With construction frozen through mid-April and a hearing set, the fight over a $215 million federal detention facility in rural Maryland is heading toward its most consequential moment yet.
This is great news, thank you for keeping us informed!
An observation: The supposed economic development opportunity boasted by our local representatives deserves a closer look.
Maryland and West Virginia have Reciprocal Tax Agreements, relative to personal income taxes. So when a resident of West Virginia works in Maryland, they pay income taxes to West Viriginia, not Maryland. Our state with this warehouse will make no state or local income taxes off of West Virginia workers employed at the facility.
This is important, because Williamsport, MD borders West Virginia. You can cross a bridge between the states in less than a couple minutes, and West Virginia residents regularly seek employment in Maryland...better wages, better benefits, but they do not pay their income taxes to Maryland.
The judge for this case about the warehouse is based in the Baltimore federal courthouse. So you could go protest and/or rally at the courthouse. Project Saltbox (best org name ever), Indivisible, and other groups may have information about protests/rallies at the courthouse.
I know this sounds wild what I am writing but if we all visualize a continual delay , our energy helps. I know this is not the forum for this. But truly for those who feel it : please visualize a continual delay of this center. Our minds are so powerful. Much gratitude . Again, personal comment completely independent of this work here . Thank you project salt box.
If the courts can keep warehouse owners from profiting off concentration camps and make the fight be VERY expensive for the vulture investors, ICE might find they are out os "space" for tyranny.
Is this an option for all of these concentration camps?: Local governments have limited authority to block federal detention facilities, but they can legally leverage Certificate of Occupancy (CO) denials based on zoning, environmental, or safety violations
. While the Supremacy Clause generally prevents states from blocking federal operations, local governments can impose generally applicable safety regulations that, if unmet, can legally halt occupancy. #Politics
Place signs on every warehouse. This property has been condemned. No water supply , no sewage and a floodplain. You great fighters can make that happen as a warning .Community buy out of building for a community garden. Collect donations , give tax break to donations. Use your power! Get creative! You’ve got this!
I'm so inspired by this work and the devotion of Maryland residents to stand against the fascist onslaught. As Patti Smith says "People Have the Power"!
Is anyone pursuing the utilities, especially water and sewer, impact? The warehouse will dwarf the current water supply. Is there any way state and local authorities can fight the project on those issues? Like a premium rate on utilities that makes running the facility too expensive? What about companies operating the facility? Are they in violation of regulations that they could be fined for? What about unions? Could they leverage their power with workers?
This is great news, thank you for keeping us informed!
An observation: The supposed economic development opportunity boasted by our local representatives deserves a closer look.
Maryland and West Virginia have Reciprocal Tax Agreements, relative to personal income taxes. So when a resident of West Virginia works in Maryland, they pay income taxes to West Viriginia, not Maryland. Our state with this warehouse will make no state or local income taxes off of West Virginia workers employed at the facility.
This is important, because Williamsport, MD borders West Virginia. You can cross a bridge between the states in less than a couple minutes, and West Virginia residents regularly seek employment in Maryland...better wages, better benefits, but they do not pay their income taxes to Maryland.
This is such a good callout, Nicole. I had no idea!
We have the same deal with Pennsylvania.
Thanks for doing this work! American heroes! ✌🏻🇺🇸
I got a silly question, how should I in Baltimore keep track of an 🧊 blitz?
The judge for this case about the warehouse is based in the Baltimore federal courthouse. So you could go protest and/or rally at the courthouse. Project Saltbox (best org name ever), Indivisible, and other groups may have information about protests/rallies at the courthouse.
Thanks.
Let’s hope that this will be a possible solution for other states that have a similar situation.
I know this sounds wild what I am writing but if we all visualize a continual delay , our energy helps. I know this is not the forum for this. But truly for those who feel it : please visualize a continual delay of this center. Our minds are so powerful. Much gratitude . Again, personal comment completely independent of this work here . Thank you project salt box.
No ICE detention center in my county!
If the courts can keep warehouse owners from profiting off concentration camps and make the fight be VERY expensive for the vulture investors, ICE might find they are out os "space" for tyranny.
TURN off the water supply.
Is this an option for all of these concentration camps?: Local governments have limited authority to block federal detention facilities, but they can legally leverage Certificate of Occupancy (CO) denials based on zoning, environmental, or safety violations
. While the Supremacy Clause generally prevents states from blocking federal operations, local governments can impose generally applicable safety regulations that, if unmet, can legally halt occupancy. #Politics
Place signs on every warehouse. This property has been condemned. No water supply , no sewage and a floodplain. You great fighters can make that happen as a warning .Community buy out of building for a community garden. Collect donations , give tax break to donations. Use your power! Get creative! You’ve got this!
Turn off the water to the warehouse.
I'm so inspired by this work and the devotion of Maryland residents to stand against the fascist onslaught. As Patti Smith says "People Have the Power"!
Hopefully Roxbury NJ will follow this path. It's almost identical to what we are going through.
They will be spending over 100 million in construction! That is economic development!
Is anyone pursuing the utilities, especially water and sewer, impact? The warehouse will dwarf the current water supply. Is there any way state and local authorities can fight the project on those issues? Like a premium rate on utilities that makes running the facility too expensive? What about companies operating the facility? Are they in violation of regulations that they could be fined for? What about unions? Could they leverage their power with workers?