Harbor East has snagged another new tenant — this time from Baltimore County. The Americas Region headquarters of Allianz Trade recently signed a lease to relocate its headquarters to 100 International Drive from Owings Mills. The Paris-based global insurance firm will move 200 workers to the city from the county late this year. Allianz Trade CEO James Daly said the move from Owings Mills was prompted by the LEED certification of the Harbor East office tower, formerly known as the Legg Mason tower, and a change of scenery.

Baltimore officials are pushing back against an order from the federal Environmental Protection Agency to assist residents with a wider range of sewage backups into their homes. Currently, under a pair of pilot programs, the city sends cleanup crews to Baltimore residents’ homes — or reimburses cleanup costs — only if a backup was caused by wet weather, which can overwhelm the aged sewer system because of cracks where rainwater can enter.

A national security expert says the drone company that many Baltimore-area law enforcement agencies use may be leaking sensitive data to China. Some states and federal agencies have banned the use of Chinese-made drones. The drones of one particular company — DJI — are favored by law enforcement agencies across the U.S., including some in Maryland.

Maryland Transit Administration leadership will host five open houses to seek feedback on the Red Line, the east-west public transportation line revived last month by Gov. Wes Moore’s administration. The information sessions on the once-canceled transit project will run from Wednesday until next Tuesday throughout the city and in Baltimore County.

Gov. Wes Moore started speaking at 9:41 a.m. Thursday, standing just outside the cover of a picnic pavilion on Wye Island. It’s 45 minutes from Annapolis, a trip in his official Chevy Suburban across the Bay Bridge and down two-lane roads lined with ripening corn. He was there to announce a shift in state policy on cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay, from a focus on deepwater restoration to one concentrating on rivers, streams and shallow parts of the bay.

Landfills stink. Worse, they emit hazardous air pollutants, precursors to ozone and particulate matter, and methane — a super-potent greenhouse gas with about 80 times the near-term warming power of carbon dioxide. Methane is generated in huge amounts when organic waste decomposes in the landfill. In fact, landfills are the third largest source of human-driven methane in the United States, with annual emissions equivalent to driving 66 million gasoline-powered cars or operating 79 coal-fired power plants for one year.

By Martin G. Knott, Jr.

JetBlue has made a strong case for why its planned acquisition of Spirit Airlines will create a national low-fare challenger to the dominant ‘Big Four’ airlines that control about 80% of the U.S. market today. With more flights, more routes, and more cities, JetBlue will grow its network and give travelers even more options to reach their destination – all at low fares with great service. However, what many people do not recognize is how this deal will directly create economic growth within the communities JetBlue serves – including the Baltimore-Washington region.

Here in Maryland, visitor spending helps our economy thrive by supporting local businesses, sustaining thousands of jobs, and generating tax revenue. According to a report from the Maryland Department of Commerce, visitors spent more than $16 billion in 2021 – an increase of nearly $5 billion over 2020 figures in total spending – generating more than $2 billion in local and state tax revenue.

JetBlue has contributed to this growth, and as a combined airline, JetBlue and Spirit will provide an additional boost to Maryland’s economy by attracting more visitors through affordable, accessible, and high-quality travel options. This means more opportunities for travelers to enjoy popular destinations for leisure travel, including Ocean City, Baltimore, Annapolis and more.

Further, because JetBlue specializes in offering low-fares, travelers can save money by booking a ticket with this low-cost airline, rather than with one of the legacy carriers. JetBlue’s impact on airfares across the industry is also well documented. When JetBlue enters a route, legacy airlines are forced to respond to JetBlue’s disruptive pricing by lowering fares and improving service.

The government has called this the “JetBlue Effect” and it typically results in legacy airlines lowering nonstop fares by about 16 percent. That’s real savings for consumers, whether they fly with JetBlue or another airline, and it means travelers will have more money to spend in Maryland communities when they arrive, further sustaining and growing our economy.

Not only will the merger bring more travelers to Maryland, a combined JetBlue and Spirit will result in more travel opportunities for our state’s residents. As the second largest airline at BWI, the merger will unlock new routes and more destinations, including to the Caribbean, Latin America, and beyond. This is critical for Marylanders looking for low-fare options when booking travel.

I’m A united JetBlue and Spirit will also provide more opportunities for job growth for Maryland’s residents, while attracting new talent to the region. Not only will JetBlue convert Spirit’s outsourced team members to JetBlue employees, all crewmembers will have access to an expanded network and growth opportunities. JetBlue also has a program called ‘JetBlue Gateways’ which provides career paths for people who have always wanted a job in the airline industry – from pilots to maintenance technicians – but have never had the opportunity to pursue these skills. Programs like this one are critical to providing good paying career opportunities in our community.

It is critical we acknowledge the value air travel – and JetBlue in particular – brings to Maryland’s economy, small businesses, communities, and families. The facts are clear: a combined JetBlue and Spirit will benefit Maryland residents and business owners, drive economic growth and development, and help meet the growing demand for travel to our state. As the U.S. Department of Justice moves forward with its lawsuit to block the merger, I hope the federal government will reconsider its stance and better understand the many benefits this deal stands to bring our community and our residents.

Martin Knott, President of Advanced Indoor Resources (AIR), LLC, is former Chair of the Maryland Economic Development Corporation and a very frequent flier out of Thurgood Marshall/BWI Airport.

The Downtown Frederick Partnership has received an additional $25,000 to provide more security cameras for downtown businesses. In January, the nonprofit gave 32 downtown businesses grants to help fund security cameras. Each business received up to $500. This month, the Dakota James Foundation — a nonprofit that aims to increase security and education, as well as help underserved areas — donated an additional $25,000 that will give 50 more businesses in downtown Frederick security cameras, according to a news release from the Downtown Frederick Partnership.

 

When Patricia learned that her son was one of 28 people injured in a horrific shooting at the annual Brooklyn Day block party in South Baltimore, her first reaction was disbelief.“Boy, you’re lying,” she told her teenage son when he called her from the hospital. In the dead of night, Patricia raced to MedStar Harbor Hospital, where many of the victims were treated. On arrival, she was crying and desperate for information but couldn’t find her son.

There’s been a lot of progress to accommodate people with disabilities in Maryland, but there is still more room for improvement — including what to do about the nationwide shortage of service dogs. Disability advocacy groups from across the state held a meeting Monday afternoon about the important and essential animals that help those with disabilities. The forum, in honor of Disability Pride Month, aimed to educate the public about the growing use of service animals in the state.