The Baltimore City unemployment rate is 16 percent, nearly double the rate in surrounding areas and the highest in the region. Yet, Baltimore City politicians give millions of our tax dollars to construction companies with no workforce development strings attached. Sure, the City has transportation requirements and affordable housing requirements but without jobs for the residents how can they "afford" the "affordable" housing?
Many of these same companies that are getting tax breaks choose to hire their employees from Frederick and Montgomery Counties or even hire out-of-state workers, while our workers remain unemployed. Overall all these companies rarely offer healthcare coverage for their employees or pay a living wage.
These agreements have been put in place on projects in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, District of Columbia, New York City and states like Pennsylvania, New Jersey and California.
“Baltimore’s economy could be so much stronger if we focus on legislation that helps put Baltimore residents to work. The City Council should put Community Partnership Agreements on all projects over $5 million and the city will be stronger for it."
~ Jim Anastase, Business Manager of Construction Local 710 in Baltimore City.
“Hiring locally and paying a living wage makes sense for Baltimore and for my business. It doesn’t cost the taxpayers more. In fact the payoff is stronger neighborhoods, less crime and a Baltimore that works.”
~ Pierce Flanigan, President of P. Flanigan and Sons, a Baltimore City construction company that hires and trains the majority of its workers from Baltimore and partners with the Laborers Union to ensure that the workers have good benefits and living wages.