Board Members Present: Wynnona Engle-Pratt (President), Samantha Horn (Secretary), Matt Williams, Michele Baskin, Frances McGaffey, Sadie Baker
Staff: Jennifer McKenzie
BPD
CASA
States Attorney’s office rep
Councilman Jermaine Jones staff rep (zoom)
Senator Mary Washington (zoom)
Total Attendees
~18 attendees in person, on Zoom
Zoom Recording
Password: 1?Y#6tmQ
Agenda
- Community Introduction
- BPD Northern District- Officer Dandy
- Officer Dandy- Sgt Lawrence was promoted and left the unit
- Crime stats- 8/17-9/15- 0 ytd shootings, rape 0, 2 robberies, 1 agg assault, 6 larceny (shoplifing at walgreens), 0 auto theft, Violent crime 3, Property crime 6, last year 9
- Question- Can you define a robbery vs a burglary?
- A- robbery involves a person, burglary is only objects
- Question- A child and a woman were hit by a car on the 2600 block of Miles Ave and required hospitalization. The family has concerns about how BPD handled the issue. How do they contact leadership to begin seeking a resolution?
- A- They need to contact Northern district supervisor- major or captain. Could be the detective on the case. 2201 W Cold Spring Ln, Baltimore, MD 21211
- Email northerndistrict@baltimorepolice.org this email goes to a number of leaders at the district level
- Question- Burglary at 29th and Huntingdon- 3am that day- what’s the status
- A- Ongoing investigation involving detective, not at the point of Officer Dandy at the moment. Wouldn’t be in the crime report because they report on past stats.
- Comment- that corner has been hit a few times in the past 3 weeks. GRIA emailed inquiring on a status- BPD is in the process of viewing all cameras within area, has 2 potential juveniles w/ mask
- Question- 2900 Block of Huntingdon hit and run of person on a bike. They are still waiting to hear back from Northern district for camera footage and more info.
- Officer Dandy will follow up with Detective on that case
- CASA Presentation- Earvin Gonzalez
- Social Justice organization helping working class and immigrant families
- How can we as allies support our neighbors and their families?
- Adopt a Corner– Support groups to warn community members/signal group at common locations where ICE is targeting community members
- These groups plan to be at areas such as Home Depot parking lots
- Know your rights- CASA has business cards with know your rights information that you can carry and/or distribute
- CASA has heard stories of officers letting people go when they state that they know their rights!
- Tipline: 1-888-214-6016 to report any ICE Encounters
- If people are detained- CASA will canvas the area and help the family
- Volunteer opportunities for bilingual volunteers- Spanish and French speakers needed- inquire on CASA’s Website
- CASA Services:
- CASA Day Laborer Center- safe place for contractors to find workers/day laborers to avoid public spaces that may get targeted by ICE
- Citizenship service for green card holders
- Language classes, youth services and internships
- Mayor’s College program is eligible regardless of immigration status
- Optometrist did eye screenings
- CASA Legislative Advocacy-
- Lobbied in Annapolis against 287G which requires local PD to work with ICE bc local PD should not be doing federal jobs. It did NOT pass, but 4 counties DO work with ICE. Baltimore City and County do NOT
- Know Your Rights-
- what you can do as an ally: RECORD if you see someone getting detained and get their next of kin information, call the CASA hotline
- Regardless of status you have the right to remain silent- do not sign anything, do not say anything, do not lie, do not give ICE or PD a reason to think you might be undocumented
- In MD- if you file maryland taxes for 2 years, you qualify for an ID- CASA can help you with that
- Question- Has there been ICE activity in Northern/NE Baltimore?
- A- Yes, but primarily in Highlandtown
- Question- Are there students scared to go to school? Can we help families
- A- work w/in your community and your school- volunteers before/after school nearby to help create safe corridors
- Question- Could GRIA ask CASA for communications about people in our neighborhood that might need help?
- Yes, they can connect us and help them
- Q- Is CASA hearing from college students? JHU, Morgan, Coppin, etc? Have college admins been cooperative?
- Good relationship at Loyola and JHU students that volunteer; Know your rights trainings with Towson and other schools
- CASA has been working directly with foreign language departments, student clubs, etc.and assume that they have been
- Is CASA hiring any non-bilingual folks?
- Sisson Street Community Transfer Station
- GRIA has not heard about they Mayor’s Task Force, but expects an invitation
- Sam Horn and Jennifer McKenzie attended the Charles North Community meeting on the Sisson Street Transfer Station on 9/16- Councilman Jermaine Jones stated that he expected invitations for the Task Force to be sent out in the following week or two
- GRIA Vice President Election- Corey Jennings
- 13 yay, zero nay- passed
- Community Announcements
- Traffic Calming at 26th and Howard to make it easier to cross, and easier for busses
- GRIA got 100k from the state, affordable and donated time from firms for design. Construction bids 40% higher than earlier bids; hopeful to get the bids knocked down and work done by January
- Stephanie- thankful for all way stop sign at 30th and Remington (near pink flamingo) and pedestrian led intervals at cross walks, still needs flex posts/daylighting
- Councilman Ramos, Jones and BGE to review the traffic calming that was removed in the neighborhood but get BGE to reimburse DOT
- Hauntingdon is 10/25/25! Reach out to Jen!
- Food, music, treats, decorations!
- Porch decorating contest! Family friendly and all-ages costume contests
- Volunteers needed for games/activities
- Undercroft has had a number of 311 complaints filed, many of which were at times when there was not even live music. Please reach out to GRIA or Undercroft leadership if you have major issues with the space.
- Senator Mary Washington- Please reach out for assistance with BGE mary.washington@senate.maryland.gov
- States Attorney’s Office- legislative engagement advocacy resource network tour- legislative updates, delegates and senator updates- 10/29 and a flyer is pending
- Monthly cleanup this Saturday 9/20- 10am Church of the Guardian Angel; next cleanup Saturday, 10/18
- Coordinating neighborhood blood drive- fill out the survey to pledge your interest!
- We need 30-40-ish names of folks that are committed
- 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 - Remington Brunch Club – Every Saturday, 9:30 am to 2 pm, in front of Mount Royal, food and local makers every week
- Mount Royal Soaps Night Markets – Every 3rd Friday from 5 pm to 9 pm (April through November), includes food, vendors, free drinks!
- 10/4 Shop Small Remington Crawl 11-5- special promotions or something special happening
- RemFest Merchandise will be for sale at Mount Royal Soaps- proceeds will benefit GRIA
Next Community Meeting: October 15, 2025