Democratic Mayoral Accountability Assembly Responses

1. Build New Schools, Repair Existing Schools – YES
As Mayor, I will use public-private partnerships to build or renovate at least 50 new schools in 10 years, prioritizing rehabilitation and replacement by need, condition, and enrollment. Under this system, City Schools will employ a “sale/lease back” model in which the ownership of school buildings is transferred to a private consortium, which will rebuild the City Schools’ facilities. Once completed, City Schools will lease the buildings back from the private consortium in long-term capital leases. Buildings will revert to full City Schools control at then end of the lease term, and the taxes generated from these sites will be a dedicated revenue stream to help defray the cost of City Schools’ long-term leases.

2. Recreate Baltimore – YES
While the Mayor proposed reduced hours at city swimming pools and closing more than half of the City’s rec centers, I wouldn’t balance Baltimore’s budget on the backs of our children. Every child deserves a safe, clean area to play, and as Mayor, I would reinstate funding to all of the City’s recreation centers. In support of the Raise Our Youth, Raise Our City campaign, I would also reestablish 55 high-quality recreation centers and encourage the Parks and Recreation Department to offer a full range of service for Baltimore’s youth.

3. Enrich our Youth – YES
As Mayor, I will refocus city agencies and resources to support positive youth development through an expansion of pre-school, after-school and summer school programs. I will advocate for increased funding for recreation centers and community-based programs, and I will partner with organizations that train and encourage Baltimore’s youth to engage in their community and positively influence its future along with their own.

4. Employ our Youth – YES
YouthWorks is one of several summer youth programs that are vital to the success of Baltimore’s next generation. Not only is it crucial for children to have positive, constructive activities to keep them occupied while school is out, job prep programs equip students with the skills needed to enter the workforce. Unlike the Mayor, who has undercut YouthWorks participation, I will fully fund the program and increase employer and applicant participation. I will also work to fulfill Safe & Sound’s and Build’s mission to employ 10,000 of our city’s young people.

5. Invest Downtown and Uptown – YES
For too long, our neighborhoods have been neglected in favor of investing in downtown. Baltimore is only as strong as the sum of its parts, and as Mayor, I will equitably distribute resources throughout our City. I will work to ensure that any major development project works within a Community Benefits Agreement that protects and benefits surrounding neighborhoods. Development projects should commit to local hiring and contracting with locally owned vendors during construction and operation.