$83 million increase to education budget
$33 million – School resources
$15 million – New teacher hires
$15 million – Increased teacher pay
$10 million – Mental health counselors and programming
$5 million – Comprehensive sex-ed and contraception programs
Compensated Parental Leave Trial (ComPLT) Act
10-year (technically 12-year) plan to reach 16 weeks of fully-paid leave for parents, including those who are adopting or fostering. Initially, 50+ employers will be the focus, with Under-50 employers starting the program two years later.
Parents can split the weeks however they choose, which also means single parents can use the entirety.
Notes
–This structure decreases the tax burden on homeowners by 25%, while still providing replacement revenue to the city, and encourages people to move back into Baltimore
–With more businesses opening via my PEACE Zones and FiST plans, the revenue lost can be recovered, if not substantially boosted
A 3% City Sales Tax on vehicle purchases, which will increase by 10% each year until about 5.3%, then increase to 10% the subsequent year
–All revenue goes to transit improvements
City observation of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April) (including Denim Day) and Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October)
Provide community outreach on healthy relationships, consent, and LGBTQ rights
Provide funding for a new domestic violence shelter and safe houses
Work with LGBTQ Commission and residents on LGBTQ rights in our city, and underscore and end the violence experienced by Black transwomen
City observation of National Coming Out Day/Month
Sex Work Analysis Program (SWAP) (placeholder title) – Commissioning a study on the sex work industry in Baltimore, evaluating reasons for entry, the necessary steps to improve safety for workers, and decriminalization
$10 Hospitality Tax attached to a night at hotels – funding goes toward a mental health fund for homeless and low-income residents, as well as housing assistance
$5 Hospitality Tax attached to a night at hotels – funding goes toward sewer repairs
Libraries as Center of Environment (LACE) – Identifying funding (general budget, loans, bonds) to extend library hours to 11pm at all locations, providing computer access, community programming, and skills trainings
Provide reasonable property tax credits for large-scale developments that
-Hire locally (likely 0.25- to 0.5-mile radius)
-Are LEED certified
-Utilize greywater and/or rainwater for all non-potable water needs
-Fit an aesthetic approved by both the community of the proposed site and its respective councilmember(s),
$1.5 million for Gun Buyback Program ($1,500 for 1,000 guns) annually
-One buyback per person every two years
Advocate for and support more community land trusts, signing letters of support for grants
Establish safe-injection sites
Work with state to release all Baltimore residents imprisoned on marijuana possession or distribution charges by 2023
Recognize that Baltimore welcomes immigrants and will not work with ICE, but will lift up their roles in strengthening our communities
Mandate all hospitality services (restaurants, bars, hotels) post in windows, online, and/or on automatic phone lines whether they are ADA-accessible
Move to five-tier sliding scale for parking fines, with $300 being the highest-assessed fine
End boot-usage on cars
$1.5 billion bond for infrastructure repairs
Repeal massive property tax cuts for large housing investors (ex: no 80% breaks for five years)
Remove rate hikes on water bills over the last five years
Ban water lien sales
Establish clean water as a human right
Rent Control – To prevent gentrification, restricting rent increases to 4% plus inflation
***On Squeegee Kids: I don’t want anyone harming anyone else’s property, and more importantly, don’t want children or adults to be hit. However, the kids and adults are out there for one reason: to make ends meet. That’s it. That’s why they would risk getting hit or being arrested (as some suggest). Consider how many of those Baltimoreans may be uncertain of what their next meal may be. This is why my policies create JOBS for their parents/guardians and themselves when old enough.
Ending partisan primaries for Baltimore City races and implementing a Condorcet (ranked-choice) voting system – removes Democratic primary as de-facto general election
Restrict donations from individuals and corporations to candidates to $100 per city election cycle