Politics

Maryland community associations are finding themselves squeezed by a 2022 law intended to ensure maintenance of condominiums and similar housing, but which is resulting in thousands of dollars in surprise fees and assessments that are leaving some residents struggling to make ends meet. The law in question requires all Maryland housing cooperatives and condominiums, and homeowners associations with more than $10,000 in common area assets, to conduct reserve studies every five years analyzing what portions of shared infrastructure, such as a roof or boiler, might need to be replaced.

Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) announced Terence Clark as the new acting director for the Department of Corrections on Dec. 14. Clark has nearly 40 years of experience working in Philadelphia prisons, and served as the deputy commissioner of operations at the Philadelphia Department of Prisons for five years. “We are excited to welcome Mr. Terence Clark to serve as our new director of our Department of Corrections,” Alsobrooks said.

“It’s been a pretty productive year,” County Executive Marc Elrich (D) said Friday at the Committee for Montgomery legislative breakfast, a yearly event that is seen by many as the unofficial kickoff to the 2024 General Assembly session. A few hundred gathered at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center to network and hear from state and county leaders about priorities in local and state politics in the new year. Speakers included Elrich, Rep. David Trone (D-Dist. 6), Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman (D), Sen. Ben Kramer (D-Dist. 19), Del. Julie Palakovich Carr (D-Dist. 17) and Montgomery County Council President Andrew Friedson (D-Dist. 1).

Allegany County officials are expecting to seek bids soon for the construction of the $2.5 million Outdoor Wellness Complex on Willowbrook Road, according to Adam Patterson, county public works director. The project, to be built on 24 acres of land between Allegany College of Maryland and the Cumberland Country Club, was first proposed in 2018. However, Patterson said it was sidelined by the coronavirus pandemic and personnel changes in the agencies involved in the funding package.

In the first three months that people could legally buy cannabis in Maryland, customers paid more than $12 million in taxes to the state government. Customers buying recreational cannabis pay a 9% point-of-sale tax on all flower, edibles, tinctures and other cannabis products, with the money parceled out to a variety of programs. A new report from Comptroller Brooke Lierman, a Democrat, lays out how the money is coming into the state and where it’s going. Lierman plans to issue reports every three months.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is standing behind the head of the Department of Juvenile Services as state lawmakers said they are working on legislation for the upcoming 2024 session to modify some juvenile justice laws. Some have called for changes regarding how quickly juveniles are released after being arrested, and others have taken aim at the Child Interrogation Protection Act, which prohibits police from interviewing juveniles until the child has consulted with an attorney.

Standing with a portable oxygen tank slung across one shoulder, Sylvia Duvall stood in the pavilion at The People’s Park and recounted the tale of how she nearly lost her home in West Baltimore this year. Unable to work due to a disability, Duvall lives on a fixed income and relies on support from her partner, Abdul Muhammad, to make the monthly rent. Then in June, Muhammad’s car fell victim to the rash of auto thefts plaguing Baltimore City drivers. He lost his job, and the eviction notices began to pile up.

During a news conference Wednesday, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott weighed in on a judge’s ruling to transfer an 18-year-old Brooklyn Homes mass shooting suspect to a juvenile detention facility. “The judge’s decision is the judge’s decision,” Scott said. “He’s having an adult trial and that’s where I wait for him to be held accountable for his adult actions.” Tristan Jackson, 18, was charged with with seven counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, seven counts of attempted first-degree murder, and 41 related charges back in August with connection to the July 2 shooting.

Mayoral hopeful Sheila Dixon appeared on a Fox45 public safety town hall in South Baltimore with ally Councilman Eric Costello and local neighborhood leaders, giving residents a glimpse into the messaging her campaign will likely employ as the May 14 Democratic primary approaches. The panelists argued that, while violent crime is down under Mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimoreans do not feel safe.