Council President Introducing Four Bills Related to COVID-19 at Tonight's City Council Meeting

Council President Introducing Four Bills Related to
COVID-19 at Tonight's City Council Meeting

Bills Would Outlaw COVID-19 Scams and Call for Further Steps to Protect Safety of Baltimore Residents During Pandemic

BALTIMORE, MD (April 13, 2020) — Baltimore City Council President Brandon M. Scott will introduce one ordinance and three resolutions at the April 13 City Council meeting, which will be held virtually this evening at 5PM.

Residents and members of the press are encouraged to stream the April 13, 2020 City Council Meeting at 5PM online and on CharmTV’s cable channel (Channel 25/1085HD). People without access to television or the internet can join the meeting by phone at 408-418-9388 PIN: 714 230 580.

The Council President will introduce the following four pieces of legislation:

Ordinance 20-0520: False Statements - State of Emergency
In response to reports of scams targeting people during the COVID-19 public health pandemic, the Council President will introduce an ordinance at this evening’s City Council meeting that would make it illegal to falsely impersonate a city official and make false, misleading statements during a declared state of emergency. Those found violating the ordinance would be guilty of a misdemeanor and be fined.

 

Resolution 20-0212R: COVID-19 Essential Business and Resident Activity Regulations 
The Council President will introduce a resolution calling on the Mayor’s administration to issue an executive order requiring businesses deemed “essential” to institute social distancing measures in their establishments and an executive order that would require residents and visitors to wear masks while in public, including City of Baltimore employees in City buildings.

The measure is prompted by the reality that many in Baltimore City suffer from the pre-existing conditions that are risk factors for getting sick or dying from COVID-19. Despite the strict regulations that are currently in place, many Baltimoreans are still being put at risk of contracting the virus while conducting essential business.

 

Resolution 20-0209R: Inmate Release Due to COVID-19
The Council President will introduce a resolution in support of calls from the ACLU of Maryland and other advocates to release non-violent, low-risk offenders from jails and prisons to slow the spread of COVID-19. As of last Wednesday, the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services confirmed 57 cases of COVID-19 within the prison system. Close quarters in prisons and jails make it difficult, if not impossible, to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

This resolution calls on the Governor to take steps to reduce the prison population by releasing any inmate: 

• Whose sentence is scheduled to end in the next year; 
• Who is being held on a technical supervision violation; and 
• Who is particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, including people 65 years of age and older and people with underlying health conditions, such as heart disease, chronic lung disease, moderate to severe asthma, liver disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, severe obesity, and compromised immune systems.
   

Resolution 20-0210R: Emergency Response to COVID-19 - Immediate Housing for Persons Who Are Homeless

The Council President will introduce a resolution calling on the Mayor’s administration, Board of Estimates, and all affected City agencies to make hotels rooms and other non-congregate housing options available for people experiencing homelessness. This has been identified as a best practice by the National Association to End Homelessness and is being pursued in cities like San Diego, Seattle, and Austin. 

To date, the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services has screened and isolated at least 150 people in hotels who are suspected of having COVID-19 or deemed particularly vulnerable. Close quarters in shelters and other congregate housing arrangements make it nearly impossible to follow CDC guidelines. 

This resolution calls for:

• The Mayor’s administration and Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services to report progress on making hotels and non-congregate housing options available to people experiencing homelessness to the City Council on or before Monday, April 27, 2020;
• Funding to be made available as soon as possible to provide immediate housing to people experiencing homelessness, including using federal funds provided by the CARES Act and FEMA; and
• Collaboration with state government, non-profits, educational institutions, businesses and residents to make this possible.
   

This afternoon, members of the City Council and the Mayor met virtually for the City Council Luncheon. The virtual luncheon was accessible to members of the public and press via the WebEx platform.

Last week, the City Council President released a plan to support Baltimore residents and businesses during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. That plan is available for review here.