Politics

Two state senators are proposing an extension of emergency powers for the governor following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The bill — introduced Thursday with roughly a week left in the 90-day General Assembly session — comes two days after a massive cargo ship struck the Key Bridge. The 47-year-old span collapsed into the Patapsco River between Baltimore and Anne Arundel counties. The bodies of two workers were recovered Wednesday.

Like many others in Baltimore, Susana Barrios awoke early Tuesday morning to a flood of messages asking if she was okay. She soon learned that the Francis Scott Key Bridge had collapsed into the Patapsco River. As with all tragedies, Barrios, vice president of the Latino Racial Justice Circle, started to wonder if members of her community were affected.

With less than two weeks left before they adjourn for the year, the Maryland General Assembly has continued its work in the face of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. But, for some lawmakers, it tinges the remainder of the legislating to be done and their role as elected officials. Sen. Charles Sydnor, a Black Democrat from Baltimore County, stood on the Senate floor at the end of Thursday’s session, addressing his dismay at the racism and politicization of the bridge’s destruction that has flooded social media since Tuesday.

Mayor Brandon Scott has come to expect overt and not-so-overt racism. The latest example came in the aftermath of Tuesday night’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. Within hours, Scott said he started to notice social media posts labeling him as a “DEI Mayor.” Scott immediately bristled at the dog whistle. “We know what these folks really want to say when they say DEI mayor,” he told The Banner.

Even before the collapse of an iconic piece of Maryland infrastructure Tuesday, finding the money needed to sustain the state’s critical transportation network was the largest hang-up left in the General Assembly session barreling toward its finish line. The crash that took down the Francis Scott Key Bridge has only added to the complexity.

The plan for Maryland’s state government to take over ownership of Baltimore’s historic Pimlico Race Course cleared its first hurdle in Annapolis on Wednesday. A House of Delegates committee voted — with a few Republican dissenters — to advance the plan to the full House for a vote. Lawmakers must approve legislation for the complex racetrack deal to move forward.

Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., urged federal and state officials Wednesday to take a fresh look at environmental requirements that he said could slow down reconstruction of a new Francis Scott Key Bridge. Harris said a new round of environmental studies related to a new span of the bridge could add years to its development.

Limiting the number of terms that Frederick officials serve could broaden the pool of people who run for office, but could also mean less experience and expertise in running city affairs, Frederick’s aldermen said Wednesday. The aldermen discussed two recommendations from a committee appointed to consider changes to the city’s charter: Age and residency requirements for the mayor and members of the City Council (a name recommended in place of the current Board of Aldermen), Limiting mayors to two four-year terms, consecutive or not, and members of the City Council to three four-year terms.