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POLICY

It's Time for Change

We’re facing many problems in our lives that require immediate solutions. Working families are facing economic uncertainty in wage stagnation and affordability in childcare. Healthcare has become a struggle between profits over people and whether it truly meets the needs of communities that deserve quality healthcare. Our teachers are overworked and undervalued, which is why we need to raise teacher salary and hire more support personnel to ease the burden on our educators. Our students’ mental health must be valued and that we’re teaching them core life skills like financial literacy and civics to help our local economies and democracy.

The safety of students must be paramount in the mind of every council member. This means not only investing in the physical wellness of our students, but their emotional and mental wellness as well. Denying children a high quality education is denying them countless opportunities to achieve their dreams and passions. A zip code must never be a factor of how great a child’s education can be. Everything must be done to bridge the gap of opportunity amongst students. Ruben will:

  • Invest in the physical, mental, and emotional wellness of our students and teachers.
  • Create better accountability for how safety protocols are implemented, such as ALICE and other safety drills.
  • Fight for a $70,000 starting salary for Baltimore County teachers.
  • Establish universal broadband access to guarantee high speed internet to all Baltimore County students.
  • Establish universal pre-k and after school care.
  • Increase funding for CTE Programs and other economic courses that have proven beneficial to growing demands in Baltimore County.
  • Introduce a required financial literacy course to the school curriculum.
  • Expand civics and climate education.
  • Create policies that prioritize teacher retention.
  • Invest in strengthening ESOL programs for students and educators.
  • Reform school discipline practices and abolish zero tolerance policies.
  • Expand access to AP courses and reduce costs for students.
  • Expand resources for curricular activities to expand inclusivity in schools.

Safety in any community is paramount. Everyone should feel safe, from where they live to where they worship. Expanding trust, accountability, and transparency is vital in ensuring that the interests of the public is treated with care. Ruben will:

  • Expand education and resources that address hate crimes.
  • Expand resources for victims of sexual assault and expedite the processing of rape kits.
  • Fight for more funding and modern equipment for fire/EMS departments, including volunteer departments.
  • Provide resources for young adults that include access to employment opportunities.
  • Fight to ensure the Inspector General of Baltimore County has full authority for oversight of county government.
  • Support legislation that removes the County Executive & County Council from any future selection processes of the Inspector General.
  • Work with BCPS and the Department of Recreation & Parks to expand youth activities and services.

Fair jobs and wages are crucial to any economy. We need a leader who is willing to stand up for our workers. I will do just that by fighting for our small businesses and workers to ensure we bring better pay and benefits to our district. Ruben will: 

  • Work to bridge technology gaps in the workforce.
  • Create better access and awareness of loan programs, such as BOOST, and small business loans for small business owners.
  • Fight for stronger unions.
  • Work to close the gap on child poverty.
  • Ensure land use decisions are made within the interest of communities in mind.
  • Fight for a living wage and work to address the racial and gender wage gap.
  • Advocate for regional development throughout the district.
  • Fight for more funding for the Woodlawn Community Approach.
  • Work with county and state partners to attract investment while ensuring redevelopment benefits current residents and small businesses.
  • Tackle food deserts by fighting for more grocery stores along the Liberty Road, Reisterstown Road, and Security Boulevard corridors.

This decade will be pivotal in determining the fate of our planet: we need to pass bold and encompassing legislation to stop any further environmental damage. Ruben will:

  • Make 100% of countywide contracts carbon neutral by 2030.
  • Establish clean water and air as a right for all residents of Baltimore County.
  • Fight to protect Baltimore County’s many ecosystems and their biodiversity.
  • Support local sustainable farming.
  • Establish better resources for our farmers by funding more services such as farmer markets and agricultural resiliency programs.
  • Fight to preserve our land by stopping projects that harm natural property like the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project.
  • Ensure that future developments do not harm surrounding communities or the environment.
  • Advocate to preserve the Urban Rural Demarcation Line (URDL) and push for sustainable growth in surrounding communities.

Everyone should have the right to be treated with respect and dignity. No one deserves to be treated unfairly for who they love or who they are. Ruben Amaya will:

  • Continue working with state and local partners to expand resources and investment in communities.
  • Support LGBTQ+ youth by working to expand inclusive curriculums in schools and educate school counselors on LGBTQ+ awareness.
  • Work to address mental health and fight for additional resources.
  • Push to create a LGBTQ+ Commission within county government.
 

We owe so much to those who have paved the way for so many. Our senior citizens deserve quality representation in Baltimore County. We must always do everything possible to invest in our senior citizens. Ruben will: 

  • Promote the expansion of cultural and wellness programs.
  • Expand protection in the consumer market.
  • Provide better opportunities for affordable housing and nursing/assisted living facilities.
  • Fight to lower taxes for our senior citizens. 
  • Advocate for the highest possible standard of care through strong regulations within nursing/assisted living facilities.
  • Fight for more staffing at county senior centers and increase hours of operation for residents to enjoy.
  • Advocate for more recreational activities such as sports programs, crafting projects, and outdoor activities.
  • Expand high quality transportation to increase accessibility .

Housing is a human right. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the drastic need for greater housing security, more affordable rent, and easy access to low-income public housing units. Ruben believes that we can and must provide housing to all Baltimore County residents. Ruben will:

  • Protect tenants by advocating for rent control, raising standards of maintenance and service, and ending water shutoffs.
  • Fight to expand the rights of tenants.
  • Build sustainable low-income and public housing units.
  • Fight against anti-homeless infrastructure.
  • Push to create an office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs to better assist renters in Baltimore County.

Free and available transportation is a vital component of not only developing economic opportunity, but also reducing carbon emissions. Ruben wants to invest in a Baltimore County which makes eco-friendly transportation accessible to the communities that need it most. Our communities of color have historically been deprived of accessible public transportation in comparison to white affluent communities. By reviving our current infrastructure, we can bring safe and convenient public transportation to all residents of Baltimore County. Ruben will:

  • Fight to restore construction plans for the Red Line into Baltimore City.
  • Expand bus, rail, and subway access to reduce traffic, pollution, and commute times.
  • Build 21st century green and sustainable public transit.
  • Support local transit authorities.
  • Create a bus circulator for the Liberty Road corridor.

As a first-generation American, Ruben knows both the value and the diligence of our immigrant communities, as well as the challenges they face. Ruben promises to protect our undocumented residents and fight back against xenophobia and the scapegoating of immigrants. Ruben wants to build a better Baltimore County for all immigrants by ending ICE presence in our communities, creating more accessible pathways to citizenship, and expanding inclusive government services. Ruben will:

  • Fight to keep ICE (Immigration Customs and Enforcement) out of our communities.
  • Create inclusive government that expands immigrant services, prioritizes hiring bilingual staff, and mandates language options for government services.

Supporting Small Businesses & Main Street Growth

Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy. They create jobs, keep dollars circulating locally, and give our neighborhoods character and identity. By attracting and supporting small businesses on Main Street and nearby areas, we can strengthen economic stability, provide essential goods and services close to home, and turn commercial corridors into vibrant, active destinations for residents and visitors alike. Ruben will:

  • Expand improvement grants and promotional support so existing Main Street businesses can improve visibility and attract customers. 
  • Work with economic development partners to attract new retailers and restaurants to vacant storefronts.
  • Create a shop local campaign featuring business spotlights and seasonal promotions.

Pedestrian Safety & Walkable Neighborhoods

Safe streets are essential for a healthy community. Improved lighting and well-maintained sidewalks help residents feel secure walking at all hours, while traffic calming measures reduce speeding and prevent accidents. Prioritizing pedestrian safety encourages walking, supports local businesses, and ensures that streets serve everyone. Ruben will:

  • Work to install improved crosswalks and pedestrian lighting along Main Street and nearby community hubs.
  • Work with Baltimore County & SHA to address speeding and dangerous intersections along Reisterstown Road.
  • Repair aging sidewalks and add accessible ramps at major crossings.

Improving Quality of Life

Quality of life is shaped by the details of our everyday environment. Adequate parking makes local shopping more accessible. While greenery improves air quality and creates more pleasant streetscapes. Ruben will:

  • Advocate for more landscaping, street trees, planters, and benches to beautify Main Street.
  • Evaluate and expand safe parking options near shopping areas and community hubs.
  • Push to fund wayfinding signage that highlights local shops, services, and historical sites.

Advocate for More Retail Options

Diverse retail and dining options make everyday life more convenient, create local jobs, and increase traffic that supports small businesses. Restaurants and gathering spaces help turn Randallstown into a destination, not just somewhere you pass by. Ruben will:

  • Fight to attract restaurants along popular commercial corridors like Liberty Road and Rolling Road.

  • Support local cafe and art spaces along the Liberty Road Corridor to allow for more entertainment opportunities.

  • Help sponsor a promotion campaign to spotlight local eateries and new businesses.

Responsible Development & Tackling Food Deserts

Healthy communities are shaped by development that meets real, everyday needs, not by land uses that offer limited benefit or contribute to lack of services. Vacant lots and an excess of underused spaces contribute little to community wellbeing. These properties can discourage investment, reduce walkability, and fail to provide essential services residents rely on daily. We need to tackle food deserts by building quality grocery stores, pharmacies, and neighborhood retail directly support health, convenience, and economic stability. Ruben will:

  • Encourage redevelopment of vacant lots into full-service grocery stores, pharmacies, and healthcare clinics.

  • Promote mixed use development that combines essential retail with housing or community spaces.

  • Support zoning and land use policies that help promote the needs and wants of residents.

Traffic Safety on Liberty Road

Speeding and dangerous driving along Liberty Road have become major concerns for residents, families, and small businesses. Safer roads protect pedestrians, reduce accidents, and make our communities more connected and walkable. Ruben will:

  • Fight for stronger traffic calming measures along Liberty Road, including speed cameras, improved signage, and safer intersection designs.
  • Advocate for additional crosswalks, sidewalks, and pedestrian safety improvements near schools, shopping centers, and neighborhoods.
  • Push for increased community input and regular traffic safety reviews to ensure concerns are addressed quickly and effectively.

Connecting our Communities

Safe and reliable transportation helps residents get to work, school, and local businesses while reducing congestion and improving quality of life. Ruben will:

  • Fight for traffic calming improvements along Security Boulevard, Windsor Mill Road, and Rolling Road.
  • Push for safer sidewalks, crosswalks, and street lighting near schools, shopping centers, and bus stops.
  • Advocate for stronger and more reliable public transportation options for federal campuses such as SSA and CMS. 

Economic Revitalization & Redevelopment

Strong commercial corridors create jobs, attract investment, and help communities thrive. Woodlawn deserves redevelopment that supports local families, small businesses, and long-term economic growth. Ruben will:

  • Supports redevelopment efforts for aging shopping centers and vacant commercial spaces.
  • Work to attract new restaurants, grocery stores, and small businesses to the Security Boulevard corridor.
  • Promote incentives and grant opportunities for minority-owned and locally owned businesses.

Revitalize Security Square Mall

Security Square Mall has long been a landmark in our community, but years of neglect and underinvestment have left behind vacant spaces and missed opportunities. Revitalizing the area can create jobs, attract new businesses, and transform the corridor into a destination that serves families across west Baltimore County. Ruben will:

  • Fight for a comprehensive redevelopment plan that transforms Security Square into a modern mixed-use destination with retail, dining, housing, and community spaces.
  • Support bringing in new restaurants, entertainment venues, and family-friendly businesses that increase economic activity and create local jobs.
  • Work with county and state partners to attract investment while ensuring redevelopment benefits current residents and small businesses.
  • Advocate for improved lighting, landscaping, walkability, and public safety improvements throughout the Security Boulevard corridor.
  • Push for community input throughout the redevelopment process so residents have a direct voice in shaping the future of the area.

What Issues Matter to you?

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