November 19, 2024

Regardless of which side of the aisle you align with or which candidate you voted for, November 5 was an historic day in Maryland. I am proud to congratulate Senator-elect Angela Alsobrooks who will make history as the first Black woman to represent Maryland in the U.S. Senate.

I look forward to working with Senator-elect Alsobrooks as well as the newly minted 2025 freshman class who will represent  Maryland in the U.S. House of Representatives. I will miss Senator Sarah Elfreth’s leadership and counsel in Annapolis, but I know she will be an incredible voice for Maryland in her new role in Congress. She will be joined by Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. and April McLain-Delaney. 

These new members to Maryland’s Congressional delegation will imbue even more passion and energy to one of the best federal teams any state has to offer. Moreover, our State has made incredible progress moving from a delegation with zero women, to three over the course of one election.

Despite the immense challenges that Maryland will face over the next four years, I’m inspired by our residents’ commitment to building a more prosperous, stronger, and equitable State. Those of us in the General Assembly will continue working hand-in-hand with these talented and dedicated public servants as we strive every day to improve the lives of all Marylanders.

The transition to a new Trump Administration this January will present our State with a multitude of financial and societal challenges. I would be remiss not to acknowledge that Maryland is uniquely vulnerable to a change in administrations and the associated priorities. Much is at stake, from critical federal funding for the replacement of the Key Bridge, the potential loss of the new FBI headquarters complex in Greenbelt, and myriad threats to the hard-fought rights we’ve come to depend on, including access to the ACA, protections to reproductive rights, and support of Maryland’s landmark clean energy efforts.

The General Assembly will work with Attorney General Brown and our federal partners to ensure that we avail ourselves of every possible protection. We will advocate for full federal funding to rebuild the Key Bridge. We will strive to protect the livelihoods of the 142,000 federal employees who live here and may be at risk from  policies that weaken key employment protections. And, we will vigorously protect reproductive rights—now enshrined in our State Constitution—and continue our commitment to an intentional green energy transition, mass transit, and affordable housing.

I am disheartened and horrified by the bomb threats sent to more than a dozen local election offices as they undertook their most solemn responsibility–counting the votes cast by millions of Marylanders. Any attempt to intimidate our election workers or attack our democratic norms must be met with the strongest of condemnation and legal recourse.

It is awful that we anticipated this increase in threatening behavior towards our electoral system, but that foresight is exactly why the General Assembly passed the Protecting Election Officials Act of 2024 last Session. That law makes threatening an election official or their family a misdemeanor punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $2,500.

I am deeply appreciative to the thousands of State and local board of election staffers, election judges, poll workers, and all those who remain steadfast in their commitment to ensuring every Maryland citizen’s voice is heard.

Last week, the Joint Spending Affordability Committee met to discuss the gap between ongoing spending commitments and lagging revenues.  Projections show that by fiscal 2030 — the final year of the Department of Legislative Service forecast —the State will have enough revenue to cover 84% of projected expenses, the largest gap seen in the last 20 years. This budget gap is being largely driven by unanticipated increases in expenditures in core programs that reflect Maryland’s values like Medicaid, public education, and child care subsidies.

As we approach the General Assembly's 2025 Session, the Senate has important decisions ahead to protect Marylanders against severe uncertainty at the federal level and balance our State's budget. We will work closely with our partners in the House and the Governor to navigate this challenging budget season. We must protect the priorities that Marylanders care about most: creating a world class public education system, protecting access to affordable healthcare, creating safe communities, stimulating economic growth, and protecting our environment. 

Everything is on the table. Where we can, we will make cuts and adjustments to existing programs that are not achieving outcomes. We also will consider altering revenue policies so long as those changes keep our State competitive with the surrounding region. We must be targeted and purposeful in our approach. Marylanders deserve nothing less. 

I am confident we will do what is necessary to protect Marylanders and set the stage for long-term success and prosperity.

After last year's horrific mass shooting, I applaud Brooklyn Safe Streets for a massive victory–zero homicides in the historic neighborhood in over 365 days! This milestone demonstrates the power of collective action and illustrates the value of the Maryland General Assembly’s appropriation of $8 million in new violence intervention and prevention funding in the 2024 Legislative Session.

Nothing matters if people don’t feel safe in their own neighborhood. We will continue to address root causes of violence and enact solutions to enhance safety in our communities, including crimes committed by young people across our State. It is clear, however, that residents proactively working together leads to a powerful and life-changing impact.

I had the privilege of joining the Locust Point Civic Association’s November meeting last week to discuss neighborhood priorities and the 2025 Legislative Session. Thank you to the neighbors who joined us! Active and engaged communities are the foundation of a healthy City.

I look forward to working with Delegates Luke Clippinger, Mark Edelson, and Robbyn Lewis as we serve Locust Point, and every one of our incredible 46th District neighborhoods in Annapolis this upcoming Session!

I was saddened to learn of the recent passing of two Baltimore icons, former City Council President Mary Pat Clarke and Former AFSCME 67 Executive Director Glen Middleton. 

Mary Pat Clarke was the first woman elected as Baltimore City Council president and committed her life to improving the lives of her constituents across our City. She was a relentless advocate, problem solver, and mentor. For thirty-two of the past fifty years, she served as a member of the City Council, including two terms as its president from 1987 to 1995. She was the first to establish a tenant’s first right of refusal in Baltimore, a policy that gives renters a chance to buy the home they are living in when it hits the market.

Glen Middleton was a beloved and respected labor leader who dedicated his life to advocating for marginalized communities and fighting for workers’ rights. He started his career as a correctional officer for the Baltimore City jail. While there, he served as a union representative with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). In 1987, he became president of the Baltimore Municipal Employees, AFSCME Local 44. Three years later, he was named executive director of AFSCME Council 67, the first African American to hold the position. He also held the position of AFSCME’s international vice president, representing D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

Mary Pat and Glen’s leadership and vision for our City will be missed, but their legacy will live on through the many lives they touched and the leaders they inspired.

I would like to thank the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus for inviting me to speak at this year’s Member Retreat. It was a privilege to reflect on our shared accomplishments and provide a preview of the critical work ahead in 2025. I’m especially grateful for the leadership of the senators and delegates who were there to engage in these important discussions. Together, we’ll continue moving Maryland forward.

I'm thrilled to announce that the 46th Legislative District Delegation secured $375,000 in State capital funding for the South Baltimore Community Land Trust (SBCLT) to enable the creation of affordable, lasting homes in South Baltimore. We cut the ribbon on new homes earlier this month that offer new homeowners opportunities without displacing long-time residents. SBCLT transformed vacant properties and empowered residents directly impacted by economic and racial barriers, ensuring affordable housing remains accessible now and for future generations. This is a meaningful step toward stability and equity in Baltimore.

Earlier this week, I was honored to participate alongside Maryland leaders in the Baltimore Together Summit. Our City and State are making significant economic strides, and it's vital that we come together to discuss strategies to shield our communities from future challenges. I remain committed to championing critical investments in Baltimore and advocating for strategic initiatives to drive sustainable economic development in our city. Together, we can create a vibrant future for Baltimore and Maryland!

Governor Wes Moore announced a new partnership between DoorDash and the Restaurant Association of Maryland.  DoorDash will offer $100,000 relief grants through their Restaurant Disaster R​​elief Fund to support eligible restaurants that still suffer negative impacts from the Key Bridge collapse.  DoorDash will also offer up to $100,000 in discounts to customers who order from those eligible restaurants.

The Maryland Transit Administration will hold a series of public meetings in December—two in-person and one virtual—to present and solicit feedback on six options to address congestion on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. All those options involve expanding bridge capacity to eight or ten lanes, and eventually tearing down the older bridges. The public also can submit comments online using this survey link.

Harriet Tubman received a posthumous commission as a brigadier general in the Maryland National Guard last week by Governor Wes Moore during a Veterans Day ceremony at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park in Dorchester County. The posthumous commission is just the latest recognition for Tubman, whose supporters have been fighting for years to have her represented on the U.S. $20 bill.

A Baltimore jury found two drug distributors liable for contributing to the City's ongoing opioid crisis. The companies must pay more than $266 million in damages. Six other pharmaceutical companies opted to settle the suit, with more than $668 million in restitution funds awarded in total. Settlements include those with Walgreen's for $80 million, Allergan and CVS for $45 million each, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries for $80 million, Cardinal Health for $152.5 million, and Johnson & Johnson, for which the terms were not disclosed. The money from the settlements will go back into communities disparately impacted by the opioid crisis.

DPW is contracting with an Ohio company to supply a dozen new, state-of-the-art sweepers for the next 21 months. Sweeping Corporation of America will provide up to four sweepers and drivers at a time, increasing to a full complement of 12 sweepers after 75 days. The sweepers use a regenerative air system to remove debris and are equipped with GPS trackers to record the miles swept and trash collected. The trucks can also be deployed for the emergency clean-up of chemical spills and toxic hot spots.

The Christmas Village will return to downtown Baltimore later this month for its 12th year. It will include hand-crafted holiday gifts, live entertainment, pretzels, and hot mulled wine around the Inner Harbor. The German-style holiday market will sport a mammoth heated white tent that houses a traditional beer garden complete with a Maypole; a 65-foot illuminated Ferris wheel, and a 30-foot tall “pyramid” that resembles a carousel and contains six rotating wooden paddles. The festival, which will be held in West Shore Park from November 23 through December 24, will include at least 70 vendors.

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.

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