Resolution 06-0210R Emergency Resolution--Baltimore City Board of Elections--Election Day Glitches Requests that the city's director of elections and the president of the city Board of Elections report to the City Council on the "systematic" glitches that occurred in many of the city's polling places during the primary election on Sept. 12. The resolution also asks that a plan be presented to remedy such problems in time for the Nov. 7 general election.
Public Interest Grade: C By all accounts, primary election day in the city was a disorganized mess, complete with new glitch-ridden voting equipment and undertrained (and absentee) elections judges. The city's director of elections, Gene Raynor, resigned his post after a hearing on the matter. This resolution is a good effort, but we are afraid it won't restore residents' faith in the electoral system--disenfranchising any citizen of his or her right to vote, intentional or not, is simply unacceptable.
Bill 06-0316 Residential Permit Parking Program Reorganizes and clarifies the residential permit parking law and establishes a residential permit parking advisory board to be administered by the Baltimore City Parking Authority.
Public Interest Grade: B+ Ah, the battle for street parking in the city's neighborhoods. Residents of such areas as Little Italy, Fells Point, and Federal Hill are constantly battling valets, delivery personnel, and restaurant and bar patrons for rare street spaces. It's a good idea to appoint an advisory board to hash out the problems--we just hope it'll strike a fair balance between residents and visitors.
City Council Quote of the Week
Curran
"Bigger isn't always better." --3rd District Councilman Robert W. Curran, speaking in support of Bill 06-0515, which would limit the size of campaign signs located in residential areas and authorize civil penalties for certain other violations.
City Council Fact of the Week
Burns
The City Council reconvened in its proper home this week, in the newly renovated Clarence "Du" Burns Chambers on the fourth floor of City Hall. The chambers are named in honor of Clarence "Du" Burns, who died in 2003, Baltimore's first African-American mayor, who rose to that post in 1987 after William Donald Schaefer was elected governor. Burns also served on the City Council from 1971 to '87; he was the council's vice president from 1977 to '82 and council president from 1982 to '87. The council had been meeting temporarily across the hall in the J. Joseph Curran conference room, which is also slated to undergo renovation.
The next meeting of the City Council is scheduled for Sept. 25 at 5 p.m.To view the City Council's meeting schedule visit www.baltimorecitycouncil.com.
