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Keeping Citizens Informed As We Move Baltimore Forward | March 5, 2019
Happy Valentine's Day
Introduction of Acting Commissioner Michael S. Harrison
Mayor Catherine E. Pugh is joined by elected officials to introduce Acting Commissioner Michael S. Harrison on his first day on the job in Baltimore.
We recently officially welcomed Acting Commissioner Michael S. Harrison to Baltimore. His first priority was to engage with communities across our City to listen and better understand their concerns about public safety and the conditions that contribute to crime and violence. The Commissioner spent nearly 28 years in New Orleans, where he retired from Police Superintendent (a post he has held since 2015) in order to begin this new chapter of his career in Baltimore. He conducted 9 community meetings in each and every Police district of Baltimore and also shared his views on multi-dimensional crime fighting which aims to address the root causes of crime and violence, while also deploying tactics that reflect 21st century community-based policing. We welcome Acting Commissioner Harrison and his wife to Baltimore and look forward to a new and more promising era for the Baltimore Police Department.
Baltimore Day in Annapolis
Mayor Catherine E. Pugh delivers remarks at Baltimore Day in Annapolis.
Mayor Catherine E. Pugh is joined by Senator Antonio Hayes (left), Senator Cory McCray (second from left), and Senator Bill Ferguson (right).
Baltimore Day in Annapolis has been a long-standing, annual event that gives Baltimore City community members the chance to meet their corresponding government representatives and to learn more about the City's resources. I was joined by members of the Baltimore City Council, the Baltimore City Delegation, the Maryland General Assembly, and hundreds of Baltimore residents in the discussion of important and exciting initiatives for the future of Baltimore City.
Shop Local for Love
Mayor Catherine E. Pugh is joined by local vendors for her Shop Local for Love event to encourage support of Baltimore City businesses for Valentine’s Day.
The week prior to Valentine's Day we decided to take the opportunity with the holiday approaching to promote supporting local businesses. Baltimore has hundreds of fabulous small businesses who depend on local support to thrive and survive. We invited about 20 down to City Hall as part of our Shop Local for Love event encouraging support of local small businesses. I thought it would be a great idea to have vendors here available for City employees and residents who for whatever reason may not have had time to shop for Valentine’s Day or maybe an upcoming birthday or anniversary.
Mobile Integrated Health - Community Paramedicine
Mayor Catherine E. Pugh is joined by Dr. Mohan Suntha (far left), Dr. David Marcozzi (second from left), Chief Niles Ford (third from left), Congressman Elijah Cummings (second from right) and Dr. Jay Perman (far right).
To address the increasing challenges that our City places on our EMS system and resources, in May 2018, the Baltimore City Fire Department and the University of Maryland Medical Center launched Mobile Integrated Healthcare-Community Paramedicine (MIH-CP) for West Baltimore. This partnership is a two-year pilot program that focuses on improving individual and population health; while enhancing medical, social and environment services to our patients. The goal is to improve patient experience and reduce the unnecessary over-utilization of emergency and health resources. The Nurse Practitioner, Paramedic team provides direct patient care outside of the traditional hospital setting.
Joint Press Conference in Support of Statewide Minimum Wage Increase
Mayor Catherine E. Pugh delivers remarks at the joint press conference of regional executives in support of the legislation to increase the statewide minimum wage. Mayor Pugh is joined by Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, Jr., Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman and Chair of the Fight for 15 movement, Ricarra Jones.
I was honored to travel to Annapolis to encourage lawmakers to support legislation to increase the minimum wage gradually to $15 by 2025. The legislation recently passed the House of Delegates and has strong in the Maryland Senate and across our State. I was grateful to be joined by Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, Jr., Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman and Chair of the Fight for 15 movement, Ricarra Jones. It is so important that we support our working citizens with a living wage that allows them a decent quality of life.
MileOne Special Presentation to Erricka Bridgeford
It all began when someone started a GoFundMe page to help Erricka Bridgeford raise money for a new vehicle so she could continue to grow Baltimore Ceasefire. The page was then brought to the attention of Steve Fader of MileOne/Heritage, and the rest is history. Steve contacted me about helping Erricka and I told him he could not pick a better or more deserving person. Erricka is the co-founder of the Baltimore Ceasefire movement, a grass roots organization with the ultimate goal of ending murders in Baltimore City. They have started their mission by holding ceasefire weekends on the first weekend of the month in February, August, and November and Mother's Day weekend in May.
Enoch Pratt Free Library Booklover's Breakfast
Everyone had a great morning at the Enoch Pratt Free Library Booklover's Breakfast. Former public defender James Forman, Jr. is a leading critic of mass incarceration and its disproportionate impact on people of color. Since 2011, Forman has taught constitutional law and a course called “Race, Class, and Punishment” at Yale Law School. A graduate of Brown University and Yale Law School, he worked as a law clerk for Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. His book, Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America, was awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize in Nonfiction.
American Heart Health Month & Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week
Mayor Catherine E. Pugh is joined by Corrine Reed (left), Connor Reed (front) and Tracy Brazelton (right), Executive Director at the American Heart Association.
February is recognized as American Heart Month, during which the nation comes together, igniting a wave of red from coast to coast. From landmarks to news anchors and neighborhoods to online communities; this annual groundswell unites millions of people for a common goal: the eradication of heart disease and stroke. The week of February 7th – 14th is also Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week. Congenital Heart Defects are the most common birth defects, 40,000 babies are born per year, in the U.S., with a Congenital Heart Defect. Of these 25% will require invasive treatment in the first year. The American Heart Association funds more research than any organization outside of the federal government.
Department of General Services Gain Sharing Check Presentation
Mayor Catherine E. Pugh is joined by Comptroller Joan Pratt (left) and City Council President Jack Young (far right) to accept a check from Department of General Services Director Steve Sharkey (second from right) to Baltimore City as part of the gain sharing initiative.
The City’s first gain sharing program which was developed and implemented by the Department of General Services (DGS) - Fleet Management Division and its Labor Organization Partners (AFSCME Local 44, CUB and MAPS) in January 2018, concluded its first formal phase on December 31, 2018. The goal of the program is to ensure that the department continues to provide high-quality, cost-effective fleet management services to its customers. Under the Program, all Fleet employees are continuously encouraged and empowered to identify and implement operational changes that improve services and reduce costs. Thanks to this innovative program and the commitment of our DGS Fleet employees we have saved a total of nearly $1 million!
Community Violence Reduction Initiative Walk
Mayor Catherine E. Pugh, Acting Commissioner Michael Harrison (far left) and Major Monique Brown (far right) are joined by community members during the weekly VRI walk in the Curtis Bay neighborhood.
As a part of the continuing series of Multi-Agency Violence Reduction Initiative (VRI) Community walks in key areas of interest in each of the VRI zones, we visited the Curtis Bay neighborhood. We know that this approach works - providing concentrated focus of City agencies and police, combined with solutions in real time to deal with the conditions that contribute to violence and crime. In 2018, violent crime was down a total of 24% in our designated VRI zones. We are intent on making even greater progress throughout 2019. For more information on our work in VRI Zones, please see the 2018 VRI Performance Report here.
Baltimore Police Department Graduation Ceremony
Mayor Catherine E. Pugh is joined by Maj. Tomecha Brown (far left), Lieutenant Colonel Sheree Briscoe (second from the left) and Maj. Natalie Preston (right) at the Baltimore Police Department graduation ceremony.
One of my greatest privileges, as Mayor, is welcoming each new member of the Baltimore Police Department at their graduation ceremony. Reducing violence in Baltimore City remains my number one priority and reconstituting our ranks will go a long way to that end. Through this great accomplishment our new officers all have set a course to further strengthen the conditions of Baltimore City and for this I applaud and celebrate each of them. Congratulations on representing the Baltimore Police Department Graduation Class of 18-02!
Community Meetings with Acting Commissioner Harrison
Check out the video of Acting Commissioner Michael S. Harrison's first day on the job in Baltimore.
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