What is Advocacy?

▪ ADVOCACY (Noun / ad – vo – ca – cy)*

▪Definition of Advocacy

: the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal

Self-Advocacy

Individual Advocacy

Community Advocacy

Political/Public Advocacy

Baltimore City Civics 101

Presenter:

Kristerfer Burnett

Councilman Representing District 8

ELECTED ROLES

MayorComptroller

President of the City CouncilCity Council

State AttorneySheriff’s Office

Orphans Court for Baltimore City

72nd BALTIMORE CITY COUNCIL

POSITIONS HELD IN THE COUNCIL

I. President II. Committee Chairs

III. Individual Members

PresidentBernard “Jack” Young

Elected 2011 At-Large Seat

COUNCIL PRESIDENT

POWERS OF THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT

▪ Facilitates all city council meetings; maintains order ▪ Requests opinions from the City Solicitor ▪ Establishes standing committees (a min of 3 members each).▪ Can request a bill synopsis include a fiscal note on the effect of that bill on

revenues, expenditures, liabilities or assets of the city; ▪ Can request for representatives of city agencies to give opinions to the

City Council.▪ Can call a special meeting ▪ Decide committee chairs at will.

ROLE OF CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

▪ Must vote first on every issue & must vote on all question

▪ Assigns seats and offices

▪ Assign bills to committees

▪ Appoints nominating committees for any Council vacancies

▪ Assigns members and appoints the Chair & Vice Chair. (Committees)

▪ Post & distribute notifications about public hearings

▪ Waive requirement for a public hearing to be announced at a Council meeting

FUNCTIONS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Who makes up the City Council? - Elected officials that represent Baltimore city’s fourteen districts, along with the President of the City Council.

Legislation Actions- The city council acts only by ordinance, resolution, or motion. City Council decides on own rules of procedure, and its meetings are open to the public.

POWERS OF CITY COUNCIL

▪ To enact all ordinances and resolutions. ▪ To adopt and alter the annual budget▪ Confirm the Mayor's appointments.▪ The appropriation and issuance of bonds.

City Council Committee Structure

POWERS OF COMMITTEE CHAIRS

▪ Facilitates hearings and other committee meetings; maintains order.

▪ Reports committee recommendations to the City Council.

▪ Determines the best time for meetings and voting session.

▪ Can request a bill synopsis include a fiscal note on the effect of that bill on revenues, expenditures, liabilities or assets of the city.

▪ Can request an opinion of the general counsel or city solicitor.

ROLE OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS

▪ Vote on issues with the right to explain their decision.

▪ Properly request an opinion from the City Solicitor.

▪ Approve or protest a bill.

▪ Introduce a bill (Submit the bill through DLS)

▪ Introduce an amendment during a 2nd or 3rd reading.

▪ Address the Council on points of personal privilege if integrity, character or motives have been questioned or a point of information when you are unclear what just happened.

▪ Demand a ‘roll call’ vote on any question.

▪ Suggest that a Quorum is lacking.

COUNCILMEMBER POWER –AMENDMENTS

▪ May be introduced on second or third reading

▪ May not be on a different subject or change the purpose of a bill

▪ Must be submitted and prepared through the Department of Legislative Services

INDIVIDUAL MEMBER DUTIES (COURTESY)

▪ Responding to constituent service requests.▪ Land Use - Re-zoning or planning development in district if

it’s entirely in your district & does not involve a financial benefit▪ Geographically based issue that only impacts your district

(parking permit areas)

LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

Voting Process

Minimum Votes Required-Under certain circumstances there needs to be a certain number of votes to go forward in a meeting. 8 Votes:Examples: Required to pass a bill;Adjourn, recess or suspend a meeting (Rule 2-4); Fill a vacancy in the City Council (Charter Art. III)

10 Votes:Examples: Amend Council rules (Rule 1-4); Suspend Council Rules (Rule 1-3)

12 Votes:Examples: Override a Mayoral Veto (Charter Art. IV), Advance a bill from first to second or second to third reading on the same day (Chart Art. III)

MAYOR

Catherine E. Pugh

POWERS OF THE MAYOR

1. Chief Executive Officer2. Member of the Board of Estimates 3. Proposes a City budget.4. Power to veto a bill from City Council5. Signs bills into law.6. Directs and appoints department heads.

MAYORAL OFFICES

MAYORAL CABINET

BALTIMORE CITY AGENCY LEADERS

BALTIMORE CITY AGENCY LEADERS (Continued)

BALTIMORE CITY AGENCY LEADERS (Continued)

BALTIMORE CITY PROGRAM DIRECTORS

Comptroller: Joan M. Pratt

➢Serve as a member of the Board of Estimates

➢Serve as a member of the Board of Finance

➢Supervises the department of audits and the activities of the city auditor as provided for in the charter.

➢Responsible for the proper conduct, management, and operation of the Department of Real Estate.

BOARD OF ESTIMATES

I. Mayor - Catherine PughII. President of the City Council – Bernard “Jack” Young

III. Comptroller – Joan M. Pratt, CPAIV. City Solicitor - David Ralph

V. Director of Public Works – Rudolph Chow

ROLE OF BOARD OF ESTIMATES

Executive Roles 1. President of the City Council is also the President of Board of Estimates2. City Comptroller also serves as the Secretary of the City Council

Purpose (Charter of Baltimore City- Article IV Section 2): “The Board of Estimates formulates and executes the fiscal policy of the city.”Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Promulgates rules, regulations, and conducts hearings. 2. Makes public the Director of Finance’s recommended operating budget.3. Makes public the Planning Commission's recommended capital budget and capital improvement

program. 4. Adopts a order of estimates. 5. Awarding contracts and supervising all purchasing by the city. 6. Bids made to the city in response to the formal advertising procedures are opened.

CITIZENS OF BALTIMORE

Photo Credit - Rob Brullinski

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED-HEARING

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED- HEARING

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

Boards & Commissions▪70 Boards & Commissions▪Participation on a Board and/or

Commission to provide guidance on the policies and programs across Baltimore City

CALL TO ACTION

1. Advocate for issues that you believe the community needs.

2. Attend local community meetings and city council meetings.

3. Call the office of the Councilman who serves in your District.

4. Attend workshops or seminars that focus on the legislative process.

5. Call 311 or Download the ‘Baltimore 311’ mobile app and submit your concerns or request

services.

Advocacy for Yourself & Others

“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” –attributed to the Dalai Lama XIV

SELF Advocacy - EVERY DAY▪Work

▪Home

▪Play

COMMUNICATION

Why Advocate?

“All disadvantaged persons need advocacy, privileged people get it without looking.”

– Wolf Wolfensberger

THOSE THAT NEED ADVOCACY THE MOST ARE THE LEAST LIKELIEST TO RECEIVE IT

▪ To provide accurate & timely information so decision-makers can make knowledgeable decisions

▪ Raise visibility of an important issue

▪ Make your concern a priority of others

Why Advocate?

The time is now!

You are the most passionate, knowledgeable expert on the issue that matters most to you!

The more people that speak up, the more attention, and resources your cause has the potential to receive.

You can’t expect other to be committed to something you are committed to.

You can make a difference…WE can make a difference.

Laws can be changed or improved.

Policy makers need your expertise

You have a story to tell.

If you’re not at the table, you’re on the table!

Individual Advocacy

Supporting someone when they need help or trying to find a solution when someone has a problem.

Examples:

• Writing or calling City Hall or 311 to address a community concern

• Helping someone at work who is having trouble understanding materials

• Recommending someone to or as a resource they were in need of

Individual Advocacy

“Young leader of Curtis Bay incinerator fight wins international award”

Today a student activist, who played an instrumental role in stopping a trash-burning power plant in South Baltimore, is being honored with a prestigious award in San Francisco

– Baltimore Brew, April 18, 2016

The governor of Maryland, the mayor of Baltimore, the United Steelworkers of America and even some members of her own South Baltimore community of Curtis Bay were welcoming the project being planned less than a mile from her school.

State environmental officials had signed off on a permit letting the plant burn each year 1.4 million tons of tires, plastic and construction waste and release tons of fine particulates, mercury, heavy metals and other toxins.

“Everything was stacked against us,” Watford said.Four years later, after concerted pressure from opponents including Watford and fellow members of Free Your Voice, a student-led committee of United Workers, the tide had turned. Last month, the state declared that Energy Answers’ permit to build the 160-megawatt trash-to-energy plant had expired.Destiny Watford

Individual Advocacy to Community Advocacy

Black Girls Vote

Mission:

Inspire women of color to use the political process to improve the quality of life for their families and the collective community.

Engage, educate, and empower women to activate their voice by utilizing their vote.

Baltimore to National Chapters

Voting Resource Information

blackgirlsvote.com

Don’t Forget Social Media Platform

Online tools, such as social media platforms, can help you be the best advocate you can be.

Social Media allows you to spread messages efficiently, effectively and to large numbers of people.

Know what technology your audience is mostly likely to use, then get the shares, likes, tweets, and posts out about your cause.

Boil down your issue and focus your message.

A message that is concise, specific and to the point will make a more lasting impact.

Effective Advocacy Suggestions

▪Research

▪Educate Elected Officials

▪Invite Stakeholders

▪Educate the Public

▪ Organize an Effort

▪ Write an Op-Ed

▪ Draft a Petition

▪ Collaborate with Others

Resources

▪ A New Wave of Power, People and Politics: The Action Guide for Advocacy and Citizen Participation by Lisa VeneKlasen & Valerie Miller, 2007.

▪ When We Fight, We Win: 21st Century Movements and the Activists that are Transforming our World by Greg Jobin-Leeds, 2016.

▪ American History Words of Fire: An Anthology of African American Feminist Thought by Beverly Guy-Sheftall, 1995

▪ Stir It Up: Lessons in Community Organizing and Advocacy by Rinku Sen, 2003

▪ Creative Community Organizing: A Guide for Rabble-Rousers, Activists and Quiet Lovers of Justice by Si Khan, 2010

*Black Girls Vote Web Site*

VISIT WWW.BMOREDISTRICT8.COM

CONTACT INFORMATION

Baltimore City Hall, 100 Holliday Street, Rm 521 Baltimore, MD 21202

Email: KRISTERFER.BURNETT@BALTIMORECITY.GOVOffice Phone: (410)-396-4818

Fax Number: (410)-396-4828

Facebook: Councilman Kristerfer BurnettTwitter: @CouncilmanKBInstagram: @KristerferB

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