When Baltimore was shaken by protests three weeks ago, some of them violent, State Senator Catherine Pugh, a Democrat, could be found night and day on the streets of Sandtown-Winchester and other neighborhoods in her West Baltimore district. Senator J.B. Jennings, a Republican who represents parts Harford and Baltimore Counties, lives in Joppa, but he was also on the streets of Baltimore after the April 27 riots. He was called to service as a member of the Air National Guard.
Senator Pugh is majority leader of the state senate, and will co-chair the work group appointed by the legislature’s presiding officers after the riots, to look at police and public safety issues. Senator Jennings is minority leader of the senate, and will serve on that task force.
We hope to get a sense, in the next 12 minutes, of what they each see as the most important task for the state to take on in response to the recent turmoil in Baltimore.
Senator Pugh's essay in the Huffington Post, called "A New Normal For Baltimore ... And Beyond" was published in the Huffington Post. Senator J.B. Jennings' opinion piece, "I never thought I would Be Deployed To Deal With Rioting In Baltimore, A City I Love" can be found here.
