City Council: District 13

We sent our questionnaire to all filed candidates. Responses marked with a [...] indicate the candidate didn't directly answer yes or no, but may have provided a written explanation. Responses were edited for typos, but not substance.

You can find the full candidate surveys below, or scroll down to see candidate responses side by side for agree/disagree questions.


Candidates for City Council President

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Click on a candidate below to see their full narrative responses.


QUESTION COMPARISONS

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Hover or click on a candidate to see an extended response if the candidate provided one.

10. I support removing parking on a street if it would improve safety and increase mobility of people using that street.

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This would be good for areas that have a high rate of pedestrian accidents.

11. Minimum parking requirements are shown to increase housing costs while limiting potential density and making neighborhoods less walkable. I support following the lead of other cities that have removed minimum parking requirements from new development.

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I support this in areas that have low vehicle ownership.

12. Some cities require employers that subsidize parking also offer an option for employees to receive that subsidy as a cash payment. I support a mandate that employers offer parking cash- out so that employees can choose to pocket that money, use it for alternative transportation, or continue using that cash to pay for parking.

Councilman Dorsey is pushing for this in Baltimore. I support this initiative.

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Anything that will allow for more people to access public transportation is needed in our city.

13. Increasing density in areas of opportunity is proven to help individuals escape poverty. I support taller, denser, or larger buildings in areas they are now prohibited by zoning.

I agree, but we must also understand that Baltimore is built fairly densely in black areas with row homes and housing projects. This has not led to improved conditions due to the racial disparities, public safety, and lead paint contamination in these areas. Density alone is not the solution.

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I support this, as long as there are jobs that can allow people in these densely populated areas to live healthy and productive lives.

14. Transit oriented development can expand access to areas of opportunity by locating housing and retail along high frequency transit. Current zoning code only identifies these zones along subway and light rail routes. I support expanded Transit Oriented Development zoning to include areas within a quarter mile of high-frequency bus routes.

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15. It is now widely accepted that Single Family Residential Zoning was historically created to maintain racial segregation. I support removing Single Family Residential Zoning categories, allowing both single family and multi family residences to be built in all residential zoning areas.

I agree that we need to increase urban density, but this should be done intelligently. Having single family and multi-family housing in the same neighborhood is theoretically a good idea but may harm racial equity. Historically black neighborhoods in East and West Baltimore should be exempt from these zoning changes.

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16. I support allowing existing residences to be split into apartments in all zoning categories without having to pass legislation for each conversion, increasing density in neighborhoods that were traditionally single family homes.

See comment above. While I am behind this in theory, historically black neighborhoods in East and West Baltimore should be exempt from these zoning changes.

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17. At 20mph, 90% of pedestrians survive being hit by a car. At 40mph, only 10% survive. I support enforcing a maximum speed limit of 25 mph on arterial streets, and 20 mph on local streets.

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I agree with this in city limits in order to prevent loss of life and accidents.

18. Allowing turns on red is a contributing factor in increased pedestrian injury and death. I support banning turns on red at all intersections that allow pedestrian crossing.

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I support this ban, as I have personally seen accidents caused by this.

19. Automated Speed and Red Light Enforcement Cameras are widely proven to reduce fatal collisions. I support using these cameras on any street, not just near schools and construction sites.

Yes I agree, as long as the cameras work effectively.

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20. The Automated Speed Enforcement Camera current threshold is 12 miles per hour. I support cameras being able to issue citations for those traveling 5 miles per hour or more over the speed limit.

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I would agree with this if it was set for 10 mph over the speed limit.

21. I would invest in automated enforcement cameras that will issue citations to private automobiles for being stopped or parked in bus lanes.

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I agree with this, as it causes traffic congestion on major roadways in the city.

22. Dedicated bus lanes and bus boarding islands are proven to dramatically improve bus reliability and boarding times. I support removing parking or travel lanes to create bus lanes and boarding islands to improve bus performance.

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23. The city adopted the Greenway Trails Network plan that will connect existing trails such as Gwynns Falls Trail and Herring Run Trail to create a 35-mile trail loop that connects 80% of Baltimore’s neighborhoods to greenspace and recreational trails. I support the construction of these trail connections, even if it requires using grass medians or taking road space or parking space away from private automobiles.

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This is important for not only traffic and transportation reasons, but for ecological reasons as well. Neighborhoods near green areas have higher life outcomes and healthier living conditions.

District-Specific Questions

1. Baltimore was recently awarded a Maryland Bikeways grant to design an all-ages separated bike lane on Wolfe or Washington Street, part of the 2017 Separated Lane Network Addendum plan connecting Southeast Baltimore to Johns Hopkins Hospital, the all-ages separated lane on Monument Street, and eventual facilities on St. Lo Drive and Harford Road. I support building an all-ages separated bike lane on Wolfe or Washington Street, even if it means relocating or removing some parking.

I agree. Cars fly down these streets. A seperated bike lane is the only way to effectively protect cyclists.

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I agree with this if parking is allowed on one half of the street to ensure parking options for those in the neighborhood with cars.