Dear Neighbors:

I am truly honored and humbled to be nominated for the 2022 Baltimore Sun's Reader's Choice recognition under the Politician/Government Official category (in People and Media). If you are motivated to do so, please vote for me and/or my colleagues. Here is the link to see all of the nominees and to vote. Voting ends May 29th.

This newsletter has details about Tax Payers' Night on Thursday evening, the upcoming Baltimore City Pools opening schedule, B'More Summer Information Hub, Ticket to Port Discovery Program, upcoming candidate forum for Baltimore City School Board, free estate planning clinic, Open Works training opportunity, and the announcement about SMART policing.

Specific news to our district in this newsletter includes the Sherwood Gardens Tulip Dig on Saturday, a public safety update, Waverly Commons Music Series, and Lillie May Carroll Day at the Charter School that bears her name.

We also have our usual updates on City Council activities, COVID testing and vaccination sites this week.

If you know of someone who might want to receive these weekly emails, please have them fill out this form. Also, if you have news or events you'd like me to place in the e-news, please email me.

90 Seconds with Odette - May 23, 2022

In this week's 90 Seconds with Odette, we are at Clifton Park Pool announcing that the pool will be open on May 28th and the following weekends until June 16th when it will be open on the weekdays as well. We also have information about the Big Splash event happening in Druid Hill Park and the B'More Summer Information Hub.

Take a look at the video here.

Tax Payer's Night - Thursday, May 26th at 6pm

The City Council's Tax Payer's Night is scheduled for this Thursday, May 26th at 6pm. Please join us at City Hall or virtually to express your opinions about how the Baltimore City budget should look. The budget is a values document, and hearing your opinion about what our city should be doing through our budgeted priorities is critical for moving forward. We will be in the Hyman Pressman Board room, the only room in City Hall that is ready for hybrid (virtual and in person) meetings right now. Click here to log on to the meeting if you want to participate virtually.

City Pools Open May 28th and Admission is free this year!

Summer is almost here and our city pools are starting to open! Check out the schedule in the graphic above. Clifton Park Pool and other park pools will be open on the weekends starting Memorial Day weekend. All pools will be fully open on June 16th (the day after the last day of school for public schools)! Druid Hill Park Pool will open June 11th - stay tuned more details on the grand opening. You can read more about this year's pool season here.

B'More Summer Information Hub Launched!

This week, The Mayor’s Office of Children and Family Success partnered with Baltimore City Public Schools to launch the B'More Summer Information Hub. It is a one stop place to find all the camps and activities happening in Baltimore this summer! Click here for all the details.

Ticket to Port Discovery Book Club - Through May 31st

Port Discovery and the Enoch Pratt Free Library team up to bring you Ticket to Port Discovery through May 31st. Children in 5th grade or younger with a valid library card can check out 5 books and read them to earn a ticket to Port Discovery for them and their guardian. Click here for more details on how to participate!

Free Estate Planning Clinic Thursday, May 24th at GEDCO

Need help with Estate Planning? Have questions about Advanced Medical Directives? Need a Will? Please attend this free clinic on Thursday, May 24th any time between 10am to 3pm for assistance from ProBono Resource Center and Senior Legal Services. The location is 5828 York Road (not in the district, but close).

Baltimore Police Department announces SMART Policing

Last week, Mayor Scott and Baltimore Police Department Commissioner announced that BPD would be moving toward SMART policing, which looks to reduce police deployment to non-emergency calls. You can see more here. We will be having briefings on these new strategies.

Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners Elections
Candidate Forum May 31st at 4pm

This is the first year we get to vote for 2 people to serve on the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners! It is a non-partisan position and will serve a term of two years. Arts Every Day - lead by District 14 resident, Julia Di Bussolo - is hosting a candidate forum to learn more about the candidates for this city-wide election. And bonus, it's an Ice Cream Social! It will take place at the Mount Royal Elementary Middle school. For more information and to RSVP click here.

Open Works CAD Training
Applications are open until the end of May!

Open Works is seeking participants in the 12 Week CAD program - including computer coding and 3D printing. Click here for details!

Baltimore City Council Update

The Baltimore City Council was originally scheduled to meet this evening, but was cancelled late last week. We meet again on June 13th.

There are several committee meetings this week. All meetings are in the City Council Chambers and you can see them on CharmTV. However, in order to testify, you must be present in Council Chambers.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Economic and Community Development Committee is meeting to continue its work on the zoning code modifications bill.
On Wednesday afternoon the Rules and Legislative Oversight Committee will meet to continue the work on the Police Accountability Board legislation.
On Thursday afternoon the Ways and Means Committee will begin the review of the FY2023 Budget, with a budget overview before we begin Tax Payer's night. All members are encouraged to be present.

As a reminder, I serve on the Economic and Community Development Committee, the Public Safety and Government Operations Committee and the Rules and Legislative Oversight Committee. I go to every Ways and Means Committee hearing regarding budget, spending, and ARPA.

COVID Testing Schedule this Week

Case counts are going up, it is important to keep getting tested. Testing sites are more plentiful this week, including the Waverly Y on Friday and Saturday. Get updates each day here.

COVID Vaccine Schedule this Week

You can get vaccinated at your local pharmacy, or at the above vaccine sites sponsored by the Baltimore City Health Department. All sites with a baby emoji are offering vaccines for children between the ages of 5 - 11, and boosters for ages 5-11 are now approved. Also there is a vaccine clinic this week at MERVO on Thursday afternoon.

District 14 Specific News

Annual Sherwood Gardens Tulip Dig this Saturday!

The Annual Sherwood Gardens Tulip Dig is this Saturday, May 28th. You saw how stunning the tulips were this year and now you can have the bulbs to plant in your own gardens! The event is from 7am-11am. Bulbs are 30 cents per bulb - bring your own bag and shovel to retrieve them!

Public Safety Update

Unfortunately, there have been three shootings in our district over the past couple of weeks. One resulted in a homicide. As best we can tell, these are the result of interpersonal disputes. If you have any knowledge about what took place, please call Metro Crime Stoppers where you can anonymously report any information 1-866-7LOCKUP.

3900 Block of Tivoly at Greendale - This occurred on May 11th. A male was shot in the leg and is expected to recover.

1600 Block of Normal Avenue - This occurred May 20th. Two young men were shot in the leg and are expected to recover.

800 Block of Exeter Hall Avenue - This occurred last night May 22nd. The police were called for destruction of property and found a man shot in the head. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

I am disturbed by the violence we are seeing. We will continue to work with community members and law enforcement on these issues. We continue to work with the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement and as well as the Trauma Informed Care Task force to disrupt the cycle of these conflicts.

Lillie May Carroll Jackson Day May 25th

Lillie Mae Carroll Jackson Charter School is a middle school for girls in Baltimore City - in our district. It is located on Clifton Park by the Clifton Pool. The school is celebrating it's namesake on Wednesday! Lillie May Carroll Jackson was one of the prominent leaders of the Civil Rights Movement in Baltimore, leading and growing the NAACP to be the largest in the country at the time. She hired Thurgood Marshall to represent the NAACP in landmark cases that he argued before the highest courts. To learn more about her, click here.

Waverly Commons Music Series Thursday!

Music in Charles Village is back and open to everyone! Waverly Main Street co-hosts the Waverly Commons music series every Thursday until mid-June! The fantastic schedule is listed in the graphic above.

Working Hard For You

Team D14 is here for you.

Please feel free to contact our office at any time.

Our number is 410-396-4814, and

email for Odette Ramos is [email protected].

Please keep up with regular updates on our website on www.odetteramos.com or on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also contact our fabulous team:

Gabriel Stuart-Sikowitz [email protected] regarding legislation, streets/traffic/traffic calming items, and zoning items.

Yaslin Machuca [email protected] regarding social media and communications, matters relating to Latino community, trees and parks issues, and scheduling meetings or event with me or anyone in our office.

Linda Richardson [email protected] regarding constituent services and general information.

Hablamos español, llámenos si necesita ayuda.

Thank you!