[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6620455,"mediaKeyId","2809755-990fc472921518c5cb6f3c55d53bfe2d","parentId",2809755,"title","Representatives of two historic yacht clubs urge delegation to press TradePoint Atlantic to reconsider dredging option","audioSeconds",150,"startMs",3399135,"endMs",3549985,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2809755-990fc472921518c5cb6f3c55d53bfe2d&start=3399&end=3549","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2809755-990fc472921518c5cb6f3c55d53bfe2d/thumbnail_3399135.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6620455/Maryland/Representatives-of-two-historic-yacht-clubs-urge-delegation-to-press-TradePoint-Atlantic-to-reconsider-dredging-option","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6620455-801bd49466cf3f91145fd2216e0ecbd7/orig.mp4?Expires=1775213839&Signature=KeRrRNxDhGJpNP-Ou3Oh6GvTcGdKkKGcLm1wcpn1Jyd-yONilzcRJP5eum5bI3tiC656wzxXMo-CQxV47HCB2GdSdTy78jpotYw-PGT7sMvnBHV2XINpQ4KQdWtmgrGahNLPJc-uu4Q7wTdYegckwx8nRqJ~XpT3FIrfMtBDiopkScwbDVCThU-JF6cUeeHsPRZQAEivuwap0l3Np4Gb-Qi6xG2AGEaAtP1nYngMig6VDcKwy1H4PtMoHY96gph7iMiXDTxDlS9QtQoSzhECCl7vbWhhYmmJwPbpU4dhEUXOuHi2lf8j6RIwawZ1~2JUnBLq6kiNhhr0Dkbiq0s5dA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Maryland General Assembly - House (Other)","date","2025-03-28T13:51:54.103Z","article","Representatives of Northpointe Yacht Club and Pleasant Yacht Club asked the Baltimore County House Delegation to urge TradePoint Atlantic to reconsider a dredging option that club advocates say would convert part or all of their properties to water and transfer remaining land to the county regional park.

Lafon Porter, who said he represents both clubs, described their history: Northpointe was founded in the 1950s by Bethlehem Steel employees; Pleasant Yacht Club was formed later and developed by Black Bethlehem Steel employees using surplus materials when segregation prevented them from using the other club. Porter said Pleasant has been a community resource for Turner Station and Edgemere residents and that one of the founding members, still living, is 97 years old. He showed delegation members a rendering supplied by TradePoint Atlantic that, he said, would leave Northpointe entirely underwater and convert part of Pleasant Yacht Club to water while turning remaining land over to a regional park.

Why it matters: Club representatives argued the properties have historic and community value, especially Pleasant Yacht Club’s role as a historically Black boating organization. They said TradePoint chose a dredging option that, in their view, unnecessarily eliminates those facilities and that agencies including the Maryland Department of the Environment and the Army Corps of Engineers have questioned the justification for taking the land. TradePoint representatives and state agencies met with club advocates in Annapolis but, according to Porter, TradePoint said there were no guarantees of changes.

Delegation response and next steps: Delegation members asked Porter to share his slides and evidence with delegation staff; members agreed to circulate the materials to all delegation members. Several delegates suggested constituent outreach and possible letters; members also discussed meeting the following Saturday for a site tour led by Senator Carl Jackson and others. Porter said TradePoint indicated they would consider other options after the Annapolis meeting, but no concrete alternative had been provided in writing.

Ending: Delegation members asked staff to distribute Porter's materials and encouraged dialogue with TradePoint Atlantic and relevant state agencies; some members indicated they would consider drafting a delegation letter or signing onto a letter if members choose to do so.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BCO Committee Session, 3/28/2025 #1","oneSentenceSummary","Representatives of Pleasant Yacht Club and Northpointe Yacht Club told the Baltimore County House Delegation that a dredging option selected by TradePoint Atlantic would inundate club property and urged the delegation to press for alternate plans to preserve historic community facilities.","taxTitle","Baltimore County, Delegation Committees, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Maryland","taxId",15073,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6620459,"Delegation delays vote on Baltimore County school‑board redistricting bill; members propose work group",84,1946875,2031345,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2809755-990fc472921518c5cb6f3c55d53bfe2d&start=1946&end=2031","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2809755-990fc472921518c5cb6f3c55d53bfe2d/thumbnail_1946875.jpg","/articles/6620459/Maryland/Delegation-delays-vote-on-Baltimore-County-schoolboard-redistricting-bill-members-propose-work-group","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6620459-ead079e6a756f115d08d75ce0d43f132/orig.mp4?Expires=1775213839&Signature=Hm-gefBxMcV5LY3q6ARzCJ1hzThsbXxkWMgYgnv9DaUJwKEYHvQMI5LLEbqWXlTkw6dAz2HBM~BRVXOdUwl3vcGUVEknJQkSBKwfOVMd5XPywXpIlLUe2baTN30Yiq4HPEnLIr9EQFArN8dwP7HT1xUmObCNIPGEO44kGQDi0WK7Oo5f2ifWckGhazj-PZlPV-FGlAyF1c7iXJK3wLfVwB8opA316WvcqvMpUX~XE6Xirqte~yvHjw4Ks7ueUeTR8sNF-ONXIYKvq71DhlRruFH4UL3hWCHqs1s5IoYiNiABj0blMSBeM5ACyqjRcsStHstt2KjLQcWzMCu0pvEfGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Baltimore County House Delegation discussed Senate Bill 656, a proposal to change how elected Board of Education members are chosen, but did not vote after the education subcommittee failed to reach consensus.

Delegation members described competing concerns. The current hybrid Baltimore County Board has seven members elected by councilmanic district and four governor‑appointed members chosen by a nomination committee; the county council is expanding from seven to nine members and will finalize maps in June with council approval required by Oct. 1. Delegation members said redesigning school‑board districts before council maps are set would create instability.

To give the board stability and time to consider options, subcommittee chair Delegate Forbes proposed an amendment that would keep the existing seven elected districts in place for the 2026 election, and create a work group of Baltimore County House and Senate delegation members in the next session to recommend consensus legislation once the county council maps and other information are available. The amendment was not formally offered for a vote at the meeting; delegates agreed to draft the amendment and continue discussions next week.

Why it matters: Delegates said the county school board is the largest in the state and that changes could have long‑term governance consequences. Several members urged transparency and public input; TABCO (Baltimore County Teachers Union) had asked for withdrawal and submitted testimony that is in the record, and members asked that TABCO and other stakeholders be included in work‑group discussions.

Points raised in debate included:
- The appointment terms of four governor‑appointed members run through 2028, complicating any immediate move to a larger all‑elected board.
- Some delegates prefer aligning school‑board districts with new county council districts for transparency; others worried that premature alignment could be inappropriate because council maps are not finalized.
- Delegates discussed holding an early‑morning or special meeting next week to consider a drafted amendment before the end of session.

Ending: Delegation leaders asked interested members to engage with education subcommittee chairs offline so they can prepare an amendment for consideration next week; no formal recommendation or vote on the bill was recorded at the meeting.","The delegation deferred action on Senate Bill 656, which would alter elected member districts for the Baltimore County Board of Education, and discussed an amendment to keep seven elected seats for the 2026 election while forming a delegation work group to recommend future structure after new county council maps are available.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6620464,"Baltimore County delegation sends central‑committee, emergency‑lighting bills to committee with unanimous support",544,1403310,1947630,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2809755-990fc472921518c5cb6f3c55d53bfe2d&start=1403&end=1947","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2809755-990fc472921518c5cb6f3c55d53bfe2d/thumbnail_1403310.jpg","/articles/6620464/Maryland/Baltimore-County-delegation-sends-centralcommittee-emergencylighting-bills-to-committee-with-unanimous-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6620464-14446bcc5bdacd1a89b87804b00d2cfa/orig.mp4?Expires=1775213839&Signature=d-Uj-mmpAQyjyGTp~idN~1VtTrwv8QJEU6Vj-f5tXzOwIvtZ-~CN9dpg6Pj51aq3YYDmWUVxpzQoOUMnIi1tU5kzdTOyC8ADw6VLZVuPdIrawIVNzzWsxaE5WNOvgF-VDv9rK1SucxXAeifkrqh2ZFcuGmjmmMDNq-pd3vlPuI6M7cWmPDZetwmcP7m641RIlZrnRgRIIJZ31ZqPmcZZEy~DSiw971p5T7T52vNqh9WevP-V7iETLpcxTA1ZKIM4F53FAgw3VUfdzE3LDtXA06LgK8131LRSyBzk3SLSVkkO6Qq8K~B8SAtynLxyl~Jq0AiPOX4Y9~NX0J-r9dv0ZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Baltimore County House Delegation voted unanimously in April to forward two measures with amendments and to approve a conforming change on a third.

House Bill 352 (central‑committee housekeeping): The delegation voted to “conform” an amendment that updates rules for Democratic central committee membership to match a Senate companion. The motion to move the amended measure was made and seconded; members signified unanimous support and the measure was sent to the House Ways and Means Committee with the delegation’s endorsement.

Senate Bill 1030 and House Bill 1520 (private‑vehicle signal devices for a volunteer ambulance organization): Delegates discussed a request from Motor Vehicle Administration staff about clarifying whether privately owned vehicles used by a volunteer ambulance organization could operate emergency signal lights while responding to incidents. The delegation adopted an amendment to specify the single named organization (identified in committee as Hatzala) and to limit the privilege to five designated individuals from that organization; the amendment was moved, seconded and carried unanimously. The delegation then gave a unanimous favorable report on the bills as amended and forwarded them to committee.

Why it matters: The central‑committee change is a legislative housekeeping item to align House and Senate language. The emergency‑lighting amendment creates a narrowly defined, organization‑specific authorization and adds oversight language to address concerns about misuse. Delegates asked whether the privately owned vehicles would carry markings and what color lights would be used; speakers said the lights would be red or red-and-white signal devices and that MVA standards and insurance and training requirements would apply.

Votes at a glance:
- House Bill 352 — motion to conform amendment: passed unanimously; forwarded to Ways and Means with delegation support.
- Senate Bill 1030 — amended to specify organization (Hatzala) and limit to five individuals: amendment passed unanimously; bill advanced with favorable report as amended.
- House Bill 1520 — matching amendment changing sponsor reference to Baltimore County delegation and same organization specificity: carried with unanimous favorable report as amended.

Ending: Delegation leaders said the measures will be transmitted to the Senate or appropriate committees as amended. No roll‑call numeric tallies were recorded in the transcript; members expressed unanimous voice/hand votes.","The Baltimore County House Delegation moved several bills forward in April: a housekeeping conforming amendment for a central‑committee bill and amendments to clarify emergency lighting privileges for a volunteer ambulance group, both approved unanimously and forwarded to the Senate/ways and means as described in the session.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6620470,"UMBC president tells Baltimore County delegation university has grown as research, workforce generator",1186,49005,1235900,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2809755-990fc472921518c5cb6f3c55d53bfe2d&start=49&end=1235","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2809755-990fc472921518c5cb6f3c55d53bfe2d/thumbnail_49005.jpg","/articles/6620470/Maryland/UMBC-president-tells-Baltimore-County-delegation-university-has-grown-as-research-workforce-generator","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6620470-5987c13dd1c589c2994d6f6be4538176/orig.mp4?Expires=1775213839&Signature=HFSIXFSyIpDM4pGuOPlbcGw6~Qq56kxbyoPagtX771qFoB49IJ9s1CfzF8NMFcfyZ1rt~TpX-D~~peS~kGMYX6VABkPz6qI0EvXDDjdbRhnNLHGlUBlVsdggpV61IAVKjOuGAqFtXnaCVRrZisemS8l8~6Qn4x1wuZiXEMPNqZrWXnoj52RNu-Pg5DPlXfxjiIdCJ4rOhJGGRVOuBLLEOAcUp6vaR7LNFL7ecUh6rIv-sl5zp10WrUB16uRu5krdzHKNKEH-99Y4Zz49ZHm5J8BD4iQDIw0tcFg4oe64q7lLkUvEfD1zeBg9CUYdvfAS7g6t9PZJnS9jvLjlVp7THA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Valerie Shears Ashby, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, told the Baltimore County House Delegation in April that UMBC enrolls about 14,000 students, about 3,000 of them graduate students, and that roughly one-third of undergraduates are Pell-eligible and about one-third are first-generation college students.

Ashby said UMBC was designated a Research 1 (R1) university just before she started in July 2022 and that research funding at the university rose from about $82 million when she arrived to about $145 million this year. She said approximately 80% of students participate in experiential learning such as research or internships, and that roughly 70–75% of graduates remain in Maryland to work.

Why it matters: Ashby framed UMBC’s growth as a local workforce and economic asset. She emphasized transfer pathways from community colleges, noting many of UMBC’s graduates transferred from two-year institutions and often graduate more quickly than students who began as freshmen.

Delegation members asked about prospective impacts from federal research funding reductions. Ashby said UMBC’s research portfolio is balanced and not heavily dependent on the National Institutes of Health; she said two grants had been affected to date and that the university had planned scenarios to manage state budget cuts, adding she did not expect current pressures to threaten the institution’s R1 standing in the short term.

Ashby highlighted several programs and accomplishments in her remarks: UMBC’s Institute of Politics and polling work, student‑athlete academic performance (she said the student‑athlete GPA averaged about 3.45), a new AI center and a quantum computing center, and three scientific experiments selected for NASA’s Artemis 3 moon mission. She said the experiment from UMBC will remain on the lunar surface after astronauts return, allowing ongoing data collection, and that UMBC recently rose in national ranking for NASA funding from No. 16 to No. 10.

Ashby also discussed outreach to K–12, saying UMBC is actively pursuing middle‑school campus visits to build a pipeline so that more Maryland students imagine and pursue college. She mentioned UMBC’s Shady Grove site and that about 500 students attend there, and she described weekly student office hours.

Delegation members thanked Ashby and several referenced UMBC alumni in elected office and local institutions. Ashby closed by thanking the delegation for state support of higher education and saying UMBC will “work with what we have” to continue serving students.

Ending: Delegation members invited Ashby and UMBC staff to remain for the legislative portion of the session and encouraged follow‑up visits to campus.","UMBC President Valerie Shears Ashby told the Baltimore County House Delegation that the university has grown to roughly 14,000 students, increased research funding sharply since her arrival and is participating in NASA's Artemis 3 mission; she also described outreach to community colleges and K–12 programs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Representatives of two historic yacht clubs urge delegation to press TradePoint Atlantic to reconsider dredging option

Delegation delays vote on Baltimore County school‑board redistricting bill; members propose work group

Baltimore County delegation sends central‑committee, emergency‑lighting bills to committee with unanimous support

UMBC president tells Baltimore County delegation university has grown as research, workforce generator