McCray Messenger, April 20, 2015
Sine die has come and gone; the people’s work is finished until the next session of the Maryland General Assembly. It was truly a humbling experience to work on your behalf. I want to take this opportunity to inform you about the progress we made for the 45th legislative district, our City, and our State.
Budget. One of the most contested issues from this session was the budget. I am pleased to report that the General Assembly passed a budget which both protected our priorities and did not raise taxes. Furthermore, the proposed budget, which received bipartisan support, was balanced and closed 69% of the structural deficit. Some of the highlights of the proposed budget are as follows:
o Restored $132 million for k-12 education
o Restored the proposed pay cuts for State workers
o Restored the proposed cuts to Medicaid
The General Assembly’s proposed budget has been submitted to the Governor, and we all must wait to see if he will sign it or if he will make other cuts.
Capital Investments for the 45th. Each year, the legislature appropriates a certain amount of funds to improve our communities. The following investments are slated to be made, to help improve the 45th legislative district:
Kennedy Krieger Institute – received a $2,000,000 grant to be used for the design and construction of a new comprehensive center for autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities at Kennedy Krieger’s East Baltimore Campus.
Niarchos Parkway Film Center – received a $2,000,000 grant to revitalize this historic theater. This investment will help to strengthen our City’s arts and entertainment sector. Our City does not shut down at 6 p.m. when we get home from work. Investments like these will help to ensure that we have a vibrant nightlife as well.
Men and Families Center – received a $150,000 grant to help with the costs associated with furthering the mission of the center. These funds represent a much needed investment in the McElderry Park neighborhood, and our City as a whole.
Moveable Feast – received a $100,000 grant to help continue serving our City’s hungry population. For 25 years Moveable Feast has served Baltimore families, and this investment will ensure they can continue to serve for many more to come.
Baltimore Arts Realty Corporation – received a $500,000 grant to help provide affordable, safe, and sustainable facilities for our growing arts community.
Important Legislative Measures
Expanding the right to vote. After many conversations with my colleagues and some moving testimony from interested parties, the General Assembly has passed Election Law – Voting Rights (House Bill 980). If signed by the Governor, this bill will return the right to vote to ex-offenders upon their release from prison. Ex-offenders may have served time behind bars, but that is not all that they are. They are our neighbors, friends, and some are our family. At a time when elections are decided by slim margins, it is incumbent upon use to increase voter participation – not to restrict it.
Starting the conversation. After the countless hours of effort that went into advocating for a common sense measure to strengthen our labor force and middle class, I regret to say that the Prevailing Wage – Payment for Apprenticeship Programs (House Bill 370) was defeated in committee. However, the over 300 emails, 200-300 phone calls, texts, tweets, and Facebook posts did not go wasted. We were able to start the conversation on how we can help to expand the middle class the old fashioned way; by investing in our workforce and creating ladders of opportunity for those who want them.
Protecting the most vulnerable. I proposed an amendment to current Stormwater Management Fee legislation which would have created a uniform hardship exemption for folks who earn 250% or less of the Federal Poverty Level. Unfortunately, my proposed amendment was rejected in committee. Currently, the law allows each jurisdiction to decide the terms of their hardship exemption. Our jurisdiction, Baltimore City, has a hardship exemption for those who are at about 170% of the Federal Poverty Level. I argue that if you are making 170% of Federal Poverty Level – roughly $20,100 per year – you have more pressing concerns than your water bill. But who would this hardship exemption effect? Mostly senior citizens. Our neighbors who are living on a fixed income and looking for nothing more than to live their retirement with dignity. When their water bills are increased, their standard of living decreases. We can do better than to ask our senior neighbors to foot this bill.
But why only 250% of the Federal Poverty Level? The fact is: many jurisdictions, including Baltimore City, have already made the policy decision to provide a hardship exemption. Howard County has set their hardship exemption at 250% of the Federal Poverty Level, and this proposal would make that standard uniform for each of the jurisdictions currently paying the fee. This proposed amendment merely makes the hardship exception meaningful. If we can make even a handful of senior citizens living on fixed incomes more financially secure, then it is worth the effort.
The next step in this regard is to start a conversation with our City elected officials to see if we can develop a creative solution to help our seniors in this regard. Alternatively, next session I can submit a local bill, which can achieve the same result. The bottom line is: we can do better for our neighbors, and I intend to fight for them.
Helping to reduce recidivism. The Second Chance Act of 2015, which allows for certain non-violent ex-offenders to shield their convictions was passed.
Providing financial security for our retired veterans. The General Assembly increased a tax credit for retired military families for up to $10,000 of their pension income.
Strengthening our schools. Reformed our charter schools to allow the schools to create a preference for neighborhood students, while at the same time making it easier for parents to enroll their kids in the same school.
In the Interim
As your delegate, I will continue to attend as many community meetings as I can – to make sure that I continue to engage with you during the interim. Listening, learning, leading was more than just words. It was a promise, and one I intend to keep. This previous week, I visited with Parkside Improvement Association, Oliver Community Association, Lanvale Towers Tenant Council, Orchard Ridge Community Association, and McElderry Park Community Association. While at these meetings, I was able to hear the different concerns each community faces and I was able to share about the wrap up from session. In keeping with this, I plan on attending all meetings over the coming months.
Upcoming Events
The CollegeBound Foundation is hosting a FREE success seminar for 8th graders to help with their transition to high school. For more information, click here.
In Closing
From the first day, to the last day I have sought to represent you in the most effective, and efficient way possible. By engaging you and voicing your concerns in Annapolis, I hope to have represented your interests in a positive and constructive way. Thank you for this opportunity. Now lets keep pushing forward.
Respectfully Submitted,
Cory V. McCray
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