A newly formed organization wants youths to come forward with ideas on how to improve their lives in Howard County in an effort to influence legislation in the county.
People Acting Together in Howard, a group mostly comprising religious leaders, also seeks to address affordable housing and transportation.
“We will be working hard all summer to present our specific recommendations in each of these areas to the candidates for county office,” said Hector Rodriguez, PATH?s organizer.
Though the county offers numerous programs for its youngsters, many don?t have access to them because of cost and transportation limitations, he said.
He didn?t offer specifics on the programs, but said the group is still “collecting data” on the issue.
Another goal is to have more affordable housing available for people who work in the county, he said.
As for transportation, he said PATH wants to decrease the wait time for the county bus service from 60 minutes to 30 minutes.
“That will increase ridership,” he said.
More than 400 people attended PATH?s first meeting at St. Augustine?s Roman Catholic Church in Elkridge.
“I think it was a great step in the right direction,” said Council Member Calvin Ball, D-District 2, who was appointed to his position and is seeking to keep it in the November election. “These are issues [affordable housing, transportation and youth] that, over the years, I?ve worked on with many of the PATH members.”
