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Keeping Citizens Informed As We Move Baltimore Forward | December 24, 2018
Click the image above to view Mayor Pugh's Holiday Message to Baltimore
A New Era of Affordable Housing - Creating the Affordable Housing Trust Fund
Signing into law recently passed legislation to create the Affordable Housing Trust Fund represents the delivery of a key strategic priority of my Administration. We will now allocate at least $20 million annually over a four year period to create a pool of public resources to improve the mix and inventory of quality affordable housing for neighborhoods that have been neglected for decades. Without question, this is the surest path to lifting our most vulnerable City residents and moving Baltimore forward.
Mayor Catherine E. Pugh is joined by Comptroller Joan M. Pratt (far left), City Council President Jack Young (left), Councilman Robert Stokes (right) and Councilman John Bullock (far right) as she prepares to sign the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Bill.
Vision for Baltimore's 5000th Pair of Glasses
Vision for Baltimore (V4B) has worked diligently over the past three years to provide glasses to students in Baltimore City Public Schools and we recently celebrated a significant milestone - the 5000th pair of glasses presented to a child in need. We are so grateful to our collaborators in this initiative which offers vision care to Baltimore City students - Baltimore City Health Department, Baltimore City Public Schools, Johns Hopkins University, non-profit provider Vision To Learn (VTL), and eyeglass company Warby Parker. This is a vital initiative for our young people who deserve every advantage in the classroom in order to succeed. Thank you to all for this wonderful ongoing collaboration!
Mayor Catherine E. Pugh is joined by Warby Parker Head of Social Innovation Jesse Sneath (far left), Johns Hopkins University President Ron Daniels (second from left), Vision to Learn President Ann Hollister (left), Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Dr. Sonja Santelises (right), Interim-Health Commissioner Mary Beth Haller (second from right), Principal Marc Martin (far right) and students from Commodore John Rogers Elementary/Middle School.
Druid Heights CDC Annual Meeting
I so much appreciated the opportunity to join Druid Heights Community Development Corporation's Annual Board of Directors Meeting, highlighting the many essential projects that have taken place in 2018, including the successful completion of a KaBoom Playground, stabilization of the 2200 block of Druid Hill Avenue (east side), Bakers’ View Phase II groundbreaking in May 2018 and Archway Park formerly known as Gateway Park. Since 1974, DHCDC has engaged in community revitalization activities in the Druid Heights urban renewal community and has successfully leveraged federal funds to attract additional funding to carry out its urban renewal goals and the broad range of activities to support residents and improve their quality of life.
A New Era for ABC Park
We recently announced the start of much-needed improvements to ABC Park (formerly known as Catherine Street Park). The renovation project will serve as a focal point for Baltimore City Recreation and Parks in collaboration with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and will be featured as a best practice highlight at the 2019 Annual NRPA Conference which Baltimore will host. These types of neighborhood improvement projects are so necessary to providing our young people the quality recreational amenities that they need and deserve.
Mayor Catherine E. Pugh delivers remarks at the ABC Park groundbreaking and is joined by Councilman John Bullock (right) and Director of Recreation & Parks Reginald Moore (far right).
Weekly Community VRI Walk
Last week, we gathered at the Edmondson Village Mart shopping center for our weekly continued Violence Reduction Initiative (VRI) community walk. This approach which involves leaders from every City agency coordinating with our police command staff has made a measurable difference in reducing violence and crime by addressing the root causes of neighborhood neglect while identifying situations that require the concentrated focus of City resources.
Mayor Catherine E. Pugh is joined by Councilman Kristerfer Burnett as they walk the Edmondson Village neighborhood during the weekly Community VRI Walk.
9th Annual Know Your Status Ball
I was delighted to join the 9th annual "Know Your Status Ball" which plays a vital role in raising awareness of HIV prevention and also providing on-site HIV testing for community members. Creating strong partnerships with our LGBQT community has been a major focus of my Administration and we must continue to work to decrease the number of individuals contracting HIV, particularly among African American men - the one population cohort that has experienced an increase in HIV infection, despite declines in every other group.
In the Spirit of the Holidays - Annual City Hall Tree Lighting & Holiday Open House
ICYMI with Mayor Pugh - Episode 10 | Watch on Facebook | Subscribe on YouTube
Happy Holidays from Mayor Catherine E. Pugh, City Council President Bernard C. "Jack" Young and Comptroller Joan M. Pratt
UPCOMING EVENTS
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