June 4, 2024

Two weeks ago, crews completed the painstaking removal of the container ship, the Dali, from the Patapsco River, allowing larger commercial ships to enter the Port of Baltimore through a new 400 foot wide and 50 foot deep channel. Remarkably, over 500 commercial vessels have entered the Port through temporary channels since the catastrophe on March 26th.  The speed, intention, and thoughtfulness of this collective endeavor has been extraordinary. I am deeply grateful to our City, State, and federal partners who continue to be laser-focused on the factors necessary to restore the economic engine that is the Port of Baltimore.

Unified Command continues to work tirelessly to remove the remaining debris from the channel to restore the route to its original 700 foot width and 50 foot depth. Shipping traffic is expected to be fully restored by the end of this week. And, in a real sign of progress, the first cruise ship set sail from Baltimore on May 26th on a trip to Bermuda.  

Last week, President Biden reaffirmed his support for full federal funding to rebuild the bridge and to ensure that businesses return to the Port and the communities that rely on it for their livelihoods. The project to replace the span is anticipated to be completed by the fall of 2028 and is estimated to cost between $1.7 and $1.9 billion.

The Maryland Chamber of Commerce recently released a report on the short-term and long-term impacts the bridge collapse is having on businesses across the State, the majority of which are small businesses. The report cites increased freight costs and logistical challenges due to the need to reroute cargo to alternative ports, as well as longer commute times that impact employee productivity and morale.

The report’s short-term recommendations include extending hours of service for truckers and establishing a barge service from Norfolk to Tradepoint Atlantic in Sparrows Point to alleviate costs and road congestion. Long-term recommendations include investments in road maintenance and repairs and modernizing traffic mitigation technology, like using artificial intelligence to provide real-time solutions to traffic congestion.

Businesses also expressed concerns over securing SBA loans and the financial burden of taking on additional debt or not qualifying for the loans. Weight limits on alternative routes will also impact deliveries, contributing to higher operational costs.

I am thrilled that the Patterson Park Pool reopened over the Memorial Day weekend with a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by Mayor Scott and Councilmember Cohen.

Phase I of the renovations feature a state-of-the-art mechanical system, piping, plumbing, drains, and pool liner. Additionally, the mechanical room has been updated to prevent flooding. Phase II improvements, slated for completion in 2025, will include an upgraded pool house and new wading pool. This largely State-funded project represents an investment of $2.5 million and was the result of collaboration between community, City, and State entities.

I'm thrilled at the addition of the new Charm City Circulator Cherry—an expansion that South Baltimore neighborhoods have been hoping to see for years. The new route will start June 23rd and will provide reliable and frequent access to downtown, as well as expand access to jobs, entertainment, and necessary amenities for residents.

The new route will run on a 20-minute frequency out of Cherry Hill in South Baltimore. It will pass over the Hanover Street Bridge, weave through the new Baltimore Peninsula complex, Riverside, and Federal Hill before terminating at the Inner Harbor. This is good news for Baltimore!

One of the unique pleasures of the summer is the opportunity to reconnect with our neighbors, to take walks, sit on the porch, go to an Orioles game, or sit by the pool on a hot Baltimore day.

Now that Session is over and I am able to spend more time walking the streets of the Fightin’ 46th District, I hope to see you out and about in it. In June, I will be visiting communities around the district to share the successes of the 2024 Session and to hear about the issues and concerns that are most important to you. Check your calendars!   

• June 4: Southern District Community Relations Council
• June 5: Fells Point Residents Association
• June 5: Butchers Hill Association
• June 11: Bayview Community Association
• June 13: Lakeland Community Association
• June 18: Little Italy Neighborhood Association
• June 24: Concerned Citizens for a Better Brooklyn

If you don’t see your neighborhood on this list, don’t worry! I’ll be visiting many more in the months to come.

I’m deeply saddened by the murder of Maryland Parole and Probation Agent Davis Martinez last week. Agent Martinez was conducting a routine home visit with a client in Montgomery County on Friday when he was killed. I send my sincere condolences to Agent Martinez’s family, friends, and colleagues in the wake of this unconscionable crime. I am also grateful to law enforcement’s swift apprehension of the suspect in partnership with the U.S. Marshals Task Force.

Agent Martinez’s murder is a stark reminder of the risks inherent to being a Parole and Probation agent while working tirelessly to keep clients on the right track and prevent recidivism. It is absolutely vital that the Department of Correctional Services and Public Safety, Administration, Maryland General Assembly, and AFSCME work in collaboration to ensure a similar incident cannot occur again.

Maryland Fleet Week & Flyover Baltimore returns to Baltimore with a line-up of ship tours, festivals, flyovers, and educational activities. It will take place June 12-18 at the Inner Harbor, Fells Point, North Locust Point, and Martin State Airport. It features a dynamic line-up that includes ship tours, flyovers, community festivals and educational activities.

Drivers who speed through highway work zones across the State will pay more in fines starting this month. A new law increases the current $40 fine to $80. The fines will double if workers are present. The new fines and use of automated speed cameras were part of  a series of recommendations made last year by a work group charged with finding ways to reduce deaths on State roads and highways.

Maryland has joined the Justice Department and 28 other states in an antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation Entertainment alleging a monopoly in the live entertainment industry that harms concert-going fans. It comes on the heels of legislation passed by the General Assembly last year regulating online ticket sales that was signed into law this month by Governor Moore. The lawsuit claims that Live Nation has violated federal and State laws, including in Maryland.

Harbor Splash, the first public swimming event in Baltimore’s harbor for decades, sold out in 10 minutes last week. The event is hosted by the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore to support the Healthy Harbor Initiative.  On June 23rd, 125 people will jump into the Harbor in five timed sessions from a floating dock at Bond Street Wharf in Fells Point.

The Department of Defense (DOD) has awarded a contract valued at up to $500 million to a University of Maryland research facility focused on national security matters. The contract, awarded to the Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security, would be the largest the university has ever received from a federal agency. As part of the contract, DOD will help fund the university-affiliated research center, the only one dedicated to intelligence and security efforts specifically.

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.