The Baltimore City Community Reinvestment and Reparations Commission

The Baltimore City Community Reinvestment and Reparations Commission

• Establishes a 16 member independent commission from each of the 14 Baltimore City Council Districts tasked with determining the allocation of resources from the Community Reinvestment and Reparations Fund.
• Establishes the purposes for which the money may be used for, in accordance with the state Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund articles.
• Directs the expenditure of funding in accordance with state law, to community-based organizations for services and programs intended to benefit low-income communities.
• Ensures transparency, accountability, and community engagement in decision-making processes.
• Empowers the commission to prepare and publishes Biannual Reports which shall include recommendations to the Mayor and City Council regarding repairing the damage done to communities, determined by the Office of the Attorney General, to have been most impacted by the disproportionate enforcement of the cannabis prohibition in Baltimore City before July 1, 2022 and, submits recommendations to the Mayor and City Council regarding repairing the damage done to the racial and ethnic minority communities in Baltimore City by structurally racist and white supremacist policies.
• Provides oversight to ensure funds are used in accordance with state and local laws.

Allowable Uses of the Community Reinvestment and Reparations Fund

The Community Reinvestment and Reparations Fund is designed to support initiatives that benefit communities disproportionately impacted by systemic inequities, particularly those affected by cannabis prohibition and enforcement.

Allowable uses include:

• Education: Scholarships, vocational training, and educational programs for underserved communities.
• Economic Development: Grants for small businesses, workforce development programs, and job creation initiatives.
• Housing: Affordable housing projects, homeownership assistance, and housing stability programs.
• Healthcare: Access to mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and community health clinics.
• Community-Based Initiatives: Support for underinvested nonprofit organizations, youth programs, and cultural preservation efforts.
• Infrastructure: Investments in public spaces, transportation, and broadband access to improve community connectivity.

Funds are explicitly prohibited from being allocated to law enforcement activities.

Composition of the Commission

The Community Reinvestment and Reparations Commission is composed of diverse members representing various sectors and communities to ensure equitable decision-making. The commission includes:

• Community Leaders: Individuals with a history of advocacy and engagement in marginalized communities.
• Subject Matter Experts: The history of the resistance of people of African descent to White Supremacy, enslavement, Jim Crow laws, other examples of racial violence and discrimination. The impact of the disproportionate enforcement of drug laws on the quality-of-life experience by racial and ethnic minorities, with emphasis on the disruption of families, exposure to the prison system, trauma experienced as a result of community and police violence, or similar factors.
• Nonprofit Representatives: Leaders from organizations focused on community development and social justice. A focus area must be a service provided for incarcerated people or people with a criminal record.
• Residents: Members from communities that are disproportionately impacted by systemic inequities, ensuring their voices are central to the process.

The commission will be led by a chairperson and includes subcommittees focused on specific areas such as education, housing, and economic development.

Commission Members