November 27, 2023

Communities across the 46th Legislative District, Baltimore City, and the entire State of Maryland have been shaken by recent crime trends, especially those involving youth. The video of two youths attacking and robbing a woman in Patterson Park within the last few weeks was horrific, and their release two hours later was outrageous.

It’s important to note that in that situation and any other in which youth commit crimes of violence, the law is clear—when an arresting officer presents the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) with a written statement of charges that notes crimes of violence, a youth arrestee must be detained and DJS may not deny that petition.

There remains significant conversation about the juvenile justice reform package the Maryland General Assembly (MGA) passed in 2022 in the wake of these incidents, and there should be. It is vital that when problems arise, we accurately diagnose the problem so those of us in policymaking roles can advance targeted solutions aimed at the issues identified. 

I approach the work the legislature does with a sense of humility. As hard as we try to pass evidence-based legislation, the MGA doesn’t always get it exactly right. When laws are improperly interpreted or implemented, or the policy does not achieve its desired outcomes, it is vital that we revisit those initiatives to ensure the intent of the law is realized. That work will be of the utmost importance in the 2024 Legislative Session.

With that said, the recent incident in Patterson Park highlights that at least some of the problems to be addressed don’t stem from a failure of current law or policy. Instead, there is a circumvention of law and policy on the books, which requires executive oversight as opposed to a change to current law.

It is critical that operational concerns across law enforcement, prosecutorial, and State agencies are immediately addressed. That work has already begun, and I do everything in my power to continue bringing the relevant parties to the table. There is nothing more important than the daily, effective implementation and execution of policies and procedures to avoid future incidents.

On November 10, we celebrated the selection of Greenbelt as the next home of the FBI. It marked the beginning of what we will look back and say was a transformative moment, not just for Prince George's County or the State of Maryland, but for the entire United States.

The state-of-the-art complex will be constructed on a 61-acre plot outside the Greenbelt Metro station. Greenbelt was chosen because it was the most cost-effective site among the contenders and presented key transportation access to FBI employees and visitors. This project will bring billions of dollars of new tax revenue to Prince George’s County and thousands of jobs to our State.

Greenbelt is the right place at the right time for the new home of the FBI, and I'm thankful to the Governor and every partner in Maryland's congressional delegation for their part in getting this done.

Earlier this month, the annual School Leaders Conference was held in Ocean City. The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, the landmark legislation passed in 2021 to transform our State’s schools, was forefront on the agenda.

The Blueprint allocates an average of $3.8 billion to schools each year for the next 10 years and is based on five policy pillars.

• Pillar 1: Early Childhood Education, which includes the expansion of publicly funded pre-K to three and four-year-olds through both public schools and private providers.
  
  
• Pillar 2: High Quality and Diverse Teachers and Leaders, which aims to raise both the pay and certification standards for educators in Maryland while ensuring school staff is representative of the diverse student bodies throughout our State.
  
  
• Pillar 3: College and Career Readiness, which establishes standards to allow Maryland students to compete in a 21st century economy through higher education dual enrollment opportunities while still in high school, along with an expansion of technical training programs and apprenticeship opportunities.
  
  
• Pillar 4: More Resources to Ensure that All Students are Successful, which provides resources to schools so that every student can access the learning interventions and supports needed to achieve their potential.
  
  
• Pillar 5: Governance and Accountability, which creates a framework of oversight led by the Accountability and Implementation Board, the state agency created to administer the plan.

In March 2023, every school district in the State submitted a detailed plan for rolling out the Blueprint in their schools. Each district has been offered a $100,000 grant to hire a planning expert to assist in the implementation. It is critical that school administrators, principals, and teachers are supported in their efforts to achieve the goals of the Blueprint as we ensure our students receive the world-class education they deserve.

The General Assembly passed landmark legislation last year to lift the statute of limitations for childhood victims of sexual abuse, allowing them to sue the abusers and institutions responsible, no matter how much time has passed. The Child Victims Act became effective in October and was drafted in response to a four-year investigation by Maryland’s Attorney General into allegations of child sexual abuse by members of the clergy and its coverup by leaders in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

The Archdiocese of Washington has challenged the new law, arguing that a controversial provision of a bill passed in 2017 that extended the statute of limitations to the age of thirty-eight prohibits further expansion of the timeline. While challenges to the new law were expected, I am hopeful that the hundreds of victims of child abuse across our State will retain the ability to hold their abusers accountable, and receive the acknowledgement and compensation they deserve.

The Principio Business Park in Cecil County is a powerful example of the exciting growth of Maryland's manufacturing industry. It was a pleasure to tour some of the Stewart Companies’ operations. I was, once again, impressed with the wealth of natural resources uniquely available in our State. We are fortunate to have abundant resources that will support a green economy, including solar panel production and clean concrete.

The Chesapeake Bay watershed will receive $7.4 million in new grants from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to support wildlife habitat, climate resilience, community conservation projects and public access to nature. The awards will protect more than 4,700 acres of fish and wildlife habitat. The National Aquarium, located in the Fightin' 46^th District, is receiving $232,000 to fund Harbor Wetland.

Governor Moore has hired two positions to address the causes and effects of climate change, and other environmental threats. The legislature established the Office of Resilience within the Maryland Department of Emergency Management in 2022 through legislation sponsored by Senator Katie Fry Hester. Michal Hinson will become Chief Resilience Officer overseeing efforts to prepare for, adapt to, mitigate, and recover from all hazards and emergencies. Additionally, Meghan Conklin will become the State’s first chief sustainability officer, charged with meeting Maryland’s environmental goals. 

Baltimore and other cities are suing Hyundai and Kia for manufacturing vehicles that do not have engine immobilizers, an inexpensive and industry-standard part that prevents a car from starting without a key. The suits claim that  the companies created a public nuisance due to their lax security features, leading to a drastic spike in car thefts.

Congratulations to Gunnar Henderson for being voted the 2023 American League Rookie of the Year, the first O’s player to win since 1989. Kudos, also, to General Manager Mike Elias for earning the MLB Executive of the Year Award. In 2023, the Orioles had the best record in the American League, winning 101 games. I can’t wait to see what they do next season!

Baltimore’s authentic German Christmas Market has opened along the Inner Harbor Promenade. The Christmas Village consists of outdoor wooden huts and heated indoor tents modeled after the traditional Christmas Markets in Germany. Through Christmas Eve, vendors will offer traditional European food, sweets, and drinks as well as handmade holiday gifts, ornaments, jewelry, and high-quality arts and crafts.

I hope each of you had a happy Thanksgiving! If there is anything we can do to help, please do not hesitate to contact my office via email, bill.ferguson@senate.state.md.us, or by phone, 410-841-3600.