “We face big challenges here in Baltimore City and there’s a lot of work to be done at the state level and we need proven leaders who have shown that they can be effective.”

The climate amongst voters at William Paca today was split. There were some who enthusiastically cast their votes for their favorite candidates, while others said they were simply fulfilling their civic duty, with no feelings one way or another about the pool of candidates.

“I feel good about who I voted for,” said Patterson Park resident Marissa Fleming after exiting the polling place. “I’m exercising my right, so my voice will be heard and I’m hoping they can do some good for the area.”

Earl Jones, who registered to vote today, did so because he believes this is the only way to help evoke change in his community. While he’s not particularly pleased with the campaigns he’s been following, he’s hopeful that there is a “diamond in the rough” among politicians running.

“We need someone that’s really going to work and be out here with us and active in all the communities,” he said. “I will be able to vote in November now, and I’m hoping that the right candidates make it to that ballot. I know [voting] is something that needs to be done to help my city.”

Eileen Del Valle, feels that it’s not only her civic duty to get out to the polls, but it’s also important to teach her 4-year-old daughter the importance of making her voice heard.

“She comes with me all the time, this is her third time now,” Del Valle said. “I want to get her excited about doing her duty early.”

With some races heating up in the city—namely the state’s attorney’s race with Ivan Bates suing State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby and Thiru Vignarajah for defamation—some voters have been turned off by the smear campaigns and negativity.

“It’s gotten pretty nasty, especially towards the end,” said Nelson Vasconcelos. “It just muddies the water. It affects my voting to a degree, I mean I know who I wasn’t voting for in the state’s attorney’s race, but it did affect who I ultimately voted for.”

To add another layer of drama to election day, a computer glitch at the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) has caused as many as 80,000 Marylanders to cast provisional ballots today. It affects residents who tried to change their address or party affiliation through the MVA since 2017. When these residents show up to vote, the correct information will not be available, however no one will be turned away. Those voters will be given a provisional ballot that will be counted on July 5.

On Monday, Democratic legislative leaders called for the immediate resignation of MVA administrator Christine Nizer, who oversees the agency that failed to forward voter information to the Maryland Board of Elections. Gov. Larry Hogan has ordered an audit to find out what went wrong.

“It’s absolutely unacceptable,” Lierman said of the glitch. “This is one of MVA’s core jobs—to make sure they are an entry point to registering. We will be having oversight hearings to figure out what happened and demanding that Gov. Hogan make some changes to make sure this doesn’t happen again. We need to make sure every single vote is counted.”

The polls will be open until 8 p.m. tonight.

Source

Baltimore County Public Schools Could Stay Open During Jewish Holidays

Michelle Evans — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 10:24:00 +0000

Updated November 8-

Tuesday night, the Baltimore County Public School board voted 9-3 to approve the academic calendar that will keep schools closed next school year for two Jewish High Holy Days. After heated debates about whether schools should remain open for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the board chose the academic calendar that will shorten spring break by one day and still complies with Gov. Larry Hogan’s requirements to end the school year on June 15.

After more than two decades, Baltimore County Public School (BCPS) students could be attending school for two Jewish holidays next September. Since the mid-1990s, BCPS has been closed for staff and students on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur each year, but with new requirements mandated by Governor Larry Hogan, those days may be rescinded.

Forced to comply with the new requirements—schools must begin after Labor Day and end by June 15—the BCPS school board is finding it difficult to accommodate spring break along with two Jewish holidays in the 2018-2019 calendar.

“We were starting school in late in August, so we have a new set of rules,” said BCPS chairman Ed Gilliss. “We’re going to play by those rules, and we’re going to make it happen, but it has put constraints on us we didn’t use to have to juggle.”

Effective the 2017-2018 school year, all Maryland public school students must attend at least 180 school days with a minimum of 1,080 instructional hours for elementary and middle school students and 1,170 hours for high school. Due to the shorter school days, Baltimore County students must stay in school for a minimum of 186 days in order to meet the required number of instructional hours.

After factoring in the mandated state holidays for public schools—including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Election Day—the board drafted two possible school calendars. One scenario is to continue with the tradition of closing for the two Jewish holidays. The other option would allow schools to remain open for those days. The only difference in the two options is the length of spring break—students would have a four-day weekend for spring break, instead of a five-day weekend should schools remain open.

“Opening for the Jewish holidays would create some major operational and logistical issues,” said Howard Libit, executive director of the Baltimore Jewish Council. “So you’re looking at the loss of learning for those students who stay home, plus the loss of learning for the kids who are in the schools who don’t have either teachers or subs.”

During a hearing on Tuesday night to discuss the options, the BCPS board got an earful from community leaders and parents.

“It is your duty to find the solution,” said PTA council president Jayne Lee. “It is not up to us to find the solution.”

Most people at the hearing were preaching a message of tolerance and stressed that the Jewish population is an important backbone of the school system.

“We want to be inclusive,” said Baltimore County resident Bash Pharoan. “We’re not really looking to deprive our Jewish brothers and sisters of their holidays.”

In 1980, the Supreme Court ruled that public schools could close for religious holidays if it affects staff shortage or poor student attendance. A recent survey found that there are nearly 2,000 teachers and 12,000 students in Baltimore County Public Schools that are Jewish. The BCPS board estimates that staying open during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur would cost the school system more than $1 million.

On Wednesday, Governor Hogan released a statement condemning Baltimore County officials for threatening Jewish holidays.

“Most jurisdictions have managed to adopt a common sense calendar that prioritizes what students and families want, and Baltimore County could easily do the same,” he said. “For school administrators to pretend that starting school after Labor Day puts religious holidays in jeopardy is simply dishonest.”

A vote will take place on October 24 on which of the calendar options will be instituted for next year. Of the two options up for consideration, the calendar committee—which includes staff, community members, and parents—has recommended the option that will keep schools open.

“I don’t think that’s particularly a big difference, I mean we aren’t going back to a week off for spring break—that’s history,” Libit said. “Our position is for operational and fiscal reasons, given the Jewish population among staff and students, is to keep the schools closed in Baltimore County.”

Source

Local Residents Have Mixed Feelings About School Starting After Labor Day

Michelle Evans — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 14:10:00 +0000

Back-to-school season usually begins in July with children pouting and parents dancing down the aisles of Target as they load up carts with supplies to send the children back to school at the end of August.

But this year, in Maryland, the shopping has commenced a little later and children are in camp a little longer because of an executive order issued in October 2016 by Governor Larry Hogan stating that the 24 public school districts in Maryland cannot begin before Labor Day.

“The Labor Day holiday weekend is an exclusively American institution that has served, both symbolically and practically, as our nation’s traditional end of summer,” he wrote in the executive order. “The policy of constructing the public school (kindergarten through 12th grade) calendars so that classes begin prior to the Labor Day holiday has imperiled this venerable tradition.”

Some local residents are having mixed feelings about the switch, like Jen Hauser, mother of two students at Rodgers Forge Elementary School. She said she loves the idea that her kids can “just be kids” a little while longer, but also understands the inconvenience it causes other parents.

“The constant running from one place to another will consume their lives when they are adults. For now, I love to see the creativity that comes from unscheduled routine,” she said. “But I do realize that for working parents, it’s another week to obtain daycare. I wish this was an equally affordable option for everyone.”

Governor Hogan believes that the post-Labor Day start will be good for businesses and families, but this order counters the trend in other parts of the country that start school earlier in an effort to bridge the socioeconomic gap and limit the amount of time working families have to pay for child care.

Prior to the executive order, a task force including teachers, administrators, and business leaders, was created by the Maryland General Assembly to examine the administrative and economic implications of a later start. Results identified only economic benefits—an additional $74.3 million in direct activity—and found no academic consequences, so the group voted to approve the new date.

Denise Mitchell, administrative secretary at Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School, believes that August is the best time to go back to school because children lose so much information over the summer.

“Starting school after Labor Day is only for financial gain,” she said. “Society is complaining about not having enough vacation time or making enough money because of the early start date. Educating our children during their formative years should be the first priority for every adult. Our children need to be able to function in this ever-changing world.”

For some, the start date isn’t the problem. Under Hogan’s new order, schools must complete the required 180 days of instruction by June 15. President of the Baltimore Teachers Union, Marietta English, said the hard end date complicates things.

“We already have two snow days built into the curriculum, but we can’t predict the weather,” she says. “Winter break and spring break are contractually set, so our professional development days will be impacted in order to end school on time.”

In an effort to resolve any calendar conflicts that may arise, Hogan has included an option for school districts to apply for an annual waiver that would permit a school to begin before Labor Day or end later than June 15. In order to obtain the waiver, the local board of education must apply to the state board citing “compelling justifications” for the exemption.

Such reasons could include charter schools with innovative schedules, low-performing or at-risk schools, and districts with 10 emergency or weather-related closings twice in the past five years. The school board must then hold at least one public meeting to consider the waiver and have it approved.

However, no school in the state has been granted the waiver this year and all Maryland public schools will be back in session on September 5.

“I am optimistic,” English said. “I think this will be a good school year, no matter when we start and stop.”

Source

Opioid Overdose Medication Naloxone on Short Supply in Baltimore

Michelle Evans — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 12:17:00 +0000

Every day at least two people die from opioid overdose in Baltimore City, according to health commissioner Dr. Leana Wen. There are only 4,000 doses remaining of the life-saving drug, naloxone, to last until July 2018 with no set date for replenishment.

“If we didn’t ration it, we would use it up in the next two weeks,” said Wen. “Right now, we are making the decision every day about who are the most vulnerable people, and rationing it accordingly.”

Naloxone, or more specifically Narcan, is a medication administered as a nasal spray or injection that reverses the effects of opioids during an overdose. Since 2015, residents administering Narcan to victims of overdose saved over 950 lives in Baltimore.

As of June 1, legislators enacted a standing order for a blanket prescription of Narcan at all pharmacies in the city. Unfortunately, the Baltimore City Health Department has run out of funds to purchase the medicine, and has been relying on the generosity of drug companies for donations.

“It’s very safe and effective. It’s got no side effects to someone who is not using opioids,” Wen said. “It’s not addictive—this is a life saving antidote that should be available to every single person.”

Back in March, Governor Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency for the opioid epidemic in Maryland. He also announced a supplemental budget of $50 million in new funding over five years for opioid overdose prevention and treatment.

Katie Kuehn, communications director for the Opioid Operational Command Center, said that as part of the first $10 million in the budget, funding would be available “soon” to local jurisdictions to purchase more naloxone.

“Recognizing the urgency of providing additional naloxone to Baltimore, Behavioral Health System Baltimore requested . . . that a portion of its current budget be allocated to purchase more naloxone to be used by the end of this fiscal year,” she said in an email. “Behavioral Health System Baltimore and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Behavioral Health Administration worked together to determine that $150,000 was needed, and it was approved the same day.”

According to Wen, Baltimore City has over one-third of all overdoses in the state, so she believes that Baltimore should receive at least one-third of that $10 million.

“We need Narcan, but we also definitely need treatment,” Wen said. “It’s important to save someone’s life if they’re overdosing, but we also need to get them into long-term treatment. That’s what will help them get their lives back.”

Kuehn said that more information about state funding would be announced in the coming days. Currently, the Baltimore City Health Department is awaiting a response from the state for the funding request, but Wen is being proactive with the fight against opioid abuse and overdose. Initiatives like the needle exchange program, which provides clean needles and substance abuse counseling, service about 3,500 people a year.

In addition, the Start Talking Act, which was passed this year, requires public schools to offer drug education as early as third grade, including the dangers of heroin and other opioids.

“Everyone has the ability to save a life. Unfortunately, in our community there are people dying who are mothers, fathers, siblings,” Wen said. “We strongly believe that everyone should have naloxone in their medicine cabinet.”

Source

Former NAACP President Ben Jealous Runs for Maryland Governor

Michelle Evans — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 09:45:00 +0000

Once the youngest president and CEO of the NAACP, Ben Jealous announced his candidacy for Maryland governor outside his cousin’s Northwest Baltimore flower shop on Wednesday, May 31.

Jealous, 44, who has no previous political experience, is seeking the Democratic nomination for the June 2018 primary. He is now the second Democratic candidate to formally announce candidacy joining tech expert Alec Ross, who announced his bid last month. Other possible Democratic incumbents include: Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, former Attorney General Doug Gansler, State Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr., Rep. John Delaney, Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, and Baltimore lawyer James L. Shea.

After resigning from the NAACP, Jealous continued to be an advocate for social injustice by leading movements to abolish the death penalty in Maryland, defend voter rights, secure marriage equality, and combat racial profiling. More recently, he endorsed and became a proxy for Bernie Sanders during his 2016 presidential campaign, citing that his experiences with Sanders, among other qualifications, make up for his lack of political experience.

“I’m a community organizer—I’ve spent my life doing that,” he said. “I’m a civil rights leader. Pulling together, solving problems, and serving people are what I do.”

Dr. Mileah Kromer, assistant professor of political science at Goucher College, says that Jealous brings something different to the table than the other potential candidates. She labeled Jealous as a “true resistance” democrat that many within the party are looking for in the mold of Bernie Sanders. Similar to Sanders, he has a persona that appeals to a younger, more progressive demographic, especially African American voters.

“He has an ability to talk with a lot of credibility on important social justice issues,” Kromer said. “There’s no better messenger on racial and social justice issues than a former head of the NAACP.”

Although Jealous has the national recognition and civil rights experience, Kromer says that it may not be enough to compete with seasoned elected officials. Not all Democrats fall under the progressive umbrella, so he faces the challenge of appealing to those individuals less interested in social issues, and more concerned with economic development.

“Democrats want to know, who’s electable? Who can beat Larry Hogan?” Kromer said. “Right now, all polls show that Hogan is one of the most popular elected officials in the country.”

In a poll of 85,000 registered voters released in April by Morning Consult, 73 percent of Marylanders approve of Hogan. A Goucher College poll from February shows Hogan with a 63 percent approval rating, and 57 percent of poll responders leaning towards a 2018 Hogan vote.

Without providing detailed proposals, Jealous said that, if elected, he will raise minimum wage to $15, enhance transportation by extending state highways and bridges, grow local businesses, and improve public safety.

“We will close corporate tax loopholes. We will end mass incarceration. We will cut the murder rate, and we will lock up the shooters,” he said. “We will restore trust by better training officers, and also holding officers who kill unarmed civilians fully accountable.”

But some advocates of the opposition are skeptical that Jealous’ lack of political experience make him unprepared to keep those promises.

“The voters of our state rejected this kind of rhetoric and the failed job-killing policies the Maryland Democratic Party represents when they elected Governor Larry Hogan in 2014,” said Brian Griffiths, editor-in-chief of conservative news outlet RedMaryland.com. “We are confident the voters will make the right choice again in 2018.”

However, support for Jealous came from all over the state to attend the rally, including Robert Julian Ivey, a council member of Cheverly, Maryland.

“It’s just so important that we put someone against Hogan that can stand up to for the ideals that the people of Maryland believe in,” Ivey said. “He’s someone that can stand up and keep organizing, and keep being an activist.”

Similarly, Karen Warwick of Anne Arundel County is hoping that Jealous will be “Maryland’s Bernie.”

“For the progressives nationwide, we were all in for Bernie,” she said. “But here in Maryland, we have a chance to elect this person that holds the same values as Bernie to be the governor of the state.”

Jealous may have the nationwide recognition, experience with social justice, entrepreneurial savvy, but the list of potential candidates that he is up against all have extensive resumés, with experience running and winning elections.

“It’s a long road to Hogan,” Kromer said. “There’s a lot before he gets to go head-to-head, and there’s a long journey to get to there.”

Source

Inside Two Worlds

Jess Mayhugh — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 08:30:00 +0000

Yumi Hogan was in search of light when she moved into her new home. At first, it was difficult to find amid Government House’s ornate staircase, stately portraits, and dark wood accents. But when she arrived at a room on the third floor, with tall windows on two sides, she saw potential. She had staff remove the heavy drapes, requested the dark green walls be painted butter yellow, and loaded canvasses and rolls of thick paper into the cedar closet. She stacked ink bowls and brushes on a nearby table. Here, in her new studio, it started to feel like home.

Maryland’s newest First Lady has always identified as an artist first. Finding her own space in the historic governor’s mansion, where tours routinely stop by, was essential. Plus, she admits she’s not like other First Ladies—as an immigrant and one-time single mother, she has had different life experiences. She favors scarves, flowing silk tops, and jeans to power suits. She has never wanted to live a public life, but now that she’s here, she’s determined to make it her own.

Hogan also knows she has a big weight to carry—she is the first Korean-born governor’s wife in the United States. Her husband, Larry Hogan, was an underdog candidate who had never held a prior elected position, and is one of only two Republican governors in Maryland during the last 40 years. Yumi Hogan’s new role as First Lady brings with it the responsibility of becoming a voice for immigrants and single mothers, two groups not frequently represented in Republican politics.

But she is determined not to give up her dream job—teaching. This is her fourth year as an adjunct professor at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), where she received her undergraduate degree in 2008, at the age of 48. She instructs roughly 20 students each semester to use the materials and delicate painting techniques of her homeland.

For decades, Hogan has persisted to live this dream. Though it may seem daunting, she wants to maintain her identity and find the balance between her two, distinct lives.

Even in elementary school in South Korea, Hogan showed an inclination for her future career. She remembers that she covered her paper with color when she drew the rolling landscape around her, using crayons or watercolors. She’d peek at her classmates’ work and notice that they never filled in the sky. So she’d show them how.

By middle school, Hogan, the youngest of eight, caught the attention of the art teacher. He told her, “You have a future in art. You are different from other kids,” she recalls. She never forgot his words.

Hogan left South Korea for America at 18 with her then-husband. Dreaming of an education, they landed in Texas, and had three daughters, but it wasn’t long before the marriage ended. Hogan doesn’t talk about why it didn’t work out. She moved to California, finding herself alone in a new country, raising three girls—their father not in the picture. Then, a friend told her about the excellent public schools in Howard County.

“I can’t remember ever wanting anything. Looking back, I don’t know how she did it.”

“I had no question, I had to move,” Hogan says. “It was all about my kids.”

She found a job as a cashier, joined a Korean church, and added tutoring local children to her workload. She also squeezed in community-college classes, and earned her associate degree in art, once her daughters were teenagers.

Daughter Jaymi Sterling, 34, recalls her mother as caring and selfless, never complaining as she shuttled Sterling and her sisters to school, softball practice, and National Honor Society meetings. “I can’t remember ever wanting anything,” she says. “Looking back, I don’t know how she did it.”

With work six days a week and church all day on Sunday—Hogan is a devout Presbyterian—there wasn’t much time for painting. But Sterling remembers the pungent smell of turpentine wafting through their townhouse as her mother fit in her art whenever she could—sometimes setting up canvases in the kitchen. Back then, Hogan worked with oil paints mostly, and adopted a realistic style found more frequently in her adopted country.

Hogan famously brushed off her future husband when they met in 2001, at an art opening where she was showing her work. Governor Hogan, at the time a successful real-estate developer, recalls that, “I thought the artist was more interesting than the art,” but Yumi Hogan put away the business card he gave her. She wasn’t interested in just dating, and wanted someone who was serious about her and her girls. She didn’t consider him until he showed up at the same show the next year and asked her why she hadn’t called. Now, she says she sees that it was God’s plan.

After their marriage in 2004, she told her husband about her desire to attend art school. “I told her, ‘It’s time to pursue your dreams,'” Gov. Hogan says. He supported her while she attended MICA, her choice because of its national reputation and its diversity, thanks to an exchange program that attracts students from all over the world.

Her daughters were elated. Sterling remembers that before her stepfather’s encouragement, her mother seemed reluctant to go, perhaps because she was so used to sacrificing. “She came up with a lot of excuses. She didn’t really know how to do something for herself. And I think she felt guilty in a way.”

While Hogan was at MICA, Robert Merrill, a literature and humanities professor, watched her become a surrogate mother of sorts to her much younger classmates, including many international students.

“She was a lot shier and less self-confident than she is now,” Merrill says, “but even then she talked to me about her goal of teaching art.”

And her work began to transform. She incorporated memories of the Korean landscape—similar to Maryland’s, she says—and her paintings became more abstract. She experimented with layering, brush strokes, and color. Her professors encouraged her to find more depth, and she discovered how to channel her emotions into her brush.

The transformation was complete once she started graduate school at American University. Hogan worked in a studio with no windows, and worried about oil paint’s toxic fumes. So she switched to the Sumi ink favored by Asian artists, coupled with Korean Hanji paper. Through her work, she’d found a way to connect to the land she’d left behind.

Her husband built her a studio at their home in Edgewater, with big windows so she could work while looking out on the water. Sometimes, when she’d watch the trees bend in the wind, she remembered watching her mother and grandmother weave silk when she was a child, feeling the silk’s whispery touch on her skin.

Though she’s dabbled in portraits and still lifes, Hogan returns again and again to the natural world. “Nature is very similar to our life,” she says. It’s “calm, then suddenly wind comes up. And then, change.”

Hogan’s mood had changed . . . “It dawned on her that he might win.”

It was in the fall of 2013 that her husband came to her with the question.

Larry Hogan’s supporters had been suggesting that he run for governor. In 2011, the son of a former Maryland congressman had founded Change Maryland, an organization that advocates for lower taxes and less government spending. He’d also run unsuccessfully for Congress twice before and been a part of Gov. Robert Ehrlich’s administration during the early to mid 2000s. Now, the Republican party was looking for a strong voice to take on then-Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown.

“What do you think?” Hogan asked his wife. Yumi Hogan says she had never considered her husband a politician—she always described him as “a simple man” who loves her unconditionally and accepts her daughters as his own. But she also remembered how he supported her through two arts degrees.

“How much did he help me? I have to help him,” she says. “He has a good heart, and I know that.”

She remembers telling him, “Honey, do it. You are talented and would be a good leader. I’m going to pray for you.”

Accompanying him on the campaign trail, and seeing how excited people were, strengthened her resolve. And she connected with them, too—Gov. Hogan calls her his “secret weapon.” Looking back, he wonders if “she understood what she was getting herself into.”

Her MICA colleagues could tell reality hadn’t set in. Rex Stevens, the chair of the drawing and general fine arts departments, remembers telling her, “You might have to be ready to be the First Lady.”

“One step at a time,” she responded.

By then, she’d taught six semesters at MICA, and her class had gotten popular. Her colleagues and students noticed how she captivated the classroom with her quiet strength. She had a reputation for being strict, but also understanding.

“She radiates all this artistic energy,” says Daniel Iturralde, a former pupil who became her teaching assistant for the spring 2015 semester. “She holds herself to a very high standard, and she expects the same, if not more, from her students.”

Merrill says she had always discussed her husband’s interest in politics with him, but there are certain aspects of a campaign that are difficult to anticipate.

For someone who was, as her daughter Sterling says, not comfortable with the spotlight, it brought a new level of attention. Stevens had requested a Hogan for Governor bumper sticker, which he proudly displayed on his door in support of Yumi Hogan. Soon, the campus was buzzing about what the election meant for MICA, and what it would mean to have a Republican in office who supported the arts.

During the last two months before election night, Merrill noticed that Yumi Hogan’s mood had changed to a mixture of excitement and anxiety. “It dawned on her that he might win.”

And then the fateful night arrived. As Brown conceded the race after midnight on November 5, 2014, and now Gov. Hogan took the stage in front of an excited crowd at a party at the Westin Annapolis, Hogan swelled with pride at what her husband had accomplished.

Though on the surface it may not seem that politics and art would mesh, Merrill says Hogan’s new role suits her “She’s a strong person that wants a voice in leadership and teaching,” he says. “This gives her another platform.”

Former First Lady Kendel Ehrlich knows what the Hogans are going through. She remembers how hectic the transition to public life was when her husband, Bob Ehrlich, won the governorship in 2002.

It’s a challenge “having troopers and staff around all the time, and trying to keep life as normal as possible,” Ehrlich says. “Having people constantly there is definitely an adjustment.”

After her husband’s victory, Hogan promised that she’d continue teaching, though the school hired a secondary instructor who alternates classes with her. Since November, when she walks the campus, a Maryland State Police officer trails not far behind.

“She’s a strong person that wants a voice in leadership and teaching.”

At 8:30 on a rainy April morning, a group of students, some holding coffee cups, surround Hogan in the classroom. They gaze together at the front wall where their homework assignments hang—traditional hand fans they’ve decorated. Hogan gestures to one with a depiction of a tree with curving, intricate branches in black ink.

“What’s that movie with the trees that are talking . . . Pocahontas?” Hogan says, referring to the Disney animated movie.

The class laughs at the randomness of the comment, and Hogan goes on to explain that the line and detail make the tree come alive. She holds her hand close to its ridges, imitating the strokes. On one side of the classroom, members of the First Lady’s staff observe the class, as they sometimes do.

Hogan is still figuring out how to incorporate art into her new role. She has considered hosting a children’s art competition, with work displayed at Government House, so she can give them the same encouragement she received. Gov. Hogan says he knows the importance of arts education, though it remains to be seen how that will translate into his administration.

The Hogans’ move has brought some sadness. They’ve decided to put their Edgewater home, with Hogan’s other studio, on the market. And, “it’s been 80-some days, and we’re still unpacking,” Gov. Hogan says. But they are settling in, if slowly. The First Lady, who loves to cook and brought her kimchi refrigerator to her new home, has prepared traditional Korean cuisine for the staff. She’s the first Maryland First Lady in anyone’s memory to have done so.

Back in class that April day, Hogan moves on to the next fan. This one has two color paintings on it—an abstract landscape in yellow and green, and a depiction of a black-haired woman, a pink flower behind her ear.

Hogan begins, pointing to the woman. “This is very personal. This figure, is this someone related to you?”

The student, a man in an olive coat, shrugs. “I just painted someone.”

Hogan steps back to look at it again. “First, I see two paintings. But then I see the background, brush strokes . . . something is connecting them.”

The student shrugs again. Hogan smiles, then looks back at the fan. Her student might not see the connection, but she does. “It’s interesting,” she says, folding her arms. Sometimes, it’s not easy to see how different parts of life are related. But she realizes now that the connections are there, below the surface.

Source

Governor Larry Hogan – Baltimore Magazine

The Great Divide: How The Bay Bridge Changed Maryland Forever

Seventy years ago, one stretch of metal and concrete changed Maryland forever.

Business & Development

Seventy years ago, one stretch of metal and concrete changed Maryland forever.

July 2022

Every summer when she was a little girl,

Opening photo and video by Jay Fleming

Vintage postcard of the first span, connecting both shores of Maryland.

The original eastbound span, built in 1952. COURTESY OF MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Executives discuss early bridge plans. Photography by Timothy Hyman

Vintage Bay Bridge postcard, c. 1955.

“The bay has always isolated us, but at the same time, the bay has always connected us.”

The 'Louise' ferry between Baltimore and Tolchester in Kent County, where a mini Ocean City sprung up in 1877.

“I walked that bridge from one end to the other...using land, sea, and air to get my shots.”

The setting of concrete support piers. Photography by TIMOTHY HYMAN Timothy Hyman in his home holding his photographs and camera from the construction of the first Bay Bridge. Photography by MIKE MORGAN

Prepping the foundation for road. Photography by TIMOTHY HYMAN

The first cars cross the bay following opening ceremonies on July 30, 1952. AP Images

July 1952 cover of Baltimore magazine. BALTIMORE CITY ARCHIVES, BRG29-10-46

the dual-span bridge today. Photography by JAY FLEMING

Secretary Harry Hughes takes the first Bay Bridge toll. Courtesy of MDTA

BEFORE THE FIRST BAY BRIDGE, Map of steamboat lines, c. 1926. COURTESY OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Community activist Jay Falstad at the Terrapin Nature Park in Queen Anne’s County on the Eastern Shore. Photography by MIKE MORGAN

A vintage postcard between circa 1930 and circa 1945.

A vintage postcard between circa 1930 and circa 1945.

“Our biggest fear is not just what a new crossing would do to Queen Anne's county but the entire Delmarva Peninsula.”

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAY FLEMING

Hogan Says All Businesses May Reopen Friday, But Baltimore City Takes Cautious Approach

Hogan Implores Schools to Reopen for In-Person Classes

Weekend Lineup: May 1-3

EAT

May 3: Blue Moon Cafe’s Breakfast To-Go

DRINK

May 2-3: Nepenthe Brewing Co.’s First Can Release

SEE

May 2: Healthcare Heroes Day

HEAR

May 1 & 3: BSO Off-Stage Performances

DO

May 2: Virtual Kinetic Sculpture Race Salute

Maryland Schools To Remain Closed Through May 15

Kirwan Commission Bill Aims to Set Higher Education Standards for Maryland

Why Is Governor Larry Hogan Meeting with Chris Evans?

What to Look Out For at the Newly Renovated Camden Station

A New Look

Going Green

A Streamlined Ticketing Experience

Bike Racks

Governor Larry Hogan Announces New Initiative to Combat Violent Crime

Everything You Need to Know About Tomorrow’s Election

Maryland Officials React to Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s Confirmation to Supreme Court

New School Tip Line Created to Anonymously Report Threats

Local Politicians and Voters Feel Primaries Could Be Turning Point for Baltimore

Baltimore County Public Schools Could Stay Open During Jewish Holidays

Local Residents Have Mixed Feelings About School Starting After Labor Day

Opioid Overdose Medication Naloxone on Short Supply in Baltimore

Former NAACP President Ben Jealous Runs for Maryland Governor

Inside Two Worlds

“I can’t remember ever wanting anything. Looking back, I don’t know how she did it.”

Hogan’s mood had changed . . . “It dawned on her that he might win.”

“She’s a strong person that wants a voice in leadership and teaching.”

The setting of concrete support piers. Photography by TIMOTHY HYMAN
Timothy Hyman in his home holding his photographs and camera from the construction of the first Bay Bridge. Photography by MIKE MORGAN