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Rikki Vaughn plans on working to make and keep Baltimore a safe and healthy place to live, work, and raise a family. By collaborating with the Police Department, Fire Department, Health Department, and community partners in the City of Baltimore by providing services that help protect vulnerable residents, and ensure the safety of everyone in the city. There is still more that will need to be done but Mr.Vaughn plans to reduce crime across the city, expand services, and getting people the help they need. Vaughn, plan to propose and secure funding to add fifty new officers to the Baltimore Police Department ensuring a complete complement of officers at all times.

• Increase the number of officers on patrol during overnight shiftCreate an Office of Public Safety to drive community partnerships and an office of returning citizens to reduce recidivism and strengthen neighborhoods.

• Open lines of communication between downtown business owners and police officers by increasing foot patrol

• Join Baltimore City Police officers for regular ride-alongs to insure the safety of our community. 

• Launch an emergency shelter finder map for residents

• Bring second-chance programs for at-risk young people. Operation Exit and Professional Pathways are career preparation programs for formerly court-involved young adults that help them build skills and launch careers.

Rikki Vaughn,want’s law enforcement to be accountable, but also wants community members to be engaged with tackling crime and creating safer neighborhoods across the City. Vaughn will encourage every resident, business, and church to install security cameras on their property, and will pay you to do this! Also, push to make sure every officer engaging with the City’s residents are wearing body cameras.  He plans to fight crime in the City by also providing second chances to returning citizens through workforce training and employment opportunities

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In Baltimore today, there is virtually no town where a full-time minimum wage worker can afford a decent, two-bedroom apartment. Meanwhile, over 1,700 people are sleeping out on the streets or in homeless shelters because they do not have the money to put a roof over their heads. Meanwhile, large, profitable institutions, which is why the wealthy institutions in Maryland, pay nothing in federal income taxes.

Housing an Inclusive Baltimore and focusing on tools that address a continuum of housing needs, including housing for residents experiencing homelessness, affordable rental housing, and attainable home ownership. The plan seeks to align the City and its partners’ actions between 2021-2025 according to four strategic goals 1) create affordability, 2) preserve affordability, 3) promote access to housing, and 4) stabilize residents at risk of displacement.

Housing an Inclusive Baltimore details funding priorities that are associated with specific populations along the housing continuum.

• 25% to 30% of housing resources invested to serve residents earning at or below 30% of Area Median Income (AMI) and those experiencing homelessness who are seeking to access or maintain rental housing, including:

• 25-30% of housing resources to serve residents experiencing homelessness

• 30-40% of housing resources to serve residents earning at or below 30% AMI

• 20 to 30% of housing resources invested to serve residents earning 31 to 80% AMI that are seeking to access or maintain rental housing.

HOUSING CORE GOALS

Create affordable housing in vulnerable areas and in areas of opportunity by focusing on production that considers specific neighborhood conditions, including areas vulnerable to displacement and neighborhoods that have strong amenities such as transit, jobs, high quality education and health care. Measurable outcomes from investment and policies under this core goal include new units created. 

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In Baltimore, we should have the best education system in the world. If we are going to have the standard of living that the people of Baltimore deserve, we need to have the best educated workforce. But let me be very honest with you, that is not the case today. Each year, hundreds of thousands of bright and qualified young people do not get a higher education than the 8^th grade level. Richard Vaughn believes great schools grow big dreams to come true. His vision is for every child, in every neighborhood, to receive a world class education that meets their needs from college to career. He plans on improving Baltimore’s schools together, as a united community of students, families, and educators as his top priority. His plan is to invest $1.5 Million in Baltimore’s school facilities over the next 10 years. Building Baltimore Public Schools is Vaughn’s driven plan for turning Baltimore school buildings into 21st-century learning spaces.

• Achieve universal access to free, high-quality universal pre-kindergarten. Richard Vaughn plans to file a state legislation that would direct a portion of the tourism taxes collected in Baltimore to funding high quality universal elementary and middle schools.

• Advocate state education financing reform. Vaughn plans to make it clear that an outdated state education aid system is shortchanging Baltimore. He plans on working with state legislators to reform state aid formula and charter school reimbursement.

• Baltimore Public Schools financial reform. Vaughn plans to increase funding to schools, while also supporting his team’s Long-Term Financial Plan to set Baltimore Public Schools on more solid fiscal footing and unlock more resources for classrooms. Transportation is a large funding area where reforms need moving forward.

• Provide better nutrition in school. Baltimore Public School’s need to choose a new food vendor, known for providing fresh, healthy meals, for the ongoing school years.

Richard believes we ask so much of our public-school teachers, and school staff. But instead of treating them like professionals and paying them well, listening to them, and giving them the support, they need, we punish them for factors they cannot possibly control. Vaughn believes we need to redirect public dollars from public schools who need them, leaving our students to limited resources. It is critical that our children are prepared for their future. Vaughn wants to push for Mandatory STEM Education for early learners to increase preparedness to elementary school and beyond.

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Rikki Vaughn believes that when women succeed, Baltimore succeeds. He understands that while Maryland’ legislation to close the gender wage gap was an important step forward, what’s needed is a culture shift from the ground up, across every boardroom and workplace in our City. That is why when Mayor he wants to elevate Baltimore’s Office of Women’s Advancement and empowered it to be a national policy leader in forging pathways to equity in wages and leadership.

• Empowering women’s leadership. Vaughn wants to appoint women to key positions in his administration, including chiefs of policy, commissioner of police, housing, digital, and arts and culture, and directors of immigration advancement, budget, and workforce development.

• Private employers closing the gender pay gap. With business leaders, Rikki Vaughn plans to move the 100% Talent Compact to Baltimore. By signing on, businesses pledge to take concrete, measurable steps toward eliminating the gender gaps in wage and representation in their companies.

• Setting a high standard for work-life policies that lower barriers for women. His first year in office, Rikki Vaughn plans to establish paid parental leave for City of Baltimore employees.

• Making Baltimore a leader in ending human trafficking. The City of Baltimore will bring CEASE (Cities Empowered Against Sexual Exploitation) Baltimore, a chapter of the CEASE network, and partnered with 11 pioneering cities committed to combatting sex trafficking.

• Train half of Baltimore’s working women. Continue to work with the American Association of University Women, we will train 90,000 women, over the next 4 years on how to negotiate higher salaries.

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Rikki Vaughn is committed to making Baltimore one of the best cities for older adults. He understands that our seniors are the ones who built Baltimore, and we would not have strong communities without them. He also recognizes that older adults are important to our future. Older adults represent the fastest-growing sector of Baltimore’s population, so we have an even greater responsibility to make sure we can meet their needs. That is why Mr. Vaughn is taking on all the issues that matter most to older adults, from housing to getting around to healthcare and more.

• The Age-Friendly Baltimore Report. Rikki Vaughn plans on launching an “Elderly Commission Program ” and partnering with AARP of Baltimore, and local colleges to create a roadmap for the City’s future in supporting older adults. This report will reflect the voices of 4,000 older adults from every corner of Baltimore, and reflecting different languages, viewpoints, ages, and cultures.

• Helping older adults retain and find homes. Vaughn plans to create nearly 300 new units of low-income senior housing. In addition, he will create a new $1 million line item in the City’s budget to offset federal cuts and produce more homes. Finally, through home renovation and foreclosure prevention–including expanded eligibility for the Senior Property Tax Work-Off Program, Vaughn will help more than 500 seniors retain their homes.

• Launch the Seniors Save program. Mr. Vaughn, will help seniors replace their failing or inefficient heating systems to lower their risk of heating emergencies, lower their energy bills, and help them use their budgets on other necessities like medications and food.

• Expand programs and discounts. Rikki will institute a 35% water discount for eligible seniors, in addition to negotiating larger Comcast Cable senior discounts. He also will bring a Baltimore Aging Strong, expanding active senior engagement year-round.

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Under Rikki Vaughn leadership, he plans on having an unprecedented level of economic growth. In his first term, he will bring 800 new, high-paying jobs, in Baltimore City. Also, bring over $1 million in new, private investments in economic development

• Plan in partnering with the City of Baltimore Development Corporation to create a safe full-time recreation center.

• Securing $1.5 million in federal funding as part of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP)

• Partnering with local businesses, non-profits, and residents to apply for a Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (B.U.I.L.D) grant to improve traffic patterns and redevelop the East Baltimore Area.

• Establish a Business and Economic Development Council to create a plan for long- and short-term economic growth

Our mission is to empower the residents of Baltimore with sustainable economic opportunities that improve the lives of our families and communities. Vaughn believes we can accomplish this by first raising the minimum wage and implementing attractive incentives for businesses to come to Baltimore or expand in our City. Also, he believes we need to give the Private sector a platform that makes investing in Baltimore and its people a win-win for all. Our economy will also grow as we continue to commit substantial resources to public education, housing, and infrastructure. As Mayor, he will create jobs and increase the wealth of our City. He will cut job-killing regulations, introduce tax reform to City Hall, and create innovative public/private partnerships with the sole purpose of making life better for ALL of Baltimore’s residents. Rikki Vaughn plans to rebuild and modernize our City. The Greatest City in America should also be the Most Beautiful City in America! His administration will prioritize critical infrastructure needs, from potholes in our roads to outdated and crumbling buildings. We will restore the pride in our communities.

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Baltimore has struggled, and still struggles, with racism. Vaughn is committed to acknowledging this fact and doing all the things a mayor can do to make things right. Generations of Baltimoreans have experienced implicit and explicit bias in all aspects of life—from interpersonal relationships to housing policy to educational opportunity.

While we have made progress in some areas, the impacts of racial inequality have grown greater as our population has diversified since 1980. As of 2020, people of color made up 62.46 percent of the population. Despite increasing diversity, however, neighborhoods remain widely segregated.  

In light of this history, it will take a deeply committed and widely concerted effort to bridge divides that exist in our city in order to ensure that we grow in a way that fosters opportunity for all. Rikki Vaugh,  is committed to this work: by setting a positive example at City Hall; by holding citywide conversations on race that are open and honest; and by rallying powerful institutions in every sector to take actions that remedy injustice and move us toward equality.

• Rikki will continue to implement Resilient Baltimore, which outlines multiple strategies for battling systemic racism and promoting equity.

• Create a racial equity toolkit for government, businesses, institutions, and other groups so that the entire city is working with shared language and understanding about racism and how to combat it.

• Conduct implicit bias training in City departments that do not already conduct such trainings.

• Fulfill his commitment for an annual town hall on race, reconvening before the end of the year.

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Vaughn always tells young people to dream bigger dreams, because they are capable of more than they know. He believes it is the entire community’s job to help our youth overcome obstacles and grow into their full potential. He plans to always work to get the city and nonprofit sector programs working together, bring more businesses to the table to help, and measure impacts to ensure we are making the most effective investments possible. He wants every young person to have the support and the second chances they need to flourish.

• Drawing on the power of good mentoring. Rikki Vaughn plans to launch the Mentoring Movement here in Baltimore, securing more than 2,000 new caring adult mentors for Baltimore’s youth.

• Expanding safe and nurturing spaces. Under Rikki Vaughn, he plans to get the City’s community centers to increase operating hours and opportunities for Baltimore’s families. Rikki wants the Baltimore Centers for Youth and Families to expand programming options for teens.

• Getting disconnected youth back on track.  Rikki Vaughn Administration will open a Connection Center in all areas in Baltimore City to reach the nearly 4,000 young people in our city who are out of school and out of work.

• Promoting peace by being in the community. Vaughn will join the Commissioner, young people, clergy, community members, and B Police officers in the Peace Walks held on a weekly basis all summer in several neighborhoods.

• Expand and improve summer jobs. Rikki Vaughn team will secure a grant to study the absolute best ways to provide summer employment opportunities to young people. He will not rest until real opportunity reaches every young person in the city.

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Vaughn believes veterans deserve our respect and gratitude for putting everything on the line to serve our country. He believes our gratitude must go beyond holidays and beyond words, and extend to providing the housing, education, jobs, healthcare, and services they need to thrive and contribute their considerable talents to our city. As mayor, that has been his goal. He plans to make it a priority to provide supportive and permanent housing for every homeless veteran.

• Ending veterans’ homelessness. During Vaughn, four terms, the City will provide housing to 800 homeless veterans, effectively ending chronic veteran homelessness. The city will secure additional funding from the Veterans Affairs and Department of Housing to help with at-risk veterans programs and affordable housing.

• Enabling veteran opportunity and leadership. Rikki Vaughn will bring the Veteran-Owned Small Business Development Initiative, which requires city departments and building projects to solicit quotes from veteran-owned small businesses in the city.

• Established and participated in Operation Thank-a-Veteran. In this groundbreaking program, each month teams of volunteers visit veterans in their homes to personally thank them for their service and provide information about available services.

• Hiring veterans for vital public safety jobs. Many who have overcome injuries and disabilities incurred during their service. Rikki’s goal is to hire them for vital public safety opportunities.

• Supporting vulnerable veterans in the heart of Baltimore.

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As mayor of a city where 11.1% of residents are foreign born, he knows that welcoming and supporting immigrants is vital to our economic and community’s.

Mayor Vaughn will sign the Trust Act his first year in office, ensuring that law enforcement work in partnership with immigrant communities to increase safety for all. He plans to continue to visit frequently with Baltimore’s Islamic communities and Latinx communities to reassure concerned residents, and he will with the Baltimore Police Department to make building trust with all communities their priority.

• English language and other integration programs will be held at nearly 10,000 immigrant residents.

• Annual Citizenship Day where more than 800 citizenship applicants can receive help.

• Expanded translation services at City Hall and in the voting booth.

• Strengthening community.

• Host a regional Municipal Leaders for Immigrant Advancement Summit to connect and unite the region in support of pro-immigrant values.

• Rikki Vaughn will constantly be out in the neighborhoods supporting the many cultures that make up Baltimore.

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Rikki Vaughn will fight for LGBTQ rights. Vaughn will always stand up for the LGBTQ community in Baltimore and beyond. He plans to work hard to make sure everyone feels welcome in Baltimore, regardless of their identity or who they love.

• Representation:Vaughn cabinet and staff will include several LGBTQ members.

• Public accommodations:As mayor, Rikki Vaughn will design gender neutral bathrooms outside his office and the City Council, so all employees and visitors can be comfortable accessing City Hall’s facilities.Mayor Vaugh will fly a transgender pride flag on City Hall Plaza to show support and solidarity with the LGBTQ community.

• Health care access. His first year in office, Mayor Vaughn will partner with the City Council to ensure all City employees have access to transition-related healthcare services.