Ben Jealous is a civil rights leader, community organizer, educator, investor and Rhodes Scholar. Below are the following issues Ben Jealous has outlined he will focus on. You can see more in-depth information on his website by clicking here.
Education
- Wants to raise teacher pay 29%
- Fund full-day universal Pre-K by legalizing and taxing marijuana for adult use
- Prioritize funding for Maryland's most impoverished districts and fight concentrated poverty through community schools
- Force Annapolis to keep its promise about using casino and lottery money to increase education spending.
Medicare For All
- Wants to implement a Medicare-For-All System in Maryland
- Stop rising premiums
- Negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to lower drug prices
Criminal Justice
- Create Gun Courts which will identify strong cases so high-risk repeat offenders are dealt with quickly
- Expanding the Justice Reinvestment Act to reduce the prison population by 30 percent which would save up to $600 million
- End cash bail in Maryland
- Legalize Marijuana for adult use
Ending The Student Debt Crisis
- Make community college free for all Marylanders
- Make all four-year public institutions debt-free for Marylanders
- Establish a program which would allow those with debt to refinance their loans
- Restore and protect Maryland's historically black colleges and universities
Police Reform
- Pass hearing board reforms that would make voting civilians would be in charge of reviewing police misconduct complaints.
- End Nondisclosure Agreements for Police Misconduct Settlements
- Reform the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights so allegations of police brutality are investigated no matter the filing date
- Create a Special Prosecutor's Office with oversight of all cases of alleged police misconduct
- Create a Public Database for Officer Use of Force so they are easily accessible and searchable to the public
Great Cities: A Vision for Maryland's Future
- Close the wealth, pay, and opportunity gaps
- Invest in infrastructure and the built environment
- Expand housing and community development
- Expand equitable opportunity in key growth industries
- Invest in youth and their career pathways
Opioid Crisis
- Devote an additional $2 million in funding to buy more Naloxone for public health professionals and public spaces that need it most
- Expand the number of 24/7 crisis centers
- Create and fund Overdose Outreach Teams in more areas
- Target the manufacturers and pill mills that created this problem
- Create a state Office of Pain Management, Addiction, and Recovery
Jobs
- Raise the minimum wage to $15
- Ensure all Marylanders have access to high-speed internet
- Debt free college
Civil Rights
- Ensure prisoners returning society have the opportunity to access employment
- Develop a state procurement and employment process that is inclusive to all
- Protect and expand protects to LGBTQ
- Ensure Maryland leads the nation in fostering Women and Minority Business Enterprises (WMBEs)
Immigration
- Wants to pass the TRUST Act to keep law enforcement focused on public safety rather than immigration
- Defend DREAMers
- Celebrate every Marylander who becomes a citizen
- Make Maryland a welcoming state to refugees
Environment
- Set a deadline for 100% clean and renewable energy
- Return Maryland's focus on smart growth so we develop without encroaching on environmentally important areas
- Make sure no community is disproportionately impacted by pollution and integrate environmental justice policies
Seniors
- Increase staffing to combat elder abuse
- End senior home losses from water bills and property taxes
- Ensure affordable prescriptions and home care with Medicare-for-All
- Create a database and training program for best care practices around the state
- Help family caregivers build community and networks of support
