[Baltimore Sun] Baltimore City Council report card: Danielle McCray
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Baltimore City Councilwoman Danielle McCray won this year’s Democratic primary with 80% of the vote. She has served District 2 in Northeast Baltimore and part of Southeast Baltimore since her nomination in 2019 and subsequent election in 2020.
McCray is one of the least active sponsors of legislation on the council. Constituents who spoke with The Baltimore Sun described her as responsive and helpful, though some noted ongoing, citywide problems like crime, trash, and vacant homes.
This is the 13th 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.
McCray did not agree to an interview with The Sun and FOX45, but sent a statement criticizing the ballot measure: “Baltimore thrives on its diversity, and our 15-member council ensures that every neighborhood and community has a voice. Downsizing the council to 9 members would dilute representation, especially for the middle neighborhoods that I represent.”
McCray sponsored or co-sponsored 37 ordinances since January 2020, including 17 that were enacted, eight that failed or were withdrawn, and 12 that are still in progress.
Two of those bills dealt with crime, one with education, nine with quality-of-life issues and six with government accountability.
McCray proposed enacted legislation to exempt homeowners who are low-income, elderly, or disabled, and have lived in their home at least 15 years, from the city tax sale. The tax sale process allows liens involving unpaid property taxes and other charges to be sold to buyers who subsequently can obtain ownership of those properties through a foreclosure lawsuit if the money isn’t paid. The city was sued in federal court this summer over the allegation its tax sale is “unconstitutional.”
McCray also helped establish a workgroup on women working in Baltimore public safety agencies to study recruitment, hiring, training, retention, mentorship and promotions.
McCray sponsored 14 resolutions since 2020, all of which called for a hearing or discussion about topics like soil conservation and the implementation of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. 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.
The 2nd District includes Armistead Gardens, Bayview, Belair-Parkside, Cedonia, Eastwood, Frankford, Hamilton, Hopkins Bayview, Kresson, North Harford Road, Overlea, Parkside, Pulaski Industrial Area, Rosemont East, Taylor Heights, Waltherson and Westfield, per redistricting boundaries set to go into effect after the general election.
Vacant homes are a big challenge in the area, said Brian Sweeney, past president of Highlandtown Community Association, especially during winter when squatters seek alternative sources of heat and light due to a lack of gas and electricity, which can lead to fires. Though McCray has assisted with boarding up vacant homes, Sweeney said he wants to see better solutions from city government.
Trash is another big problem, he said, caused by illegal dumping, possessions abandoned in alleys after evictions, and rats tearing open trash bags that are not placed in garbage cans. Constituent service requests about trash that are sent to McCray eventually get resolved, Sweeney said, but the city needs to do more.
“There are parts of the city that are just filthy, and I don’t think anybody has addressed that appropriately,” he said.
McCray is “extremely in tune with the needs of communities,” said Jamal Turner, interim vice chair of the Frankford Community Association. “She’s not one of the ones you’ll see in front of the camera and stuff all the time, but she is definitely in tune and ingrained in community.”
Turner noted challenges in the area like drug-dealing, car theft and lack of affordable housing.
“There’s only so much one council person can do to enact laws and rules and [policies] that everybody can follow,” Turner said. “But I know that she has been intentional with engaging potential partnerships to ensure that these issues are addressed.”
Turner helps lead the Nolita Project, which mentors youth in the city through in-school and after-school programs. He said accountability for crime goes beyond city leadership.
“There’s a certain level of responsibility on us, as a community, because these individuals, they come from homes, they come from communities. And, in most cases, the crime is not the first indication that there is something that needs to be addressed with that individual,” he said.
Dexter Walker, of the East Rosemont Community Association, said he was worried about the opening of a nearby liquor store, saying it could invite loitering, drug-dealing and trash. He said McCray helped him mediate a solution, and there have been no problems since the store opened.
McCray also assisted with cleaning out sewers covered in leaves, said Celia Cruz, board member with the Cedonia Community Association. She added that while McCray is responsive on constituent services, she would appreciate more communication from her office about activities in the district.
McCray has coordinated with city services to cut overgrown grass on a recreational field, cover sidewalk graffiti, install speed cameras, curb illegal dumping by planting prohibition signs, and fix a water main break, said Pete Moody, of the Gardenville Neighborhood Association.
“I can go on and on what she has done out here,” Moody said.
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