Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Councilman Marks' Blog Has Moved...
Councilman Marks' blog has moved to his campaign page, www.councilmandavidmarks.com. Visit here for posts that were written after February 10, 2013.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
School Board Should Reconsider Air Conditioning Priorities
Over the past several years, Baltimore County has made steady progress as it seeks to air condition all its public schools. Despite limited funding, the county is on track to reduce the number of schools without air conditioning from 54 percent in 2010 to 36 percent within two years.
Unfortunately, that progress is not shared uniformly throughout Baltimore County. There is a significant disparity between the western, northern, and eastern parts of the county.
Looking at schools by County Council district, tfter the current round of air conditioning, the number of non-air conditioned schools will stand at 28 percent in the First District (Catonsville); 19 percent in the Second District (Pikesville and Reisterstown); 20 percent in the Third District (Cockeysville); and 18 percent in the Fourth District (Randallstown).
In the Fifth District that I represent, 35 percent of schools will still need air conditioning. The number is 40 percent in the Sixth District, which stretches from Parkville to Middle River, and 36 percent in the Seventh District, based in Dundalk.
When County Councilwoman Cathy Bevins and I wrote to the school system, the response from the Director of Physical Facilities indicated that "the final selection of projects is based upon several factors, including geographical parity." The current list for immediate funding excludes nearly every school in Loch Raven, Carney, Parkville, Perry Hall, and Kingsville. I don't know how this reflects geographical parity.
I am grateful that Seven Oaks Elementary School will receive air conditioning through an energy grant. But Joppa View Elementary School, built within one year, ranks dead last among elementary schools, even though it would presumably be less expensive to retrofit due to its age.
I am urging the school system to reevaluate this list so that it better reflects geographic equity. Students in Loch Raven, Carney, Parkville, Perry Hall, and Kingsville deserve the same access to air conditioning as those in western and northern Baltimore County.
Unfortunately, that progress is not shared uniformly throughout Baltimore County. There is a significant disparity between the western, northern, and eastern parts of the county.
Looking at schools by County Council district, tfter the current round of air conditioning, the number of non-air conditioned schools will stand at 28 percent in the First District (Catonsville); 19 percent in the Second District (Pikesville and Reisterstown); 20 percent in the Third District (Cockeysville); and 18 percent in the Fourth District (Randallstown).
In the Fifth District that I represent, 35 percent of schools will still need air conditioning. The number is 40 percent in the Sixth District, which stretches from Parkville to Middle River, and 36 percent in the Seventh District, based in Dundalk.
When County Councilwoman Cathy Bevins and I wrote to the school system, the response from the Director of Physical Facilities indicated that "the final selection of projects is based upon several factors, including geographical parity." The current list for immediate funding excludes nearly every school in Loch Raven, Carney, Parkville, Perry Hall, and Kingsville. I don't know how this reflects geographical parity.
I am grateful that Seven Oaks Elementary School will receive air conditioning through an energy grant. But Joppa View Elementary School, built within one year, ranks dead last among elementary schools, even though it would presumably be less expensive to retrofit due to its age.
I am urging the school system to reevaluate this list so that it better reflects geographic equity. Students in Loch Raven, Carney, Parkville, Perry Hall, and Kingsville deserve the same access to air conditioning as those in western and northern Baltimore County.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
State Transportation Cuts Affect Baltimore County
For 15 years before my election to the Baltimore County Council, I worked in the transportation sector. During my two years on the County Council, I have tried to advance long-needed funding for resurfacing and interchange improvements throughout the Fifth District.
Transportation does not garner the attention that other issues command, but it is critical to our way of life. Crumbling roads and congestion impact both businesses and families. Local governments like Baltimore County not only need to repair roads that were originally built in the 1950s and 1960s, but deal with bottlenecks that are clogged with traffic. In my district, much of this congestion results from Harford County motorists who use Belair and Harford Roads for their commutes.
Unfortunately, recent state budgets have sharply cut the money Baltimore County and other local governments receive for road improvements. In 2007, when Governor O'Malley was inaugurated, local jurisdictions shared $535.3 million in Highway User Revenues. Baltimore County received $45.6 million of this amount.
Within four years, local road funding had been cut by about $402.6 million, shrinking from $535.3 million to $132.7 million. Excluding Baltimore City, all other jurisdictions shared a total of only $7.9 million in 2011! Highway User Revenues have recovered slightly from 2011, but the amount is pitiful compared to the 2007 level when Governor O'Malley was inaugurated.
These cuts have not received a lot of attention. While Governor O'Malley crows about school construction money--and I commend him for that funding, which has been very helpful in Baltimore County--his administration deserves scrutiny for its treatment of local road needs.
Fortunately, County Executive Kamenetz proposed robust funding for resurfacing in the most recent budget. Thanks to that funding, major routes throughout the Fifth District are targeted for resurfacing. But imagine what could be done if Highway User Revenues were restored to the level that counties received before 2007!
Transportation does not garner the attention that other issues command, but it is critical to our way of life. Crumbling roads and congestion impact both businesses and families. Local governments like Baltimore County not only need to repair roads that were originally built in the 1950s and 1960s, but deal with bottlenecks that are clogged with traffic. In my district, much of this congestion results from Harford County motorists who use Belair and Harford Roads for their commutes.Unfortunately, recent state budgets have sharply cut the money Baltimore County and other local governments receive for road improvements. In 2007, when Governor O'Malley was inaugurated, local jurisdictions shared $535.3 million in Highway User Revenues. Baltimore County received $45.6 million of this amount.
Within four years, local road funding had been cut by about $402.6 million, shrinking from $535.3 million to $132.7 million. Excluding Baltimore City, all other jurisdictions shared a total of only $7.9 million in 2011! Highway User Revenues have recovered slightly from 2011, but the amount is pitiful compared to the 2007 level when Governor O'Malley was inaugurated.
These cuts have not received a lot of attention. While Governor O'Malley crows about school construction money--and I commend him for that funding, which has been very helpful in Baltimore County--his administration deserves scrutiny for its treatment of local road needs.
Fortunately, County Executive Kamenetz proposed robust funding for resurfacing in the most recent budget. Thanks to that funding, major routes throughout the Fifth District are targeted for resurfacing. But imagine what could be done if Highway User Revenues were restored to the level that counties received before 2007!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)