Livable Baltimore: Vision for a Healthy Environment
 
 
Candidate Questionaire
 
 
Developed by:
 
Baltimore City Forest Conservancy District Board Baltimore Green Space
Baltimore Orchard Project Baltimore TreeKeepers Baltimore Tree Trust Bikemore
Black Church Food Security Network Blue Water Baltimore Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Citizens Planning & Housing Association Civic Works Clean Water Action
Friends of Maryland's Olmsted Parks and Landscapes Friends of Stony Run
Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake Maryland Environmental Health Network
Maryland League of Conservation Voters Mount Lebanon Baptist Church Parks & People Foundation
1000 Friends of Maryland Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore
 
 The issues and questions below represent our organizations’ most pressing concerns, which we believe if
addressed thoughtfully and concertedly, will build a vibrant, livable city for all. Several of these are inspired by
the Maryland League for Conservation Voters’ questionnaire, which you received several weeks ago. We
encourage you to consider these as you prepare for the evening. We also encourage you to submit written
responses, as well, which we will share with our constituencies.
 
 
 
 
Preserve Trees & Green Space
 
 
1. The Open Space District in the Baltimore Zoning Code exists to enhance the quality of life for city residents and improve its business climate. What would you do to permanently preserve, maintain and expand parks, stream valleys, street trees, community-managed gardens and farms and other green spaces that are key assets for the city and help to attract and retain residents and
businesses?
 
 
First and foremost-----I am someone who believes in keeping public real estate public and that includes our parks, public school athletic fields, and community playgrounds.  When you create green space tied to private ownership and leased arrangements---you are not committed to green space or fresh food economy so that addresses community gardens.  My vision of rebuilding communities has as central a grand green space that replaces much of the concrete and bad housing removed in demolition will see that central space as a fresh food center with large public greenhouse, barn for animal husbandry, and trees of all sorts but each community having an orchard of fresh fruit. That central green space with fresh food would include as well public recreation center with each community having a family recreation unique to others---roller and ice skating, skate-boarding and Moto-X, rock climbing and aquatic parks all of which will be green.
 
A great problem for tree canopy and preserving trees planted is the need for Baltimore public works employees to maintain these trees.  Tree health is not only about getting water----although even that task has left many tree plantings dead.  It has to do with pruning to keep vehicles from injuring these trees while young----includes the most basic of natural composting for nutrients while young.  We don’t need an arborist of course----but I will have public works employees that maintain our public green spaces.
 
I do not mean to insinuate that non-profit farms would not exist----I simply mean we must have a public venue for fresh food to assure permanent structures and of course communities wanting a non-profit garden or farm would be supported.


2. GERRY OKWESA, RESERVOIR HILL RESIDENT & MEMBER, BALTIMORE COMMISSION ON
SUSTAINABILITY:
 
 
A single tree can remove 26 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually, equaling
11,000 miles of car emissions. Trees have been proven to reduce stormwater run-off, yet tree
cover in Baltimore has declined significantly in the last several decades. If elected, what would
you do to increase the number and health of trees in our communities?
 
 
 
The Baltimore Development Corporation and Master Development plan has been from 1980s a plan that envisioned Baltimore as an International Economic Zone complete with global corporate campuses and global factories and that is why Baltimore’s communities were left to decay and no support for greening occurred.  The establishment sees surrounding communities as large concrete corporate campuses. This drives the temporary approach to all that is green---including placing community gardens on privately-owned land.  That said, Cindy Walsh is the ONLY candidate for Mayor of Baltimore that moves away from Baltimore Development and its Master Plan and instead develops Baltimore as it is----each community uplifted and plenty of green space taking the place of downsized community infrastructure.  The Inner Harbor for example should never have been bricked to waterfront----talks now of making parks of this space with small businesses is the answer and I will take that approach.  We want Baltimore a city for its citizens and not only tourism.  Jones Falls has been shouting to all of us to help -----trees along all streams and waterfront are a must---protecting our wetlands from development strengthens our community eco-systems.  So, it is not only about increasing the numbers of trees----it is about providing the public works employees to spearhead the maintenance working with citizens in each community.
 
 
 
 
Reduce Trash & Litter
 
3. TERRY CUMMINGS, CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION:
Plastics and polystyrene contribute markedly to the poor health of the Chesapeake Bay, our
neighborhoods and waterways. What programs would you support or propose to reduce this
waste – i.e. a ban on polystyrene or on plastic bags, source reduction policies decreasing the
volume of frequently littered items, increased funding for litter removal initiatives like the Water
Wheel, and/or city-wide recycling in restaurants, bars and businesses. How would you finance
these programs?


Plastic bags replaced paper in the past and we have a protection of trees in our forests that make tree harvest simply for things like paper bags undesirable.  What all recognize is selective farming of trees----pine trees are fast-growing and are therefore chosen most often.  Imagine a ‘forest’ of pines in the outer borders of city limits complete with mulching facilities but as well, a simple paper bag manufacturing -----with recyclable hemp bags as well. This is very cheap and can be incorporated into community growth.  Small food venders and convenience stores using these plastic bags because they are cheaper could easily be persuaded to make the change to paper or hemp bags if Baltimore produced them and gave them to these establishments for what they pay for plastic.  That makes everyone happy because NO ONE PAYS MORE.  We don’t have to have bag taxes on consumers---we don’t have to make small businesses less competitive because they have to pay more for paper bags.  Recycled bags can be remade over and again when people simply place them in recycle bins.  Baltimore needs small manufacturing and this is an easy, no-brainer task the city can afford.
As mayor I will rebuild oversight and accountability and that includes monitoring communities and developers that work in rebuilding for those dumping and failing to follow EXISTING laws on trash and large construction or apartment waste.  Lowering dumping fees at public waste sites is a must.  Having recycling centers in each community that will allow the community to profit from recyclable construction and home waste is the way to go.  Two trash pickups a week-----keeping our public water and waste a public utility free to public and NOT PRIVATIZED WITH FEES.
 
 
Create Good Government
 
·  4. Recent reports and news articles have indicated that there is very little transparency in tracking of revenue collected by DPW and the Finance Department to administer the Waste Water, Stormwater and Drinking Water Utility, and the projects funded by the taxpayers. Would you commit to better, more transparent accounting of these resources? What mechanisms will you put in place to accomplish this?
 
If you look at my campaign website you will see my platform is nothing but rebuilding all Baltimore City agencies with oversight and accountability; bringing quasi-governmental agencies back to city control; reviewing every contract, Enterprise Zone, TIF agreement, Wall Street financial deal making sure it is public interest and all terms are being met.  Baltimore does not even follow-up on terms----so this will bring back to our city coffers revenue that will double our city budget and all of that will come to the communities to rebuild infrastructure from roads to water and sewage pipelines.  We have always been able to do this----it was misappropriated. The major issue surrounding water and sewage infrastructure is the current policy of privatization with VEOLA ENVIRONMENT.  This past decade has seen this global corporation take control of much water and sewage development projects and even water bill collection.  We do not want this and I will reverse this march towards privatization.  Rebuilding our city infrastructure is top priority and this coming 4 year term will see Congress sending Federal stimulus money to do this.  It is critical that a mayor is in office that will fight to have those funds brought to Baltimore and its public works department and not a mayor who will simply hand all that Federal funding to global corporation VEOLA ENVIRONMENT.
 
I will as well not install SMART METERS as planned.  We can have public works employees coming to read meters whose job will be to inspect infrastructure at every home as they do----this constant oversight allows maintenance issues to be addressed BEFORE they become emergencies and create damage and fresh water waste.  If you think having a public employee doing this is more costly that addressing all these water bill errors----all of the emergency repairs----and none of your water bill going to maintenance and repair----it is always less expensive to provide preventative management.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Promote Public Transit
 
5. A great city needs a great transportation system, including rail, bus, bike lanes and improved
pedestrian safety. What is your vision of a great transit system in Baltimore and what will you do
to help make this vision a reality and financially viable? How can you make Baltimore safer for
pedestrians and bicyclists?
 
I am a life-long public transportation and walking enthusiast so public transportation is my passion.  Right now the power is moving to privatize all that is public transportation and I would fight this.  Baltimore has the worst public MTA bus system because the transit funding does not make it to our public transportation.  It has been defunded and dismantled over decades and I am the person to make the buses and connections work.  I was a UPS Industrial Engineer for a time so I love making transportation effective and efficient. The power in Baltimore is using VEOLA to privatize and now Uber to push public taxis out of action.  I think we need a strong and easy to use public taxi service. The city is doing bike lanes with all new road construction that looks good---we don’t have a strong public awareness campaign for our automobile owners not used to sharing the road.  Lower speeds and circular speed bumps at intersections help in making bicycling more safe.  Pedestrian walkovers are sorely needed over major highway arteries in our surrounding communities and downtown and enforcing yellow light caution with drivers with warnings makes them aware of slowing to a stop early rather than speeding to beat that red light.  I would be an advocate for keeping MARC trains as commuter trains and subsidized 7 days a week.  We have to be aware that the push for high-speed rail may likely end commuter rail and subsidy even as they tell us the fare rates will be kept affordable.  I want to see our MARC commuter rail upgraded, with more rail cars, railway maintenance prioritized over high-speed rail.  Light rail is great----I would fight for the RED LINE. 
 
 
 
Protect Waterways
 
6. HALLIE VANDERGAAG, BLUE WATER BALTIMORE:
 
 
Under the EPA’s 14-year Consent Order, the City is spending more than $1 billion to repair and
replace the crumbling sewer system. An extended deadline will be issued soon, but in the
meantime, persistent overflows of raw sewage continue and the harbor is seriously impaired by
trash and bacteria. As Mayor, what would you do to demonstrate your commitment to meeting the new deadline? What specific remedies would you take to help accelerate the reduction of this
bacteria and trash pollution? Would you be open to meeting with advocates and community
leaders who have proposed actions the city can take to be more responsive to overflows?
 
 
Most citizens especially new citizens do not know that Baltimore water bills have a tax and service charge with the stipulation that all of the water bills paid for decades by used for maintenance and upgrades and of course all this was misappropriated.  The point is this-----Baltimore City has so much revenue lost to waste, misappropriation, and fraud that we would be able to completely rebuild our entire water system right away with existing revenue.  The estimate for this falls between $2 -3 billion. I bet we lose $2 billion in revenue to the above mismanagement.  As an environmentalist it pains me to see fresh water running down city drains to the Port of Baltimore.  It pains me to see raw sewage pouring out of crumbling infrastructure.  It is not only an environmental issue---it is a public health issue and a justice issue.  That is my platform and I am the only one who will address this in the public interest.  I will not only meet with the community members---I will develop a city forum system in each community where I and agency leaders will attend regularly those meetings.
 
 
 
 
Revitalize Communities
 
 
7. DR. FRANK LANCE, MT. LEBANON BAPTIST CHURCH:
How will your administration “connect the dots” between the various types of vacant properties – including older housing stock with high levels of lead and vacant lots that have become dumping grounds – to create healthy, affordable housing in clean, green neighborhoods? How would you balance demolition vs. creative re-use of land for the benefits for communities, businesses, local water quality and local job creation to solve all these issues? There are many nonprofits working on these issues. What is the role of the city in these efforts and what resources will your administration provide?
 
As you stated much data collection already exists in our Baltimore Data Stat identifying these land parcels as you state.  As they boarded houses inspections for lead and asbestos was performed and I am assuming documented.  My plan of developing all communities will happen immediately and assessments of these kinds are the first step.  What we do not already have we will inspect and identify.  The key to redevelopment will be to keep outsourcing at bay for most projects---we want community citizens doing this work.  I would see small business demolition with haz mat capability with a Baltimore City land fill designated for this construction debris.  I see debris recycling centers in each community that will find and use recyclable materials for housing rehabs of houses deems safe.  Removing much concrete infrastructure will expose soil long covered so soil analysis as with do demolition will identify which chemical abatement method we need to take.  The removal of all top soil is to no one’s advantage but we can identify areas where heavy tree plantings can mitigate soil contamination.  Planting mustard greens for example allow for natural soil treatment as some vegetables will draw toxins out of soil.  As I said earlier-----grand public green space central to each communities will take the place of downsizing-----making it public then allows that community to annex that land back to community for future growth.  I always emphasize the need to rebuild our public works and public ownership of real estate but I always envision all this augmented by community non—profits and will support them in funding as well.
 
 
 
Invest in Green Infrastructure
 
 
8. Based on high levels of impervious surfaces that do not absorb polluted stormwater run-off,
Baltimore is under a State and Federal mandate to restore or treat 20% of land for better
environmental and community benefits. Local nonprofits have raised millions of dollars from state and federal sources to help the City meet this goal, yet the City’s current permit system and lack of staffing has stymied progress and jeopardized private donations that could significantly
leverage public investments. Additionally, other municipalities around the country and in Maryland have implemented market-based solutions that allow private property owners and businesses with sufficient room to install green infrastructure projects on their property allowing them to reduce their stormwater fees and generate credits they then sell to the municipality, industrial permit holders, or developers. What policies would you support or prioritize to streamline NGO work that helps the city and to promote new, innovative strategies within DPW?
 
First, the current Baltimore Development Master Plan sees global corporate campuses and global factories in our surrounding communities so there has never been a plan for keeping green spaces or our public real estate.  This is why our public housing real estate in prime city centers are being given away for pennies on the dollar.  We don’t want concentrated poverty and those high-rises---but that land is perfect for public greening in areas needing this.  We are doing the opposite of what citizens of Baltimore want. Taking down those high-rise public housing to make them green spaces for the communities may be better for city center communities already heavy with apartment rentals for example.
 
We are heading into a bond market collapse and economic recession so I will be reviewing all existing Wall Street leverage deals and bond deals to make sure they are in the public interest.  That said, we really don’t want to enter into any more Wall Street leverage as the city is already soaked so much with it as to be easily pushed into bankruptcy in coming hard times.  Any candidate saying yes to all of this will be fiscally irresponsible.  My platform of rebuilding oversight and accountability in all agencies and with all government contracts and Federal funding WILL provide the needed revenue for all you suggest and I am committed to greening all Baltimore communities.
 
 
 
 
 
·  Fight for Environmental Justice
 
 
9. Crude oil trains are running from southeast Baltimore through the city with no diversion route to protect communities from disaster. A current proposal would install an additioanl 4 lane, 5 story high tunnel under several predominately low-income minority communities which already have high respiratory illness and shorter life expectancies. How would you balance the economic push for this project with health and safety concerns of communities this tunnel would go under?
 
First, I am against export terminals for crude oil and natural gas in Port of Baltimore and would fight to stop the infrastructure to do this and that includes the pipeline to which you refer.  Baltimore does need to rebuild its rail infrastructure both above ground and under with the help of CSX and any upgrade in this infrastructure should include construction that allows for future rail needs.  There are needs to transport different fuels including natural gas into Baltimore so we will make way for this kind of transport. We have the ability to move crude oil and natural gas by truck and rail and do not need pipeline to a great extent. Planning for an in-land terminal to store that natural gas and oil is a must and that should be at the border of the city designated for such industrial use.
 
The next factor is this-----Baltimore and Maryland has absolutely no agency oversight and accountability of these energy processes---from receiving raw oil or natural gas to processing it for use in homes or for fuel.  There is very little oversight of the rail infrastructure making sure of safety for cargo and communities fearful of derailments et al.  My administration rebuilds all that oversight and enforces all regulations for safety and conservation.
 
 
 
 
 
10.MARK WASHINGTON, COLDSTREAM-HOMESTEAD-MONTEBELLO COMMUNITY
CORPORATION:
 
 
Parks in low-income and predominantly minority communities often receive less maintenance than those in wealthier communities. What resources will your administration provide to ensure that all city greenspaces – including parks, trails and streams – are equitably maintained?
 
I intend to rebuild Baltimore Public Works with employees tasked with all duties pertaining to maintaining public infrastructure, public grounds, and public  utilities and services and that means to all communities.  When I commit to rebuilding all communities that includes rebuilding all public institutions and with that the employees tasked with oversight and accountability and tasked with administering all of the outsourced work to non-profits and/or small businesses that want to help augment all these duties.  I envision each community redevelopment to include a grand green space to include a public recreation center and a recreational business for each community----such as ice/roller skating rinks, Moto-X and skate boarding parks-----rock climbing parks ----swimming complexes----this will bring citizens from all over the city to these venues sparking consumption for small businesses.  Can you imagine if Baltimore communities used these recreation venues to challenge another community to events?  It will build community cohesion so necessary in ONE BALTIMORE.  Montebello has a wonderful reservoir and park that I will send funding to improve as a recreational destination.
 
 
Clean Energy
 
 
 
11. Low-income households typically spend 5 times more of their income on energy than do middle-and upper-income households. But that could change. Because of climate change, we are being forced to change the way we make and use energy – replacing coal-fired power plants with clean solar panels that allow individual homes and business to make more and more of their own electricity for less money. So far, it’s mostly the wealthy who have benefitted from this “clean energy revolution.” What will you do to make sure that Baltimore’s lower-income neighborhoods also benefit from the savings, cleaner air, and independence that come from energy efficiency and solar power?
 
 Indeed.  Obama’s green energy stimulus much touted to create green jobs and do just as you ask ended going to all of the already heavily financed city downtown corporate and affluent development that was often not even ‘green’.  Much of these green credits and funding were pocketed and wasted because again, there was no oversight and accountability.  I will not only fight to send that funding to communities for home greening projects and community greening goals -----solar panels, windmills are supported by me.  I will look into past allocations to recover low-hanging fraud in those old greening funds because that will bring back tens of millions of dollars to be used for real greening projects. I have committed to rebuilding all communities and with that comes green building.
 
Final Question
 
 
12.Given the above questions and issues identified, what would be your top budget priorities
as mayor?
 
Rebuilding all communities, rebuilding local economies in each community as we do this.  Environmental abatement as this rebuilding occurs.  I will immediately address protecting public real estate and parks under threat of development when it has no plan to replace these green spaces to satisfy community citizens.  Building small business manufacturing around the utility infrastructure upgrades and community construction.  There is no reason we cannot produce or own construction materials ----this won’t happen right away but it will come as part of rebuilding.  This will place Baltimore well on its way to a strong, healthy, domestic economy in each community ready to grow regionally.