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Basement sewage backups: a public hearing and next steps
Last month, we gathered at Baltimore City Hall with City Council members, community association presidents, faith leaders, insurance and health experts, and people from all across the city who have been impacted by the problem of sewage backing up into their home. This chronic problem impacts thousands of people each year - and as we have learned over the past year, the newest city program intended to help isn't working. Before the public hearing, people from across the city spoke out about their experiences at a rally outside of city hall: please watch and share our Facebook livestream!
The
Replacing a forest with a business park?
In Abingdon in Harford County, a developer has proposed to build a new "Abingdon Business Park:" three e-commerce/warehouse facilities, four restaurants, two flex retail spaces, one hotel, one convenience store and additional flex spaces, requiring the clear-cutting of 226 acres of a 330-acre forest. While sometimes development on forested lands is necessary, the developer has not proven that the negative externalities to the public are outweighed by the benefits, or that they considered putting their project on sites that would have less of an impact on water quality.
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Speaking out on sewage
Baltimore's sewage system is in trouble. Sanitary sewage outfalls allow untreated sewage to spill into our streams during rainstorms. Overflowing pipes spill water into our streets, and even our basements. And major capital improvements are needed at our wastewater treatment facilities and throughout the system for Baltimore to clean up our waterways that lead to the Inner Harbor and keep pollution out of our neighborhoods.
A consent decree signed last year by Baltimore City, the Maryland Department of the Environment, and the EPA outlines the steps that Baltimore must take to fix these
Transportation, air quality, BaltimoreLink, and the Red Line
Public transportation systems are a key air quality and climate change issue. About a third of Maryland's total greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector. Public transportation uses at least half as much energy to move a single person as a private vehicle, and one study found that replacing private vehicle trips with public transit trips reduces carbon monoxide by 95%, volatile organic compounds by 90%, and carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide by 45%. Robust public transit systems allow commuters and travelers to get out of their cars, reduce demand for parking, help cities
Resolve to Help Us Win in 2018
As the new year begins, we are gearing up for another legislative session in Maryland. Here are our priorities for this year.
Forest Conservation Act: Maryland is losing forest to development daily and we are not adequately replacing those trees. Forests are vital for the health of Maryland’s waterways - they not only filter pollutants but they also act like a big sponge and soak up floodwaters. We need an amended Forest Conservation Act that will protect our most important forests.
Fix It, Fund It: The DC metro system needs help. Years of deferring large scale maintenance and improvement