MAYOR'S HOT LINKS

2011 Neighborhood Health Profiles

Be a FlowerMart Volunteer

Art Classes at School 33 Art Center

Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower Open House

Three Kings Celebration

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: The Man and His Monument

MLK Jr. Family Festival

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade

Housing and Schools Roundtable

Historic Tax Credit Workshop

Mayor's FY2013 Budget Workshop

Peabody Academy String Orchestra

Restaurant Week

Today, I launched a new website that will help our administration gain insight from residents as we develop the budget for Fiscal Year 2013. Our new website allows citizens to review options for spending cuts, revenue enhancements, and spending increases to close the estimated $52 million budget shortfall for the coming fiscal year.

Hearing citizen input is a vital component as we draft the budget. We have hosted public budget workshops and will continue to reach out to residents at future workshops and community meetings. I encourage citizens who cannot attend these events to share their priorities through this online exercise. By doing so, residents can help develop a responsible budget that will help our city grow.

We have made fiscal responsibility a hallmark of our administration, balancing $180 million in deficits over the past two years without raising property taxes, implementing tough pension reforms, cutting the Mayor’s office budget by 19%, and by making Baltimore one of a few major American cities to use the Outcome Budgeting process to demand greater efficiency.   Baltimore’s Outcome Budgeting effort was praised nationally in Governing Magazine, which said Baltimore's solution to an historic budget crisis is “not the norm.” I am also developing a 10-Year Financial Plan to address the City’s longer-term fiscal challenges.

The site will be available until January 31, 2012. For additional information regarding the budget exercise, contact the Bureau of Budget Management and Research at 410-396-5944.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at my website or by email at mayor@baltimorecity.gov. You can also follow the Mayor’s Office and be a part of the conversation on Facebook or Twitter.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake

The Baltimore City Health Department has released the 2011 Neighborhood Health Profiles, a series of reports that look at demographic and major health outcome data for each of 55 Community Statistical Areas (CSAs) in the city of Baltimore. The 2011 Profiles include community specific data on health factors like access to nutritious foods, healthy housing, quality schools, and safe places to be active, allowing residents and community leaders to identify priority health issues. The Profiles also detail underlying conditions that perpetuate poor health outcomes where we live, learn, work and play. The reports and additional resources, including a map of all 55 CSAs, are online at www.baltimorehealth.org/neighborhoodmap.html.

FlowerMart 2012 brings the annual rite of spring to picturesque Mt. Vernon. Centered at the Washington Monument, this year's Mart will take place on Friday, May 4 and Saturday, May 5 from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm. Come be a part of this traditional and historic festival. FlowerMart caters to families and celebrates the greening of the greatest city in the nation. A variety of volunteer opportunities are available. Whatever your talents, please join us. For more information, call Director of Operations Karen Lease at 410-274-5353 or email krl96@comcast.net.

A variety of art classes are offered at School 33 Art Center. Let your inner artist shine with drawing, oil painting, mixed media, and watercolor classes. Classes for children are also available. For more information, visit www.school33.org/index.cfm?page=education&section=1.

Get a sneak peek into the studios of professional artists and view their vivid artwork. Artists will showcase their talents with original art, including paintings, drawings, photographs, scripts, mixed media, sculptures, and more. For more information, visit www.bromoseltzerartstower.com.

In partnership with Education Based Latino Outreach, the Walters celebrates the Hispanic tradition of the Day of the Three Kings. Join us for “royal” art activities, performances, a visit from the Three Kings, and a piece of the traditional Rosca de Reyes or Kings’ Cake! For more information, visit thewalters.org/eventscalendar.

Congressman Elijah Cummings will talk about the importance of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the significance of his newly installed memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC. For more information, visit thewalters.org/eventscalendar.

Come together to celebrate the life and triumphs of one of our nation’s greatest heroes, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Special guests will pay tribute to Dr. King and other heroes from the Civil Rights Movement through performances and stories. All ages are invited to share their dreams, personal heroes, and peaceful testimonies through art projects and collaborative community activities. Don’t miss one of the most popular festivals of the season! For more information, visit thewalters.org/eventscalendar.

Marching bands, community organizations, floats, and more highlight the city's 12th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade, which celebrates the life of one of America's most influential icons. The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade is an event to honor not only Dr. King, but also others continuing his legacy. For more information, visit www.promotionandarts.com/index.cfm?page=events&id=35.

The Housing and Schools Roundtable for the Baltimore Region will bring together service providers, administrators, policy makers, and advocates from the education, homeless, and housing policy sectors across the Baltimore region to explore how policies across all three sectors can help promote residential and school stability for students and their families. To RSVP, visit www.eventbrite.com/event/2621448824. For more information, call Sophie Litschwartz at 202-261-5332.

Thinking about a home renovation project? If you're working on your historic house, you may be eligible for the Maryland Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit program, which offers incentives for home-owners in designated historic districts across the city. Join Baltimore Heritage for this historic tax credit workshop and get an introduction to the State and City tax credit. For more information, contact Eli Pousson at pousson@baltimoreheritage.org or 301-204-3337. RSVP today!

The Mayor’s Budget Workshops provide an opportunity for citizens to help Mayor Rawlings-Blake with the tough decisions faced in closing a $50 million budget gap. The workshop will begin with a presentation and Q&A. Participants will then complete a realistic budget balancing exercise, deciding which services to cut and which ones to protect. The workshop will conclude with participants making recommendations to the Mayor about how to craft a budget that keeps the City moving forward at a time of unprecedented fiscal stress. For more information or assistance, call 410-396-4735.

Comprised of 30 talented and promising musicians, the Peabody Performance Academy String Orchestra performs on The Walters Art Museum Sculpture Court in an exciting program that includes works by Mozart and Tchaikovsky. For more information, visit thewalters.org/eventscalendar.

During Baltimore’s Winter Restaurant Week, local diners can enjoy three-course dinners for $30.12 or $20.12. Diners can also chose a two-course lunch from select restaurants for $15.12. In addition to offering special Restaurant Week menus, participating restaurants have committed to support The Journey Home, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s 10-year plan to make homelessness rare and brief in Baltimore City. Restaurant Week reservations should be made early for both lunch and dinner. Information is available at www.baltimorerestaurantweek.com.