At a virtual gathering, an in-person gathering, and through an informal online survey, we asked young people, ranging in age from 14 to 24, questions such as whether they would be heading to the polls, what issues they care about, and what they would like to see candidates for elected office do for them. These are answers from people we surveyed who were ages 18-24.

Are you voting? Why or why not?

Yes. It’s a privilege that I’m able to play a part in who I want to lead my future, and I plan on taking full advantage of that. — Winter Galloway

Yes. Because I believe it is important to be a part of the process. — Chase Swoope

No. Joe Biden is funding a genocide in Gaza currently through his policies, and inflation doesn’t seem to be improving. The Republicans are actual fascists and Dems want to have fascism without showing their true colors. — Alex

Yes. Because I want public transportation, subways, more lines, more consistent buses. — Yousef Miller

Only local elections. ​​There’s no fixing the system with voting except for locally. — Erica Sweitzer

I want to, but I don’t feel like I can make a moral choice based on the candidates. I’m tired of the “lesser of two evils” dichotomy. I wish there was someone who was actually worthy of being a leader or representative of this city, state, and country. — Kamaria

Yes. I believe your vote can make a difference.  — Justice Georgie

Yes. I really care about politics and voting for people who will implement policies that align with my values. — Sita Kottilil

What questions do you want candidates to answer?

How do they plan to stop AI from taking away employment for some careers? — Ashley David

Have you or will you use your platform to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, and, if elected, do you pledge to end the fiscal support and awarding of contracts to companies that support the Israeli regime, such as NICE Systems and Cellebrite? Do you support overdose prevention sites in Baltimore? If elected, what measures will you take to shrink, not grow, the Baltimore Police Department’s budget? How will you stand up to proposed transportation budget cuts at the state level to ensure that Baltimoreans have increased access to reliable transit options, not less? What is your stance on Johns Hopkins creating an armed private police force, despite five years of documented community opposition? — Anna Brackett

Why is Baltimore City spending money on useless projects like funding another police training facility when there are core issues that actually need that money? Baltimore is a multicultural, artistic city, but unfortunately, that is overshadowed by the vacant housing, homelessness, and guns. — Annie Allan

What are you gonna do differently? — Paris

What do you think realistically can be done about crime in Baltimore in the time span of your term? — Kayla Ray

How are you responding to the needs of your constituents? What’s your top priorities and do you have the support or a plan to make it happen? — Kyra McDonnell

Have you done a qualitative analysis on our community and identified the specific issues we’re facing? What is your plan to realistically address them? — DeJah-Renee Deanda

Will you allow schools to teach actual history and actual science regardless of pressure from fringe religious movements? Will you allow transgender students to participate in athletics and other school-sanctioned activities? Will you support decriminalizing drugs and promoting harm reduction practices? Do you support Palestinians and their rights to self-determination and freedom of movement? Do you support bus, train, and bicycle infrastructure? How do you plan to address the climate crisis on a state and local level? — Emily Nielson

What issues are most important to you?

Housing, transportation, crime, violence, and safety. — Thomas Brown

I have some strong opinions on particularly housing and managing crime, in ways that I disagree with the status quo (e.g. I’m opposed to curfews and limiting spaces for where young people can gather, and limited zoning laws restricting housing supply and availability). — Keonte Sampson

Youth activities and opportunities, fine arts. — Isaiah

School and education, crime, violence and safety, youth mental health, racial justice. — Jay Allen

Youth activities and opportunities, housing, transportation, school and education, crime, violence and safety, job and career opportunities, climate change, youth mental health, racial justice. — Deshaun

School and education, climate change, racial justice. — Fiona

Youth activities and opportunities, housing, transportation, school and education, crime, violence and safety, job and career opportunities, climate change, youth mental health, racial justice. — Dance Prescott

Crime, violence and safety, climate change, racial justice. — Jai Shields

Help fix the problems within the city. — Ataeviya Dilworth

Violence, limited job opportunities for minorities. — Sierra Brooks

Safety within the city, proper representation, and listening to the community’s outcry for support of Gaza and the end of all genocides. — Sade Morris

Job equity and equality. — Malcolm Swayne

Real change. Foster real lasting opportunities for the citizens of Baltimore. — Andrew

Trans rights are very important to me. Specifically protecting trans youth. — Connor McAlister

I want to see candidates address the housing crisis and food deserts in Baltimore. As someone who does not drive, I’m forced to live in a more expensive area of the city to be able to walk to my local grocery store, and even then, it takes me 30 minutes to do so without the added weight of groceries. — Mikaelle Mathurin

Candidates must be pro-Palestine. Pro-Palestinian resistance. Pro-all land back. Against Zionism in all forms. — Gaiita

Other comments

A lot of candidates make promises of change but aren’t able to fully follow through. — Jalen Jones

Our generation wants to see an immediate ceasefire, an end to all U.S. aid to Israel, immediate entry of humanitarian aid to Palestine, and landback initiatives. Palestine by far is the most pressing issue for so many young voters I know. — Dalila Ives

Many… issues can be addressed simply by ensuring that everyone has their basic needs met and provided for. Crime would go down in environments where people do not have to worry about when their next meal is or if they’ll have a roof over their heads. — Anonymous

The reason why youth crime has gone up is because we don’t have anything to do. The main things that youth today in Baltimore City need are job opportunities. Giving us something to do while earning money could decrease the crime rate within youth in Baltimore City. — Myles Michelin

Studies have shown that access to transportation is the number one way to increase social mobility, and transportation remains the largest share of emissions. So many of the problems above — from job opportunities to education to racial justice — can be substantially improved by targeted investments in transportation. — Charlotte Murphy

I have a master’s degree in climate science and can’t afford my rent. I will never own a home. I have a full-time job and two part-time jobs. It’s unacceptable that I have to add up my groceries at the store and put things back if I go over my budget. My partner and I constantly have to discuss not being with one another, not because the relationship is bad, but because we each may need to move back in with our parents, putting us on opposite ends of the country. Regarding climate change, I didn’t get my degree because it sounded like fun, I got it out of pure necessity to be part of addressing this global crisis. So many young folks are jaded with this system, so I understand completely those who choose not to engage in the democratic process. Why would we participate when no one is actively making decisions to improve our lives? — Taryn Bell

The post Youth Voter Guide: Youth Voices   appeared first on Baltimore Beat.

Newsrooms in the Baltimore News Collaborative have been busy producing important journalism that affects the lives of young people in Baltimore.

Transportation

Baltimore City student riders gain ‘direct line of communication’ to state transit leaders

By Bri Hatch for WYPR – 88.1 FM, published December 14, 2023 

Around 35 thousand Baltimore City students take public transportation in various forms to get to school, said Media Relations Manager Sherry Christian — three thousand of which are considered “eligible” for public transportation commutes.

Economic Opportunity

Proposed Baltimore ballot initiative builds community fund by taxing large institutions

By Bri Hatch for WYPR – 88.1 FM, published February 1, 2024

The With Us For Us Coalition wants a future Baltimore City where all neighborhoods are safe, healthy, thriving – and funded by the property taxes of large hospitals and universities.

Public Safety

Shootings among high school teens in Baltimore finally decreasing

Lee O. Sanderlin, Ryan Little and Fernando Becerra for The Baltimore Banner, published March 19, 2024

The number of high school-age shooting victims in Baltimore is decreasing for the first time in three years, a sign of progress in a city beleaguered by gunfire.

Global

Uncommitted

By Jaisal Noor for Baltimore Beat, published April 9, 2024

The “Uncommitted” movement in Maryland views voting as a key tactic to push for a ceasefire. It is supported by Jewish Voice for Peace Action (the 501(c)(4) sister organization of Jewish Voice for Peace), chapters of the Democratic Socialists of America, and others.

Housing 

Coppin State University launches first-ever housing voucher partnership for low-income students

By Bri Hatch for WYPR – 88.1 FM, published November 7, 2023 

Coppin State University will partner with the Housing Authority of Baltimore City to provide housing vouchers for 10 low-income students living in the city.

Education

Suspensions are increasing in Baltimore City schools. Is that a solution, or another problem?

By Bri Hatch for WYPR – 88.1 FM, published February 12, 2024 

Out-of-school suspensions and expulsions are increasing in Baltimore City, with numbers exceeding both pre-and-post-pandemic figures.

Mental Health

Maryland lawmakers consider bill to reimburse college students on mental health leave

By Bri Hatch for WYPR – 88.1 FM, published February 6, 2024 

For the third year in a row, state lawmakers will consider a bill that requires public colleges and universities to reimburse tuition for students who withdraw during mental health crises.

Click here to listen to Baltimore Beat Editor-in-Chief Lisa Snowden and WYPR’s Bri Hatch talk about the election guide and issues in Baltimore that matter to young people.

The post Reporting from our partners appeared first on Baltimore Beat.

Circle these dates on your calendar: the primary election on May 14 and the general election on November 5. 

This year, Baltimore residents are making some big choices—voting for the US President, Congress, Mayor, City Council, ballot measures, and more.

Quick reminder: Democracy is an ongoing thing, not just a one-day event. The voices of young people are often sidelined in political discussions.

But here’s the exciting part! Five local news crews—The Banner, Baltimore Beat, MPT, Morgan State University, and WYPR-FM—have teamed up for The Baltimore News Collaborative, which is funded by the Annie Casey Foundation.

Why? To bring your voices to the forefront! 📢 Our mission is to create stories that matter to you. Spend five minutes to take our survey, and tell us what’s on your mind. We promise to keep you updated on how we use your responses. Your voice matters!

Click here to take the survey.

All participants will receive a copy of our youth-powered voting guide.

We also invite you to participate in two virtual listening sessions,

We also invite you to participate in two virtual listening sessions, which will take place on Zoom:  Feb. 12 from 5-5:45 p.m. and Feb. 21 6:30-7:15 p.m.

The post Poll: Baltimore-Area Young People and  the 2024 Elections appeared first on Baltimore Beat.