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The News - 2009
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December 22, 2009, Daily Record,
Arundel Mills slots site gets
OK
The casino planned next to the Arundel Mills shopping mall
seemingly escaped the setbacks and delays dogging Maryland’s
fledgling casino industry on Tuesday, while Baltimore officials
called for more openness in the process to bring slot machines
to the city. “The Request for Proposals should be completely
transparent, so that all bidders will immediately and easily
understand which City-owned parcels may be available for
development,” said a letter from City Council President
Rawlings-Blake, which was also signed by councilmen Edward
Reisinger, William H. Cole IV and Bernard C. “Jack” Young. “It
should be noted that zoning for a facility is in place and
financing for additional parking facilities has been approved.
Every effort should be made to ensure a fair and functional
bidding process working in concert with the state commission,
including more prompt and greater scrutiny of the capital
capacity of the bidders.”
More…
December 18, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
Firefighters protest cuts in city department - Dixon postpones
closing more companies until July 1
As hundreds
of Baltimore firefighters marched on City Hall Thursday
afternoon to protest service cutbacks, Mayor Sheila Dixon
announced plans to postpone the closure of any more companies
until the end of the fiscal year on July 1. William Cole, the
councilman for the 11th District, said that twice in the past
nine days he has visited the station housing Truck 16, one of
those that now will remain open at least until July 1 but had
been closed as part of the rotation. "In addition to keeping it
open, we have to make sure that the rotating closures aren't
also affecting coverage in certain parts of Baltimore," Cole
said.
More…
December 2, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
City told to gird for more budget cuts – Continuing drops in
revenue, rising pension costs
Baltimore
must carve $130 million from its already stripped-down spending
plan to account for plummeting revenue and mushrooming pension
costs next year, according to projections released Tuesday
afternoon. "If we even think this city will survive if we raise
property taxes, we are sadly mistaken," said Councilman William
H. Cole IV. "People are going to leave this city quicker than
they ever have before, and it's not going to be because of
crime. It's not going to be because of education. It's going to
be because it's too expensive."
More…
December 1, 2009, Baltimore Sun, City projections show $127 million budget shortfall for next year
Baltimore must
trim $127 million from its threadbare budget for next year to
account for plummeting revenue and ballooning pension costs,
according to projections slated to be presented at a City
Council hearing this afternoon. "I don’t know where we’re going
to come up with the money to plug these holes," said Councilman
William H. Cole IV. "The property tax rate at a certain level is
already hindering Baltimore's growth." The city needs to be
"very creative" in addressing the budget shortfalls, Cole said,
adding that he would like to look into generating taxes from
city nonprofits.
More…
November 26, 2009, Baltimore Sun, Parking
director's pact OK'd - City panel's vote comes despite
requests for delay
Baltimore's
spending panel renewed a $123,000 annual contract of the
embattled head of the parking authority Wednesday despite
requests from City Council members to delay the vote to further
scrutinize his performance. Council Vice President Edward
Reisinger and Councilman William H. Cole IV have introduced a
plan to move control of the residential parking program to
another department.
More…
Nov 25, 2009,
The Baltimore Sun - McClatchy-Tribune Information
Services via COMTEX, Mount Vernon club to be padlocked
today by police: Bealefeld shuts Suite Ultralounge for year
after business declared 'public nuisance'
Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III decided to shut
down the club for a year after several violent incidents in and
around the bar over the past 18 months…A written report released
last week by the administrative officer found the club guilty of
providing an unsafe environment, clearing the way for Bealefeld
to shutter the business. City Councilman William H. Cole IV,
whose district includes the Belvedere, said,
"I'm obviously
very pleased but it's also a shame for the community that it
took so long, but that's not the Police Department's fault”
More…
November 25, 2009, WBAL-TV, Council Voices Concerns About
Parking Authority - Council Members Try To Fight Renewal Of
Authority's Exec. Director
Parking problems for residents of Federal Hill, Mount Vernon and
other neighborhoods have resulted in many angry calls to City
Council members. "We have a chronic problem with the residential
parking program that Mr. Little has neglected for the past
couple of years. This is a perfect opportunity in this contract
approval process to create some deliverables that he would have
to demonstrate to the community that he does, in fact, care
about this program," said District 11 Councilman Bill Cole.
More…
November 25, 2009, Baltimore City Paper, Residential Permit Parking--Administration and Governance
To address a problem that neighborhoods are encountering,
Councilman William H. Cole (D-11th District) sponsored a bill
that moves the responsibility for residential parking from the
Parking Authority to the Department of Transportation. The
Department of Transportation is already in charge of issuing
parking tickets.
More…
November 11, 2009, WBAL-TV, City-Owned Hotel
Looking For New Owner
The historic Inn at Government House on North Calvert Street in
Mount Vernon might soon be owned by a Baltimore-based business.
The Inn at Government House has been financially unstable for a
decade, according to Baltimore City Councilman Bill Cole. The
representative, who serves the Mount Vernon area, added that all
three buildings need a ton of work. More…
October 27, 2009 Baltimore Sun,
More calls for
probe of Baltimore City Foundation - Councilman Cole asks ethics
board to act; Pratt plans audit
The Baltimore Board of Ethics should review whether city
employees have violated ethics statutes by soliciting money for
a nonprofit group without receiving approval, a city councilman
said Monday. In a letter to the board's chairman, Councilman
William H. Cole IV asked the ethics board to examine the
activities of the Baltimore City Foundation, an organization
created primarily to help finance city projects for the needy.
The request followed the publication Sunday of a Baltimore Sun
investigation that detailed questionable transactions by city
employees using foundation money. "While I have no doubt that
the Foundation does indeed have an important role in the City of
Baltimore, I am deeply concerned about the alleged lack of
regard for local ethics laws," wrote Cole.
More…
October 27, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
City Council
approves live-entertainment bill - Bands, singers could perform
at trendy bars, restaurants
The Baltimore City Council voted Monday to allow bars and
restaurants in some of the city's trendiest neighborhoods to
hire bands, singers and other performers, overturning a
decades-old prohibition that City Council President Stephanie C.
Rawlings-Blake says has stifled nightlife in town. Councilman
William H. Cole IV said he was "confident measures had been
taken to ensure communities could effectively fight against bars
that become nuisances.”
More…
October 27, 2009, Baltimore Business Journal,
Baltimore bar
owners could get mired in live entertainment measure's paperwork
A City Council bill expanding live entertainment may have
Baltimore’s bar and restaurant owners thinking twice before
lining up for a permit because of a rigorous application process
from city agencies. City Councilman William H. Cole said the
supplementary bills will also help the city crack down on bars
that have gotten complaints even without live music.
More…
October 20, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
Top cop wants
to padlock Suite Ultralounge
After more than a year of debate, a failed effort by the liquor
board and constant complaints by residents of Mid-Town Belvedere
and Mount Vernon, Baltimore's police commissioner has issued a
padlock order to Suite Ultralounge. “The reality is there is no
question you can tie a number of violent offenses to this club,”
said City Councilman William H. Cole IV. “Whether or not the
liquor board does what it needs to do, the city has its own
tools it can use in the most egregious cases. The entire
community has been begging for this for well over a year now.”
More…
October 12, 2009,
Baltimore Sun, City liquor board steps it up -
Revocation, suspensions, fines among actions commissioners take
against bars, restaurants
The board has been especially active recently. In September,
the commissioners issued six-month suspensions to two
restaurants and revoked the license of Phantom, a club in
Canton. "They're very interested in protecting neighborhoods,"
City Councilman William H. Cole IV said. "They've been
responsive, particularly to community associations who come out
and make their cases." Cole has testified at several liquor
board hearings, including those involving Linden Bar and Lounge
and Suite Ultralounge, two clubs that have had their liquor
licenses revoked.
More…
October 2008,
Baltimore Afro-American,
Neighbors and City Join Forces to Close High-Crime Area Liquor Store
In
June 2007, the city council passed legislation to strengthen the
city’s public nuisance law that now gives authorities the
ability to lock up any house or apartment for up to a year that
causes a “nuisance” in a neighborhood. Baltimore City Police
Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld used the newly-augmented
ordinance to initiate a “padlock” hearing in August against
Linden Liquors that resulted in the bar being shut down for a
year. “We had several hundred people sign a petition asking for
that liquor store to be closed,” said Councilman William Cole
who was instrumental in the closing of Linden Liquors.
More…
September 25, 2009, Preservation Magazine -
Online Only
-
Baltimore "Superblock" Talks Deadlocked
Baltimore's
"Superblock" was listed as one of America's 11 Most Endangered
Historic Places in 1999.
Redevelopment plans have stalled between Maryland
preservationists and a New York developer chosen to revitalize a
group of buildings on the West Side of downtown Baltimore.
Earlier this month, Councilman William H. Cole stated in a
letter to the Baltimore Development Corporation that the time
had come to terminate the partnership with Lexington Square
Partners, LLC. He said that they have been unable to produce a
suitable and agreeable proposal, which included preserving
historic buildings in the area.
More…
September 18, 2009, Baltimore Business Journal,
City councilman wants superblock project rebid
City Councilman William H. Cole IV is requesting the stalled
so-called “superblock” project on Baltimore’s westside be rebid
due to concerns over its developer. In a letter dated Sept. 14
to
Baltimore Development Corp. Cole asks the city
to terminate its partnership with Lexington Square Partners, the
development team picked five years ago for the 3.6 acre project.
Cole said several historic redevelopment projects by the firm in
New York and New Jersey were not preserved as planned.
More…
September 17, 2009 Daily Record, Councilman Cole
wants Superblock project re-bid
Baltimore City Councilman William H. Cole IV wants the city to
consider starting over from scratch on the Superblock, a complex
redevelopment project that its supporters say could change the
face of the city’s West Side. The reason, Cole said, was that
BLDG Management, one of the development team’s New York-based
lead partners, has a poor track record in historic preservation,
and can’t be trusted to preserve the historic buildings that
stand in the way of the Superblock, which is within his
district.
More…
September 11, 2009 Baltimore Sun,
BDC cancels
demolition contract - Planned wrecking of 8 buildings was not
openly bid
The city's development arm announced Thursday it will cancel
a $1.5 million contract to demolish eight downtown buildings at
Calvert and Lombard streets. Councilman William H. Cole IV, who
represents downtown Baltimore, said he was pleased BDC
"recognized the need to slow down." "The last thing we wanted to
see was buildings torn down for a hole in the ground," Cole
said. "I don't like demolishing properties just for the purpose
of demolition, unless you have a plan ready to go."
More…
August 28, 2009 Baltimore Sun, Cardin pays $300
tab for wedding proposal - Baltimore councilman says bill's too
low for use of police boat, copter
Baltimore
police have calculated the cost of a lawmaker's mock police raid
cum marriage proposal, which involved a department helicopter
and patrol boat in the Inner Harbor. The amount: $300. State
Del. Jon S. Cardin paid the tab Thursday, but at least one city
councilman thinks the figure is perplexingly low. Councilman
Bill Cole said the amount of the bill is "insulting to both city
employees and to taxpayers," noting that layoffs and salary
reductions for city workers might lie ahead. Baltimore is facing
a $60 million budget shortfall.
More…
August 25, 2009, Baltimore Sun, Suite Ultralounge will
stay open -- for now
The long-awaited ruling from Baltimore Circuit Court judge Kaye
A. Allison is in, and the embattled Suite Ultralounge can keep its license --
for now. The Baltimore liquor board didn't have the proper policies in place when
it revoked Suite's license last November, Allison ruled. "I'm concerned about
the delay, but we don't have another choice. Now we just have to hope the liquor
board acts swiftly and we'll move from there," said Councilman William H. Cole IV,
who represents the area.
More...
August 20, 2009, Baltimore Brew, Too-successful
pit-beef cart moves again, as councilman drafts
use-it-or-lose-it bill for food cart licensees
Baltimore City
councilmember William H. Cole IV plans to introduce legislation
to require those with city food cart licenses to use them within
six months. “People shouldn’t be able to sit on a license that
long [16 years], it locks out others who might want to use it,”
he said. More…
August 20, 2009, Baltimore
Sun, Md. moving forward on detention center projects
- Two planned $100 million facilities in E. Baltimore would hold
youths, women
A state
architectural board is scheduled to review today the design for
a five-story, 180-bed detention center for teens facing adult
criminal charges. Construction of the glassy, modern building
along East Monument Street could begin next summer. Design of an
800-bed detention center for women began about a month ago. Some
Baltimore officials, including Councilman Bernard "Jack" Young,
say that it would be unfair to add two more jails to an area
already saturated with prisons. Councilman William H. Cole IV,
who represents the downtown area that abuts the prison complex,
said he agrees that Young's district "has taken on more than its
fair share."
More…
August 18, 2009, The Washington Times,
Baltimore
hopes to land IRL event
Baltimore City Council member William H. Cole IV, who
represents the district where the race would be held, said he is
confident the event will have strong community support because
residents are accustomed to noise and disruptions from games at
M&T Bank Stadium and Oriole Park. "I've received probably 150 to
200 phone calls from people in the affected neighborhoods
saying, 'This is awesome; let's go for it,' " Cole said. "And
I've received one that said, 'No way.'
More…
August 18, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
Indy race could come to city in 2011 - Event's fate is 'on
our end,' organizers say
City
Councilman William H. Cole IV, who represents the 11th District,
which would feel the direct impact of the proposed racecourse,
said he lives within 200 feet of the planned track and has been
impressed by BRD's early outreach efforts. He said he has also
been surprised by the responses he has heard from his
constituents. "The positive response has shocked me," Cole said.
"People seem to see the positive economic impact it could have
on the city.” More…
August 16,
2009, WBALTV.com, Police Continue Probe In Inner
Harbor Shooting
City police
continued Monday to investigate a double shooting that occurred
this weekend inside one of the shopping pavilions at Baltimore's
Inner Harbor. "At some point, it becomes beyond a police issue,
and that's my concern. We need to make sure if we're arresting
these people that they're actually prosecuted, as opposed to
entering the revolving door," said 11th District Councilman
William Cole.
More…
August 12, 2009, Daily Record, Indy race in Baltimore
one step closer to reality
Now that Councilman William H Cole’s resolution in support
of the race passed (in a unanimous vote), it’s time to get down
to brass tacks to make this a reality. Cole said he believes
Labor Day weekend is in the running because no conventions are
scheduled for that weekend for the next few years.
More…
August 11, 2009, Indycar.com,
Group receives support for race plans
The Baltimore City Council unanimously passed a resolution
supporting Baltimore Racing Development to develop plans for an
IndyCar Series race on downtown streets beginning as soon as
2011. William Cole, a City Council member who represents the
projected race event area, co-sponsored the resolution.
More…
August 6, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
Club,
residents play uneasy waiting game
Nine months ago, Baltimore's liquor board revoked the liquor
license for the Suite Ultralounge nightclub in the basement of
the Belvedere Hotel. The Club filed an appeal in May in
Baltimore Circuit Court, but Judge Allison has yet to rule. "The
wait has been excruciating given that the community has done
everything right to get to this point," said City Councilman
William H. Cole IV. "We just need an answer so we can figure out
our next step."
More…
July 24, 2009,
Investigative Voice,
H2Owed
- Public housing residents still facing evictions over unusually
high water bills
Edgewood
Management Company has evicted at least three tenants in Townes
at the Terraces for unpaid water bills, but since city officials
intervened in the case last fall, City Councilman Bill Cole
(D-11) said he thought most of the disputes had been resolved.
About 50 residents attended a meeting he hosted last October to
review their claims that they hadn’t been receiving bills and
that some were being charged for previous tenants’ usage.
More...
July 20, 2009, Investigative Voice
Common Sense Award - Councilman William Cole
First term
City Councilman William Cole deserves recognition for his
efforts to tackle an issue: the city’s penchant for allowing
city employees to drive city-owned vehicles hundreds of miles
outside Baltimore’s environs with taxpayer-funded gas.
More...
July 16, 2009,
Baltimore Afro-American,
Live Entertainment Still a City
Issue
The
heavily-amended draft of Council Bill 08-163, a pet project of
Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, came before the City
Council on July 13. The original bill, introduced last year,
proposed creating an authority that would charge live
entertainment venues a yearly fee of up to $1,500 to host
performances. According to the opposition, community
organizations won't be able to stop a "problem business" from
functioning since the property is zoned for live entertainment.
"When there are bad apples out there, it is very difficult to
shut one down,
Councilman William Cole said. "I've done a number in my
district since taking office. One place we shut down, it just
reopened again."
More…
July 10, 2009,
Baltimore Business Journal, Legg Mason subleasing more
than a fourth of its new Harbor East space
Legg Mason
Inc.’s move to a new headquarters in HarborEast is falling short
of the economic windfall Baltimore officials expected. The
project was expected to bring $162 million in new taxes to the
city once it is fully developed. The condos are on hold until
the market recovers, and the hotel’s opening is delayed until
2011. That, plus the half-vacant office tower, means the city
will have to wait to see those new taxes. Councilman William
Cole said he believes the city made the best decision it could
at the time, and couldn’t have planned for how deeply the
economy would suffer. He said he agrees keeping Legg in
Baltimore is an important victory for the city, regardless of
how large an employer it is here.
More…
July 7, 2009,
Daily Record, Much work before a green flag drops in
Baltimore
City and
state officials are behind it. The economic impact study
estimates $100 million could be in store for Baltimore. But
bringing an IndyCar Series street race to the Inner Harbor also
represents a massive logistical responsibility and is far from a
sure thing in 2011. Baltimore City Councilman William H. Cole IV
said he plans on introducing a resolution in August supporting
the racing series in Baltimore. Cole said after The Baltimore
Sun broke the news Tuesday, he’d received “a lot” of positive
feedback.
More…
July 7, 2009,
The Baltimore Brew,
After nearly 40 years, Baltimore is overhauling its zoning code
Baltimore
officials have begun rewriting the city’s byzantine zoning code
with the goal of producing a comprehensive, practical,
user-friendly set of rules that reflect the city’s changing
landscape and anticipate future development needs. But in
seeking a simplified, speedier approval process, the proposal
changes some tried-and-true routines…and has generated criticism
already. “The number one challenge facing neighborhoods that are
revitalizing is the conversion of homes and buildings to
multi-unit dwellings,” he said, adding that such conversions
produce more people, more cars and more trash than the
neighborhood was meant to handle.
More…
July 7, 2009, Baltimore
Sun, 'Baltimore Grand Prix' could start in 2011 -
Group in talks with city, series about event starting in 2011
A Baltimore
group is in serious negotiations with the city and the IndyCar
Series about staging an annual street race beginning in 2011
near the Inner Harbor that state and city officials say could
rival the Preakness in its economic impact and national
exposure. Bill Cole, a City Council member who represents the
race area, said the race could have "a greater economic impact
than the Preakness and would give Baltimore City four hours of
television coverage on a national network. I think the hotel
demand is greater than the Preakness." Added Cole: "My primary
concern would be the impact on residential neighborhoods that
are near the route. I would live maybe 200 yards from where the
cars would come down in the proposed route. They can mitigate
it. Some of it is just sound buffering."
More…
June 23, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
Head of
Baltimore's inspector general's office resigns - Green replaced
on interim basis by deputy city solicitor
The
embattled head of Baltimore's inspector general's office
resigned Monday, days after city officials publicly criticized
his department and the City Council slashed its funding.
Councilman William H. Cole IV, who voted in favor of the cut,
said he would be disappointed if the mayor restores the office's
funding. "Nothing we've seen so far indicates we should be
spending that much taxpayer money" on the inspector general's
office.
More…
June 17, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
Padlock's
about to come off - Reservoir Hill liquor store was first test
of city ordinance
Chang K. Yim may be able to open Linden Bar and Liquors
before his yearlong suspension is up, perhaps in a few weeks,
because after meetings with law enforcement, lawmakers,
residents and city officials, he has finally agreed to make
changes long sought by the police to discourage criminal
behavior. The alternative is that Yim simply waits another eight
weeks and then reopens without having made a single improvement
or change, and the city police would be saddled with the same
issues they had last August. "At the end of the year, there is
nothing that could allow the commissioner to keep it closed
longer than it has been already," said City Councilman William
H. Cole IV, who represents the area.
More…
June 16, 2009, Opinion, Investigative Voice,
Ditch Most Of The Take-Home Cars
Could
anything be more emblematic of the wrong-headed spending
priorities at City Hall than a taxpayer-funded "take-home car"
parked overnight in Delaware? Now through the efforts of City
Councilman Bill Cole, we've learned that 149 vehicles leave the
city every night, headed as far away as Pennsylvania, Delaware
and even Virginia.
More…
June 16, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
Council passes new budget - Often-angry debate, weekend of
bargaining end with mayor's spending plan mostly intact
The Baltimore City Council passed a $2.3 billion budget
Monday, coming to an agreement with Mayor Sheila Dixon that left
her spending plan largely intact despite weeks of often-heated
debate. "If the choice is between kids and a cable station, I
pick kids," said Councilman William H. Cole IV, who voted to cut
funds from the city's cable access channel and have that money
redirected to youth programming.
More…
June 15, 2009, WBALTV.com,
Compromises
Send City Budget To Council Floor - Council, Mayor At Odds Over
Funding For Parks, Rec
Members of the
Baltimore City Council and Mayor Sheila Dixon are at odds over
recreation funding as the deadline for passing a balanced budget
looms. "I think the cuts we made were certainly not service
threatening cuts. They were minimal, and I think using the funds
we've cut from the budget to restore some funding to recreation
and parks will be an ideal outcome for those of us on the
council," said City Councilman William Cole, D-11th District.
“I'm all about cutting the tax rate, but a 20 percent cut on a
penny is not going to have any effect on residential property
tax," Cole said.
More…
June 14, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
Alonso's brisk style hastened Morris misstep - Baltimore schools
chief says he didn't know of new deputy's financial problems
Amid the
growing controversy, the school board held a three-hour
emergency meeting Friday with Alonso to discuss Morris' fate.
Morris, 38, resigned from his new position Saturday. Three City
Council members, including Councilman Cole, were so distressed
by the Morris situation that they voted against the schools
budget Thursday night.
More…
June 12, 200, Baltimore Sun,
Baltimore
City Council defies Dixon over budget cuts - Mayor's priorities
cut in bid to press her to restore funding
The Baltimore City Council asserted itself on a budget battle
for the first time in more than a decade Thursday evening,
stripping money from Mayor Sheila Dixon's $2.4 billion spending
plan. In a move that caught some by surprise, Cole asked that
the council vote to keep the budget in committee. That ensures
that the battle over the budget will continue.
More…
June 11, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
Dixon
concerned about use of city cars - Two-thirds of take-home
vehicles leave city at night
Baltimore
Mayor Sheila Dixon said she was not aware that some city
employees use their take-home cars for daily trips to Dover,
Del., and Alexandria, Va., and expressed "some concerns" about
the length of taxpayer-funded commutes. The list of vehicles and
their daily travel logs were made available after Councilman
William H. Cole IV requested them during a budget hearing. Cole
said he does not want city cars to leave the state, and said he
plans to meet with the mayor early next week to discuss policy
changes.
More…
June 10, 2009, WBAL-Radio, Commish Says Take Home
Cars About Public Safety
Almost two-thirds of Baltimore city employees who are assigned
take-home vehicles live outside the city and many commute to
homes outside Maryland. An analysis requested by a City
Councilman William Cole and obtained by the Baltimore Sun shows
that fuel for the 247 assigned vehicles costs $313,000 annually,
plus the wear and tear on the cars and trucks.
More…
FOR FULL
INTERVIEW:
WBAL INTERVIEW (.mp3 file - may require free software
download)
June 10, 2009,
Baltimore Sun,
Few
official city cars stay in town - About 2 in 3 take-home
vehicles used for suburban or out-of-state commutes
Nearly two
of every three city employees with a take-home vehicle leave
Baltimore at night when they embark on their taxpayer-funded
commute, according to an analysis requested by a city councilman
searching for savings. "Should the city be funding personal
transportation when things are really tight?" asked Councilman
William H. Cole IV, who said his primary concern is the longest
commutes. "When you are closing PAL centers and pools, every
penny does count."
More…
June 9, 2009, WYPR,
Baltimore Gets Closer to Having a Slots Facility
Last
night's City Council vote passed zoning legislation clearing the
way for a future slots parlor in South Baltimore. Councilman
Bill Cole said, "The voters made the decision with the
referendum. And whether you supported it or didn't you have to
respect that. And I think this council did just that today."
More…
June 5, 2009, Gazette.net,
Trash talk may escape backlash - Many think Baltimore mayor's
garbage plan will fly
Dixon's "One To One" plan reduces trash collection to once a
week from the previous twice-weekly schedule and increases the
collection of recyclables from every other week to weekly. One
of the council members who voted against the legislation,
William H. Cole IV (D-Dist. 11), worried that the city, as a
whole, was not ready for the program. "It's such a complicated
issue," he said. "And to think we can be ready to roll this out
July 14, I think, is a bit naive."
Cole advocated for a pilot program in some parts of the city
that wanted the change before taking the effort citywide.
More...
June 5, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
City business to relocate, cites crime concerns - New Enterprise
Associates has been a mainstay in Mid-Town neighborhood for a
quarter-century
Executives of New Enterprise Associates, a venture capital
company that has been a mainstay in Baltimore's Mid-Town
neighborhood for a quarter-century, told the mayor they are
moving to the suburbs because their employees no longer feel
safe in the city. On Tuesday, a man who works at the Peabody
Institute was attacked on Madison St by a group of teens.
Police spokesman said the teen was charged as a juvenile with
assault, drawing anger from city Councilman William H. Cole IV,
who has railed about downtown crime. "I'm sorry, that is not a
juvenile crime," he said, noting the May 23 weekend in which he
said kids run up and down Mount Vernon streets "overturning
everything that wasn't nailed down. It's behavior that defies
all logic and sensibility." Cole added: "I still believe that
when you look at the big picture, the neighborhood is safe."
More...
June 3, 2009,
WBAL-TV.com,
Mayor Checks In On Inner Harbor Troubles - City Strategizing
For Ways To Protect Visitors
Baltimore city officials are
contemplating new strategies to keep visitors to the Inner
Harbor safe after several assaults by teens over the last few
weeks. City Councilman Bill Cole, who represents the area, said
he hopes the end of school might actually help.
More…
June 2, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
City scales back trash collection
The
Baltimore City Council approved a new plan to reduce trash
collection to once a week, passing one of the mayor's top
legislative priorities on an 8-to-5 vote. At the hearing,
Councilman William H. Cole IV said the council members who voted
against the plan represent districts that are clustered in the
urban city center. "This is about being able to walk out of your
front door and not seeing piles of trash," he said.
More…
May 31, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
Assaults on rise in downtown, Inner Harbor - Victims report
attacks by bands of young people
An
increasing number of Baltimore residents and tourists have been
victims of random, unprovoked attacks in the downtown area over
the past month by roving groups of young people, even as police
beef up their presence around the Inner Harbor. Councilman
William Cole, who has recently been venturing out at night with
police to observe the area's problems, said the department is
doing an "outstanding job putting resources in place to nip
whatever trend may be out there in the bud. I think the word is
out that if you want to come down and act like a jerk, you can
do it downtown, and we need to send a clear message that we're
not going to tolerate it," Cole said.
More...
May 31, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
Downtown gets riskier after dark - Tour finds more street crowds
with nothing in particular to do
Recent
violence is either out of control, as some residents and
visitors suggest, or it's an exaggerated, isolated byproduct of
a vibrant after-hours social scene that takes over neighborhoods
north of the Inner Harbor. City Councilman William H. Cole IV
spends many weekend nights cruising through his district, which
includes some of the city's hottest clubs, most attractive
tourist areas and historic residential neighborhoods.
Move...
May 28, 2009, Peter Hermann, BaltimoreSun.com,
Man shot near
Camden Yards
I spent this past Saturday night and early Sunday touring
the Central District night clubs with City Councilman William H.
Cole IV. We went from lodges in Bolton Hill to the ever-busy
Belvedere to the Inner Harbor.
More...
May 28, 2009, Peter Hermann, BaltimoreSun.com,
Crime down,
but ...
The good news from Baltimore Sun's Justin Fenton this
morning is that crime is down in just about every category this
year, from burglaries to violent crime. Still, Baltimore is a
violent city. I spent Saturday night driving around the city
with City Councilman William H. Cole IV and the Peter Collier,
the deputy director of the Parking Authority. I wanted to see
what it was like when clubs are open. Of the clubs, Cole said,
"It's a moving target."
More…
May 27, 2009,
Baltimore City Paper,
City's planned "One Plus One" trash pickup worries
City Council
Change is coming to Baltimore's trash pick-up,
and
some City Council members are not happy about it. Called "One
Plus One," the new system will reduce the number of garbage
pickups to once weekly, down from twice per week, while
increasing the number of recycling pickups from twice a month to
once a week. Councilman Cole says one of his concerns is for
some of the property owners in his district who rent homes to
multiple students, who may generate more trash than a single
family would. "We're saying to them, you either have to provide
hauling service, or get your tenants to put less trash out,"
Cole says. "That's great, but they have to be able to build it
[the added cost of trash service] into their leases."
More...
May 27, 2009,
Investigative Voice,
TRASH
TALK - Council evaluates plans to clean up harbor
Currently
only the Jones Falls outfall is blocked off to catch debris. “We
can’t just address this one outfall at a time,” said City
Councilman Bill Cole. “We need a plan that’s comprehensive and
until we have one, we’re going to be fighting this issue.” City
officials hope to find a system to cover the entire harbor and
will be issuing a request for proposals by September.
More...
May 19, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
Changes in Baltimore garbage pickup a step closer
Baltimore
is a step closer to once-a-week trash collection with the City
Council throwing its support Monday behind Mayor Sheila Dixon's
controversial changes to the municipal garbage schedule.
Councilman William H. Cole IV attempted to amend the legislation
so that the volume limitations would be phased in over three
years for some residents.
More...
May 13, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
City Council members question budget cuts
Baltimore
City Council members are threatening to cut pet programs from
Mayor Sheila Dixon's office as they scour the city's $2.2
billion budget for money to offset her proposed cuts to
recreation centers, community pools, and Police Athletic League
centers. The head of Recreation and Parks, Wanda S. Durden,
described the smaller budget as "right-sized" and pledged that
her department will "work smarter" and become "more efficient."
Council members disagreed. "How can you be expected to do more
with less?" asked Councilman William H. Cole.
More…
May 12, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
Clothes, tickets top officials' gift lists: Indictments heighten
scrutiny of ethics forums
Councilman
William H.
Cole IV didn't report any gifts, saying that he does not
accept any that would require disclosure. In what he called an
"abundance of caution," Cole listed stock he owns, which is not
required. His holdings include 12 shares of
Ford Motor Co.
bought last summer. "One of the things about being in the public
eye is people will scrutinize everything," Cole said.
More...
April 30, 2009, The Johns Hopkins Newsletter,
Harbor mall
owner files bankruptcy due to debt
General Growth
Properties (GGP), one of the biggest mall operators in the
country, including Harborplace in Baltimore, filed for Chapter
11 bankruptcy earlier this month.
Harborplace
is not in danger of closing due to its bankruptcy, according to
William H. Cole IV, City Councilman for the district. Cole
supported the shopping center giant's claim, saying that the
move to Chapter 11 was only about restructuring their finances
and not about changing their operations.
More...
April 28, 2009, Investigative Voice ,
'HUSTLAZ' AT THE HARBOR – Spate of downtown violence raise
specter of growing gang presence
Early
Friday evening outside the EPSN Zone restaurant in Baltimore's
Inner Harbor, tourists stood in shock as a group of young men
allegedly wearing bandannas viciously beat a 14-year-old
Michigan youth. The melee has prompted the Baltimore Police
Department to promise added police presence downtown, including
foot patrols, a move supported by City Councilman Bill Cole,
whose 11th district includes the Inner Harbor. “It was like a
Fourth of July size crowd, and you don’t have summer deployment
in April,” said Cole, adding that police estimated upwards of
6,000 people visited the Inner Harbor Saturday. Cole said added
police presence was only one preventive measure city officials
need to consider.
More…
April 28, 2009,
Baltimore Sun,
New
home tax credit: good for the city? Mayor, others argue the
discount program helps lure buyers — even to booming
neighborhoods
A property tax credit meant to lure new residents to Baltimore
and spur development in impoverished neighborhoods instead
rewards current city dwellers who inhabit booming parts of the
city, according to a report issued by the city's Finance
Department. City Councilman William H. Cole IV, who chairs the
City Council committee that will work on the legislation, says
he has "some concerns" about the credit and is considering
capping it or shortening the length of the phase-in. "I think
the reality is you need some incentive to get people into the
city," Cole said. "I don't know how much of an incentive you
need. I don't think you can do away with the credit."
More...
April 28, 2009, Baltimore Sun, Editorial,
No
quick fix - Our view: The need to reform Baltimore's public
safety pension system will require compromise and independent
analysis to avoid political pitfalls
Police and fire retirees are
living longer, which means the city has to pay out much more in
pensions. Poor performance in the stock market has compounded
the problem. The city is on the hook for $82.1 million in the
fiscal year that begins in July and a whopping $110 million the
next year. Without changes to the system, City Councilman
William H. Cole IV says, the city will face a "bankrupting
event." More...
April 21, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
City Council calls for investigative hearing on overlooked $40
million
City
Council members called Monday night for an investigative hearing
to look into how the city's Finance Department overlooked $40
million in partial property tax payments for a decade.
"I think that we have a responsibility to the taxpayer and the
citizens of Baltimore to make certain we are abundantly clear
how this happened and make sure it will never happen again,"
said City Councilman William H. Cole IV, who chairs the city's
finance committee.
More…
April 21, 2009,
Press Release, CITY COUNCIL LEADERS QUESTION $40 MILLION LOST AND FOUND,
Oversight
Hearing Called to Review the Matter
Last Night, leaders of the Baltimore City Council scheduled
an oversight hearing to question a recent audit that uncovered
$39,714, 985 of property tax collections that were not
recognized revenue and as a result were not placed into the
City’s General fund. “City Council members, as the elected
representatives of the citizens, have a responsibility to openly
review this matter and we intend to do so,” said Councilman
William H. Cole (District-11), who serves as acting Chairman of
the Council’s Taxation Finance and Economic Development
Committee. “The purpose of this review is not to point fingers,
but to provide answers to the taxpayers and to ensure that
something like this never happens again.”
More…
April 17, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
Dog owners protest $1,000 no-leash fines
City
Councilman Edward L. Reisinger held an open forum where he and
Councilman William H. Cole IV listened to dozens of dog owners,
who called the new fines "excessive" while arguing for off-leash
early-morning hours in city parks. Several dog owners argued
that they should be able to run their dogs during off-peak hours
in designated areas. Cole said that could be a solution the City
Council looks at.
More…
April 16, 2009, BALTIMORE WJZ.com, Baltimore Audit Finds $40M In Neglected Account
As Baltimore considers layoffs and big cuts to services, the
city suddenly discovers $40 million it didn't know it had, but
by law that money can't be used to fill the budget hole. "Forty
million is a significant amount of money for a city right now
figuring what services to cut," said William Cole, City Council
member. Cole, who chairs the committee on taxes and finance,
says he's getting calls. "People are saying it's theirs and they
want it back. I tend to agree with them," said Cole.
More...
April 14, 2009, Investigative Voice,
PARTIED OUT - Council, liquor board spar over one-day liquor
licenses
City
Councilman Bill Cole and area residents are fighting to stop the
regular weekend parties at the Hiram Grand Lodge, which have
prompted scores of police calls, boisterous crowds, and in some
cases vandalism. “The temporary liquor license is supposed to be
for fundraising banquets, but what I think you have here is a
mobile nightclub located in a residential neighborhood,” says
William H. Cole, who represents the 11th district where the
lodge is located.
More...
April 10, 2009, Baltimore Business Journal,
Baltimore City tables green tax incentives - But councilman
could revive some relief for developers
Baltimore City
is poised to impose one of the toughest environmental building
requirements in the state come July 1 — one that will likely
come without promised tax relief. That’s because legislation
introduced in Baltimore City Council and designed to provide
property tax breaks for a decade to landlords of new green
buildings in the city never made it into law. The proposed green
building tax credit would have cost the city about $600 million
through 2023. “I think it would be hard to approve something
that has such an enormous fiscal note,” said Councilman William
Cole, who oversees the City Council committee considering the
tax credit program.
More…
April 8, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
City
reaches slots pact that could cut taxes - Dixon cautions 8-cent
reduction years off
The Dixon administration and the group bidding to build a
slots parlor in Baltimore have reached an agreement that could
generate enough money to slash Baltimore's property tax rate by
up to eight cents, officials said. Until recently the Baltimore
slots deal seemed to be stalled. "We were being told that it
didn't look like the numbers were going to work for the city,"
said City Councilman William H. Cole IV, Chair, Committee on
Property Tax Reduction.
More…
April
5, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
City police, fire pension system due review – GBC chief to lead
panel studying financial woes.
Donald C. Fry, president and CEO of the Greater Baltimore
Committee, has accepted an invitation from Rawlings-Blake and
City Councilman William H. Cole IV to lead an effort to review a
retirement program whose ballooning costs have created what both
call a "fiscal crisis."
More…
March
24, 2009,
Baltimore Sun,
Council OKs Dixon proposal for 275-bed shelter - Part of mayor's
10-year plan to end homelessness in the city
Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon's 10-year plan to end homelessness
received a boost Monday evening when the City Council
unanimously approved her proposal for a 275-bed shelter on
Fallsway. City Councilman William H. Cole IV said the project
"is giving homeless people in this city an opportunity they have
never had before."
More…
March 22, 2009,
Investigative Voice,
amBUSHed Part II - City says Secret Service
towed for expired tags
A
vehicle used by Jenna Bush’s Secret Service detail was impounded
and towed because it had expired license plates. City Councilman
Bill Cole said the shortage of parking spaces in the area meant
city parking agents were justified in towing the vehicle.
More...
March 20, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
Fixes
considered for police and fire retirement funds - Unions,
Baltimore officials agree situation is dire because of rising
costs but remain far apart on remedial action
Union leaders and Baltimore officials have begun discussing
major changes intended to restore viability to police and
firefighter retirement funds weakened by huge losses. None of
the proposed fixes under consideration would fill the growing
hole that pension costs are boring into the city's budget.
Lamented City Councilman William H. Cole IV, acting chairman of
the Finance and Taxation Committee: "I don't know that we have a
Band-Aid big enough to fix this."
More…
March 18, 2009,
Press Release,
City Council Committee Approves Maritime Zoning Bill
The City Council’s Land Use and Transportation Committee
approved an amended version of the Maritime Zoning Industrial
Overlay District (MIZOD) legislation. The legislation seeks to
protect Baltimore’s Maritime Industry by extending the sunset
provision of the MIZOD until 2024. “I would like to especially
thank Council Vice President Ed Reisinger (District-10),
Councilman Jim Kraft (District-1), Councilman Bill Cole
(District-11), and all the committee members for working so
diligently on this important legislation,” City Council
president Rawlings-Blake said. More...
March
6, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
Baltimore planners endorse land bank proposal -
Plan would hasten sale of city-owned vacant property
After testifying, the mayor also she agrees with a set of
changes suggested Wednesday by Rawlings-Blake and City
Councilman William Cole IV, including a provision that the
property in the land bank should revert to the city if the new
entity dissolves and the requirement that the land bank's
progress be carefully measured.
More…
March 5, 2009, Baltimore Sun, Mayor takes land bank proposal to the public: City Council
seeks amendments as Dixon speaks directly to residents
The changes, drafted by Councilman William Cole IV and City
Council President Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake, are designed to
ensure that property is returned to the city if the new land
bank fails, require the head of the new agency to be a city
resident and set standards to gauge the agency's success.
More…
March 5, 2009, Baltimore Sun Editorial,
A remedy for
blight - Our view: City land bank is a promising idea but needs
stronger safeguards
Council President Stephanie C.
Rawlings-Blake and Councilman William H. Cole IV have suggested
several changes to the land bank proposal, which would require
performance measures, biannual reauthorization and city
residency for board members and the executive director. Strict
conflict-of-interest provisions also should be considered.
More…
March
04, 2009,
Press Release, Council Leadership Proposes Amendments To Land Bank Bill
Members of the City Council proposed the first series of
amendments to Mayor Sheila Dixon’s Land Bank legislation in an
effort to improve independent oversight and ensure that the
initiative is effective in addressing the crisis of abandoned
vacant properties in Baltimore. “The Council President and I
agree that, if the Land Bank is
the best way to address vacant abandoned properties, there must
be measures in place to ensure effectiveness, transparency, and
oversight,” said Councilman William H. Cole, IV (District-11),
who serves as acting chairman of the City Council’s Taxation,
Finance, and Economic Development Committee. “We believe that
the proposed legislation will need to be significantly amended
to accomplish these goals.”
More…
February
28, 2009,
Baltimore Sun,
City due
$31 million in federal funds for homeless services
Using the site of a proposed homeless shelter as a backdrop,
Mayor Sheila
Dixon announced yesterday that Baltimore will get $31
million in federal funds for homeless services, including $9.5
million in emergency funds under the economic stimulus package.
The event was attended by Councilman
William H.
Cole IV, a supporter who called the center "an
unbelievable opportunity."
More…
February 25, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
Bogus
parking passes for Otterbein offered on the Web
An ad showed up on Craigslist offering visitor passes to park in
South Baltimore's Otterbein. "I think this happens far more
frequently than anybody would want to know," said City
Councilman William H. Cole IV.
More…
January
25, 2009,
Baltimore Sun,
3
charged in shooting of officer: Eight-year city Police
Department veteran in critical but stable condition
- City Councilman
William H.
Cole IV blamed the management at Orchard Mews. "I can
say Central District has certainly put plenty of resources up
there, as evidenced by the fact that there were undercover
officers there," he said. "In my mind, the apartment complex is
not taking its responsibility to run a secure business
seriously."
More…
January 24, 2009, Baltimore
Sun,
Police arrest three in shooting of undercover
city officer: Officer identified as Dante Arthur, an eight-year
veteran of the Baltimore Police Dept. -
City Councilman William H. Cole IV said, "I can say Central
District has certainly put plenty of resources up there, as
evidenced by the fact that there were undercover officers
there," he said. "In my mind, the apartment complex is not
taking its responsibility to run a secure business seriously."
Cole said complex management has promised security guards,
cameras, and better lighting.
More...
January
23, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
Despite charges, Holton votes with City Council committee -
Council president revoked her leadership role but let her remain
active on panel
Councilman
William H. Cole IV, who is acting as chairman of the
committee, stressed that the votes yesterday were unanimous.
"She participated fully," he said. "She asked questions."
More…
January 22, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
Mayor not talking about legal-fee reimbursement - City Council
members troubled by timing of policy
Councilman William H. Cole IV
said he would like to see a draft of the policy and hopes that
the City Council can weigh in on it. He also suggested that it
would be appropriate for the Maryland attorney general to
comment since it is supposed to mimic the state's measure.
More…
January 8, 2009, Baltimore Sun,
Holton removed from tax breaks committee - Move follows city
councilwoman's indictment on bribery charge.
The powerful Taxation and Finance Committee will be chaired in
the interim by William H. Cole IV, who had been vice chairman,
until the criminal case is resolved.
More…
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