[Baltimore Sun] Baltimore City Council report card: Ryan Dorsey
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Baltimore City Councilman Ryan Dorsey won this year’s Democratic primary with 65% of the vote and faces no Republican opponents heading into the general election. He’s served District 3 in Northeast Baltimore since 2016.
Dorsey is the eighth most active sponsor of legislation on the council. Constituents who spoke with The Baltimore Sun described him as engaged in constituent services and passionate about various issues, while some said they feel their concerns on some issues are not being heard.
This is the 10th report in a series by The Sun and FOX45 News examining the effectiveness of the City Council in serving its constituents, ahead of a November ballot measure that proposes to reduce the council size from 15 to nine members by expanding the size of most council districts, except that of the council president, who is elected citywide. The measure is funded by David Smith, co-owner of The Sun and executive chairman of Sinclair Broadcast Group, which owns FOX45 News.
Dorsey did not agree to an interview with The Sun and FOX45 or respond to emailed questions.
Dorsey sponsored or co-sponsored 112 ordinances since January 2020, including 53 that were enacted or passed, 30 that failed or were withdrawn, and 29 that are still in progress.
Six of those bills dealt with crime, two with education, 16 with quality of life issues and 18 with government accountability.
Dorsey sponsored five resolutions since January 2020, including one failed proposal for a charter amendment to increase the number of City Council districts to 15 and allow council members to vote for the council president. Resolutions don’t carry the same force of law as ordinances but can involve activities such as expressing the council’s opinion or calling for a hearing.
Dorsey was the lead sponsor of an enacted whistleblower bill making it easier for city employees to file complaints about retaliation for misconduct they’ve disclosed, directing them to submit their concerns to human resources or directly to the Office of Inspector General, instead of within their chain of command.
He also sponsored a handful of bills on environmental protection, including one prohibiting the disposal of recyclable materials and yard waste in a landfill or incinerator and another prohibiting the use of gas-powered debris removal equipment; both proposals are currently in committee.
Dorsey’s district includes Arcadia, Belair-Parkside, Beverly Hills, Hamilton, Hamilton Hills, Hillen, Lauraville, Loch Raven, Mayfield, Moravia-Walther, Morgan Park, New Northwood, North Harford Road, Original Northwood, Perring Loch, Stonewood-Pentwood-Winston, Waltherson, and Westfield.
A controversial piece of legislation Dorsey proposed — scheduled for a hearing Tuesday — would create a “Harford Road Overlay District,” zoning the area to allow for multi-family dwellings. Proponents of the bill say it would provide more customers for local businesses and make housing more affordable. However, opponents say they prefer the current layout of single-family homes and are concerned the zoning bill would provide ownership opportunities for absentee landlords.
“It would open up a lot of large homes to be bought by speculators and out-of-state people who are only in it to make money and aren’t people who are going to bring what we need to make our neighborhoods better,” said Rochelle Lachance of the North Harford Road Community Association.
Helene Quinn of the Waltherson Improvement Association, also opposes the bill, saying there wasn’t enough public awareness about it.
“These are things that he thinks about on his own, and he goes off in left field,” she said. “That’s not working and partnering with your constituents.”
Lauraville resident Mercedes Unfried said she’s in favor of the bill and would like to see more support for businesses in the area. She also said Dorsey appeared at a community meeting on Aug. 27 to discuss the bill.
“We do have really good businesses here,” she said. “We’re trying to make it more of a main street – so walkability, bike-ability.”
Lachance said despite her opposition to the Harford Road proposal, Dorsey’s contributions to the community have been “90% positive.” She noted issues like the ongoing development of a Royal Farms store and gas station which Dorsey opposed alongside several residents.
“He’s more with us than he’s not,” Lachance said. “I know he cares about the city. He just gets somewhat tunnel vision on some things.”
Dorsey sponsored Baltimore’s Complete Streets legislation, enacted in 2018, to incorporate planning for pedestrians, cyclists and transit users into roadway design. His support for bike lanes has upset some because of the road impediments they include.
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However, other residents expressed support for bike lanes. Unfried said she appreciates the traffic-calming and pedestrian safety measures they provide.
Some residents offered positive feedback on Dorsey’s constituent services.
Lauraville resident Bonnie Schneider said Dorsey helped install speed cameras near her house after vehicles driving by knocked down her fence four times, ran into trees, and damaged the steps on her front porch. She said it’s been four years since any more accidents occurred.
Another District 3 resident, Jane Backert, said Dorsey helped install “no parking” signs in front of her house to stop people from blocking her driveway with their cars.
Dorsey showed up during winter to help break up a sheet of ice when a sump pump flooded a street with water, said Hamilton Hills resident John Fowler. He’s also observed Dorsey chopping back vegetation to clear walkways for pedestrians.
“He’s polarizing in both ways. The people who support him generally are very supportive of him,” Fowler said. “And then he has the other people who, no matter what he does, they hate it.”
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