AFRO American Newspaper Endorses Braveboy for Attorney General

Aisha Braveboy for Attorney General 

The attorney general is the chief legal officer for the state. Beneath that broad umbrella, one of the primary duties of the AG’s office is to advocate on behalf of Maryland’s consumers, who in many cases are among the state’s most vulnerable citizens (victims of housing discrimination, predatory payday loans, environmental injustice, fraud, etc). Perhaps, now more than ever, Maryland needs a powerful advocate for the state’s disenfranchised, people of color, and poor people and for this reason the AFRO endorses the candidacy of Prince George’s County delegate and attorney Aisha Braveboy. 

As the AFRO reported in April, Maryland has had the second highest foreclosure rate in the nation for the fourth quarter of 2013 and the numbers continue to rise according to the Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance. 

As chair of the Consumer Protection and Commercial Law Subcommittee and chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, Braveboy has demonstrated leadership on the catastrophic foreclosure crises. She has co-sponsored bills that offer relief and protection for homeowners facing foreclosure and has worked as a pro-bono attorney providing vital legal services for families grappling with the loss of a home. Braveboy has also worked on legislation holding some banks and mortgage companies accountable for not maintaining foreclosed properties they own, which drives down property values in many neighborhoods of color. 

Braveboy has been out in front on the issue of mass incarceration in the state, a practice that has disproportionately ravaged (often unjustly) communities of color and the impoverished. For several years, she volunteered as legal counsel for a Prince George’s County-based community diversion program that touts an 87 percent success rate. Diversion programs are community-based justice programs that give non-violent offenders a chance to avoid prosecution and jail, the stigma of a criminal record and save taxpayers millions of dollars. She believes that instead of allocating resources on the back end to incarcerate minor offenders, we should invest a fraction of those dollars up front to rehabilitate and divert them away from the criminal justice system. The AFRO has consistently reported on the ongoing litigation between the state and its four historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) for almost a decade. We are encouraged that Braveboy has been a forceful advocate in the General Assembly for parity and proper funding of those schools. Last month during the first attorney general debate, Braveboy was the only candidate who specifically rejected Maryland’s position on the October 2013 ruling of District Court Judge Catherine Blake, which found the state in violation of the U.S. Constitution for operating a system of higher education, still rooted in segregation. 

“Fifty years outside of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 60 years outside of Brown, and the state has violated precedent in both of those. So, it’s really an embarrassment for the state and we just need to mediate a fair remedy so we can move on,” Braveboy said. We acknowledge Braveboy lacks the experience of Sen. Brian Frosh, the formidable veteran litigator and legislator and the name recognition of Del. Jon Cardin who both seek to replace current Attorney General Douglas Gansler, who is running for governor. But, we believe Braveboy’s energy, strong work ethic, and strong commitment to this state’s disenfranchised communities—who need a zealous advocate in the Attorney General’s office—are attributes that will serve all the citizens of Maryland.  FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Maryland Business and Clergy Partnership Endorses Braveboy

June 10, 2014. Landover, Maryland. Two days before early voting begins, Maryland’s Business and Clergy Partnership will hold a press conference to publically announce their endorsement of candidates running for office statewide and in Prince George’s County at Jasper’s Restaurant in Landover, Maryland. The Business and Clergy Partnership functions as a bipartisan organization with a mission to bridge the gap between businesses, churches, and elected officials.   Delegate Aisha Braveboy (D-Prince George’s) has the full endorsement of the group. This has been a closely watched race and the Business and Clergy Partnership applauds Delegate Braveboy for staying focused on the issues; as well as, her commendable integrity and commitment to her constituents.

Baltimore Building & Construction Trades Unions Endorse Braveboy for Maryland Attorney General

The 13-affiliate labor unions of Baltimore Building & Construction Trades Council threw its support behind Delegate Aisha N. Braveboy in her race for the Democratic nomination for attorney general.  Braveboy, a two-term lawmaker from Prince George's County, is competing against Sen. Brian E. Frosh of Montgomery County and Del. Jon S. Cardin of Baltimore County in the June 24 primary.  Her endorsement by the Baltimore Building Trades Council follows the decision last month of the Washington, D.C. area construction unions to support Braveboy. "All three candidates are good candidates," said Rod Easter, President of the Baltimore Council.  But Easter said labor is familiar with Braveboy from her work on the House Economic Matters Committee, which handles most of the legislation affecting unions.  READ MORE.

Congresswoman Edwards Backs Braveboy for Attorney General

Del. Aisha N. Braveboy (D-Prince George’s) will pick up an endorsement Friday, May 2 of her bid to become Maryland’s next attorney general from U.S. Rep. Donna F. Edwards (D-Md.).  Braveboy is running in the June 24, 2014 Democratic primary against Del. Jon S. Cardin (D-Baltimore County) and Sen. Brian E. Frosh (D-Montgomery).  The endorsement by Congresswoman Edwards continues the tremendous momentum for Aisha as our campaign approaches the June primary.  In recent weeks, Delegate Braveboy's campaign has been endorsed by the 15 affiliate labor unions of the Washington, D.C. Building and Construction Trades Council, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 400 and the Prince George's County Firefighters and Paramedics Union.  READ MORE.

UFCW Local 400 Endorses Braveboy for Maryland Attorney General

The 35,000 working men and women of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 400 proudly endorse Delegate Aisha Braveboy in the 2014 Democratic primary election for Maryland Attorney General. Our endorsement recognizes Aisha’s tireless leadership to raise the minimum wage and advocacy on behalf of working families. We have endorsed Delegate Braveboy because she is a strong and effective leader with an exemplary 8-year record of fighting for Maryland workers, consumers and taxpayers.  Among other workers, UFCW Local 400 represents employees at Giant, Safeway and Shoppers grocery stores in the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. region. READ MORE.

Washington, D.C. Building Trades Unions Endorse Braveboy for Maryland Attorney General

Camp Springs, MD. April 16, 2014.  The 15 affiliate unions of the Washington, D.C. Building and Construction Trades Council are pleased to announce our support for Delegate Aisha Braveboy in the June 24, 2014 Democratic primary election for Maryland Attorney General.  Aisha has been a loyal friend to construction industry workers throughout her eight years in the Maryland House of Delegates.  She has consistently stood with us in the legislature and now we are standing with her in the race for Attorney General.

“Aisha has been a reliable fighter for Maryland workers,” said Mark Coles, Executive Secretary Treasurer of the Washington, D.C. Building and Construction Trades Council.  “She has been a leader on issue after issue that affects the economic livelihood of Maryland workers.  Whether strengthening prevailing wage laws, raising the minimum wage or improving workplace safety, Aisha is someone we can always count on to do the right thing for working families,” said Coles. 

“I am grateful to receive the endorsement of the Washington, D.C. Building and Construction Trades Council,” said Delegate Aisha Braveboy.  “As Attorney General, I will continue the fight to protect workers’ rights.”

The Building and Construction Trades Council will make the election of Aisha Braveboy a top priority.  We will provide financial support, communicate our support for Aisha to union members and their households and get out the vote for her in the June primary election.    

Contact: Mark Coles, Executive Secretary Treasurer

(301) 899-8134

Legislative Recap - Part 1

Delegate Aisha Braveboy had a very productive legislative session where bills she sponsored or cosponsored passed both houses of the Maryland General Assembly and was sent to the governor for signature.  All of the legislation spearheaded by Delegate Braveboy was designed to improve the economic security of working families and to promote Justice for All Marylanders.  Below is a brief summary of some of the major legislation advocated by Delegate Braveboy that is set to become law:

Raising the Minimum Wage

After being the chief sponsor of legislation to raise the minimum wage on three prior occasions, the Maryland General Assembly has finally voted to raise the state minimum wage to $10.10 by July 2018.  The bill that ultimately passed the General Assembly contained several major provisions that were initially introduced by Delegate Braveboy.  Aisha has been a tireless advocate for raising the minimum wage for the past four years because she believes that raising the minimum wage is the single most effective way to lift thousands of Maryland families out of poverty. This law will especially benefit women and families because women comprise approximately 2/3 of minimum wage workers. 

Marijuana Decriminalization

Based on the strong leadership of Delegate Braveboy, Delegate Keiffer Mitchell and other members of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus (MLBC), legislation to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana passed both houses of the legislature.  This legislation is important to address racial disparities related to the current law.  Even though white and black Marylanders use marijuana at the same rate, studies have shown that black Marylanders are three times more likely to be arrested and face incarceration for marijuana possession.  The marijuana decriminalization law will promote drug rehabilitation instead of mass incarceration for individuals caught with possessing less than 10 grams of marijuana. 

Public Safety Diversity Act

The Public Safety Diversity Act of 2014 passed both houses of the legislature and is awaiting the governor’s signature.  Delegate Braveboy sponsored the bill to increase diversity among the Maryland State Police.  In recent years, Maryland has lost 37% of its African-American state troopers.  Of the 1,453 officers employed by the Maryland State Police, only 198 are black and 29 are Hispanic.  This law will require the State Police, when it advertises for or recruits new employees, to include advertising that is targeted toward individuals from underrepresented communities. This bill was a top priority for the MLBC because it will facilitate increased diversity and cultural sensitivity among the ranks of the State Police.

These are a few of the many legislative victories that Delegate Braveboy delivered during the session.  We will follow up with future posts about some of her other legislative accomplishments.

Anthony Jones, Policy Director

Braveboy for Attorney General

Prince George's Firefighters Endorse Braveboy for AG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Prince George’s County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics

Endorse Aisha Braveboy for Attorney General

Endorsement recognizes advocacy on behalf of public safety professionals

Bowie, MD.  April 10, 2014.  Today, the Prince George’s County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Association, International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 1619 announced our strong support for Aisha Braveboy in the race for Maryland Attorney General.  Throughout her eight years in the House of Delegates, Aisha has been a strong and consistent advocate for workers that put their lives on the line to protect the public.  “Aisha earned the endorsement of Local 1619 because of her excellent record of steadfast support for public safety professionals throughout Maryland,” said IAFF Local 1619 President Andrew K. Pantelis.

“We are supporting Aisha in the race because of her leadership on issues that affect the economic security of working families.  We especially appreciate the fact that Aisha sponsored legislation that would allow fire fighters and paramedics that contract job-related illnesses to receive enhanced workers’ compensation benefits,” said President Pantelis.

“I am honored and grateful to receive the endorsement of IAFF Local 1619,” said Delegate Aisha Braveboy, “Improving public safety will be a top priority for me as Maryland’s next Attorney General.”

IAFF Local 1619 represents approximately 1,500 professional fire fighters, emergency medical technicians and paramedics at Prince George’s County fire and EMT stations.  The members of Local 1619 respond to over 100,000 emergency calls per year, protecting roughly 500 square miles and serving more than 850,000 citizens.

Local 1619 will communicate its enthusiastic support for Aisha Braveboy to its members and will provide support to her campaign.

Contact: Andrew Pantelis, President 

Phone: (301) 805-5300

Email: akpantelis@gmail.com

Marijuana Decriminalization

Based on the strong leadership of members of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus, a bill to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana passed the House of Delegates.  Similar legislation passed the Maryland Senate and will be sent to Governor O'Malley for signature.  Passage of this legislation is important to address racial disparities associated with enforcement of the current law.  Even though white and black Marylanders use marijuana at the same rate, studies have shown that black Marylanders are three times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession.  The legislation which passed both houses of the Maryland legislature will promote drug rehabilitation instead of mass incarceration for individuals caught with possessing less than 10 grams of marijuana.  Individuals charged for possessing small amounts of marijuana will be subject to a fine of $100 for the first offense, $250 for a second offense and $500 for any subsequent offenses.  The legislation passed by the House mandates evaluation for drug treatment for first time offenders under the age of 21 and for those older than 21 upon a third offense.  The lives and futures of our young people should not be destroyed for petty marijuana possession.  I urge you to email and call Governor O'Malley and ask him to sign this important legislation.  READ MORE.

Fighting for Students with Special Needs

Ensuring that every student receives a quality education is one of my top priorities.  To further this goal, I have introduced House Bill 1189 that will ensure that students with disabilities receive an individualized education plan (IEP) that is adequate and promotes learning and skills development.  H.B. 1189 would place the burden of proof on schools districts in special education due process hearings.  Under current law, students and parents bear the burden of proving that the IEP developed by the school district is inadequate.  It is patently unfair to ask parents to bear the burden of proof through an unfamiliar legal process, when many parents cannot afford an attorney, against an entire school district and its lawyers who are experts on the subject.   This is especially true for Maryland's most financially vulnerable students and their parents.  Please join me and the Maryland Coalition for Special Education Rights and Burden of Proof in asking members of the legislature to support HB 1189 and the companion Senate Bill 779.  Please email or write your senators and delegates today and ask them to support these bills.  READ MORE.

Tipped Workers Need a Raise Too

Although I am pleased that legislation to increase the minimum wage to $10.10 has passed the Maryland House of Delegates, I am very disturbed that provisions were removed from the bill that would have increased the minimum wage for tipped workers.  The bill that passed the House of Delegates freezes tipped workers' base wages at $3.63 per hour.  This means that the minimum wage would increase for all workers except those that work for tips. Under the current bill thousands of bartenders, waiters and other service industry employees would be deprived of the benefits of a minimum wage increase.  We cannot raise the wage for some and freeze it for others.  This is why I have partnered with Congresswoman Donna Edwards, Raise Maryland, UFCW Local 400 and other groups to lobby the Maryland Senate to increase the base pay for tipped workers to 70 percent of the minimum wage.  I encourage you to call, email and write your state senators and ask them to restore the minimum wage increase for Maryland's tipped workers.

Public Safety Diversity Act

I am pleased to announce that House Bill 1349, the Public Safety Diversity Act of 2014 has passed the Maryland House of Delegates.  I sponsored House Bill 1349 to increase diversity among the Maryland State Police.  In recent years, Maryland has lost 37% of its African-American state troopers.  Of the 1,453 officers employed by the Maryland State Police, only 198 are black and 29 are Hispanic.  House Bill 1349 will require the State Police, when it advertises for or recruits new employees, to include advertising that is targeted toward individuals from underrepresented communities. This bill is a top priority of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus because it will facilitate increased diversity among the ranks of the State Police.

Protecting Victims of Rape and Sexual Assault

Today, I testified in support of my legislation House Bill 1528, which will allow evidence of a defendant's past acts of sexual misconduct to be admitted in a criminal trial where a defendant is charged with sexual assault.  Under current law, prosecutors are prohibited from mentioning a defendant's previous convictions or accusations of sexual assault.  House Bill 1528 is designed to support victims of sexual assault by allowing evidence of prior sexual misconduct to be heard by the judge and jury.  It is wrong to allow a victim's sexual history to be part of a sexual assault trial while excluding a perpetrator's history of sexual violence.  House Bill 1528 will modernize Maryland criminal law and make it consistent with federal, California and Louisiana laws that allow evidence of a defendant's prior sexual assaults to be admitted into evidence.  READ MORE. 

Delegate Braveboy Sponsors Bill to Raise the Minimum Wage

Bill cosponsored by a majority of members of the House of Delegates

Annapolis, MD (January 15, 2014)--Delegate Aisha N. Braveboy has introduced legislation to raise the Maryland minimum wage to $10.10 by 2016.  H.B. 187 will increase the current minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.20 on July 1, 2014, to $9.15 on July 1, 2015 and then to $10.10 on July 1, 2016.  After 2016, the bill requires the minimum wage  rate to be adjusted each year to account for inflation. The legislation also increases the requirement for tipped workers to 70 percent of the hourly minimum.  H.B. 187 enjoys broad support in the Maryland legislature with 72 cosponsors in the House of Delegates including four of six committee chairpersons and the Majority Whip. 

“I am honored and excited that the majority of members of the House of Delegates have signed on to my bill to increase the minimum wage,” said Delegate Braveboy.  “Maryland has one of the highest costs of living in the country yet maintains the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. We can and should do better than the bare minimum.”  

This is the third consecutive year that Delegate Braveboy has been the chief sponsor of legislation to raise the minimum wage in the Maryland House of Delegates.  Raising the minimum wage has been a top priority for Delegate Braveboy because she believes it rewards work and can help lift thousands of Maryland families out of poverty.  “Increasing the minimum wage is a great form of economic stimulus because minimum wage workers spend the majority of their income on food, housing and other basic necessities, which in turn stimulates the local economy,” said Delegate Braveboy.

Maryland has maintained the federal minimum wage of $7.25 since 2006 even though inflation and cost of living increases have reduced its purchasing power.  “Work should be rewarded,” said Delegate Braveboy, “we should do all that we can to help people who are willing to work full-time climb the ladder of economic prosperity.”