Latest news with #OdetteRamos
CBS News
4 days ago
- CBS News
Baltimore neighborhood frustrated after pride flags taken down
Pride flags were forcibly taken down in a North Baltimore neighborhood as the community celebrated Pride Fest. Councilwoman Odette Ramos said at least three flags were torn down on Saturday, June 14, leaving many neighbors frustrated. Ramos said her home was among those targeted. Councilwoman's pride flag taken down After celebrating Baltimore Pride, Ramos said her husband noticed their pride flag was no longer flying on Saturday evening. They quickly realized it was intentional. Ramos found her flag on the ground, her flagpole bent and the bracket broken. "When I heard and then saw what happened, I was like on pride day," Ramos said. "It was forcibly taken down…we were able to salvage the flag." Ramos said she put out a call to other neighbors, who told her it not only happened on Saturday but other days last week. Flag removal comes after 2022 fire She said the community was frustrated that the flags were taken down. The incident comes three years after pride flags were burned in their neighborhood and a home with pride decorations was set on fire. "We're always a little concerned in my neighborhood in June because in 2022 there was a devastating fire," Ramos said. "The main house that was affected had a pride flag on it, and there were other pride flags that were burned that day, so obviously, there's a concern in the neighborhood." The pride flag was set on fire near a home on the 300 block of E. 31st Street. Then, a home across the street with pride decorations was set on fire, injuring three people. Neighbors react to removal of pride flags On Tuesday, many neighbors said they were upset and disappointed that their community was targeted again. "Why is the reaction hate and violence, and not oh okay," Abell neighborhood resident Kevin K. said. "[It's] very upsetting that it was happening during pride not knowing what the motivations are," neighborhood resident Stephanie Schreckinger added. Ramos said she and her neighbors plan to put their pride flags back up and fly them proudly as they always have. "We're a neighborhood that welcomes everyone," Ramos said. "We're going to put our pride flags back up because we feel very strongly about how we feel about our city and being allies to our neighbors." Ramos said she reported the incident to Baltimore Police and is encouraging neighbors to do the same. The community said they hope whoever did this can learn to choose love over hate.
CBS News
03-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Emotional Baltimore councilmember asks city to commit more funding for immigrant services
Baltimore City Councilwoman Odette Ramos tearfully asked the mayor's office to devote more funding to immigrant service support. Ramos wants roughly a $2 million commitment for the Office of Immigration Affairs within the proposed budget. The current proposal includes more than $960,000 toward the Office of Immigrant Affairs. "The ask for legal services is $1.1 million," Ramos said. "[Director of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs] Catalina [Rodriguez-Lima] has already raised some of it. The other ask is for $950,000 for immigrant community support." Emotional conversation over immigrant support Emotional moments inside Baltimore's City Hall Chambers on Monday led to a series of discussions on funding for immigrant resources. "I want to make sure the public understood what you said," Councilwoman Ramos said to Rodriguez-Lima. "People are planning on family separation." "Yes. Sadly, tier one, the goal of tier one is for…parents to leave guardianship forms," Rodriguez-Lima said. Ramos, holding back tears, asked for the mayor's office to commit. "I mean it's heartbreaking what our community is going through," Ramos said. Finding money in the budget Calvin Young, the Mayor's Chief of Staff, quickly responded to Ramos's request. "I can commit to you right now that we are absolutely, this is one of the top priorities right now for the mayor's office to increase in this budget," Young said. No amount was given at Monday's hearing. Young added that an increase in funds in one area means a decrease in funds for another area. "We also have to figure out where we'll make cuts," Young said. "That's what the team is working on right now." CASA pushes for help with immigrant families Earvin Gonzalez, the deputy director of regional services for CASA Baltimore and Central Maryland, an immigration advocacy group, attended the hearing. "You were able to see the impact with…how this is going to affect our city residents, not just immigrant families, but how it affects the city as a whole," Gonzalez said. Gonzalez said it's reassuring to hear the mayor's office considers this a priority. He added he's happy to see a councilmember bring the concern over immigration support to the forefront. "At the end of the day, these are families who are here," Gonzalez said. "They have jobs. They have kids here and they're getting ripped apart." Ramos's comments came after CASA pushed for more funding in the proposed budget. "While Baltimore's population declines, immigrant families are choosing to stay and build their futures here," said Crisaly De Los Santos, the director for CASA Baltimore and Central Maryland. "The city has made progress on language access, and we're grateful. But now is the time to rise to the moment. We must invest in essential services, legal aid, education, and community defense. These help immigrant families not just survive, but thrive. The proposed budget doesn't reflect these needs." Gonzalez said CASA has started a petition to fight for more funding in the 2026 budget. He urges citizens to contact their councilmembers to help with their mission. "That public pressure to show that this is what city residents want and need," Gonzalez said.
