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Councilwoman Danielle McCray

Councilwoman Danielle McCray represents the 2nd District in Baltimore City. A lifelong Baltimorean and community organizer, Danielle has a proven record of being committed to our community.

Issues

A lifelong Baltimorean committed to our community. Danielle McCray brings people together with her leadership, vision, and creativity.

Danielle’s Plan for Baltimore? Growing Our City

  • To grow our city, Danielle knows that our first priority must be ensuring that city services are streamlined. That’s why she is committed to working with city government administrators to improve inter-agency communication so that Baltimore’s residents receive high-level service.
  • What does high-level service look like? For Danielle, the answer is simple: treating every problem like a big problem.  Her vision of Baltimore is a city that works for all of its residents.
  • Baltimore is a unique city with complex problems. Danielle believes that those serving in the highest levels of city government should be city residents themselves. As such, she is a strong supporter of residency requirements for senior government officials.
  • Accountability matters. As our councilwoman, Danielle will ensure that city officials are delivering high-level service in a cost-efficient way. From meeting with agency heads to holding hearings, Danielle’s focus is on making sure that our city’s leadership is working for you.
  • At its core, Baltimore is a city of neighborhoods—and the heart of every neighborhood are the families that live in it. Danielle believes that every family in our city is entitled to a safe community with access to a 21st century public education.

Danielle on Public Safety

  • Now more than ever it is important that Baltimore’s Police Department is responsive to resident concerns. As our councilwoman, Danielle will meet regularly with the command staff responsible for policing the 2nd District so that we can be sure the Department’s policing strategy is working for all of Baltimore.
  • Danielle supports the efforts of Baltimore’s Citizens on Patrol.  She’ll work directly with citizen-leaders to ensure that all communities in our district are receiving the law enforcement resources they need to be safe.
  • As a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, Danielle will continue to carefully review the Baltimore Police Department’s budget to ensure that resources are being spent appropriately and efficiently.
  • As the Baltimore Police Department engages in a comprehensive redistricting, Danielle will work with Department leaders to ensure that the 2nd District has the necessary resources to be a safe place for families to thrive.

Danielle on Education

  • When it works as designed, public education can serve as an equalizer for those suffering from poverty and other societal ills. Danielle believes the work of the Kirwan Commission will do exactly that. That’s why she is a firm supporter of the reforms proposed by the Kirwan Commission and is committed to ensuring that there is a solid partnership between the Baltimore school system and the State of Maryland.
  • Danielle will work with her colleagues on the City Council to ensure that Baltimore is contributing its fair share to make the Kirwan reforms a reality for our city.
  • As a graduate of the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Danielle understands the vital role that public schools play in our community. She knows that modern schools are “community schools” that require additional resources for mental health services, community engagement, and other health and nutrition services.
  • No student should have to attend a school without adequate heat or air conditioning. Danielle will partner with the school system to ensure that all of our city’s school facilities provide a safe and comfortable learning environment.
  • As our councilwoman, Danielle will continue her tradition of attending back-to-school nights and other social events hosted by schools in the 2nd District.
  • It’s no secret that civic education has received considerably less attention in schools nationwide than it used to. That’s why Danielle helped to facilitate multiple trips for students in the 2nd District to travel to Annapolis and see how state government works for themselves. As our councilwoman, she will expand programs that promote civic education.
  • Baltimore’s public school students are our future. As our councilwoman, Danielle has consistently provided internship opportunities in her office to our city’s young people so that they can be involved in the governance of their city.

Danielle on Economic and Community Development

  • As our councilwoman, Danielle will make sure that we see the same progress on Belair Road other neighborhoods in Baltimore are experiencing. To that end, she’s committed to working with community leaders to attract local and community-based businesses to the Belair Road corridor.
  • Danielle knows that we must be just as focused on supporting our neighborhood’s existing businesses as we are on recruiting new businesses. She will work with the Baltimore Development Corporation and Department of Housing and Community Development to ensure that 2nd District business owners are taking advantage of existing resources like community grants, zero-interest loans, and the Neighborhood Impact Investment Fund.
  • A 2nd District with a diversity of businesses will lead to greater employment opportunities and a higher quality of life. Danielle understands the impact that businesses like Barcoding Inc., Old Line Spirits, and Woodley Bakery, have on our community, and she will partner with them to ensure that the 2nd District is a great place to do business.
  • Our city’s nonprofit organizations have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the issues facing our communities. Danielle will continue to work with nonprofits like Harbel to identify (and implement) solutions that make our neighborhoods stronger.

Danielle on Youth and Seniors

  • Danielle is committed to reopening Northeast Middle School and Furley Elementary School.
  • Our city’s young people need safe spaces to be physically active. Danielle has worked with community partners to explore the possibility of opening a regional recreation center in the 2nd District. She has also been a strong supporter of existing youth sports programming and is committed to strengthening existing recreation programs.
  • As our councilwoman, Danielle will work with Baltimore’s Department of Recreation and Parks to ensure that public parks in the 2nd District are clean and well-maintained throughout the year.
  • Seniors in the 2nd District will continue to have a direct line to Danielle’s office. And for those seniors who are experiencing difficulty maintaining their homes, Danielle will connect them to resources like the Housing Upgrades Benefits for Seniors (HUBS) that can ease the burden.
  • As our councilwoman, Danielle supported the Water Accountability and Equity Act, which will provide income-based water bill discounts to Baltimore residents.

Danielle on Working Families

  • Building a better Baltimore requires a joint effort of residents and businesses working together. That’s why Danielle is committed to attracting viable businesses to occupy the 2nd District’s major corridors.
  • Danielle has been a vocal supporter of initiatives like workforce training programs and apprenticeship programs that provide a pathway to stable employment.
  • As our councilwoman, Danielle will continue to consider the impact that each City Council bill has on all residents of Baltimore, especially those residing in the 2nd District.
  • Baltimore should be a place to work and live. As our councilwoman, Danielle will support efforts that ensure that City workers, police officers, firefighters, and other public servants continue to receive tax credits for living in the city.

Danielle on Housing

  • Any plan for housing development must include affordable housing. Danielle is committed to making sure that developers who want to build in our communities also understand the needs of our communities.
  • Danielle supports lowering the residential unit threshold for small developer tax credits.
  • Homeownership is an investment in the community. In that spirit, Danielle has worked with Harbel to provide foreclosure services for families in the 2nd District. As our councilwoman, she will be just as committed to supporting families on their path to homeownership.
  • Danielle will work hand-in-hand with the Mayor’s Office of Human Services (MOHS) to make sure that those experiencing homelessness have access to services faster. She will also work with MOHS to increase awareness of the Office’s assistance programs for residents struggling to keep up with their utility bills.

Danielle on Transportation

  • Danielle is a frequent user of public transportation and sees many of the issues of our current transportation infrastructure firsthand. And so, when she works on transportation issues, Danielle isn’t just doing so as our Councilwoman, she’s approaching these problems as a customer herself.
  • Baltimore is a beautiful city, but it also needs to be a navigable city. Danielle will partner with local and state government agencies to ensure that our public transportation offerings are safe for all riders.
  • Whether traveling by bus, light rail, subway, or the MARC train, riders should be able to expect customer friendly service that is delivered on-time. Danielle will work with state agencies to address issues with the transportation services that our communities rely on.
  • As our Councilwoman, Danielle will make sure that the Baltimore Department of Transportation is accountable to the residents of the 2nd District. In particular, she will secure resources to repaint crosswalks, repave roads, and make more of our sidewalks handicap-accessible.