Transforming Baltimore: How smart legislation is making our streets safer

By Sen. Corey McCray Back in April, I received an email from Dr. David Jernigan, a professor at Boston University School of Public Health. Dr. Jernigan informed me about a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, which examined the impact of Senate Bill 571—legislation I proudly sponsored during the 2020 Legislative Session. The timing of this study is particularly significant as it coincides with the recent passage of similar legislation aimed at further improving public safety in Maryland’s 45th Legislative District.Sen. Cory V. McCray represents Maryland’s 45th Legislative District, advocating for equitable policy-making, public safety and community development. (Courtesy photo)The findings were eye-opening, especially for a city like Baltimore, where public safety and combating crime and violence are paramount for every elected official, law enforcement officer, community activist, parent, store owner and taxpaying citizen. Passed in 2020, Senate Bill 571 reduced the operating hours for bars and taverns that sold packaged liquor in East Baltimore. The new operating hours were changed from 6 a.m. – 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. This legislation arose from a desperate plea from a neighbor in the Berea Community, who was concerned about a local store that had been the site of...