As Republians snooze, drama is building in Annapolis Democratic primaries
June 15, 2021 -

Democrats have had a majority on the City Council in Annapolis for decades. Five of the last seven mayors have been Democrats. With little more than a month to go until the filing deadline for the September primary, there are signs that this trend may continue. Chief among them is the number of Republicans actively running so far. Only one has stepped forward to run for a council seat — the one being vacated by the lone Republican alderman now on the council.

Read More: Capital Gazette
Jessie Dunleavy: Hogan’s veto of bill decriminalizing drug paraphernalia was about politics, not health care
June 15, 2021 -

Paraphernalia decriminalization — a bill repealing the prohibition of items associated with drug use — passed in both houses of the Maryland General Assembly. Knowing It wasn’t easy to win enough favorable votes, this triumph evoked pride in our legislative process. Thoroughly researched and well-presented, the persuasive facts carried the day. My spirits soared — the greater good had prevailed! Until that is, Gov. Larry Hogan, despite the support of our legislators and the Maryland State Medical Society, vetoed the bill.

Read More: Capital Gazette
Fining hosts of unruly parties works; ‘social host ordinance’ needed throughout Baltimore County
June 15, 2021 -

Imagine living in what you think is a quiet, residential neighborhood — and then suddenly your peace is interrupted by loud, late-night parties with excessive drinking that attract large crowds and lead to public drunkenness. In the morning, you may be greeted with vandalism or a young person passed out on the lawn. You can try talking to your neighbor, or, more likely, you can call the police.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Wes Moore enjoys a strong media launch week in his bid to be Maryland governor
June 14, 2021 -

Writing about gubernatorial candidates in terms of their media styles got a lot more interesting with the entry of author and former nonprofit CEO Wes Moore in the race on Monday. Moore is a smooth and polished media presence who has a relaxed and easygoing engagement with the camera. But he can also communicate a sense of intense intellectual focus once he starts talking. And he clearly knows how to stay on his talking points.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Hogan’s veto of bill decriminalizing drug paraphernalia was about politics, not healthcare
June 14, 2021 -

Paraphernalia decriminalization — a bill repealing the prohibition of items associated with drug use — passed in both houses of the Maryland General Assembly. Knowing it wasn’t easy to win enough favorable votes, this triumph evoked pride in our legislative process. Thoroughly researched and well-presented, the persuasive facts carried the day. My spirits soared — the greater good had prevailed! Until that is, Gov. Larry Hogan, despite the support of our legislators and the Maryland State Medical Society, vetoed the bill.

Read More: Capital Gazette
Congress must remove impediments to living organ donation
June 14, 2021 -

Chronic kidney disease is an often-overlooked public health crisis that affects an estimated 37 million Americans, 15% of the adult population, and is one of the top 10 leading causes of death. It’s most often caused by long-term diabetes and high blood pressure, but another significant cause is that of a genetic disease: Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), which affects an estimated 600,000 Americans — including me. PKD came about in my family as a spontaneous mutation in my mother, who then passed it to me.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Maryland Gov. Hogan is wrong to cut extra unemployment benefits
June 11, 2021 -

Over the past 15 months, hundreds of thousands of Marylanders have experienced the anxiety and despair of losing their jobs. More than 193,000 are currently unemployed, down from the pandemic high of 282,000. Some were let go in those early, dizzying days when everything shut down. Others deemed essential were forced to work despite coronavirus risks, only to be laid off later as the pandemic worsened. All confronted the challenge — with no income and often no savings — of trying to stay housed, fed, safe and healthy.

Read More: Washington Post
Snowden: Apologies for former Anne Arundel executive Leopold’s misconduct are good. Laws preventing a repeat would be better.
June 10, 2021 -

This week, Councilwoman Lisa Rodvien introduced a resolution before the Anne Arundel County Council “apologizing for civil rights violations that occurred under the administration of a former Anne Arundel County executive.” The resolution read in part, “whereas, the former county executive ordered his executive detail and other county employees to create dossiers on those he perceived as political rivals, as well as women who complained that he harassed or discriminated against them, in the years leading up to 2012″.

Read More: Capital Gazette
Gov.’s Decision on Unemployment Benefits Hurts Women, Children and People of Color
June 10, 2021 -

The announcement by Gov. Larry Hogan that he will end the federal subsidies for unemployment disproportionately affects women and people of color. According to Oxfam America, women in Maryland make up 35% of workers making $15 per hour or less. The percentages for people of color are even more daunting with 51.5% of Hispanics, 37.7% of Black people, and 30.5% of Asian people making $15 per hour or less. Compare that to only 27.6% of white people earning $15 per hour or less.

Read More: Maryland Matters
Our Say: With the end of COVID state of emergency in Anne Arundel, it’s time to review the law that authorized it
June 10, 2021 -

The COVID-19 state of emergency in Anne Arundel County ended today. More than a year after the County Council passed legislation handing enormous, extra powers to County Executive Steuart Pittman this ending seems almost anticlimactic. Before the county moves on, however, there is good reason to wonder whether the process that granted these powers should be changed.

Read More: Capital Gazette