First Year Accomplishments

The Baltimore Sun discovered a large number of underreported rape cases by the Baltimore City Police Department over the past decade. The Mayor immediately moved to investigate the problem, implement reforms, and seek out justice for victims of crime. The Baltimore Sun said Mayor Rawlings-Blake is “taking the right steps” to address the issue.

Success with both the bottle-tax and reform of the Police and Fire Retirement System bucked a national trend of mayors and governors failing to improve the city’s finances with reform and sensible revenue enhancements.

For the first time in the Obama administration, the Mayor’s office had a cordial and professional relationship with the White House. Mayor Rawlings-Blake was invited to the White House for a bill signing and an important discussion with President Obama about transportation infrastructure in America’s cities. Also, cabinet secretaries regularly visited the city for public events with the Mayor. Additionally, the US Conference of Mayor’s voted to include Mayor Rawlings-Blake in their leadership, and decided to hold the 2011 Annual Conference in Baltimore.

Despite a record $121 budget deficit, Baltimore:

• Fully funded our obligation to the school system and effective after-school programs,
• Restored funding for advanced school-based health centers and maintained funding for our world-class library system to promote lifelong learning,
• Maintained our funding to the Experience Corps program. And, doubled Baltimore’s investment in Teach For America.

In late November, Mayor Rawlings-Blake and School CEO Dr. Alonso convened a School Construction Task Force. This task force is charged finding ways to generate funding for the $2.8 billion in necessary construction on city schools.

To further build on the reduction in gun crime in Baltimore, Mayor Rawlings-Blake began a netroots campaign to support state legislation to increase the penalty for illegally carrying a loaded firearm. Similar enforcement measures have successfully reduced gun crimes and homicides in other cities throughout the country.

Snowstorm, heat, heavy rain, train derailment, and tornado. Thanks to renewed relationship with federal government and private businesses, the city had access to resources, etc.

Details of the Blizzards of 2010:

In the recent East Coast blizzard, it was evident that without proper organization, emergency incidents can quickly get out of hand. In New York City, streets were blocked by snow for days, and people died because emergency personnel were unable to reach the victims. Baltimore received 2.5 as much snow in five days, and was able to respond to every emergency call.

Before the first snowflake fell, the Mayor focused city agencies on ensuring public safety. The Department of Transportation kept primary roads clear. National Guard Humvees were deployed by the Police and Fire Department to ensure officers could reach every house. As a result, every 9-1-1 call for service was answered. No one was left waiting for assistance, and the Fire Department responded quickly to the only two building fires, and they were contained, preventing loss of life or property.

Police officers were assigned to fixed positions. This allowed officers to more quickly respond to calls for service, and prevent potential looting that occurred in past storms. Also, officers at fixed positions could call in to report loss of power or traffic congestion.

The Baltimore City Health Department is responsible for transporting 445 residents to dialysis on a regular basis. The city, in partnership with the Maryland Transit Administration, transported all of them – many multiple times – during the snow emergency. From February 6th until the 13th, a total of 1,708 runs were made. No one was left stranded in their home waiting for dialysis.

From February 5 to February 15, the city’s 24-7 homeless shelter was open for anyone in need. No one was turned away during the storm, and the shelter housed an average of 431 people per day. She shelter served an average of 1,100 meals daily. Also, Our Daily Bread served between 350 and 400 meals per day during the storm.

The new Mayor (on her second day in office when the snow started to fall) used Facebook and Twitter to share information with people. She also recorded messages for automated phone calls that reached thousands of elderly and homebound residents during the snow emergency. The Mayor joined residents to help shovel snow from around fire hydrants, school and church parking lots, and sidewalks.

Mayor created initiative to help students and families find the resources they need to be successful during the summer and school year.