There are myriad issues that will be coming up. We have to continue to cut taxes and government fees, especially after we have seen the legislature impose higher costs on us, from public transportation to electric bills. Below are some of the key areas that I think will get serious attention, deservingly:

1. Crime – The Jewish community has started to feel what other areas of Baltimore City have endured for years: out-of-control crime committed by brazen youth who will resort to violence to get what they want. Some of the crime issues are handled by the City Council, but broader criminal justice issues are legislated in Annapolis. For example, while Baltimore City schools report that first graders are already recruited to gangs, and it only gets worse as they get older, the state legislature will likely address the gang issue because MS-13, one of the most notorious international gangs, has been expanding in Maryland at a frightening pace, shaking down, torturing and killing innocent victims. Some MS-13 members committing the most atrocious crimes are not even legal citizens, but live freely in Maryland where they threaten and harm local residents. This Session may address sanctuary cities, which provide a safe haven for violent criminals illegally here. As more Maryland jurisdictions create sanctuaries, we have to determine how to offer freedom and opportunity to law-abiding immigrants who want to be here for economic or religious reasons (like my own parents) versus those who are a danger to our families.

We likely will hear about gun control as well. We need to focus on tougher penalties for using illegal guns in criminal and violent acts, and I also support banning bump stock devices, which essentially turn semi-automatic weapons into automatic guns.  

Amid conversations on criminal justice reform, there will likely be legislation proposed on prison sentences, bail and other related subjects to determine how to reduce recidivism and give non-violent criminals or first offenders more opportunities to turn their lives around. And in light of a culture of corruption in Maryland in recent years, I hope we see legislation for stiffer penalties and punishments on government officials, prison officers, and others with high levels of public responsibility who have legal and ethics violations.

2. Health care – With health care changes coming out of Washington, the Legislature may have to offer legislation to help protect Marylanders. Whether we are discussing expanded Medicaid, which provides health coverage for low-income individuals and families, or the individual mandate which requires every person to have health insurance or pay a fine, the bottom line is that our families must have real, affordable options and not ridiculously high premiums or deductibles we can’t pay. 

I also will be watching to see if and how the Legislature approaches mental health, which affects many of our families, including depression, eating disorders, and addictions (including opioids). We know that mental health has a direct impact on crime, poverty, homelessness, drug use, unemployment and other serious issues facing Baltimore City, and our legislators need to be providing assistance and solutions for growing mental health issues.  

3. Education – This will be one of the biggest battles, as we all want more education funding for a better and stronger education system, but the fight will be over the price tag to ensure that taxes do not get raised to cover increased costs.

Many in the Orthodox community closely followed the BOOST program funding in the past, which gave financial assistance for private school tuition, but we should understand the education needs for the broader Baltimore City families, including public and charter schools. Other jurisdictions will argue that the decline in students in the Baltimore City public school system should translate into fewer state funds. But the city’s children have greater needs and challenges than many other jurisdictions, and a strong public school system benefits the entire city both for the short-term and long-term.

We need to find ways to keep kids in school, improve their graduation rates, and make sure they are getting the education and skills they need for a solid future. The argument isn’t over whether or not Baltimore City needs huge amounts of education dollars, but how to make sure that the increased funds are properly spent. Teachers are getting paid low salaries while some public school administrators are making six figures. In some city schools, graduation rates are declining, and some classes have zero proficiency in math. And yet some of those in charge are earning around $150,000 annually. We have to see some real changes in how money is spent.  

One positive way to spend government funds is universal pre-K, which would provide free education to kids below the mandatory kindergarten requirement. I believe at minimum we should be offering 3 and 4-year-old nursery programs to provide more children with a strong educational foundation. Moreover, this would make it easier and more affordable for parents to work, while giving children from working class homes daily nutritious meals, offering them a stronger physical and mental start towards their future.

I also would like to see more affordable college, including free community college. My own children are still young, but as I look at how college tuition has increased over the years, I wonder how I will pay for it. While we should enable every city student who wants to attend college to do so, it will be hard to get funds when a recent state audit determined that the city’s community college, using taxpayer dollars, gave “unjustified raises to high level managers and paid for maintenance work on equipment that did not exist”, according to the Baltimore Sun.

I also want to see an expansion of programs that help prepare high school students for college or careers, such as Governor Hogan’s pilot PTECH schools. We should also offer more programs to start teaching career skills in high school, from auto mechanics to graphic design, so students can start working right out of high school, because college is not a path for everyone.

As legislations get proposed in the coming months, I encourage you to contact your local legislators to voice your opinion, and as I share my thoughts on different issues with you, I hope you will share yours with me at dalya@dalyaattar.com.  Join me in watching closely to see how the government votes to help children and youth, middle-class families, veterans, seniors, and our local community.

Dalya Attar is a candidate for House of Delegates in Maryland's 41st Legislative District. The election is in June of this year. She is also a lifelong Baltimore resident, an Assistant State's Attorney for Baltimore City, and a wife and mother of 2 children.