GBC Candidate Questionnaire
Angela Alsobrooks1.SincetheonsetoftheCOVID-19pandemic,thefederalgovernmenthasinvested significantlytoaccelerateeconomicdevelopmenteffortsatalocallevel.Pleaseoutline theeconomicopportunitiesforwhichtheBaltimoreRegioncouldcountonyoutobean ambassador.
Baltimoreisthelifebloodofourstate,andMarylandcannotbesuccessfulwithouta thrivingBaltimore.BaltimorecancountonmetofighttobringbackFederal resourcestotheregion,andmyrecordasCountyExecutiveshowshowhardIwill worktomakesurethattheregionreceivesitsfairshareofinvestment.AsCounty Executive,IfoughthardtoinvestinPrinceGeorge’sCounty'seconomicgrowth, bringingamenitiestocommunitiesthathadbeenleftbehindforyears.Iattracted morethanabilliondollarstotheBlueLineCorridor,workedtoredevelopNew Carrollton,andsecuredthefirsteverRAISEgrantfundinginPrinceGeorge’s Countyhistorytobuildnewtrails.Ihaveledinmakingthecasetothefederal governmenttobuildthenewFBIheadquartersinMarylandandforthe CommanderstobuildanewstadiuminPrinceGeorge’sCounty.Ihaveseenthe economicbenefitofthesekindsofinvestmentsfirst-handaseachprojectbringsnew jobs,newbusinesses,andprideincommunities.
MembersofourFederalDelegationknowhowhardIhaveworkedtopushfor investmentsinmyownCounty,whichiswhyfolkslikeSenatorVanHollen, CongressmanMfume,CongressmanSarbanes,CongressmanRaskin,Congressman HoyerandCongressmanIveyhaveallendorsedmycampaign.AsaUSSenator,I willbringthatsamelevelofdedicationtocommunitieslikeBaltimore,pushingto ensurethatfederalinvestmentscontinuetosupportBaltimore’sgrowth.This includeslinkinghistoricopportunitieslikethenewFrederick-DouglassTunneland offshorewindfarmstolocalhiringandworkforcedevelopment;boostingthePortof Baltimorebymodernizingberthsandsupportinganewterminal;fightingtoget federalfundingfortheRedLineandredevelopingthe‘HighwaytoNowhere’; prioritizingresearchdollarsbeingallocatedtoMorganStateUniversityinaddition toJohnsHopkinsandtheUniversityofMaryland;anddirectingcongressional spendingtolocalprojectsintheBaltimoreregion.
2.Howdoyouenvisionsupportingregionaleffortstoaccelerateentrepreneurshipand innovation,includingthefull$10billionfundingintheU.S.CHIPSACTfortheregional
TechHubs?
TheTechHubsprogramisaperfectexampleofhowfederalfundingcansupport economicdevelopmentinBaltimorebydrivinginnovation,jobcreationandgreater partnershiplocallyinwaysthatboostAmerica’scompetitivenessglobally.
Baltimore’sdesignationasoneof31Hubsisanimportantstepforward,butwehave tocontinuetoworktogethertosupportthisConsortiumofprivateandpublic equitiestorealizeitsfullpotential.IwillworkwiththerestoftheMaryland Delegation,theWhiteHouse,andtheDepartmentofCommercetoensurethe BaltimoreTechHubcontinuestosecurefederalfunding,butIwillalsobeafull partnerwiththeConsortiumaswedriveprivateinvestmentsanddevelopenduring relationshipsbetweeneducationalinstitutions,privatesectorfirms,not-for-profits andpublicsectorentitiesthatarecoreassetsfortheBaltimoreregion.
Thismodelshouldextendtootherareaswhereweexpectfederalinvestments includingoffshorewindandcleanenergy;cybersecurity;and,futureindustrieslike quantumcomputerandbiotechnology.Thesefederaldollarsmustbemeaningful investmentsinourcommunitiesandshouldleadtoenhancingskillsforourfuture talentpipeline,providingnewopportunitiesforstartupsandestablishedbusinesses especiallythosethathavebeenhistoricallydisadvantaged.
3. Howwillyousupporttheregioninensuringitreceivesarightfulshareoffederal infrastructureinvestment?
ThereisahistoricleveloffederalfundingavailabletoMarylandthankstothe InflationReductionActandtheBipartisanInfrastructureLaw,butensuringweget ourfairsharewilldependonpartnershipacrossalllevelsofgovernment,the privateandnonprofitsectors,andMarylandfamilies.Iamcommittedtousingmy experiencetoworkwitheverystakeholder-especiallytheState-toensureweare competingforeveryfederaldollar.ItwillalsotakepartnershipwiththeWhite HouseandtheAdministration,andCongresstoensurethatBaltimore’spriorities arereflectedinthePresident’sbudgetandappropriationbills.
4. WhatrolewouldyouenvisiontheMarylandDelegationservingtosupportinitiativesto addressa)publicsafetychallenges,and(b)housingvacancyissues,bothofwhich continuetochallengemanyofthecountry’spost-industrialmarkets?
AsPrinceGeorge’sCountyState’sAttorney,Iworkedtolowerviolentcrimeinthe countyby50%.ThisgivesmeauniqueperspectiveonhowCongresscanplayan
importantroleinmakingpolicingsaferandmoreeffective,whileatthesametime reformourbroadercriminaljusticesystemsothatitservesallpeopleequally:
● PasstheGeorgeFloydJusticeinPolicingActthatbuildstrustbetweenlaw enforcementandthecommunitiestheyservebyendingracialprofiling, banningchokeholdsandno-knockwarrants,limitingthemilitarizationof lawenforcement,requiringbodycameras,holdingpoliceaccountableand investinginlawenforcementtrainingandcommunitypolicing.
● Addresstherecruitmentandretentionchallengeslocallawenforcement experiencewhiledoingmoretocomplementpoliceofficerswithsocial workers,crisismediatorsandmentalhealthresponders
● Asjuvenilecrimehasincreasedinrecentyears,wehavetoutilizeevery resourcetorehabilitateandensuretheybecomelesslikelytooffendinthe future
● SupportPresidentBidenindeschedulingcannabis-reducingthenumberof illicitmarketsinMaryland
● Reducingrecidivismenhancespublicsafetyandtherearewaystomakesure returningcitizensarebettersupportedanddon’treoffend.Thiscouldmean, forexample,makingsureindividualsleaveprisonwithavalidformof governmentidentificationascurrentlyoverhalfleavewithoutanyvital documents.
EveryMarylanderdeservestoliveinasafe,stableandaffordablehome. Unfortunately,housinghasnotbeenatopissueforCongressandevenaDemocratic CongressfailedtoactonPresidentBiden’sBuildBackBetterActthatwouldhave madethesinglelargestinvestmentinaffordablehousinginourhistory. Butthere arethingswecandotodaytoaddresstheprobleminBaltimoreandacrossour state:
● PassSenatorCardin’sNeighborhoodHomesInvestmentAct,whichwould providetaxcreditstorehabilitatehomesforlowandmoderateincome homeowners.ThisshouldbecoupledwithanexpansionintheHOME InvestmentPartnership,HousingTrustFundandLow-IncomeHousingTax Credit.
● WeshouldfundnewhousingvouchersandpassSenatorVanHollen’sFamily StabilityandOpportunityVouchersActthatwouldmovefamiliestoareas withbetterschoolsandaffordablechildcare
● Weshoulddomoretokeeppeopleintheirhomesthroughemergencyrental assistanceandhousingstabilityprograms;andsupporthomeownershipby offeringlow-interestloansanddownpaymentassistancetofirsttimehome buyers,andtaxcreditsformiddleincomehomeowners.
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5. WhatareaswouldyouencouragetheGBCtoleverageitscollectiveimpactaroundto advancetheregionaleconomy?(re:downtownrevitalization,manufacturingexpansion, etc.)
Ifirmlybelievethatboostingtheregionaleconomyrequirespublic/private partnerships,andtheGBCisuniquelysituatedtodothis.Iwouldfocuson:
● Continuetoprioritizeinnovationhubsthatconnectbusiness,academiaand publicinstitutionstothinkaboutnewopportunitiesandtrends
● Arts,cultureandentertainmentarehowwecancontinuetoattractregional andnationalvisitorswhosetourismdollarswillsupportlocalbusinesses
● Findwaystoboostaffordablehousingthatwillleadtomorepeoplemoving totheregion