Commentary

COMMENTARY: Hopkins, City MOU

THE AFRO — The MOU would require an agreement with the Baltimore Police Department.

Published

7 years ago

March 8, 2019

Submitted to the AFRO by Mayor Catherine Pugh

Nearly 70% of U.S. colleges and universities, both public and private, with 2500 or more students – which comes to more than 4000 schools — have sworn, armed police officers to provide law enforcement services on campus. Every public institution in Baltimore has an armed police department, including Morgan State University, all of the University of Maryland’s professional schools, the University of Baltimore and Coppin State University.

A report on college campus crime clearly states that crime on these campuses is on the rise, by anywhere from 68-75%. The idea of a campus police force dates back to the late 1800s, when Yale University began an agreement with the New Haven Police Department to have two of their officers assigned exclusively to the campus as a means of deterring crime and improving student-police relations.

There is not a single person who can say they are satisfied with where our city is right now as it relates to crime. Too many shootings, too many illegal guns on our streets, just too many violent acts and too many people dying unnecessarily in our streets. Creating jobs and apprenticeship programs while addressing homelessness and drug addiction remain a part of improving the quality of life in Baltimore.

Our efforts to drive down crime also include intervention programs like Safe Streets (which we are expanding) and ROCA, among many others, helped us reduce crime in every single category last year. Unfortunately, we are currently experiencing a spike in crime. In response, we are working to add more police to our team, even though last year, despite a significant increase in applications, we lost 36 officers more than we hired. Not acceptable. We were already at a deficit when I took office two years and two months ago, with 545 less officers than budgeted. That will improve. Since putting the applications on line they have tripled. We’ve also certified our cadet program which will help us attract more residents from Baltimore.

With the introduction of Michael Harrison to be our Police Commissioner, BPD is preparing to undergo a complete makeover. Also, with the support of the state, the Department will significantly upgrade our technology platforms, thereby improving transparency, oversight and accountability.

Four days a week, at eight o’clock in the morning, our Violence Reduction Initiative team meets at Police Headquarters to dissect the crime occurring in the streets and, with various city agencies, attack the issues at the heart of crime. Then, once a week, the engaged team walks with me through crime-ridden neighborhoods to observe what’s going on, engage community leaders and offer solutions. Everyone in our city deserves to feel safe — residents, business owners, employees, students and visitors. I remember Mr. Flan Couch, Jr., who headed the police department at Morgan when I was a student. We all felt safe because of his forces’ presence.

Newly nominated Police Commissioner Michael Harrison says that in New Orleans they have seven universities – five private and two public; all of them have private armed police departments. He says the formation of a Hopkins police force would be good for Baltimore if we craft a detailed memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would make a Hopkins police force accountable to the city. I agree. It helps Baltimore. Because just like Morgan, the University of Baltimore, Coppin and the University of Maryland, we don’t have to patrol their campus grounds.

The MOU would require an agreement with the Baltimore Police Department that Hopkins be in compliance with our consent decree. It could also restrict the number of police they can hire. The MOU could require Hopkins officers to be trained by BPD, just like Coppin State University Police, as we are required by the consent decree to change the cultural behavior of the department, provide constitutional training, as well as community engagement and bias free policing. The MOU would also require that all serious crimes be investigated by the Baltimore Police Department. This strategy works in other cities and could work in Baltimore. Baltimore needs all the assistance it can get in reducing violence. Spikes in crime impede progress on every front and are a serious drain on the quality of life that all our citizens deserve. We’re working to reduce violence, improve the quality of life in our city and make all residents, business owners, employees and students feel safe in Baltimore. A Hopkins police team with city oversight can work for everybody.

The opinions on this page are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the AFRO.
Send letters to The Afro-American • 1531 S. Edgewood St. Baltimore, MD 21227 or fax to 1-877-570-9297 or e-mail to editor@afro.com.

This article originally appeared in The Afro.

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Big God Ministry Gives Away Toys in Marin City

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grow up.

Published

2 days ago

December 29, 2025

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From top left: Pastor David Hall asking the children what they want to be when they grow up. Worship team Jake Monaghan, Ruby Friedman, and Keri Carpenter. Children lining up to receive their presents. Photos by Godfrey Lee.

By Godfrey Lee

Big God Ministries, pastored by David Hall, gave toys to the children in Marin City on Monday, Dec. 15, on the lawn near the corner of Drake Avenue and Donahue Street.

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grew up.

Around 75 parents and children were there to receive the presents, which consisted mainly of Gideon Bibles, Cat in the Hat pillows, Barbie dolls, Tonka trucks, and Lego building sets.

A half dozen volunteers from the Big God Ministry, including Donnie Roary, helped to set up the tables for the toy giveaway. The worship music was sung by Ruby Friedman, Keri Carpenter, and Jake Monaghan, who also played the accordion.

Big God Ministries meets on Sundays at 10 a.m. at the Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA Their phone number is (415) 797-2567.

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2025 in Review: Seven Questions for Assemblymember Lori Wilson — Advocate for Equity, the Environment, and More

Her rise has also included several historic firsts: she is the only Black woman ever appointed to lead the influential Assembly Transportation Committee, and the first freshman legislator elected Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus. She has also been a vocal advocate for vulnerable communities, becoming the first California legislator to publicly discuss being the parent of a transgender child — an act of visibility that has helped advanced representation at a time when political tensions related to social issues and culture have intensified.

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Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City). File photo.

By Edward Henderson, California Black Media

Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City) joined the California Legislature in 2022 after making history as Solano County’s first Black female mayor, bringing with her a track record of fiscal discipline, community investment, and inclusive leadership.

She represents the state’s 11th Assembly District, which spans Solano County and portions of Contra Costa and Sacramento Counties.

California Black Media spoke with Wilson about her successes and disappointments this year and her outlook for 2026.

What stands out as your most important achievement this year?

Getting SB 237 passed in the Assembly. I had the opportunity to co-lead a diverse workgroup of colleagues, spanning a wide range of ideological perspectives on environmental issues.

How did your leadership contribute to improving the lives of Black Californians this year?

The Black Caucus concentrated on the Road to Repair package and prioritized passing a crucial bill that remained incomplete during my time as chair, which establishes a process for identifying descendants of enslaved people for benefit eligibility.

What frustrated you the most this year?

The lack of progress made on getting Prop 4 funds allocated to socially disadvantaged farmers. This delay has real consequences. These farmers have been waiting for essential support that was promised. Watching the process stall, despite the clear need and clear intent of the voters, has been deeply frustrating and reinforces how much work remains to make our systems more responsive and equitable.

What inspired you the most this year?

The resilience of Californians persists despite the unprecedented attacks from the federal government. Watching people stay engaged, hopeful, and determined reminded me why this work matters and why we must continue to protect the rights of every community in our state.

What is one lesson you learned this year that will inform your decision-making next year?

As a legislator, I have the authority to demand answers to my questions — and accept nothing less. That clarity has strengthened my approach to oversight and accountability.

In one word, what is the biggest challenge Black Californians are facing currently?

Affordability and access to quality educational opportunities.

What is the goal you want to achieve most in 2026?

Advance my legislative agenda despite a complex budget environment. The needs across our communities are real, and even in a tight fiscal year, I’m committed to moving forward policies that strengthen safety, expand opportunity, and improve quality of life for the people I represent.

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2025 in Review: Seven Questions for Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, Champion of Reparations, Housing and Workers’ Rights

In 2025, McKinnor pushed forward legislation on renters’ protections, re-entry programs, reparations legislation, and efforts to support Inglewood Unified School District. She spoke with California Black Media about the past year and her work. Here are her responses.

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Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood). File photo.

By Joe W. Bowers Jr., California Black Media

Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood) represents

California’s 61st Assembly District.

As a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC),

McKinnor was elected in 2022. She chairs the Los Angeles County Legislative Delegation and leads the Assembly Public Employment and Retirement Committee. McKinnor also served as a civic engagement director, managed political campaigns, and worked as chief of staff for former Assemblymembers Steven Bradford and Autumn Burke.

Looking back on 2025, what do you see as your biggest win?

Assembly Bill (AB) 628. If rent is $3,000, people should at least have a stove and a refrigerator. It’s ridiculous that people were renting without basic appliances.

I’m also proud that I was able to secure $8.4 million in the state budget for people coming home from incarceration. That includes the Homecoming Project, the menopause program for incarcerated women, and the Justice Leaders Program.

How did your leadership help make life better for Black Californians this year?

After the Eaton Fire, I pushed to get the same kind of support for affected areas that wealthier regions get after disasters.

I also did a lot of work building political power— establishing the Black Legacy PAC and California for All of Us PAC so we could support Black candidates and educate voters. We also called voters to make sure they understood Prop 50.

People need to understand this: there are only 12 Black legislators in the Capitol. Folks act like we can just walk in and pass reparations, but that’s not how it works.

What frustrated you most this year?

The governor did not have the political will to sign these bills: AB 57 and AB 62. They both passed overwhelmingly in the Assembly and the Senate. We did the work. The only person who didn’t have the political will to sign them was the governor.

The public needs to ask the governor why he didn’t sign the bills. We can’t keep letting people off the hook. He has to answer.

I also introduced AB 51 — the bill to eliminate interest payments on Inglewood Unified School District’s long-standing state loan — held in the Appropriations Committee. That was frustrating,

What inspired you most in 2025?

The civil rights trip to Alabama was life changing. We visited the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. We took members of the Black, Latino, Jewish, and API caucuses with us. It changed all of us.

People aren’t always against us — they just don’t know our history.

What’s one lesson from 2025 that will shape how you approach decisions next year?

The legislative trip to Norway taught me that collaboration matters. Government, labor, and industry sit down together there. They don’t make villains. Everybody doesn’t get everything they want, but they solve problems.

What’s the biggest challenge facing Black Californians in one word?

Inequity. It shows up in housing, wealth, stress – all these things.

What’s the number one goal you want to accomplish in 2026?

Bringing back AB 57 and AB 62, and securing money for the Inglewood Unified loan interest forgiveness.