Candidate for: City Council, 8th District
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Describe your vision of a healthy, safe, equitable transportation system for Baltimore City and the roles walking, biking, and public transportation play in that vision.
My vision for transportation in Baltimore is one that allows for anyone using any mode of transit to be able to do so safely, and to ensure that our systems reduce the time it takes for residents to get to work and school on-time.Therefore, I believe an impactful method to increase the quality of life is making investments in the biking and walkability of our city and our transit system. Biking, mass transit and pedestrian investments that ease connections between public transit systems and first mile/last mile transit programs are proven methods to reach this goal.
The fastest and most economical way to address climate change, improve public health, and create equal access to opportunity is to design a city that reduces dependence on private automobiles. What are the biggest barriers to getting people to choose walking, biking, or public transit instead of personal vehicles, and what would you do to address these impediments?
I believe that if Baltimore City had a truly multi-modal and interconnected transportation system more residents would reduce their dependence on single occupancy vehicles. I believe it is critical that we engage and educate Baltimore City residents during the policymaking process so that they understand what is trying to be accomplished and why changes are needed to improve our lives. To best inform and involve residents on changes to our roadways, I believe it must be apart of a larger effort to shift away from driving culture and to encourage the use of bicycles and public transit. I would work to develop partnerships with cycling focused organizations and public schools to implement family-oriented and community-based recreational programs to promote biking as a viable and safe mode of transportation. Additionally, I plan to partner with City, State, on-profit and for-profit partners to host ongoing information sessions for constituents on a range of topics to increase understanding and engagement in the policy process.
In 2017, the Planning Commission approved the Separated Bike Lane Network plan that connects 85% of Baltimore’s neighborhoods by creating safe, protected places to ride a bike. Do you agree with the plan’s recommendations, and if so, what would you do to ensure that we fulfill the plan’s promise to build a minimum of 17 miles of bike lanes per year? Are there specific areas of the city where you would prioritize implementation?
Yes, I believe our city lacks adequate bike lane infrastructure, and this is especially true neighborhoods in communities of color. I believe this can be accomplished by advocating for increased funding in the city's capital budget and that it be given priority by the Baltimore City Planning Commission and Mayoral Administration.
Approximately 50 people are killed on city streets each year while walking, biking, or driving, with another 9,000 people injured. What is your plan to reduce the number of Baltimoreans injured and killed in traffic every year?
It is critical that we work to slow down automobile drivers by using a variety of tactics:
- I support the expansion of Automated Traffic Violation Enforcement systems beyond school zones
- Using a variety of traffic calming devices including but not limited to speed bumps, curb bump outs, flex posts, and other roadway modifications
- Increasing traffic enforcement from the Baltimore City Police Department
- Supporting effort to lower overall speed limit across Baltimore City
Approximately 800 Baltimoreans die early every year from preventable diseases related to carbon emissions, more than double the city’s murder rate. Thousands more are hospitalized each year as these emissions trigger asthma and other respiratory diseases. There is a strong correlation between hospitalization and proximity to major car commuter routes. What is your plan to reduce carbon emissions from automobiles in order to decrease the number of Baltimoreans hurt by and dying from emissions-related diseases?
To improve air quality across the city we have to reduce the overall number of vehicles being utilized by improving access and reliability of our public transit system and resisting efforts to further accommodate single-occupancy vehicle use. This can be done by opposing the installation of additional parking facilities and modifying vehicle parking requirements for proposed commercial and residential development.
Do you walk for transportation? If so, for what purposes, how often, and what was your last trip walking?
Yes. I often walk between meetings located in and around the Central Business District near City Hall.
Do you use public transportation? If so, for what purposes, how often, and what was your last trip by public transportation?
Sometimes. I utilize the MARC service when traveling between Baltimore and the DC Metro Area.
Do you ever ride a bicycle? Is it for transportation, recreation, or both? What was your last trip by bicycle?
Yes. I bike primarily for exercise and recreation in and around my Council District and for fun at Bike Party.
Baltimore’s urban areas have limited space on streets. In order to increase safety and improve mobility, some modes of transportation must be prioritized over others to make the most of this limited space. Please rank how you would prioritize different modes of transportation on city streets, using numbers 1 through 7:
1. Public Transportation
2. Walking & devices that aid people with a disability
3. Bicycles and Scooters
4. Ride Hailing Services (Taxi, Uber, Lyft)
5. Freight and Delivery
6. Parking
7. Personal Automobiles

Agree or disagree?
I support removing parking on a street if it would improve safety and increase mobility of people using that street.
Agree
Minimum parking requirements are shown to increase housing costs while limiting potential density and making neighborhoods less walkable. I support following the lead of other cities that have removed minimum parking requirements from new development.
Agree
Some cities require employers that subsidize parking also offer an option for employees to receive that subsidy as a cash payment. I support a mandate that employers offer parking cashout so that employees can choose to pocket that money, use it for alternative transportation, or continue using that cash to pay for parking.
Agree
Increasing density in areas of opportunity is proven to help individuals escape poverty. I support taller, denser, or larger buildings in areas they are now prohibited by zoning.
Agree
Transit oriented development can expand access to areas of opportunity by locating housing and retail along high frequency transit. Current zoning code only identifies these zones along subway and light rail routes. I support expanded Transit Oriented Development zoning to include areas within a quarter mile of high-frequency bus routes.
Agree
It is now widely accepted that Single Family Residential Zoning was historically created to maintain racial segregation. I support removing Single Family Residential Zoning categories, allowing both single family and multi family residences to be built in all residential zoning areas.
Agree
I support allowing existing residences to be split into apartments in all zoning categories without having to pass legislation for each conversion, increasing density in neighborhoods that were traditionally single family homes.
Agree
At 20mph, 90% of pedestrians survive being hit by a car. At 40mph, only 10% survive. I support enforcing a maximum speed limit of 25 mph on arterial streets, and 20 mph on local streets.
Agree
Allowing turns on red is a contributing factor in increased pedestrian injury and death. I support banning turns on red at all intersections that allow pedestrian crossing.
Agree
Automated Speed and Red Light Enforcement Cameras are widely proven to reduce fatal collisions. I support using these cameras on any street, not just near schools and construction sites.
Agree
The Automated Speed Enforcement Camera current threshold is 12 miles per hour. I support cameras being able to issue citations for those traveling 5 miles per hour or more over the speed limit.
Agree
I would invest in automated enforcement cameras that will issue citations to private automobiles for being stopped or parked in bus lanes.
Agree
Dedicated bus lanes and bus boarding islands are proven to dramatically improve bus reliability and boarding times. I support removing parking or travel lanes to create bus lanes and boarding islands to improve bus performance.
Agree
The city adopted the Greenway Trails Network plan that will connect existing trails such as Gwynns Falls Trail and Herring Run Trail to create a 35-mile trail loop that connects 80% of Baltimore’s neighborhoods to greenspace and recreational trails. I support the construction of these trail connections, even if it requires using grass medians or taking road space or parking space away from private automobiles.
Agree

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Agree or disagree?