The following article has been submitted by 5th District County Councilman David Marks about his vision for White Marsh Town Center
The White Marsh Town Center has been a hub of economic activity in eastern Baltimore County since 1980s. It is now a blend of commercial and residential uses, a home for hundreds of residents and a destination for office workers and customers. I have represented this area since the most recent redistricting in 2022.
The residents, office workers, and customers who are part of the White Marsh Town Center deserve a safe experience.
People should be able to enjoy a nice meal, visit with friends, or live in the town center without experiencing the chaos that comes from incidents like that one that occurred on March 7.
Here’s what we have supported and will focus on moving forward.
A Better Planned Community
When I took office in 2022, hundreds of apartments were already proposed for the White Marsh Town Center. We have worked to improve planning and development in the White Marsh Town Center so our precinct is not overwhelmed by calls for service.
In the fall of 2023, at my request, the Baltimore County Council eliminated more than 300 apartments that were proposed near the White Marsh library, and we recently passed a new Small Area Plan for this community.
I hear a lot about the impact of bus lines, which are operated by the Maryland Transit Administration. Keep in mind that many youth are arriving through private operators like Uber and Lyft.
Stronger Coordination Between Police and Major Propertyowners
The local precinct regularly communicates with the management for White Marsh Mall and The Avenue at White Marsh. In fact, the precinct learned about the “meetup” on March 7 from social media and was able to coordinate with the mall and Avenue hours in advance. I would always welcome more police officers on the street and a more robust private security presence.
Keeping the Adult Escort Policy
White Marsh Mall and The Avenue at White Marsh both enforce an adult escort policy. To the best of my knowledge, the County Council has never considered any type of curfew, largely because it is legally difficult to enact. I am open to any tools that help Baltimore County better support the policies already in place by our biggest propertyowners.
The Impact of State Juvenile Justice Laws
One of the most frustrating aspects of serving in local government is the harmful impact of state policies.
For much of the past decade, the Maryland General Assembly have passed laws that seem to favor the youthful offender over the communities they impact. This year, state legislators are considering repealing some of the crimes that make it eligible to charge youth as adults.
We have a state juvenile justice system that is widely seen as favoring “rehabilitation” over prosecution.
There is always a right balance, but right now, we don’t have that balance.
Public safety is one of my top priorities as Councilman. I am always open to suggestions as we move forward. Please feel free to reach out to me at dmarks@baltimorecountymd.gov.
You have my commitment I will do whatever is needed for a safer White Marsh in the future.
