Latest news with #UPLIFT
CBS News
a day ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Maryland Gov. Moore to make announcements on community investments, cannabis convictions
Maryland Governor Wes Moore is expected to announce an initiative to expand investments in communities he says have been impacted by disinvestment and discriminatory policies, along with an expansion to his executive order which pardoned more than 175,000 marijuana convictions. The announcements will happen at a community roundtable in Cambridge Thursday afternoon. Moore announces program to create affordable housing Just last week, Moore announced the UPLIFT program, a new initiative which aims to boost property values and generate wealth for homeowners. The program, funded with $10 million from the fiscal year 2024 budget, provides financing to housing developers to build affordable housing. Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake, a non-profit homebuilder, will receive $1.25 million to create 26 new three-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bathroom homes. Overall, the goal of the UPLIFT program is to transform vacant lots and structures into quality affordable housing. Moore said the program targets "One of the major contributors to the racial wealth gap is inequitable appraisal values in communities that have been affected by redlining. That's why, in this Season of Action, we are taking concrete steps to boost property values and build pathways to greater wealth creation for homeowners," Moore said in a statement. In communities impacted by redlining, homes appraise for less than the cost to build due to patterns of disinvestment, according to the governor's office. More than 175,000 convictions pardoned On June 17, 2024, Moore pardoned more than 175,000 marijuana convictions in an executive order. The order impacted misdemeanor charges for individuals found guilty of possessing small amounts of marijuana. More than 150,000 of the convictions that were pardoned were misdemeanors for simple possession of cannabis, and another 18,000 misdemeanors were for use or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia. About 25% of the convictions that were pardoned were from Baltimore City, the governor's office said.
CBS News
13-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Maryland Gov. Moore to announce first community awarded through new UPLIFT program
Maryland Governor Wes Moore will announce the first community awarded through the UPLIFT program, an initiative with the goal of providing wealth-building homeownership opportunities in historically redlined communities. Moore is expected to tour the project's construction site prior to the conference. What is the UPLIFT program? The UPLIFT program aims to increase homeownership in disinvested neighborhoods, increase employment opportunities for Maryland workers and businesses from historically disadvantaged demographic groups, and revitalize disinvested neighborhoods. Maryland settles with 3 companies accused of housing discrimination In May, Maryland settled with three companies accused of housing discrimination. The state said Maryland Management Company Inc. refused to cooperate with emergency rental assistance programs, according to the Maryland Attorney General's Office. The company was ordered to pay $90,000 to establish a fund for people potentially evicted or denied housing because of the practice. The state won a second settlement with a Frederick apartment complex where tenants using housing vouchers faced higher rent increases than other tenants. An investigation found that Habitat America, LLC and The Commons of Avalon TH, LLLP violated state fair housing laws. The companies agreed to reimburse the impacted households for excess rent, pay up to $2,500 per household in additional damages, and pay $105,000 in civil penalties. Mayor Scott introduces bill to address housing inequality In May, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott announced a bill to address the lack of housing availability in the city. The bill would expand where multi-family, low-density homes could be built in the city. Scott said the measure aims to tackle "exclusionary" zoning laws that attempt to use racial discrimination to prevent people from living in certain neighborhoods.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bloodthirsty Venezuelan gang put on notice as new bill curbs blue state sanctuary policies
Law enforcement in Colorado and other states could soon have an easier time coordinating with federal authorities on immigration issues, especially when it comes to busting gangs and drug traffickers. Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Colo., introduced the "Unhandcuffing Police to Locate and Interdict Foreign Transgressors (UPLIFT) Act" in Congress earlier this week to prompt public officials in Colorado and nationwide to communicate with feds about illegal immigrants who are believed to have committed other crimes, even though certain state laws limit their ability to do so. "State laws have a national impact, because if federal law enforcement uses information from a criminal justice database, and Colorado provided that information, the state and local cops in Colorado who provided that information can get in trouble," Evans said in an interview with Fox News Digital. "And so the feds don't want to get their state and local partners in trouble." Police Lead Tren De Aragua Crackdowns As Exclusive Fox Nation Ride-along Exposes Venezuela's Deadliest Gang The Republican noted that his suburban Denver district has made national headlines related to the border and illegal immigration crisis, despite being hundreds of miles away from the border itself. In January, the Drug Enforcement Administration arrested roughly 50 illegal immigrants, many of whom had ties to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which the Trump administration now classifies as a foreign terrorist organization, Fox News Digital reported. Read On The Fox News App "I mean, look at the Tren de Aragua nightclub takedown that happened in my district, by the way," he said. Hundreds Of Federal Agents Target Alleged Tren De Aragua Members In Colorado "State and local law enforcement knew who those guys were. They just weren't allowed to do anything. And we had to wait until a new administration came into power to go send federal law enforcement out to get these guys," he said, adding that some of these challenges are "directly impacting community safety." Evans also responded to any possible criticism that the bill would interfere with state's rights if passed. "Under the Supremacy Clause and under the fact that this is expressly delegated to the federal government, this is not trampling on states' rights, and this is not overstepping the 10th Amendment," he argued. Tren De Aragua Crackdown: 8 Venezuelan Gang Members Indicted For Sex Trafficking As the congressman was sworn in this January, this is his first bill introduced in the chamber. The legislation is sponsored by fellow Colorado Republican Reps. Lauren Boebert, Jeff Crank and Jeff Hurd. "Proud to be an original co-sponsor of the UPLIFT Act. [CO-3] will be safer if Colorado cooperates with federal law enforcement—particularly when it comes to dangerous criminals here illegally," Hurd tweeted. House Resolution 1680 has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee for next article source: Bloodthirsty Venezuelan gang put on notice as new bill curbs blue state sanctuary policies
Fox News
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Bloodthirsty Venezuelan gang put on notice as new bill curbs blue state sanctuary policies
Law enforcement in Colorado and other states could soon have an easier time coordinating with federal authorities on immigration issues, especially when it comes to busting gangs and drug traffickers. Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Colo., introduced the "Unhandcuffing Police to Locate and Interdict Foreign Transgressors (UPLIFT) Act" in Congress earlier this week to prompt public officials in Colorado and nationwide to communicate with feds about illegal immigrants who are believed to have committed other crimes, even though certain state laws limit their ability to do so. "State laws have a national impact, because if federal law enforcement uses information from a criminal justice database, and Colorado provided that information, the state and local cops in Colorado who provided that information can get in trouble," Evans said in an interview with Fox News Digital. "And so the feds don't want to get their state and local partners in trouble." The Republican noted that his suburban Denver district has made national headlines related to the border and illegal immigration crisis, despite being hundreds of miles away from the border itself. In January, the Drug Enforcement Administration arrested roughly 50 illegal immigrants, many of whom had ties to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which the Trump administration now classifies as a foreign terrorist organization, Fox News Digital reported. "I mean, look at the Tren de Aragua nightclub takedown that happened in my district, by the way," he said. "State and local law enforcement knew who those guys were. They just weren't allowed to do anything. And we had to wait until a new administration came into power to go send federal law enforcement out to get these guys," he said, adding that some of these challenges are "directly impacting community safety." Evans also responded to any possible criticism that the bill would interfere with state's rights if passed. "Under the Supremacy Clause and under the fact that this is expressly delegated to the federal government, this is not trampling on states' rights, and this is not overstepping the 10th Amendment," he argued. As the congressman was sworn in this January, this is his first bill introduced in the chamber. The legislation is sponsored by fellow Colorado Republican Reps. Lauren Boebert, Jeff Crank and Jeff Hurd. "Proud to be an original co-sponsor of the UPLIFT Act. [CO-3] will be safer if Colorado cooperates with federal law enforcement—particularly when it comes to dangerous criminals here illegally," Hurd tweeted. House Resolution 1680 has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee for next steps.
