Saying that Baltimore needed a holistic vision rather than individual programs or initiatives, mayoral candidate Nick Mosby offered a broad plan to improve the city on Tuesday.
Speaking at a podium near the corner of Franklin and Howard Sts., he made his announcement as light rail cars whizzed by. With its central location and access to transit, Mosby said the area was an example of a block in Baltimore that could be improved with economic incentives and a more efficient government plan.
Overall, Mosby said his plan was designed to “connect the dots” between areas like education, public safety and economic development. He said the plan was the result of “hundreds and hundreds of hours” of discussions with citizens.
“We can continue to look at this as just trying to develop initiatives or programs or projects. Or we could really look forward to really realizing a 21st-century city in Baltimore,” Mosby said.
Among the 15-point plan were calls for new initiatives like universal pre-K, state-of-the-art recreation centers, a rapid housing program for homeless veterans, new zones for economic development, a citywide transportation plan and fiber Internet.
Other points seek to improve existing functions, like creating more transparency with municipal audits, using the city’s data capabilities to track violent repeat offenders, expanding the city’s YouthWorks program and bolstering already-successful community development corporations.
Other proposals revolve around taxes. He calls for lowering property taxes for all residents, and separating them from waste disposal fees. There are also calls to reduce property taxes for first responders who live in the city, and waive property taxes for police who opt to live in developing neighborhoods.
Mosby, who is among a host of candidates running for the Democratic nomination, said he would provide more specifics of the individual points of the plan in the coming weeks.
