Baltimore?s mayoral campaign shifted gears as money for recreation centers and after-school programs took the place of competing crime plans and calls for more police officers.
Addressing hundreds of members of the community Sunday afternoon at St. Matthew?s Catholic Church in northeast Baltimore at a forum hosted by the interfaith organization Baltimore United for Leadership and Development, four candidates for the city?s top job ? Mayor Sheila Dixon, Councilman Keiffer Mitchell, State Del. Jill Carter and Andre Bundley ? were allowed five minutes each to agree or disagree with the group?s demands for increased funding of recreation centers, more after-school programs and jobs for city youth.
The agenda, part of campaign by BUILD to get commitments from mayoral candidates for programs on which the organization focuses, featured a score card projected on a screen that showed each candidate?s response.
“We?re in a crisis. The gangs have invested in our children. Why haven?t we?” asked the Rev. Grady Yeargin, referring to a 2-cent tax on bottle drinks and a freeze on the property tax rate proposed by BUILD.
But while the candidates all supported BUILD?s demand for 30 more recreation centers and $100 million for an affordable housing fund, they balked at increasing taxes.
“The citizens of Baltimore are overtaxed,” said Bundley, who suggested taking money from the city?s disparity tax from the state to pay for extra recreation centers.
Dixon said her administration already had made progress on BUILD?s agenda.
“We are expecting to add 153 people for our summer camp programs, as well as for after-school programs,” Dixon said, adding she plans to fund affordable housing to the tune of $150 million next year.
Carter connected a decline in recreation centers with the city?s climbing number of homicides.
“There is a direct correlation between 130 homicidesthus far this year and the closing of recreation centers,” she said.
Mitchell?s strategy for funding BUILD?s agenda emphasized a better use of resources.
“We spent $37 million on police overtime, so the money is there,” said Mitchell, D-11th District. “It?s a matter of priorities.”
Frank M. Conaway Sr., clerk of the Baltimore City Circuit Court, was the only mayoral candidate who did not participate in the forum.
“I don?t know why I wasn?t invited, but it doesn?t pass the smell test,” Conaway said Monday. “It stinks.”
While the mayoral candidates took the bulk of the time, three City Council president hopefuls also had their say.
“I grew up in a recreation center,” said City Council Member Kenneth Harris, D-4th District. “That?s why I negotiated $9 million to build new recreation centers as part of my vote for the convention center hotel.”
But decreasing the property tax is essential for the city?s long-term growth, City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said.
“We cannot continue to grow the city without a better tax scheme,” she said.
Michael Sarbanes said he would fully support all of BUILD?s agenda.
“It?s an agenda of hope, and it recognizes that our children are our future,” he said.
