Statewide questions-
Maryland Question 1, Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment
The proposed amendment confirms an individual’s fundamental right to an individual’s own reproductive liberty and provides the State may not, directly or indirectly, deny, burden, or abridge the right unless justified by a compelling State interest achieved by the least restrictive means.
Question 1 Explained:
-Protects abortion access in Maryland.
City Bond Questions
Question A, Affordable Housing Bond Issue
Question A is for the purpose of authorizing the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $20,000,000 to be used for the planning, developing, executing, and making operative the Affordable Housing Program of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, including, but not limited to, the acquisition, by purchase, lease, condemnation or any other legal means, of land or property in the City of Baltimore; the payment of any and all costs and expenses incurred in connection with or incidental to the acquisition and management of the land or property; the payment of any and all costs and expenses incurred for or in connection with relocating and removing persons or other legal entities displaced by the acquisition of the land or property, and the disposition of land and property for such purposes, such costs to include but not limited to rental payment and home purchase assistance, housing counseling and buyer education, assistance, and activities to support the orderly and sustainable planning, preservation, rehabilitation, and development of economically diverse housing in City neighborhoods; support the Affordable Housing Trust Fund; support the elimination of unhealthful, unsanitary or unsafe conditions, lessening density, eliminating obsolete or other uses detrimental to the public welfare or otherwise removing or preventing the spread of blight or deterioration in the City of Baltimore; and for doing all things necessary, proper or expedient in connection therewith.
Question A Explained:
-Allows the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $20,000,000 for the city’s affordable housing program.
-This money can be used to purchase land for new affordable housing.
-The money can also be used for rental assistance programs or grants that support affordable housing.
Question B, School Bond Issue
Question B is for the purpose of authorizing the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $55,000,000 to be used for the acquisition of land or property to construct and erect new school buildings, athletic and auxiliary facilities; and for additions and improvements to or modernization, demolition or reconstruction of existing school buildings or facilities; and to equip all buildings to be constructed, erected, improved, modernized, or reconstructed; and for doing any and all things necessary, proper or expedient in connection therewith
Question B Explained:
-Allows the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $55,000,000 to acquire land or property to build new schools, and improve existing school buildings.
-This funding is intended to support Baltimore’s ongoing 21st Century School initiative.
Question C, Community and Economic Development Bond Issue
Question C is for the purpose of authorizing the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $50,000,000 to be used for, or in connection with, planning, developing, executing and making operative the community, commercial, and industrial economic development programs of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore; the development or redevelopment, including, but not limited to, the comprehensive renovation or rehabilitation of any land or property, or any rights or interests therein hereinbefore mentioned, in the City of Baltimore, and the disposition of land and property for such purposes; the elimination of unhealthful, unsanitary, or unsafe conditions, lessening density, eliminating obsolete or other uses detrimental to the public welfare or otherwise removing or preventing the spread of blight or deterioration in the City of Baltimore; the creation of healthy, sanitary, and safe, and green conditions in the City of Baltimore; and authorizing loans and grants therefore; making loans and grants to various projects and programs related to growing businesses in the City; attracting and retaining jobs; providing homeownership incentives and home repair assistance; authorizing loans and grants to various projects and programs related to improving cultural life and promotion of tourism in Baltimore City and the lending or granting of funds to any person or other legal entity to be used for or in connection with the rehabilitation, renovation, redevelopment, improvement or construction of buildings and structures to be used or occupied for residential or commercial purposes; and for doing any and all things necessary, proper or expedient in connection therewith.
Question C Explained:
-Allows the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $50,000,000 for community, commercial, and industrial economic development programs.
-The money can be used to demolish blocks that are considered abandoned and/or unsafe and refurbish property that is considered usable.
-Makes loans and grants to projects and programs that grow business in the city or improves residential and commercial spaces.
Question D, Public Infrastructure Bond Issue
Question D is for the purpose of authorizing the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $125,000,000 to be used for the development of public infrastructure owned or controlled by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore and the Enoch Pratt Free Library and for the construction and development of streets, bridges, courthouses, City buildings and facilities and related land, property, buildings, structures or facilities, for acquisition and development of property buildings owned and controlled by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore and the Enoch Pratt Library and public park or recreation land, property, buildings, structures or facilities including the acquisition of such by purchase, lease, condemnation or other legal means; for the construction, erection, renovation, alteration, reconstruction, installation, improvement and repair of existing or new buildings, structures, or facilities to be or now being used by or in connection with the operations, function and activities of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, the Enoch Pratt Free Library, public parks and recreational programs; for the construction and development of streets, bridges, courthouses, city office buildings, police stations, fire stations, solid waste facilities, information technology, and public park and recreational and related land property and buildings; for the acquisition and installation of trees, for tree planting programs and for the equipping of any and all existing and new buildings, structures, and facilities authorized to be constructed, renovated, altered or improved by this Ordinance; and for doing any and all things necessary, proper or expedient in connection therewith.
Question D Explained:
-Allows the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $125,000,000 to develop public infrastructure owned or controlled by the City.
-May be used to refurbish or build new streets, City buildings, libraries, and Parks and Rec spaces.
-Mayor and City Council can use this bond to improve all public owned infrastructure, including a police station.
City Charter questions
Question E, Police Department Charter Amendment
Question E is for the purpose of establishing the Baltimore City Police Department as an agency of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore. The Police Commissioner is established as the head of the Department and is appointed by the Mayor subject to confirmation under Art. IV, Sec. 6 (a) of the Charter. The Commissioner's powers are enumerated and include determining and establishing the form and organization of the Department; assigning staff and resources, instituting systems for evaluations of members and setting policy with respect to the general operations of the Department.
The purpose and powers of the Department are also determined. The Department shall have the duty to preserve the peace, detect and prevent crime, enforce the laws of the State and the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore as well as apprehend and arrest individuals who violate or are lawfully accused of violating the law. The Department will preserve the order at public places but must discharge its duties and responsibilities with dignity and in a manner that will inspire public confidence and respect.
The duties of police officers are also established and the procedure for the creation of police districts is established.
Question E Explained:
-This would make BPD a City entity as opposed to a state-controlled entity (which it is now). This is a critical step towards police accountability.
-Baltimore City has not had full control of its police department since January 1860.
-Currently, City Council cannot make any laws that affects the City police department.
Question F, Inner Harbor Park Charter Amendment
Question F is for the purpose of amending the provision dedicating for public park uses the portion of the city that lies along the Northwest and South Shores of the Inner Harbor, south of Pratt Street to the water's edge, east of Light Street to the water's edge, and north of the Key Highway to the water's edge, from the World Trade Center around the shoreline of the Inner Harbor including Rash Field with a maximum of 4.5 acres north of an easterly extension of the south side of Conway Street plus access thereto to be used for eating places, commercial uses, multifamily residential development and off-street parking with the areas used for multifamily dwellings and off-street parking as excluded from the area dedicated as a public park or for public benefit.
Question F Explained:
-Redevelopment plans for Harborplace.
-This would add retail and green space, along with 900 apartment units and parking garages.
-Could smell like gentrification. We sure do hope these apartments will include affordable housing.
Question G, Community Reinvestment and Reparations Fund Charter Amendment
Question G is for the purpose establishing a continuing, non-lapsing Community Reinvestment and Reparations Fund, to be used exclusively to support the work of the Community Reinvestment and Reparations Commission to the extent that the work of the commission is within the scope of the use limitations in § 1-322 {"Community Reinvestment and Repair"} of the State Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Article. The Mayor and City Council are authorized, by ordinance, to provide for the oversight, governance, and administration of the Fund.
Question G Explained:
-This would allow for a portion of taxes on recreational cannabis to go towards helping those disproportionately impacted by the state’s prohibition on cannabis.
Question H, City Council Size Reduction Charter Amendment
Question H is for the purpose of amending Art. III, Sections 2 and 7 of the Charter to reduce the number of Baltimore City Council districts from 14 to 8. If the number of City Council districts is modified by an approved Charter amendment, the Mayor shall prepare a plan for Council redistricting based on the most recent census. The Mayor shall present the plan to the City Council not later than the first day of February of the first municipal election year following the approval of the Charter amendment.
Question H Explained:
-This would cut the number of Baltimore City Council districts in half. Each City Council district member is elected to represent a geographic district in the city.
-This is solely funded by Sinclair Media (ie FOX News), who also funded question K in 2022 regarding term limits.
-This is FOX involving themselves in local city politics.