GRIA Community Meeting 6/17/2026
Board Members Present: Corey Jennings (VP), Samantha Horn (Secretary), Matt Williams, Frances McGaffey, Sadie Baker (treasurer), Mauricio Lainez (zoom)
Councilwoman Odette Ramos
Cristina Cortese, Councilman Jones Office (zoom)
BPD Sgt + 3 Officers
Anthony Green- DPW liaison
Total Attendees: ~24 in person
On Zoom:
Zoom Recording Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/1VXPw0SKxQ_u5LFVHwg6nZylvW3xkXtpyfON_FyJQ3iOJTaPAyAeAiZ0Pg0TNSg.7amYJAzsy1oUOi2e
Password: 6KD4v5E^
Agenda
- Community Introductions
- Board Vote Summary
- GreenMount School- Land Use voted to write LOS stating that they’re a benefit to the community so they can pursue next steps to improve their building
- BPD
- Stats: spike in agg assault- was all related to a single group of people that have been apprehended
- Shoplifting at Walgreens- people arrested, referred to Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services
- Increase in car break ins this time of year- don’t leave anything in your car or within view
- Northern District has free wheel locks for any type of vehicle
- homicide/shooting/rape-0 robbery 1, agg assault 5- already in custody and one group, breaking and entering- down 2, larceny 5, auto theft 0, arson 0
- Councilwoman Odette Ramos
- Continuing to monitor BGE powerlines and other issues that impact the district
- City Council about to pass budget- likely Monday 6/22
- BPD getting a much larger budget for equipment
- Baltimore City Budget– Ramos requested another $1.5 million for immigrant community- will help w/ legal support, know your rights work, screen to help people solidify status; mental health support for those impacted by family separation and more
- 211 28th St Building is the FIRST inclusionary housing building- has a mandated 10% affordable- market rate building and 5% reserved for 60% or below of area median income, 5% reserved for 50% and below of area median income
- Board Elections
- Board members serve 2 year terms, annual elections to rotate in/out and stagger the 2 year terms
- GRIA takes pride in term limits and change over- it provides fresh leadership and opinions on neighborhood issues
- President and Treasurer term limited to 2 terms, board members at large are not limited
Board Members at Large
- Dylan Maddox– Baltimore native, on Wyman Park South side and active with DSAI info, wants to bring more art to the neighborhood! Realtor by trade
- Cheryl Knott– Remington Row resident 5 years, Bmore almost 20, loves the community cleanups and meeting folks naturally, data analytics and mapping at Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance (founded by CW Ramos!)
- Peter Coyne– 3 years, passionate about community development and the roles that community orgs play; works at dept of community services; been volunteering at everything GRIA Offers!
- Anne Rosenthal– native Baltimore County resident, came back and stayed; public health background and works for city school district food/nutrition dept., hopes to bring voices of our immigrant neighbors to GRIA resources, informal young families listserv
- Megan Hamilton- been in Baltimore 50ish years, lives in Remington, Shriver Peace Worker Fellow at UMBC, Creative Alliance co-founder; Top issue is BGE overhead power lines
- Sadie Baker– current treasurer rotating off, wants to stay on the board, been in Baltimore since 2013, Remington since 2020
Treasurer
- Frances McGaffey– Treasurer nominee, current Board member at large since 2025; wants to support the organization in the role to keep everything running smoothly
- Motion to elect all candidates in a single vote as a slate: Anne Rosenthal
- Second: Frances
- In Favor: 19
- Against: 0
- Abstain: 0
- Motion passes
- Motion to elect the slate of GRIA Board Members for the 2026-2028 term- Barbara
- Second: Matt Williams
- In Favor: 19
- Against: 0
- Abstain: 0
- Motion passes
- Traffic Calming Updates
- Howard and 26th- GRIA has a grant to improve intersection for pedestrian safety, JHU has agreed to roll our project into their ductbank project, which will help streamline both projects
- GRIA requested
- Howard and 27th- The JHU Ductbank work would create permanent sidewalk bumpouts at this intersection.
- GRIA Plans to move the planters at this intersection to Remington Ave near 31st Street to replace the water-filled plastic barriers
- Graham Projects will re-engage to provide beautification of the intersection
- 27th Street between Huntingdon and Sisson Street has planters that were put there to slow down traffic until the permanent speed humps were installed- please complete the survey to help decide what should happen
- Question- what’s the status on speed bumps at 31st and Cresmont?
- GRIA has been requesting- JHU states that DOT has been the delay
- CW Ramos- DOT is re-examing how speed humps are installed/completed d/t BCFD request, which explains some of the DOT’s delays
- Q- Intersection beautification in Southern Remington?
- Howard and 24th bumpouts (not 23rd) included in the JHU ductbank project
- Off peak parking is proposed on Howard to allow for more parking, alleviate parking in Southern Remington
- Q- Ductbank work timeline is delayed- originally was supposed to start in April- Will there still be construction happening during school session for kids walking to Margaret Brent? GRIA needs to have a convo w/ them regarding that, does not have the updated timeline as of June meeting.
- Howard and 26th- GRIA has a grant to improve intersection for pedestrian safety, JHU has agreed to roll our project into their ductbank project, which will help streamline both projects
- Community Announcements
- Community cleanup this Saturday- no sponsor for June!
- Seawall Community walking tour 6/22 at 6pm
- Remfest- highest reported sales was over $7k, everyone that filled out survey made more than their application fee, many food vendors sold out
- Return your soil testing kit to 329 27th st. Deadline is 7/1
- Volunteer call out for flyer distribution! Please reach out to Jen at volunteers@griaonline.org to take a flyering route next month. Routes are ~2 blocks and a great way to meet your neighbors
- Church of the Guardian Angel thrift shop, runs 1st & 2nd Sat of the month, 10am – 2 pm, bring donations during open hours only, also seeking volunteers; Food Pantry, every
Wednesday from 9 am – 10 am, need volunteers for delivery drivers and some muscle on Tuesday mornings to unload trucks (9:30 – 10:15ish). Registration preferred but not required - Any child that needs a meal can go to a participating school for breakfast and lunch- best resource is a mdsummermeals.org:
- Popsicle Night is back! Tuesdays starting 6:30 Sisson Street Park
- Mt Royal Soap Night Market Friday 6/19 5-9pm
- Chaquetta DOT- Sisson St Bridge Baltimore Law and CSX still in negotiations
- If anyone is interested in contracting w/ Baltimore to plow- 3 more sessions coming up this summer
- Some public meetings for traffic signal reconstruction
- Friday is Juneteenth, AFRAM this weekend Road Closures begin Thursday at 3
- DPW pickups starting at 5am to avoid the heat, get pickups done
- Question- who manages corner trash cans?
- DPW, EXCEPT when it’s at a bus stop
- How do you get more corner trash cans? Put in a 311 request
- Question- who manages corner trash cans?
- Church of the Guardian Angel service on 6/19 for Juneteenth
Adjourned 8:25
Next Community Meeting: June 17, 2026