Team Maryland Announces $1.8 Million to Fight Gangs, Guns and Repeat Offenders in Baltimore
Baltimore, MD. (March 15, 2010),
Funding to reduce youth-involved crime, help ex-offenders become productive citizens
Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) today was joined by Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (D) in announcing $1.8 million in federal funding for several crime prevention and enforcement initiatives. The funding will help Baltimore City Police disrupt the gun pipeline, combat gangs and encourage students to stay in school. A portion of the funding will also help ex-offenders develop new skills to land – and keep – a job, helping them to become productive members of society.
The announcement was made from Northwood Plaza, the site of the murder of former Baltimore City Councilman Ken Harris, who was shot to death September 20, 2008, in what police say was a botched robbery. Three suspects, including two teens, have been charged in the crime. The Northwood community was identified by Baltimore City Police as an area that could specifically benefit from this funding.
“Ken Harris could see a better future for his city and wasn’t willing to sit on the sidelines and wait for someone else to make it a reality,” said Congressman Ruppersberger, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “His murder was a senseless example of the destruction that guns and gangs can cause, robbing our city of a great leader. It is my hope that this funding will take Baltimore one step closer to Ken Harris’ dream – getting illegal guns off the streets, keeping kids in school and helping ex-offenders avoid lifetimes of crime.” ...