Politics

The Patapsco River near the Francis Scott Key collapse site is safe and contains no contaminants, officials said on Wednesday. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott says he received messages from residents concerned about the water’s safety and the wildlife in it. Meanwhile, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says water sampling up and down river from the bridge collapse site has been conducted and those samples contained no contaminants, including fuel.

The sun rose over the wreckage as two Baltimoreans stood shoulder-to-shoulder on the edges of the Patapsco River, gazing out at a previously unimaginable problem that was, in many ways, now theirs to fix. Baltimore’s iconic Francis Scott Key Bridge had collapsed just hours before. Rescue efforts were still in their frenzied first stages as Gov. Wes Moore and Mayor Brandon Scott walked along the water.

Baltimore City is furthering efforts to assist those impacted by the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. The Board of Estimates approved a $1 million grant Wednesday morning to help workers and businesses affected by the disaster. Mayor Brandon Scott said the program will be modeled on the one that helped people who had their work disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The $1 million will come from the general fund of the Baltimore Civic Fund. Like the COVID relief program, it will allow businesses affected by the Port of Baltimore’s closure to retain employees and make sure they’re paid. To qualify, you must be a Baltimore City resident.

The Goucher College Poll is out, having surveyed 800 Maryland registered voters about their opinions on issues about the U.S. Senate race, Gov. Wes Moore, the direction of the state of Maryland, and the economic conditions in the state. Additionally, 408 Democratic likely voters were asked about the Democratic primary race for U.S. Senate.

The chair of the House Appropriations Committee said Tuesday he is not foreclosing on an extended legislative session as a disagreement with the Senate continues over a $1.2 billion tax and gaming package. Both sides are scheduled to meet Wednesday afternoon though little if any headway appears to have been made.

A temporary aid package for workers and businesses affected by the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge heads to the full Senate after a unanimous committee vote Tuesday. Senate Bill 1188, sponsored by Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City), allows Gov. Wes Moore (D) to tap the state’s rainy day fund to offset lost wages and entice related businesses to remain at the Port of Baltimore.

The Baltimore County Council last night approved an eye-popping contract with BFI Waste Services. “$1.2 billion. . . billion?” Chairman Izzy Patoka exclaimed when the contract for hauling commercial garbage to a Virginia landfill was presented by Public Works Director D’Andrea Walker last week at a work session. “I think this is the biggest contract we’ve seen, at least during the time I’ve been here,” marveled the two-term Democrat.

Mayor Brandon Scott is lauding efforts over the last three-plus years to reduce the number of vacant properties across Baltimore. During his State of the City address in March, Scott touted a 14 percent reduction in vacants, bringing the city’s estimated total from more than 16,000 to around 13,500 — which he said was a 20-year low.