Baltimore City Council District 01 Choose 1
DUTIES: Baltimore’s law-making body is the 15-member City Council. The 15th member, the city council president, is elected city-wide. The primary responsibilities of the city council are to: Enact ordinances (laws) and resolutions of the city,Review and enact the annual Ordinance of Estimates (Operating and Capital Budgets),Enact revenue ordinances necessary to meet the anticipated expenses of the budget.SALARY: $78,577 as of 2023TERM: 4 yearsHOW ELECTED: Baltimore City is divided into 14 council districts. The voters of each district elect one member to the city council. In execution of their responsibilities, City Council members represent their district’s interests and serve their constituents as advocates with city government agencies.
Biographical Information
Campaign Twitter
LiamFD
Campaign Website
http://www.voteliamdavis.com
Campaign Phone
410-340-1031
Campaign Email
info@voteliamdavis.com
Campaign Facebook
http://facebook.com/voteliamdavis
Campaign Instagram
instagram.com/liamfd/
Campaign Twitter Handle
@LiamFD
Campaign Mailing Address
345 S Lehigh St
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Baltimore, MD 21224
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Baltimore, MD 21224
Campaign You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/@voteliamdavis
Background: What in your background and experience qualifies you to be a member of the Baltimore City Council?
I have extensive community leadership and local government experience, including serving as community president of Greektown, Chief Clerk of the City Council, Community Liaison for the City Council President's Office, and my current role as Legislative Affairs Manager for Baltimore City Department of Transportation. I've also volunteered as a reading tutor through Reading Partners and I'm currently a board member for Live Baltimore.
Crime: What specific plans would you propose to reduce homicides, violent crime, theft and vandalism in Baltimore?
One public safety push I'd like to see implemented is a more aggressive use by BPD to use bicycles for patrol. The City continues to build out cycling infrastructure and bicycle patrol would provide a more community accessible patrol officer who has more flexibility to respond to nearby calls for service compared to an officer on foot. We'd also have the added benefit of healthier municipal workers meaning lower long term healthcare costs. Better training for all officers is also a priority.
Education: How would you fund public education in Baltimore, while assuring the quality and ongoing structural maintenance of school buildings?
I fully support Baltimore City making a larger local contributions towards Baltimore City Public Schools through the State of Maryland's Blueprint for Maryland's Future initiative. As a former Baltimore City Public School Student, I feel very strongly that public dollars should only go towards funding public schools. At minimum we should be setting aside dollars to ensure heating and HVAC systems are working properly during all times of the year.
Health: What strategies do you have to address continued health disparities in Baltimore? What will you do to make sure that the Health Department has the resources it needs to serve all residents?
A significant portion of Health Department funding is secured through federal and state grants. This means its extremely important that the Health Department have adequate staff and resources to apply for grants, implement grants, and meet any grant reporting requirements to ensure we're eligible to apply for future grant opportunities.
Climate and Environment As we face climate change and sea level rise, what would be your priorities to increase sustainable practices by the city and to increase the city’s resilience?
We MUST work to significantly increase our tree canopy in all corners of Baltimore City. This can be accomplished simply be removing impervious surface and expanding tree pits in our public right-of-way. We did this successfully during my tenure in Greektown where we planted more than 300 street trees in partnership with Blue Water Baltimore. Lastly, we must implement safe, walkable pedestrian infrastructure and invest heavily in mass transit.
Housing: What strategies do you propose to remove or rehabilitate vacant buildings and provide affordable housing through the new inclusionary housing bill and other means?
I will work closely with my future City Council colleagues to ensure the recently adopted Inclusionary Housing ordinance is adequately funded. I also prefer that we focus efforts on rehabilitating our historic rowhome properties when feasible. I understand that property demolition is needed in certain circumstances, however rowhomes are part of our culture here in Baltimore City. Higher density development with more units will also help address the housing crunch.
Council Size: What are the advantages and disadvantages of reducing the size of the City Council?
The only actual benefit that I do see with a smaller City Council is that larger districts would provide our City Councilmembers a greater perspective on the diverse needs and issues facing our communities. The disadvantages include costlier elections making it harder for grassroots campaigns to win. A smaller City Council would also have the consequence of a less diverse City Council, both racially and ideologically. I am fine with the current size of the City Council.
Biographical Information
Campaign Twitter
@Koehler4Council
Campaign Website
http://www.joekoehler.com
Campaign Phone
443-928-9661
Campaign Email
friendsofjoekoehler@gmail.com
Campaign Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/Koehler.4.Baltimore
Campaign Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/joe_koehler_baltimore/
Campaign Twitter Handle
@@Koehler4Council
Campaign Mailing Address
824 S Conkling St
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Baltimore, MD 21043
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Baltimore, MD 21043
Background: What in your background and experience qualifies you to be a member of the Baltimore City Council?
I’m a CPA and auditor (Ways & Means). As a Controller, I run organizations, and standardize practices (Government Ops). I’ve served as a nonprofit Treasurer, including a Rec Council. I’m the Public Safety Chair of CCA and member of the Police CRC, strengthening the social fabric of neighborhoods. I was Controller of a company that treats those suffering from addiction. I understand the local economy and have degrees in Accounting, International Business, and Government (Economic Development).
Crime: What specific plans would you propose to reduce homicides, violent crime, theft and vandalism in Baltimore?
Enforce laws and consequences. End recidivism. Preserve life. Protect people and property. I’ve been the Public Safety Chair of Canton and with the CRC-SE Police since a homicide by me. A Major emphasized knowing neighbors. I created a Block Captain program with more lights/cameras. I’ll hire a Social Worker, engage Juveniles, the Unhoused, and those suffering from addiction, connecting with resources and decreasing call volume. On COP Walks, I’ll review Crime Summaries and look for patterns.
Education: How would you fund public education in Baltimore, while assuring the quality and ongoing structural maintenance of school buildings?
Advocate for increased local and state funding, prioritizing maintenance & improvements.
Seek state and federal grants to supplement funds for comprehensive projects.
Propose dedicated city budget funds for ongoing school building maintenance.
Explore partnerships with private entities to bolster public funding.
Ensure transparent budgeting practices for efficient resource allocation.
Collaborate with stakeholders for long-term maintenance planning to ensure safe and conducive learning environme
Health: What strategies do you have to address continued health disparities in Baltimore? What will you do to make sure that the Health Department has the resources it needs to serve all residents?
Partnering with Total Health Care and hospitals, I'll promote primary care aligned with the ACA. Hiring a Social Worker, we'll aid those facing addiction, mental illness, and homelessness. We'll focus on expanding outpatient resources, Assertive Community Treatment, and Narcan distribution. From my work experience, medication-assisted treatment is essential for opioid addiction, alongside counseling. Addressing Tranq overdoses, we'll engage drug users and enhance shelter-based services.
Climate and Environment As we face climate change and sea level rise, what would be your priorities to increase sustainable practices by the city and to increase the city’s resilience?
To address climate change in Baltimore, I'll focus on climate action plans, promoting sustainable practices, and enhancing resilience through green infrastructure and community engagement. Working with stakeholders, we'll implement policies to combat climate impacts and create a greener, more resilient city. I want an Environmental Task Force, involving the Sierra Club and Clean Water Action as well as any other community activists who want to work with us on waste reduction and discontinuing th
Housing: What strategies do you propose to remove or rehabilitate vacant buildings and provide affordable housing through the new inclusionary housing bill and other means?
Propose using the new inclusionary bill as a starting point for tackling blight and redlining. Advocate for further amendments after its implementation. Support establishing a Land Bank and a higher Vacant Property Tax Rate to hasten property development. Prioritize allocating unused properties to Habitat for Humanity or green spaces. Push for multi-family buildings to include grocery stores, addressing food deserts, and adding Pre-K and affordable daycares where needed.
Council Size: What are the advantages and disadvantages of reducing the size of the City Council?
I don’t want to see the size of the City Council changed. I just want to focus on policy to reverse the population decline. Baltimore is the number two city for population loss in the country. I want to work with the City Government on restoring the population. I also want to see each agency have a liaison for each district so that each Councilmember works with the agencies as a team, starting with the police department. The police districts should coincide with the Council Districts.
Biographical Information
Campaign Twitter
twitter.com/@1stDistrictMark
Campaign Website
http://www.MarkParker.cc
Campaign Phone
(443)683-2582
Campaign Email
friendsofmarkparker@gmail.com
Campaign Facebook
http://facebook.com/1stDistrictMark
Campaign Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/1stdistrictmark/
Campaign Twitter Handle
@1stDistrictMark
Campaign Mailing Address
115 S Highland Ave
Baltimore, MD 21224
Baltimore, MD 21224
Background: What in your background and experience qualifies you to be a member of the Baltimore City Council?
I have fifteen years of personal and professional service alongside my neighbors and local families across Southeast Baltimore. As a community leader, a parent, and a pastor, my leadership, learning, and contributions have been deep and broad. They have been broad, because I've worked across our communities on varied priorities: vacant housing rehab, early childhood education, refugee resettlement, parks, etc.. Deep, because I'm invited into and serve in many difficult and vulnerable situations.
Crime: What specific plans would you propose to reduce homicides, violent crime, theft and vandalism in Baltimore?
We understand who the most likely victims of violence and perpetrators of violence in our city will be. I favor comprehensive law enforcement and community-based approaches to specifically target those individuals with interventions. Theft and vandalism are mostly driven by addiction and poverty. We will make sustained progress on that nature of crime as we channel more people into expanded drug treatment, and as we help stabilize and rebuild devastated neighborhoods.
Education: How would you fund public education in Baltimore, while assuring the quality and ongoing structural maintenance of school buildings?
In terms of funding, we are locked in. The Blueprint law out Annapolis calls for significant and growing City financial support for our public schools. The balance between operational and capital expenditures is always a tricky one--especially because the mayor and City Council do not control the education budget. Too often our desire to cut ribbons on shiny new buildings blinds us to the deferred maintenance needs that continue to pile up and which will come due in catastrophic ways.
Health: What strategies do you have to address continued health disparities in Baltimore? What will you do to make sure that the Health Department has the resources it needs to serve all residents?
While every agency deserves more funding and could put it to good use, I don't think that is true of the Health Department in a unique way. I've long been involved with maternal and fetal health through the Bmore for Healthy Babies campaign, and am encouraged by our progress there, especially for minority women. In other health matters: permanently supportive housing for our unhoused neighbors is key; our addiction treatment and the mental health crisis response program need to be expanded.
Climate and Environment As we face climate change and sea level rise, what would be your priorities to increase sustainable practices by the city and to increase the city’s resilience?
I've participated for several years in the Resiliency Hub program under the Office of Sustainability, and have gained an appreciation for and understanding of Baltimore's efforts to build resiliency into our communities, ahead of crisis moments. A few key items: stormwater management, especially removing impervious surfaces; rebuilding the harbor bulkhead; establishing a resilient, wetlands-focused "green/living" Middle Branch; improving our waste stream through expanded recycling and composting
Housing: What strategies do you propose to remove or rehabilitate vacant buildings and provide affordable housing through the new inclusionary housing bill and other means?
We have an opportunity to make real headway on stabilizing and rebuilding our communities in East Baltimore. What we need from the city: a more efficient and consistent permitting process; a faster pace and a higher volume of vacant properties being processed and dispensed to community developers; significant funding to cover the appraisal gap between acquisition/constructions costs and the sale price. Rehabbed houses with significant subsidy should be kept affordable for the long term.
Council Size: What are the advantages and disadvantages of reducing the size of the City Council?
First of all, the current proposal is an ill-conceived idea which serves the particular interests of its funders--namely, that they like to buy elections, and it is easier to buy seven elections than fourteen. Fewer districts means more expensive and difficult elections, raising the barrier to entry and making candidates even more dependent on major donors. Meanwhile, responsiveness would be much less.
The positive? It is easier to build coalitions around policy ideas with a smaller group.