Mark your calendars. 7/31 join @odetteramos @mdeconomy & members of @AFT_Maryland for an important conversation on two ballot measures that would cut city services and limit democracy in Baltimore.

The “Renew” proposal would put the city into bankruptcy and receivership. Baltimore is seeing record declines in our homicide rate. Our economy is rebounding more than most cities post-pandemic. Our schools are finally getting the funding they deserve when you factor concentrated poverty which has a demonstrable impact on academic achievement. All of that would absolutely crater if this proposal passed. That’s not the politically popular thing to say, but it’s the truth. And that is all you will ever get from me, even when it is pleasant to hear. It also happens to be illegal. You can’t legislate property taxes from the ballot. Which is why the AG and elections judge knocked it off. We’ll see how that plays out in court. My own solutions are as follows: 1. We need a regional approach to reducing property taxes and creating more parity with the surrounding jurisdictions. That will require support from the state. It is a conversation with the Mayor, Council, Governor and Legislature. 2. Allow Baltimore to take a small percentage of sales tax from the state. That is how most cities across the country operate. 3. Set tangible goals to reduce taxes over the next 8 years. Be honest and realistic about our multiple consent decrees and pension obligations. We will regain population but not if we decimate city services. Do NOT fall for snake oil and magically think we can cut our revenue by 40% and still function. As someone who’s owned a home here for the last decade, I don’t like the tax rate either. I acknowledge though how we got here through White and middle class flight, subsidizing the suburbs and building highways through our city. Cutting taxes responsibly is a goal, but I hope people recognize what this proposal would actually do.