Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown’s gubernatorial campaign says it’s raised $1-million since April; the camp’s hired President Obama's 2012 campaign manager Jim Messina to serve as his senior advisor. Plus: new funding announced for transportation projects in Prince George’s County, as Baltimore officials give more details about the 200 miles of city streets they plan to repave this fiscal year. Also: Frederick County Commissioners President Blaine Young says large-scale privatization has come to an end in his jurisdiction. And more…
Brown’s Fundraising & New Advisor: Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown says that his gubernatorial campaign has raised $1-million since April, according to the Baltimore Sun. Brown made that announcement yesterday, at the same time he announced that he’s hired President Obama's 2012 campaign manager Jim Messina to serve as his senior advisor in the race for governor Messina is known for his ability to use technology to build grassroots support and raise money. The Washington Post reports that the Brown campaign’s recent fundraising activity puts the size of his campaign warchest in the range of one of his likely opponents in the Democratic primary – state Attorney General Doug Gansler.
Repaving Baltimore’s Streets: Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake included 10-million dollars in her fiscal 2014 budget to repave some 200 miles of city streets. But city transportation officials were reluctant to say just what streets they had in mind until the budget went into effect. Now it has… and officials are revealing some of their plans to WYPR’s Kenneth Burns.
PG Transportation Projects: Governor Martin O'Malley has designated 650-million dollars to pay for transportation projects in Prince George's County. As the Washington Post reports, the funds will come from the gas tax increase that was approved during this past legislative session. According to the Baltimore Business Journal, the initiative will create hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity, create some 4-thousand jobs, reduce travel congestion and improve pedestrian safety.
Large-Scale Privatization Frederick County Comes To An End: Frederick County has finished privatizing its government services, according to County Commissioners President Blaine Young. As the Frederick News Post reports, Young sent a letter to county workers yesterday, saying the recent sale of the Citizens Care and Rehabilitation Center and Montevue Assisted Living to Aurora Health Management is the last major privatization project in the works. Once that sale is complete, Frederick County will have about 25 percent fewer employees than it did in 2009.
Chesapeake Bay Cleanup: Two groups that are helping the EPA track cleanup commitments to the Chesapeake Bay say Maryland, DC and the surrounding states are not meeting all their goals. As the Capital Gazette reports, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Choose Clean Water Coalition have released a report saying that our region is making progress in some aspects of reducing pollution, but that no jurisdiction is meeting all of its commitments.
Helping Hispanic Entrepreneurs In Baltimore County: Hispanic entrepreneurs in Baltimore County will soon have greater access to business opportunities, financing and marketing resources. County officials say that their Department of Economic Development is teaming up with the Baltimore Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to offer a new series of workshops aimed at establishing new Hispanic businesses or enhancing existing ones. Census data indicates the Hispanic population in Baltimore County has nearly tripled since 2000.
Independence Day Holiday Police Report: Maryland State Police say they made more than eleven thousand traffic stops over the July 4th holiday. Between July 3rd and July 7th, troopers issued about eight-thousand tickets, 61-hundred warnings and more than eleven-hundred equipment repair orders.
Biotechnology Tax Credits: The race is on to get some of the $10-million available in state Biotechnology Tax Credits; the Baltimore Business Journal reportsthat 150 investors have applied this year, up from 125 last year. The tax credit program is designed to encourage investment in young biotechnology companies.
Baltimore Baseball: The Orioles lost last night’s game against the Texas Rangers; score was 8 to 5. The O’s look to turn things around when the teams play again tonight. First pitch is set for 7:05 at Camden Yards.