Dear Friend,

We can build a better Maryland with grassroots supporters like you! We need to push local, state and federal officials to address the investments we need in our communities and to make positive changes to our social and economic systems. We’ll all do better when our public policies put people first. That’s what the Build Back Better Act does and why we’re laser focused on getting it across the finish line in Congress. This Thursday we’re hosting a Town Hall conversation with Senator Van Hollen to discuss the impact of BBB on Maryland and our nation. Our national affiliate People’s Action is supporting this timely event, too, and has been helping to lead the fight to expand Medicare, lower child care and housing costs, reduce prescription drug costs and to invest in green jobs and solutions to the climate crisis, all of which are currently contained in the Build Back Better Act.

Progressive Maryland is organizing at the local and state level for critical reforms in our justice system so we’re proud to be a co-sponsor of this Wednesday’s Baltimore County State's Attorney Candidate Forum. Please come out to learn more about the role and function of the State’s Attorney and what’s at stake for residents in this growing and changing jurisdiction

Thanks for reading our update and for being part of this movement.

In Solidarity,

The Progressive Maryland Team

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Our members power our work!

Progressive Maryland is organizing at the grassroots level for economic, social and political justice. We have a chance for our message and our policy priorities to break through now and in the coming months in Washington and Annapolis. Help us gain more ground by becoming a member of Progressive Maryland.

Our members strengthen our grassroots organizing and through their financial support help us reach Marylanders all over the state. In turn, PM provides its members important updates, invitations to some great leadership and political training sessions, and opportunities to help guide our chapter building, our issue and electoral priorities and other decisions. Please join today so we can build a better Maryland.

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Quick Actions

Statewide Updates:

Throwdown Thursdays

Phonebank and text bank with our team every Thursday at 6 p.m. Every week we'll be phoning or texting voters across the state about a number of key issues. Soon we'll start using our Thursdays to throw down for progressive candidates that need our help to win! Click this link to let us know you’re coming!

This Thursday, Oct. 28, we’re texting about the redistricting fight in Prince George’s County. The new Council district maps need to meet the needs of grassroots residents and communities. We’re urging the Council to use a fair and democratic process to decide the map. New to texting? No problem, we’ll show you all you need to know!

Virtual Town Hall with Senator Van Hollen: A Conversation about the Build Back Better Agenda in Congress.

Please join fellow Marylanders and the Senator for updates on BBB this Thursday at 7pm EST.

Progressive Maryland's Justice Task Force: You’re invited: Quarterly meeting: Wednesday, November 3rd 6-7 pm

Attend our virtual meeting to receive updates from the School Police Officer, Police Accountability & Reform Planning Groups based on notes from the Community Town Hall held with Del. Acevero and Sen. Carter over the summer. Please join as we need community input to develop clear goals and next steps as we prepare for the legislative session.

New Era PAC Friend & Fundraisers:

Our events this summer and fall have been energizing, engaging and effective. We appreciate everyone who has taken the time to help us develop and launch this exciting program. To support the work or host an event:

Volunteer to help The New Era PAC here

If you would like to contribute financially:

Donate to The New Era PAC here

Drug Policy Campaign

Our Drug Policy Taskforce is working to demand that Congress pass the MAT Act (Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment) which will allow folks suffering from substance use disorder easier access to lifesaving treatment like Buprenorphine. Email Jesse if you want to learn more: [email protected]

Healthcare Justice Campaign

Urgent: Fight to Expand Healthcare, Medicare and Childcare:

We’re still fighting for a robust and expansive Build Back Better Act. A vote in Congress is expected this month! We can’t let the Prescription Drug price negotiation language be watered down-- some elected officials want to do that or add poison pills like means testing that would limit the number of people receiving many of the great benefits that the Act covers. We’re pushing back on these attempts to limit BBB’s scope especially when it comes to Medicare expansion. Contact your House Member and our Senators today.

Come to Thursday’s Town Hall with Senator Van Hollen.

Special Action on Wednesday evening 6:30: national phone bank with grassroots community leaders to call Arizona voters and urge them to contact Sen. Sinema and demand she support lowering the cost of prescription drugs. 6:30p.m. Register here.

Questions? Want to take action? Are you interested in writing a letter-to-the editor or a blog post? please contact [email protected] or [email protected]

Fighting COVID:

We still face many health, housing, and economic challenges related to the pandemic. Now is not the time to let up on COVID measures and recovery efforts. Much more remains to be done. Please tell our state leaders that. Maryland officials have announced that we have a $2.5 billion state budget surplus. Let’s target that money to help workers.

You can also support front line workers and COVID-19 heroes by signing AFSCME’s petition.

Local Chapter Updates:

Progressive Baltimore County

Baltimore County State's Attorney Candidate Forum · Progressive Maryland - New Era Project Wednesday, October 27

Baltimore County is having its first competitive State's Attorney race in 15 years. At a time in which calls for transformative changes to the criminal legal system are the loudest they have been in generations, this election presents an opportunity and a choice for Baltimore County voters: should we continue with the same old tough on crime policies of the past or choose a new approach that will focus on a new philosophy significant reforms. Join us to hear from the candidates who hope to be the State's Attorney for Baltimore County. RSVP here.

Contact Zach with questions or to get more information.

Progressive Harford County

The website for Progressive Harford County is done! Check out progressiveharco.org today.

Progressive Harford County's town hall series continues with Ashwani Jain this Wednesday, Oct. 27 from 6:30-8 p.m. on Zoom. Be sure to register for the next town halls with Heather Mizeur, Nolanda Kirby and Jacob Bennett. Head to our website calendar for more information about upcoming redistricting events. Register for the event today.

Progressive Montgomery:

Interested in joining our environmental justice or election work groups? We’re seeking MoCo folks who want to get involved. Contact [email protected] if you’re interested.

Progressive Prince George's

Activists get more done when we struggle together! "Prince George's Deserves Better" and we can make it happen. Contact PM organizer DaJuan at [email protected] to get involved.

State and National News:

Maryland Focus: Capital News Service reports “The Prince George’s County Police Department has refused to disclose police misconduct records, despite a new state law that was intended, according to its sponsor, to open such records to the public and the media.

“Lawmakers and advocates for the legislation, known as Anton’s Law, said its intent was always for public disclosure of these records, which were previously hidden from the public. Anton’s Law, passed in the 2021 legislative session, was designed to increase transparency around police discipline, said bill sponsor Sen. Jill P. Carter (D-Baltimore City). The law took effect Oct. 1. Carter called Prince George’s County’s denial ‘improper,’ and part of a pattern from the county. [published by Maryland Matters]

It’s Maryland School Bus Safety Week as proclaimed by Gov. Hogan, but bus drivers in Charles County (if not elsewhere in Maryland) are protesting low wages and bad working conditions with a walkout and BTW how well managed and safe are the school facilities the buses are headed for around the state? A school facilities commission created by the General Assembly is still waiting for data gathered by a private vendor to be cleaned up, as MACO’s Conduit Street reports.

In case you missed it, read this piece by our Executive Director, Larry Stafford, in Maryland Matters : Build Back Better has the pieces for a better Baltimore

Here's the Capital News Service roundup of new laws that went into effect starting Oct. 1st, including Anton's Law!

Around the USA:

We want the bundle! Not just bits and pieces left after the barrage of corporate money lobbying Congress.

The Build Back Better Battle intensifies. From Democracy Now! this morning: “After months of negotiations, Democrats are facing a pivotal week that could decide the future of President Biden’s domestic agenda. Biden met with West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer at Biden’s Delaware home Sunday in an attempt to advance the stalled reconciliation package that Manchin and fellow conservative Democrat Kyrsten Sinema have been obstructing. The proposed price tag on the Build Back Better Act, which would vastly expand the social safety net and combat the climate crisis, has already been slashed in half to $1.75 trillion, though the final cost is still being negotiated. Manchin reportedly agreed to some proposals on new taxes for corporations and billionaires, though no deal was announced following the meeting. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on CNN Sunday Democrats are close to finalizing the measure and the House is expected to vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill later this week.”

People’s Action Monday memo added “There is increased pressure to pass the bipartisan infrastructure (BIF) plan this week before next week’s VA gubernatorial elections. Even if an outline of a budget deal comes together, it’s very unlikely that it would be ready for a floor vote in the House this week. This means that we may need to be ready to support the Congressional Progressive Caucus if its members decide to withhold their votes again from the BIF until the budget passes.”

PM says: The BBB act – the big one, that must be passed by reconciliation in the face of GOP redlining – should not be picked apart because its features mesh to make a better US and better world. The green electric grid is needed because a boost in public housing won’t survive a planet at war with itself and e-cars shouldn’t run on fossil-produced electricity; lower drug prices will make housing and clean power more affordable to working families; child tax credits mean parents can keep the jobs that boost family incomes while keeping inflation in check. And so forth.

That’s why we need to keep the pressure on! We need the whole bundle because it’s more than the sum of its parts.

There’s an opportunity for us in the DMV. See below:

Events From Our Allies:

Wednesday Oct 27 11:00 a.m. | Build Back Better Rally

Activists will march from Folger Park through the Capitol grounds, passing by the Democratic National Committee headquarters, and closing outside the capitol, with a symbolic display of the impact that the Build Back Better plan will have in real people’s lives.

November 3rd | Maryland SOS Town Hall in West Baltimore

Town Hall taking place November 3rd at St. Bernardine Catholic Church in West Baltimore. This is being planned by NCADD along with the OOCC. The town halls are part of the way that the state is gathering information about their Maryland SOS plan, which will help determine how opioid settlement dollars are spent, so it would be a good opportunity to advocate for spending on harm reduction and other evidence-based interventions. You can find out more and register here. (Also note that there is a separate form to fill out to provide public comment).

Progressive Maryland BlogSpace:

We value creating space for our members to express their thoughts on any issues related to our campaigns. Have an idea for a blog post? You can submit writing, film, graphic design etc. to be published on our website to the blog moderator, Woody, at [email protected].

Progressive Maryland Weekly Memo for Monday, October 18, 2021

-Progressive Maryland Weekly Memo for Tuesday, October 12, 2021

October 12, 2021 Build Back Better has the pieces for a better Baltimore

Progressive Maryland's Executive Director Larry Stafford Jr. highlights the pro-urban and pro-Baltimore elements embedded in President Biden's Build Back Better plan. It's important to keep it intact as GOP indifference and some neolib Democrats want to dismantle it. Protecting it is vital, for Baltimore, for Maryland and for democracy.

-Progressive Maryland Weekly Memo for Monday, October 4, 2021

October 04, 2021 Media discourse keeps the "both sides" illusion alive

As the full horror of Donald Trump's attempt to seize power and dump democracy fades in the public mind, the mainstream media -- which collectively had been pointing out the difference between facts and lies -- have slumped back into he said-she said vanilla coverage.... is the press slipping back to its old duck-and-cover strategy to avoid being tagged as "liberal"?

September 29, 2021 Progressive Maryland Statement Against Corporate Meddling Following Dēmos and People’s Action Report

A new report from People's Action and Demos details the avalanche of corporate spending to stop or trim important measures that would expand Medicare, childcare, paid family leave, community health programs, green jobs and critical climate initiatives.

>>Read more on the homepage of progressivemaryland.org.

Click here to view this memo in your web browser.

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