CCA Public Meeting Minutes 02 16 2021

CCA Public Meeting

Tuesday, February 16, 2021 VIA ZOOM

The meeting started at 6:35PM.

(Questions are being taken or can be emailed to info@cantoncommunity.org)

(Also on You Tube)

Mark Edelson, President, welcomed everyone to the meeting. He said the association tries to make things better in Canton and surrounding neighborhoods and to feel neighborly.

We have an action-packed and full agenda tonight. Board elections are being held. Everyone who is a member can vote. The link for the ballot was just sent.

Presentation - Comcast Data Plan Cost Increase – Councilperson Zeke Cohen:

Councilman Cohen gave some background on this situation. He said in 2016 the City Council and the Mayor entered into a ten-year franchise agreement with Comcast for right of way. This does not bar any other companies from entering the market. The City has tried to get Google and Verizon to come here. Councilman Cohen doesn’t think the Comcast deal was a great deal and that they have been a bad partner during the pandemic.

Saying we have a digital divide, The Abell Foundation did a study and found that 40% of the City lacked internet service. He feels it is a matter of racial equity especially during this pandemic. Recently Comcast provided an Essentials package for two free months. Many people need a device and speedier service.

Saying it is the City Council’s problem, they passed a resolution for $3 million which went for Chromebooks to be distributed. This helped to close the gap.

Could this be free during the pandemic? Even with Comcast doing great during the pandemic, their answer was no to this. Comcast instituted a data cap which caused Attorney General Brian Frosh to investigate. They have backed off the data cap until August. Comcast has doubled the speed of their internet. A lot of this has been featured in the Huffington Post, New York Times and Washington Post.

Mark thanked the Councilman. There were no questions.

Announcement - CCA Board Elections – Mark Edelson: Mark did a quick introduction of those running for a two-year term (in addition to himself):

Mark – hopes to have your support and hopes to be doing this for a long time.

Torbin Green – Handles O’Donnell Square and he enjoys volunteering.

Rev. Jim Hamilton – couldn’t be here tonight. Mark feels we all have seen his work.

Doug Kaufman – couldn’t be here tonight. Mark said he has done great work and is a past President.

Joe Koehler – Public Safety Chairman (eventually hoping to pass this along to someone else) focusing on the Block Captain program this year.

Matt Lasinski – is owner of Southern Provisions. He tries to assist the CCA in events.

Maura Taylor – is a long-time Canton advocate; also is on the Public Safety Task Force.

Zach Spedden (first time running with support of present Board members) – he is on the Marketing Committee and is looking forward to helping the Board and to help make Canton a great community.

Sheila Anderson (first time running with support of present Board members) – she is a member of the SE Public Safety Task Force. She recently became reacquainted with the CCA through the Canton Anti-Racism Alliance.

The polls are open the entirety of the meeting. The counting will be transparent. Local restaurants were featured so folks could buy dinner before the meeting – Southern Provisions, Of Love and Regret, El Buffalo, Canton Local and Mr. Nice Guy, saying this is in support of local restaurants.

Presentation – Baltimore Transit Equity Coalition – President Sam Jordan: Mr. Jordan thanked us for having him. He said there is a lot happening for transit across the City and that also President Biden is interested in this matter. He also said “welcome to a new stage” in public transportation discussions. Mr. Jordan feels hardly anyone is doing anything about the loss of the Red Line. Over the last six years there has not been any competition to light rail. Baltimore needs new thinking on transportation. Saying it was a big error to cancel the Red Line, he would like to see completion of this. We need enforceable cohesion with the various jurisdictions of the region. He would like the CCA to be part of this discussion.

He feels there are three things needed to revive the Red Line: money, political will and the impact of an environmental study.

There was a Solidarity Day celebration pledging solidarity with essential workers and transit drivers. He said there is the perception of crime following Light Rail which isn’t true. There was an effort to shut down light rail in Anne Arundel County due to a perception about Black crime. This was investigated and found to be a myth.

(At this point Mark said we would be jumping back and forth between presentations and announcements)

Announcement - Canton Anti-Racism Alliance – Mark Edelson, Sheila Anderson and Joseph Montanye: Sheila and Joe spoke about the John O’Donnell statue in O’Donnell Square. They found out a lot about him last summer and feel he is not reflective of our community. Mark at that time started asking for opinions about the statue. This widened into an alliance. Meetings were held. Some people feel that Canton is not welcoming. A letter was sent to then Mayor Jack Young requesting removal of the statue. The letter was then sent to the new Mayor Brandon Scott in January. There hasn’t been an answer yet.

Mark said there is a virtual event on March 17 by Dr. Lawrence Brown on his book “Butterfly”. Information will be sent to the community.

Joe joined the Alliance this summer. There is another subcommittee dealing with the history with a need to update the CCA’s history page as well as major change on the timeline. This will be interactive. They are looking into the history of naming the street and the Square and what it entails to rename a square and street.

Meetings are held the 4th Tuesday of the month. People are welcome to join. There is a diversity of subjects.

Presentation - Hampstead Hill Academy – Matt Hornbeck: Principal Hornbeck opened by saying he is a native of Philadelphia and a huge fan of public transportation. He said that 4th grade children from HHA wrote letters to the Mayor about removing the statue. The Mayor plans to meet with them. The faculty is engaged in study groups to better understand this.

He talked about reopening. The plan is for K-2nd grade to open March 15; grades 3-5 would open April 12. Openings of Pre-K and Middle School are still to be determined. There is live learning for grades 5-8 for those having trouble with online learning. There was a survey which found that 75% of families want to come back. He feels “we are well on our way” with many of the staff getting their shots. As more information surfaces about the virus not being transmitted on playgrounds, they may reopen.

Mark asked if the letters written to the Mayor can be posted. Matt will find out and let him know.

Announcement - Clay Hill Public Charter (joinclayhill.org)– Emily Augustine: Patterson Park Public Charter School, Inc. is expanding to open Clay Hill in the fall. They are operating K-3 now. She worked at Patterson Park Charter School. Clay Hill will be located at 6400 E. Pratt Street (formerly Our Lady of Fatima grade school). The Charter School will focus on the whole student with a unique experience. There are job opportunities. Adrienne (Board member) said HHA is working on doing spotlights on area schools to be posted.

Announcement - SE District Police Update – Sergeant Julian Jemmot: He cited crime statistics saying they have caught some individuals. He mentioned folks trying to have packages delivered to an alternate delivery address so they aren’t sitting on steps. He also said to please be aware of your vehicles and don’t leave keys in them. The SE newsletter was set to go but there has been a delay until March. It will be on the Facebook page. Mark said that the Police page can probably be shared on the CCA page.

Sgt. Jemmot is waiting to hear from Mr. Nunley (SW area) about lights at one of the schools. Joe (Board member) reached out about the lights and was told it’s a school matter although the Sgt. thought it’s a DOT issue.

Mark mentioned there is an option to have packages delivered to 2910 on the Square. Sgt. Jemmot said he appreciates our efforts in this matter. There was the question of police walking in the neighborhood. Some are getting our of their cars. Amanda has seen more of them doing this since she lives near the Square. Mark thanked Sgt. Jemmot and the officers.

Announcement - Health Department Update – Dr. Kendra McDow, BCHD’s Chief Medical Officer: She thanked Mark for having her speak tonight with an update. She has good news. The numbers have improved. The positivity rate is less than 5%. Someone asked about 21224 being 22% at one time. She wants to get the facts and get back to us. The goal is to have 80% vaccinations by February 2022. This takes into account children getting the shots. Moderna is for those 18+ and Pfizer is for those 16+. Younger children will be tested for possible vaccines. She took some questions about the current vaccinations and possible side effects after the second dose. There was also a question of allocation of doses.

The City’s website is: https://coronavirus.baltimorecity.gov/. Mark thanked Dr. McDown and for all she does.

Announcement - O’Donnell Square Park – Torbin Green: He talked about the lights on the trees and showed a slide. This is a work in progress and helps with safety in the area. Traffic calming is still going on with or without outdoor dining. It is a safety issue. Parking is only for temporary use. Mark thanked Torbin for his work.

Announcement - Volunteers of the Year – Amanda Bourgeois: Amanda spoke about this program which recognizes those that dedicate their time and resources and bring new ideas to the community. The winners are Julie Kichline and Zach Spedden.

Amanda said that Julie goes above and beyond to help her. Julie gets out the word about the CCA. She is a new co-chair of our Marketing Committee.

Zach is our IT guru and handles things behind the scenes. He offers ideas and is happy to be part of this.

They both received local certificates. Mark thanked both for the work they do in the community.

Announcement - Canton Get Lit Program – Chris Broughton: Chris is a past Volunteer of the Year. He has received plenty of requests for installation of lights. There are grants available if residents have the time to pursue these. Chris said residents order supplies on his advice. There are timers are on the lights. Amanda showed on the screen how to reach out to Chris. This is usually done through a block captain. Mark thanked Chris for what he does.

Miscellaneous:

Mark said the CCA can be emailed at info@cantoncommunity.org. There are a lot of volunteering opportunities with the CCA. He also reminded us what Amanda said that “it takes a village”. At the May 18 Public meeting we will have updates from our state legislators. Thanks to those who participated in the carryout dinner program. We hope to continue this to support the local businesses. Amanda said the website has been updated with meeting dates.

The meeting ended at 8:20PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

Denise Aversa