The Governor called the Senate and the House of Delegate into Special Session to review and vote on his Congressional Redistricting map. A national census is performed every ten years counting the number of residents in the State. Maryland, like all states, must draw new congressional districts and State Legislative districts based on the principle of one-person; one-vote.

This is a political process, but this map is drawn in such an absurd way, it defies logic.  Many district configurations were presented to the members of the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Committee over the past few months. Membership included the Chair, Jean D. Hitchcock, Secretary of Appointments; Thomas Mike Miller, Jr., Senate President; Michael E. Busch, Speaker of the House; James King, former House Member and Richard Stewart, President and CEO, Montgomery Mechanical Services, Inc.  The Committee held public hearings around the state and the common message heard at these meetings was, “keep our community together.”  Over 200 people attended the meeting in Baltimore County.

Under the new map, Baltimore County will be split into pieces among four different Congressional Districts, even though our population is large enough to support one all by itself.  The lines separating these areas are nonsensical and appear like four colors of paint splattered on a blank canvas. None of the boundaries take into account the cohesion of our neighborhoods and communities.

The Governor’s map was the only one truly considered and the majority was persuaded to vote for it or likely face consequences in the upcoming legislative redistricting. The new plan maintains two black-majority districts and targets a veteran Republican House member by splitting western Maryland into three different Districts.  Of note, the League of Women Voters vigorously opposed the proposed lines.

The Minority Floor Leader presented an alternative plan that would create three majority-minority districts, including a district basically comprising all communities inside the Baltimore beltway, including the city.  The amendment called for the Districts to be contiguous, compact, and follow natural borders.  It failed by a vote of 96 to 41. Other amendments were presented that offered contiguous districts and provided equitable representation to everyone; they also were voted down.

I believe that the Governor’s map will end up in the court system, but it remains to be seen whether the arguments will be sufficient to overcome the well-entrenched establishment.

Very truly yours,
Delegate Susan L.M. Aumann
District 42, Baltimore County

September 11, 2011 – At 2:00 pm on Sunday September 11, 2011 the Providence Volunteer members were joined by over 100 friends, family, neighbors, and elected officials to make two very special dedications. I was honored to participate in these dedications. The first was in the “Memorial Garden” to the rear of the station. In this garden rests a 10 foot piece of steel from the World Trade Center in New York City that was retrieved from “Ground Zero” after the attacks on 9/11/01. This steel serves as the center piece to the ‘Garden’ and serves as a reminder to the 343 NYC firefighters/EMT’s/Paramedics that were killed on 9/11. The monument was dedicated with words from Captain Bon Murray of the Baltimore County Fire Department, who served on teams that responded to Ground Zero.

The second dedication was for the Company’s brand new Truck 297. This is the Company’s first brand new ladder truck and will serve the company for the next 15-20 years! The vehicle was dedicated and put in service by Life Member Steven Lancaster. The Truck took its first emergency response approximately 3 hours after being put in service.

The level of the proposed increase is outrageous during this austere time and is expected to generate an additional $77 million per year.  Maryland Transportation Authority (MTA) toll revenue supports Maryland’s tunnels, bridges and turnpikes. The MTA says it wants to keep the tolls comparable to other states in the region.  That is a ridiculous justification for imposing an extra burden on taxpayers and totally unfair in light of the recent increases in other tolls, vehicle registration fees and EZpass transponder charges.

The current proposal will increase tolls to $3.00 on 10/1/2011 and again on 7/1/2013 to $4.00 for the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel, Fort McHenry Tunnel and the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway and the Thomas Hatem Memorial Bridge will increase to $6.00 on 10/1/2011 and to $8.00 by 7/1/2013. The Bay Bridge will increase from the current $2.50 to $5.00 by 10/1/2011 and to $8.00 by 7/1/2013. The Nice Bridge will increase from $3.00 to $5.00 10/1/2011 and to $8.00 by 7/1/2013. For vehicles with three or more axles, the increases are even more staggering.  I am vehemently opposed to these changes.

MTA’s “need” for the additional revenue stems from the fact that funds from the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) have been regularly transferred to the General Fund and not replaced.  The TTF is a non-lapsing special fund that provides funding for transportation projects.  It consists of tax and fee revenues, operating revenues, bond proceeds and fund transfers.  The failure to replace the transferred money concerns me greatly because the dedicated purpose fund is not being used for transit projects and masks the huge problems with overspending.  It is a classic example of “robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

Every one of us has been affected by this recession. Housing prices continue to deteriorate and are causing a downturn in construction trades, manufacturing and jobs. Many of our neighbors are out of work; the unemployment rate for May was 9.1%. The overall economy is at best in a tenuous recovery.  Imposing this tremendous increase on commuters is wrong.
You may contact the Maryland Transportation Authority and submit comments for the official record via a web form at www.mdta.maryland.gov or by writing to: MdTA Toll Comments, 2310 Broening Highway, Baltimore, MD 21224. The public comment period is open now until August 1, 2011. Nine meetings will be held around the state, in Baltimore County the date is listed for June 22nd. The hearing locations are listed online at www.mdta.maryland.gov.

I appreciate your voicing your opinions to me and I encourage you to let all of our leaders know your views about these ill-advised increases.

Very truly yours,
Delegate Susan Aumann
District 42, Baltimore County

The State Highway Administration (SHA) and its contractor, J&P Excavating Co., Inc. are beginning a project to improve the storm drain system along the outer loop of I-695 (Baltimore Beltway) at Fox Hunt Lane in Lutherville.  The project should be completed early summer 2011, weather permitting.

Construction work may occur at any time Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.  There also exists a possibility of longer daily hours.  SHA and J&P Excavating Co. will make every effort to minimize disruptions to the community.  This project begins to the north of Joppa Road and extends in an easterly direction for a total distance of 0.32 miles. The proposed system will consist of three inlets and pipe. The improvements will also include construction of a surface drainage ditch between the proposed inlets.  The new storm drain system will connect to an existing system that discharges to the north of the project site.

Citizens with questions or concerns may contact SHA’s Project Engineer, Mr. Len Sutphin.  He may be reached by phone at 240-382-4844, or by e-mail at lsutphin@sha.state.md.us.  The SHA project field office is located behind the Valley Presbyterian Church at 2200 West Joppa Road, Lutherville, Maryland 21093.

Very truly yours,
Delegate Susan L.M. Aumann
District 42 – Baltimore County
303 Lowe House Office Building
Annapolis, MD  21401
410-841-3258; FAX 410-841-3163
susan.aumann@house.state.md.us

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