Countywide Action Team
PATH’s Countywide Action Team is currently evaluating the CB-10 “Justice for Workers” campaign and determining whether or not PATH will engage in a Get Out the Vote campaign. The Countywide Action team meets every 6 weeks at 6pm.
Health Action Team
Organizing research and action around a potential campaign for a clinic to serve uninsured/underinsured pregnant people, and planning potential partnerships. The Health Action team meets every 6 weeks at 6pm.
Education Action Team
Organizing research and action around equity and education. The Education Action team meets every 6 weeks at 6pm.
Housing Action Team
Organizing research and action around affordable housing projects in the County Executive’s upcoming budget, particularly the Banneker Fire Station. The Housing Action team meets every 6 weeks and will be meeting April 12th at 6pm.
To get involved in PATH’s campaign, contact Olivia Buckley at olivia.pathiaf@gmail.com
PATH Victories
Construction of East Columbia 50+ Center
PATH leaders wrote over 100 letters, made calls, testified at public hearings and turned out over 250 people to a press action in the East Columbia 50+ center parking lot to ensure full funding for construction of the Center. The Council supported the funding and the project broke ground on December 15th of 2021 with a plan to open in July of 2023.
Justice for Workers
Support for CB-10. Many members of PATH congregations were laid off from their jobs in the service and hotel industry at the beginning of the pandemic. PATH worked with the local union UNITE-HERE 7 to push the Council to pass emergency legislation to require hotels to hire back first the people who were laid off because of the pandemic. PATH led a rally, doorknocking and email campaign to show the Councilmembers the broad public support for the bill, which ultimately passed. We want to thank Councilmember Walsh for introducing the bill and Councilmember Christiana Rigby for her strong support.
Affordable Housing
After a six-month campaign, PATH worked with the County Council to win the funding for affordable housing and a cultural center at the Toby’s Dinner Theater site in Downtown Columbia. In 2016 PATH worked to win a commitment for over 1000 units of affordable housing in the redevelopment of Downtown Columbia, but the council considered delaying the New Cultural Center project to the point that we would have lost the $67Million in state subsidy for affordable housing which would have killed the project. With PATH’s support, the Council voted to fully fund the project in January 2021. This will result in 87 units of deeply affordable housing and a cultural center for use by the entire community.
PATH worked with our sister organizations AIM and BUILD to win important protections for over 14,000 mobile home owners across the state of Maryland, people who are living in some of the last affordable housing in our communities. The bill requires landowners to provide 10 months of lot rent (approximately $8000) in compensation if the land is sold. This will help residents either buy a new home in another park, or pay first, last and deposit on an apartment. It took three years to pass in the Statehouse, and was signed into law in 2010.
Healthcare
Healthy Howard High quality, affordable healthcare for some of the county’s most vulnerable residents
Improving children’s health by working to improve the school wellness policy from a D grade to an A, and one of the best in the county, as well as bringing healthier food and drink options to school and county building vending machines.
Workforce development
Job training and environmental jobs for youth and young adults (READY)
Equity in public schools through resources, programs, and staff
Better transportation systems for wellness, working people, and young adults
PATH MD 