Category: Sandy’s Campaign Diary 2018

Fairness in the Workplace

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Should Maryland enact a pay equity law?

North Dakota, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Oregon are among the states that have done so.

I began the process of working on this issue after reading a newspaper article this weekend, headlined “How Boston Is Taking On the Gender Pay Gap.”

My first question: Do we need this bill in Maryland?

I emailed the General Assembly’s professional staff on Monday: “To what extent does the Massachusetts Equal Pay Act provide greater protections for employees than existing federal or Maryland law?”

If the reply indicates the additional protections are warranted, I’ll share it with advocacy groups to learn their interest in working on such legislation.

This would not be the first time I worked on fairness in the workplace.

I successfully introduced the Lilly Ledbetter Civil Rights Restoration Act of 2009, which expands workers’ opportunity to file a claim for unequal pay.

It was prompted by reading a court decision, a dissent writing by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Putin’s bots and the First Amendment

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Litigate or legislate?

The General Assembly just passed a law requiring online platforms, such as Facebook, to keep records of who paid for political advertisements on their sites.

We acted in response to the ads bought by Russian agents, working at the behest of the Putin government, during the 2016 Presidential election.

Before I introduced my legislation, I sent the draft to the Attorney General’s Office, which advised me that it was constitutional.

Several of its provisions were amended onto the legislation that we passed, House Bill 981 and Senate Bill 875.

Late in the session, I attended a meeting with representatives of Facebook, newspapers, television, and radio.
Facebook said that this legislation could serve as a national model.

However, a newspaper representative asserted that the First Amendment prohibits the government from requiring the press to print anything, even a database of political advertisers on a newspaper’s online edition.

We decided not to revise the bill because an amendment would delay final action and possibly prevent the bill from passing.

Last week, Governor Hogan let this legislation become law without his signature.

He supported the intent of the bill, he wrote, but was concerned about the First Amendment issue.

The law could be challenged in court, stated Rebecca Snyder, executive director of the press association.

Whatever happens in court, we should also discuss whether the law could be amended to meet those First Amendment concerns next year in Annapolis.

“It’s magical in here.”

| by delsandy | Sandy's Campaign Diary 2018 | No Comments

“The Preakness isn’t going anywhere. I’m for keeping it here in Baltimore.”

I was quoted extensively in the media this past week, but I’m not the person who said that.

It was Governor Hogan.

He wasn’t the only big name supporter of keeping the Preakness at Pimlico.

“To me, it’s magical in here. There’s something about it. I’ve been watching it since I was 10, 11 years old. You think of Jim McKay. You think of the Preakness. There’s so much history here,” said Bob Baffert, the Hall of Fame trainer of Justify, the Preakness winner.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/horse-racing/bs-sp-bob-baffert-is-still-charmed-by-charm-city-20180516-story.html

Last year, the conversation was about whether the State and City should spend more than $250 million for a one-day per year return on its investment.

Now there are serious discussions about both renovating the track and making the rest of the site a 365-days per year asset of economic and community development.

Our goal is redevelopment that benefits Maryland, the Baltimore region, the track’s neighbors, and the track’s owners.

If that’s our objective, I like the odds.

And I won’t stop working to attain that result until we cross the finish line.

Not just the classroom, Food stamp app, and Vaping with Juuls

| by delsandy | Sandy's Campaign Diary 2018 | No Comments

I’m running for reelection to the House of Delegates so that I can help make good public policy.

This week, I found some time between door knocking, community meetings, and candidate forums to get the process started on some issues.

The American Federation of Teachers took the lead in reinvigorating the poorest county in West Virginia. This model could be used for the community served by Pimlico Elementary Middle School, a 21st Century school that will be reopening this fall. Such an effort could be part of the redevelopment of the Pimlico Race Track and Park Heights communities now being studied by the Stadium Authority, the City, and the Maryland Jockey Club.

The link to the article where I learned about the West Virginia initiative is not yet available. I will share it when I get it.

There’s an app that allows people receiving food stamps to make smarter and healthier use of the program. Should we encourage its use in Maryland?

I’ve written an advocate to get her thoughts.


This past session, I introduced House Bill 1094, which will impose the same penalties for the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors that we impose for the illegal sale of tobacco products. HB 1094 was enacted.
At the federal level, the Food and Drug Administration began undercover sting operations this month targeting retailers of Juuls, smoking/vaping devices that resemble thumb drives, produce little plume, and are concealable – even in a classroom.
How should Maryland cut down on their use? I’ll talk to both school and health officials.

Saying “No” and Filling the Void

| by delsandy | Sandy's Campaign Diary 2018 | No Comments

My literature and my blog posts discuss the issues I want to share with you.

Campaign forums give voters an opportunity to see and hear us in the flesh on a variety of subjects.

Candidate questionnaires make us put it in writing.

I’ve answered fourteen so far.

They’re from the media – the Sun, Afro, and J’more.

They’re from various unions and interest groups.

More are coming.

My responses are all on my website – delsandy.com.

Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke does that. It’s a good idea.

The voters, not just the interest groups, should know what your positions are.

Incumbents, like myself, have a voting record.

Challengers are a blank slate. Their answers help fill that void.

Sometimes, there’s a temptation to give the answer that the group wants.

But as Pete Rawlings taught me, “You have to learn how to say ‘no’ to people.”

One activist asked me, “Are you looking to be a little antagonistic or do you want to give straightforward answers that they can take or leave?”

“Straightforward,” I replied.

A Legislative Partner

| by delsandy | Sandy's Campaign Diary 2018 | No Comments

It’s crucial to have legislators who are my partners in Annapolis – on issues affecting the City and State and the many neighborhoods of the 41st District.

I worked with Angela Gibson when she was in City Hall. I have worked with her for our District the past 14 months.

Together, we have gotten things done for the communities and people we represent.

Her election to the House of Delegates is very important. I support her enthusiastically.

Below is the press release we sent out today announcing our joint campaign.

Delegates Sandy Rosenberg and Angela Gibson

Launch Their Election Campaign for the 41st District

41st District, Baltimore – Delegates Samuel I. “Sandy” Rosenberg and Angela C. Gibson are launching their joint campaign to continue to serve the people and the neighborhoods of the 41st District.

“Together, Angie and I have worked hard to strengthen the communities we represent,” Rosenberg said. “However, there is more work to be done so that all of our children receive a quality education. We must also ensure that the Preakness remains where it belongs – at a 21st Century Pimlico Race Track.”

“I have worked with Sandy both at City Hall and now in Annapolis. Together we will expand civil rights protections and build up our communities,” Gibson added.

“What we are doing in Pimlico – building a 21st century Pimlico Elementary School and a 21st century Pimlico Race Track,” continued Rosenberg, “best summarizes what we have done and what we will fight for if we are honored to be elected to continue representing the 41st District.”

“Our priority is providing every neighborhood of the 41st district with improved educational and economic opportunities,” concluded Gibson.

Look for Rosenberg and Gibson to be knocking on doors and meeting with constituents in the weeks ahead.

Early voting runs from June 14 through June 21, 2018 from 10AM to 8PM. Primary election day is June 26 from 7AM to 8PM.

To stay up to date with Delegate Rosenberg and his campaign, please visit www.delsandy.com or find him on Facebook at facebook.com/delsandy.

Contact Sandy Rosenberg at delsandy@aol.com or 443-621-3702.

Contact Angela C. Gibson at angelagaka@msn.com or 410-917-5151.

  • My Key Issues:

  • Pimlico and The Preakness
  • Our Neighborhoods
  • Pre-Kindergarten
  • Lead Paint Poisoning