Campaign Accomplishments

 

• BRIDGE’s First Public Meeting, July 10, 2003.  1300 participated. Launched the BRIDGE the Gap Campaign for Quality Housing & Education
• BRIDGE wins Housing Victories as 2 Howard County Developers agreed to 10-15% Inclusionary Affordable Housing in Fall of 2003.  Workers Housing Inclusionary Zoning Campaign in Anne Arundel County starts in 2004.
• BRIDGE, Citizens Planning and Housing Association, and Innovative Housing Institute launch the Inclusionary Zoning for the Baltimore Region Campaign in February 2004.  They raise $162,500 from local and national foundations for this work.
• United States Senators Barbara Mikulski and Paul Sarbanes attend BRIDGE’s Public Meeting on October 3, 2004 and support our housing and education agenda
• In February of 2005, BRIDGE/CPHA/IHI form an alliance with other organizations who are working on legal and financial aspects of regional housing and create an expanded coalition called the Baltimore Regional Housing Equity Coalition.
• BRIDGE organized a meeting of area Bishops on June 30, 2005 where the Baltimore Regional Housing Equity Coalition made a presentation on Inclusionary Housing, Thompson Case remedies, and Housing Equity Participation.  The Bishops agreed to work with the Coalition.  The Delaware Maryland Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America passed a resolution supporting Inclusionary Housing at its June Assembly.
• BRIDGE/CPHA/IHI worked with key Baltimore City Council leadership and established  the Baltimore City Taskforce on Inclusionary Zoning & Housing for the purposes of creating Inclusionary Housing for the City. The Taskforce released its report in July 2006
• In 2006, BRIDGE conducted local summits in each of the following three political jurisdictions: Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, and Baltimore County with combined attendance of over 500 people.
• In 2006, BRIDGE & BRHC meet with over 10 developers/builders in Baltimore region to develop cost offset criteria for Inclusionary Housing bills that work for them. Drafted the “Baltimore Principles” for meeting builders needs in creating inclusionary housing.
• On October 5, 2006 over 1,000 attended BRIDGE’s Public Meeting where key elected officials & candidates at local, state, & federal level pledged support for our inclusionary housing approach.
• State Senator McFadden pledge $500,000 to BRIDGE over a three year period for creating mixed-income housing in the East of Hopkins communities.  The first $100,000 passed the State Legislature in FY07.
• BRIDGE won passage of an Inclusionary Housing Bill in Baltimore City on June 11, 2007.   This bill is the first step in developing viable mixed-income neighborhoods in Baltimore City.
• On July 31, 2007, candidates for Mayor and City Council President participated in a Candidates Forum sponsored by BRIDGE Baltimore City Campaign with 300 people in attendance, where they addressed questions relating to Housing, Education and Youth, and Safe Neighborhoods.
• On October 25, 2007, Wayland Baptist Church was packed with a crowd approaching 1000 people of faith on a rainy Thursday night showing their support of BRIDGE's efforts around Building Community.  The Eight Commandments of BRAC were unveiled as elected officials signed on to support them. BRAC
• In April 2008, BRIDGE kicked off its voter registration drive with an MLK event at Wayland Baptist Church which emphasized the common goals and effectiveness of faith-based organizations working with labor to bring about change.  Ultimately, 2000 voters were registered.
• On October 18, 2008, BRIDGE culminated a year’s worth of organizing effort for a celebration of the success of its voter registration drive and expanded its focus on BRAC to form coalitions in the areas of transportation and smart growth with organizations such as the Gamaliel Foundation’s Transportation Equity Network and 1000 Friends of Maryland. Campaign 2009
• BRIDGE kicked off Red Line Jobs Campaign on August 4, 2010. This campaign calls for job creation on the proposed Red Line in West Baltimore. Congressman Elijah Cummings joined us in our fight to secure Federal Transportation funding for this effort.