Alex Holt
@skatingtomato
Still your friendly neighborhood geek/“propogandist.” Baltimore/Maryland correspondent for GGW. He/him. Vocal advocacy classist. Tranist. #ActuallyAutistic
That part alone wouldn't be controversial but the reason for the variance is to allow for more parking spaces...at the expense of a bus lane, something the developer has insisted on & various electeds have backed him up on... (Not every day Reservoir Hill neighbors & Bikemore are on the same side)
Land Use & Transportation was the first committee up, w/ a rather controversial bill marked favorable w/ amendments from James Torrence, the rezoning of 600 W. North Ave., aka the Madison Park North redevelopment from MCB dubbed Reservoir Square & its proposed Streets supermarket:
Last but not least, James Torrence had a resolution for an informational hearing by the Public Safety Committee on law enforcement memoranda of understanding, especially involving the BPD. That ought to be interesting given who still chairs that committee...
Next, @zacblanchardd11.bsky.social with the biggest informational hearing resolution of the night, one for a hearing by the Budget & Appropriations Committee on having the City adopt a land value tax ("Split-rate property tax system", technically). Yes that's why all us housing nerds are riled up...
Phylicia Porter had a resolution for a Legislative Investigations Committee hearing on the various potential impacts of electrical brownouts on the City:
Mark Parker had a resolution for an informational hearing by the Land Use & Transportation Committee on the City's cannabis license process:
Back with new resolutions for the week (In real time, it took the Council just about 28 minutes to get to this point), starting w/ one from @odetteramos.bsky.social for a Housing & Economic Development Committee informational hearing on the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, including annual reports:
The other new TOD bill this week, one equally dear to my heart because it concerns my nearest Metro Subway station & a key transfer point in many a journey between its primary use & its secondary use as a hub for MTA bus routes like the 30 is for Rogers Ave., @pt-gray.bsky.social again co-sponsoring
(...But the west entrance next to Port Discovery is JUST within D11) data.baltimorecity.gov/datasets/bal... (Slightly surprised they didn't include Hamburg St., or as it's technically now known, "Stadium/Federal Hill", which is also just within D11 but tbf there are other limitations there)
...& would cover the areas in & around the Lexington Market, Charles Center, & Shot Tower/Market Place Metro Subway stations, the Centre St./Mt. Vernon, Lexington Market, University Center/Baltimore Street (Baltimore Arena), & Convention Center, & Camden Yards Light Rail/MARC station.
Next, from Mark Parker, a bill to establish as a prohibited use for the next year Citywide data centers capable of using 5 mw or more of electricity, I believe a direct response to JHU trying to get cute at Bayview with the recently established current City limit of 10:
Next a towing bill reform bill to help protect City residents from predatory towers, c/o of that most unlikely but at this point very much longstanding champion of towing oversight, @electryandorsey.bsky.social, bound for Land Use & Transportation (As are the last 3 new ordinances after it)
Also a rental pricing algorithm use disclosure bill from @pt-gray.bsky.social, also bound for H&ECD:
Next, headed for Housing & Economic Development, a bill from @cmtonyglover.bsky.social requiring the Depts. of Planning, Finance, & HCD to submit to the Mayor & City Council a report on the licensing & registration status of all non-owner occupied dwelling units in the City.
Having helped kick off the evening's proceedings w/ the Pledge of Allegiance, @zacblanchardd11.bsky.social also kicked off 1st Reader by introducing the first 2 bills of the evening, one bound for Legislative Investigations, the other for Budget & Appropriations...
She then recognized James Torrence, himself a fraternity member, to speak, though not before describing his attire as "rather dapper." Torrence notes what else happened in Baltimore (The unrest following MLK's assassination)...
Yeah I’m not sure AOC would’ve even taken him at this point BEFORE it all went sideways. Now? Absolutely impossible. If he stays East Coast at all it’s for this guy, otherwise yeah he’s Khanna
Ah yes, Greenmount Avenue, famously “near the Baltimore Beltway…”: www.baltimoresun.com/2026/07/06/b...
mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/L... mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/L...
He thanked them one more time for their work on the budget, then moved to committee announcements. Below are all the City Council committee hearings between now & the next full official City Council meeting next month, at least as currently listed on Legistar....
After that, it was finally voting time and with that, the FY 2027 Baltimore City Budget officially passed, unanimously AFAICT, with only Council VP Sharon Green Middleton absent at this point...