Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Schleifer, President Scott
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
Request for State Action - Veto Overrides for Senate Bill 929 - Public Safety - Baltimore City - P.R.O.T.E.C.T. (Public Resources Organizing to End Crime Together) Program - and Senate Bill 708 - Maryland Violence Intervention and Prevention Program Fund and Advisory Council - Alterations
For the purpose of calling on the Maryland General Assembly to override the Governor’s veto and pass Senate Bill 929 - Public Safety - Baltimore City - P.R.O.T.E.C.T. (Public Resources Organizing to End Crime Together) Program and Senate Bill 708 - Maryland Violence Intervention and Prevention Program Fund and Advisory Council - Alterations - as passage of these bills would address public safety in Baltimore.
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Recitals
Whereas, Baltimore had 348 homicides in 2019, the City's worst homicide rate on record, and has already had 105 homicides this year;
Whereas, Increased collaboration between Baltimore City and State agencies - in particular the Department of Parole and Probation and the Department of Juvenile Services - is needed to combat crime;
Whereas, The P.R.O.T.E.C.T. Program was established to maximize the use of state, local, and community resources to combat neighborhood decline in Baltimore City, through supporting comprehensive strategies to reduce crime and fear in those communities;
Whereas, The P.R.O.T.E.C.T Program will create warrant apprehension task forces and provide other resources to fight violent crime, which will allow BPD officers to focus on violent crime and clear the backlog of warrants;
Whereas, The evaluation of evidence-informed health programs is critical to addressing violent crime in Baltimore City as the public health crisis it is;
Whereas, Safe Streets Violence Interrupters are familiar with the communities in which they work and often have a history of involvement with life on the streets, which allows them to engage with high-risk individuals and detect, identify, and intervene in activities that can lead to gun violence in targeted neighborhoods;
Whereas, The constant presence of Violence Interrupters in the community weakens the allure of gangs and street life culture that often perpetuates violence and helps to lower the rate of violent crime in Safe Streets Neighborhoods;
Whereas, Collaboration between State and City agencies along with non-profits and communities themselves is critical to addressing the ongoing violence in Baltimore and an all-hands-on-deck approach is needed to reduce violent crime in Baltimore City;
Whereas, Senate Bill 929 - Public Safety - Baltimore City - P.R.O.T.E.C.T. Program passed the House of Delegates, with a vote of 129-0, and the Senate, with a vote of 43-4, and Senate Bill 708 - Maryland Violence Intervention and Prevention Program Fund and Advisory Council passed the House of Delegates, with a vote of 104-28, and the Senate ,with a vote of 42-4, indicating overwhelming bipartisan support for both bills; and
Whereas, The Governor vetoed both bills on May 7, 2020.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of Baltimore, That the City Council calls on the Maryland General Assembly to override the Governor’s veto and pass Senate Bill 929 - Public Safety - Baltimore City - P.R.O.T.E.C.T. (Public Resources Organizing to End Crime Together) Program and Senate Bill 708 - Maryland Violence Intervention and Prevention Program Fund and Advisory Council - Alterations - as passage of these bills would address public safety in Baltimore.
And be it further resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Honorable Chairs and Members of the Baltimore City House and Senate Delegations to the Maryland General Assembly and the Mayor’s Legislative Liaison to the City Council.