http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/index.cfm News releases from Baltimore City Councilman Keiffer J. Mitchell, Jr. en-us Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:33:04 GMT Tue, 04 Sep 2007 13:47:45 GMT keiffer@keiffermitchell.com keiffer@keiffermitchell.com http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=52 In response to Thursday's indictment of interim-Mayor Dixon's former Campaign Chairman, Dale Clark, Councilman and mayoral candidate Keiffer Mitchell is asking the interim-Mayor to return any and all contributions made by Mr. Clark to her campaign entity. Politics Tue, 04 Sep 2007 13:47:45 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=52 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=51 After emerging victorious in last night's debate, City Councilman and mayoral candidate Keiffer Mitchell is now asking the interim-mayor to participate in a one-on-one televised debate to answer the many unanswered questions of the evening. Politics Tue, 28 Aug 2007 14:11:52 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=51 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=50 Today, mayoral candidate and Councilman Keiffer J. Mitchell Jr. unveiled an ethics reform package that aims to promote an honest and transparent Baltimore City government. The plan seeks to end the "pay-to-play" culture that pervades City Hall and ensure that the Board of Ethics truly serves as a watchdog for the citizens of Baltimore. Mitchell also challenged the interim mayor to accept his reforms as well. Politics Thu, 23 Aug 2007 17:21:46 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=50 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=49 Today, mayoral candidate Keiffer J. Mitchell Jr. unveiled a comprehensive economic plan to create a renaissance throughout Baltimore City, bringing prosperity to all the city's neighborhoods, not just the waterfront. Mitchell began by reminding those in attendance that the first step toward increased economic opportunity and more jobs is to create an environment where businesses can thrive, which means solving the city's current murder crisis. The next step, said Mitchell, is to rid the city of the system of pay to play that ensures the same friends and political cronies receive the same large city contracts time and again. Politics Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:20:07 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=49 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=48 "Firefighters are the most trusted members of any city. To receive your endorsement is humbling and I feel a tremendous responsibility to live up to this endorsement. To know that our firefighters, all of whom live in this city, believe I can return safety to our streets, well it means a lot." Politics Thu, 09 Aug 2007 13:34:50 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=48 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=47 "This endorsement, along with the endorsement of our police and our state's Attorney General, sends a strong message that we are about giving the streets back to all of Baltimore. Every neighborhood in this City is suffering from this crisis, some more than others, from Ashburton to Canton to Northwood people are asking for help in returning their neighborhoods to the law abiding residents. And these endorsements let the citizens of Baltimore know that I am the candidate who will provide that help, that I am the change needed to return safety to all Baltimoreans." Politics Tue, 31 Jul 2007 13:22:03 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=47 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=46 For those of you who have been following my campaign to become the next mayor of Baltimore, you know that I have called for 400 new officers to make our streets safe. With these new officers, as mayor, I will put a gang unit in every district. This unit would not be merely a liaison officer, but an actual enforcement unit in every district at the street level. Politics Mon, 30 Jul 2007 13:46:59 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=46 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=45 Councilman and mayoral candidate Keiffer Mitchell today gained the endorsement of the Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police. The vote signaled that the Baltimore Police believe that Keiffer can combat the current murder crisis and return safety to our streets. Politics Tue, 24 Jul 2007 21:08:56 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=45 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=44 Today, in the wake of the city's current murder crisis, Keiffer J. Mitchell, Jr. called for immediately increasing the size of the police force and giving officers a substantial pay raise. Standing at the site of a deadly shooting that occurred several months ago, Councilman Keiffer J. Mitchell Jr. announced his plan to deal with a crisis that has left Baltimore with 165 homicides since January 1. Politics Thu, 12 Jul 2007 15:49:03 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=44 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=43 Today, Councilman Keiffer J. Mitchell Jr. announced that he will attempt to derail proposed legislation that would reduce public oversight on city spending and allow the interim-mayor to give out more no-bid city contracts. "It's simple. We're either going to make it easier to give out no-bid contracts, or we're going to make it tougher," said Mitchell. "I want to make it harder. The interim-mayor wants to make it easier." Politics Tue, 10 Jul 2007 13:47:03 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=43 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=41 In the last six months, 146 people have been murdered in our city and our citizens have lost faith in the interim-Mayor's ability to address this crisis. As we slip back to the days of 300 murders per year, residents have been waiting to see her offer the leadership needed to stop this wave of violence. Instead, the interim-Mayor has only offered slogans, PR stunts, and failed plans. While the voters will have a chance to hold her accountable in September, we cannot wait that long to address this crisis. Politics Thu, 21 Jun 2007 17:28:10 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=41 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=40 Standing on a corner in the East Baltimore-Midway neighborhood, a community recently ravaged by gang violence, mayoral candidate Keiffer J. Mitchell, Jr. assailed the interim-Mayor for embracing the status quo and allowing Baltimore to slip backwards to the days of 300 plus murders a year. He then announced his comprehensive plan to combat crime in Baltimore City. Criticizing the interim-Mayor's seven-slide PowerPoint presentation on crime, Mitchell stated that crime would not be reduced by sound bites or recycled ideas from the past. "She isn't taking strong action to fight crime, and as a result, our crime rate is on the rise," Mitchell said, pointing to news that Baltimore is now second only to Detroit in homicides. Politics Thu, 07 Jun 2007 16:18:31 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=40 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=39 Last night, Councilman and mayoral candidate Keiffer J. Mitchell, Jr. joined Attorney Doug Gansler for a town hall meeting at a local restaurant in Northwest Baltimore. The meeting focused on the recent spike in crime in the Northwest Baltimore area and drew a large crowd of concerned parents and community leaders from the area. Participants had numerous questions for Mitchell and the Attorney General, mainly focusing on the City's seeming inability to control juvenile crime and the current officer shortage within the Baltimore Police Department. Politics Thu, 31 May 2007 19:18:04 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=39 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=38 "Yesterday, the Public Service Commission approved a 50% electricity rate increase for all Marylanders. Much of Baltimore cannot handle such an increase. Many of our seniors, our working poor, and our disabled simply do not have it within their budgets to shoulder a 50% increase in their energy costs. When our city has a budget surplus for the third year in a row, it is our obligation as stewards of the public to ease this burden," said Councilman Mitchell. Politics Thu, 24 May 2007 17:02:43 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=38 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=37 Today, Keiffer J. Mitchell Jr. unveiled seven simple initiatives to change the way Baltimore City does business and promote honest, transparent, and accountable government. "When voters see the friends of our elected officials and people with connections getting preferential treatment, they rightly wonder why it has to be this way. Well, I'm here to say it doesn't have to be that way. We can change Baltimore for the better," said Mitchell Politics Wed, 23 May 2007 20:46:01 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=37 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=36 Baltimore, MD - Councilman and Mayoral Candidate Keiffer J. Mitchell Jr. and concerned citizens will discuss Baltimore's pervasive crime problem and the apparent lack of responsiveness from City Hall. He will also ask that the citizens submit questions THAT HE WILL THEN ASK Baltimore City Police Commissioner Leonard Hamm at the Police Department budget hearing later that day. Politics Thu, 17 May 2007 13:05:27 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=36 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=35 Standing in front of Thurgood Marshall high school, Mitchell reiterated his call for Baltimore to take back control of City schools and put them under mayoral control, and announced new plans to hire and retain quality teachers, create an open, transparent and accountable budget process, and institute school efficiency audits. Politics Tue, 08 May 2007 18:07:00 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=35 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=34 "The document provided to the public today, though a step in the right direction, does not provide real clarity. To date, the school board has not provided City Council with the full budget in its original form or in its now corrected form, making it next to impossible to adequately address its accuracy," said Mitchell. "Many of the clarifications provided today should have been in the original budget and today's statement asks us to wait for future clarifications. When do we get an actual working budget?" asked Mitchell. Politics Fri, 20 Apr 2007 18:38:24 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=34 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=33 Councilman and mayoral candidate Keiffer J. Mitchell Jr. (D-11th) today stood in front of City Hall and demanded that the interim-Mayor assume responsibility for overseeing the school budget and advocated taking back control of the schools. He asked her to personally review the budget line by line with the School Board and School CEO. "The time has come for the interim-Mayor to step up and take responsibility for the school budget and our schools," said Councilman Mitchell. Politics Wed, 11 Apr 2007 19:07:14 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=33 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=32 City Councilman and mayoral candidate Keiffer J. Mitchell, Jr. today called for withholding Baltimore City's annual contribution to the Baltimore City Public School System until the School Board and agency leadership justify glaring discrepancies within the budget or submits the budget to an independent audit. The Baltimore City School Board unanimously approved a budget "filled with errors and tens of millions of dollars of discrepancies," according to an independent review by the Baltimore Sun. "In response to this morning's article in the Baltimore Sun, I think it would be irresponsible to move forward on this budget without greater accountability," said Mitchell. Politics Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:25:12 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=32 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=31 The interim-Mayor's proposed budget is wholly inadequate when it comes to funding our schools and the citizens of Baltimore let us know that at yesterday's taxpayer's night. When the overall budget increases by 6.5% and she increases our contribution to our schools by only one-tenth of 1%, what does that tell you about the interim-Mayor's priorities? With this budget, the interim-Mayor has chosen to serve, satisfy, and protect the status quo, rather than promote real change. It is not just that she hasn't allocated enough money to our schools in the city budget, but she hasn't even shifted school budgetary priorities. To provide the children of Baltimore with the education they deserve we cannot just live with the status quo. Politics Thu, 05 Apr 2007 16:05:42 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=31 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=30 What they said: "Resolution 07-0276R In Support of State Legislation--Education--Funding Formula for Adult Education and Literacy Grants: Would ask the state to provide competitive adult-education and literacy grants. Public Interest Grade: 'A' We'd love to see more education grants in this city. " Politics Wed, 28 Mar 2007 19:41:49 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=30 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=29 Councilman Mitchell said, "The statement must be amended to address the reality of what is going on in our City. The reality is that our neighborhoods are no longer just being infiltrated by drugs, prostitution, and gambling, but more violent crimes. The City needs the power to address this expansion of violence and stop it from taking our neighborhoods completely. Politics Wed, 28 Mar 2007 10:45:56 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=29 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=28 In a letter to City Council President Stephanie Rawlings Blake, Councilman Keiffer J. Mitchell questioned a City Council resolution that calls for salary increase for city elected officials, including a $23,000 pay hike for the Mayor. "The truth is that the salary increase will cost city taxpayers more than $2.1 million over the next ten years," Mitchell wrote. "I am troubled that the compensation proposal allows for automatic pay increases, even if the city budget is in deficit and we cannot afford it." Politics Thu, 15 Mar 2007 11:29:21 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=28 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=27 As a part of his "Sit and Listen" tour of Baltimore, City, Councilman and mayoral candidate Keiffer Mitchell today held a town hall meeting with the South Baltimore community at the Light Street Branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. The meeting focused on the overall state of Baltimore City public schools and drew a crowd of parents, educators, and community leaders. Politics Sat, 10 Mar 2007 15:45:02 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=27 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=26 Baltimore City Councilman Keiffer Mitchell today testified in favor of HB 713, urging state delegates to return a favorable report on the bill entitled the "Maryland Gang Prosecution Act of 2007." Mitchell, who announced his candidacy for mayor of Baltimore, on January 19, after 12 years of service as a councilman, cited school safety in his testimony. Politics Mon, 12 Mar 2007 16:01:41 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=26 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=25 City Councilman and Mayoral candidate Keiffer J. Mitchell Jr. today announced that he will introduce legislation to extend tax credits for Baltimore residents who live in designated historic districts. With the tax credits set to expire in March of 2007, Mitchell's legislation would stop what is in effect a tax increase on many Baltimore residents. Politics Wed, 21 Feb 2007 13:37:52 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=25 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=24 Through both courage and innovation, Walter Sondheim has left an indellible mark on the City of Baltimore, and this mark will not soon be forgotten by our citizens. Politics Thu, 15 Feb 2007 18:53:37 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=24 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=23 In December, I introduced legislation to the City Council to enact a "Baltimore City Tax and Fee Structure Task Force" to study Baltimore's tax and fee structure. Today, Interim-Mayor Dixon introduced a "Blue Ribbon Panel" by the same name and called it her idea, forgetting that she failed to even co-sponsor my legislation in December. Politics Tue, 10 Apr 2007 18:04:49 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=23 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=22 "One place that people have found hope is in public charter schools. These schools operate under the school system, but have a special charter that allows them to be more flexible in dealing with students and more innovative in teaching methods." Politics Wed, 14 Feb 2007 01:33:23 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=22 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=21 Despite the inclement weather, City Councilman and Mayoral candidate Keiffer J. Mitchell Jr. attended the February 13 meeting of the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners and gave testimony to the Board about Baltimore's charter schools and announced his intention to create even more. Politics Tue, 13 Feb 2007 23:03:03 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=21 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=20 Mitchell said that he hopes real progress can come from the address, fearing that all Interim Mayor Dixon offered was a band-aid fix on some of Baltimore's worst problems. Politics Mon, 12 Feb 2007 18:05:40 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=20 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=19 Standing on a corner in downtown Baltimore, City Councilman Keiffer J. Mitchell Jr. announced his intentions to run for Mayor of Baltimore, vowing to improve education and public safety, and make City Hall business friendly. Politics Thu, 25 Jan 2007 03:42:33 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=19 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=18 "My name is Keiffer Jackson Mitchell, Jr. and I am here to announce my candidacy for Mayor of the great city of Baltimore." Politics Tue, 30 Jan 2007 19:30:33 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=18 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=17 City Councilman Keiffer J. Mitchell, Jr., said today he was disappointed that he would no longer be serving as chairman of the Council's Taxation and Finance Committee, but that he was proud of his record protecting Baltimore taxpayers. Politics Fri, 19 Jan 2007 01:29:05 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=17 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=15 Councilman Mitchell said, "I look forward to working closely with Governor-elect O'Malley in his new capacity as we work to further the priorities of the citizens of Baltimore: quality education for our children, safer streets, and a working partnership in Annapolis." Politics Wed, 17 Jan 2007 21:08:06 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=15 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=14 The new legislation would broaden the power of parking or transportation agents to determine if a vehicle was truly abandoned, and thus warranting towage. Politics Tue, 17 Oct 2006 12:25:48 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=14 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=12 "I was fortunate to be invited by the President to the White House for the signing of Voting Rights Reauthorization Act." Politics Thu, 03 Aug 2006 12:00:22 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=12 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=11 Councilman Keiffer J. Mitchell, Jr. (D-11th) is set to introduce a bill at tonight's City Council meeting that would establish a Baltimore City Veterans' Commission. The Baltimore City Veterans' Commission would act as a conduit between Baltimore's 55,000 veterans and the City government, so that the City can be more responsive to the needs and issues of the veteran community. Politics Thu, 03 Aug 2006 01:00:06 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=11 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=10 In response to the decision by the Maryland Public Service Commission to approve the Ehrlich-BGE plan to increase utility bills by 72%, Members of the Baltimore City Council, including Councilmen Keiffer J. Mitchell, Jr., Kenneth Harris and Bernard "Jack" Young are calling on City Solicitor Ralph Tyler to appeal the PSC decision to Circuit Court. Politics Thu, 03 Aug 2006 00:58:48 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=10 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=9 Councilman Keiffer J. Mitchell, Jr. (D-11th) is set to introduce a bill at tonight's City Council meeting that would expressly exempt any real estate transfers between spouses or formal spouses from the City's transfer tax. Politics Thu, 03 Aug 2006 00:57:03 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=9 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=8 "Yesterday, the Maryland General Assembly passed a law that imposed a one year moratorium on any state action with regards to our Baltimore City school system. While I had my disagreements with that legislation, we can not allow ourselves to be distracted from the very real problem that there are schools in Baltimore City that are continually underachieving." Politics Thu, 03 Aug 2006 00:54:45 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=8 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=7 Councilman Keiffer J. Mitchell Jr. today decried the embarrassing events that took place yesterday during a joint meeting of the Budget Committee and Public Safety sub-committee. Politics Thu, 03 Aug 2006 00:51:05 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=7 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=6 Councilman Keiffer J. Mitchell, Jr. announced today that his next monthly community meeting would be on Thursday, March 31, 2006 at 6:30p.m. at the Druid Hill YMCA. Politics Thu, 03 Aug 2006 00:49:50 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=6 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=5 This Thursday, September 29th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Councilman Mitchell will host his monthly community meeting focusing on Planning & Development in the 11th District. The meeting will take place at the Druid Hill YMCA, located at 1609 Druid Hill Avenue. Politics Thu, 03 Aug 2006 00:48:39 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=5 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=4 Building on the success of his successful Annual Back To School Supply Giveaway, Councilman Keiffer J. Mitchell, Jr. will continue his efforts at the Druid Hill YMCA. Politics Thu, 03 Aug 2006 00:47:26 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=4 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=3 Building on the success of the prior Back to School Bashes, Councilman Keiffer J. Mitchell, Jr. will continue his efforts again this year at the Pennsylvania Avenue Market. Politics Mon, 21 Aug 2006 18:51:15 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=3 http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=2 On December 9, 2004 at 8:45 a.m., Councilman Mitchell will begin his third term on the Baltimore City Council just as he has the previous two, by walking to the swearing- in ceremony. Councilman Mitchell first began this tradition on December 7, 1995, when he walked from his home on Druid Hill Avenue to City Hall. Politics Thu, 03 Aug 2006 00:44:50 GMT http://www.keiffermitchell.com/news/story.cfm?sort=2