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Come join us! Please join me and your district 30 coordinated campaign this Saturday, May 7th at 1:00 o’clock for our campaign kickoff! Candidate for Comptroller, Brooke Lierman will also be joining us.
Sign up at this link HERE!
Rain or shine we will have coffee and donuts and plenty of energy as we work towards the 2022 election! If you have any questions or need anything in advance please reach out directly to Dylan via email at dylan@sarahelfreth.com. Can’t wait to see you there!
If you want to join my team for other upcoming events Join me here!
Standing up for Women’s Health
A woman's right to determine her own reproductive healthcare is in unprecedented jeopardy. Earlier this week a draft majority opinion in the Jackson Women’s Health case was leaked seeming to indicate the imminent overturning of Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to abortion. This is the most alarming and ominous sign yet of what’s to come for the future of reproductive rights and access in the United States. This decision would allow states to ban abortion and following the ruling, 27 states are likely to do so immediately.
I am proud to have taken action this past session to protect and expand abortion rights here in Maryland. I co-sponsored two historic bills that expanded access (HB 937, and HB 1171). These bills addressed our state’s shortcomings by proactively protecting access and guaranteeing a women’s right to choose regardless of zip code or economic status. Not only did I co-sponsor this legislation, but I voted down all 11 amendments that would have weakened or fundamentally altered the bills and I voted to overturn Governor Hogan’s veto.
Earlier this week it was announced that Governor Hogan planned to withhold funding to the Clinical Training Program, state funds that were allocated by the General Assembly this past session. I immediately got to work with my colleagues to write two letters demanding that these funds be released. The funding to the Clinical Training Program is essential to ensuring that women from Maryland, and from out of state in need of reproductive healthcare, have access to essential medical care. I will continue working with my colleagues to protect reproductive care here in Maryland.
Additionally and most importantly, now is the time to get involved and have your voice heard. We will be organizing throughout the summer. If you want to help - join me and get out the vote! Come with me on the campaign trail - you can join my team here.
How else can you take action?
Overturning Roe V. Wade does not only take away a woman's right to choose, it takes away her safety and access to healthcare, allowing states to ban lifesaving medical procedures for women who have had miscarriages or other life-threatening pregnancy complications. Now is the time to support local abortion funds and grassroots organizations. The National Network of Abortion Funds works with local member organizations to remove financial and logistical barriers to abortion access by centering on people who have abortions and organizing at the intersections of racial, economic, and reproductive justice.
Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month
May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month! This is a time to explore and honor the history, traditions, and culture of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States.
The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum are coming together to pay tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America's history and are instrumental in its future success. You can learn more about their work and get a schedule of events being held throughout the month of May here!
AACPS To Offer 7 Pre-K 3 Classes
In addition to classes for 4-year-olds across the county, for the first time, Anne Arundel County Public Schools’ prekindergarten program will feature seven classes for 3-year-olds in the 2022-2023 school year including at Annapolis Elementary School, and Georgetown East in District 30A.
Parents who wish to apply for their child to attend Anne Arundel County Public Schools’ prekindergarten program may do so online for schools that host programs beginning at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.
Enrollment for all prekindergarten programs will be done online. Information about prekindergarten 3 programs in AACPS and an online application can be found here.
Annapolis Events Coming Up
Now that spring has sprung, let’s look forward to all the amazing events coming up in our community! Save the dates for
May 30, 2022 - Memorial Day Parade
June 4, 2022 - Annapolis Pride Parade
June 18, 2022 - Annapolis Juneteenth Parade
July 4, 2022 - Independence Day Parade
We’re excited for the opportunity to participate in and support these amazing events in our community celebrating and honoring so many.
Join me in these events! Sign up here!
Annapolis Launches First Public Water Access Survey
Annapolis is prioritizing steps that the City and its partners can take now and into the future to improve, enhance, and expand water access within and adjacent to City limits. To do this, the Annapolis Department of Planning and Zoning, working with the National Park Service Chesapeake Office and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Volpe Center, are seeking public input about how to best expand equitable public water access in Annapolis.
They are inviting the public to participate in an online survey that can be accessed here (Spanish version here). You can view all planning efforts here. Additionally, the planning team is seeking “Water Access Ambassadors” to assist the planning process with neighborhood insight, public outreach, and focus group participation. If you’d like to get involved, email ejleshinsky@annapolis.gov.
Travel & Tourism Week
This week is National Travel & Tourism Week! In celebration, the Maryland Tourism Coalition is inviting ALL Marylanders to participate in a state-wide Scavenger Hunt.
There are 10 icons, take a selfie with at least six icons between Saturday, April 30 to Sunday, May 8, and be entered to win a prize at random. Winners will be announced Thursday, May 12. Enter to win by using #NTTW22MTC and #TourismWorks4MD on Facebook or Instagram. Winners will be contacted by direct message. By submitting your photos, you are granting MTC permission to use for future marketing purposes. More details about all the events hosted by the MTC can be found here.
Love Our Libraries
Join Discoveries: Library at the Mall on May 11, 2022, from 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm for the first of a two-part series on reading with your child. You’ll learn best practices, how the library can support you in your literacy journey, and how you can develop language skills beyond just books. Register for this event here!
I encourage everyone to follow the Anne Arundel County Public Library’s Facebook page to get updates on programs and new resources. You can check out their calendar to find the perfect event for you and your family to enjoy!
Commissioning Week is Coming!
The 2022 Midshipmen Commissioning Week activities are just around the corner, taking place from May 22, 2022, to May 27, 2022. You can find the full schedule of events here.
Residents should expect heavy traffic, temporary road and bridge closures, parking limitations, and increased security downtown during these days. For parking information, and navigating downtown, visit www.accessannapolis.com.
Sierra Club Endorsed
In case you missed the news, I am thrilled to announce that my candidacy has been endorsed by the Sierra Club for my demonstrated passion & commitment to protecting our environment. I am so grateful for their support & I’m looking forward to continuing my strong relationship with the Sierra Club and its members.
If you would like to join me in this campaign - please sign up here.
You can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit my new website to learn about volunteer opportunities, community resources, COVID-19 updates, and much more. If you have any questions or concerns, you can always contact my office by email at Dana.Jones@house.state.md.us or by phone at 410-841-3211.
Stay safe and healthy,
Delegate Dana Jones District 30A, Annapolis & Anne Arundel County