By AFRO Staff
As early voting begins in Baltimore, registered voters will see a series of questions in addition to the names of candidates and the offices they seek. Voting is crucial in shaping the future, but knowledge of candidates and the issues is equally important.
Credit: Unsplash/ red dot
This week, in addition to endorsing Kamala Harris for president and Angela Alsobrooks for U.S. Senate, the AFRO editorial board weighs in on two crucial ballot questions facing voters this year—Question F and Question H.
It is never advisable to vote straight “for” or “against” on all the questions. This year, doing so will have serious consequences. Don’t head to the polls without understanding what is being asked! Take this edition of the AFRO with you to ensure you are informed on these key ballot issues.
Question F – FOR: Charter Amendment Inner Harbor Park
Opponents of Question F have adopted the catchphrase “F No.” But here’s what will happen if you let that slogan guide your vote: the plan to revitalize Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, which serves both residents and millions of visitors annually, will face setbacks.
MCB Real Estate, co-founded by P. David Bramble, has a bold vision to redevelop the area, which has struggled with tenant vacancies and declining foot traffic. Bramble, son of Baltimore Times founder Joy Bramble, and his partners are planning a multi-million-dollar project to restore the “crown jewel” of Baltimore after years of stagnation.
Question F specifically asks about the space “around the Northwest and South Shores of the Inner Harbor, south of Pratt Street to the water’s edge, east of Light Street to the water’s edge, and north of the highway to the water’s edge.” This area includes the World Trade Center and Rash Field. The question asks whether voters support new development that includes dining options, commercial spaces, multifamily residential buildings, and off-street parking.
While the current city charter designates this land for “public park uses,” the redevelopment plan still includes significant park space. According to MCB Real Estate’s “Our Harborplace” plan, the proposal includes:
- Over 4 acres of new parks and public space
- 2.3 acres of new park space at The Park at Freedom’s Port (Light & Pratt Streets)
- 500+ new native trees to provide shade along the public promenade
- Upper and lower promenades to mitigate flooding and enhance public access to the water
- Native landscaping and shoreline protection to support Chesapeake Bay ecology
- Marshlands to filter nutrients from the harbor
In response to community feedback, the updated master plan, released in Summer 2024, incorporates additional green space and pathways north of the World Trade Center.
Of particular note is The Park at Freedom’s Port, which honors the legacy of the Black community that once thrived around Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Sharp Street was central to the Underground Railroad and home to the South’s first Black school. However, over time, the community was displaced and diminished. MCB Real Estate plans to honor this legacy by naming the new park “The Park at Freedom’s Port.”
For these reasons, the AFRO urges voters to vote FOR the Charter Amendment in Question F.
Question H – AGAINST: Reducing Baltimore City Council Districts
The AFRO has serious concerns about Question H, which seeks to reduce the number of Baltimore City Council districts from 14 to 8.
This isn’t the first time the City Council’s composition has been under scrutiny. Historically, the council had six districts with three members each, along with a council president. This provided residents with multiple representatives to address concerns if one was unavailable. Today, with only 14 members, shrinking the council even further could centralize power in the hands of a few.
For these reasons, the AFRO strongly recommends voting AGAINST Question H.
The post Don’t be fooled Vote ‘NO’ on H, ‘YES’ on F in Baltimore City appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.
