Council President’s Statement on Committee's Passage of Landmark Local Hiring Ordinance

BALTIMORE, MD – “I would like to thank the members of the City Council’s Taxation, Finance & Economic Development Committee for successfully passing my bill to increase local hiring in Baltimore City.

The committee’s vote represents a progressive first-step toward improving resident participation in city-funded projects. My colleagues on the Council and I share the goal of finding a way to get local residents to work. But the reality is that there has been a failure of good-faith hiring efforts in Baltimore City. We must do more to get our unemployed and underemployed residents working again, and this bill’s successful passage is a step forward.

I applaud the committee’s work on this important legislation, and I look forward to the full City Council having an opportunity to stand in support of increased employment for all citizens.”

NOTE: The legislation will move to second reader during the May 13, 2013, City Council meeting.