ISSUES
Open Space
Currently 60% of the land area in Maryland is neither developed or preserved. We need to make preserving open space for future generations a priority now, before it is too late. As your Delegate, I'll proudly support restoring full funding for Program Open Space, and I've taken Environment Maryland pledge:
"Program Open Space is essential to ensure that our farms, forests, and parks are protected from the march of suburban sprawl. It is inexcusable that $400 million was taken from the program over the last few years. I pledge that, if elected, I will fully fund Program Open Space."
Be True To Our Schools
Problem:
Due to overdevelopment, schools in the 11th District are overcrowded, understaffed and in great need of repair. New school construction going on now, but is it enough to handle our ever-increasing student population?
Solution:
Noel Levy believes we should choose our own Baltimore County School Board instead of relying on the current system of gubernatorial appointments. Noel Levy will push for legislation that will reorganize the way we fund and manage Maryland public schools. This is the key to retaining our good teachers, recruiting quality personnel, and reducing class size to ensure our children the very best education possible.
Election Integrity
Problem:
How safe is your ballot? Exactly 11,553 votes were lost statewide by our new Diebold computer voting machines on November 2, 2004. That s enough votes to swing a race in most local jurisdictions. Whose votes were lost? Why were they lost? Conducting a recount with the Diebold computer voting machines is impossible.
Solution:
Noel Levy supports a voter-verified paper ballot process on Election Day, so voters will know their votes counted toward THEIR chosen candidates. Regrettably, the leadership of both major parties have consistently opposed this. Noel Levy calls on all Republicans and Democrats to join him in supporting fair, above-board elections where every vote is counted. If the Diebold computer voting machines can't guarantee the integrity of our election process, then Noel Levy believes we must return to our previous system: the optically-scanned paper ballots that served us so well for so many years.
Culture of Corruption
Problem:
No-bid contracts. Misuse of state funds. An arcane and arbitrary system of liquor licensing. Our most vulnerable citizens facing abuse and neglect at state-supported group homes. Backroom deals to sell our state park land to developers. And state laws that are unenforced, misapplied or ignored. For decades these practices have cost Maryland taxpayers and businesses millions and millions of dollars and put our citizens at risk.
Solution:
Noel Levy will tighten up the reins of state government. He will work to eliminate obsolete state laws and make sure the laws, rules and regulations we do need are in force and are complied with--by everyone--from now on. Now is the time to stop subsidizing rogue state employees, ethically challenged bureaucrats and greedy lobbyists.
Chesapeake Bay
Problem:
The middle of the Chesapeake Bay is dead from the mouth of Baltimore Harbor to a few miles past the Virginia line. With insufficient oxygen these waters can't support fish, crabs, or oysters.
Solution:
Noel Levy will take the lead in bringing Federal agencies together with regulators in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia to require treating and neutralizing all of the millions of gallons of agricultural runoff now entering the Bay annually. Maryland's economy is tied to the Chesapeake Bay in many ways - tourism, fishing, even real estate. Thirty years ago Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York and the Province of Ontario worked together to clean up Lake Erie. They did it, and we can do the same for our Bay.
Now that we have the Flush Tax, let's use those funds to upgrade, improve and expand our existing sewage treatment plants. Too often, overflows or malfunctions at these sewage treatment facilities cause millions of gallons of raw sewage to go right into the Bay. The Flush Tax revenues can also be utilitized to construct new sewage treatment facilities on the Eastern Shore, so that agricultural runoff can be treated properly before it goes into the tributaries that go right into the Bay. Maryland needs to set the example for Pennsylvania, Virginia and other states on how pollution can be neutralized, easily and inexpensively, and how the water quality of the Bay can be vastly improved.
Property Rights
Problem:
In June 2005 the United States Supreme Court voted 5-4 to allow state and local governments to use the power of condemnation and eminent domain to seize private property and turn it over to private developers.
Solution:
The powers of condemnation and eminent domain were reserved by our founding fathers for use by government for a PUBLIC purpose, not a private one. Justices Breyer, Ginsburg, Kennedy, Souter, and Stevens made a mistake by failing to protect our homes and small businesses. Bill Gates, Donald Trump and Martha Stewart don't need to worry about their property being at risk, but the rest of us do. Noel Levy will push for legislation that will make sure the powers of condemnation and eminent domain in Maryland are never used to seize our private property to be used for someone else's private profit.