Supporting Education

To have strong communities, we must have strong schools and a well educated population.  I will work to:

• Devote a majority of each year's budget increases to education.
• Devote a majority of any surpluses to better school buildings.
• Make sure adults gain the skills essential to compete in Baltimore's economy of the present and future.
• Build strong partnerships to support every school.
• Make our schools centers of community learning and support.

Strengthening Neighborhoods

The 11th District is strong when all of its diverse neighborhoods are strong.  We must close the gaps between prosperity and despair and rebuild vibrant communities throughout the district.  I will work to:

• Dramatically reduce the prevalence of vacant properties.
• Use city owned properties as a path to homeownership and a foundation for affordable housing.
• Support the growth of locally owned businesses.
• Revitalize neighborhood commercial districts.
• Guarantee maximum citizen participation in all development projects.

Making us Safer

Working together, we will have streets where children safely walk to school and elders comfortably visit their neighbors.  I will work to:

• Hire more police officers from Baltimore City, increase the prominence of foot patrols, and give officers time to build relationships with citizens.
• Fund treatment on demand and provide a web of services to help people stay clean.
• Implement holistic and long-term approaches to crime prevention that involve the entire community.
• Create positive work opportunities beginning at 14.
• Re-integrate ex-offenders into legitimate work.

Honoring our Heritage

We have a great concentration of historically significant buildings and places.  We must preserve and honor our heritage.  I will work to:

• Support historic communities and support a robust and independent historic preservation commission.
• Assist homeowners to maintain their historic properties.
• Honor the cultural heritage of the District by supporting the revitalization of historic venues and preservation of sites related to famous Baltimoreans.
• Make our first thought restoring rather than tearing down.

Strengthening the Environment

We must be responsible stewards of the built and natural environment.  Baltimore City can be a leader in urban environmentalism.  I will work to:

• Increase funding to maintain and enhance parks and promote greening throughout neighborhoods.
• Promote public transportation and make bicycle and foot travel easier and safer.
• Assist citizens with energy efficiency improvements.
• Implement green standards for publicly financed construction.
• Encourage the growth of green industry in EcoParks on underutilized industrial sites.