Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Your weekly update from Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake

Monday is my last full day as Mayor of Baltimore City, and as I look back over my past seven years as Mayor, I take great pride in all that we have accomplished together. 

Through new ideas and innovative initiatives, we have relentlessly sought to create a government that is more efficient, more transparent, and more responsive.

We have endured trials and tribulations, we have weathered storms, literally, including blizzards, a derecho, and an earthquake – but count it all joy -- because our defining moments have made the hard-won victories all the more meaningful.

I am proud of the direction Baltimore is headed and the hard work we have done to ensure we grew the City in a positive way. We’ve reduced property taxes to the lowest levels in decades; built the first new schools in over a generation; the first new recreation centers in over a decade; reduced our structural deficits by half; increased our bond rating to the highest levels since the 1960’s; reduced unemployment by a third and added new jobs.

Collectively, we have restored the critical foundation for our city’s growth, from its finances to our citizens’ trust in government. We have created opportunity, inspired hope, and of most importance, momentum.

As the leader of nearly 12,000 employees, I want to take a moment to recognize the City of Baltimore workforce who have supported me throughout my term as Mayor, past and present. These are the tireless individuals who keep the wheels turning across our city with an impeccable work ethic; proud citizens who are known to go above and beyond the call of duty to enhance the quality of life for every Baltimorean.

Because of your efforts, we have safer streets, better schools, stronger neighborhoods, a growing economy, innovative government and a cleaner, healthier city.  

It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as Mayor of my hometown, and I am thankful that this experience helped enrich my relationship with every one of you as we put Baltimore on a path to lead our region, nation and world into the future.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake

Mayor

City of Baltimore

Medallion for Meritorious Service Awards Ceremony

This week Mayor Rawlings-Blake honored and recognized some of Baltimore's most dedicated public servants with the inaugural Mayor’s Medallion for Meritorious Service award.

Public service is a noble profession, but, for a different type of glory. Those of you honored have performed consistently, and with limited to no fanfare, and in some cases with limited resources. I established this award to give recognition to City employees who are known to go above and beyond to accomplish a task, or assist a citizen in need, or implement a program designed to enhance the quality of life for every Baltimorean.

Each of the honorees were nominated by their colleagues, their peers, the people they stand shoulder-to-shoulder with every day. On behalf of your co-workers and a grateful city, I say “Thank you.” The Citizens of Baltimore appreciate you. Your family appreciates you. Your colleagues appreciate you. And, I appreciate you. I am very grateful for your work every day to provide the best government for the citizens of Baltimore. (CHARM TV CITIZEN HUB)

WATCH

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake reflects on legacy

Rawlings-Blake said she hopes to keep her post as the secretary for the Democratic National Convention, and she’ll appear on ABC news as an analyst. She's also joined a speakers’ bureau. "I'm looking forward to talking about crisis management, how to lead through a crisis, issues with women in leadership, talk about the fiscal leadership and the challenges that cities face,” she told ABC2 News. Hear Rawlings-Blake speak more about her legacy on ABC2 News Friday at 11 p.m. (WMAR 2)

READ MORE 

$65M building to house incubator, Starbucks training site debuts in city biotech park

A $65 million building was dedicated Monday afternoon at the East Baltimore Development Inc. project that will include a business incubator, research space and a Starbucks job training site. (BALTIMORE BUSINESS JOURNAL)

READ MORE

Henrietta Lacks further immortalized with portrait at Baltimore City Hall

The walls of a City Hall conference room are adorned with portraits of several men from Baltimore's history: abolitionist Frederick Douglass, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, former congressman and NAACP leader Kweisi Mfume and neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson, among others. (BALTIMORE SUN)

READ MORE

Baltimore Honors World AIDS Day with “A Celebration of Life”

n recognition of World AIDS Day 2016, representatives across Baltimore City honored those lost to AIDS and recommitted to eliminating the disease in Baltimore City. World AIDS Day is a global annual event held on December 1st to unite in the fight against HIV, show support for those living with HIV, and commemorate those who have passed. (BALTIMORE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT)

READ MORE 

Annual Monument Lighting Kicks Off The Holidays In Baltimore

A huge crowd welcomed the holiday season with the lighting of the Washington Monument. Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. flipped the switch for the 45th year of the city celebration. “Baltimore has its own special character, and we are very proud. Instead of the traditional tree lighting, we light up the Washington Monument,” said Mike Evitts, with the Downtown Partnership. (WJZ 13)

READ MORE

Paterakis Circle Sign Unveiling

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake unveiled a ceremonial street sign in Harbor East to designate President Street circle "John Paterakis Sr. Circle" to honor the late bakery magnate and municipal developer. (CHARM TV CITIZEN HUB)

WATCH

City seeks proposals to redevelop Broadway and Hollins markets

The Broadway Market in Fells Point and Hollins Market on the city's west side are on the block after city officials asked for proposals to redevelop the two city-owned markets. The Baltimore Development Corp. and the Baltimore Public Markets issued the requests Friday, which would involve developers either buying or leasing the properties. (BALTIMORE SUN)

READ MORE

HUD to ban smoking in all federally subsidized public housing

Smoking is to be prohibited in federally subsidized public housing nationwide as soon as early next year under a rule announced Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (BALTIMORE SUN)

READ MORE

R. House food and drink hall set to open this month

The long-awaited R. House food and drink hall is set to open Dec. 8, bringing with it a slate of local chefs and restaurateurs in a marketplace setting.

The $13 million food hall is part of Seawall Development's Remington Row project and will occupy 50,000 square feet in the former Anderson Automotive showroom and garage. (BALTIMORE BUSINESS JOURNAL)

READ MORE

Back to Baltimore 1962, in ‘Hairspray Live!’

To its ambitious live productions of “The Sound of Music,” “Peter Pan” and “The Wiz,” NBC has added “Hairspray,” with its cast of “the sugar and spice-est, nicest kids in town.” Based on the Tony-winning Broadway musical spun from the 1988 John Waters film, “Hairspray Live!” (Wednesday, Dec. 7, 8 p.m.) follows a zaftig teenager onto the dance floor in 1962 Baltimore as she dreams of racial equality while shaking and shimmying her way to stardom on the all-white “Corny Collins Show.”

(NEW YORK TIMES)

READ MORE

LEDC featured on PBS Visionaries

MIMA would like to congratulate our partners at the Latino Economic Development Center for being featured by Visionaries, the award winning public television series. The program is a documentary series that highlights the rarely told stories of individuals and non-profit organizations that are working to create positive social change throughout the world. (MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION)

READ MORE

Breakfast with Santa

December 10 (9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.)

The Vollmer Center at Cylburn Arboretum

4915 Greenspring Ave

Applications Open: Transformative Art Prize

Deadline: January 16

The Transformative Art Prize awards up to $30,000 to Baltimore City artists and neighborhoods who work together to enliven underutilized public spaces through high-impact, community-driven public art projects.

Eligible projects include, but are not limited to:

• Public art projects that are large in scale or in multiples including 2D visual art such as murals, and 3D visual art such as sculptures.
• Performance art projects such as music, dance, theatre and parades
• New media art forms including projection mapping, lighting, and soundscapes

All projects must be free and open to the public and exist in outdoor, publicly accessible space.

LEARN MORE