My first reaction to Saturday’s slaughter in El Paso and Dayton was despair. Nothing to prevent future killings will come of this.
In the 48 hours since then, my outlook has changed.
President Trump has reduced funding for the Department of Homeland Security to assess the threat from homegrown violent extremists and domestic terrorists.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/homeland-security-disbands-domestic-terror-intelligence-unit
The Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act (S. 894/H.R.1931) would require federal law enforcement agencies to regularly evaluate these risks and provide training and resources to assist state, local, and tribal law enforcement.
If we don’t see positive action on the federal level, legislation should require the State Police to assume this responsibility.
I was already working on a response to the President’s racist tweets about Congressman Elijah Cummings and Baltimore City. And I have company.
“This has roused Baltimore like nothing I’ve seen in the past five years,” JHU Professor Matthew Crenson has said. “There’s a community spirit that perhaps the mayor could harness, using Baltimore itself to make appeals to the state and federal government.”
I’m working with my legislative colleagues to assemble a list of redevelopment projects in the 7th Congressional District that are eligible for federal or state funding.
