City Council President Nick J. Mosby issues committee assignments, reducing number by half to improve legislative process

BALTIMORE, MD (December 10, 2020) - Baltimore City Council President Nick J. Mosby announced committee assignments Thursday at the inaugural meeting of the 73rd City Council.

In reducing by half the number of committees from the most recent council, Mosby said the proposals before the City Council will receive a more comprehensive vetting. The previous council was divided into about a dozen committees.

Mosby modeled the council’s legislative process after that of the General Assembly. The Council President served four years in Annapolis. He resigned his position representing District 40 effective Thursday.

“Eliminating committees of three members will drive a more democratic process,” Mosby said. Larger committees will allow more members to weigh in on legislation before the proposals move to the full council for consideration to better represent communities and interests across the entire city.

Under his leadership, the council will evaluate policies based on how much a good idea costs, whether it is equitable and what evidence is available to show how effective it may be. Decisions will be based on data and research, not emotions.

The six committees are Economic and Community Development, chaired by Councilmember Sharon Green Middleton; Ways and Means, chaired by Councilmember Eric Costello; Public Safety and Government Operations, chaired by Councilmember Mark Conway; Education, Workforce and Youth, chaired by Councilmember Robert Stokes; Health, Environment and Technology, chaired by Councilmember Danielle McCray; and Rules and Legislative Oversight, chaired by Councilmember Isaac “Yitzy” Schleifer.

“We are here to make policy,” Mosby said. “And policy can no longer be the disease; it must be the prescription.

“Good public policy is what will begin to eradicate the structural racism that creates health and economic disparities. Good public policy will create safe spaces for our children to learn and to play. Good public policy will help create opportunities for employment and small business creation and growth. Good public policy will create and expand smart transportation options for our citizens and visitors. 

“Good public policy is not the stuff of unicorns or some surreal cosmic explosion. We don’t need a miracle to change and improve conditions in Baltimore.”