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Baltimore Brew

@baltimorebrew.bsky.social

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Independent reporting and informed commentary about greater Baltimore. News tips [email protected]

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Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · 14d

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journalists face a gag order imposed by owner David Smith. “They’re trying to scare the union into silence,” says a @baltsunguild.bsky.social
leader, addressing the negotiating tactics used by the newspaper’s management. tinyurl.com/dbwhxwt8

Baltimore Sun Guild journalists face a gag order imposed by owner David Smith | Baltimore Brew

“They’re trying to scare the union into silence,” says a Guild leader, addressing the negotiating tactics used by the newspaper’s management.

Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · 15d

EXCLUSIVE: Controversial Baltimore zoning bills (bulk & yard and parking) are being sent back to @electryandorsey.bsky.social's committee for a re-hearing and re-vote. tinyurl.com/2s4djc8p Bill eliminating the two-staircase requirement in certain buildings is still scheduled for a vote tonight.

Controversial Baltimore zoning bills are sent back to committee for a re-vote | Baltimore Brew

EXCLUSIVE: Three bills are being withdrawn from the agenda. A fourth bill, eliminating the two-staircase requirement in certain buildings, is still scheduled for a vote tonight.

Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · 16d

Baltimore homeless shelters: New survey finds them unsanitary, unsafe and unsavory tinyurl.com/36upv63m Citing bedbugs, roaches, brown faucet water, spoiled food, harassment and assaults, advocates demands better protection for vulnerable people experiencing homelessness.

Baltimore homeless shelters: A new survey finds them unsanitary, unsafe, unsavory | Baltimore Brew

Citing bedbugs and roaches, brown water and spoiled food, harassment and assaults, advocates demand better protection for vulnerable people experiencing homelessness.

Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · 18d

EXCLUSIVE: @AFSCMEMaryland lost $1 million of membership funds in “phishing scam,” gov't documents reveal. Maryland’s largest union made a series of unusual payments in 2022 to an apparently fictitious Washington DC law firm. www.baltimorebrew.com/2025/09/26/a...

AFSCME Council 3 lost $1 million of membership funds in “phishing scam,” government documents reveal | Baltimore Brew

Maryland’s largest union, now representing 50,000 public employees including in Baltimore, made a series of unusual payments in 2022 to an apparently fictitious Washington law firm.

www.baltimorebrew.com

Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · 19d

Amid initial safety concerns from firefighters and the public, @electryandorsey.bsky.social's
single-exit bill advances tinyurl.com/y3endk93 OK'd by committee today, bill removing the two-staircase requirement for certain multi-family buildings will spur development...and has safeguards, he says.

Amid initial safety concerns from firefighters and the public, Dorsey’s single-staircase bill moves forward | Baltimore Brew

Approved by a committee vote today, legislation removing the two-staircase requirement for certain multi-family buildings, the councilman says, will spur development without endangering public safety.

Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · 20d

In a reversal, AFSCME judicial panel has now canceled the re-running of the Local 44 election and ordered an investigation tinyurl.com/329kthbx They're acceding to Baltimore sanitation worker Stancil McNair’s demand that they first look into his charges of union misuse of members’ resources.

AFSCME judicial panel cancels re-run of the Local 44 election and orders an investigation | Baltimore Brew

In a stark reversal from a week ago, the union accedes to Stancil McNair’s demand that it not hold a new election until it investigates his charge of union misuse of members’ resources.

Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · 21d

After tens of thousands of dead menhaden turn up on the waterfront, Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper says their teams are documenting the algae blooms, rotten-egg smell and de-oxygenated water but cautions against defeatism: "fishkills are not inevitable."
tinyurl.com/3z92z4mc

Latest Baltimore fishkill leaves tens of thousands of dead menhaden floating around the harbor | Baltimore Brew

The Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper says her teams have been there documenting algae blooms, rotten-egg odor and de-oxydenated water, but cautions against normalizing fishkills: “They are not inevitable....

Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · 22d

Reform slate appeals AFSCME Maryland decision to throw out Local 44 results and re-run the election. tinyurl.com/3whacu66 Represented by attorney Thiru Vignarajah, Baltimore sanitation worker Stancil McNair and his team push back.

Reform slate appeals AFSCME’s decision to throw out Local 44 results and re-run the election | Baltimore Brew

Represented by attorney Thiru Vignarajah, Baltimore sanitation worker Stancil McNair and his team push back.

Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · 24d

Chain stores selling cheap goods hurt struggling Baltimore neighborhoods, community leaders testify. tinyurl.com/8ybh47c5 They praised a modest bill to rein in dollar stores - but asked city government to do much more. "We need help."

Controlling the spread of dollar stores in Baltimore – will this legislation do it? | Baltimore Brew

Chain stores selling cheap goods hurt struggling neighborhoods, community leaders say, praising a modest bill to rein them in but asking city government to do much more.

Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · 26d

Baltimore Ethics Board affirms the right of Inspector General Cumming to tweet about a union election on her personal social media accounts.

Her tweets (about the Local 44 election) had been questioned by an anonymous City Hall source and in a news article. tinyurl.com/53fdxktm

Ethics Board affirms Inspector General Cumming’s right to speak about union election on social media | Baltimore Brew

An official guidance says the IG’s postings on her personal X and Facebook accounts did not violate city rules and is protected speech under the Constitution.

Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · 26d

VIDEO: As the city razes most of Baltimore’s once-grand shopping district, travel back in time to when it was bustling with proud small business owners. tinyurl.com/2s3vuddj 2/2

VIDEO: 25 years ago, a call from Schaefer, unheeded, to preserve the Superblock | Baltimore Brew

As the city razes more of Baltimore’s once-grand shopping district, travel back in time to when it was bustling with proud small business owners.

Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · 26d

VIDEO: 25 years ago, a call from William Donald Schaefer, unheeded, to preserve the Superblock tinyurl.com/2s3vuddj 1/2

VIDEO: 25 years ago, a call from Schaefer, unheeded, to preserve the Superblock | Baltimore Brew

As the city razes more of Baltimore’s once-grand shopping district, travel back in time to when it was bustling with proud small business owners.

Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · 26d

Local 44 election loser accuses victor of “colluding” with Baltimore Inspector General Isabel Cumming
tinyurl.com/2nk36b46 Secrecy and unsubstantiated charges pervade union representing city sanitation workers. Top AFSCMEMaryland
officials are smarting over the defeat of their candidate last month.

Local 44 election loser accuses victor of “colluding” with Baltimore inspector general | Baltimore Brew

Secrecy and unsubstantiated charges pervade the union representing city sanitation workers. AFSCME officers are smarting over the defeat of their candidate in last month’s election.

Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · 27d

BREAKING Frmr New Pickwick theater on Howard St has been torn down - other vacant Superblock bldgs slated for demolition too, officials confirm. "Fire did what years of neglect foreshadowed: the historic theater we wrote about yesterday is now rubble." Pics/story by Amy Davis tinyurl.com/44sptssb

They’re Down: New Pickwick razed, other Superblock buildings under demolition | Baltimore Brew

The city has determined that nearly all of the east side of the 100 block of North Howard Street has to be torn down because of fire damage.

Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · 27d

Baltimore Presbyterians offer reparations for slavery, w/ $$ going to six local Black churches “in recognition of their historic under-funding and exclusion.” tinyurl.com/ycyhksak This is precisely the history that Donald Trump
wants to erase, @danrodricks.bsky.social
points out.

Baltimore Presbyterians offer reparations for the slavery Trump wants to erase | Baltimore Brew

Funding to go to six local historically Black Presbyterian churches “in recognition of their historic underfunding and exclusion.”

Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · 28d

Elder abuse! That's what the author of a book on Baltimore's beautiful old theaters calls the city's mishandling of the Superblock. tinyurl.com/5c35ww3u After the fire, she looks at what remains of the once-grand Westside, and pleads with City Hall to do better. [OP-ED]

Will fire be the final blow for Baltimore’s Superblock? | Baltimore Brew

A look at what remains after two decades of neglect and failed development. And a call for City Hall to do better. [OP-ED]

Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · Sep 14

Forcible removal of Filipino workers from Carnival Cruise ship in Baltimore sparks protest. tinyurl.com/2hnmextw As part of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, dozens of Filipino seafarers have been expelled from the U.S. over unproven child porn claims.

Forcible removal of Filipino workers from Carnival Cruise ship in Baltimore sparks protest | Baltimore Brew

“A heinous act,” say advocates, amid reports in recent months that dozens of Filipino seafarers have been detained by federal ICE or Customs and Border Protection agents and expelled from the U.S. wit...

Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · Sep 14

Upstart Baltimore City workers won last month's Local 44 election, but now @AFSCMEMaryland officials have thrown the results out and scheduled an Oct. 4 do-over. tinyurl.com/y7zmaf5d On Instagram, sanitation worker Stancil McNair cried foul: "It's not fair."

Insurgent sanitation workers won Baltimore Local 44 top offices. Now there will be a new election | Baltimore Brew

AFSCME Maryland officials won’t say why they have reportedly nullified the August 23 election – and ordered another vote next month.

Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · Sep 12

Remember the insurgent Baltimore sanitation workers who won an upset victory to lead Local 44? tinyurl.com/y7zmaf5d Now, The Brew has learned, @AFSCMEMaryland has thrown out the results . . . and there's to be a new election.

Insurgent sanitation workers won Baltimore Local 44 top offices. Now there will be a new election | Baltimore Brew

AFSCME Local 3 officials won’t say why they have reportedly nullified the August 23 election – and ordered a new election next month.

Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · Sep 12

The strongest voices opposing a bill they were told would help undo rules written to segregate the city? Black female residents and community leaders from across Baltimore. tinyurl.com/yputmekw Scenes from yesterday's hearing on a bill to eliminate parking minimums.

At a fiery hearing, bill to end parking space requirement for developers gets community pushback | Baltimore Brew

Black female community leaders and longtime residents were the loudest voices yesterday protesting one of the measures the Scott administration has framed as a way to undo structural racism’s damage i...

Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · Sep 11

Bill - called “irresponsible” by a Planning Commissioner - would allow Baltimore rowhouses to be expanded back to the alley. tinyurl.com/yc4pf8rv Along with ending parking minimums, it’s one of two @MayorBMScott backed bills before a City Council committee today.

Bill called “irresponsible” by a Planning Commissioner would allow Baltimore rowhouses to be expanded back to the alley | Baltimore Brew

Along with ending parking minimums, it’s one of two bills – with heavy Scott administration backing – before a City Council committee today

Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · Sep 10

Tensions flare as Baltimore Councilwoman Danielle McCray halts City Hall hearing about setting up a task force to review payments by tax-exempt institutions like @JohnsHopkins and @UMMC. Grassroots coalition WUFU cries foul. tinyurl.com/thpkmpm3

Tensions flare as councilwoman walks out on hearing about payments by tax-exempt institutions | Baltimore Brew

Danielle McCray’s action leaves a grassroots coalition seeking increased PILOTS (payments in lieu of taxes) to Baltimore City by tax-exempt institutions “very disappointed.”

Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · Sep 9

Baltimore Peninsula: Surprisingly built-out ... and strangely devoid of people. tinyurl.com/4ufty2zx Kudos to the developers [of the former Port Covington] for erecting beaucoup square feet, says @danrodricks.bsky.social
. But the place still feels like a neighborhood waiting to happen.

Baltimore Peninsula: Surprisingly built-out and strangely devoid of people | Baltimore Brew

Kudos to the developers for erecting beaucoup square feet. But the place still feels like a neighborhood waiting to happen.

Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · Sep 8

Some folks still a bit salty after last night's Baltimore Ravens implosion

Sign on a Baltimore business' door today:
"Patients that mention last night's Ravens game will kindly be asked to reschedule. We appreciate you cooperation during this time.
- Roland Park Vision

Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · Sep 8

To The Teen Who Killed My Brother tinyurl.com/yvx42srd After 25 years, Lenny Kling's big sister reflects on grief, accountability and redemption in Baltimore’s justice system. This former public defender and city prosecutor takes you on her intense journey to ... a place of peace.

To the teen who killed my brother | Baltimore Brew

Twenty-five years after Lenny Kling’s death, his sister reflects on grief, accountability and redemption in Baltimore’s justice system and how her career path – as a public defender, then city prosecu...