I don’t have to introduce a bill every time.

Two examples of that this week.

As the City and State are building new schools, they’re closing old ones.

What do you do with the latter?

The site could be a better opportunity for redevelopment if the school is gone.

Governor Hogan has funded a demolition program targeting vacant houses in Baltimore.

I assumed, as did several other City legislators, that the money could be used only for residential properties.

I spoke with one of the General Assembly’s budget staffers. By day’s end, he responded that the Strategic Demolition Program is not limited to housing.

Now we have to make the case that the demolition of a school is more valuable than doing so for a block of vacants.

Children and teens are using computer skills at the Digital Harbor Foundation in Federal Hill. They’re embarking on a pathway to technology jobs and the middle class, that is no longer available via the manufacturing sector as it once was.

I’ve worked with Andrew Coy, the Foundation’s director. The Sun wrote about his work last Friday. We met for lunch this past Wednesday.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/education/bs-md-baltimore-digital-coders-20181026-story.html

Andrew wants to expand what he’s now offering by having the state adopt the model of the Agricultural Extension Service.

The Service develops and delivers educational programs to assist people in economic and community development, leadership, family issues, agriculture and environment.

A bill is already being drafted. I can help bring this about without my name being first on the bill’s sponsor line.