The Baltimore business community got to hear first-hand from Maryland Gov.-Elect West Moore yesterday at an event hosted by the
Baltimore Development Corporation
.
In one of his first public appearances since his election victory, Moore spoke about his mission to better unite the city and state. He noted that he wants to not only address public safety, public transportation and affordable housing but also wants to bring businesses into the city and state.
What questions or priorities do you think should be top of mind for Moore?
Now, for the news of the day.
- Elected officials in Baltimore City will now be eligible for a pension after serving only eight years, instead of 12. The bill, put forward by Council President Nick Mosby, passed 8-5 with two abstentions on Monday. The change comes after voters approved a question that will limit elected council members, the mayor and the comptroller to just two four-year terms. The bill — and the question posed to voters — have been highly controversial, especially because while the pension change goes into effect immediately the term limits will not be put into action for another decade. The bill will now move to Mayor Brandon Scott's desk. WBAL
- Baltimore has filed a new kind of lawsuit against cigarette manufacturers and distributors, seeking for them to cover the costs of cleaning up cigarette butts, which the city spends about $5.3 million on each year. The suit also seeks compensation for other damages caused by their products, such as damages to the environment, revenue losses and a negative impact on property values. The first-of-its-kind lawsuit was made against five tobacco companies and one distributor. Baltimore Fishbowl
-
LifeBridge Health
will raise its minimum wage to $16 an hour across all of its facilities. (In case you've forgotten, the minimum wage in Maryland is $12.50 an hour and is scheduled to increase ever year until it reaches $15 an hour in 2026). Already, close to 300 LifeBridge employees saw an increase in their paychecks this month and soon the change will be applied to almost 2,500 jobs where current employees already make that much or more. Baltimore Sun
- If you're a regular BBJ reader, you probably saw the news last week that a major Southwest Baltimore anchor grocery store is expected to close at the end of this year. The
Price Rite Supermarket
in the Mount Clare Junction shopping center on Pratt Street is the only large grocery store in the area that is considered by some to be a food desert for fresh produce. Well, tonight there will be a public zoom meeting for those affected by the closing, which will also include councilmembers, community leaders, funders and industry experts. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. WMAR2
- It's the end of an era for
Towson University
Football as longtime head coach Rob Ambrose will not return to the team, the Tigers announced Monday morning. Ambrose served as head coach for 14 years, as an assistant coach for nine and as the team's quarterback for three years. Ambrose had two months left on his current deal and over 13 seasons had amassed a 76-76 record that included CAA championships in 2011 and 2012. Towson will now begin a national search for the program's fifth coach. Baltimore Sun
- For those who don't know, the
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
is now in full force, and the U.S. men's national team's first appearance yesterday left a little something to be desired. The team ended its match again Wales in a 1-1 tie, disappointing fans who had hoped to see the team easily emerge from the group stage. With the draw, both teams have one point in the tally that will determine whether they make it to the knockout round. NPR If you're looking for a local spot to catch the game, Canton's Claddagh Pub may be just the spot. The place is filled with soccer memorabilia and fans. CBS Baltimore
- Looking to get some of your holiday shopping done this weekend? Baltimore's own BLK ASS FLEA MKT is hosting an event on Friday at Baltimore Unity Hall that will feature 60+ vendors selling art, food, apparel, accessories, beauty supplies, home decor, technology and more. The market aims to primarily support Black-owned businesses, but also seeks to offer a "vibrant, family-friendly cultural environment" with music from local DJs, art installations and other activities. For those who can't make it in person, there's also a virtual Metaverse component. Baltimore event company BrickRose Exchange will launch BLK ASS META MKT from Nov. 25-28 with 14 Black-owned vendors.
- This isn't local news but it is historic — 18-year-old Olivia Pichardo is the first woman to make the roster of a Division I college baseball team in the U.S. Pichardo, a first-year student from Queens, New York will take the field when
美国布朗大学
's baseball season starts in February. She has long dreamed of continuing to play baseball in college and now she'll get that opportunity. NPR
